David Laszlo Tarnoki, Marton Piroska, Bianka Forgo, Helga Szabo, Luca Zoldi, Dora Melicher, Julia Metneki, Levente Littvay, Adam Domonkos Tarnoki
{"title":"The Population-Based Hungarian Twin Registry: An Update.","authors":"David Laszlo Tarnoki, Marton Piroska, Bianka Forgo, Helga Szabo, Luca Zoldi, Dora Melicher, Julia Metneki, Levente Littvay, Adam Domonkos Tarnoki","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.15","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2024.15","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Between 2006 and 2021, the Hungarian Twin Registry (HTR) operated a volunteer twin registry of all age groups (50% monozygotic [MZ], 50% dizygotic [DZ], 70% female, average age 34 ± 22 years), including 1044 twin pairs, 24 triplets and one quadruplet set. In 2021, the HTR transformed from a volunteer registry into a population-based one, and it was established in the Medical Imaging Centre of Semmelweis University in Budapest. Semmelweis University's innovation fund supported the development of information technology, a phone bank and voicemail infrastructure, administrative materials, and a new website was established where twins and their relatives (parent, foster parent or caregiver) can register. The HTR's biobank was also established: 157,751 individuals with a likely twin-sibling living in Hungary (77,042 twins, 1194 triplets, 20 quadruplets, and one quintuplet) were contacted between February and March of 2021 via sealed letters. Until November 20, 2022, 12,001 twin individuals and their parents or guardians (6724 adult twins, 3009 parents/guardians and 5277 minor twins) registered, mostly online. Based on simple self-reports, 37.6% of the registered adults were MZ twins and 56.8% were DZ; 1.12% were triplets and 4.5% were unidentified. Of the registered children, 22.3% were MZ, 72.7% were DZ, 1.93% were triplets, and 3.05% were unidentified. Of the registered twins, 59.9% were female (including both the adult and minor twins). The registration questionnaire consists of eight parts, including socio-demographic and anthropometric data, smoking habits and medical questions (diseases, operations, therapies). Hungary's twin registry has become the sole and largest population-based twin registry in Central Eastern Europe. This new resource will facilitate performing world-class modern genetic research.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"115-119"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140923081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danya F Vears, Alison McLean, Chloe La Spina, Aideen McInerney-Leo
{"title":"Human Genetics Society of Australasia Position Statement: Predictive and Presymptomatic Genetic Testing in Adults and Children.","authors":"Danya F Vears, Alison McLean, Chloe La Spina, Aideen McInerney-Leo","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.9","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2024.9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This Position Statement provides guidelines for health professionals who work with individuals and families seeking predictive genetic testing and laboratory staff conducting the tests. It presents the major practical, psychosocial and ethical considerations associated with presymptomatic and predictive genetic testing in adults who have the capacity to make a decision, children and young people who lack capacity, and adults living with reduced or fluctuating cognitive capacity.Predictive Testing Recommendations: (1) Predictive testing in adults, young people and children should only be offered with pretest genetic counseling, and the option of post-test genetic counseling. (2) An individual considering whether to have a predictive test should be supported to make an autonomous and informed decision. Regarding Children and Young People: (1) Predictive testing should only be offered to children and young people for conditions where there is likely to be a <i>direct medical benefit</i> to them through surveillance, use of prevention strategies, or other medical interventions in the immediate future. (2) Where symptoms are likely to develop in childhood, in the absence of direct medical benefit from this knowledge, genetic health professionals and parents/guardians should discuss whether undertaking predictive testing is the best course of action for the child and the family as a whole. (3) Where symptoms are likely to develop in adulthood, the default position should be to postpone predictive testing until the young person achieves the capacity to make an autonomous and informed decision. This is applicable regardless of whether there is some action that can be taken in adulthood.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"120-127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140176676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Most Unusual Twin Pairs: A Look at Uterus Didelphys / Twin Research Reviews: Prenatal Aneuploidy Screening for Twin Pregnancies; Twin Conceptions by Same-Sex Male Couples; Legal Personality of Conjoined Twins; Twin Study of Cannabis Use / Human Interest and Importance: Being Taken for Twins Saved Sisters; Twin Children of Jailed Nobel Prize Winner; British ‘Biracial’ Twins; Triplets Born at Start of Russian Attack on Ukraine; Twins Born in Different Years","authors":"Nancy L. Segal","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2024.14","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A review of an unusual twin type—twins born to women with two uteri (uterus didelphys)—is presented. This review is followed by summaries of recent research and perspectives concerning prenatal aneuploidy screening for twin pregnancies, twin conceptions by same-sex male couples, legal personality of conjoined twins, and a twin study of cannabis use. Interesting information about twins that has appeared in the media is also presented, namely how being taken for twins saved a pair of sisters; twin children of a jailed Nobel Prize winner, British ‘biracial’ twins, triplets born at the start of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, and twins born in different years.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140166305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
María de la Calle, Jose L. Bartha, Abigail Martin Mens, Silvia M. Arribas, David Ramiro-Cortijo
{"title":"Assessment of Sleep Quality in Spanish Twin Pregnancy: An Observational Single-Center Study","authors":"María de la Calle, Jose L. Bartha, Abigail Martin Mens, Silvia M. Arribas, David Ramiro-Cortijo","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.13","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2024.13","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Women with twin pregnancies experience greater sleep disturbance compared to women with singleton pregnancies. The aims of this study were to explore the sleep quality in women with twin pregnancies and to compare their sleep dimensions with coetaneous single pregnancies. This was an observational study in which women were enrolled at the end of pregnancy in the Obstetric Service of Hospital La Paz (Spain). The women were classified as single (<span>n</span> = 143) or twin pregnancy (<span>n</span> = 62). Pregnant women responded to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate sleep quality, latency, duration, efficiency, perturbance, use of medication, and daytime dysfunction. The higher the index, the greater the alteration of sleep quality. Without statistical differences, a poor sleep quality was higher in women with single (66.7%) than women with twin pregnancies (22.8%). The good sleeper slept 6.8 h/day in single pregnancy and 7.3 h/day in twin pregnancy. The sleep perturbation and dysfunctionality were higher in women with twin than single pregnancies. The use of medication to sleep was significantly lower in women with twin than single pregnancies. In women with twin pregnancy, the body weight gain during first trimester had a positive correlation with worse sleep quality and sleep perturbations. Twin pregnancy needed more than 7 h/day to have a high sleep quality, showing greater sleep perturbations and daytime dysfunction than single pregnancies. The control of gestational body weight can improve the sleep quality, disturbances, and duration in twin gestations. Sleep screening during pregnancy would be necessary to handle sleep issues and increase benefits in twin gestational outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140166753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"THG volume 27 issue 1 Cover.","authors":"","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.27","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2024.27","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":"27 1","pages":"f1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141162642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Floris Huider, Yuri Milaneschi, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Mariska Bot, M Liset Rietman, Almar A L Kok, Tessel E Galesloot, Leen M 't Hart, Femke Rutters, Marieke T Blom, Didi Rhebergen, Marjolein Visser, Ingeborg Brouwer, Edith Feskens, Catharina A Hartman, Albertine J Oldehinkel, Eco J C de Geus, Lambertus A Kiemeney, Martijn Huisman, H Susan J Picavet, W M Monique Verschuren, Hanna M van Loo, Brenda W J H Penninx, Dorret I Boomsma
{"title":"Genomics Research of Lifetime Depression in the Netherlands: The BIObanks Netherlands Internet Collaboration (BIONIC) Project.","authors":"Floris Huider, Yuri Milaneschi, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Mariska Bot, M Liset Rietman, Almar A L Kok, Tessel E Galesloot, Leen M 't Hart, Femke Rutters, Marieke T Blom, Didi Rhebergen, Marjolein Visser, Ingeborg Brouwer, Edith Feskens, Catharina A Hartman, Albertine J Oldehinkel, Eco J C de Geus, Lambertus A Kiemeney, Martijn Huisman, H Susan J Picavet, W M Monique Verschuren, Hanna M van Loo, Brenda W J H Penninx, Dorret I Boomsma","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.4","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2024.4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this cohort profile article we describe the lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD) database that has been established as part of the BIObanks Netherlands Internet Collaboration (BIONIC). Across the Netherlands we collected data on <i>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition</i> (<i>DSM-5</i>) lifetime MDD diagnosis in 132,850 Dutch individuals. Currently, <i>N</i> = 66,684 of these also have genomewide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. We initiated this project because the complex genetic basis of MDD requires large population-wide studies with uniform in-depth phenotyping. For standardized phenotyping we developed the LIDAS (LIfetime Depression Assessment Survey), which then was used to measure MDD in 11 Dutch cohorts. Data from these cohorts were combined with diagnostic interview depression data from 5 clinical cohorts to create a dataset of <i>N</i> = 29,650 lifetime MDD cases (22%) meeting <i>DSM-5</i> criteria and 94,300 screened controls. In addition, genomewide genotype data from the cohorts were assembled into a genomewide association study (GWAS) dataset of <i>N</i> = 66,684 Dutch individuals (25.3% cases). Phenotype data include <i>DSM-5</i>-based MDD diagnoses, sociodemographic variables, information on lifestyle and BMI, characteristics of depressive symptoms and episodes, and psychiatric diagnosis and treatment history. We describe the establishment and harmonization of the BIONIC phenotype and GWAS datasets and provide an overview of the available information and sample characteristics. Our next step is the GWAS of lifetime MDD in the Netherlands, with future plans including fine-grained genetic analyses of depression characteristics, international collaborations and multi-omics studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140144148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Braxton Forde, Samuel Martin, Miki Watanabe-Chailland, Foong-Yen Lim
{"title":"Acute Fetal Metabolomic Changes in Twins Undergoing Fetoscopic Surgery for Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.","authors":"Braxton Forde, Samuel Martin, Miki Watanabe-Chailland, Foong-Yen Lim","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.10","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2024.10","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fetuses undergo major surgical stress as well as fluid shifts secondary to both twin-twin transfusion (TTTS) as well as the fetoscopic surgery for treatment of TTTS. While the pathophysiology of TTTS is understood, the acute metabolic changes that fetuses experience from fetoscopic surgery are not. We sought to evaluate the changes in recipient metabolomic profile secondary to TTTS surgery. Amniotic fluid was collected at the beginning and end of four TTTS surgical cases performed from 12/2022-2/2023. Samples were immediately processed and evaluated via NMR-based Metabolomics Facility protocol. In univariate analysis, 12 metabolites (glucose, lactate, and 10 key amino acids) showed statistically significant changes between the beginning and end of the surgery. Among these, 11 metabolites decreased at the end, while only lactate increased. Supervised oPLS-DA modeling revealed pyruvate and lactate as the two metabolites most impact on the variance between cases, and that 40% of metabolomic changes could be attributed directly to the timing that the sample was taken (i.e., if pre- or postoperatively). These results indicate significant metabolic changes in the recipient twin during fetoscopic surgery for TTTS. These findings of decreased glucose, increased lactate, and decreased amnio acids would indicate increased catabolism during surgery. This study raises questions regarding optimal maternal and fetal nutrition during surgery and if nutritional status could be optimized to further improve twin survival during fetoscopic surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"56-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140185702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evolutionary Trends of Polygenic Scores in European Populations From the Paleolithic to Modern Times.","authors":"Davide Piffer, Emil O W Kirkegaard","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.8","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2024.8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examines the temporal and geographical evolution of polygenic scores (PGSs) across cognitive measures (Educational Attainment [EA], Intelligence Quotient [IQ]), Socioeconomic Status (SES), and psychiatric conditions (Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD], schizophrenia [SCZ]) in various populations. Our findings indicate positive directional selection for EA, IQ, and SES traits over the past 12,000 years. Schizophrenia and autism, while similar, showed different temporal patterns, aligning with theories suggesting they are psychological opposites. We observed a decline in PGS for neuroticism and depression, likely due to their genetic correlations and pleiotropic effects on intelligence. Significant PGS shifts from the Upper Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods suggest lifestyle and cognitive demand changes, particularly during the Neolithic Revolution. The study supports a mild hypothesis of Gregory Clark's model, showing a noticeable rise in genetic propensities for intelligence, academic achievement and professional status across Europe from the Middle Ages to the present. While latitude strongly influenced height, its impact on schizophrenia and autism was smaller and varied. Contrary to the cold winters theory, the study found no significant correlation between latitude and intelligence.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"30-49"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140040435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Partnership with the University of São Paulo Panel of Twins: A Four-City Tour and More / Twin Research Reviews: Twin Research on Binge Eating; Twins' Physical Outcomes Linked to Different Diets; Working Conditions and Sickness Absence in Swedish Twins; Facial Morphology Differences in Monozygotic Twins / Human Interest and Importance: Michigan Family Forced to Adopt Their Own Twins; Ethics of Hiring a Surrogate to Bear Twins; Twin Survivors of the Israel-Hamas War; Twin Pregnancy with Double Uterus; Three Twin Pairs on Same Women's Soccer Team.","authors":"Nancy L Segal","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.1","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2024.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article begins with an overview of twin research in Brazil, initiated by the University of São Paulo Panel of Twins. I met with many new research collaborators and students while on a fall 2023 four-city lecture tour in that country. A meeting with a world-famous surgeon who recently separated craniopagus conjoined twin pairs is also described. This overview is followed by summaries of twin research on binge eating, twins' physical outcomes linked to different diets, working conditions and sickness absence in Swedish Twins and facial morphology differences in monozygotic twins. The final section of this article provides a sampling of human interest stories with important implications. They include a Michigan family forced to adopt their own twins, ethical issues surrounding the hiring of a surrogate to bear twins; twin survivors of the Israel-Hamas war, a twin pregnancy with a double uterus, and three twin pairs on the same women's soccer team.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"64-68"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139913606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Moses Banyeh, Benjamin N Mayeem, Moses Kofi Woli, Augusta S Kolekang, Clement Binwatin Dagungong, David Bure, Romarick Kofi Wemegah, Mikail Ihsan Azindow, Suleman Yakubu, Musah Seidu, Mohammed Madde Baba, Elisha Essoun, Nancy Owireduwaa
{"title":"Exploring Hematological and Biochemical Disparities in Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Females: A Cross-Sectional Twin Study in a Ghanaian Population.","authors":"Moses Banyeh, Benjamin N Mayeem, Moses Kofi Woli, Augusta S Kolekang, Clement Binwatin Dagungong, David Bure, Romarick Kofi Wemegah, Mikail Ihsan Azindow, Suleman Yakubu, Musah Seidu, Mohammed Madde Baba, Elisha Essoun, Nancy Owireduwaa","doi":"10.1017/thg.2024.7","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2024.7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There are sex-dependent differences in hematological and biochemical variables in adulthood attributed to the predominant effects of testosterone in males and estrogen in females. The Twin Testosterone Transfer (TTT) hypothesis proposes that opposite-sex females may develop male-typical traits due to exposure to relatively higher levels of prenatal testosterone than same-sex females. Additionally, prenatal testosterone exposure has been suggested as a correlate of current circulating testosterone levels. Consequently, opposite-sex females might exhibit male-typical patterns in their hematological and biochemical variables. Despite this hypothesis, routine laboratory investigations assign the same reference range to all females. Our cross-sectional study, conducted in Tamale from January to September 2022, included 40 twins, comprising 10 opposite-sex (OS) males (25%), 10 OS females (25%), and 20 same-sex (SS) females (50%), all aged between 18 and 27 years. Fasting venous blood samples were collected and analyzed using automated hematology and biochemistry laboratory analyzers. Results indicated that levels of hemoglobin, serum creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total protein, globulins, and total testosterone were significantly higher in OS males than OS females. Conversely, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher in OS females than OS males. Unexpectedly, levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total testosterone were significantly higher in SS females than OS females. Contrary to expectations, opposite-sex females did not exhibit male-typical patterns in their hematological and biochemical variables. This suggests that the TTT effect may not occur or may not be strong enough to markedly affect hematological and biochemical variables in OS females.</p>","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"50-55"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140040451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}