Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphisms and QT duration in a multiethnic population in Hawaii

A molecular pathway analysis informs the genetic risk for arrhythmias during antipsychotic treatment

Arrhythmias are a frequent and potentially fatal side effect of antipsychotic treatment. Strict ECG monitoring and clinical interviews are the standards used to prevent arrhythmias. A biologic predictive tool is missing. The identification of a genetic makeup at risk of antipsychotic-induced arrhythmias is the aim of the present investigation. The aim of this study was to identify a molecular pathway enriched in single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with antipsychotic-induced QTc modifications. In total, 661 schizophrenic individuals from the CATIE study, M=486 (73.52%), mean age=40.92±11.02, were included. QTc variation was measured as a phase-specific change-created variable. A nested mixed regression for a repeated-measures model served in R for the analysis of the clinical and treatment-related covariates and molecular pathway analysis. Plink was used for the genetic genome-wide analysis. Quality checking was the standard (genotype call rate>0.95; minor allele frequency>0.01; Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium<0.0001) and the inflation factor was controlled by λ values. Quetiapine and perphenazine were associated with QTc variation during phase 1. No other significant association was detected. No significant inflation was detected. A number of molecular pathways were associated with QT variation at a conservative (adjusted) P value less than 0.05, including pathways related to neuronal wiring and collagen biosynthesis, along with pathways related to K+ currents and cardiac contraction. Pathways related to neuronal wiring, collagen biosynthesis, and ion currents were identified as possibly involved in QTc modifications during antispsychotic treatment in SKZ patients.

Cardiometabolic health disparities in native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders

Elimination of health disparities in the United States is a national health priority. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity are key features of what is now referred to as the "cardiometabolic syndrome," which disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority populations, including Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI). Few studies have adequately characterized the cardiometabolic syndrome in high-risk populations such as NHOPI. The authors systematically assessed the existing literature on cardiometabolic disorders among NHOPI to understand the best approaches to eliminating cardiometabolic health disparities in this population. Articles were identified from database searches performed in PubMed and MEDLINE from January 1998 to December 2008; 43 studies were included in the review. There is growing confirmatory evidence that NHOPI are one of the highest-risk populations for cardiometabolic diseases in the United States. Most studies found increased prevalences of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors among NHOPI. The few experimental intervention studies found positive results. Methodological issues included small sample sizes, sample bias, inappropriate racial/ethnic aggregation of NHOPI with Asians, and a limited number of intervention studies. Significant gaps remain in the understanding of cardiometabolic health disparities among NHOPI in the United States. More experimental intervention studies are needed to examine promising approaches to reversing the rising tide of cardiometabolic health disparities in NHOPI.

Genetische Determinanten des EKG

Schon bald nach der Erfindung des EKG wurden die hohen Heritabilitäten vieler EKG-Parameter erkannt. Seit etwa einer Dekade wird intensiv an der Aufklärung zugrunde liegender genetischer Varianten gearbeitet, mit der Einführung genomweiter Assoziationsstudien steht dafür nun auch eine adäquate Methode zur Verfügung. Die molekulare Identifizierung und Charakterisierung bisher unbekannter herzrhythmusassoziierter Gene und Genvarianten verspricht nicht nur eine Vertiefung unseres Verständnisses der kardialen Elektrophysiologie, sondern auch eine Option auf bessere therapeutische und präventive Strategien für Arrhythmien und den plötzlichen Herztod.