To what extent does IQ 'explain' socio-economic variations in function?

Background  

The aims of this study were to examine the extent to which higher intellectual abilities protect higher socio-economic groups from functional decline and to examine whether the contribution of intellectual abilities is independent of childhood deprivation and low birth weight and other socio-economic and developmental factors in early life.     

Polymorphism in the promoter region of the apolipoprotein AI gene associated with differences in apolipoprotein AI levels: The European Atherosclerosis Research Study

The effect associated with the substitution of adenine (A) for guanidine (G) in the promoter region of the apolipoprotein AI gene (?75 bp) with plasma apo AI and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels was investigated in the European Atherosclerosis Research Study (EARS). This is a study of healthy offspring (cases) of fathers who had suffered premature myocardial infarction (MI) before age 55 years (n = 565) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 1,078) from 12 European countries, divided into 5 regions based on geography and language. The frequency of the polymorphism was not significantly different among the regions and the relative frequency of the rare A allele was similar in cases and controls (0.159 vs. 0.142) combining data from all regions. Individuals with one or more A allele had significantly higher plasma apo AI levels (P < 0.05) than individuals homozygous for the G allele. This effect was consistent in all regions. The data were analyzed separately in males and females. In females, those with one or more A allele had significantly higher apo AI levels (P = 0.05) than individuals homozygous for the G allele, and this raising effect of the A allele was greater in cases than controls for both apo AI (5.23% vs. 1.56%) and HDL (4.48% vs. 1.89%). In males, the A allele was associated with higher levels of apo AI and HDL, but the effect was much smaller and the differences did not reach statistical significance. In the females, where the effect of the A allele was strongest, the effect on apo AI associated with genotype was evident in non-smokers, and individuals with one or two A alleles had 3.6% higher apo AI and 3.14% higher HDL levels than individuals homozygous for the G allele. However, in the female smokers the raising effect of the A allele was greatly reduced (0.56%). Thus genetic variation in the promoter region of the apo AI gene is associated with differences in apo AI and HDL levels in healthy individuals throughout Europe, but the effect is modulated by gender, environmental factors such as smoking, and a family history of MI.     

Discordant repeat size and phenotype in Kennedy syndrome

Previous reports in the literature have described correlation of increasing repeat length with severity of the phenotype, in Kennedy syndrome. We describe male siblings with different repeat lengths, with lack of expression of the phenotype in the sibling with the longer repeat length. The phenotype was identical to motor neurone disease. There is variability of expression in Kennedy syndrome and repeat length even in siblings cannot be taken as a conclusive indicator of severity. CAG repeat length cannot be used to predict the natural history of Kennedy disease. The diagnosis of Kennedy syndrome should be considered in male patients presenting with atypical motor neurone disease.     

INTERFERONS IN ONCOLOGY

SUMMARY The interferons are natural glycoproteins secreted in response to various stimuli, including viral infection. They have antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects on different target cell populations. Since recombinant human interferons have become available, they have been tested in a wide range of malignancies. They are well established in the treatment of hairy cell leukaemia, chronic myelogenous leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Although they have documented activity against lymphoma, melanoma, renal cell cancer and carcinoid tumours, their role in the treatment of these tumours is less clear. In the common solid tumours, such as lung cancer and colorectal cancer, the use of interferons remains experimental. Here we will summarise their practice applications in oncology, using randomised studies where available to establish their place in multi-modality treatment. We will not discuss their use as antiviral or immunomodulating agents in viral and autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis or after organ transplantation.