Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology

Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10−8), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ~2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.

Studio portrait of the six daughters of Solomon and Emilie Kohnberger: (l-r) Laura, Irene, Johanna, Melanie, Hermine and Martha.

Laura (1878-1917) died during a flu epidemic. She married Sigmund Stiassny and had two children, Lisbeth (Gersuny) (1900-1986) and Walter (1902-1912) who died of a ruptured appendix.

Portrait of Austrian writer Karl Kraus reading and holding a cigar; Berlin Portraits Men

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Reproduction of photograph of Kurt Fritz Rosenberg (left) with Karl Kaufman and Elsa Kaufman; Dresden.

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Reproduction of painted portrait by Eduard Magnus of Mrs. Karl Steffeck Portraits Women

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Portrait of Karl Gottschalk.

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House of Karl Gottschalk on Richard-Wagner-Strasse; Hannover, Germany.

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House of Karl Gottschalk on Richard-Wagner-Strasse; Hannover, Germany.

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Portrait of Walter Godshaw, Charlie Sloan (Karl-Hermann Solomon), and Ida, Kaete Solomon's maid; Hannover, Germany.

From left to right: Walter Gottschalk, Ida, Charlie Sloan (Karl Hermann Solomon); Ida, Kaete Solomon's maid, nursed Charlie back to health after his release from Dachau

Portrait of Walter Godshaw, Charlie Sloan (Karl-Hermann Solomon), and Ida, Kaete Solomon's maid; Hannover, Germany.

From left to right: Walter Gottschalk, Ida, Charlie Sloan (Karl Hermann Solomon); Ida, Kaete Solomon's maid, nursed Charlie back to health after his release from Dachau

Nachum Glatzer, Karl Mendel, Josef Soudek and Bernhard Glatzer (Nachum's younger brother) Portraits Groups Men

Signed by photographer lower right

Bayesian estimation of the dynamics of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza transmission in Queensland: A space–time SIR-based model

Background A pandemic strain of influenza A spread rapidly around the world in 2009, now referred to as pandemic (H1N1) 2009. This study aimed to examine the spatiotemporal variation in the transmission rate of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 associated with changes in local socio-environmental conditions from May 7–December 31, 2009, at a postal area level in Queensland, Australia. Method We used the data on laboratory-confirmed H1N1 cases to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of transmission using a flexible Bayesian, space–time, Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) modelling approach. The model incorporated parameters describing spatiotemporal variation in H1N1 infection and local socio-environmental factors. Results The weekly transmission rate of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was negatively associated with the weekly area-mean maximum temperature at a lag of 1 week (LMXT) (posterior mean: −0.341; 95% credible interval (CI): −0.370–−0.311) and the socio-economic index for area (SEIFA) (posterior mean: −0.003; 95% CI: −0.004–−0.001), and was positively associated with the product of LMXT and the weekly area-mean vapour pressure at a lag of 1 week (LVAP) (posterior mean: 0.008; 95% CI: 0.007–0.009). There was substantial spatiotemporal variation in transmission rate of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 across Queensland over the epidemic period. High random effects of estimated transmission rates were apparent in remote areas and some postal areas with higher proportion of indigenous populations and smaller overall populations. Conclusions Local SEIFA and local atmospheric conditions were associated with the transmission rate of pandemic (H1N1) 2009. The more populated regions displayed consistent and synchronized epidemics with low average transmission rates. The less populated regions had high average transmission rates with more variations during the H1N1 epidemic period.

Karl Josef Scheuermann Collection 1981-1986

Photocopies of correspondence between Scheuermann, Ernst Cramer, Cardinal Ratzinger, Reuben Hecht on Pope John XXIII and his alleged repentance prayer.

heilbrunn, karl; heilbrunn friedrich (fritz); heilbrunn julius; osterode harz Portraits Family

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