craig-protocolfora-2018.pdf (2.64 MB)
Protocol for a longitudinal twin birth cohort study to unravel the complex interplay between early-life environmental and genetic risk factors in health and disease: the Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS)
journal contribution
posted on 2018-02-22, 00:00 authored by Chao Tong, Li Wen, Yinyin Xia, Pamela Leong, Lan Wang, Xin Fan, Ting-Li Han, Jeffrey CraigJeffrey Craig, Philip Baker, Richard Saffery, Hongbo QiINTRODUCTION: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) now represent the major burden of adverse health in most countries. It is clear that much of the risk of such conditions begins very early in life, potentially in utero. Given their complex aetiology, an understanding of the origins of NCD requires an in-depth analysis of the interplay between genetic variation and environment, preferably over time. For decades, twin studies have played a key role in understanding such traits. Their strength lies in the ability to disentangle genetic and environmental factors that contribute to a phenotype. This is done by comparing genetically identical monozygotic (MZ) with dizygotic twins, who share on average 50% of genetic variation, or by comparing MZ twins within a pair. This study aims to determine the relative contributions of genes and environment to early-onset intermediate phenotypes related to later adult onset disease (such as growth and neurodevelopment) and to identify specific biomarkers and time points for emergence of phenotypes from infancy, largely independent of underlying genetic factors. METHODS/DESIGN: The Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS) will recruit 300 women pregnant with twins, enriched for MZ pregnancies, with follow-up to 3 years of age. Data collection will be undertaken at key time points in gestation (×3), at delivery and postnatally (×9). Maternal and infant biospecimens including blood, urine, hair, nails and buccal swabs along with measures such as fetal scans and body measurements will be collected. Additional information from questionnaires and medical records includes pregnancy, diet, sociodemographics, maternal stress, and infant growth and neurodevelopment. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Chongqing Medical University (record no: 201530) and has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registry no: ChiCTR-OOC-16008203). Results of the recruitment and all subsequent analyses will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-OOC-16008203; Results.
History
Journal
BMJ openVolume
8Issue
2Article number
e017889Publisher
BMJ Publishing GroupLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
Link to full text
eISSN
2044-6055Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2018, The AuthorsUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
birth cohortdizygoticepigeneticslongitudinalmonozygotictwinsAnthropometryChild DevelopmentChild, PreschoolChinaEnvironmentFemaleFetal DevelopmentGenetic VariationHumansInfantLongitudinal StudiesMaleNoncommunicable DiseasesPregnancyResearch DesignRisk FactorsSpecimen HandlingTwins, DizygoticTwins, MonozygoticUltrasonography, Prenatal
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC