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Biomedical subjects

C Golding

Publications and source records attributed to C Golding.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Apolipoprotein epsilon3 allele is associated with persistent hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Host genetic factors may significantly influence the ability to clear hepatitis C virus (HCV) following infection. HCV is associated with very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) in the host's circulation. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is found in VLDL and binds to potential receptors involved in HCV entry into cells, the LDL receptor, and the scavenger receptor protein SR-B1. The APOE gene is polymorphic with three alleles coding for three isoforms: Apo-epsilon2, Apo-epsilon3, and Apo-epsilon4. The aim of this study was to assess if these functional polymorphisms determine disease outcome in HCV infected individuals. METHODS: The APOE genotype was determined in 420 Northern European patients with evidence of exposure to HCV. Genotype and allele distribution were compared with those of 288 healthy controls and progression of liver disease and viral clearance were analysed according to APOE allele status. RESULTS: The APOE*E2 and APOE*E4 alleles were both associated with a reduced likelihood of chronic infection (odds ratio (OR) 0.39 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.211-0.728), p = 0.003; and OR 0.6 (95% CI 0.38-0.96), p = 0.032) and there was a notable absence of the E2E2 genotype in the HCV antibody positive group compared with the control population (p = 0.0067). Overall the genotypes carrying the E2 allele (E2,E3 and E2,E4) were associated with the equivalent of a 3-5-fold reduction in the risk of chronic HCV infection (genotype relative risk 0.36 and 0.20, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that functional APOE gene polymorphisms may be a determinant of outcome in HCV infection. We hypothesise that the E2 allele may protect against viral persistence via defective binding of HCV lipoviral particles to the cellular receptors involved in entry of these infectious particles.

Alleles↗
PubMed2005

Resistance and susceptibility to weight gain: individual variability in response to a high-fat diet.

An obesigenic environment is a potent force for promoting weight gain. However, not all people exposed to such an environment become obese; some remain lean. This means that some people are susceptible to weight gain (in a weight-promoting environment) and others are resistant. Identifying the characteristics of appetite control and food motivation in these two groups could throw light on the causes of weight gain and how this can be either treated or prevented. We have investigated the issue experimentally by identifying people who habitually consume a high-fat diet (greater than 43% fat energy). These individuals have been termed high-fat phenotypes. We have compared individuals, of the same age (mean=37 years old) and gender (male), who have gained weight (BMI=34) or who have remained lean (BMI=22). The susceptible individuals are characterised by a cluster of characteristics including a weak satiety response to fatty meals, a maintained preference for high-fat over low-energy foods in the post-ingestive satiety period, a strong hedonic attraction to palatable foods and to eating, and high scores on the TFEQ factors of Disinhibition and Hunger. The analysis of large databases suggests that this profile of factors contributes to an average daily positive energy balance from food of approximately 0.5 MJ. This profile of characteristics helps to define the symptomatology of a thrifty phenotype.

Appetite↗
PubMed1996

Time resolution of binding and membrane insertion of a mitochondrial signal peptide: correlation with structural changes and evidence for cooperativity.

Utilizing a recently developed novel fluorescence technique [Wall et al. (1995) Mol. Membr. Biol. 12, 183-192], it is shown that the interactions of p25, the leader peptide of subunit IV of cytochrome c oxidase, with phospholipid membranes can be identified in real time. p25 is observed to bind following stopped-flow mixing of the peptide with phospholipid membranes with rate constants up to about 700 s-1 and then insert into the membrane with rate constants on the order of 0.4 s-1. Comparison of these processes with similarly time-resolved experiments performed with a stopped-flow CD spectrometer revealed that p25 does not become alpha-helical upon binding to the membrane. Following membrane insertion, however, p25 was observed to adopt an alpha-helical configuration. The temperature dependency of these processes was then found to yield activation energies for the respective components of the p25-membrane interaction.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1995

Social variation in attitudes to obesity in children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate variations in children's attitudes to obesity in relation to age, gender and social class. DESIGN: Evaluation of sex, age and social class differences in judgements of figure drawings varying in body shape. SUBJECTS: 180 children aged from 4-11 from six schools, varying in the social background of their pupils. MEASUREMENTS: Self ratings of body shape, choices of ideal body shape now and in adulthood from a range of line drawings of figures varying in fatness, and behavioural and personality stereotype judgements of illustrations of thin, average and fat children. RESULTS: Few children in this age group were fat and few felt too fat; though a substantial minority felt too thin. Girls selected thinner ideal figures than boys. Children demonstrated strongly negative attitudes to obesity, which were less favourable among those who were older and from the higher social status schools. CONCLUSION: There are significant social variations in attitudes to obesity which might be important in understanding variations in the prevalence of obesity and weight control practices.

Aging↗