Biomedical subjects

N L Segal

Publications and source records attributed to N L Segal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Twins and virtual twins: bases of relative body weight revisited.

OBJECTIVE: Application of a new investigative strategy to assess genetic and environmental influences on relative body weight. DESIGN: Covariance structure analysis of body mass index (BMI) using genetically informative samples. SUBJECTS: One-hundred and fourteen monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs (age 5.04-22.93 y), 81 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs (age 6.05-16.52 y), and 98 virtual twin (VT) pairs, ie same-age unrelated siblings (3.68-54.75 y). MEASUREMENTS: Height, weight, BMI variously obtained by direct measurement and self-report. RESULTS: In contrast with most previous studies, significant common environmental influence on BMI was observed. CONCLUSION: Much past research may have underestimated common environmental effects on BMI because the designs lacked the power or ability to detect them.

Adoption↗

PubMed2001

Suicidal behavior in twins: a replication.

OBJECTIVE: Our two previous reports showed that monozygotic (MZ) twins were significantly more concordant for both completed suicide and attempted suicide than dizygotic (DZ) twins. We wished to replicate the finding that MZ co-twins showed greater concordance for suicidal behavior. METHOD: We collected a new series of 28 twin pairs in which one twin had committed suicide. RESULTS: We found that 4 of the 13 MZ twin pairs were concordant for suicidal behavior compared with 0 of the 15 DZ twin pairs (P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm our previous reports that MZ co-twins show greater concordance for suicidal behavior than DZ co-twins, consistent with genetic influence.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001