Liver fat genetic risk variants identified by UH Cancer Center researchers and collaborators
Researchers S . Lani Park , PhD , MPH , from the
UH Cancer Center , and Iona Cheng , PhD , MPH , from the University of California , San Francisco , were members of a collaborative study between their institutions and the University of Southern California that identified genetic risk variants associated with the amount of fat present in the liver . The study was recently published in Hepatology Communications .
Scientists analyzed data from 1,709 participants of the Multiethnic Cohort ( MEC ) Study , which follows over 215,000 residents of Hawai ‘ i and Los Angeles for the development of cancer and other chronic diseases . They discovered an association between liver fat and a genetic variant on chromosome six , which is found in Japanese Americans and Native Hawaiians , and confirmed a known association with a genetic variant previously reported to affect liver fat .
Fatty liver is a major public health problem related to obesity . High levels of liver fat are associated with metabolic syndrome
S . Lani Park , PhD , MPH
Iona Cheng , PhD , MPH
( a group of health conditions occurring together and increase the risk of heart disease , stroke and type 2 diabetes-increased blood pressure , high blood sugar , excess body fat around the waist , and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels ), insulin resistance , chronic liver diseases and liver cancer . “ Our discovery of genes associated with liver fat will allow us to better understand the biology of fatty liver and help us to identify individuals at risk for this condition ,” said Park .
Native Hawaiians and Japanese Americans comprise a large proportion of Hawai ‘ i ’ s population , and previous MEC studies have shown that they are at greater risk for liver fat and conditions associated with it . Identifying genetic variants for liver fat will help in the development of new strategies for the prevention and early detection of various liver diseases and other related health conditions .
Astro-3DO : an Innovative project to help astronauts with muscle and bone mass loss
Zero gravity restricts astronauts from being able to use their muscles and bones for long periods of time , resulting in major deterioration of their bodies , similar to patients who undergo surgery and are bedridden for weeks . The National Aeronautics and Space Administration plans to send astronauts on a three-year round trip to Mars , the longest manned space mission in history . Astronauts on this mission are anticipated to lose a significant amount of muscle and bone mass , possibly over 30 percent of muscle mass in less than six months as reported by previous research .
allow researchers to gain a better understanding of how muscle deterioration can impact human longevity and also be used to further research on cancer cachexia , a “ wasting ” disorder that occurs in late stages of cancer , resulting in extreme weight loss and muscle wasting , and can include loss of body fat .
With support of the Translational Research Institute for Space Health , John Shepherd , PhD , and his research team at the UH Cancer Center are working on Astro-3DO , a project that will help astronauts to lessen the debilitating loss of muscle and bone mass during long-duration space flights . This project utilizes 3D optical cameras to measure the body shape , mass composition , fat and lean mass of astronauts in space . Imaging the body will provide an accurate assessment of fat and muscle in their arms , legs and trunk . Study findings will
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