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Alterations in DNA methylation patterns have been associated with many diseases. However, the role of DNA methylation in venous thromboembolism (VTE) is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between global DNA methylation and VTE. The study participants consisted of 168 individuals including 74 patients with primary VTE from the Malmö Thrombophilia Study (MATS) and 94 healthy controls. Among 74 primary VTE patients, 37 suffered VTE recurrence during the follow-up period; 37 nonrecurrent VTE patients were included for comparison. Blood-based global DNA methylation was assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Global DNA methylation was significantly higher in primary VTE patients compared with the healthy controls (median: 0.17 vs. 0.08%; p  < 0.001). After stratification of data from primary VTE patients according to sex, the association between higher global DNA methylation and shorter recurrence-free survival time was of borderline statistical significance in males ( β = –0.2; p  = 0.052) but not in females ( β  = 0.02; p  = 0.90). Our results show that global DNA methylation is associated with primary VTE and that higher levels of global DNA methylation may be associated with early VTE recurrence in males but not in females. Further investigation on the role of DNA methylation as a diagnostic or preventive biomarker in VTE is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although mindfulness‐based group therapies (MGTs) for depressive, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders are promising, there is a substantial lack of knowledge regarding the long‐term improvements after such therapies in these common psychiatric disorders. Methods: Two hundred and fifteen patients were randomized in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01476371) conducted in 2012 at 16 primary healthcare centres in southern Sweden. The patients were randomized to MGT or treatment as usual (TAU) and completed four psychometric self‐rated scales after 8 weeks of treatment. Approximately 12 months after the completion of the 8‐week treatment, the same scales were repeated. Ordinal and generalized linear‐mixed models, adjusted for cluster effects, were used for the analysis. Results: For all four psychometric scales (MADRS‐S [Montgomery‐Åsberg Depression Rating Scale‐S], HADS‐D, HADS‐A [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale A and D] and PHQ‐9 [Patient Health Questionnaire‐9]) the scores at the 1‐year follow‐up were significantly improved (all P values <0.001) in both groups. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the MGT and TAU in the psychometric scores at the 1‐year follow‐up. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first RCT comparing the long‐term improvements after MGT with TAU. Although it cannot be excluded that our findings are a result of the natural course of common psychiatric disorders or other factors, they suggest a long‐term positive improvement after both MGT and TAU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The primary aim was to examine possible differences in telomere length between primary health care patients, with depression, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders, and healthy controls. The second aim was to examine the association between telomere length and baseline characteristics in the patients. The third aim was to examine the potential effects of the 8-week treatments (mindfulness-based group therapy or treatment as usual, i.e. mostly cognitive-based therapy) on telomere length, and to examine whether there was a difference in the potential effect on telomere length between the two groups. Methods: A total of 501 individuals including 181 patients (aged 20-64 years), with depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders, and 320 healthy controls (aged 19-70 years) were recruited in the study. Patient data were collected from a randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness-based group therapy with treatment as usual. We isolated genomic DNA from blood samples, collected at baseline and after the 8-week follow-up. Telomere length was measured by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. Results: Telomere length was significantly shorter in the patients (mean = 0.77 ± 0.12,), compared to the controls (mean = 0.81 ± 0.14) (p = 0.006). The difference in telomere length remained significant after controlling for age and sex. Old age, male sex and being overweight were associated with shorter telomere length. There was no significant difference in telomere length between baseline and at the 8-week follow-up in any of the treatment groups and no difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that telomere length, as compared with healthy controls, is shortened in patients with depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders. In both groups (mindfulness-based group therapy or treatment as usual), the telomere length remained unchanged after the 8-week treatment/follow-up and there was no difference between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familial aggregation (clustering) of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the clustering of VTE within a family. Though several genes, such as antithrombin, protein C, protein S, factor V, and prothrombin are associated with the familial clustering of VTE, these loci only partially explain the familial aggregation of VTE. The epidemiology of the familial aggregation of VTE exhibits typical characteristics of complex traits. The family history of VTE in first-degree relatives is associated with a two to three times increased familial relative risk (FRR). The FRR of VTE is higher in younger individuals, increases with a number of affected relatives, decreases as the familial relationship becomes more distant, increases with severity (unprovoked), and exhibits slightly stronger male transmission (Carter effect). High FRR is observed in individuals with two or more affected siblings (FRR > 50). Because familial aggregation represents the sum of shared family environmental and genetic factors, one should not assume that evidence of familial aggregation implies genetic effects. However, studies in twins, extended families, adoptees, and spouses indicate a weak involvement of shared environmental factors to the familial aggregation of VTE. Moreover, familial aggregation of VTE fulfills the Hill's criteria for causation. In conclusion, familial aggregation of VTE signals a clinically relevant inherent predisposition for VTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]