Using genome-wide data from 253,288 individuals, we identified 697 variants at genome-wide significance that together explain one-fifth of heritability for adult height. By testing different numbers of variants in independent studies, we show that the most strongly associated ~2,000, ~3,700 and ~9,500 SNPs explained ~21%, ~24% and ~29% of phenotypic variance. Furthermore, all common variants together captured the majority (60%) of heritability. The 697 variants clustered in 423 loci enriched for genes, pathways, and tissue-types known to be involved in growth and together implicated genes and pathways not highlighted in earlier efforts, such as signaling by fibroblast growth factors, WNT/beta-catenin, and chondroitin sulfate-related genes. We identified several genes and pathways not previously connected with human skeletal growth, including mTOR, osteoglycin and binding of hyaluronic acid. Our results indicate a genetic architecture for human height that is characterized by a very large but finite number (thousands) of causal variants.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide(1). We performed a genetic association study in 15,256 cases and 47,936 controls, with replication of select top results (P < 5 x 10(-6)) in 9,498 cases and 9,748 controls. In the combined meta-analysis, we identified 22 loci associated at genome-wide significance, including 13 new associations with COPD. Nine of these 13 loci have been associated with lung function in general population samples(2-7), while 4 (EEFSEC, DSP, MTCL1, and SFTPD) are new. We noted two loci shared with pulmonary fibrosis(8,9) (FAM13A and DSP) but that had opposite risk alleles for COPD. None of our loci overlapped with genome-wide associations for asthma, although one locus has been implicated in joint susceptibility to asthma and obesity(10). We also identified genetic correlation between COPD and asthma. Our findings highlight new loci associated with COPD, demonstrate the importance of specific loci associated with lung function to COPD, and identify potential regions of genetic overlap between COPD and other respiratory diseases

Physical inactivity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with poor health status and increased disease burden. The present study aims to test the efficacy of a previously developed mobile (m)Health intervention to improve or maintain physical activity in patients with COPD after pulmonary rehabilitation.A randomised controlled trial was performed in 32 physiotherapy practices in the Netherlands. COPD patients were randomised into intervention or usual care groups. The intervention consisted of a smartphone application for the patients and a monitoring website for the physiotherapists. Measurements were performed at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months. Physical activity, functional exercise capacity, lung function, health-related quality of life and body mass index were assessed.157 patients started the study and 121 completed it. There were no significant positive effects of the intervention on physical activity (at 0 months: intervention 5824±3418 steps per weekday, usual care 5717±2870 steps per weekday; at 12 months: intervention 4819±2526 steps per weekday, usual care 4950±2634 steps per weekday; p=0.811) or on the secondary end-points. There was a significant decrease over time in physical activity (p<0.001), lung function (p<0.001) and mastery (p=0.017), but not in functional exercise capacity (p=0.585).Although functional exercise capacity did not deteriorate, our mHealth intervention did not improve or maintain physical activity in patients with COPD after a period of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Inhalation of a direct stimulus such as histamine or methacholine is generally used to measure bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Provocation with adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP), an indirect airway challenge, has been suggested to be a better marker of airway inflammation than direct challenges. However, so far little information on this subject is available. The aim of our study was to assess whether the concentration of AMP causing the FEV(1) to drop by 20% (PC(20)) is more closely associated with inflammatory parameters in asthma than PC(20) methacholine. In 120 patients with atopic asthma (median FEV(1) 81% predicted [pred], median age 27 yr), PC(20) methacholine and PC(20) AMP as well as sputum induction, blood sampling, and measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air were performed. PC(20) methacholine was predominantly predicted by FEV(1) %pred (explained variance [ev] = 18%) with the percentage of peripheral blood monocytes being a weak additional independent predictor (total ev = 23%). By contrast, PC(20) AMP was predominantly predicted by the percentage of eosinophils in sputum (ev = 25%), while FEV(1) %pred was only an additional independent predictor (total ev = 36%). PC(20) AMP reflects more closely the extent of airway inflammation due to asthma than PC(20) methacholine.

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