Childhood Obesity, Host and Microbiome, Immune Development, Neurodevelopment, Twin Diseases
Conditions
Keywords
Twin, Early Development, Cohort
Brief summary
The 2-BIG is a twin birth cohort study located in Guangzhou, China.Its initial aim is to facilitate research on understanding the interplay between genes and environmental factors on disease etiology. Data are collected regarding environmental, family and lifestyle exposures on twins from birth to 18 years old. Biological samples including blood and tissue samples are also collected from the twins and their parents.
Detailed description
Twins share the same intrauterine environment and the early family environment. When conducting research of chronic disease etiology, twins cohort can be a good control of bias from age, gender, genetic and early environment. Twin-based designs provide an estimate of the relative contribution of genetic and non-genetic factors to a specific phenotype. Twins study has an advantage of calculating heritability of traits. Since heritability of traits is various from different populations. It is important to establish database to calculate the heritability of traits associated with chronic major diseases in Chinese population. Twins cohort is rare in China at present. Therefore, extensive information including physical characteristics, mental health, and behaviors is collected from both twins and their parents. Longitudinal follow-up and surveillance of common diseases are also to be conducted. The 2-BIG aims to explore epigenetic markers and genes related to health status, as well as gene-environment interactions on diseases, both in intrauterine and childhood stages, especially in Chinese population.
Interventions
OTHERNo intervention
Sponsors
Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Live twins delivered in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center 2. Permanent residents or families intended to remain in Guangzhou with their children for no less than 3 years 3. Baseline information during pregnancy available
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Neurodevelopment at early childhood | At age of 1 year old | Including adaptive, gross motor, fine motor, language, and social function; assessed using Gesell Developmental Schedules. |
| Intelligence quotient | At age of 6 years old | Assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition including 5 verbal and 3 performance subtests. Intelligence quotient ranges 40-160, in which under 70 is defined as mental retardation. The total score was calculated by an online system. |
| Change of gene expression during childhood | Age at 1 year , 6 years, 12years and 18years | DNA methylation, histone acetylation etc. assessed by analyses of blood samples |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change of intestinal flora during early childhood | Age at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year , 3 years,6 years, 12years and 18years | Assessed by analyses of stool samples |
| Weight in kilogram changes during childhood | At birth, age of 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years,6 years, 12years and 18year | Measured by nurses in clinic |
| Changes of body composition and bone density during early childhood | At birth, age of 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year , 3 years,6 years, 12years and 18years | Body composition and bone density are assessed using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry |
| Height in kilometer changes during childhood | At birth, age of 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years,6 years, 12years and 18year | Measured by nurses in clinic |
Countries
China
Contacts
Primary ContactXiu Qiu, PhD
Backup ContactXuan Zhao, MSc
Outcome results
None listed