Wearable movement-tracking data identify Parkinson’s disease years before clinical diagnosis

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder with a long latent phase and currently no disease-modifying treatments. Reliable predictive biomarkers that could transform efforts to develop neuroprotective treatments remain to be identified. Using UK Biobank, we investigated the predictive value of accelerometry in identifying prodromal Parkinson’s disease in the general population and compared this… Continue reading Wearable movement-tracking data identify Parkinson’s disease years before clinical diagnosis

Inequalities in urban greenness and epigenetic aging: Different associations by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status

Slower epigenetic aging is associated with exposure to green space (greenness); however, the longitudinal relationship has not been well studied, particularly in minority groups. We investigated the association between 20-year exposure to greenness [Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)] and epigenetic aging in a large, biracial (Black/white), U.S. urban cohort. Using generalized estimating equations adjusted for… Continue reading Inequalities in urban greenness and epigenetic aging: Different associations by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status

Acceptability, Tolerability, and Estimates of Putative Treatment Effects of Probiotics as Adjunctive Treatment in Patients With Depression

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a promising target for novel treatments for mood disorders, such as probiotics. However, few clinical trials have been conducted, and further safety and efficacy data are needed to support this treatment approach.Objective  To provide acceptability and tolerability data and estimates of intervention effect size for probiotics as adjunctive treatment for patients with… Continue reading Acceptability, Tolerability, and Estimates of Putative Treatment Effects of Probiotics as Adjunctive Treatment in Patients With Depression

Is there an association between daytime napping, cognitive function, and brain volume? A Mendelian randomization study in the UK Biobank

Highlights•Whether daytime napping is causally associated with brain health remains elusive.•We studied the causal role of daytime napping on cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes.•We found a modest causal link between habitual napping and larger total brain volume. Daytime napping has been associated with cognitive function and brain health in observational studies. However, it remains elusive whether these associations… Continue reading Is there an association between daytime napping, cognitive function, and brain volume? A Mendelian randomization study in the UK Biobank

Interferon signaling promotes tolerance to chromosomal instability during metastatic evolution in renal cancer

Molecular routes to metastatic dissemination are critical determinants of aggressive cancers. Through in vivo CRISPR–Cas9 genome editing, we generated somatic mosaic genetically engineered models that faithfully recapitulate metastatic renal tumors. Disruption of 9p21 locus is an evolutionary driver to systemic disease through the rapid acquisition of complex karyotypes in cancer cells. Cross-species analysis revealed that… Continue reading Interferon signaling promotes tolerance to chromosomal instability during metastatic evolution in renal cancer

Randomized, Controlled Trial of the FGF21 Analogue Pegozafermin in NASH

BACKGROUNDPegozafermin is a long-acting glycopegylated (pegylated with the use of site-specific glycosyltransferases) fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analogue in development for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and severe hypertriglyceridemia. The efficacy and safety of pegozafermin in patients with biopsy-proven noncirrhotic NASH are not well established.METHODSIn this phase 2b, multicenter, double-blind, 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial,… Continue reading Randomized, Controlled Trial of the FGF21 Analogue Pegozafermin in NASH

An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness

Highlights•There is consistent evidence linking social isolation and loneliness to worse cardiovascular and mental health outcomes.•Less is known on the role of other conditions and wider socio-economic consequences.•Policy makers and commissioners should consider asset-based prevention strategies. Social isolation and loneliness have been associated with ill health and are common in the developed world. A clear understanding… Continue reading An overview of systematic reviews on the public health consequences of social isolation and loneliness

Osteoporosis Medication Use After Hip Fracture in U.S. Patients Between 2002 and 2011

ABSTRACTHip fractures are common, morbid, costly, and associated with subsequent fractures. Historically, postfracture osteoporosis medication use rates have been poor, but have not been recently examined in a large-scale study. We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study based on U.S. administrative insurance claims data for beneficiaries with commercial or Medicare supplemental health insurance. Eligible participants… Continue reading Osteoporosis Medication Use After Hip Fracture in U.S. Patients Between 2002 and 2011

Hip Fractures in Institutionalized Elderly People: Incidence Rates and Excess Mortality

It is assumed that nursing homes are the setting with the highest incidence of hip fractures. This observation is, however, based on very little data. The aim of this study was to analyze hip fracture rates and the associated excess mortality in a large nursing home population. A cohort of >69,000 women and men newly… Continue reading Hip Fractures in Institutionalized Elderly People: Incidence Rates and Excess Mortality