Serum concentration of hepatic enzymes are linked to liver dysfunction, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. We perform genetic analysis on serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) using data on 437,438 UK Biobank participants. Replication in 315,572 individuals from European descent from the Million Veteran Program, Rotterdam Study and Lifeline… Continue reading Genetic analysis in European ancestry individuals identifies 517 loci associated with #liver enzymes
Mitigating the threat of emerging #infectious diseases; a coevolutionary perspective
“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution”[1] and this is no less true for viral pathogens than it is for their host species. To appreciate the full extent of the challenges posed by current and future emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), I believe it is insightful to take a coevolutionary perspective. Coevolution… Continue reading Mitigating the threat of emerging #infectious diseases; a coevolutionary perspective
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and outcomes of #COVID-19 in the ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK cohort: a matched, prospective cohort study
Early in the pandemic it was suggested that pre-existing use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could lead to increased disease severity in patients with COVID-19. NSAIDs are an important analgesic, particularly in those with rheumatological disease, and are widely available to the general public without prescription. Evidence from community studies, administrative data, and small studies… Continue reading Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and outcomes of #COVID-19 in the ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK cohort: a matched, prospective cohort study
#Mediterranean Diet, #Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers and #Brain Atrophy in Old Age
To determine if following a Mediterranean-like diet (MeDi) relates to cognitive functions and in vivo biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), we analyzed cross-sectional data from the German Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study Method: The sample (n=512, mean age: 69.5±5.9 years) included 169 cognitively normal participants and subjects at higher AD risk (53 AD relatives,… Continue reading #Mediterranean Diet, #Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers and #Brain Atrophy in Old Age
Task-Dependent Functional and Effective #Connectivity during Conceptual Processing
Conceptual knowledge is central to cognition. Previous neuroimaging research indicates that conceptual processing involves both modality-specific perceptual-motor areas and multimodal convergence zones. For example, our previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study revealed that both modality-specific and multimodal regions respond to sound and action features of concepts in a task-dependent fashion (Kuhnke P, Kiefer M,… Continue reading Task-Dependent Functional and Effective #Connectivity during Conceptual Processing
The oral #microbiome in early #rheumatoid arthritis patients and individuals at risk differs from healthy controls
It has been suggested that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may originate at the oral mucosa. Our aim was to assess the oral microbiome and the periodontal condition in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and individuals at risk of RA. MethodsThree groups were recruited (50 participants each): (1) ERA patients (2010 ACR/EULAR criteria), (2) at‐risk individuals… Continue reading The oral #microbiome in early #rheumatoid arthritis patients and individuals at risk differs from healthy controls
NOX4 links metabolic regulation in #pancreatic #cancer to endoplasmic reticulum redox vulnerability and dependence on PRDX4
There is an urgent need to identify vulnerabilities in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PDAC cells acquire metabolic changes that augment NADPH production and cytosolic redox homeostasis. Here, we show that high NADPH levels drive activity of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) expressed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. NOX4 produces H2O2 metabolized by peroxiredoxin 4 (PRDX4)… Continue reading NOX4 links metabolic regulation in #pancreatic #cancer to endoplasmic reticulum redox vulnerability and dependence on PRDX4
The #COVID-19 #anxiety syndrome scale: Development and psychometric properties
The central aim of our study was to widen the mental health response to the COVID-19 pandemic by developing and evaluating a measure that could be used to identify the presence of anxiety syndrome features associated with COVID-19. In Study 1, a community sample of 292 participants completed the newly developed COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale… Continue reading The #COVID-19 #anxiety syndrome scale: Development and psychometric properties
#Sugar-sweetened beverage intake in adulthood and adolescence and risk of early-onset #colorectal cancer among women
Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption had substantially increased across successive US birth cohorts until 2000, and adolescents and young adults under age 50 years have the highest consumption. However, the link between SSBs and early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) remains unexamined. Design In the Nurses’ Health Study II (1991–2015), we prospectively investigated the association of SSB intake… Continue reading #Sugar-sweetened beverage intake in adulthood and adolescence and risk of early-onset #colorectal cancer among women
2 Medical News 