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- Ngo, Debby, et al.
(författare)
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Circulating testican-2 is a podocyte-derived marker of kidney health
- 2020
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 1091-6490 .- 0027-8424. ; 117:40, s. 25026-25035
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In addition to their fundamental role in clearance, the kidneys release select molecules into the circulation, but whether any of these anabolic functions provides insight on kidney health is unknown. Using aptamer-based proteomics, we characterized arterial (A)-to-renal venous (V) gradients for >1,300 proteins in 22 individuals who underwent invasive sampling. Although most of the proteins that changed significantly decreased from A to V, consistent with renal clearance, several were found to increase, the most significant of which was testican-2. To assess the clinical implications of these physiologic findings, we examined proteomic data in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), an African-American cohort (n = 1,928), with replication in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), a White cohort (n = 1,621). In both populations, testican-2 had a strong, positive correlation with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In addition, higher baseline testican-2 levels were associated with a lower rate of eGFR decline in models adjusted for age, gender, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, body mass index, baseline eGFR, and albuminuria. Glomerular expression of testican-2 in human kidneys was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy, while single-cell RNA sequencing of human kidneys showed expression of the cognate gene, SPOCK2, exclusively in podocytes. In vitro, testican-2 increased glomerular endothelial tube formation and motility, raising the possibility that its secretion has a functional role within the glomerulus. Taken together, our findings identify testican-2 as a podocyte-derived biomarker of kidney health and prognosis.
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- Watts, Eleanor L., et al.
(författare)
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Circulating insulin-like growth factors and risks of overall, aggressive and early-onset prostate cancer : a collaborative analysis of 20 prospective studies and Mendelian randomization analysis
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Epidemiology. - : Oxford University Press. - 0300-5771 .- 1464-3685. ; 52:1, s. 71-86
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Previous studies had limited power to assess the associations of circulating insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) with clinically relevant prostate cancer as a primary endpoint, and the association of genetically predicted IGF-I with aggressive prostate cancer is not known. We aimed to investigate the associations of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 concentrations with overall, aggressive and early-onset prostate cancer.Methods: Prospective analysis of biomarkers using the Endogenous Hormones, Nutritional Biomarkers and Prostate Cancer Collaborative Group dataset (up to 20 studies, 17 009 prostate cancer cases, including 2332 aggressive cases). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for prostate cancer were estimated using conditional logistic regression. For IGF-I, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was undertaken using instruments identified using UK Biobank (158 444 men) and outcome data from PRACTICAL (up to 85 554 cases, including 15 167 aggressive cases). Additionally, we used colocalization to rule out confounding by linkage disequilibrium.Results: In observational analyses, IGF-I was positively associated with risks of overall (OR per 1 SD = 1.09: 95% CI 1.07, 1.11), aggressive (1.09: 1.03, 1.16) and possibly early-onset disease (1.11: 1.00, 1.24); associations were similar in MR analyses (OR per 1 SD = 1.07: 1.00, 1.15; 1.10: 1.01, 1.20; and 1.13; 0.98, 1.30, respectively). Colocalization also indicated a shared signal for IGF-I and prostate cancer (PP4: 99%). Men with higher IGF-II (1.06: 1.02, 1.11) and IGFBP-3 (1.08: 1.04, 1.11) had higher risks of overall prostate cancer, whereas higher IGFBP-1 was associated with a lower risk (0.95: 0.91, 0.99); these associations were attenuated following adjustment for IGF-I.Conclusions: These findings support the role of IGF-I in the development of prostate cancer, including for aggressive disease.
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- Wright, Graham D., et al.
(författare)
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Recognising the importance and impact of Imaging Scientists: Global guidelines for establishing career paths within core facilities
- 2024
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY. - 0022-2720 .- 1365-2818. ; 294:3, s. 397-410
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the dynamic landscape of scientific research, imaging core facilities are vital hubs propelling collaboration and innovation at the technology development and dissemination frontier. Here, we present a collaborative effort led by Global BioImaging (GBI), introducing international recommendations geared towards elevating the careers of Imaging Scientists in core facilities. Despite the critical role of Imaging Scientists in modern research ecosystems, challenges persist in recognising their value, aligning performance metrics and providing avenues for career progression and job security. The challenges encompass a mismatch between classic academic career paths and service-oriented roles, resulting in a lack of understanding regarding the value and impact of Imaging Scientists and core facilities and how to evaluate them properly. They further include challenges around sustainability, dedicated training opportunities and the recruitment and retention of talent. Structured across these interrelated sections, the recommendations within this publication aim to propose globally applicable solutions to navigate these challenges. These recommendations apply equally to colleagues working in other core facilities and research institutions through which access to technologies is facilitated and supported. This publication emphasises the pivotal role of Imaging Scientists in advancing research programs and presents a blueprint for fostering their career progression within institutions all around the world. In the exciting world of scientific research, imaging core facilities are essential hubs where scientists use advanced technologies to conduct experiments and uncover fascinating discoveries. What makes these facilities remarkable is that multiple scientists can access and utilise a variety of instruments for a wide range of multidisciplinary research projects, fostering collaboration and innovation. At the forefront of this scientific adventure are Imaging Scientists, experts who play a crucial role in planning experiments, preparing materials, adapting and acquiring technologies, collecting data, training and supporting researchers, analysing images and forming conclusions. Despite their pivotal contributions, there are challenges in recognising the importance of Imaging Scientists and ensuring they have ample opportunities to advance in their careers. These challenges include a mismatch between the typical academic career path and the unique roles and responsibilities of Imaging Scientists, a lack of widespread understanding of their value plus financial constraints, insufficient training opportunities, and difficulties in attracting and retaining talented individuals. To address these issues, Global BioImaging (GBI; www.globalbioimaging.org) has brought together Imaging Scientists from around the world to develop a generally applicable set of recommendations in three key areas: highlighting the significance and value of Imaging Scientists, making it easier to recruit and retain them, and supporting their ongoing learning and professional growth. A notable concept is to reimagine the traditional separation between academic roles and technical support roles. GBI envisions that these recommendations will not only benefit imaging facilities but also prove valuable for research institutions housing diverse technologies organised into core facilities. Recognising the diverse nature of research performing institutions globally, the GBI community sees this guide as a starting point that will initiate dialogue and instigate change, which should be periodically updated as the needs of Imaging Scientists change. This initial version lays a solid foundation for future enhancements, contributing to the acknowledgement and support of the invaluable work done by Imaging Scientists on a global scale.
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