1. |
- Aglago, Elom K., et al.
(author)
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A Genetic Locus within the FMN1/GREM1 Gene Region Interacts with Body Mass Index in Colorectal Cancer Risk
- 2023
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In: Cancer Research. - : American Association For Cancer Research (AACR). - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 83:15, s. 2572-2583
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Colorectal cancer risk can be impacted by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, including diet and obesity. Gene-environment interactions (G × E) can provide biological insights into the effects of obesity on colorectal cancer risk. Here, we assessed potential genome-wide G × E interactions between body mass index (BMI) and common SNPs for colorectal cancer risk using data from 36,415 colorectal cancer cases and 48,451 controls from three international colorectal cancer consortia (CCFR, CORECT, and GECCO). The G × E tests included the conventional logistic regression using multiplicative terms (one degree of freedom, 1DF test), the two-step EDGE method, and the joint 3DF test, each of which is powerful for detecting G × E interactions under specific conditions. BMI was associated with higher colorectal cancer risk. The two-step approach revealed a statistically significant G×BMI interaction located within the Formin 1/Gremlin 1 (FMN1/GREM1) gene region (rs58349661). This SNP was also identified by the 3DF test, with a suggestive statistical significance in the 1DF test. Among participants with the CC genotype of rs58349661, overweight and obesity categories were associated with higher colorectal cancer risk, whereas null associations were observed across BMI categories in those with the TT genotype. Using data from three large international consortia, this study discovered a locus in the FMN1/GREM1 gene region that interacts with BMI on the association with colorectal cancer risk. Further studies should examine the potential mechanisms through which this locus modifies the etiologic link between obesity and colorectal cancer.SIGNIFICANCE: This gene-environment interaction analysis revealed a genetic locus in FMN1/GREM1 that interacts with body mass index in colorectal cancer risk, suggesting potential implications for precision prevention strategies.
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2. |
- Allentoft, Morten E., et al.
(author)
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Population genomics of post-glacial western Eurasia
- 2024
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In: Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 625:7994, s. 301-311
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Western Eurasia witnessed several large-scale human migrations during the Holocene1–5. Here, to investigate the cross-continental effects of these migrations, we shotgun-sequenced 317 genomes—mainly from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods—from across northern and western Eurasia. These were imputed alongside published data to obtain diploid genotypes from more than 1,600 ancient humans. Our analyses revealed a ‘great divide’ genomic boundary extending from the Black Sea to the Baltic. Mesolithic hunter-gatherers were highly genetically differentiated east and west of this zone, and the effect of the neolithization was equally disparate. Large-scale ancestry shifts occurred in the west as farming was introduced, including near-total replacement of hunter-gatherers in many areas, whereas no substantial ancestry shifts happened east of the zone during the same period. Similarly, relatedness decreased in the west from the Neolithic transition onwards, whereas, east of the Urals, relatedness remained high until around 4,000 bp, consistent with the persistence of localized groups of hunter-gatherers. The boundary dissolved when Yamnaya-related ancestry spread across western Eurasia around 5,000 bp, resulting in a second major turnover that reached most parts of Europe within a 1,000-year span. The genetic origin and fate of the Yamnaya have remained elusive, but we show that hunter-gatherers from the Middle Don region contributed ancestry to them. Yamnaya groups later admixed with individuals associated with the Globular Amphora culture before expanding into Europe. Similar turnovers occurred in western Siberia, where we report new genomic data from a ‘Neolithic steppe’ cline spanning the Siberian forest steppe to Lake Baikal. These prehistoric migrations had profound and lasting effects on the genetic diversity of Eurasian populations.
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3. |
- Chebaeva, Natalia, et al.
(author)
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Dealing with the eco-design paradox in research and development projects : The concept of sustainability assessment levels
- 2021
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In: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier BV. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 281
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Although plenty of research has been carried out to develop a multitude of sustainability assessment methods, few guidelines and criteria have been established to help practitioners and researchers find the most appropriate method for a specific case. Studies have shown the importance of integrating sustainability assessments when conducting research and development activities, but have not provided direct links to available sustainability assessment methods. To address the so-called "eco-design paradox", this paper describes a systematic classification system for the available sustainability assessment methods. To support the early integration of sustainability assessments in research and development, we inductively derived the concept of sustainability assessment levels from the well-known concept of technology readiness level. In total, 33 sustainability assessment methods were considered. We performed an expert-based correspondence analysis based on the availability of information to perform these methods and the demand for specific information at respective technology readiness level. Thereafter, a cluster analysis was performed, creating four distinct clusters which were finally interpreted as sustainability assessment levels. The provided concept supports interdisciplinary research projects in that it provides an overview of and guideline for possible sustainability assessment methods that match the respective technology readiness level. This enables researchers to integrate sustainability assessment into respective research and development projects and further modify and develop the theoretically synthetized concept based on empirical case studies.
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4. |
- Drew, David A., et al.
(author)
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Two genome-wide interaction loci modify the association of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with colorectal cancer
- 2024
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In: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 10:22
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Regular, long-term aspirin use may act synergistically with genetic variants, particularly those in mechanistically relevant pathways, to confer a protective effect on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. We leveraged pooled data from 52 clinical trial, cohort, and case-control studies that included 30,806 CRC cases and 41,861 controls of European ancestry to conduct a genome-wide interaction scan between regular aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and imputed genetic variants. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, we identified statistically significant interactions between regular aspirin/NSAID use and variants in 6q24.1 (top hit rs72833769), which has evidence of influencing expression of TBC1D7 (a subunit of the TSC1-TSC2 complex, a key regulator of MTOR activity), and variants in 5p13.1 (top hit rs350047), which is associated with expression of PTGER4 (codes a cell surface receptor directly involved in the mode of action of aspirin). Genetic variants with functional impact may modulate the chemopreventive effect of regular aspirin use, and our study identifies putative previously unidentified targets for additional mechanistic interrogation.
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5. |
- Fletcher, Nick, et al.
(author)
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Altered retinoid metabolism in female Long-Evans and Han/Wistar rats following long-term 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-treatment
- 2005
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In: Toxicological Sciences. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1096-6080 .- 1096-0929. ; 86:2, s. 264-272
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigated the effects of long-term low-dose 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure on retinoid, thyroid hormone, and vitamin D homeostasis in Long-Evans and Han/Wistar rats using a tumor promotion exposure protocol. Female rats (ten/group) were partially hepatectomized, initiated with nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), and given TCDD once per week by sc injection for 20 weeks at calculated daily doses of 0, 1, 10, 100, or 1000 ng/kg bw/day. Groups of nonhepatectomized/uninitiated rats (five/group) were identically maintained. After 20 weeks, the rats were killed, and apolar retinoid levels were determined in the liver and kidneys. No consistent differences were seen between partially hepatectomized/initiated and nonhepatectomized/uninitiated animals with respect to apolar retinoid levels or hepatic TCDD concentration. Further analyses of polar and apolar retinoid levels in liver, plasma, and kidney, as well as free thyroxine (FT4) and vitamin D (25-OH-D(3)) concentrations were carried out in partially hepatectomized/inititated animals. In Long-Evans rats, TCDD exposure dose-dependently decreased hepatic retinyl ester concentrations at doses of 1-100 ng/kg bw/day. Likewise, hepatic all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA) concentration was decreased 39 and 54% at 10 and 100 ng/kg bw/day respectively, whereas 9-cis-4-oxo-13,14-dihydro-retinoic acid (9-cis-4-oxo-13,14-dihydro-RA), a recently discovered retinoic acid metabolite, was decreased approximately 60% in the liver at 1 ng/kg bw/day. TCDD dose-dependently increased plasma retinol and kidney retinol concentrations, whereas all-trans-RA concentration was also increased in the plasma and kidney at 10 and 100 ng/kg bw/day. Plasma 9-cis-4-oxo-13,14-dihydro-RA was decreased to below detection limits from doses of 1 ng/kg bw/day TCDD. A qualitatively similar pattern of retinoid disruption was observed in the Han/Wistar rat strain following TCDD exposure. FT4 was decreased to a similar extent in both strains, whereas 25-OH-D(3) was decreased only at 100 ng/kg bw/day in Long-Evans rats. Together these results show that TCDD disrupts both retinoid storage and metabolism of retinoic acid and retinoic acid metabolites in liver, kidney, and plasma from doses as low as 1 ng/kg bw/day. Furthermore, 9-cis-4-oxo-13,14-dihydro-RA was identified as a novel and sensitive indicator of TCDD exposure, in a resistant and sensitive rat strain, thereby extending the database of low-dose TCDD effects.
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6. |
- Hammerstein, Erica, et al.
(author)
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The Final Season Reimagined : 30 Tidal Disruption Events from the ZTF-I Survey
- 2023
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 942:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Tidal disruption events (TDEs) offer a unique way to study dormant black holes. While the number of observed TDEs has grown thanks to the emergence of wide-field surveys in the past few decades, questions regarding the nature of the observed optical, UV, and X-ray emission remain. We present a uniformly selected sample of 30 spectroscopically classified TDEs from the Zwicky Transient Facility Phase I survey operations with follow-up Swift UV and X-ray observations. Through our investigation into correlations between light-curve properties, we recover a shallow positive correlation between the peak bolometric luminosity and decay timescales. We introduce a new spectroscopic class of TDE, TDE-featureless, which are characterized by featureless optical spectra. The new TDE-featureless class shows larger peak bolometric luminosities, peak blackbody temperatures, and peak blackbody radii. We examine the differences between the X-ray bright and X-ray faint populations of TDEs in this sample, finding that X-ray bright TDEs show higher peak blackbody luminosities than the X-ray faint subsample. This sample of optically selected TDEs is the largest sample of TDEs from a single survey yet, and the systematic discovery, classification, and follow-up of this sample allows for robust characterization of TDE properties, an important stepping stone looking forward toward the Rubin era.
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7. |
- Herlin, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Quantitative characterization of changes in bone geometry, mineral density and biomechanical properties in two rat strains with different Ah-receptor structures after long-term exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
- 2010
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In: Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0300-483X .- 1879-3185. ; 273:1-3, s. 1-11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Both industrial chemicals and environmental pollutants can interfere with bone modeling and remodeling. Recently, detailed toxicological bone studies have been performed following exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), which exerts most of its toxic effects through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to quantitatively evaluate changes in bone geometry, mineral density and biomechanical properties following long-term exposure to TCDD, and to further investigate the role of AhR in TCDD-induced bone alterations. To this end, tissue material used in the study was derived from TCDD-exposed Long-Evans (L-E) and Han/Wistar (H/W) rats, which differ markedly in sensitivity to TCDD-induced toxicity due to a strain difference in AhR structure. METHODS: Ten weeks old female L-E and H/W rats were administered TCDD s.c. once per week for 20 weeks, at doses corresponding to calculated daily doses of 0, 1, 10, 100 and 1000ngTCDD/kgbw (H/W only). Femur, tibia and vertebra from the L-E and H/W rats were analyzed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and biomechanical testing at multiple sites. Dose-response modeling was performed to establish benchmark doses for the analyzed bone parameters, and to quantify strain sensitivity differences for those parameters, which were affected by TCDD exposure in both rat strains. RESULTS: Bone geometry and bone biomechanical parameters were affected by TCDD exposure, while bone mineral density parameters were less affected. The trabecular area at proximal tibia and the endocortical circumference at tibial diaphysis were the parameters that showed the highest maximal responses. Significant strain differences in response to TCDD treatment were observed, with the L-E rat being the most sensitive strain. For the parameters that were affected in both strains, the differences in sensitivity were quantified, showing the most pronounced (about 49-fold) strain difference for cross-sectional area of proximal tibia. CONCLUSION: The study provides novel information about TCDD-induced bone alterations at doses, which are of relevance from a health risk assessment point of view. In addition, the obtained results provide further support for a distinct role of the AhR in TCDD-induced bone alterations, and suggest that the benchmark dose modeling approach is appropriate for quantitative evaluation of bone toxicity parameters.
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8. |
- Jones, Benedict C, et al.
(author)
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To which world regions does the valence-dominance model of social perception apply?
- 2021
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In: Nature Human Behaviour. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2397-3374. ; 5:1, s. 159-169
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Over the past 10 years, Oosterhof and Todorov's valence-dominance model has emerged as the most prominent account of how people evaluate faces on social dimensions. In this model, two dimensions (valence and dominance) underpin social judgements of faces. Because this model has primarily been developed and tested in Western regions, it is unclear whether these findings apply to other regions. We addressed this question by replicating Oosterhof and Todorov's methodology across 11 world regions, 41 countries and 11,570 participants. When we used Oosterhof and Todorov's original analysis strategy, the valence-dominance model generalized across regions. When we used an alternative methodology to allow for correlated dimensions, we observed much less generalization. Collectively, these results suggest that, while the valence-dominance model generalizes very well across regions when dimensions are forced to be orthogonal, regional differences are revealed when we use different extraction methods and correlate and rotate the dimension reduction solution. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 5 November 2018. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7611443.v1 .
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9. |
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10. |
- Stern, Natalia
(author)
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Organohalogen environmental pollutants in Baltic fish : chemical characterization and toxicological evaluation with a focus on bone disturbances
- 2005
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The present study was initiated due to concern about toxicological consequences associated with the exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) via the consumption of Baltic fish. In Sweden, fish from the Baltic Sea is a major dietary source of POPs but also an important source of essential nutrients. Balancing risks and benefits of fish consumption is an important public health topic. Most cases of environmental contamination result in exposure to a mixture of chemicals and evaluating the potential hazards following this exposure is a challenge because effects are influenced by multiple factors that may have totally independent actions but also exhibit additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects. The overall aim was to identify any adverse effects, with special emphasis on bone effects, of long-term low dose exposure to a mixture of POPs, present in Baltic fish, to link the observed effects to particular organohalogens or to dietary factors, and to identify the bone parameters and/or skeletal sites most sensitive to dioxin exposure. The chosen strategy was to fractionate and separate POPs derived from Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) in order to obtain herring oil fractions with differing proportions of organohalogen pollutants and to perform a traditional subchronic toxicity study in female rats at dose levels, corresponding to 8, 40 and 160 times the estimated human intake of fish in the Swedish population. The fractionation of herring oil resulted in substantial reduction of most of the pollutants in the triacyIglycerol fraction and a pronounced enrichment of most of the pollutants into the two other fractions. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and 1, 1, 1 -tri chloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) were the most abundant pollutants in Baltic herring during the mid-1990s. Polyclorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) showed a higher liver retention than other contaminants. The toxicological examination showed that exposure to Baltic herring oil at dose levels, corresponding to human intake of 1.6, 8.2 or 34.4 kg fish /week resulted in general toxic effects that could be described as minimal, even at the high dose level. The spectrum of toxic effects was similar to low-dose effects of exposure to dioxinlike pollutants. Because of the complex nature of the mixture, the effects could not be conclusively linked to a specific contaminant. Clear differences in bone geometry and density were observed in rats exposed to the different diets. The obtained results were put in the context of a simultaneous exposure to various nutritional factors, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), vitamin A and D. However, the changes could not be linked to any isolated chemical pollutant or nutrient, suggesting synergistic or antagonistic effects of several components of the diets. Serum levels of n-6 and n-3 PUFA reflected the vegetable oil or fish oil content of the diets. By using Han/Wistar (H/W) and Long-Evans (L-E) rat strains, which differ in their sensitivity to the toxicity of Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands, we further clarified the role of AhR and quantified the most sensitive endpoints in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced bone toxicity. We performed more extensive studies of load-bearing skeletal sites to identify the bone parameters and skeletal sites most sensitive to dioxin-induced AhR-mediated bone toxicity. Long bones were consistently more sensitive to dioxin exposure than lumbar vertebra, which could be the result of differences in bone resorption and/or bone formation rates in different types of bones. The most sensitive parameter for dioxin-induced bone toxicity was the cross-sectional area of femoral metaphysis. Untreated H/W rats with structurally aberrant AhR exhibited shorter femur and lumbar vertebra and consistently thinner, denser and more fragile bones than L-E rats with normal AhR structure, which provide important information on a possible role of AhR in bone biology. A 10 to 100-fold difference in sensitivity to dioxin-induced bone effects between L-E and H/W rats were observed in this study, supporting a distinct role for AhR in dioxin-induced bone abnormalities.
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11. |
- Stern, Natalia, et al.
(author)
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Subchronic toxicity of Baltic herring oil and its fractions in the rat II : Clinical observations and toxicological parameters.
- 2002
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In: Pharmacology and Toxicology. - : Wiley. - 0901-9928 .- 1600-0773. ; 91:5, s. 232-244
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study aimed to increase the knowledge about the toxicity of fish-derived organohalogen pollutants in mammals. The strategy chosen was to separate organohalogen pollutants derived from Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) fillet, in order to obtain fractions with differing proportions of identified and unidentified halogenated pollutants, and to perform a subchronic toxicity study in rats, essentially according to the OECD guidelines, at three dose levels. Nordic Sea lodda (Mallotus villosus) oil, with low levels of persistent organohalogen pollutants, was used as an additional control diet. The toxicological examination showed that exposure to Baltic herring oil and its fractions at dose levels corresponding to a human intake in the range of 1.6 to 34.4 kg Baltic herring per week resulted in minimal effects. The spectrum of effects was similar to that, which is observed after low-level exposure to pollutants such as chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDD/F) and chlorinated biphenyls, despite the fact that these contaminants contribute to a minor part of the extractable organically bound chlorine (EOCl). The study confirmed previous findings that induction of hepatic ethoxyresorufin deethylase (EROD) activity takes place at daily intake levels 0.15 ng fish-derived CDD/F-TEQs/kg body weight. The study also demonstrated that hepatic vitamin A reduction takes place at somewhat higher daily exposure levels, i.e. 0.16–0.30 ng fish-derived CDD/F-TEQs/kg body weight. Halogenated fatty acids, the major component of EOCl, could not be linked to any of the measured effects. From a risk management point of view, the study provides important new information of effect levels for Ah-receptor mediated responses following low level exposure to organohalogen compounds from a matrix relevant for human exposure.
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12. |
- Öberg, Mattias, et al.
(author)
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Toxicity of Bromkal 70-5DE, a technical mixture of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, following 28 d of oral exposure in rats and impact of analysed impurities
- 2010
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In: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 80:2, s. 137-143
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The subacute toxicity of a commercial polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) preparation, Bromkal 70-5DE, was investigated. In addition to a vehicle control, the mixture was given orally to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats for 28d at three dose levels; 2.5, 25 and 250mgkg(-1) b.w.d(-1). The observed effects include increased hepatic EROD activity (from 2.5mgkg(-1)d(-1)); increased liver weight (males), increased PROD activity and depletion of hepatic retinoids (from 25mgkg(-1)d(-1)); and increased liver weight (females), marked histological changes in the liver and lungs, as well as increased serum parameters such as total protein, cholesterol and albumin (from 250mgkg(-1)d(-1)). Chemical analysis of the PBDE mixture with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GS/MS) showed impurities of polybrominated dibenzofurans and to a lesser extent dibenzodioxins, in total levels of about 7.0mugg(-1) of Bromkal technical mixture. The animals were thereby exposed to an estimated dose of dioxin-like equivalents corresponding to 1.3-131ng TEQkg(-1) b.w.d(-1). It cannot be ruled out that this level of impurities can explain the hepatic EROD induction and hepatic retinoid depletion, which are considered typical markers of toxicity mediated via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).
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