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- Kanoni, Stavroula, et al.
(author)
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Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis.
- 2022
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In: Genome biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-760X .- 1465-6906 .- 1474-7596. ; 23:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery.To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N=1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3-5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism.Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.
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- Schmidt, Karl Heinz, et al.
(author)
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Identifying and overcoming deficiencies of nuclear data on the fission of light actinides by use of the GEF code
- 2024
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In: Annals of Nuclear Energy. - 0306-4549 .- 1873-2100. ; 208
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fission of light actinides has shown to exhibit features, which abruptly deviate from the monotonous trend established for heavier systems. More specifically, the description of their fission excitation functions and fragment angular anisotropies was found impossible to reconcile with the statistical- model framework employing a double-humped fission barrier profile, which was successfully applied to heavy nuclei. This was referred to as the “thorium anomaly” in the 1970’s, and was interpreted in terms of the occurrence of a triple-humped barrier. Over the years, its impact on other fission quantities, in particular on the fission yields, has nevertheless been overlooked. In this work we show the drastic influence of the third barrier on the fission-fragment mass (equivalently, charge) and total kinetic energy at excitation energies close to the barrier. The analysis of these observables, and of their variation as a function of initial excitation energy, reveals the suppression of compact (and possibly very elongated) shapes at scission in light actinides. An extension of the semi- empirical GEF code is developed that relates this suppression to the influence of the third barrier. Accounting for this specific feature of light actinides is crucial for a proper description of the fission of the nuclides involved in 235 U-driven reactors, and, to a higher degree, those of the Th-U cycle. These features are not considered in present official nuclear-data tables. Systematic fragment-yield predictions are provided.
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- Saunders, Charlie N., et al.
(author)
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Search for AL amyloidosis risk factors using Mendelian randomization
- 2021
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In: Blood Advances. - : American Society of Hematology. - 2473-9529 .- 2473-9537. ; 5:13, s. 2725-2731
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis, amyloid fibrils derived from immunoglobulin light chain are deposited in many organs, interfering with their function. The etiology of AL amyloidosis is poorly understood. Summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of multiple phenotypes can be exploited by Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology to search for factors influencingALamyloidosis risk.Weperformed a 2-sample MR analyzing 72 phenotypes, proxied by 3461 genetic variants, and summary genetic data from a GWAS of 1129 AL amyloidosis cases and 7589 controls. Associations with a Bonferroni-defined significance level were observed for genetically predicted increased monocyte counts (P = 3.8 × 10-4) and the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17 (TNFRSF17) gene (P = 3.4 × 10-5). Two other associations with the TNFRSF (members 6 and 19L) reached a nominal significance level. The association between genetically predicted decreased fibrinogen levels may be related to roles of fibrinogen other than blood clotting. be related to its nonhemostatic role. It is plausible that a causal relationship with monocyte concentration could be explained by selection of a light chain-producing clone during progression of monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance toward AL amyloidosis. Because TNFRSF proteins have key functions in lymphocyte biology, it is entirely plausible that they offer a potential link to AL amyloidosis pathophysiology. Our study provides insight into AL amyloidosis etiology, suggesting high circulating levels of monocytes and TNFRSF proteins as risk factors.
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- Western, Benedikte, et al.
(author)
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Dropout from exercise trials among cancer survivors—An individual patient data meta-analysis from the POLARIS study
- 2024
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. - Chichester, West Sussex : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 0905-7188 .- 1600-0838. ; 34:2, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of exercise among cancer survivors has increased in recent years; however, participants dropping out of the trials are rarely described. The objective of the present study was to assess which combinations of participant and exercise program characteristics were associated with dropout from the exercise arms of RCTs among cancer survivors. Methods: This study used data collected in the Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) study, an international database of RCTs investigating the effects of exercise among cancer survivors. Thirty-four exercise trials, with a total of 2467 patients without metastatic disease randomized to an exercise arm were included. Harmonized studies included a pre and a posttest, and participants were classified as dropouts when missing all assessments at the post-intervention test. Subgroups were identified with a conditional inference tree. Results: Overall, 9.6% of the participants dropped out. Five subgroups were identified in the conditional inference tree based on four significant associations with dropout. Most dropout was observed for participants with BMI >28.4 kg/m2, performing supervised resistance or unsupervised mixed exercise (19.8% dropout) or had low-medium education and performed aerobic or supervised mixed exercise (13.5%). The lowest dropout was found for participants with BMI >28.4 kg/m2 and high education performing aerobic or supervised mixed exercise (5.1%), and participants with BMI ≤28.4 kg/m2 exercising during (5.2%) or post (9.5%) treatment. Conclusions: There are several systematic differences between cancer survivors completing and dropping out from exercise trials, possibly affecting the external validity of exercise effects. © 2024 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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