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- Mullins, Niamh, et al.
(author)
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Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors
- 2022
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In: Biological Psychiatry. - : Elsevier. - 0006-3223 .- 1873-2402. ; 91:3, s. 313-327
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and nonfatal suicide attempts, which occur far more frequently, are a major source of disability and social and economic burden. Both have substantial genetic etiology, which is partially shared and partially distinct from that of related psychiatric disorders.METHODS: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 29,782 suicide attempt (SA) cases and 519,961 controls in the International Suicide Genetics Consortium (ISGC). The GWAS of SA was conditioned on psychiatric disorders using GWAS summary statistics via multitrait-based conditional and joint analysis, to remove genetic effects on SA mediated by psychiatric disorders. We investigated the shared and divergent genetic architectures of SA, psychiatric disorders, and other known risk factors.RESULTS: Two loci reached genome-wide significance for SA: the major histocompatibility complex and an intergenic locus on chromosome 7, the latter of which remained associated with SA after conditioning on psychiatric disorders and replicated in an independent cohort from the Million Veteran Program. This locus has been implicated in risk-taking behavior, smoking, and insomnia. SA showed strong genetic correlation with psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, and also with smoking, pain, risk-taking behavior, sleep disturbances, lower educational attainment, reproductive traits, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer general health. After conditioning on psychiatric disorders, the genetic correlations between SA and psychiatric disorders decreased, whereas those with nonpsychiatric traits remained largely unchanged.CONCLUSIONS: Our results identify a risk locus that contributes more strongly to SA than other phenotypes and suggest a shared underlying biology between SA and known risk factors that is not mediated by psychiatric disorders.
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| 2. |
- Hop, Paul J., et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide study of DNA methylation shows alterations in metabolic, inflammatory, and cholesterol pathways in ALS
- 2022
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In: Science Translational Medicine. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science. - 1946-6234 .- 1946-6242. ; 14:633
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with an estimated heritability between 40 and 50%. DNA methylation patterns can serve as proxies of (past) exposures and disease progression, as well as providing a potential mechanism that mediates genetic or environmental risk. Here, we present a blood-based epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis in 9706 samples passing stringent quality control (6763 patients, 2943 controls). We identified a total of 45 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) annotated to 42 genes, which are enriched for pathways and traits related to metabolism, cholesterol biosynthesis, and immunity. We then tested 39 DNA methylation-based proxies of putative ALS risk factors and found that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, white blood cell proportions, and alcohol intake were independently associated with ALS. Integration of these results with our latest genome-wide association study showed that cholesterol biosynthesis was potentially causally related to ALS. Last, DNA methylation at several DMPs and blood cell proportion estimates derived from DNA methylation data were associated with survival rate in patients, suggesting that they might represent indicators of underlying disease processes potentially amenable to therapeutic interventions.
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| 3. |
- Antonelli, Alexandre, 1978, et al.
(author)
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Madagascar's extraordinary biodiversity : Evolution, distribution, and use
- 2022
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 378:6623, s. 962-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Madagascar's biota is hyperdiverse and includes exceptional levels of endemicity. We review the current state of knowledge on Madagascar's past and current terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by compiling and presenting comprehensive data on species diversity, endemism, and rates of species description and human uses, in addition to presenting an updated and simplified map of vegetation types. We report a substantial increase of records and species new to science in recent years; however, the diversity and evolution of many groups remain practically unknown (e.g., fungi and most invertebrates). Digitization efforts are increasing the resolution of species richness patterns and we highlight the crucial role of field- and collections-based research for advancing biodiversity knowledge and identifying gaps in our understanding, particularly as species richness corresponds closely to collection effort. Phylogenetic diversity patterns mirror that of species richness and endemism in most of the analyzed groups. We highlight humid forests as centers of diversity and endemism because of their role as refugia and centers of recent and rapid radiations. However, the distinct endemism of other areas, such as the grassland-woodland mosaic of the Central Highlands and the spiny forest of the southwest, is also biologically important despite lower species richness. The documented uses of Malagasy biodiversity are manifold, with much potential for the uncovering of new useful traits for food, medicine, and climate mitigation. The data presented here showcase Madagascar as a unique " living laboratory" for our understanding of evolution and the complex interactions between people and nature. The gathering and analysis of biodiversity data must continue and accelerate if we are to fully understand and safeguard this unique subset of Earth's biodiversity.
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| 4. |
- Padidela, Raja, et al.
(author)
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Patient-reported outcomes from a randomized open-label phase 3 trial comparing burosumab versus conventional therapy in children with X-linked hypophosphatemia : results from the 24-week treatment extension period
- 2022
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In: Hormone Research in Paediatrics. - : S. Karger. - 1663-2818 .- 1663-2826. ; 95:Suppl. 2, s. 29-30
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In a randomized open-label phase 3 trial in 62 children (1–12 years) with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) (NCT 02915705), switching from conventional therapy (oral phosphate plus active vitamin D) to burosumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting fibroblast growth factor 23, significantly improved serum phosphate concentration, rickets, lower-extremity deformities, growth, mobility, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at 64 weeks. Children in Europe, USA, Canada, and Australia who completed 64 weeks’ treatment could continue to receive burosumab in the extension period (burosumab continuation group) or cross over from conventional therapy to burosumab (crossover group) to 124 weeks. A Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaire was used in children aged ≥5 years to measure Pain Interference, Physical Function Mobility, and Fatigue; health-related quality of life was measured using the SF-10 Health Survey for Children (n=35). Here, we describe changes in PROs from baseline to weeks 64 and 88, and report whether the 3-point minimal important difference (MID) was reached for PROMIS domains (Thissen et al., 2016; PMID 26118768). The mean change from baseline exceeded the MID for Pain Interference at weeks 64 and 88 and for Fatigue at week 64 in the burosumab continuation group, and for Pain Interference and Fatigue at week 88 in the crossover group. Similar improvements in SF-10 Physical Health were seen baseline to week 64 in the burosumab continuation group, and week 64 to 88 in the cross-over group. SF-10 Psychosocial Health changed little in either group at the two timepoints.Treatment with burosumab improved Pain Interference and Fatigue beyond the MID in children with XLH who switched from conventional therapy to receive 24 weeks of burosumab. Improvements were also maintained in children who received an additional 24 weeks’ burosumab treatment.
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