Phenome-wide investigation of bidirectional causal relationships between major depressive disorder and common human diseases.

The high comorbidity of major depressive disorder (MDD) with other diseases has been well-documented. However, the pairwise causal connections for MDD comorbid networks are poorly characterized. We performed Phenome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to explore bidirectional causal associations between MDD (N = 807,553) and 877 common diseases from FinnGen datasets (N = 377,277).

Gut microbiome's causal role in head and neck cancer: findings from mendelian randomization.

Introduction: The gut microbiome (GM) has been implicated in cancer pathogenesis and treatment, including head and neck cancers (HNC). However, the specific microbial compositions influencing HNC and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown.

Methods: This study utilized published genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data-based two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to uncover the GM compositions that exert significant causal effects on HNC.

Novel Insights Into the Causal Effects and Shared Genetics Between Body Fat and Parkinson Disease.

Aims: Existing observational studies examining the effect of body fat on the risk of Parkinson disease (PD) have yielded inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate this causal relationship at the genetic level.

Methods: We employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) to investigate the causal effects of body fat on PD, with multiple sex-specific body fat measures being involved.

Mendelian randomization analysis of causal and druggable circulating inflammatory proteins in schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe mental disorder with complex origins. Observational studies suggested that inflammatory factors may play a role in the pathophysiology of SZ and we aim to investigate the potential genetic connection between them by examining the causal impact of circulating inflammatory proteins on SZ.

Methods: We utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal relationship between circulating inflammatory proteins and SZ and the GWAS summary datasets were sourced from public databases.

The causal relationship between immune cell traits and schizophrenia: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

Introduction: The complex and unresolved pathogenesis of schizophrenia has posed significant challenges to its diagnosis and treatment. While recent research has established a clear association between immune function and schizophrenia, the causal relationship between the two remains elusive.

Methods: We employed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization approach to investigate the causal relationship between schizophrenia and 731 immune cell traits by utilizing public GWAS data.

Antidepressants account for the causal effect of major depressive disorder on type 2 diabetes.

Background: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) face an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the contribution of the disease itself versus the side effects of antidepressants to this increased risk remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the overall and independent effects of MDD and exposure to antidepressants on T2D risk.

Genetic predisposition to milder forms of COVID-19 may provide some resilience to head and neck cancers.

Introduction: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on head and neck cancer (HNC) has been suggested, but the causal relationship remains unclear.

Methods: We explore this connection by utilizing the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach applied to publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary datasets for COVID-19 and HNC. The datasets included critical COVID-19 (13,769 cases, 1,072,442 controls), hospitalized COVID-19 (32,519 cases, 2,062,805 controls), SARS-CoV-2 infection (122,616 cases, 2,475,240 controls), and HNC (2,131 cases, 287,137 controls).

Gut microbiome and major depressive disorder: insights from two-sample Mendelian randomization.

Background: Existing evidence suggests that alterations in the gut microbiome are closely associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). We aimed to reveal the causal relationships between MDD and various microbial taxa in the gut.

Methods: We used the two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) to explore the bidirectional causal effects between gut microbiota and MDD.

Exploring the causal effects of depression and antidepressants on COVID-19.

Background: While existing studies have suggested an increased risk of COVID-19 in patients with depression, the causal impact of MDD on the severity of COVID-19 remains to be validated. Additionally, the potential impact of antidepressant medication on the risk of COVID-19 is not known.

Methods: In our study, we applied a Mendelian Randomization (MR) method, leveraging summary data from GWAS, to evaluate the potential causal effects of depression on three COVID-19 outcomes.

Causal Associations between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and COVID-19.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate bidirectional genetic relationships between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and COVID-19.

Methods: We investigated potential causal associations between PTSD and two COVID-19 conditions (COVID-19 hospitalization and SARS-CoV-2 infection) via Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Three genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary datasets were used in the study, including PTSD (N = 174,659), SARS-CoV-2 infection (N = 2,597,856), and COVID-19 hospitalization (N = 2,095,324).

Bidirectional associations between mental disorders, antidepressants and cardiovascular disease.

Background: Mental disorders have a high comorbidity with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the causality between them has not been fully appreciated.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically explore the bidirectional causality between the two broad categories of diseases.

Methods: We conducted Mendelian randomisation (MR) and multivariable MR (MVMR) analyses to evaluate potential causal links between 10 mental disorders, the use of antidepressants and 7 CVDs.

Evaluating the effects of circulating inflammatory proteins as drivers and therapeutic targets for severe COVID-19.

Objective: The relationships between circulating inflammatory proteins and COVID-19 have been observed in previous cohorts. However, it is not unclear which circulating inflammatory proteins may boost the risk of or protect against COVID-19.

Methods: We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using GWAS summary result of 91 circulating inflammation-related proteins (N = 14,824) to assess their causal impact on severe COVID-19.

Exploring the influences of education, intelligence and income on mental disorders.

Background: Previous studies have shown that educational attainment (EA), intelligence and income are key factors associated with mental disorders. However, the direct effects of each factor on major mental disorders are unclear.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the overall and independent causal effects of the three psychosocial factors on common mental disorders.

Causal influences of neuropsychiatric disorders on Alzheimer's disease.

Previous studies have observed a significant comorbidity between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and some other neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the mechanistic connections between neuropsychiatric disorders and AD are not well understood. We conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis to appraise the potential influences of 18 neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders on AD.

Causal association of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two neurodevelopmental disorders that often result in individuals experiencing traumatic events. However, little is known about the connection between ADHD/ASD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to investigate the genetic associations between these disorders.

Causal associations between COVID-19 and childhood mental disorders.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can invade both the peripheral and central nervous systems and impact the function of the brain. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the mutual influences between COVID-19 outcomes and childhood mental disorders.

Methods: We examined genetic correlations and potential causalities between three childhood mental disorders and three COVID-19 phenotypes by genetically proxied analyses.

Causal influences of osteoarthritis on COVID-19: a Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: Although observational and genetic studies have indicated a correlation between OA and COVID-19, it remains uncertain whether osteoarthritis (OA) contributes to the severity of COVID-19. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential causal links between the two.

Methods: In this study, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate whether there is a potential causal connection between OA and COVID-19 outcomes.

miR-9-5p deficiency contributes to schizophrenia.

MicroRNA-9-5p (miR-9-5p) is highly expressed in the brain and has been implicated in the risk of schizophrenia. We compared the expression levels of miR-9-5p in schizophrenia cases and healthy controls and evaluated whether regulatory targets of miR-9-5p are enriched in schizophrenia genome-wide risk genes. Literature-based analysis was conducted to construct molecular pathways connecting miR-9-5p and schizophrenia.

The signature of SARS-CoV-2 evolution reflects selective pressures within human guts.

In somatic cells, microRNAs (miRNAs) bind to the genomes of RNA viruses and influence their translation and replication. In London and Berlin samples represented in GISAID database, we traced severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineages and divided these sequenced in two groups, "Ancestral variants" and "Omicrons," and analyzed them through the prism of the tissue-specific binding between host miRNAs and viral messenger RNAs. We demonstrate a significant number of miRNA-binding sites in the NSP4 region of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, with evidence of evolutionary pressure within this region exerted by human intestinal miRNAs.

Causal associations and genetic overlap between COVID-19 and intelligence.

Objective: COVID-19 might cause neuroinflammation in the brain, which could decrease neurocognitive function. We aimed to evaluate the causal associations and genetic overlap between COVID-19 and intelligence.

Methods: We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess potential associations between three COVID-19 outcomes and intelligence (N = 269 867).

Curtailing virus-induced inflammation in respiratory infections: emerging strategies for therapeutic interventions.

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are the most common illnesses worldwide. In some instances, mild cases of ARVI progress to hyperinflammatory responses, which are damaging to pulmonary tissue and requiring intensive care. Here we summarize available information on preclinical and clinical effects of XC221GI (1-[2-(1-methyl imidazole-4-yl)-ethyl]perhydroazin-2,6-dione), an oral drug with a favorable safety profile that has been tested in animal models of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, highly pathogenic coronavirus strains and other acute viral upper respiratory infections.

Causal associations between major depressive disorder and COVID-19.

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether major depressive disorder (MDD) could aggravate the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or whether the genetic liability to COVID-19 could trigger MDD.

Aims: We aimed to assess bidirectional causal associations between MDD and COVID-19.

Methods: We performed genetic correlation and Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses to assess potential associations between MDD and three COVID-19 outcomes.