Publications by authors named "Bouras E"
Background: Whether blood lipids are causally associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk remains unclear.
Methods: Using two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR), our study examined the associations of genetically-predicted blood concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins (primary: LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, and total cholesterol), and genetically-proxied inhibition of HMGCR, NPC1L1, and PCSK9 (which mimic therapeutic effects of LDL-lowering drugs), with risks of CRC and its subsites. Genetic associations with lipids were obtained from the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (n = 1,320,016), while genetic associations with CRC were obtained from the largest existing CRC consortium (n = 58,221 cases and 67,694 controls).
We investigated the effects of 35 inflammatory cytokines on respiratory outcomes, including COVID-19, asthma (atopic and non-atopic), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary function indices, using Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses. The emerging associations were further explored using observational analyses in the UK Biobank. We found an inverse association between genetically predicted macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 with risk of COVID-19 outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study evaluates the performance of five satellite precipitation products (GPM IMERG, TRMM 3B42, ERA5, PERSIANN, and CHIRPS) compared to monthly observations from two weather stations (Laayoune and Essmara) over 2001-2017 using statistical metrics including correlation coefficient (CC) and mean square error (MSE). The results reveal notable differences between products. On a monthly timescale, GPM IMERG shows the best overall accuracy with a MSE of 16.
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- * Researchers analyzed data from 52 studies, including nearly 31,000 CRC cases and over 41,000 controls, to explore the genetic interactions with regular aspirin/NSAID use.
- * They found significant interactions with genetic variants in two specific regions (6q24.1 and 5p13.1), which could help uncover new targets for understanding how aspirin provides its protective effects against colorectal cancer.
Article Synopsis
- Consumption of fiber, fruits, and vegetables may lower the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but genetic factors might influence this connection.
- A large study involving nearly 70,000 participants identified two significant genetic variants linked to dietary intake and CRC risk using advanced statistical methods.
- The findings suggest specific genetic loci (SLC26A3 and NEGR1) may affect how fiber and fruit consumption interacts with CRC risk, highlighting the need for more research on the underlying mechanisms.
Article Synopsis
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widely increasing disease linked to high body mass index (BMI), but the exact biological processes connecting these two factors are not well understood.
- The study employed Mendelian randomization to explore various biomarkers and lifestyle factors potentially mediating the impact of BMI on CRC risk, focusing on elements like inflammation, insulin levels, and physical activity.
- The findings indicated that higher genetically predicted BMI correlates with increased CRC risk, with evidence suggesting that the relationship might be partly mediated by plasma IGF1, while smoking and physical activity appear to complicate the association rather than mediate it.
Systematic reviews (SRs) have an important role in the healthcare decision-making practice. Assessing the overall confidence in the results of SRs using quality assessment tools, such as "A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2" (AMSTAR 2), is crucial since not all SRs are conducted using the most rigorous methods. In this article, we introduce a free, open-source R package called "amstar2Vis" (https://github.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Tumour-promoting inflammation is a "hallmark" of cancer and conventional epidemiological studies have reported links between various inflammatory markers and cancer risk. The causal nature of these relationships and, thus, the suitability of these markers as intervention targets for cancer prevention is unclear.
Methods: We meta-analysed 6 genome-wide association studies of circulating inflammatory markers comprising 59,969 participants of European ancestry.
Background: Traditional body-shape indices such as Waist Circumference (WC), Hip Circumference (HC), and Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) are associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but are correlated with Body Mass Index (BMI), and adjustment for BMI introduces a strong correlation with height. Thus, new allometric indices have been developed, namely A Body Shape Index (ABSI), Hip Index (HI), and Waist-to-Hip Index (WHI), which are uncorrelated with weight and height; these have also been associated with CRC risk in observational studies, but information from Mendelian randomization (MR) studies is missing.
Methods: We used two-sample MR to examine potential causal cancer site- and sex-specific associations of the genetically-predicted allometric body-shape indices with CRC risk, and compared them with BMI-adjusted traditional body-shape indices, and BMI.
Article Synopsis
- A study is exploring how genetic variations might influence the relationship between folate intake and colorectal cancer risk, focusing on specific genetic interactions.
- The research analyzed data from over 30,000 colorectal cancer cases and 42,000 controls, examining the effects of dietary folate and folic acid supplements.
- Results indicated that while higher folate intake is generally linked to lower CRC risk, certain genetic variants (like rs150924902) can modify this effect, with some genotypes showing increased risk with folate supplementation.
Background: Persistent infection by oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary although not sufficient for development of cervical cancer. Behavioural, environmental, or comorbid exposures may promote or protect against malignant transformation. Randomised evidence is limited and the validity of observational studies describing these associations remains unclear.
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- Diabetes is linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer, but the mechanisms behind this link and the influence of genetic variants need further exploration.!* -
- Researchers conducted a genome-wide analysis using data from over 31,000 colorectal cancer cases and nearly 41,500 controls to investigate gene-environment interactions involving genetics and diabetes.!* -
- Findings revealed that specific genes on chromosomes 8q24.11 (SLC30A8) and 13q14.13 (LRCH1) may affect how diabetes increases colorectal cancer risk, highlighting potential biological pathways related to insulin signaling and immune functions.!*
Article Synopsis
- This study explores how genetics and body mass index (BMI) interact to influence colorectal cancer risk, analyzing data from over 84,000 participants.
- The research identifies a significant genetic marker (rs58349661) in the FMN1/GREM1 gene region that shows a strong connection with increased cancer risk in individuals with higher BMI, particularly among those with a specific genotype.
- Findings suggest that understanding this gene-environment interaction could help develop more tailored prevention strategies for colorectal cancer related to obesity.
Background: Tumour-promoting inflammation is a "hallmark" of cancer and conventional epidemiological studies have reported links between various inflammatory markers and cancer risk. The causal nature of these relationships and, thus, the suitability of these markers as intervention targets for cancer prevention is unclear.
Methods: We meta-analysed 6 genome-wide association studies of circulating inflammatory markers comprising 59,969 participants of European ancestry.
Aims/hypothesis: Epidemiological studies have generated conflicting findings on the relationship between glucose-lowering medication use and cancer risk. Naturally occurring variation in genes encoding glucose-lowering drug targets can be used to investigate the effect of their pharmacological perturbation on cancer risk.
Methods: We developed genetic instruments for three glucose-lowering drug targets (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ [PPARG]; sulfonylurea receptor 1 [ATP binding cassette subfamily C member 8 (ABCC8)]; glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor [GLP1R]) using summary genetic association data from a genome-wide association study of type 2 diabetes in 148,726 cases and 965,732 controls in the Million Veteran Program.
Objective: To leverage large scale genetic association data to investigate the interplay between circulating cytokines and cardiometabolic traits, and thus identifying potential therapeutic targets.
Design: Bi-directional Mendelian randomisation study.
Setting: Genome-wide association studies from three Finnish cohorts (Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, Young Finns Study, or FINRISK study), and genetic association summary statistics pooled from observational studies for expression quantitative trait loci and cardiometabolic traits.
Article Synopsis
- Tobacco smoking increases the risk of colorectal cancer, and certain genetic profiles may heighten this risk further.
- A study involving over 33,000 colorectal cancer cases and nearly 44,000 controls identified specific genetic loci (on chromosomes 3p12.1, 6p21.33, and 8q24.23) that interact with smoking behaviors, potentially leading to a greater risk of developing the disease.
- The research suggests that higher expression of specific genes is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer, emphasizing the role of these genetic factors in smoking-related cancer susceptibility and potential avenues for prevention.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the association of platelet parameters and postnatal weight gain with treatment-requiring ROP (TR-ROP).
Methods: In this retrospective matched case-control study, infants with TR-ROP were individually matched, according to gestational age and birth weight, with one or two untreated infants who developed no or spontaneously regressed ROP. Longitudinal data on platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), daily weight and platelet transfusions were collected.
The aim of this review is to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive decline in distinct cognitive domains, and to perform a complementary study description through the bibliometric analysis. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched from inception to 15 December 2021 to identify longitudinal studies that examined the association of MetS with incident decline, in order to prevent reverse causality. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis checklist was used to conduct the present systematic review.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Potentially modifiable risk factors have previously been investigated only in conventional observational studies.
Objective: To assess whether genetically predicted exposures to modifiable factors are associated with the risk of psoriasis.
Methods: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Several dietary exposures have been associated with gastric cancer (GC), but the associations are often heterogenous and may be afflicted by inherent biases. In the context of an Umbrella Review (UR), we provide an overview and a critical evaluation of the strength and quality, and evidence classification of the associations of diet-related exposures in relation to the risk of GC. We searched PubMed and Scopus for eligible meta-analyses of observational studies published in English from inception to 12 December 2021, and for any identified association, we applied robust epidemiological validity evaluation criteria and individual study quality assessment using AMSTAR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which since 2019 has caused over 5 million deaths to date. The pathogenicity of the virus is highly variable ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. Evidence from experimental and observational studies suggests that circulating micronutrients may affect COVID-19 outcomes.
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- - The study investigates the genetic and environmental interactions influencing colorectal cancer risk, focusing on the J-shaped relationship with alcohol consumption, distinguishing between nondrinkers, light-to-moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers.
- - By pooling data from major cancer registries, the researchers identified 13 significant SNPs in the 10q24.2/COX15 region, showing that the A allele of SNP rs2300985 increases colorectal cancer risk for light-to-moderate drinkers compared to nondrinkers and heavy drinkers.
- - The findings suggest that the strongest genetic association with colorectal cancer occurs in nondrinkers, with SNP rs1318920 predicted as a potential causal regulatory variant impacting cancer risk.
Background: Epigenetic clocks have been associated with cancer risk in several observational studies. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether they play a causal role in cancer risk or if they act as a non-causal biomarker.
Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to examine the genetically predicted effects of epigenetic age acceleration as measured by HannumAge (nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)), Horvath Intrinsic Age (24 SNPs), PhenoAge (11 SNPs), and GrimAge (4 SNPs) on multiple cancers (i.
Preclinical data suggest that endogenous sex steroid hormones may be implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) development, however, findings from epidemiological studies are conflicting. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the associations between endogenous concentrations of sex hormones and CRC risk. PubMed and Scopus were searched until June 2020 for prospective studies evaluating the association between pre-diagnostic plasma/serum concentrations of estradiol, testosterone and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and CRC risk.
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