Publications by authors named "D Emmert"

Article Synopsis
  • Genetic studies have highlighted the need for more diverse research on plasma fibrinogen levels, as previous studies largely focused on Europeans, leading to gaps in understanding and missing heritability.
  • By analyzing data from whole-genome sequencing and genotype data from large cohorts, researchers identified 18 genetic loci related to fibrinogen levels, some of which are more common in African populations and include variants that may impact protein function.
  • The study's findings indicate a connection between fibrinogen levels and various health conditions, emphasizing the importance of whole-genome sequencing in discovering genetic factors in diverse populations and enhancing knowledge about fibrinogen regulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Olfactory dysfunction is an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases and is linked to higher mortality in older adults, but its genetic causes are not well understood.
  • A genome-wide association study (GWMA) involving over 22,000 participants of European ancestry and additional individuals of African ancestry identified a significant genetic locus associated with olfactory dysfunction.
  • The study found that variations in genes related to olfactory receptors also correlate with various health conditions, including kidney function and cardiovascular disease, suggesting that smell loss may have broader health implications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

BackgroundSince its emergence in December 2019, over 700 million people worldwide have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 up to May 2024. While early rollout of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has saved many lives, there was increasing immune escape of new virus variants. Longitudinal monitoring of population-wide SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses from regular sample collection irrespective of symptoms provides representative data on infection and seroconversion/seroreversion rates.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The sense of smell allows for the assessment of the chemical composition of volatiles in our environment. Different factors are associated with reduced olfactory function, including age, sex, as well as health and lifestyle conditions. However, most studies that aimed at identifying the variables that drive olfactory function in the population suffered from methodological weaknesses in study designs and participant selection, such as the inclusion of convenience sample or only of certain age groups, or recruitment biases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We present a case of an ultimately fatal course of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-19) in an 81-year-old female patient during the Omicron surge. The patient did not represent the typical patient at risk for severe COVID-19 with significant causes of immunodeficiency. However, she had been skeptical about the vaccination for severe acute respiratory syndrome virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and had refused it.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF