Publications by authors named "Elizabeth Oelsner"
Article Synopsis
- Accelerated decline in lung function is linked to chronic respiratory diseases, and while genetics play a role, few genetic connections have been found.
- This study aimed to investigate genetic variants associated with lung function decline using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) across diverse populations in multiple cohorts.
- They identified 361 significant genetic variants potentially related to lung function declines, with some replicated in additional cohorts, indicating strong genetic influences on respiratory health.
Rationale: Chronic lung diseases are associated with increased risk of mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD). Nonetheless, the population attributable fraction (PAF) of lung function impairment relative to other established cardiovascular risk factors is unclear.
Objective: To evaluate the PAF of low lung function for CHD mortality Methods: We harmonized and pooled lung function and clinical data across 8 US general population cohorts.
Article Synopsis
- Cigarette smoking is known to alter DNA methylation at the AHRR gene, but this study investigates whether non-cigarette tobacco use, like pipe and cigar smoking, also affects AHRR methylation and health outcomes.
- Data from four cohorts (1985-2002) revealed that exclusive non-cigarette tobacco users had lower AHRR methylation compared to those who smoked cigarettes, with non-cigarette users showing less dramatic effects.
- The results indicate that lower AHRR methylation in non-cigarette tobacco users is linked to worse respiratory symptoms and higher mortality rates, suggesting AHRR methylation could be a marker for health risks among these smokers.
Dysanapsis Genetic Risk Predicts Lung Function Across the Lifespan.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
December 2024
Dysanapsis refers to a mismatch between airway tree caliber and lung size arising early in life. Dysanapsis assessed by computed tomography (CT) is evident by early adulthood and associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk later in life. By examining the genetic factors associated with CT-assessed dysanapsis, we aimed to elucidate its molecular underpinnings and physiological significance across the lifespan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Persistent symptoms and disability following SARS-CoV-2 infection, known as post-COVID-19 condition or "long COVID," are frequently reported and pose a substantial personal and societal burden.
Objective: To determine time to recovery following SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify factors associated with recovery by 90 days.
Design, Setting, And Participants: For this prospective cohort study, standardized ascertainment of SARS-CoV-2 infection was conducted starting in April 1, 2020, across 14 ongoing National Institutes of Health-funded cohorts that have enrolled and followed participants since 1971.
This study investigates correlates of anti-S1 antibody response following COVID-19 vaccination in a U.S. population-based meta-cohort of adults participating in longstanding NIH-funded cohort studies.
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- Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic condition linked to high LDL cholesterol levels and increased risk of early coronary heart disease (CHD), though its effects on CHD in those with moderate LDL-C levels are not fully understood.
- * This study evaluated the CHD risk from FH variants in individuals with both moderately and severely elevated LDL-C levels and estimated the additional deaths from CHD related to FH in U.S. adults.
- * Among 21,426 participants, those with FH variants had significantly higher rates of developing CHD, with hazard ratios of 2.9 for those with moderately elevated LDL-C and 2.6 for those with severely elevated LDL-C.
Blood and Urinary Metal Levels among Exclusive Marijuana Users in NHANES (2005-2018).
Environ Health Perspect
August 2023
Background: Marijuana is the third most used drug in the world.
Objectives: Because the cannabis plant is a known scavenger of metals, we hypothesized that individuals who use marijuana will have higher metal biomarker levels compared with those who do not use.
Methods: We combined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2018) for participants, classified by use: non-marijuana/non-tobacco, exclusive marijuana, exclusive tobacco, and dual marijuana and tobacco use.
Inflammation contributes to lung function decline and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Omega-3 fatty acids have antiinflammatory properties and may benefit lung health. To investigate associations of omega-3 fatty acids with lung function decline and incident airway obstruction in a diverse sample of adults from general-population cohorts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Treatment and preventative advances for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been slow due, in part, to limited subphenotypes. We tested if unsupervised machine learning on CT images would discover CT emphysema subtypes with distinct characteristics, prognoses and genetic associations.
Methods: New CT emphysema subtypes were identified by unsupervised machine learning on only the texture and location of emphysematous regions on CT scans from 2853 participants in the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS), a COPD case-control study, followed by data reduction.
Article Synopsis
- Dysanapsis refers to a mismatch between the size of the airway tree and the overall lung size, which is often found in many people.
- This condition is linked to a higher risk of dying from various causes and is particularly related to diseases caused by smoking.
- Understanding dysanapsis can help in recognizing its impact on respiratory health and the risks associated with tobacco use.
MULTI-VIEW CNN FOR TOTAL LUNG VOLUME INFERENCE ON CARDIAC COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY.
Proc IEEE Int Symp Biomed Imaging
April 2023
Total lung volume (TLV) at full inspiration is a parameter of significant interest in pulmonary physiology but requires computed tomography (CT) scanning of the full axial extent of the lung. There is a growing interest to infer TLV from cardiac CT scans, which are much more widely available in epidemiologic studies. In this study, we present an original approach to train a multi-view convolutional neural network (CNN) model to infer TLV from cardiac CT scans, which visualize about 2/3rd of the lung volume.
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- A major study involving 580,869 participants identified 1,020 genetic signals linked to lung function impairment, which is crucial in understanding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and predicting mortality.
- * The research found 559 genes related to lung function that were connected to 29 different biological pathways and demonstrated variations across ancestry, age, and smoking habits.
- * Findings suggest potential new targets for therapy by highlighting specific genetic variants and proteins, ultimately contributing to better understanding and treatment of COPD.
Importance: Protein-truncating variants (PTVs) in apolipoprotein B (APOB) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) are associated with significantly lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations. The association of these PTVs with coronary heart disease (CHD) warrants further characterization in large, multiracial prospective cohort studies.
Objective: To evaluate the association of PTVs in APOB and PCSK9 with LDL cholesterol concentrations and CHD risk.
Rationale: Inflammation contributes to lung function decline and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and may benefit lung health.
Objectives: Investigate associations of omega-3 fatty acids with lung function decline and incident airway obstruction in adults of diverse races/ethnicities from general population cohorts.
Most transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs) so far focus on European ancestry and lack diversity. To overcome this limitation, we aggregated genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics, whole-genome sequences and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) data from diverse ancestries. We developed a new approach, TESLA (multi-ancestry integrative study using an optimal linear combination of association statistics), to integrate an eQTL dataset with a multi-ancestry GWAS.
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- The study investigated the connections between a specific genetic variant (rs35705950) and telomere length with changes in lung abnormalities called high-attenuation areas (HAAs) over time among community adults.
- Researchers analyzed data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, examining how these genetic factors relate to changes in lung health and the risk of diseases like interstitial lung disease (ILD) and mortality.
- Findings revealed that individuals carrying the risk allele showed significant increases in HAAs over ten years, with a strong association between increased HAAs and higher risks of mortality and ILD, particularly in people with shorter telomeres.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, irreversible, and progressive disease of the lungs. Common genetic variants, in addition to nongenetic factors, have been consistently associated with IPF. Rare variants identified by candidate gene, family-based, and exome studies have also been reported to associate with IPF.
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- Tobacco and alcohol use contribute significantly to global mortality rates, with heritability playing a key role in these behaviors.
- This study utilized genetic data from a diverse population of 3.4 million individuals, including 21% non-European ancestry, to identify genetic variants linked to tobacco and alcohol use.
- Findings showed that while increased genetic diversity improved the identification of genomic loci, polygenic risk scores were less effective across different ancestries, underscoring the need for larger and more diverse genetic datasets for better predictive outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Immunoglobulin A (IgA) plays a crucial role in immune response to food and pathogens and is linked to various conditions like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
- A genome-wide association study examined blood IgA levels in over 41,000 people, identifying 20 key genetic loci that affect IgA levels, including novel genes.
- Findings suggest genetic factors influencing IgA can impact diseases such as IgA nephropathy and type 2 diabetes, with African ancestry showing higher IgA levels and more IgA-increasing genetic variants.