Integrated analysis of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq reveals the chromatin accessibility and transcriptional landscape of immunoglobulin a nephropathy.

Backgrounds: The association between chromatin accessibility in CD4 T cells and Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) remains unclear.

Methods: We performed the assay for transposase accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on CD4 T cells. ATAC-seq and RNA-seq were conducted to identify differentially accessible regions and differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively (P < 0.

Association between traffic-related air pollution and risk of outpatient visits for dry eye disease in a megacity along the subtropical coast in South China.

Background: Traffic-related air pollution especially in highly socioeconomically developed megacity is usually considered as a severe problem leading to inevitable adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the associations between traffic-related air pollutants with risk of dry eye disease (DED) outpatient visits in a megacity (Guangzhou) along the subtropical coast in South China.

Methods: Daily data on DED outpatient visits and environmental variables from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 in Guangzhou were obtained.

Association between mixed exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and obesity among U.S. adults.

Backgrounds: Previous studies have suggested the potential links between dioxins or dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and obesity. However, the combined effects of dioxins and DL-PCBs on obesity are still unclear.

Methods: Nine kinds of dioxins and DL-PCBs were measured among 852 adults using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003-2004.

Effectiveness and safety of Belimumab and Telitacicept in systemic lupus erythematosus: a real-world, retrospective, observational study.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness and safety of two different B cell activating factor/proliferation-inducing ligand inhibitors, telitacicept and belimumab, in treating patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Patients with active SLE who received belimumab (n = 100) or telitacicept (n = 101) from 2019 to 2023 at multiple centers in China were retrospectively collected, and the effectiveness and safety of telitacicept and belimumab was evaluated. The subgroups of lupus nephritis and hematologic abnormalities were analyzed to explore if there were any differences in the efficacy of the two biologics on improving kidney and blood systems.

Human Papillomavirus Infection and Autoimmune Diseases: A Two-Sample Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Although earlier observational studies have revealed a connection between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and several autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the exact causative mechanism underlying this association is still unknown.

Methods: This two-sample bidirectional MR study was conducted based on publicly released data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Our results were mainly derived from the inverse variance weighted (IVW) model, with the remaining three models also being calculated.

Associations between blue space exposure and rheumatoid arthritis: The modifying effect of genetic susceptibility and air pollutants.

Studies on the interaction among genetic susceptibility, blue space exposure, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk have been lacking. Therefore, we examined the association between blue space exposure and RA incidence and assess the modifying effect of genetic susceptibility and air pollutants. Form the UK Biobank, 322,783 participants without RA were enrolled in this study.

Global trend analysis, mechanistic insights and future directions of autoimmune ear diseases: Based on comprehensive findings over the past 20 years.

Background: In recent years, Autoimmune diseases (ADs) and hearing loss are both significant public health burdens worldwide. An increasing number of studies are focusing on the potential link between these two diseases and exploring how hearing loss can be prevented and treated in the context of autoimmune diseases. In response to this focus, it is very necessary to conduct bibliometric analysis and molecular mechanism exploration to provide guidance for the exploration of basic mechanisms and clinical management.

A novel metric of autoimmune disease burden and its estimated incidence across different stages in life cycle of women.

Aim: To produce a unique metric 'autoimmune disease (ADs)' based on various single autoimmune disorder and estimate its case number and age-standardized rate of incidence for each stage in life cycle of women from 1990 to 2019, and to further explore their temporal trends at global, regional, and national levels.

Methods: A comprehensive classification for life cycle of women was proposed. The estimates and 95 % uncertainty intervals (UIs) for case number and rate of incidence for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus in all age groups (< 1, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, ……,80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95+) were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019.

Associations of accelerated biological aging and metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the associations between biological aging, metabolic heterogeneity of obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed 268,184 individuals from the UK Biobank. Biological age was estimated using phenotypic age (PhenoAge), Klemera-Doubal methods (KDM-BA), and telomere length.

Sleep patterns, physical activity, genetic susceptibility, and incident rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Sleep and physical activity (PA) are thought to be interconnected with the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the precise nature and extent of these relationships have yet to be fully quantified. This study aimed to quantify the longitudinal effects of sleep behaviors, PA, and genetic susceptibility on the incidence of RA and to estimate the combined effects and interactions among these exposures.

Genetic causality between modifiable risk factors and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: Evidence from Mendelian randomization.

Objectives: Emerging research has investigated the potential impact of several modifiable risk factors on the risks of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the findings did not yield consistent results. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the genetic causality between modifiable risk factors and the susceptibility of RA risk using the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods: Genetic instruments for modifiable risk factors were selected from several genome-wide association studies at the genome-wide significance level (p < 5 × 10), respectively.

Progranulin: A promising biomarker and therapeutic target for fibrotic diseases.

Progranulin (PGRN), a multifunctional growth factor-like protein expressed by a variety of cell types, serves an important function in the physiologic and pathologic processes of fibrotic diseases, including wound healing and the inflammatory response. PGRN was discovered to inhibit pro-inflammation effect by competing with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) binding to TNF receptors. Notably, excessive tissue repair in the development of inflammation causes tissue fibrosis.

Global burden of musculoskeletal disorders in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2021: a joint point regression and decomposition analysis.

The study aimed to investigate the pattern and trend of Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders in people aged 5-19 years from 1990 to 2021. The data was sourced from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021. The Age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and their corresponding average annual percent change (AAPC) for MSK disorders were evaluated by sex, region, and sociodemographic index (SDI) quintiles.

Exploring the association between ambient air pollution and COVID-19 risk: A comprehensive meta-analysis with meta-regression modelling.

Introduction: Air pollution is speculated to increase the risk of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Nevertheless, the results remain inconsistent and inconclusive. This study aimed to explore the association between ambient air pollution (AAP) and COVID-19 risks using a meta-analysis with meta-regression modelling.

Epigenetic regulation of immune cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: insight from chromatin accessibility.

Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-dimensional autoimmune disease involving numerous tissues throughout the body. The chromatin accessibility landscapes in immune cells play a pivotal role in governing their activation, function, and differentiation. Aberrant modulation of chromatin accessibility in immune cells is intimately associated with the onset and progression of SLE.