HORNET: Tools to find genes with causal evidence and their regulatory networks using eQTLs.

Motivation: Nearly two decades of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identify thousands of disease-associated genetic variants, but very few genes with evidence of causality. Recent methodological advances demonstrate that Mendelian Randomization (MR) using expression quantitative loci (eQTLs) as instrumental variables can detect potential causal genes. However, existing MR approaches are not well suited to handle the complexity of eQTL GWAS data structure and so they are subject to bias, inflation, and incorrect inference.

Brain and Blood Transcriptome-Wide Association Studies Identify Five Novel Genes Associated with Alzheimer's Disease.

Introduction: Transcriptome-wide Association Studies (TWAS) extend genome-wide association studies (GWAS) by integrating genetically-regulated gene expression models. We performed the most powerful AD-TWAS to date, using summary statistics from -eQTL meta-analyses and the largest clinically-adjudicated Alzheimer's Disease (AD) GWAS.

Methods: We implemented the OTTERS TWAS pipeline, leveraging -eQTL data from cortical brain tissue (MetaBrain; N=2,683) and blood (eQTLGen; N=31,684) to predict gene expression, then applied these models to AD-GWAS data (Cases=21,982; Controls=44,944).

Endophytic actinobacteria of Hymenachne amplexicaulis from the Brazilian Pantanal wetland produce compounds with antibacterial and antitumor activities.

The increase in the number of deaths from infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria and cancer diseases highlights the need for new molecules with biological activity. Actinobacteria represent a potential source of new compounds, as these microorganisms have already produced a great diversity of clinically employed antibiotics. Endophytes from unexplored biomes, such as the Pantanal (the largest wetland in the world), can be a source of new molecules.

It is Possible to Achieve Tablets With Good Tabletability From Solid Dispersions - The Case of the High Dose Drug Gemfibrozil.

Background: Solid Dispersions (SDs) have been extensively used to increase the dissolution of poorly water-soluble drugs. However, there are few studies exploring SDs properties that must be considered during tablet development, like tabletability. Poorly water-soluble drugs with poor compression properties and high therapeutic doses, like gemfibrozil, are an additional challenge in the production of SDs-based tablets.