AnchorFCI: harnessing genetic anchors for enhanced causal discovery of cardiometabolic disease pathways.

Introduction: Cardiometabolic diseases, a major global health concern, stem from complex interactions of lifestyle, genetics, and biochemical markers. While extensive research has revealed strong associations between various risk factors and these diseases, latent confounding and limited causal discovery methods hinder understanding of their causal relationships, essential for mechanistic insights and developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Methods: We introduce anchorFCI, a novel adaptation of the conservative Really Fast Causal Inference (RFCI) algorithm, designed to enhance robustness and discovery power in causal learning by strategically selecting and integrating reliable anchor variables from a set of variables known not to be caused by the variables of interest.

Random Forest Analysis of Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditures Associated with Cardiometabolic Diseases, Lifestyle, Lipid Profile, and Genetic Information in São Paulo, Brazil.

There is a lack of empirical studies of out-of-pocket health expenditures associated with dyslipidemias, which are major cardiovascular risk factors, especially in underrepresented admixed populations. The study investigates associations of health costs with lipid traits, GWAS-derived genetic risk scores (GRSs), and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Data from the observational cross-sectional 2015 ISA-Nutrition comprised lifestyle, environmental factors, socioeconomic and demographic variables, and biochemical and genetic markers related to the occurrence of cardiometabolic diseases.

Association between Inflammatory and Metabolic Biomarkers and Common Mental Disorders among Adults: 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Recent studies suggest that plasma inflammatory biomarker concentrations may represent valuable indicators for the diagnosis and prognosis of mental disorders. At the same time, metabolic alterations may contribute to the development and progression of systemic low-grade inflammation. : This study evaluated the association between plasma inflammatory biomarkers and common mental disorders (CMD), exploring the relationship between metabolic biomarkers, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and inflammatory biomarkers in younger and older adults.

Effects of mixed nuts as part of a Brazilian Cardioprotective diet on LDL-cholesterol in adult patients after myocardial infarction: a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Nuts consumption is related to cardioprotective effects on primary cardiovascular prevention, but studies conducted in secondary prevention are small, scarce and controversial. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of a regional and sustainable cardioprotective diet added or not with an affordable mixed nuts on cardiometabolic features in patients with previous myocardial infarction.

Methods: DICA-NUTS study is a national, multi-center, and superiority-parallel randomized clinical trial.

Lifestyle aspects are associated with common mental disorders in women over 40 years older in a population-based study.

Background & Aims: Common mental disorders (CMD) are more prevalent in women, as well as noncommunicable diseases. Diet and physical activity are lifestyle modifiable factors that might help on managing these conditions.

Methods: This study aimed to investigate the association between lifestyle aspects (diet and physical activity) and common mental disorders in women aged 40+ years.

Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Associated with Impoverishment Due to Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure in São Paulo City, Brazil.

The rise in obesity and related chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during recent decades in Brazil has been associated with increases in the financial burden and risk of impoverishment due to out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure. Thus, this study investigated trends and predictors associated with impoverishment due to health expenditure, in the population of São Paulo city, Brazil, between 2003 and 2015. Household data from the São Paulo Health Survey (n = 5475) were used to estimate impoverishment linked to OOP health expenses, using the three thresholds of International Poverty Lines (IPLs) defined by the World Bank at 1.

Nutrigenetics and Nutritional Strategies in Systemic Arterial Hypertension: Evidence From a Scoping Review.

Nutrition and genetics have individual roles in systemic arterial hypertension (SAH); however, they can interact, influencing the regulation of blood pressure (BP) levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the available evidence regarding gene-nutrient interactions in modulating BP levels in adults with SAH. The review followed the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.

Dietary modulation of microRNAs in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. Various molecular mechanisms have been proposed to interfere with the insulin signaling pathway. Recent advances in proteomics and genomics indicate that one such mechanism involves the post-transcriptional regulation of insulin signaling by microRNA (miRNA).

Selenium biomarkers and miR-7-5p in overweight/obese women.

Introduction: Chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress are pivotal contributors to the metabolic complications associated with obesity. Selenoprotein P (SELENOP) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) are selenoproteins involved in the reduction of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels. Nutritional epigenomics revealed the interaction of microRNAs and nutrients with an important impact on metabolic pathways involved in obesity.

-resveratrol reduced hepatic oxidative stress in an animal model without inducing an upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2.

-resveratrol, a widely used supplement for humans, aims to enhance the body's antioxidant defense. Studies suggest that it exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). In order to evaluate this hypothesis, LDLr mice were fed a Western diet to induce liver inflammation and oxidative stress.

Genetic Ancestry and Self-Reported "Skin Color/Race" in the Urban Admixed Population of São Paulo City, Brazil.

Epidemiological studies frequently classify groups based on phenotypes like self-reported skin color/race, which inaccurately represent genetic ancestry and may lead to misclassification, particularly among individuals of multiracial backgrounds. This study aimed to characterize both global and local genome-wide genetic ancestries and to assess their relationship with self-reported skin color/race in an admixed population of Sao Paulo city. We analyzed 226,346 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from 841 individuals participating in the population-based ISA-Nutrition study.

Novel loci linked to serum lipid traits are identified in a genome-wide association study of a highly admixed Brazilian population - the 2015 ISA Nutrition.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) comprise major causes of death worldwide, leading to extensive burden on populations and societies. Alterations in normal lipid profiles, i.e.

Effect of nuts on lipid profile and inflammatory biomarkers in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: Nut-enriched diets are related to improve lipid and inflammatory biomarkers in meta-analyses in the context of primary cardiovascular prevention. However, primary studies on secondary cardiovascular prevention are scarce and controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of nut supplementation on lipid and inflammatory profiles in individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and the frequency of adverse events.

Missense genetic variants in major bitter taste receptors are associated with diet quality and food intake in a highly admixed underrepresented population.

Background And Aims: To investigate associations between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TAS1R and TAS2R taste receptors and diet quality, intake of alcohol, added sugar, and fat, using linear regression and machine learning techniques in a highly admixed population.

Methods: In the ISA-Capital health survey, 901 individuals were interviewed and had socioeconomic, demographic, health characteristics, along with dietary information obtained through two 24-h recalls. Data on 12 components related to food groups, nutrients, and calories was combined into a diet quality score (BHEI-R).

Effect of Nuts on Anthropometric and Glycemic Indexes and Blood Pressure in Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Context: Nut-enriched diets have a positive impact on cardiovascular risk factors, such as body mass, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose. However, studies in individuals undergoing secondary cardiovascular prevention show controversial results.

Objective: This systematic review with meta-analysis assessed the effect of nut supplementation on anthropometric, glycemic, and blood pressure indices in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as well as the frequency of adverse events.

High Adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Is Inversely Associated with Systemic Inflammation in Older but Not in Younger Brazilian Adults.

The Mediterranean dietary pattern (MPD) has shown promise in preventing low-grade systemic inflammation (LGSI). This study tested if a high adherence to the MDP by younger and older Brazilian adults is associated with lower LGSI and investigated which Mediterranean food components may contribute to these associations. We performed a secondary study on 2015 ISA-Nutrition (290 younger adults (20-59 years old) and 293 older adults (≥60 years old)), a cross-sectional population-based study in São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Pragmatic Carbohydrate Quality Metrics in Relation to Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Front-of-Pack Warning Labels in Grain Foods.

The challenges in the characterization of the nutritional quality of grain foods comprise obstacles to public health actions toward promotion of healthier grain-based foods. The present study investigated how carbohydrate metrics related to glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and warning labels of grain foods consumed by individuals living in São Paulo, Brazil. Information on intake of grain foods at individual level was obtained using 24 h recalls within a cross-sectional population-based survey conducted in 2015.

The severity of COVID-19 upon hospital admission is associated with plasma omega-3 fatty acids.

Fatty acids are precursors of inflammatory oxylipins. In the context of COVID-19, an excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with disease severity. The objective was to investigate whether the baseline omega 3/omega 6 fatty acids ratio and the oxylipins were associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in unvaccinated patients with COVID-19, classified according to the severity of the disease during hospitalization.

Effects of grape juice intake on the cell migration properties in overweight women: Modulation mechanisms of cell migration in vitro by delphinidin-3-O-glucoside.

Overweight and obesity are typical conditions of chronic low-intensity systemic inflammatory responses, and both have become more common in recent decades, which emphasizes the necessity for healthier diet intake. Fruits such as grapes are rich in anthocyanins, one of which is delphinidin, a promising chemopreventive agent with anti-inflammatory properties. Considering that polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) are rapidly mobilized to tissues when the inflammatory process is initiated, this study aimed to understand the impact of grape juice intake and delphinidin on the migration properties of PMNs.

Effects of Branched-Chain Amino Acids on the Inflammatory Response Induced by LPS in Caco-2 Cells.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are essential for maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity. However, only a few studies have explored the role of BCAA in the modulation of intestinal inflammation. In this study, we investigated in vitro effects of BCAA on the inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 µg/mL) in Caco-2 cells.

Effect of Low-Dose Progesterone on Glycemic Metabolism, Morphology and Function of Adipose Tissue and Pancreatic Islets in Diet-Induced Obese Female Mice.

Background: Obesity is a worldwide concern due to its global rapid expansion and remarkable impact on individual's health by predisposing to several other diseases. About twice as many women as men suffer from severe obesity and, in fact, there are stages in a woman's life when weight gain and adiposity can result in greater damage to health. For example, obesity triples the chance of a woman developing gestational diabetes.

Association between circulating micro-ribonucleic acids and metabolic syndrome in older adults from a population-based study.

Background And Aims: Aging is a major factor in development of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD). Epigenetic causes are risk factors in NCD development since studies indicate that the expression of micro-ribonucleic acids (miRs) is altered under different clinical conditions. This study aimed to analyze the expression profile of circulating miRs and investigate their association with biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in older adults living in São Paulo municipality, Brazil.

Association of dyslipidemia with single nucleotide polymorphisms of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a highly admixed population.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are major causes of mortality worldwide, leading to premature deaths, loss of quality of life, and extensive socioeconomic impacts. Alterations in normal plasma lipid concentrations comprise important risk factors associated with CVD due to mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Genetic markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are known to be associated with lipid metabolism, including variants in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene.

Occupational exposure to potentially toxic elements alters gene expression profiles in formal and informal Brazilian workers.

Chemical elements, such as toxic metals, have previously demonstrated their ability to alter gene expression in humans and other species. In this study, microarray analysis was used to compare the gene expression profiles of different occupational exposure populations: a) informal workers who perform soldering of jewelry inside their houses (n = 22) in São Paulo (SP) State; and b) formal workers from a steel company (n = 10) in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) state, Brazil. Control participants were recruited from the same neighborhoods without occupational chemical exposure (n = 19 in SP and n = 8 in RJ).