Associations Between Healthy Behaviors and Persistently Favorable Self-Rated Health in a Longitudinal Population-Based Study in Switzerland.

Background: Self-rated health is a subjective yet valuable indicator of overall health status, influenced by various factors including physical, psychological, and socio-economic elements. Self-rated health could be telling and used by primary care physicians to evaluate overall present and predictive health.

Design: This study investigates the longitudinal evolution of self-rated health in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the association of persistently favorable self-rated health with various predictors.

A transcriptomic time-series reveals differing trajectories during pre-floral development in the apex and leaf in winter and spring varieties of Brassica napus.

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is an important global oil crop, with spring and winter varieties grown commercially. To understand the transcriptomic differences between these varieties, we collected transcriptomes from apex and leaf tissue from a spring variety, Westar, and a winter variety, Tapidor, before, during, and after vernalisation treatment, until the plants flowered. Large transcriptomic differences were noted in both varieties during the vernalisation treatment because of temperature and day length changes.

Socioeconomic conditions and children's mental health and quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic: An intersectional analysis.

Background: Children and adolescents are highly vulnerable to the impact of sustained stressors during developmentally sensitive times. We investigated how demographic characteristics intersect with socioeconomic dimensions to shape the social patterning of quality of life and mental health in children and adolescents, two years into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We used data from the prospective SEROCoV-KIDS cohort study of children and adolescents living in Geneva (Switzerland, 2022).

Socioeconomic inequalities in sport participation: pattern per sport and time trends - a repeated cross-sectional study.

Background: Sport participation is an important component of a healthy lifestyle and is known to be more common among privileged individuals. However, few studies examined socio-demographic patterns of participation by type of activity. This study aims at quantifying socio-economic inequalities in sport participation by sport type, and to analyse their trend over 15 years.

Parental willingness to have children vaccinated against COVID-19 in Geneva, Switzerland: a cross-sectional population-based study.

Objective: We aimed to examine factors associated with parental willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.

Methods: We surveyed adults included in a digital longitudinal cohort study composed of participants in previous SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys conducted in Geneva, Switzerland. In February 2022, an online questionnaire collected information on COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, parental willingness to vaccinate their children aged ≥5 years and reasons for vaccination preference.

Prevalence and predictors of psychological distress before, during, and after a COVID-19 pandemic wave in Switzerland, 2021.

There are concerns about acute and long-term mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of psychological distress before, during, and after a pandemic wave in Switzerland, 2021. Prevalence of psychological distress was estimated in adults aged 35-96 years using the General Health Questionnaire-12 administered in June 2021 (Specchio-COVID19 cohort, N = 3965), and compared to values from 2003 to 2006 (CoLaus|PsyCoLaus cohort, N = 5667).

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and cross-variant neutralization capacity after the Omicron BA.2 wave in Geneva, Switzerland: a population-based study.

Background: More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the population has developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from infection and/or vaccination. However, public health decision-making is hindered by the lack of up-to-date and precise characterization of the immune landscape in the population. Here, we estimated anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies seroprevalence and cross-variant neutralization capacity after Omicron became dominant in Geneva, Switzerland.

Persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children: a cross-sectional population-based serological study.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of children and adolescents reporting persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Design: A random sample of children and adolescents participated with their family members to a serological survey including a blood drawing for detecting antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and a questionnaire on COVID-19-related symptoms experienced since the beginning of the pandemic.

Setting: The study took place in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, between June and July 2021.

Socio-economic determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection: Results from a population-based cross-sectional serosurvey in Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection and its health consequences have disproportionally affected disadvantaged socio-economic groups globally. This study aimed to analyze the association between socio-economic conditions and having developed antibodies for-SARS-CoV-2 in a population-based sample in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland.

Methods: Data was obtained from a population-based serosurvey of adults in Geneva and their household members, between November and December, 2020, toward the end of the second pandemic wave in the canton.

Specchio-COVID19 cohort study: a longitudinal follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey participants in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected billions of people around the world both directly through the infection itself and indirectly through its economic, social and sanitary impact. Collecting data over time is essential for the understanding of the disease spread, the incidence of COVID-19-like symptoms, the level and dynamics of immunity, as well as the long-term impact of the pandemic. The objective of the study was to set up a longitudinal follow-up of adult participants of serosurveys carried out in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association between SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Nursing Home Staff and Resident COVID-19 Cases and Mortality: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The burden of COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted the elderly, who are at increased risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among nursing home staff, and cumulative incidence rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among residents. Staff seroprevalence was estimated within the SEROCoV-WORK+ study between May and September 2020 across 29 nursing homes in Geneva, Switzerland.

Urinary levels of pro-fibrotic transglutaminase 2 (TG2) may help predict progression of chronic kidney disease.

Renal clinical chemistry only detects kidney dysfunction after considerable damage has occurred and is imperfect in predicting long term outcomes. Consequently, more sensitive markers of early damage and better predictors of progression are being urgently sought, to better support clinical decisions and support shorter clinical trials. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is strongly implicated in the fibrotic remodeling that drives chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Discovery of a Series of Pyrimidine Carboxamides as Inhibitors of Vanin-1.

A diaryl ketone series was identified as vanin-1 inhibitors from a high-throughput screening campaign. While this novel scaffold provided valuable probe that was used to build target confidence, concerns over the ketone moiety led to the replacement of this group. The successful replacement of this moiety was achieved with pyrimidine carboxamides derived from cyclic secondary amines that were extensively characterized using biophysical and crystallographic methods as competitive inhibitors of vanin-1.

COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in the canton of Geneva: a cross-sectional population-based study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination as well as its sociodemographic and clinical determinants, 3 months after the launch of the vaccination programme in Geneva, Switzerland.

Methods: In March 2021, an online questionnaire was proposed to adults included in a longitudinal cohort study of previous SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys carried out in the canton of Geneva, which included former participants of a population-based health survey as well as individuals randomly sampled from population registries, and their household members. Questions were asked about COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, reasons for acceptance or refusal and attitudes to vaccination in general.

Perceptions of vaccination certificates among the general population in Geneva, Switzerland.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the public perception of COVID-19 vaccination certificates as well as potential differences between individuals.

Methods: Between 17 March and 1 April 2021, a self-administered online questionnaire was proposed to all persons aged 18 years and older participating in the longitudinal follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies in Geneva, Switzerland. The questionnaire covered aspects of individual and collective benefits, and allowed participants to select contexts in which vaccination certificates should be presented.

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 6 months into the vaccination campaign in Geneva, Switzerland, 1 June to 7 July 2021.

BackgroundUp-to-date seroprevalence estimates are critical to describe the SARS-CoV-2 immune landscape and to guide public health decisions.AimWe estimate seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 15 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and 6 months into the vaccination campaign.MethodsWe conducted a population-based cross-sectional serosurvey between 1 June and 7 July 2021, recruiting participants from age- and sex-stratified random samples of the general population.

Dysregulated Ribosome Biogenesis Reveals Therapeutic Liabilities in Cancer.

Ribosome biogenesis (RiBi) is one of the most complex and energy demanding processes in human cells, critical for cell growth and proliferation. Strong causal links between inherited and acquired impairment in RiBi with cancer pathogenesis are emerging, pointing to RiBi as an attractive therapeutic target for cancer. Here, we will highlight new knowledge about causes of excessive or impaired RiBi and the impact of these changes on protein synthesis.

The oilseed rape developmental expression resource: a resource for the investigation of gene expression dynamics during the floral transition in oilseed rape.

Background: Transcriptome time series can be used to track the expression of genes during development, allowing the timing, intensity, and dynamics of genetic programmes to be determined. Furthermore, time series analysis can reveal causal relationships between genes, leading to an understanding of how the regulatory networks are rewired during development. Due to its impact on yield, a developmental transition of agricultural interest in crops is the switch from vegetative to floral growth.

Combined inhibition of CCR2 and ACE provides added protection against progression of diabetic nephropathy in -deficient mice.

Macrophage-mediated renal injury promotes the development of diabetic nephropathy. Blockade of chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) inhibits kidney macrophage accumulation and early glomerular damage in diabetic animals. This study tested early and late interventions with a CCR2 antagonist (CCR2A) in a model of progressive diabetic glomerulosclerosis and determined whether CCR2A provides added benefit over conventional treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi).

The power of model-to-crop translation illustrated by reducing seed loss from pod shatter in oilseed rape.

Elucidation of key regulators in Arabidopsis fruit patterning has facilitated knowledge-translation into crop species to address yield loss caused by premature seed dispersal (pod shatter). In the 1980s, plant scientists descended on a small weed Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) and developed it into a powerful model system to study plant biology. The massive advances in genetics and genomics since then have allowed us to obtain incredibly detailed knowledge on specific biological processes of Arabidopsis growth and development, its genome sequence and the function of many of the individual genes.

Growth rate regulation is associated with developmental modification of source efficiency.

Plants modulate their growth rate according to seasonal and environmental cues using a suite of growth repressors known to interact directly with cellular machinery controlling cell division and growth. Mutants lacking growth repressors show increased growth rates, but the mechanism by which these plants ensure source availability for faster growth is unclear. Here, we undertake a comprehensive analysis of the fast-growth phenotype of a quintuple growth-repressor mutant, using a combination of theoretical and experimental approaches to understand the physiological basis of source-sink coordination.

Spatio-temporal expression dynamics differ between homologues of flowering time genes in the allopolyploid Brassica napus.

Polyploidy is a recurrent feature of eukaryotic evolution and has been linked to increases in complexity, adaptive radiation and speciation. Within angiosperms such events have occurred repeatedly in many plant lineages. Here we investigate the retention and spatio-temporal expression dynamics of duplicated genes predicted to regulate the floral transition in Brassica napus (oilseed rape, OSR).