Sex-specific DNA methylation differences in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Sex is an important covariate in all genetic and epigenetic research due to its role in the incidence, progression and outcome of many phenotypic characteristics and human diseases. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease with a sex bias towards higher incidence in males. Here, we report for the first time a blood-based epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis in 9274 individuals after stringent quality control (5529 males and 3975 females).

Multicentennial cycles in continental demography synchronous with solar activity and climate stability.

Human population dynamics and their drivers are not well understood, especially over the long term and on large scales. Here, we estimate demographic growth trajectories from 9 to 3 ka BP across the entire globe by employing summed probability distributions of radiocarbon dates. Our reconstruction reveals multicentennial growth cycles on all six inhabited continents, which exhibited matching dominant frequencies and phase relations.

Effect of calf separation on gut microbiome and fecal metabolome of mother in the captive Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis).

Social separation, or the absence of social support, can cause physical and psychological health issues. Social separation is crucial for the welfare of the Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP) in captivity because they face many challenges like frequent social separation, noise from visitors, and animal replacement, which can cause psychological and physiological stress. This research is aimed at assessing the potential negative impacts of social separation on the gut microbiome and metabolome of captive YFP, focusing on the potential imbalances caused by mother-calf separation.

Multimodal examination of daily stress rhythms in chronic Cannabis users.

Rationale: Chronic cannabis users frequently report stress relief as their primary reason for use. The endocannabinoid system is involved in the neuroendocrine stress response, and diurnal cortisol rhythms may be disrupted in chronic cannabis users.

Objectives: The objectives were to determine whether cannabis users demonstrate disruptions in diurnal stress rhythms and examine the acute effects of cannabis on stress-related outcomes in cannabis users' natural environments.