Publications by authors named "RM Martin"

Background: Adiposity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). The pathways underlying this relationship, and specifically the role of circulating proteins, are unclear.

Methods: Utilizing two-sample univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR), multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR), and colocalization, based on summary data from large sex-combined and sex-specific genetic studies, we estimated the univariable associations between: (i) body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) and overall and site-specific (colon, proximal colon, distal colon, and rectal) CRC risk, (ii) BMI and WHR and circulating proteins, and (iii) adiposity-associated circulating proteins and CRC risk.

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Here we describe the synthesis and evaluation of a molecular corrosion sensor that can be applied in situ in aerospace coatings, then used to detect corrosion after the coating has been applied. A pH-sensitive molecule, 4-mercaptopyridin (4-MP), is attached to a gold nanoparticle to allow surface-enhanced Raman-scattering (SERS) for signal amplification. These SERS nanoparticles, when combined with an appropriate micron-sized carrier system, are incorporated directly into an MIL-SPEC coating and used to monitor the process onset and progression of corrosion using pH changes occurring at the metal-coating interface.

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Background: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the number of carotid and common femoral bifurcations with plaque (NBP) detected by ultrasound in reclassifying atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk obtained from SCORE algorithms. Data from the cohort of 1000 individuals free from ASCVD in the Cyprus Epidemiological Study on Atherosclerosis was used.

Methods: In each predicted ASCVD risk class (low, moderate, high) based on SCORE algorithms and baseline data, the observed 10-year risk of subgroups according to the NBP was used to reclassify participants.

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Although evidence indicates that viruses are important in the ecology of spp., many questions remain. For example, how does exist at high, bloom-associated cell concentrations in the presence of viruses that infect it? The phenomenon of lysogeny and associated homoimmunity offer possible explanations to this question.

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Background: Various vitamins and minerals have been implicated in the aetiology of depression.

Objective: To estimate the effects of micronutrient exposures on major depressive disorder (MDD) and recurrent depression (rMDD) using Mendelian randomisation (MR), a method using genetic data to estimate causal effects given certain assumptions.

Methods: We undertook a comprehensive bidirectional MR study of multiple micronutrient exposures on MDD and rMDD.

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Here, we report on the raw and coassembled metatranscriptomes of 39 Lake Erie surface (1.0 m) water samples collected over a 2-day diel period encompassing episodic weather and bloom events. Preliminary taxonomic annotations and read mappings revealed that spp.

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The Heisenberg uncertainty principle dictates that the position and momentum of an object cannot be simultaneously measured with arbitrary precision, giving rise to an apparent limitation known as the standard quantum limit (SQL). Gravitational-wave detectors use photons to continuously measure the positions of freely falling mirrors and so are affected by the SQL. We investigated the performance of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) after the experimental realization of frequency-dependent squeezing designed to surpass the SQL.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study assessed how SGLT2 inhibitors impact the risk of prostate cancer, revealing that genetic evidence suggests these inhibitors can significantly lower overall, advanced, and early-onset prostate cancer risk (odds ratio = 0.56).
  • - Analysis of electronic healthcare data showed that SGLT2 inhibitors are linked to a 23% reduced risk of prostate cancer in men with diabetes (hazard ratio = 0.77).
  • - The research concludes that there is substantial evidence supporting the protective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors against prostate cancer, suggesting that further trials are needed to explore their potential for cancer prevention.
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  • In patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), traditional treatments can lead to nephrocalcinosis, but the connections between XLH, its treatment, and kidney function are still unclear.
  • A study analyzed kidney health in 196 children and 318 adults with XLH, with findings showing a significant prevalence of nephrocalcinosis, especially in children, and its association with reduced kidney function.
  • Results indicated that nephrocalcinosis was common in both age groups, with children showing more symptoms related to kidney function compared to adults, highlighting the need for deeper understanding and monitoring of kidney health in XLH patients.*
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Lake Erie algal bloom discussions have historically focused on cyanobacteria, with foundational "blooms like it hot" and "high nutrient" paradigms considered as primary drivers behind cyanobacterial bloom success. Yet, recent surveys have rediscovered winter-spring diatom blooms, introducing another key player in the Lake Erie eutrophication and algal bloom story which has been historically overlooked. These blooms (summer winter) have been treated as solitary events separated by spatial and temporal gradients.

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Background: Screening is not recommended for prostate cancer in the UK. Asymptomatic men aged ≥50 years can request a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test following counselling on potential harms and benefits. There are areas of clinical uncertainty among GPs, resulting in the content and quality of counselling varying.

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Certain species of true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) cause tremendous damage to commercially important fruits and vegetables, and many countries operate continuous trapping programs which rely on male-specific lures such as trimedlure (TML), methyl eugenol (ME), and cue-lure (CL). Traditionally, these attractants have been applied as liquids to cotton wicks inside traps, although this results in high evaporative loss of the lure. Slow-release, polymeric plugs have been widely adopted for TML, but such devices are not widely used for ME or CL.

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Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, with 1.9 million new cases in 2020 and a predicted rise to 3.2 million in 2040.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers studied proteins in the blood to understand how they relate to prostate cancer risk.
  • They found 20 proteins connected to different types of prostate cancer, including aggressive and early onset forms.
  • One protein, MSMB, was especially important because it helped tell the difference between normal tissue and cancerous tissue.
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Omega-3 fatty acids have been implicated in the aetiology of depressive disorders, though trials supplementing omega-3 to prevent major depressive disorder (MDD) have so far been unsuccessful. Whether this association is causal remains unclear. We used two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate causality.

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  • Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widely increasing disease linked to high body mass index (BMI), but the exact biological processes connecting these two factors are not well understood.
  • The study employed Mendelian randomization to explore various biomarkers and lifestyle factors potentially mediating the impact of BMI on CRC risk, focusing on elements like inflammation, insulin levels, and physical activity.
  • The findings indicated that higher genetically predicted BMI correlates with increased CRC risk, with evidence suggesting that the relationship might be partly mediated by plasma IGF1, while smoking and physical activity appear to complicate the association rather than mediate it.
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Article Synopsis
  • * Our research uncovered 40 proteins linked to cancer risks, including PLAUR for breast cancer and CTRB1 for pancreatic cancer, while also noting possible negative side effects like hypertension from altering these proteins.
  • * We found 18 proteins that are associated with cancer risk and linked to existing drugs, plus 15 proteins not yet being studied for clinical use, enhancing our understanding of cancer causes and the implications of targeting these proteins for prevention.
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Background: Mendelian randomization (MR) studies are susceptible to metadata errors (e.g. incorrect specification of the effect allele column) and other analytical issues that can introduce substantial bias into analyses.

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Importance: The Cluster Randomized Trial of PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer (CAP) reported no effect of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening on prostate cancer mortality at a median 10-year follow-up (primary outcome), but the long-term effects of PSA screening on prostate cancer mortality remain unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a single invitation for PSA screening on prostate cancer-specific mortality at a median 15-year follow-up compared with no invitation for screening.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This secondary analysis of the CAP randomized clinical trial included men aged 50 to 69 years identified at 573 primary care practices in England and Wales.

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Background: This article demonstrates a means of assessing long-term intervention cost-effectiveness in the absence of data from randomized controlled trials and without recourse to Markov simulation or similar types of cohort simulation.

Methods: Using a Mendelian randomization study design, we developed causal estimates of the genetically predicted effect of bladder, breast, colorectal, lung, multiple myeloma, ovarian, prostate, and thyroid cancers on health care costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) using outcome data drawn from the UK Biobank cohort. We then used these estimates in a simulation model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical population-wide preventative intervention based on a repurposed class of antidiabetic drugs known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors very recently shown to reduce the odds of incident prostate cancer.

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Background: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC; diagnosed <50 years of age) is rising globally; however, the causes underlying this trend are largely unknown. CRC has strong genetic and environmental determinants, yet common genetic variants and causal modifiable risk factors underlying EOCRC are unknown. We conducted the first EOCRC-specific genome-wide association study (GWAS) and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to explore germline genetic and causal modifiable risk factors associated with EOCRC.

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The rediscovery of diatom blooms embedded within and beneath the Lake Erie ice cover (2007-2012) ignited interest in psychrophilic adaptations and winter limnology. Subsequent studies determined the vital role ice plays in winter diatom ecophysiology as diatoms partition to the underside of ice, thereby fixing their location within the photic zone. Yet, climate change has led to widespread ice decline across the Great Lakes, with Lake Erie presenting a nearly "ice-free" state in several recent winters.

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Article Synopsis
  • Drug repurposing is a faster and cheaper alternative to traditional drug development, and the study aims to explore the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for treating more cancers than currently approved.
  • The research will apply two-sample Mendelian randomization to analyze the genetic impact of protein targets related to immune checkpoint inhibitors on survival across seven cancer types, using existing genetic data.
  • No new ethics approval is needed since previously published studies will serve as data sources, and the results will be shared as an open-access publication to promote broader access.
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Article Synopsis
  • Obesity is linked to various types of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the strength and cause of these links are not fully understood.
  • By using Mendelian randomization, researchers studied how body size traits like BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage affect risks for different CRC subtypes.
  • Results showed that higher BMI and body fat significantly increased the risks for serrated and alternate CRC pathways (Jass types 1, 2, and 3), while associations with the traditional pathway (Jass type 4) were weaker.
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