Mendelian Randomization and Transcriptome Data Analysis Reveal Bidirectional Causal Relationships and Mechanisms Between Type 2 Diabetes and Gastric Cancer.

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer globally, and the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cancer risk remains controversial.

Methods: We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using publicly available GWAS data to assess the causal relationship between T2DM and GC, validated by heterogeneity and pleiotropy analyses. Transcriptomic data from TCGA and GEO were analyzed to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

Risk of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome associated with meteorological factors in diverse epidemic regions: a nationwide longitudinal study in China.

Background: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a climate-sensitive zoonotic disease that poses a significant public health burden worldwide. While previous studies have established associations between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding the heterogeneity of these effects across diverse epidemic regions. Addressing this gap is essential for developing region-specific prevention and control strategies.

Genetic prediction of blood metabolites mediating the relationship between gut microbiota and postpartum depression: A mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies have suggested an association between gut microbiota(GM) and postpartum depression (PPD). However, the causal relationship remains unclear, and the role of blood metabolites in this association remains elusive.

Methods: This study firstly elucidated the causal relationship among 196 GM taxa, 224 blood metabolites, and PPD from a genetic perspective, employing two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

Unraveling the hidden link: neuroticism as a risk factor for upper urinary tract calculi-insights from Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Upper urinary tract calculi (UUTC) are major risk factors for renal insufficiency and nephrectomy with psychological distress, notably depression and anxiety, being common among affected patients. Depression and anxiety are associated with heightened neuroticism. Individuals with neuroticism frequently exhibit a range of urological disorders.

Exploring the relationship between gut microbiota and breast diseases using Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Growing evidence suggests a relationship between gut microbiota composition and breast diseases, although the precise nature of this association remains uncertain. To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and breast diseases, we utilized two-way Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: Four common diseases were included as outcomes: breast cancer, breast cysts, inflammatory disorders of the breast, and infections of the breast associated with childbirth, along with their subtypes.

Causal effects of vitamin D on leukemia risk: insights from two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune regulation, anti-inflammatory processes, and tumor suppression, but its relationship with leukemia risk remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the causal relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk of different types of leukemia through a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were used, and genetic variants associated with vitamin D were selected as instrumental variables.

Serum GFAP and UCH-L1 Levels for the Assessment of the Absence of Hemorrhagic Transformation: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Currently, validated biomarkers for assessing hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) are lacking. We aimed to validate a test combining GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and UCH-L1 (ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1) to indicate the absence of HT after IVT.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with stroke treated with IVT from 16 hospitals.

Safety and efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: This study aims to systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of curcumin as an adjunctive treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and to assess the methodological quality of the published studies.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL databases for randomized controlled trials published up to August 18, 2023. Two independent reviewers screened studies based on predefined criteria.

Bidirectional Mendelian randomization links gut microbiota to primary biliary cholangitis.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and gut microbiota (GM) are epidemiologically correlated but the causal inter-relationships remain poorly understood. We aim to explore the causal relationships between GM and PBC. Using the MiBioGen consortium, GWAS data for GM at the species level and the largest publicly available PBC GWAS data to date, we performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization by the inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted model and MR-PRESSO to elucidate the potential causal role of GM in PBC.

Probiotics and their metabolite spermidine enhance IFN-γCD4 T cell immunity to inhibit hepatitis B virus.

The therapeutic potential of commensal microbes and their metabolites is promising in the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which is defined as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss. Here, using both specific-pathogen-free and germ-free mice, we report that probiotics significantly promote the decline of HBsAg and inhibit HBV replication by enhancing intestinal homeostasis and provoking intrahepatic interferon (IFN)-γCD4 T cell immune response. Depletion of CD4 T cells or blockage of IFN-γ abolishes probiotics-mediated HBV inhibition.

Non-invasive prediction of human embryonic ploidy using artificial intelligence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Embryonic ploidy is critical for the success of embryo transfer. Currently, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is the gold standard for detecting ploidy abnormalities. However, PGT-A has several inherent limitations, including invasive biopsy, high economic burden, and ethical constraints.

A bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis of the causal relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and breast cancer based on estrogen receptor status.

The incidence of patients diagnosed with either breast cancer (BC) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing each year. IBD has been shown to be strongly associated with the development of a variety of solid tumors, but the relationship with breast cancer is not yet definitive. We explored the causative relationship between IBD and BC using a Mendelian randomization (MR) strategy.

The associations between modifiable risk factors and constipation: a comprehensive mendelian randomization study.

Objective: Early identification of modifiable risk factors is crucial for the prevention of constipation. This study systematically investigated the relationship between genetically predicted modifiable risk factors and constipation.

Methods: The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method was employed as the primary analytical approach.

Mendelian randomization suggests causal correlations between inflammatory cytokines and immune cells with mastitis.

Objectives: Previous studies have reported that immunoinflammatory responses have associations with mastitis. Here, we aimed to further figure out whether circulating inflammatory cytokines and immune cells causally impact mastitis liability.

Methods: The two-sample Mendelian randomization made use of genetic variances of 91 inflammatory cytokines from a large publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) containing 14,824 participants, 731 immunophenotypes data from 3,757 individuals as exposures separately, and mastitis from a GWAS summary (1880 cases and 211699 controls of European ancestry) as outcome.

Bayesian-based analysis of the causality between 731 immune cells and erectile dysfunction: a two-sample, bidirectional, and multivariable Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The causal relationship between certain immune cells and erectile dysfunction (ED) is still uncertain.

Aim: The study sought to investigate the causal effect of 731 types of immune cells on ED through Mendelian randomization (MR) using genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

Methods: Genetic instruments for 731 immune cells were identified through GWAS, and ED data were obtained from the FinnGen database.

Causal role of thyroid function in functional outcome after ischemic stroke: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous observational studies have suggested that thyroid function may be associated with functional outcome after ischemic stroke (IS). Nevertheless, the causal relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the causal effect of thyroid function [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism] on functional outcome (based on the modified Rankin scale) after IS by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Genetic Causal Relationship Between Sex Hormones and Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to explore whether sex hormones affect the occurrence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) from a genetic perspective using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study.

Methods: Exposure and outcome data for this MR analysis were derived from previously published GWAS studies. In this study, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), bioavailable testosterone, and total testosterone were used as exposures, and BCC was used as the outcome for the two-sample MR analysis.

Causal relationships between inflammatory cytokines and myopia: an analysis of genetic and observational studies.

Objective: This study aims to explore the causal relationship between inflammatory markers and myopia through the use of bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) and myopia animal models.

Methods: The authors utilized data from a comprehensive and publicly accessible genome-wide association study (GWAS) for our analysis, which includes 460 536 European ancestry control subjects and 37 362 myopia patients. Utilizing a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis framework, 27 inflammatory markers were investigated as exposure variables with myopia serving as the outcome variable.

Causal role of immune cells in bipolar disorder: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder (BD) has enhanced in recent years due to the extensive use of high-density genetic markers for genotyping and advancements in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, studies on the relationship between immune cells and the risk of BD remain limited, necessitating further investigation.

Methods: Bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis was employed to investigate the causal association between immune cell morphologies and bipolar disorder.

The impact of metabolic syndrome on the cerebral cortex: a Mendelian randomization study.

Metabolic syndrome exhibits associations with diverse neurological disorders, and its potential influence on the cerebral cortex may be one of the many potential factors contributing to these adverse outcomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the causal relationship between metabolic syndrome and changes in cerebral cortex structure using Mendelian randomization analysis. Genome-wide association study data for the 5 components of metabolic syndrome were obtained from individuals of European descent in the UK Biobank.

Type 1 diabetes and combined acute and chronic complications are associated with risk of progression of liver fibrosis: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: There has been controversy and uncertainty regarding the causal relationship between type 1 diabetes, its consequences, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis. In order to determine the causal relationship, we conducted a Mendelian randomization study (MR).

Methods: For the first time, we subjected multiple diabetes data to analyze its relationship with the progression of liver fibrosis.

Causal effects of plasma metabolites on chronic kidney diseases and renal function: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Despite the potential demonstrated by targeted plasma metabolite modulators in halting the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a lingering uncertainty persists concerning the causal relationship between distinct plasma metabolites and the onset and progression of CKD.

Methods: A genome-wide association study was conducted on 1,091 metabolites and 309 metabolite ratios derived from a cohort of 8,299 unrelated individuals of European descent. Employing a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis in conjunction with colocalization analysis, we systematically investigated the associations between these metabolites and three phenotypes: CKD, creatinine-estimated glomerular filtration rate (creatinine-eGFR), and urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR).