Causal Associations Between Remnant Cholesterol Levels and Atherosclerosis-Related Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

: Despite the widespread use of lipid-lowering agents, the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains; this residual risk has been attributed to remnant cholesterol (RC) levels. However, the causal associations between RC levels and various atherosclerosis-related cardiometabolic and vascular risk factors for ASCVD remain unclear. : Using genetic and biochemical data of 108,876 Taiwan Biobank study participants, follow-up data of 31,790 participants, and follow-up imaging data of 18,614 participants, we conducted a genome-wide association study, a Functional Mapping and Annotation analysis, and bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses to identify the genetic determinants of RC levels and the causal associations between RC levels and various cardiometabolic and vascular risk factors.

Circulating resistin levels and mutation burden of the RETN gene variants predict long-term mortality in a Taiwanese population.

Human resistin is a proinflammatory cytokine involving the development and progression of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. However, prediction of long-term outcome using circulating resistin level and its genetic determinants in a population-based study remain to be explored. After genome-wide association study (GWAS), DNA methylation (DNAm) analysis and functional assays of a RETN rs370006313 variant, we tested whether resistin level and its genetic determinants can be used to determine the long-term outcomes of 5678 Taiwan Biobank (TWB) participants.

Circulating YKL-40 levels but not CHI3L1 or TRIB1 gene variants predict long-term outcomes in patients with angiographically confirmed multivessel coronary artery disease.

YKL-40 is significantly associated with the prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). YKL-40 levels are significantly associated with variations in the CHI3L1 and TRIB1 genes. We investigated candidate genes for YKL-40 levels and evaluated the prognostic value of this biomarker and corresponding variants for long-term outcomes in patients with CAD.

SLC10A1 rs2296651 variant (S267F mutation) predicts biochemical traits, hepatitis B virus infection susceptibility and the risk of gallstone disease.

Sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP), a bile acid transporter, plays a crucial role in regulating bile acid levels and influencing the risk of HBV infection. Genetic variations in the SLC10A1 gene, which encodes NTCP, affect these functions. However, the impact of SLC10A1 gene variants on the metabolic and biochemical traits remained unclear.

Causal links of α-thalassemia indices and cardiometabolic traits and diabetes: MR study.

Our study aimed to investigate if genetic variants around 16p13.3's locus, associated with erythrocyte indices and HbA1c levels, predict α-thalassemia-related erythrocyte indices, cardiometabolic traits, and diabetes risk in Taiwanese individuals. We analyzed Taiwan Biobank data, including whole-genome sequencing from 1,493 participants and genotyping arrays from 129,542 individuals.

Differential Effects of Gene Region Variants on Lipid Profile, Blood Pressure Status, and Gallstone Disease History in Taiwan.

ABCG5 and ABCG8 are two key adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) proteins that regulate whole-body sterol trafficking. This study aimed to elucidate the association between gene region variants and lipid profile, cardiometabolic traits, and gallstone disease history in Taiwan. A total of 1494 Taiwan Biobank participants with whole-genome sequencing data and 117,679 participants with Axiom Genome-Wide CHB Array data were enrolled for analysis.

Circulating serum amyloid A levels but not SAA1 variants predict long-term outcomes of angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Circulating serum amyloid A (SAA) levels are strongly associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk and severity. The association between genetic variants, SAA levels, inflammatory marker levels, and coronary artery disease (CAD) prognosis has not been fully understood.

Materials And Methods: In total, 2199 Taiwan Biobank (TWB) participants were enrolled for a genome-wide association study (GWAS), and the long-term outcomes in 481 patients with CAD were analyzed.

Pleiotropic Effects of Variants on Lipid Profiles, Metabolic Syndrome, and the Risk of Diabetes Mellitus.

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) plays a crucial role in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. The effects of locus variants on lipid profiles, metabolic syndrome, and the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Asian populations are unclear. We included 1478 Taiwan Biobank participants with whole-genome sequence (WGS) data and 115,088 TWB participants with Axiom genome-wide CHB array data and subjected them to genotype-phenotype analyses using locus variants.

Common and Rare Variants Associated with Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels and the Risk of Diabetes Mellitus: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

PCSK9 is a candidate locus for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The cause-effect relationship between LDL-C levels and diabetes mellitus (DM) has been suggested to be mechanism-specific. To identify the role of and genome-wide association study (GWAS)-significant variants in LDL-C levels and the risk of DM by using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, a total of 75,441 Taiwan Biobank (TWB) participants was enrolled for a GWAS to determine common and rare variants and their associations with LDL-C levels.

Synergistic Effects of Weighted Genetic Risk Scores and Resistin and sST2 Levels on the Prognostication of Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Resistin and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) are useful predictors in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Their serum levels are significantly attributed to variations in and loci. We investigated candidate variants in the for resistin levels and those in the locus for sST2 levels and evaluated the prognostication of these two biomarkers and the corresponding variants for long-term outcomes in the patients with CAD.

Differential Genetic and Epigenetic Effects of the Gene on Body Shape Indices and Metabolic Traits.

The gene is a key metabolic transcriptional transregulator with monoallelic maternal expression. variants are only associated with adipose tissue gene expression, and promoter methylation is strongly associated with age. This study investigated whether age, sex, and obesity mediate the effects of variants and DNA methylation status on body shape indices and metabolic traits.

Pleiotropic Effects of Common and Rare Exonic Mutations on Cardiometabolic Traits.

Background: The common non-synonymous mutation of the glucokinase regulator () gene, namely rs1260326, is widely reported to have pleiotropic effects on cardio-metabolic traits and hematological parameters.

Objective: This study aimed to identify whether other variants may have pleiotropic effects independent of the rs1260326 genotypes.

Methods: In total, 81,097 Taiwan Biobank participants were enrolled for the regional plot association studies and candidate variant analysis of the region around the gene.

Pleiotropic Effects of Functional Variants on Cardiometabolic, Renal, and Hematological Traits in the Taiwanese Population.

is a transmembrane mucin involved in carcinogenesis and cell signaling. Functional variants are associated with multiple metabolic and biochemical traits. This study investigated the association of functional variants with DNA methylation and various metabolic, biochemical, and hematological parameters.

Dibenzofuran, 4-Chromanone, Acetophenone, and Dithiecine Derivatives: Cytotoxic Constituents from .

Five new compounds, eupatodibenzofuran A (), eupatodibenzofuran B (), 6-acetyl-8-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one (), eupatofortunone (), and eupatodithiecine (), have been isolated from the aerial part of , together with 11 known compounds (‒). Compounds and featured a new carbon skeleton with an unprecedented 1-(9-(4-methylphenyl)-6-methyldibe nzo[,]furan-2-yl)ethenone. Among the isolates, compound exhibited potent inhibitory activity with IC values of 5.

Combined corrected QT interval and growth differentiation factor-15 level has synergistic predictive value for long-term outcome of angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease.

Background: The corrected QT interval (QTc) predicts prognosis for the general population and patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a biomarker of myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular (LV) remodelling. The interaction between these two parameters is unknown.

Circulating chemerin level is associated with metabolic, biochemical and haematological parameters-A population-based study.

Objective: This study aims to analyse the association of chemerin levels with several metabolic, biochemical and haematological parameters in a large Taiwanese population with relative healthy status.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Data of 4101 healthy participants without history of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and renal insufficiency from Taiwan Biobank were analysed.

Circulating chemerin levels are determined through circulating platelet counts in nondiabetic Taiwanese people: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background And Aims: Platelet count (PLT) is a predictor of metabolic and inflammation-related disorders. Platelets can release prochemerin, which acts as a link between coagulation and inflammation and between innate and adaptive immunity. The causal effect between PLT and circulating chemerin level has not been elucidated.

Functional Haplotype of Induces Triglyceride-Mediated Suppression of HDL-C Levels According to Genome-Wide Association Studies.

Hepatic lipase (encoded by ) is a glycoprotein in the triacylglycerol lipase family and mainly synthesized in and secreted from the liver. Previous studies demonstrated that hepatic lipase is crucial for reverse cholesterol transport and modulating metabolism and the plasma levels of several lipoproteins. This study was conducted to investigate the suppression effect of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in a genome-wide association study and explore the possible mechanisms linking triglyceride (TG) to variants and HDL-C.

Establishment of an Immunocompetent Metastasis Rat Model with Hepatocyte Cancer Stem Cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for the maintenance, metastasis, and relapse of various tumors. The effects of CSCs on the tumorigenesis of HCC are still not fully understood, however.

Overall survival prediction of non-small cell lung cancer by integrating microarray and clinical data with deep learning.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common lung cancers worldwide. Accurate prognostic stratification of NSCLC can become an important clinical reference when designing therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. With this clinical application in mind, we developed a deep neural network (DNN) combining heterogeneous data sources of gene expression and clinical data to accurately predict the overall survival of NSCLC patients.

Modification effect of sex and obesity on the correlation of LEP polymorphisms with leptin levels in Taiwanese obese women.

Background: Obesity has become the main health issue in developed countries as it impacts life expectancy and increases mortality of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases. The leptin is one of the adipokines which presents in the serum in proportion to the amount of adipose tissue and is translated from LEP gene. It involves in energy homeostasis, lipid and glucose metabolisms, modulation of immune systems, and thermogenesis.

Osteoprotegerin and osteopontin levels, but not gene polymorphisms, predict mortality in cardiovascular diseases.

This study aims to investigate whether osteoprotegerin (OPG) or osteopontin (OPN) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) will predict survival. This study enrolled 617 participants undergoing health examination, 536 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and 86 peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. Genotypes of SNP rs2073618 and SNP rs11730582 were determined.