Validation of candidate protein biomarkers previously identified by genetic instruments for prostate cancer risk: A prospective cohort analysis of directly measured protein levels in the ARIC study.

Background: Multiple novel protein biomarkers have been shown to be associated with prostate cancer risk using genetic instruments. This study aimed to externally validate the associations of 30 genetically predicted candidate proteins with prostate cancer risk using aptamer-based levels in US Black and White men in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Plasma protein levels were previously measured by SomaScan® using the blood collected in 1990-1992.

Early-life tobacco exposure is causally implicated in aberrant RAG-mediated recombination in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children, yet few environmental risk factors have been identified. We previously found an association between early-life tobacco smoke exposure and frequency of somatic deletions of 8 leukemia driver genes among childhood ALL patients in the California Childhood Leukemia Study. To expand analysis genome-wide and examine potential mechanisms, we conducted tumor whole-genome sequencing in 35 ALL patients, including 18 with high prenatal tobacco exposure and 17 with low exposure as determined by established epigenetic biomarkers.

Proteome-wide association study and functional validation identify novel protein markers for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Unlabelled: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a lethal malignancy, largely due to the paucity of reliable biomarkers for early detection and therapeutic targeting. Existing blood protein biomarkers for PDAC often suffer from replicability issues, arising from inherent limitations such as unmeasured confounding factors in conventional epidemiologic study designs. To circumvent these limitations, we use genetic instruments to identify proteins with genetically predicted levels to be associated with PDAC risk.

External validation of genetically predicted protein biomarkers for pancreatic cancer risk using aptamer-based plasma levels: A prospective analysis in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Genetically predicted proteins have been associated with pancreatic cancer risk previously. We aimed to externally validate the associations of 53 candidate proteins with pancreatic cancer risk using directly measured, prediagnostic levels. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 10 355 US Black and White men and women in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Self-Reported Primary Cooking Fuels Use and Risk of Chronic Digestive Diseases: A Prospective Cohort Study of 0.5 Million Chinese Adults.

Background: Household air pollution (HAP) from inefficient combustion of solid fuels is a major health concern worldwide. However, prospective evidence on the health impacts of solid cooking fuels and risks of chronic digestive diseases remains scarce.

Objectives: We explored the effects of self-reported primary cooking fuels on the incidence of chronic digestive diseases.

Levels of Parental Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Hesitancy and Their Reasons for Not Intending to Vaccinate: Insights From the 2019 National Immunization Survey-Teen.

Purpose: A nuanced understanding of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine hesitancy is key to tailoring public health interventions to reach HPV vaccination goals in the United States. We aimed to understand the spectrum of parental vaccine hesitancy and identify reasons for lack of vaccination.

Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the 2019 National Immunization Survey-Teen, we examined parents of adolescents aged 13-17 years who had not initiated HPV vaccination.

Household Air Pollution From Solid Cooking Fuel Combustion and Female Breast Cancer.

Women bear a large share of disease burden caused by household air pollution due to their great involvement in domestic activities. Pollutant emissions are believed to vary by exposure patterns such as cooking and space heating. Little is known about the independent effect of solid cooking fuel combustion on breast cancer risk.

Solid fuel use for heating and risks of breast and cervical cancer mortality in China.

Background: Carcinogens released from indoor burning of solid fuels are believed to enter the bloodstream and to be metabolized in breast and cervical tissues. Little evidence exists about the relationship of solid fuel use from heating with breast and cervical cancer.

Objectives: To examine the association of solid heating fuel use with breast and cervical cancer mortality.

Environmental complex exposure and the risk of influenza-like illness among housewives: A case study in Shanxi Province, China.

The association between environmental pollution and risk of influenza-like illness (ILI) among general population has been reported. However, the relationships between the individual pollutants and ILI risk are still under discussion. Our study aimed to explore the associations of the typical environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(loid)s with ILI risk among women population.

Global variation in prevalence and incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a global disease, which adversely affects the life quality of patients and significantly increases the burden of families and society. We aimed to assess the changing incidence, prevalence of ALS around the world.

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library to identify articles published until September 9, 2018.

Conduction Block and Nerve Cross-Sectional Area in Multifocal Motor Neuropathy.

Motor nerve conduction block (CB) is the main electrophysiological feature of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). Increased cross-sectional area (CSA) can be detected by nerve ultrasound in MMN. In this study, we aim to analyze the correlation between CB and CSA in MMN.

Early onset but long survival and other prognostic factors in Chinese sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objectives: To explore the cause of long survival but early onset and other prognostic factors among Chinese sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.

Methods: Patients with ALS were recruited and followed up from Jan 2013 to Jan 2017. Phenotype and survival were compared among different age-at-onset groups.

Motor conduction block and conduction velocity in Lewis-Sumner syndrome and multifocal motor neuropathy.

Motor conduction blocks (CBs) and decreased motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) are both demyelination electrophysiological characteristics. Though CBs are both common in Lewis-Sumner syndrome (LSS) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), they are two distinct disease groups, so their MCV and CBs electrophysiological characteristics may be different. In this paper, we aimed to discuss the relationship between CBs and MCV in Lewis-Sumner syndrome (LSS) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).

Circulating antibodies against M-type phospholipase A2 receptor and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A in Chinese patients with membranous nephropathy.

Background: M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) have recently been identified as target antigens for patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The prevalence of PLA2R and THSD7A in the serum of MN patients deserves further investigation.

Methods: Here, we studied the presence of anti-PLA2R and anti-THSD7A antibodies in patients with biopsy-proven IMN (n = 212), secondary membranous nephropathy (SMN, n = 118), and other kidney diseases (n = 84).

Serial nerve ultrasound and motor nerve conduction studies in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between cross-sectional area (CSA) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and to determine how CSA changes over time after standard treatment.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with CIDP were recruited prospectively, and 21 patients were followed for more than 6 months. Ultrasonography and motor NCS were performed in the median and ulnar nerves.

Environmental risk factors and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A case-control study of ALS in China.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease mainly involving central and peripheral motor neurons. The etiology of ALS is not clear. In China, there is a preliminary exploration of genetic factors, but the study on environmental factors is relatively inadequate, which needs to be further clarified.