Publications by authors named "V Karhunen"
Background: The long-term impact of opioid use disorder (OUD) on brain health has been little explored although of potentially high public health importance.
Objectives: To investigate the potential causal impact of OUD on later life brain health outcomes, including dementia, stroke and brain structure.
Methods: Observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted.
Article Synopsis
- - Drug target Mendelian randomization uses genetic variants to study the effects of drugs, making it a cost-effective way to inform drug development before clinical trials even start.
- - The review highlights the rise of this method, discusses common challenges researchers face, and offers practical advice for effectively conducting such studies.
- - Successful application of drug target Mendelian randomization requires a mix of various expertise, but it's often missing in research, which limits its potential benefits.
We investigated the effects of 35 inflammatory cytokines on respiratory outcomes, including COVID-19, asthma (atopic and non-atopic), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary function indices, using Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses. The emerging associations were further explored using observational analyses in the UK Biobank. We found an inverse association between genetically predicted macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 with risk of COVID-19 outcomes.
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- The study investigates the genetic basis for repurposing existing drugs to prevent type 1 diabetes by examining genetic variants associated with the disease and their relationship to potential drug targets.
- Through analyses of gene expression and Mendelian randomization, the researchers found strong causal links between specific genes (IL2RA, IL6R, IL6ST, and TYK2) and type 1 diabetes risk.
- The results suggest that targeting the signaling pathways of IL-2, IL-6, and TYK2 may be effective in preventing type 1 diabetes, providing a basis for future drug development.*
Background And Aims: The incidence of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is rising among young adults (< 55 years). The risk for CVD starts to form in early childhood and is comprised of genetic and environmental risk factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between early family socioeconomic status (SES), inherited risk, and CVD until midlife.
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