Efficacy of intermittent fasting on improving liver function in individuals with metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Intermittent fasting (IF) can be an effective dietary therapy for weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health. However, there is scant evidence regarding the role of IF on indicators of liver function, particularly in adults with metabolic disorders. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of IF on liver function in adults with metabolic disorders.

Strain-Reduced Inversion Symmetry in Ultrathin SnPSe Crystals for Giant Bulk Piezophotovoltaic Generation.

With the potential to surpass the Shockley-Queisser (S-Q) limitation for solar energy conversion, the bulk photovoltaic (BPV) effect, which is induced by the broken inversion symmetry of the lattice, presents prospects for future light-harvesting technologies. However, the development of BPV is largely limited by the low solar spectrum conversion efficiency of existing noncentrosymmetric materials with wide band gaps. This study reports that the strain-induced reduction of inversion symmetry can enhance the second-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ) of SnPSe crystals by an order of magnitude, which contributes to an extremely high value of 1.

Neural Network and Logistic Regression Models Based on Ultrasound Radiomics and Clinical-Pathological Features to Predict Occult Level II Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Rationale And Objectives: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) often metastasizes to lateral cervical lymph nodes, especially in level II. This study aims to develop predictive models to identify level II lymph node metastasis (LNM), guiding selective neck dissection (SND) to minimize unnecessary surgery and morbidity in low-risk patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of 313 PTC patients who underwent modified radical neck dissection (MRND) between October 2020 and January 2023 was analyzed.

Therapeutic potential of roxadustat in immune thrombocytopenia: A Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by immune-mediated platelet destruction and impaired megakaryocyte maturation. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), pivotal in the development of megakaryocytes and immune regulation, is downregulated in ITP. Roxadustat, which stabilizes HIF-1α, has emerged as a potential therapeutic drug for ITP that acts by enhancing HIF-1α-mediated megakaryocyte development and modulating immune responses.

Substrate-specific responses to mixing conditions in high-solids enzymatic hydrolysis: Insights from microcrystalline cellulose and dilute-acid pretreated corncob.

This study investigates the mixing effects on the enzymatic hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and dilute-acid pretreated corncob substrates under high-solid conditions. Enzymatic hydrolysis experiments were conducted to assess cellulose conversion rates under varying mixing conditions (0, 50, 150, and 250 rpm) and solids loadings (5 %, 15 %, 25 %, and 35 %, w/v), and distinct physicochemical properties of the substrates were characterized. Additionally, the role of mixing conditions and solid loadings on cellulose hydrolysis kinetics and enzyme adsorption on both substrates and lignin were elucidated.

Genetic Causal Association Between Skin Microbiota and Biological Aging: Evidence From a Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Background: The skin microbiota, a complex community of microorganisms residing on the skin, plays a crucial role in maintaining skin health and overall homeostasis. Recent research has suggested that alterations in the composition and function of the skin microbiota may influence the aging process. However, the causal relationships between specific skin microbiota and biological aging remain unclear.

Assessing periodontitis risk from specific dietary patterns: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Our goal is to perform a meta-analysis to investigate the risk of periodontitis associated with specific dietary patterns.

Methods: We employed the PRISMA methodology in a meta-analysis to examine the correlation between dietary patterns and the risk of periodontitis. We systematically searched three online databases from inception to November 2024 to identify relevant studies.

Assessing inflammatory protein factors in inflammatory bowel Disease using multivariable mendelian randomization.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), decreases quality of life and causes disability. The underlying processes are not fully understood. This study uses Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to identify cytokines that may be associated with UC and CD, aiding in early diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Causal relationship between matrix metalloproteinase and pulmonary embolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

This study evaluated the causal relationship between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and pulmonary embolism using data from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of pulmonary embolism from the UK Biobank and a GWAS dataset of MMPs based on 5,457 Icelanders aged 65 years and older. MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO, Cochran's Q, and leave-one-out were used for sensitivity analysis. The Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, based on the IVW analysis, indicated an elevated risk for pulmonary embolism in association with MMP19 (OR = 1.

Mendelian randomization analysis of blood uric acid and risk of preeclampsia: based on GWAS and eQTL data.

Background: The causal association between blood uric acid and preeclampsia (Preeclampsia, PE) has not been conclusively established based on the literature reviewed to date. This bi-directional Mendelian randomization study aimed to investigate the bi-directional causal association between blood uric acid concentration and PE at different genetic levels.

Methods: Pooled data on preeclampsia (sample size = 82,085) and blood uric acid (sample size = 129,405) were conducted based on publicly available genome-wide association analysis (Genome-Wide Association Study, GWAS) on the East Asian populations regarding preeclampsia and blood uric acid, respectively.

Correlation Among Psoriasis, Iridocyclitis, and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Insights from Mendelian Randomization and Mediation Analysis.

The aim of this study is to utilize two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the potential causal relationship among psoriasis, iridocyclitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and to explore any potential mediation effects. Pooled data were derived from the public genome-wide association study (GWAS) in NAFLD (finn-b-NAFLD), iridocyclitis (finn-b-H7_IRIDOCYCLITIS) and psoriasis (finn-b-L12_PSORI_VULG). Univariable MR (UVMR) analysis was implemented to explore the causal relationship among psoriasis, iridocyclitis, and NAFLD, and inverse variance weighting (IVW) was used as the primary analytical method.

Assessing the causal relationships between circulating metabolic biomarkers and breast cancer by using mendelian randomization.

Objective: Previous studies have established a causal relationship between metabolites and breast cancer (BC), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the genetic relationship between metabolites and BC, including its subtypes, using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: Utilizing the latest and most comprehensive summary statistics from genome-wide association studies we conducted an Mendelian randomization study.

Causal Associations between Sleep Traits, Sleep Disorders, and Glioblastoma: A Two-Sample Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study.

Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive brain tumor predominantly affecting individuals over 40, often co-occurs with sleep disorders. However, the causal relationship remains unclear. This study employed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to investigate the causal links between sleep traits/disorders and GBM.

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).

The Role of Sex Hormones and Sex Hormone-binding Globulin in Functional Gatrointestinal Disorders: A Bidirectional Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background And Aims: Sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been confirmed to involve in the pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD). However, causal associations have not yet been investigated. Utilizing data from Genome-wide association studies, we conducted bidirectional two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess the causal relationships between sex hormones, SHBG and FGIDs.

The relationship between inflammatory factors and heart failure: evidence based on bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.

Objective: Inflammatory factors play a crucial role in the onset and progression of heart failure. To further explore the causal relationship between inflammatory factors and heart failure, we employed bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal links between 91 inflammatory cytokines and heart failure.

Methods: We conducted our study using the bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach.

Elucidating the Causal Impact of Dietary Factors on Rheumatoid Arthritis: Insights From Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disorder with an incompletely elucidated pathogenesis. Emerging research indicates that dietary factors may significantly influence the onset and progression of RA. Nevertheless, the causal relationship between dietary habits and RA remains ambiguous.

The causal relationship between gut microbiota and preterm birth: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Preterm birth, a significant global health concern, has been associated with alterations in the gut microbiota. However, the causal nature of this relationship remains uncertain due to the limitations inherent in observational studies.

Purpose: To investigate the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota imbalances and preterm birth.

Causal Relationship Between Inflammatory Cytokines and Pancreatitis Risk.

The causal relationship between inflammatory factors and acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis (AAP), and alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis (ACP) remains unclear. We aimed to examine the casual relationship between inflammatory factors and various forms of pancreatitis, namely, AP, CP, AAP, and ACP. We employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between 91 inflammatory factors and 41 inflammatory factors with respect to pancreatitis.

Effect of micronutrients on the risk of Graves' disease: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Micronutrient research on Graves' disease (GD) is limited and controversial. Therefore, in order to explore possible correlations between genetically predicted amounts of six micronutrients [Copper (Cu), Iron (Ir), Zinc (Zn), Calcium (Ca), Vitamin C (VC), and Vitamin D (VD)] and GD risk, we carried out Mendelian randomization research (MR).

Methods: We conducted an MR analysis using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) from people of European ancestry and aggregated information from UK Biobank to provide insight into the relationships between micronutrients and GD.

The role of mitochondrial DNA copy number in female infertility: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous studies on the impact of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number on female infertility were limited and inconsistent.

Methods: The causal relationship between mtDNA copy number and female infertility was evaluated using a bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was applied for principal analysis, and MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, weighted mode method for secondary analyses.