2,185 results match your criteria: "Li Ka-Shing Centre[Affiliation]"

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a heterogeneous population of cells that facilitate cancer progression. However, our knowledge of the niches of individual TAM subsets and their development and function remain incomplete. Here, we describe a population of lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1)-expressing TAMs, which form coordinated multi-cellular "nest" structures that are heterogeneously distributed proximal to vasculature in tumors of a spontaneous murine model of breast cancer.

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A scalable approach for continuous time Markov models with covariates.

Biostatistics

July 2024

Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield, Department of Medicine, University of Oxford and Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.

Existing methods for fitting continuous time Markov models (CTMM) in the presence of covariates suffer from scalability issues due to high computational cost of matrix exponentials calculated for each observation. In this article, we propose an optimization technique for CTMM which uses a stochastic gradient descent algorithm combined with differentiation of the matrix exponential using a Padé approximation. This approach makes fitting large scale data feasible.

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Background: Maternal dietary choline has a central role in foetal brain development and may be associated with later cognitive function. However, many countries are reporting lower than recommended intake of choline during pregnancy.

Methods: Dietary choline was estimated using food frequency questionnaires in pregnant women participating in population-derived birth cohort, the Barwon Infant Study (BIS).

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Pathways to ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 health outcomes in the United Kingdom: A systematic map.

Soc Sci Med

July 2023

Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, UK; NIHR Leicester BioMedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Leicester, UK; Department of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, UK.

Background: Marked ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 infection and its consequences have been documented. The aim of this paper is to identify the range and nature of evidence on potential pathways which lead to ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 related health outcomes in the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods: We searched six bibliographic and five grey literature databases from 1 December 2019 to 23 February 2022 for research on pathways to ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 health outcomes in the UK.

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Liver disease is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular outcomes - A UK Biobank study.

J Hepatol

November 2023

University College London Hospitals National Health Service Trust, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Barts Health National Health Service Trust, The Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We investigated whether early signs of liver disease (measured by iron-corrected T1-mapping [cT1]) were associated with an increased risk of major CVD events.

Methods: Liver disease activity (cT1) and fat (proton density fat fraction [PDFF]) were measured using LiverMultiScan® between January 2016 and February 2020 in the UK Biobank imaging sub-study.

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Positional influence on cellular transcriptional identity revealed through spatially segmented single-cell transcriptomics.

Cell Syst

June 2023

Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address:

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful technique for describing cell states. Identifying the spatial arrangement of these states in tissues remains challenging, with the existing methods requiring niche methodologies and expertise. Here, we describe segmentation by exogenous perfusion (SEEP), a rapid and integrated method to link surface proximity and environment accessibility to transcriptional identity within three-dimensional (3D) disease models.

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Simulation is a key tool in population genetics for both methods development and empirical research, but producing simulations that recapitulate the main features of genomic datasets remains a major obstacle. Today, more realistic simulations are possible thanks to large increases in the quantity and quality of available genetic data, and the sophistication of inference and simulation software. However, implementing these simulations still requires substantial time and specialized knowledge.

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Metabolic imaging with deuterium labeled substrates.

Prog Nucl Magn Reson Spectrosc

June 2023

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK. Electronic address:

Deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) is an emerging clinically-applicable technique for the non-invasive investigation of tissue metabolism. The generally short T values of H-labeled metabolites in vivo can compensate for the relatively low sensitivity of detection by allowing rapid signal acquisition in the absence of significant signal saturation. Studies with deuterated substrates, including [6,6'-H]glucose, [H]acetate, [H]choline and [2,3-H]fumarate have demonstrated the considerable potential of DMI for imaging tissue metabolism and cell death in vivo.

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Evaluating approaches for constructing polygenic risk scores for prostate cancer in men of African and European ancestry.

Am J Hum Genet

July 2023

Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Genome-wide polygenic risk scores (GW-PRSs) have been reported to have better predictive ability than PRSs based on genome-wide significance thresholds across numerous traits. We compared the predictive ability of several GW-PRS approaches to a recently developed PRS of 269 established prostate cancer-risk variants from multi-ancestry GWASs and fine-mapping studies (PRS). GW-PRS models were trained with a large and diverse prostate cancer GWAS of 107,247 cases and 127,006 controls that we previously used to develop the multi-ancestry PRS.

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Cross talk between Paneth and tuft cells drives dysbiosis and inflammation in the gut mucosa.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

June 2023

Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, 34000 Montpellier, France.

Gut microbiota imbalance (dysbiosis) is increasingly associated with pathological conditions, both within and outside the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal Paneth cells are considered to be guardians of the gut microbiota, but the events linking Paneth cell dysfunction with dysbiosis remain unclear. We report a three-step mechanism for dysbiosis initiation.

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Evaluating Approaches for Constructing Polygenic Risk Scores for Prostate Cancer in Men of African and European Ancestry.

medRxiv

May 2023

Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Genome-wide polygenic risk scores (GW-PRS) were analyzed for their predictive ability regarding prostate cancer risk, compared to an established multi-ancestry polygenic risk score (PRS).
  • The GW-PRS models utilized data from a large and diverse group of nearly 235,000 participants, including individuals from both African and European ancestries.
  • Results showed that while GW-PRS had varying predictive abilities, the multi-ancestry PRS performed equally well or better in predicting prostate cancer risk for both ancestry groups, indicating GW-PRS may not offer significant improvements in risk prediction.
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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers examined genetic factors influencing insulin levels after a glucose challenge in over 55,000 people from different ancestry groups, identifying ten new genetic locations linked to postprandial insulin resistance.
  • * They found that many of these loci share genetics with type 2 diabetes, suggesting a common underlying mechanism.
  • * The study also highlighted nine candidate genes affecting GLUT4, a key glucose transporter, which plays an important role in glucose uptake during the post-meal state.
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Reliability of major bleeding events in UK routine data versus clinical trial adjudicated follow-up data.

Heart

September 2023

Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit at the University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Objective: To assess how reliable UK routine data are for ascertaining major bleeding events compared with adjudicated follow-up.

Methods: The ASCEND (A Study of Cardiovascular Events iN Diabetes) primary prevention trial randomised 15 480 UK people with diabetes to aspirin versus matching placebo. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding (including intracranial haemorrhage, sight-threatening eye bleeding, serious gastrointestinal bleeding and other major bleeding (epistaxis, haemoptysis, haematuria, vaginal and other bleeding)) ascertained by direct-participant mail-based follow-up, with >90% of outcomes undergoing adjudication.

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A non-coding variant linked to metabolic obesity with normal weight affects actin remodelling in subcutaneous adipocytes.

Nat Metab

May 2023

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Medical and Population Genetics Program & Type 2 Diabetes Systems Genomics Initiative, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Recent studies have linked a genetic risk for type 2 diabetes with a lower likelihood of accumulating body fat, paralleling traits seen in metabolically obese normal weight (MONW) individuals.
  • Researchers identified a specific genetic variant (rs6712203) in the COBLL1 gene that influences gene expression and affects how fat cells grow and store lipids, leading to difficulties in developing proper adipose tissue.
  • Using mouse models, they demonstrated that altering the COBLL1 gene mirrors MONW traits, including reduced body fat and impaired glucose regulation, highlighting a potential target for future diabetes treatments and understanding of genetic influences on metabolism.
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Background: In 2011, the Canadian Alliance for Monitoring Effectiveness and Safety of Antipsychotics in Children (CAMESA) published guidelines for the metabolic monitoring of antipsychotic-treated children and youth. Population-based studies examining adherence to these guidelines are needed to ensure the safe use of antipsychotics in children and youth.

Methods: We conducted a population-based study of all Ontario residents aged 0 to 24 who were newly dispensed an antipsychotic between April 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019.

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Background: Germline CDH1 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants cause hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). Once a genetic cause is identified, stomachs' and breasts' surveillance and/or prophylactic surgery is offered to asymptomatic CDH1 carriers, which is life-saving. Herein, we characterized an inherited mechanism responsible for extremely early-onset gastric cancer and atypical HDGC high penetrance.

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Population genetic models only provide coarse representations of real-world ancestry. We used a pedigree compiled from 4 million parish records and genotype data from 2276 French and 20,451 French Canadian individuals to finely model and trace French Canadian ancestry through space and time. The loss of ancestral French population structure and the appearance of spatial and regional structure highlights a wide range of population expansion models.

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Article Synopsis
  • Human germline-soma segregation happens during weeks 2-3 in embryo development, and researchers are studying the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) using in vitro models and detailed in vivo datasets.
  • The study reveals a specific molecular signature that indicates a temporary increase in the potential for germ cell development during early epiblast development post-implantation.
  • Additionally, it finds that both PGCs and amniotic cells originate from similar progenitors in the embryo, with TFAP2A being essential for PGC formation, while TFAP2C takes over later in the genetic processes related to PGC fate.
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Neuroscience needs Network Science.

ArXiv

May 2023

Neuroscience Institute and Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA.

The brain is a complex system comprising a myriad of interacting elements, posing significant challenges in understanding its structure, function, and dynamics. Network science has emerged as a powerful tool for studying such intricate systems, offering a framework for integrating multiscale data and complexity. Here, we discuss the application of network science in the study of the brain, addressing topics such as network models and metrics, the connectome, and the role of dynamics in neural networks.

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Maternal and Fetal Cardiovascular Responses to Acute High-Intensity Interval and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training Exercise During Pregnancy: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Sports Med

September 2023

Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, 1-052 Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, 8602-112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G, Canada.

Objective: We aimed to compare maternal and fetal cardiovascular responses to an acute bout of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) during pregnancy.

Methods: Fifteen women with a singleton pregnancy (27.3 ± 3.

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Background: Step count is an intuitive measure of physical activity frequently quantified in a range of health-related studies; however, accurate quantification of step count can be difficult in the free-living environment, with step counting error routinely above 20% in both consumer and research-grade wrist-worn devices. This study aims to describe the development and validation of step count derived from a wrist-worn accelerometer and to assess its association with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in a large prospective cohort study.

Methods: We developed and externally validated a hybrid step detection model that involves self-supervised machine learning, trained on a new ground truth annotated, free-living step count dataset (OxWalk, n=39, aged 19-81) and tested against other open-source step counting algorithms.

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Introduction: A discussion of 'waves' of the COVID-19 epidemic in different countries is a part of the national conversation for many, but there is no hard and fast means of delineating these waves in the available data and their connection to waves in the sense of mathematical epidemiology is only tenuous.

Methods: We present an algorithm which processes a general time series to identify substantial, significant and sustained periods of increase in the value of the time series, which could reasonably be described as 'observed waves'. This provides an objective means of describing observed waves in time series.

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Cells produce considerable genotoxic formaldehyde from an unknown source. We carry out a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screen in metabolically engineered HAP1 cells that are auxotrophic for formaldehyde to find this cellular source. We identify histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) as a regulator of cellular formaldehyde production.

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The National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) was founded on 1 January 1920 in order to fulfil a recognized need for a centralized repository for bacterial and fungal strains within the UK. It is among the longest-established collections of its kind anywhere in the world and today holds approximately 6000 type and reference bacterial strains - many of medical, scientific and veterinary importance - available to academic, health, food and veterinary institutions worldwide. Recently, a collaboration between NCTC, Pacific Biosciences and the Wellcome Sanger Institute established the NCTC3000 project to long-read sequence and assemble the genomes of up to 3000 NCTC strains.

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Conceptual Overview of Biological Age Estimation.

Aging Dis

June 2023

William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.

Chronological age is an imperfect measure of the aging process, which is affected by a wide range of genetic and environmental exposures. Biological age estimates may be derived using mathematical modelling with biomarkers set as predictors and chronological age as the output. The difference between biological and chronological age is denoted the "age gap" and considered a complementary indicator of aging.

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