The gut microbiome in subclinical atherosclerosis: a population-based multiphenotype analysis.

Objectives: An altered microbiota, which can be described quantitatively, has been identified as playing a pivotal role in host vascular physiology, and it may contribute to various diseases. The aim of this study was to better understand the role of the gut microbiota in vascular physiology in a subclinical elderly population, and to investigate how lifestyle affects the composition of host gut microbiota to further impact the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.

Methods: We performed a population-based faecal metagenomic study over 569 elderly asymptomatic subclinical individuals in rural China.

Spatiotemporal trends in stroke burden and mortality attributable to household air pollution from solid fuels in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019.

Exposure to household air pollution from solid fuels (HAP) is associated with stroke. However, few studies have assessed stroke burden attributable to HAP globally and made comparisons across countries. We aimed to estimate the spatiotemporal trends in stroke burden and mortality attributable to household air pollution from solid fuels (HAP) in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019.

Using Composite Phenotypes to Reveal Hidden Physiological Heterogeneity in High-Altitude Acclimatization in a Chinese Han Longitudinal Cohort.

Altitude acclimatization is a human physiological process of adjusting to the decreased oxygen availability. Since several physiological processes are involved and their correlations are complicated, the analyses of single traits are insufficient in revealing the complex mechanism of high-altitude acclimatization. In this study, we examined these physiological responses as the composite phenotypes that are represented by a linear combination of physiological traits.

Targeted proteomics-derived biomarker profile develops a multi-protein classifier in liquid biopsies for early detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from a population-based case-control study.

Background: Early diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains a challenge due to the lack of specific blood biomarkers. We aimed to develop a serum multi-protein signature for the early detection of ESCC.

Methods: We selected 70 healthy controls, 30 precancerous patients, 60 stage I patients, 70 stage II patients and 70 stage III/IV ESCC patients from a completed ESCC case-control study in a high-risk area of China.

A genome-wide association study of facial morphology identifies novel genetic loci in Han Chinese.

The human face is a heritable surface with many complex sensory organs. In recent years, many genetic loci associated with facial features have been reported in different populations, yet there is a lack of studies on the Han Chinese population. Here, we report a genome-wide association study of 3D normal human faces of 2,659 Han Chinese with autosegment phenotypes of facial morphology.

Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Mediates Antimony-induced Astrocyte Activation.

Objective: Antimony (Sb) has recently been identified as a novel nerve poison, although the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the effects of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway on antimony-induced astrocyte activation.

Methods: Protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting.

The Health Impact of MAFLD, a Novel Disease Cluster of NAFLD, Is Amplified by the Integrated Effect of Fatty Liver Disease-Related Genetic Variants.

Background & Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a newly proposed disease category that derived from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The impact of MAFLD on health events has not been investigated.

Methods: UK Biobank participants were diagnosed for whether MAFLD presented at baseline.

Global trend of aetiology-based primary liver cancer incidence from 1990 to 2030: a modelling study.

Background: Predictions of primary liver cancer (PLC) incidence rates and case numbers are critical to understand and plan for PLC disease burden.

Methods: Data on PLC incidence rates and case numbers from 1990 to 2017 were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease database. The estimated average percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to quantify the trends of PLC age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs).

A Mitochondrial DNA Variant Elevates the Risk of Gallstone Disease by Altering Mitochondrial Function.

Background And Aims: Gallstone disease (cholelithiasis) is a cholesterol-related metabolic disorders with strong familial predisposition. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants accumulated during human evolution are associated with some metabolic disorders related to modified mitochondrial function. The mechanistic links between mtDNA variants and gallstone formation need further exploration.

The effects of antimony on Alzheimer's disease-like pathological changes in mice brain.

We have previously identified antimony (Sb) as a newly nerve poison which leads to neuronal apoptosis. However, the relationship between Sb exposure and Alzheimer's disease (AD) process lacks direct evidence. HE staining and Nissl staining showed significant nerve damage after Sb exposure.

Early prediction of mortality risk among patients with severe COVID-19, using machine learning.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, has been spreading globally. We aimed to develop a clinical model to predict the outcome of patients with severe COVID-19 infection early.

Methods: Demographic, clinical and first laboratory findings after admission of 183 patients with severe COVID-19 infection (115 survivors and 68 non-survivors from the Sino-French New City Branch of Tongji Hospital, Wuhan) were used to develop the predictive models.

Non-invasive fibrosis markers are associated with mortality risk in both general populations and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.

Aim: We assessed the correlations between non-invasive fibrosis scores and mortality in both the general population and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

Methods: We used data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-2014. The NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) score, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score, and Forns index score were calculated at baseline.

Predictive model for risk of gastric cancer using genetic variants from genome-wide association studies and high-evidence meta-analysis.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the risk of gastric cancer (GCa). However, currently, there is no published predictive model to assess the risk of GCa. In the present study, risk-associated SNPs derived from GWAS and large meta-analyses were selected to construct a predictive model to assess the risk of GCa.

Lifestyle, multi-omics features, and preclinical dementia among Chinese: The Taizhou Imaging Study.

China has the largest number of patients with dementia in the world. However, dementia in the Chinese population is still poorly understood and under-researched. Given the differences in genetic, demographic, sociocultural, lifestyle, and health profiles among Chinese and other ethnic/racial groups, it is crucial to build appropriate infrastructure for long-term longitudinal studies to advance Chinese cognitive aging and dementia research.

Global trends in the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer from 1990 to 2017.

Background: The incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer are high, with 5.90 new cases and 5.48 deaths per 100 000 people worldwide in 2017.

Disease burden of viral hepatitis A, B, C and E: A systematic analysis.

Viral hepatitis has been recognized as a leading cause of deaths worldwide. We aimed to analyse the disease burden of viral hepatitis at the global, regional and national levels. We collected the data of death number, mortality rate, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of viral hepatitis by sex, age, geography and type of disease from the Global Health Data Exchange platform.

Non-invasive early detection of cancer four years before conventional diagnosis using a blood test.

Early detection has the potential to reduce cancer mortality, but an effective screening test must demonstrate asymptomatic cancer detection years before conventional diagnosis in a longitudinal study. In the Taizhou Longitudinal Study (TZL), 123,115 healthy subjects provided plasma samples for long-term storage and were then monitored for cancer occurrence. Here we report the preliminary results of PanSeer, a noninvasive blood test based on circulating tumor DNA methylation, on TZL plasma samples from 605 asymptomatic individuals, 191 of whom were later diagnosed with stomach, esophageal, colorectal, lung or liver cancer within four years of blood draw.

Associations between serum metabolites and subclinical atherosclerosis in a Chinese population: the Taizhou Imaging Study.

Metabolomics provides a promising tool for understanding the pathophysiology and identifying biomarkers of atherosclerosis. We aimed to estimate the associations between circulating metabolites and subclinical atherosclerosis in a Chinese cohort. The baseline serum levels of 38 metabolites of 489 individuals were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance.

rs671 polymorphisms and the risk of cerebral microbleeds in Chinese elderly: the Taizhou Imaging Study.

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are more prevalent in Asian populations, and have been associated with increased risk of stroke, dementia and mortality. So far, risk factors for CMBs other than hypertension were merely known. Previous studies have shown that polymorphisms at aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (2) gene were independently associated with the risk of stroke.

Metabolomics and incident dementia in older Chinese adults: The Shanghai Aging Study.

Introduction: Metabolomics provide a promising tool to understand the pathogenesis and to identify novel biomarkers of dementia. This study aimed to determine circulating metabolites associated with incident dementia in a Chinese cohort, and whether a selected metabolite panel could predict dementia.

Methods: Thirty-eight metabolites in baseline serum were profiled by nuclear magnetic resonance in 1440 dementia-free participants followed 5 years in the Shanghai Aging Study.

Global incidence trends in primary liver cancer by age at diagnosis, sex, region, and etiology, 1990-2017.

Background: The incidence of primary liver cancer (PLC) continues to increase worldwide. The incidence trends and patterns of PLC associated with different age at diagnosis remain unknown.

Methods: We collected detailed information on PLC between 1990 and 2017 from Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

Title: Developmental validation of Y-SNP pedigree tagging system: A panel via quick ARMS PCR.

The Y chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) have been used widely to establish paternal relatedness and examine sub-structures in different geographical regions. However, the applications of Y-STRs showed their limitations when it comes to resolving the complicated relationships within close relatives or among unrelated individuals from different geographic areas. Here, we overcome these limitations by introducing a new strategy for Y-SNP multiplex typing using rapid ARMS (amplification-refractory mutation system) PCR.

Common genetic variants in ADCY5 and gestational glycemic traits.

Two meta-analysis of genome wide association studies identified two variants at adenylate cyclase 5 (ADCY5) associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, fasting and 2-hour glucose in non-pregnant individuals of European descent. The objective of our study was to explore the role of common variants in ADCY5 on gestational glycemic traits, including plasma glucose, insulin values, β cell function and insulin resistance in the fasted state as well as plasma glucose 1 hour after a 50-gram glucose challenge test among Chinese Han women. Homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was used to quantify β cell function (HOMA1-β and HOMA2-β) and insulin resistance (HOMA1-IR and HOMA2-IR).

Stroke burden and mortality attributable to ambient fine particulate matter pollution in 195 countries and territories and trend analysis from 1990 to 2017.

Background: Fine particulate matter (PM) exposure is associated with stroke incidence and mortality. However, the global distribution and trends of stroke burden and mortality attributable to PM are rarely studied. We estimated the spatial patterns and temporal trends of PM-attributable stroke burden in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017.

Temporal trends in the mortality rate of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias attributable to smoking, 1990-2017.

Background: Smoking is a well-defined modifiable risk factor for dementia. Understanding national temporal trends of dementia deaths due to smoking is critical for prioritizing action for the global prevention of dementia, as well as smoking prevention. We aimed to estimate the patterns and temporal trends of smoking-attributable dementia-related deaths for 195 countries from 1990 to 2017.