Objective:The incidence and mortality of colorectal carcinoma(CRC)continue to rise globally,highlighting the need to identify modifiable risk factors for early detection and prevention.Previous studies have demonstrat...Objective:The incidence and mortality of colorectal carcinoma(CRC)continue to rise globally,highlighting the need to identify modifiable risk factors for early detection and prevention.Previous studies have demonstrated significant associations between CRC risk and various serum metabolites as well as inflammatory cytokines;however,due to limitations in study design and potential confounding factors,the causal relationships remain unclear.This study aims to investigate the causal relationships between inflammatory cytokines,serum metabolites,and CRC risk,providing a theoretical basis for the development of novel early diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.Methods:A two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)design was applied using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies(GWAS).Instrumental variables(IVs)were derived from:1)metabolomics GWAS data of 1400 serum metabolites(n=8299);2)cytokine GWAS data of 91 inflammatory factors(n=14824);and 3)CRC risk data from the FinnGen consortium(6847 cases and 314193 controls).The primary analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method,with sensitivity analyses performed using MR Egger regression and the weighted median method.Effect estimates including odds ratios(OR),95%confidence intervals(CI),and false discovery rates(FDR)were calculated.Results:MR analysis indicated that higher levels of axin-1(AXIN1)(OR=0.84195%CI 0.714 to 0.991)and Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand(Flt3L)(OR=0.916,95%CI 0.844 to 0.994)were associated with a reduced risk of CRC.In contrast,higher levels of Delta/Notchlike epidermal growth factor-related receptor(DNER)(OR=1.119,95%CI 1.009 to 1.241)and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A)(OR=1.078,95%CI 1.011 to 1.150)were associated with an increased risk of CRC(all P<0.05).Metabolomics association analysis further identified 144 serum metabolites significantly correlated with these four key inflammatory cytokines(FDR<0.05),suggesting that they may regulate CRC risk through inflammatory pathways.Conclusion:Specific inflammatory cytokines and serum metabolites have causal relationships with the risk of CRC.These findings provide insights for further exploration of potential risk factors and the development of effective prevention strategies for CRC.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the causal effect of obesity on cataract risk and explores the potential mediating roles of metabolites using Mendelian randomization(MR).METHODS:Summary-level data from large-scale genome-wide asso...AIM:To investigate the causal effect of obesity on cataract risk and explores the potential mediating roles of metabolites using Mendelian randomization(MR).METHODS:Summary-level data from large-scale genome-wide association studies to examine the relationship between obesity and cataract were utilized.Obesity-related traits,including body mass index(BMI),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR),and waist circumference(WC).A two-sample MR approach was employed to assess the causal effect of obesity on cataract risk,while potential mediators were identified from suitable genome-wide association studies(GWAS)datasets.Additionally,a metabolic pathway analysis was conducted.RESULTS:An increase of 1 standard deviation(SD)in BMI,WHR,and WC was associated with a significantly higher risk of cataract(BMI:odds ratio(OR)1.0017,95%confidence interval(CI):1.0001-1.0032,P=0.0320;WHR:OR 1.0029,95%CI:1.0006-1.0051,P=0.0129;WC:OR 1.0020,95%CI:1.0001-1.0038,P=0.0390].These associations remained robust after adjusting for confounding factors in multivariable MR analysis.Furthermore,a two-step MR analysis identified eight potential metabolic mediators,with one mediator showing a significant causal role in the relationship between obesity and cataract.CONCLUSION:This work highlights the importance of addressing obesity as a modifiable risk factor for cataracts,particularly through metabolic pathways.展开更多
Background Recent studies have suggested a potential role of the oral microbiome in the development of cardiovascular diseases.This study aims to investigate the association between oral microbiota and cardiovascular ...Background Recent studies have suggested a potential role of the oral microbiome in the development of cardiovascular diseases.This study aims to investigate the association between oral microbiota and cardiovascular disease risk,including atrial fibrillation,myocardial infarction,chronic heart failure,and hypertension.Methods We analyzed GWAS data from East Asian populations'oral microbiome,involving 2,017 tongue and 1,915 saliva samples from 2,984 individuals with whole-genome sequencing.Additionally,we sourced cardiovascular disease GWAS data from NBDC,including atrial fibrillation(8,180 cases,28,621 controls),myocardial infarction(14,992 cases,146,214 controls),chronic heart failure(10,540 cases,168,186 controls),and systolic blood pressure(145,505 individuals).Results Several oral microbiota taxa were found to be significantly associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes.Specific microbiota,such as Centipeda,Corynebacterium,and Pseudomonas E,were negatively correlated with heart failure.In contrast,taxa like Neisseria D and Actinomyces were associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction.Additionally,certain oral microbiota showed correlations with changes in blood pressure,highlighting their potential role in hypertension.Conclusion Our findings suggest that the oral microbiota may influence the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases,providing new insights into the potential impact of oral health on cardiovascular risk.展开更多
[Objectives]To investigate the potential causal relationship between psoriasis and common mental disorders,and to provide genetic epidemiological evidence for the early intervention of mental comorbidities.[Methods]Ba...[Objectives]To investigate the potential causal relationship between psoriasis and common mental disorders,and to provide genetic epidemiological evidence for the early intervention of mental comorbidities.[Methods]Based on publicly available large-scale GWAS data,a bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)approach was employed to assess the causal associations between psoriasis and major depressive disorder(MDD),bipolar disorder,schizophrenia,and anxiety disorders.The inverse variance weighted(IVW)method served as the primary analytical tool,supplemented by sensitivity analyses using MR-Egger and weighted median methods.Additionally,a subgroup analysis was conducted for psoriatic arthritis(PsA).[Results]Forward MR analysis revealed a significant positive causal association between the genetic predisposition to psoriasis and bipolar disorder as well as MDD,whereas no significant causal relationship was observed with schizophrenia or anxiety disorders.The reverse MR analysis found no causal effect of mental disorders on psoriasis.Subgroup analysis of PsA indicated that its genetic predisposition was significantly associated with the risk of bipolar disorder.The results of various sensitivity analyses and pleiotropy tests supported the robustness of the conclusions.[Conclusions]This study provides genetic evidence supporting a causal link between psoriasis and both MDD and bipolar disorder.In particular,patients with PsA are at a higher risk of developing bipolar disorder,highlighting the need to strengthen early screening and intervention for mental health in clinical management.展开更多
Although diet and gut microbial composition have been linked to chronic respiratory diseases,these associations remain difficult to interpret because of confounding and reverse causation.The gut-lung axis provides a p...Although diet and gut microbial composition have been linked to chronic respiratory diseases,these associations remain difficult to interpret because of confounding and reverse causation.The gut-lung axis provides a plausible framework for this interaction,yet direct genetic evidence is limited.Using a two-step,two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)framework,supplemented by multivariable MR(MVMR)to adjust for pleiotropic effects and Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate(FDR)correction for multiple testing,we assessed the causal contributions of dietary habits and gut microbial taxa to major chronic respiratory diseases.We identified 22 dietary factors with causal effects on disease risk and 225 microbial taxa that acted as independent risk or protective contributors.Mediation analyses further showed that the effects of 12 dietary habits were transmitted through 32 specific microbial taxa.Notably,genetically predicted pork intake increased the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)(OR=10.53,95%CI[8.54,13.00]),an effect partly mediated by elevated abundance of CAG-485 sp002404675.In contrast,bread consumption conferred protection against asthma(OR=0.68,95%CI[0.64,0.72]),whereas this benefit was offset by approximately 45%through a pathway involving reduced Veillonella abundance.Collectively,these findings provide genetic support for the gut-lung axis and demonstrate that the gut microbiome functions as a causal mediator linking diet to chronic respiratory disease risk.However,since this study was based on individuals of European ancestry,caution is warranted when generalizing these causal estimates to non-European populations,such as East Asian groups.This work suggests new opportunities for microbiota-targeted prevention and therapeutic strategies.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the potential causal associations between 41 inflammatory cytokines and myopia using a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)approach.METHODS:Publicly available genome-wide association study(GWAS)da...AIM:To investigate the potential causal associations between 41 inflammatory cytokines and myopia using a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)approach.METHODS:Publicly available genome-wide association study(GWAS)datasets were utilized for this two-sample MR analysis.Inflammatory cytokine-related GWAS data were extracted from The University of Bristol’s Research Data Repository,and myopia-related GWAS data were obtained from the FinnGen project.Single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)associated with inflammatory cytokines were systematically selected as instrumental variables(IVs)based on three rigorous criteria:relevance,independence,and exclusion of pleiotropy.Five MR methods were employed for causal inference:the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method as the primary analysis,supplemented by MREgger regression,weighted median estimator,simple mode,and weighted mode approaches.Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the causal estimates.RESULTS:A total of 773 myopia-associated SNPs were identified.MR analysis revealed that higher levels of macrophage inflammatory protein 1-α(MIP-1α)were associated with a 17%reduced risk of myopia[odds ratio(OR)=0.83;95%confidence interval(CI):0.69-0.99;P<0.05].In contrast,elevated levels of eotaxin(OR=1.26;95%CI:1.07-1.47;P<0.01),stromal cell-derived factor-1α(SDF-1α;OR=1.68;95%CI:1.08-2.62;P<0.05),and interleukin-2 receptor subunit alpha(IL-2Rα;OR=1.25;95%CI:1.01-1.53;P<0.05)were significantly associated with an increased risk of myopia.Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability of these results.CONCLUSION:This study provides evidence supporting a causal relationship between specific inflammatory cytokines and myopia.MIP-1αmay act as a protective factor against myopia,while eotaxin,SDF-1α,and IL-2Rαare potential risk factors for myopia.These findings emphasize the critical role of inflammatory pathways in the pathogenesis of myopia,offering novel insights for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies for myopia.展开更多
AIM:To explore the causal relationship between several possible behavioral factors and high myopia(HM)using multivariable Mendelian randomization(MVMR)approach and to find the mediators among them with mediation analy...AIM:To explore the causal relationship between several possible behavioral factors and high myopia(HM)using multivariable Mendelian randomization(MVMR)approach and to find the mediators among them with mediation analysis.METHODS:The causal effects of several behavioral factors,including screen time,education time,time spent outdoors,and physical activity,on the risk of HM using univariable Mendelian randomization(MR)and MVMR analyses were first assessed.Genome-wide association study summary statistics of serum metabolites were also used in mediation analysis to determine the extent to which serum metabolites mediate the effects of behavioral factors on HM.RESULTS:MR analyses indicated that both increased time spent outdoors and a higher frequency of moderate physical activity significantly reduced the risk of HM.Further MVMR analysis confirmed that moderate physical activity independently contributed to a lower risk of HM.Additionally,MR analyses identified 13 serum metabolites significantly associated with HM,of which 12 were lipids and one was an amino acid derivative.Mediation analysis revealed that six lipid metabolites mediated the protective effects of moderate physical activity on HM,with the highest mediation proportion observed for 1-(1-enyl-palmitoyl)-GPC(p-16:0;30.83%).CONCLUSION:This study suggests that in addition to outdoor time,moderate physical activity habits may have an independent protective effect against HM and pointed to lipid metabolites as priority targets for the prevention due to low physical activity.These results emphasize the importance of physical activity and metabolic health in HM and underscore the need for further study of these complex associations.展开更多
Objective Previous studies link lower body mass index(BMI)with increased obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD)risk,yet other body mass indicators may be more etioloically relevant.We dissected the causal association betw...Objective Previous studies link lower body mass index(BMI)with increased obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD)risk,yet other body mass indicators may be more etioloically relevant.We dissected the causal association between body fat mass(FM)and OCD.Methods Summary statistics from genome-wide association studies of European ancestry were utilized to conduct two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.Heterogeneity,horizontal pleiotropy,and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness.Results The inverse variance weighting method demonstrated that a genetically predicted decrease in FM was causally associated with an increased OCD risk[odds ratio(OR)=0.680,95%confidence interval(CI):0.528–0.875,P=0.003].Similar estimates were obtained using the weighted median approach(OR=0.633,95%CI:0.438–0.915,P=0.015).Each standard deviation increases in genetically predicted body fat percentage corresponded to a reduced OCD risk(OR=0.638,95%CI:0.455–0.896,P=0.009).The sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings with no outlier instrument variables identified.Conclusion The negative causal association between FM and the risk of OCD suggests that the prevention or treatment of mental disorders should include not only the control of BMI but also fat distribution and body composition.展开更多
AIM:To comprehensively assess the relationship between asthma and myopia based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database combined with Mendelian randomization(MR).METHODS:Initially,20497 ...AIM:To comprehensively assess the relationship between asthma and myopia based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database combined with Mendelian randomization(MR).METHODS:Initially,20497 subjects from the complete questionnaire cycle in the NHANES database from 2005 to 2008 were included.By exclusion criteria,8460 subjects were screened with 1676 myopia samples and 6784 control samples.Subsequently,baseline characteristics,association analyses,risk stratification analyses,and receive operating characteristic curve(ROC)were used to investigate the associations between covariates and myopia.Then,the causal relationship was explored in depth by MR analysis,and was estimated the reliability by sensitivity analyses and directionality tests.RESULTS:Baseline characteristics illustrated a significant difference between myopia and controls for both asthma and covariates(excluding gender;P<0.05).The results in all three models indicated that asthma was strongly associated with myopia and the effect on myopia was not significantly confounded by other covariates[model 3:odd ratio(OR)=1.31;95%CI=1.07-1.62;P=0.0133].The risk stratification analysis again verified that asthma remained strongly associated with myopia and was a risk factor for myopia(P<0.05,OR>1).ROC proved that the model was accurate in its prediction[area under curve(AUC)=0.7].Subsequently,the causal relationship between them was statistically significant(P<0.05)according to the inverse variance weighted(IVW)method in MR.Scatterplot showed that asthma and myopia had significant positive causality and were not affected by confounders.Forest plot displayed an increasing risk of myopia on asthma(OR>1).The funnel plot demonstrated compliance with Mendel’s second law.Sensitivity analysis and directional analysis further confirmed the confidence of the MR analysis results and a unidirectional causal relationship between them.CONCLUSION:A significant association and causality between asthma and myopia is found through the NHANES database and MR analysis,which is important implications for public health policy development and clinical practice.展开更多
Objective Adaptive immune responses play a critical role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).In this study,we investigated the functional mechanisms of T cell subtypes and assessed the causal lin...Objective Adaptive immune responses play a critical role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).In this study,we investigated the functional mechanisms of T cell subtypes and assessed the causal links between CD4+cytotoxic T cell-related genes and ALS risk.Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)from patients with ALS and healthy controls(HC)was used to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in CD4+cytotoxic T cells.Comprehensive analyses of CD4+cytotoxic T cells,including pseudotemporal trajectory,intercellular communication,and metabolic pathway analysis,were performed.Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis evaluated the causal effects of DEGs on ALS risk,with validation using independent genome-wide association study(GWAS)data.Expression patterns of the causal genes were further verified using scRNA-seq,bulk-seq,and clinical samples.Results CD4+cytotoxic T cells were significantly expanded in patients with ALS.The upregulated genes S100A6,SERPINB6,SMAD7,and TPST2 were positively correlated with ALS susceptibility,whereas DIP2A showed a protective association.Conclusion S100A6,SERPINB6,SMAD7,TPST2,and DIP2A were identified as causal genes and potential therapeutic targets in ALS,implicating CD4+cytotoxic T cells in the disease mechanisms.Further studies targeting these genes and neuroinflammatory pathways are warranted.展开更多
Background:Alterations of brain connectivity within resting-state networks(RSNs)have been widely reported in observational studies on epilepsy.However,the causal relationship between epilepsy and structural connectivi...Background:Alterations of brain connectivity within resting-state networks(RSNs)have been widely reported in observational studies on epilepsy.However,the causal relationship between epilepsy and structural connectivity(SC)/functional connectivity(FC)within RSNs remain unclear.We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)to explore the causal relationship between epilepsy subtypes and brain connectivity properties within RSNs.Methods:Genetic instruments were obtained from the latest genome-wide association studies(GWAS)of 69,995 individuals(N_(cases)=27,559,N_(controls)=42,436)issued by the International League Against Epilepsy.The GWAS summary SC/FC data within RSNs(N_(SC)=23,985,N_(FC)=24,336)were sourced from the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research.We investigate the causal relationship between epilepsy subtypes and brain connectivity within RSNs through a bidirectional two-sample MR analysis.Results:We found that the increased risk of generalized genetic epilepsy is consistent with a causal effect on dorsal attention and somatomotor FC.In the reverse MR analysis,there was no suggestive causal effect of FC/SC connectivity on epilepsy subtypes.Conclusions:This study shed light on the associations of FC/SC levels within the RSNs and epilepsy along with its subtypes.This insight could yield crucial intervention strategies to different subtypes of epilepsy at the level of brain structure and functional networks.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the causal relationship between dietary intake and myopia using Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.METHODS:Genome-wide association study(GWAS)data from the IEU Open GWAS database were utilized to e...AIM:To investigate the causal relationship between dietary intake and myopia using Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.METHODS:Genome-wide association study(GWAS)data from the IEU Open GWAS database were utilized to examine associations between myopia and various dietary factors.MR analysis,incorporating both univariable and multivariable approaches,assessed the impact of food intake on myopia risk through five analytical methods,with inverse variance weighted(IVW)serving as the primary reference.Sensitivity analyses,including heterogeneity assessment,horizontal pleiotropy evaluation,and leave-oneout analysis,were conducted to validate the MR findings.RESULTS:Univariable MR analysis identified a causal link between food intake and myopia.Consumption of breaded fish,canned soup,sweet biscuits,and certain fruits correlated with a lower risk of myopia,whereas intake of low-calorie hot chocolate and cereal was associated with an increased risk.Multivariable MR analysis further confirmed that breaded fish consumption exerted a direct protective effect against myopia,particularly when consumed alongside other dietary components.These findings highlight the intricate interplay between specific dietary factors and myopia development,offering valuable insights for further research.CONCLUSION:MR analysis provides evidence supporting a potential causal relationship between breaded fish intake and myopia,underscoring its relevance in targeted myopia prevention strategies.展开更多
Objective Observational studies have shown inconsistent associations of loneliness or social isolation(SI)with ischemic heart disease(IHD),with unknown mediators.Methods Using data from genome-wide association studies...Objective Observational studies have shown inconsistent associations of loneliness or social isolation(SI)with ischemic heart disease(IHD),with unknown mediators.Methods Using data from genome-wide association studies of predominantly European ancestry,we performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization(MR)study to estimate causal effects of loneliness(N=487,647)and SI traits on IHD(N=184,305).SI traits included whether individuals lived alone,participated in various types of social activities,and how often they had contact with friends or family(N=459,830 to 461,369).A network MR study was conducted to evaluate the mediating roles of 20 candidate mediators,including metabolic,behavioral and psychological factors.Results Loneliness increased IHD risk(OR=2.129;95%confidence interval[CI]:1.380 to 3.285),mediated by body fat percentage,waist-hip ratio,total cholesterol,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.For SI traits,only fewer social activities increased IHD risk(OR=1.815;95%CI:1.189 to 2.772),mediated by hypertension,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,triglycerides,fasting insulin,and smoking cessation.No reverse causality of IHD with loneliness and SI was found.Conclusion These findings suggested more attention should be paid to individuals who feel lonely and have fewer social activities to prevent IHD,with several mediators as prioritized targets for intervention.展开更多
Objective:Based on multistage metabolomic profiling and Mendelian randomization analyses,the current study identified plasma metabolites that predicted the risk of developing gastric cancer(GC)and determined whether k...Objective:Based on multistage metabolomic profiling and Mendelian randomization analyses,the current study identified plasma metabolites that predicted the risk of developing gastric cancer(GC)and determined whether key metabolite levels modified the GC primary prevention effects.Methods:Plasma metabolites associated with GC risk were identified through a case-control study.Bi-directional two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses were performed to determine potential causal relationships utilizing the Shandong Intervention Trial(SIT),a nested case-control study of the Mass Intervention Trial in Linqu,Shandong province(MITS),China,the UK Biobank,and the Finn Gen project.Results:A higher genetic risk score for plasma L-aspartic acid was significantly associated with an increased GC risk in the northern Chinese population(SIT:HR=1.26 per 1 SD change,95%CI:1.07±1.49;MITS:HR=1.07,95%CI:1.00±1.14)and an increased gastric adenocarcinoma risk in Finn Gen(OR=1.68,95%CI:1.16±2.45).Genetically predicted plasma L-aspartic acid levels also modified the GC primary prevention effects with the beneficial effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication notably observed among individuals within the top quartile of L-aspartic acid level(P-interaction=0.098)and the beneficial effect of garlic supplementation only for those within the lowest quartile of L-aspartic acid level(P-interaction=0.02).Conclusions:Elevated plasma L-aspartic acid levels significantly increased the risk of developing GC and modified the effects of GC primary prevention.Further studies from other populations are warranted to validate the modification effect of plasma L-aspartic acid levels on GC prevention and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.展开更多
Objective Vitamin deficiencies,particularly in vitamins A,B12,and D,are prevalent across populations and contribute significantly to a range of health issues.While these deficiencies are well documented,the underlying...Objective Vitamin deficiencies,particularly in vitamins A,B12,and D,are prevalent across populations and contribute significantly to a range of health issues.While these deficiencies are well documented,the underlying etiology remains complex.Recent studies suggest a close link between the gut microbiota and the synthesis,absorption,and metabolism of these vitamins.However,the specific causal relationships between the gut microbiota composition and vitamin deficiencies remain poorly understood.Identifying key bacterial species and understanding their role in vitamin metabolism could provide critical insights for targeted interventions.Methods We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)study to assess the causal relationship between the gut microbiota and vitamin deficiencies(A,B12,D).The genome-wide association study data for vitamin deficiencies were sourced from the FinnGen biobank,and the gut microbiota data were from the MiBioGen consortium.MR analyses included inverse variance-weighted(IVW),MR‒Egger,weighted median,and weighted mode approaches.Sensitivity analyses and reverse causality assessments were performed to ensure robustness and validate the findings.Results After FDR adjustment,vitamin B12 deficiency was associated with the class Verrucomicrobiae,order Verrucomicrobiales,family Verrucomicrobiaceae,and genus Akkermansia.Vitamin A deficiency was associated with the phylum Firmicutes and the genera Fusicatenibacter and Ruminiclostridium 6.Additional associations for vitamin B12 deficiency included the Enterobacteriaceae and Rhodospirillaceae and the genera Coprococcus 2,Lactococcus,and Ruminococcaceae UCG002.Vitamin D deficiency was associated with the genera Allisonella,Eubacterium,and Tyzzerella 3.Lachnospiraceae and Lactococcus were common risk factors for both B12 and D deficiency.Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings against heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy,and reverse MR tests indicated no evidence of reverse causality.Conclusions Our findings reveal a possible causal relationship between specific gut microbiota characteristics and vitamin A,B12 and D deficiencies,providing a theoretical basis for addressing these nutritional deficiencies through the modulation of the gut microbiota in the future and laying the groundwork for related interventions.展开更多
Objective:Gut microbiota(GM)and blood metabolites are associated with the development of urticaria,yet their specific causal relationships in East Asian populations remain unclear.This study aims to elucidate the caus...Objective:Gut microbiota(GM)and blood metabolites are associated with the development of urticaria,yet their specific causal relationships in East Asian populations remain unclear.This study aims to elucidate the causal and mediating relationships among GM,blood metabolites,and urticaria in East Asians using Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.Methods:Summary-level statistics for 500 GM taxa,112 blood metabolites,and urticaria were obtained from publicly available Genome-Wide Association Studies(GWAS)datasets.Bidirectional MR analyses were performed to examine causal associations among the GM,blood metabolites,and urticaria.The inverse variance weighted(IVW)method served as the primary analytical approach,supplemented by MR-Egger,weighted median,simple mode,and weighted mode methods.Sensitivity analyses included heterogeneity tests,horizontal pleiotropy assessments,and leave-one-out analyses.Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential mediating effects of blood metabolites on the causal pathways between GM and urticaria.Results:MR analyses identified 12 GM taxa exhibiting significant causal effects on urticaria susceptibility.Nine taxa,such as MF0017_galactose_degradation(OR=1.461,95%CI 1.098 to 1.944,P=0.009),were associated with increased urticaria risk.Three taxa,such as MF0001_arabinoxylan_degradation(OR=0.846,95%CI 0.737 to 0.973,P=0.019),showed protective effects with increased abundance.Additionally,6 blood metabolites demonstrated causal associations with urticaria.Notably,the risk of developing urticaria increases with rising fasting plasma glucose(FPG)levels(OR=1.971,95%CI 1.089 to 3.567,P=0.025).Mediation analysis further demonstrated that FPG partially mediated the protective effect of MF0001_arabinoxylan_degradation on urticaria,accounting for 11.30%of the total effect.Conclusion:This study has delineated specific GM taxa and blood metabolites that hold causal relevance to urticaria in East Asian populations.Notably,arabinogalactan degradation potentially mitigates urticaria risk via reducing FPG concentrations,offering genetic evidence to support therapeutic strategies targeting GM modulation and glucose regulation.展开更多
Domain randomization is a widely adopted technique in deep reinforcement learning(DRL)to improve agent generalization by exposing policies to diverse environmental conditions.This paper investigates the impact of diff...Domain randomization is a widely adopted technique in deep reinforcement learning(DRL)to improve agent generalization by exposing policies to diverse environmental conditions.This paper investigates the impact of different reset strategies,normal,non-randomized,and randomized,on agent performance using the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(DDPG)and Twin Delayed DDPG(TD3)algorithms within the CarRacing-v2 environment.Two experimental setups were conducted:an extended training regime with DDPG for 1000 steps per episode across 1000 episodes,and a fast execution setup comparing DDPG and TD3 for 30 episodes with 50 steps per episode under constrained computational resources.A step-based reward scaling mechanism was applied under the randomized reset condition to promote broader state exploration.Experimental results showthat randomized resets significantly enhance learning efficiency and generalization,with DDPG demonstrating superior performance across all reset strategies.In particular,DDPG combined with randomized resets achieves the highest smoothed rewards(reaching approximately 15),best stability,and fastest convergence.These differences are statistically significant,as confirmed by t-tests:DDPG outperforms TD3 under randomized(t=−101.91,p<0.0001),normal(t=−21.59,p<0.0001),and non-randomized(t=−62.46,p<0.0001)reset conditions.The findings underscore the critical role of reset strategy and reward shaping in enhancing the robustness and adaptability of DRL agents in continuous control tasks,particularly in environments where computational efficiency and training stability are crucial.展开更多
Emerging evidence highlights the role of thyroid hormones in cancer,although findings are controversial.Research on thyroid-related traits in lung carcinogenesis is limited.Using UK Biobank data,we performed bidirecti...Emerging evidence highlights the role of thyroid hormones in cancer,although findings are controversial.Research on thyroid-related traits in lung carcinogenesis is limited.Using UK Biobank data,we performed bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)to assess causal associations between lung cancer risk and thyroid dysfunction(hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism)or functional traits(free thyroxine[FT4]and normal-range thyroid-stimulating hormone[TSH]).Furthermore,in the smoking-behavior-stratified MR analysis,we evaluated the mediating effect of thyroid-related phenotypes on the association between smoking behaviors and lung cancer.We demonstrated significant associations between lung cancer risk and hypothyroidism(hazard ratio[HR]=1.14,95%confidence interval[CI]=1.03–1.26,P=0.009)and hyperthyroidism(HR=1.55,95%CI=1.29–1.87,P=1.90×10^(-6))in the UKB.Moreover,the MR analysis indicated a causal effect of thyroid dysfunction on lung cancer risk(ORinverse variance weighted[IVW]=1.09,95%CI=1.05–1.13,P=3.12×10^(-6)for hypothyroidism;ORIVW=1.08,95%CI=1.04–1.12,P=8.14×10^(-5)for hyperthyroidism).We found that FT4 levels were protective against lung cancer risk(ORIVW=0.93,95%CI=0.87–0.99,P=0.030).Additionally,the stratified MR analysis demonstrated distinct causal effects of thyroid dysfunction on lung cancer risk among smokers.Hyperthyroidism mediated the effect of smoking behaviors,especially the age of smoking initiation(17.66%mediated),on lung cancer risk.Thus,thyroid dysfunction phenotypes play causal roles in lung cancer development exclusively among smokers and act as mediators in the causal pathway from smoking to lung cancer.展开更多
Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is a prevalent respiratory ailment that has risen to become the foremost cause of mortality globally,and statins are a widely used class of lipid-modifying drugs.D...Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is a prevalent respiratory ailment that has risen to become the foremost cause of mortality globally,and statins are a widely used class of lipid-modifying drugs.Data from some observational studies suggest an association between statins use and COPD.Objectives:The main objective of this study was to investigate whether lipids and apolipoproteins are bidirectionally causally associated with COPD at the genetic level using a Mendelian randomization(MR)design,and to determine the potential role of circulating inflammatory proteins as mediators in this association.Methods:The publicly available Genome-Wide Association Study(GWAS)database was utilised for the purposes of the analysis.The data on high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C),triglycerides(TG),apolipoprotein A-1(ApoA1),and apolipoprotein B(ApoB)were obtained from the UK BioBank,while the COPD dataset was obtained from the FinnGen BioBank R11(number of cases:21,617,number of controls:372,627).Furthermore,data were gathered on genetic variants linked to inflammatory processes,encompassing 91 circulating inflammatory proteins(n=14,823 individuals).A two-sample MR study was conducted using these data to assess the association between HDL-C,LDL-C,TG,ApoA1,and ApoB with the risk of COPD.Furthermore,in order to investigate the potential mediating influence of inflammatory factor alterations between lipids and COPD,a two-step Mendelian randomization(MR)mediation analysis was conducted.Results:The forward MR methods identified two lipids that were found to have a causal relationship with the development of COPD.An elevated level of LDL-C and ApoB was found to be associated with a diminished risk of COPD.Furthermore,the researchers identified circulating inflammatory factors that were determined to be the causal agents in the development of COPD.Mediation analysis indicated that the inflammatory protein S100-A12 may act as a mediator between the LDL-C and COPD pathways.Conclusion:The present MR study provides genetic evidence for a causal relationship between lipids and apolipoproteins and COPD,as well as identifying the inflammatory protein S100-A12 as a potential mediator of the COPD association.The findings offer valuable insights into the mechanistic studies of statins for COPD and potential targets for disease intervention and treatment.展开更多
Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsist...Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsistent.It remains unclear whether these associations are causal.Methods We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching for observational studies on the association between IBD and dementia.Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis based on summary genome-wide association studies(GWASs)was performed.Genetic correlation and Bayesian colocalization analyses were used to provide robust genetic evidence.Results Ten observational studies involving 80,565,688 participants were included in this metaanalysis.IBD was significantly associated with dementia(risk ratio[RR]=1.36,95%CI=1.04-1.78;I2=84.8%)and VD(RR=2.60,95%CI=1.18-5.70;only one study),but not with AD(RR=2.00,95%CI=0.96-4.13;I^(2)=99.8%).MR analyses did not supported significant causal associations of IBD with dementia(dementia:odds ratio[OR]=1.01,95%CI=0.98-1.03;AD:OR=0.98,95%CI=0.95-1.01;VD:OR=1.02,95%CI=0.97-1.07).In addition,genetic correlation and co-localization analyses did not reveal any genetic associations between IBD and dementia.Conclusion Our study did not provide genetic evidence for a causal association between IBD and dementia risk.The increased risk of dementia observed in observational studies may be attributed to unobserved confounding factors or detection bias.展开更多
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2022JJ30987)the Key Research and Development Project of Hunan Province (2024JK2107),China。
文摘Objective:The incidence and mortality of colorectal carcinoma(CRC)continue to rise globally,highlighting the need to identify modifiable risk factors for early detection and prevention.Previous studies have demonstrated significant associations between CRC risk and various serum metabolites as well as inflammatory cytokines;however,due to limitations in study design and potential confounding factors,the causal relationships remain unclear.This study aims to investigate the causal relationships between inflammatory cytokines,serum metabolites,and CRC risk,providing a theoretical basis for the development of novel early diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.Methods:A two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)design was applied using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies(GWAS).Instrumental variables(IVs)were derived from:1)metabolomics GWAS data of 1400 serum metabolites(n=8299);2)cytokine GWAS data of 91 inflammatory factors(n=14824);and 3)CRC risk data from the FinnGen consortium(6847 cases and 314193 controls).The primary analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method,with sensitivity analyses performed using MR Egger regression and the weighted median method.Effect estimates including odds ratios(OR),95%confidence intervals(CI),and false discovery rates(FDR)were calculated.Results:MR analysis indicated that higher levels of axin-1(AXIN1)(OR=0.84195%CI 0.714 to 0.991)and Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand(Flt3L)(OR=0.916,95%CI 0.844 to 0.994)were associated with a reduced risk of CRC.In contrast,higher levels of Delta/Notchlike epidermal growth factor-related receptor(DNER)(OR=1.119,95%CI 1.009 to 1.241)and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A)(OR=1.078,95%CI 1.011 to 1.150)were associated with an increased risk of CRC(all P<0.05).Metabolomics association analysis further identified 144 serum metabolites significantly correlated with these four key inflammatory cytokines(FDR<0.05),suggesting that they may regulate CRC risk through inflammatory pathways.Conclusion:Specific inflammatory cytokines and serum metabolites have causal relationships with the risk of CRC.These findings provide insights for further exploration of potential risk factors and the development of effective prevention strategies for CRC.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82501261)Medical Research Projects of the Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission(No.M2024041).
文摘AIM:To investigate the causal effect of obesity on cataract risk and explores the potential mediating roles of metabolites using Mendelian randomization(MR).METHODS:Summary-level data from large-scale genome-wide association studies to examine the relationship between obesity and cataract were utilized.Obesity-related traits,including body mass index(BMI),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR),and waist circumference(WC).A two-sample MR approach was employed to assess the causal effect of obesity on cataract risk,while potential mediators were identified from suitable genome-wide association studies(GWAS)datasets.Additionally,a metabolic pathway analysis was conducted.RESULTS:An increase of 1 standard deviation(SD)in BMI,WHR,and WC was associated with a significantly higher risk of cataract(BMI:odds ratio(OR)1.0017,95%confidence interval(CI):1.0001-1.0032,P=0.0320;WHR:OR 1.0029,95%CI:1.0006-1.0051,P=0.0129;WC:OR 1.0020,95%CI:1.0001-1.0038,P=0.0390].These associations remained robust after adjusting for confounding factors in multivariable MR analysis.Furthermore,a two-step MR analysis identified eight potential metabolic mediators,with one mediator showing a significant causal role in the relationship between obesity and cataract.CONCLUSION:This work highlights the importance of addressing obesity as a modifiable risk factor for cataracts,particularly through metabolic pathways.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.82500432)the Heilongjiang Provincial Health Commission Scientific Research Project(Grant No.20240303010111).
文摘Background Recent studies have suggested a potential role of the oral microbiome in the development of cardiovascular diseases.This study aims to investigate the association between oral microbiota and cardiovascular disease risk,including atrial fibrillation,myocardial infarction,chronic heart failure,and hypertension.Methods We analyzed GWAS data from East Asian populations'oral microbiome,involving 2,017 tongue and 1,915 saliva samples from 2,984 individuals with whole-genome sequencing.Additionally,we sourced cardiovascular disease GWAS data from NBDC,including atrial fibrillation(8,180 cases,28,621 controls),myocardial infarction(14,992 cases,146,214 controls),chronic heart failure(10,540 cases,168,186 controls),and systolic blood pressure(145,505 individuals).Results Several oral microbiota taxa were found to be significantly associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes.Specific microbiota,such as Centipeda,Corynebacterium,and Pseudomonas E,were negatively correlated with heart failure.In contrast,taxa like Neisseria D and Actinomyces were associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction.Additionally,certain oral microbiota showed correlations with changes in blood pressure,highlighting their potential role in hypertension.Conclusion Our findings suggest that the oral microbiota may influence the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases,providing new insights into the potential impact of oral health on cardiovascular risk.
文摘[Objectives]To investigate the potential causal relationship between psoriasis and common mental disorders,and to provide genetic epidemiological evidence for the early intervention of mental comorbidities.[Methods]Based on publicly available large-scale GWAS data,a bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)approach was employed to assess the causal associations between psoriasis and major depressive disorder(MDD),bipolar disorder,schizophrenia,and anxiety disorders.The inverse variance weighted(IVW)method served as the primary analytical tool,supplemented by sensitivity analyses using MR-Egger and weighted median methods.Additionally,a subgroup analysis was conducted for psoriatic arthritis(PsA).[Results]Forward MR analysis revealed a significant positive causal association between the genetic predisposition to psoriasis and bipolar disorder as well as MDD,whereas no significant causal relationship was observed with schizophrenia or anxiety disorders.The reverse MR analysis found no causal effect of mental disorders on psoriasis.Subgroup analysis of PsA indicated that its genetic predisposition was significantly associated with the risk of bipolar disorder.The results of various sensitivity analyses and pleiotropy tests supported the robustness of the conclusions.[Conclusions]This study provides genetic evidence supporting a causal link between psoriasis and both MDD and bipolar disorder.In particular,patients with PsA are at a higher risk of developing bipolar disorder,highlighting the need to strengthen early screening and intervention for mental health in clinical management.
文摘Although diet and gut microbial composition have been linked to chronic respiratory diseases,these associations remain difficult to interpret because of confounding and reverse causation.The gut-lung axis provides a plausible framework for this interaction,yet direct genetic evidence is limited.Using a two-step,two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)framework,supplemented by multivariable MR(MVMR)to adjust for pleiotropic effects and Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate(FDR)correction for multiple testing,we assessed the causal contributions of dietary habits and gut microbial taxa to major chronic respiratory diseases.We identified 22 dietary factors with causal effects on disease risk and 225 microbial taxa that acted as independent risk or protective contributors.Mediation analyses further showed that the effects of 12 dietary habits were transmitted through 32 specific microbial taxa.Notably,genetically predicted pork intake increased the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)(OR=10.53,95%CI[8.54,13.00]),an effect partly mediated by elevated abundance of CAG-485 sp002404675.In contrast,bread consumption conferred protection against asthma(OR=0.68,95%CI[0.64,0.72]),whereas this benefit was offset by approximately 45%through a pathway involving reduced Veillonella abundance.Collectively,these findings provide genetic support for the gut-lung axis and demonstrate that the gut microbiome functions as a causal mediator linking diet to chronic respiratory disease risk.However,since this study was based on individuals of European ancestry,caution is warranted when generalizing these causal estimates to non-European populations,such as East Asian groups.This work suggests new opportunities for microbiota-targeted prevention and therapeutic strategies.
文摘AIM:To investigate the potential causal associations between 41 inflammatory cytokines and myopia using a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)approach.METHODS:Publicly available genome-wide association study(GWAS)datasets were utilized for this two-sample MR analysis.Inflammatory cytokine-related GWAS data were extracted from The University of Bristol’s Research Data Repository,and myopia-related GWAS data were obtained from the FinnGen project.Single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)associated with inflammatory cytokines were systematically selected as instrumental variables(IVs)based on three rigorous criteria:relevance,independence,and exclusion of pleiotropy.Five MR methods were employed for causal inference:the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method as the primary analysis,supplemented by MREgger regression,weighted median estimator,simple mode,and weighted mode approaches.Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the causal estimates.RESULTS:A total of 773 myopia-associated SNPs were identified.MR analysis revealed that higher levels of macrophage inflammatory protein 1-α(MIP-1α)were associated with a 17%reduced risk of myopia[odds ratio(OR)=0.83;95%confidence interval(CI):0.69-0.99;P<0.05].In contrast,elevated levels of eotaxin(OR=1.26;95%CI:1.07-1.47;P<0.01),stromal cell-derived factor-1α(SDF-1α;OR=1.68;95%CI:1.08-2.62;P<0.05),and interleukin-2 receptor subunit alpha(IL-2Rα;OR=1.25;95%CI:1.01-1.53;P<0.05)were significantly associated with an increased risk of myopia.Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability of these results.CONCLUSION:This study provides evidence supporting a causal relationship between specific inflammatory cytokines and myopia.MIP-1αmay act as a protective factor against myopia,while eotaxin,SDF-1α,and IL-2Rαare potential risk factors for myopia.These findings emphasize the critical role of inflammatory pathways in the pathogenesis of myopia,offering novel insights for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies for myopia.
基金Supported by the Central High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding(No.BJ-2024-089).
文摘AIM:To explore the causal relationship between several possible behavioral factors and high myopia(HM)using multivariable Mendelian randomization(MVMR)approach and to find the mediators among them with mediation analysis.METHODS:The causal effects of several behavioral factors,including screen time,education time,time spent outdoors,and physical activity,on the risk of HM using univariable Mendelian randomization(MR)and MVMR analyses were first assessed.Genome-wide association study summary statistics of serum metabolites were also used in mediation analysis to determine the extent to which serum metabolites mediate the effects of behavioral factors on HM.RESULTS:MR analyses indicated that both increased time spent outdoors and a higher frequency of moderate physical activity significantly reduced the risk of HM.Further MVMR analysis confirmed that moderate physical activity independently contributed to a lower risk of HM.Additionally,MR analyses identified 13 serum metabolites significantly associated with HM,of which 12 were lipids and one was an amino acid derivative.Mediation analysis revealed that six lipid metabolites mediated the protective effects of moderate physical activity on HM,with the highest mediation proportion observed for 1-(1-enyl-palmitoyl)-GPC(p-16:0;30.83%).CONCLUSION:This study suggests that in addition to outdoor time,moderate physical activity habits may have an independent protective effect against HM and pointed to lipid metabolites as priority targets for the prevention due to low physical activity.These results emphasize the importance of physical activity and metabolic health in HM and underscore the need for further study of these complex associations.
基金supported by the Yanzhao Gold Talent Project of Hebei Province(NO.HJZD202506)。
文摘Objective Previous studies link lower body mass index(BMI)with increased obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD)risk,yet other body mass indicators may be more etioloically relevant.We dissected the causal association between body fat mass(FM)and OCD.Methods Summary statistics from genome-wide association studies of European ancestry were utilized to conduct two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.Heterogeneity,horizontal pleiotropy,and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness.Results The inverse variance weighting method demonstrated that a genetically predicted decrease in FM was causally associated with an increased OCD risk[odds ratio(OR)=0.680,95%confidence interval(CI):0.528–0.875,P=0.003].Similar estimates were obtained using the weighted median approach(OR=0.633,95%CI:0.438–0.915,P=0.015).Each standard deviation increases in genetically predicted body fat percentage corresponded to a reduced OCD risk(OR=0.638,95%CI:0.455–0.896,P=0.009).The sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings with no outlier instrument variables identified.Conclusion The negative causal association between FM and the risk of OCD suggests that the prevention or treatment of mental disorders should include not only the control of BMI but also fat distribution and body composition.
基金Supported by the Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.825RC898)Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center。
文摘AIM:To comprehensively assess the relationship between asthma and myopia based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database combined with Mendelian randomization(MR).METHODS:Initially,20497 subjects from the complete questionnaire cycle in the NHANES database from 2005 to 2008 were included.By exclusion criteria,8460 subjects were screened with 1676 myopia samples and 6784 control samples.Subsequently,baseline characteristics,association analyses,risk stratification analyses,and receive operating characteristic curve(ROC)were used to investigate the associations between covariates and myopia.Then,the causal relationship was explored in depth by MR analysis,and was estimated the reliability by sensitivity analyses and directionality tests.RESULTS:Baseline characteristics illustrated a significant difference between myopia and controls for both asthma and covariates(excluding gender;P<0.05).The results in all three models indicated that asthma was strongly associated with myopia and the effect on myopia was not significantly confounded by other covariates[model 3:odd ratio(OR)=1.31;95%CI=1.07-1.62;P=0.0133].The risk stratification analysis again verified that asthma remained strongly associated with myopia and was a risk factor for myopia(P<0.05,OR>1).ROC proved that the model was accurate in its prediction[area under curve(AUC)=0.7].Subsequently,the causal relationship between them was statistically significant(P<0.05)according to the inverse variance weighted(IVW)method in MR.Scatterplot showed that asthma and myopia had significant positive causality and were not affected by confounders.Forest plot displayed an increasing risk of myopia on asthma(OR>1).The funnel plot demonstrated compliance with Mendel’s second law.Sensitivity analysis and directional analysis further confirmed the confidence of the MR analysis results and a unidirectional causal relationship between them.CONCLUSION:A significant association and causality between asthma and myopia is found through the NHANES database and MR analysis,which is important implications for public health policy development and clinical practice.
文摘Objective Adaptive immune responses play a critical role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).In this study,we investigated the functional mechanisms of T cell subtypes and assessed the causal links between CD4+cytotoxic T cell-related genes and ALS risk.Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)from patients with ALS and healthy controls(HC)was used to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in CD4+cytotoxic T cells.Comprehensive analyses of CD4+cytotoxic T cells,including pseudotemporal trajectory,intercellular communication,and metabolic pathway analysis,were performed.Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis evaluated the causal effects of DEGs on ALS risk,with validation using independent genome-wide association study(GWAS)data.Expression patterns of the causal genes were further verified using scRNA-seq,bulk-seq,and clinical samples.Results CD4+cytotoxic T cells were significantly expanded in patients with ALS.The upregulated genes S100A6,SERPINB6,SMAD7,and TPST2 were positively correlated with ALS susceptibility,whereas DIP2A showed a protective association.Conclusion S100A6,SERPINB6,SMAD7,TPST2,and DIP2A were identified as causal genes and potential therapeutic targets in ALS,implicating CD4+cytotoxic T cells in the disease mechanisms.Further studies targeting these genes and neuroinflammatory pathways are warranted.
基金partly funded by the Key Research and Development Program of China(grant 2022YFC3601600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(grant 61876194)+1 种基金the Province Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong,China(grant 2024A1515011989)the Key Technologies Research and Development Program of Guangzhou Municipality(grant 202206010028).
文摘Background:Alterations of brain connectivity within resting-state networks(RSNs)have been widely reported in observational studies on epilepsy.However,the causal relationship between epilepsy and structural connectivity(SC)/functional connectivity(FC)within RSNs remain unclear.We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)to explore the causal relationship between epilepsy subtypes and brain connectivity properties within RSNs.Methods:Genetic instruments were obtained from the latest genome-wide association studies(GWAS)of 69,995 individuals(N_(cases)=27,559,N_(controls)=42,436)issued by the International League Against Epilepsy.The GWAS summary SC/FC data within RSNs(N_(SC)=23,985,N_(FC)=24,336)were sourced from the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research.We investigate the causal relationship between epilepsy subtypes and brain connectivity within RSNs through a bidirectional two-sample MR analysis.Results:We found that the increased risk of generalized genetic epilepsy is consistent with a causal effect on dorsal attention and somatomotor FC.In the reverse MR analysis,there was no suggestive causal effect of FC/SC connectivity on epilepsy subtypes.Conclusions:This study shed light on the associations of FC/SC levels within the RSNs and epilepsy along with its subtypes.This insight could yield crucial intervention strategies to different subtypes of epilepsy at the level of brain structure and functional networks.
基金Supported by Xi’an Science and Technology Program Project(No.24YXYJ0108)Support Projects of Xi’an Children’s Hospital(No.2024I07).
文摘AIM:To investigate the causal relationship between dietary intake and myopia using Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.METHODS:Genome-wide association study(GWAS)data from the IEU Open GWAS database were utilized to examine associations between myopia and various dietary factors.MR analysis,incorporating both univariable and multivariable approaches,assessed the impact of food intake on myopia risk through five analytical methods,with inverse variance weighted(IVW)serving as the primary reference.Sensitivity analyses,including heterogeneity assessment,horizontal pleiotropy evaluation,and leave-oneout analysis,were conducted to validate the MR findings.RESULTS:Univariable MR analysis identified a causal link between food intake and myopia.Consumption of breaded fish,canned soup,sweet biscuits,and certain fruits correlated with a lower risk of myopia,whereas intake of low-calorie hot chocolate and cereal was associated with an increased risk.Multivariable MR analysis further confirmed that breaded fish consumption exerted a direct protective effect against myopia,particularly when consumed alongside other dietary components.These findings highlight the intricate interplay between specific dietary factors and myopia development,offering valuable insights for further research.CONCLUSION:MR analysis provides evidence supporting a potential causal relationship between breaded fish intake and myopia,underscoring its relevance in targeted myopia prevention strategies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82322059)the Chinese Academy of Medical·Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2021-I2M-1-010)+1 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2500500)the National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding(2023-GSPRC-19).
文摘Objective Observational studies have shown inconsistent associations of loneliness or social isolation(SI)with ischemic heart disease(IHD),with unknown mediators.Methods Using data from genome-wide association studies of predominantly European ancestry,we performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization(MR)study to estimate causal effects of loneliness(N=487,647)and SI traits on IHD(N=184,305).SI traits included whether individuals lived alone,participated in various types of social activities,and how often they had contact with friends or family(N=459,830 to 461,369).A network MR study was conducted to evaluate the mediating roles of 20 candidate mediators,including metabolic,behavioral and psychological factors.Results Loneliness increased IHD risk(OR=2.129;95%confidence interval[CI]:1.380 to 3.285),mediated by body fat percentage,waist-hip ratio,total cholesterol,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.For SI traits,only fewer social activities increased IHD risk(OR=1.815;95%CI:1.189 to 2.772),mediated by hypertension,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,triglycerides,fasting insulin,and smoking cessation.No reverse causality of IHD with loneliness and SI was found.Conclusion These findings suggested more attention should be paid to individuals who feel lonely and have fewer social activities to prevent IHD,with several mediators as prioritized targets for intervention.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82273704)Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project(No.2023ZD0501400-2023ZD0501402)+4 种基金Beijing Hospitals Authority’s Ascent Plan(DFL20241102)Beijing Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support(No.ZLRK202325)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2024M760152)Peking University Medicine Fund for World’s Leading Discipline or Discipline Cluster Development(No.BMU2022XKQ004)Science Foundation of Peking University Cancer Hospital(Nos.BJCH2024BJ02,XKFZ2410,BJCH2025CZ04,and 2022-27)。
文摘Objective:Based on multistage metabolomic profiling and Mendelian randomization analyses,the current study identified plasma metabolites that predicted the risk of developing gastric cancer(GC)and determined whether key metabolite levels modified the GC primary prevention effects.Methods:Plasma metabolites associated with GC risk were identified through a case-control study.Bi-directional two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses were performed to determine potential causal relationships utilizing the Shandong Intervention Trial(SIT),a nested case-control study of the Mass Intervention Trial in Linqu,Shandong province(MITS),China,the UK Biobank,and the Finn Gen project.Results:A higher genetic risk score for plasma L-aspartic acid was significantly associated with an increased GC risk in the northern Chinese population(SIT:HR=1.26 per 1 SD change,95%CI:1.07±1.49;MITS:HR=1.07,95%CI:1.00±1.14)and an increased gastric adenocarcinoma risk in Finn Gen(OR=1.68,95%CI:1.16±2.45).Genetically predicted plasma L-aspartic acid levels also modified the GC primary prevention effects with the beneficial effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication notably observed among individuals within the top quartile of L-aspartic acid level(P-interaction=0.098)and the beneficial effect of garlic supplementation only for those within the lowest quartile of L-aspartic acid level(P-interaction=0.02).Conclusions:Elevated plasma L-aspartic acid levels significantly increased the risk of developing GC and modified the effects of GC primary prevention.Further studies from other populations are warranted to validate the modification effect of plasma L-aspartic acid levels on GC prevention and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
文摘Objective Vitamin deficiencies,particularly in vitamins A,B12,and D,are prevalent across populations and contribute significantly to a range of health issues.While these deficiencies are well documented,the underlying etiology remains complex.Recent studies suggest a close link between the gut microbiota and the synthesis,absorption,and metabolism of these vitamins.However,the specific causal relationships between the gut microbiota composition and vitamin deficiencies remain poorly understood.Identifying key bacterial species and understanding their role in vitamin metabolism could provide critical insights for targeted interventions.Methods We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)study to assess the causal relationship between the gut microbiota and vitamin deficiencies(A,B12,D).The genome-wide association study data for vitamin deficiencies were sourced from the FinnGen biobank,and the gut microbiota data were from the MiBioGen consortium.MR analyses included inverse variance-weighted(IVW),MR‒Egger,weighted median,and weighted mode approaches.Sensitivity analyses and reverse causality assessments were performed to ensure robustness and validate the findings.Results After FDR adjustment,vitamin B12 deficiency was associated with the class Verrucomicrobiae,order Verrucomicrobiales,family Verrucomicrobiaceae,and genus Akkermansia.Vitamin A deficiency was associated with the phylum Firmicutes and the genera Fusicatenibacter and Ruminiclostridium 6.Additional associations for vitamin B12 deficiency included the Enterobacteriaceae and Rhodospirillaceae and the genera Coprococcus 2,Lactococcus,and Ruminococcaceae UCG002.Vitamin D deficiency was associated with the genera Allisonella,Eubacterium,and Tyzzerella 3.Lachnospiraceae and Lactococcus were common risk factors for both B12 and D deficiency.Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings against heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy,and reverse MR tests indicated no evidence of reverse causality.Conclusions Our findings reveal a possible causal relationship between specific gut microbiota characteristics and vitamin A,B12 and D deficiencies,providing a theoretical basis for addressing these nutritional deficiencies through the modulation of the gut microbiota in the future and laying the groundwork for related interventions.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(2024JJ7627).
文摘Objective:Gut microbiota(GM)and blood metabolites are associated with the development of urticaria,yet their specific causal relationships in East Asian populations remain unclear.This study aims to elucidate the causal and mediating relationships among GM,blood metabolites,and urticaria in East Asians using Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.Methods:Summary-level statistics for 500 GM taxa,112 blood metabolites,and urticaria were obtained from publicly available Genome-Wide Association Studies(GWAS)datasets.Bidirectional MR analyses were performed to examine causal associations among the GM,blood metabolites,and urticaria.The inverse variance weighted(IVW)method served as the primary analytical approach,supplemented by MR-Egger,weighted median,simple mode,and weighted mode methods.Sensitivity analyses included heterogeneity tests,horizontal pleiotropy assessments,and leave-one-out analyses.Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential mediating effects of blood metabolites on the causal pathways between GM and urticaria.Results:MR analyses identified 12 GM taxa exhibiting significant causal effects on urticaria susceptibility.Nine taxa,such as MF0017_galactose_degradation(OR=1.461,95%CI 1.098 to 1.944,P=0.009),were associated with increased urticaria risk.Three taxa,such as MF0001_arabinoxylan_degradation(OR=0.846,95%CI 0.737 to 0.973,P=0.019),showed protective effects with increased abundance.Additionally,6 blood metabolites demonstrated causal associations with urticaria.Notably,the risk of developing urticaria increases with rising fasting plasma glucose(FPG)levels(OR=1.971,95%CI 1.089 to 3.567,P=0.025).Mediation analysis further demonstrated that FPG partially mediated the protective effect of MF0001_arabinoxylan_degradation on urticaria,accounting for 11.30%of the total effect.Conclusion:This study has delineated specific GM taxa and blood metabolites that hold causal relevance to urticaria in East Asian populations.Notably,arabinogalactan degradation potentially mitigates urticaria risk via reducing FPG concentrations,offering genetic evidence to support therapeutic strategies targeting GM modulation and glucose regulation.
基金supported by the Deputyship for Research&Innovation,Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia(Project No.MoE-IF-UJ-R2-22-04220773-1).
文摘Domain randomization is a widely adopted technique in deep reinforcement learning(DRL)to improve agent generalization by exposing policies to diverse environmental conditions.This paper investigates the impact of different reset strategies,normal,non-randomized,and randomized,on agent performance using the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(DDPG)and Twin Delayed DDPG(TD3)algorithms within the CarRacing-v2 environment.Two experimental setups were conducted:an extended training regime with DDPG for 1000 steps per episode across 1000 episodes,and a fast execution setup comparing DDPG and TD3 for 30 episodes with 50 steps per episode under constrained computational resources.A step-based reward scaling mechanism was applied under the randomized reset condition to promote broader state exploration.Experimental results showthat randomized resets significantly enhance learning efficiency and generalization,with DDPG demonstrating superior performance across all reset strategies.In particular,DDPG combined with randomized resets achieves the highest smoothed rewards(reaching approximately 15),best stability,and fastest convergence.These differences are statistically significant,as confirmed by t-tests:DDPG outperforms TD3 under randomized(t=−101.91,p<0.0001),normal(t=−21.59,p<0.0001),and non-randomized(t=−62.46,p<0.0001)reset conditions.The findings underscore the critical role of reset strategy and reward shaping in enhancing the robustness and adaptability of DRL agents in continuous control tasks,particularly in environments where computational efficiency and training stability are crucial.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.82220108002 to F.C.,82273737 to R.Z.,82473728 to Y.W.)the US National Institutes of Health(Grant Nos.CA209414,HL060710,ES000002 to D.C.C.,CA209414,CA249096 to Y.L.)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD).R.Z.was partially supported by the Qing Lan Project of the Higher Education Institutions of Jiangsu Province and the Outstanding Young-Level Academic Leadership Training Program of Nanjing Medical University.
文摘Emerging evidence highlights the role of thyroid hormones in cancer,although findings are controversial.Research on thyroid-related traits in lung carcinogenesis is limited.Using UK Biobank data,we performed bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)to assess causal associations between lung cancer risk and thyroid dysfunction(hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism)or functional traits(free thyroxine[FT4]and normal-range thyroid-stimulating hormone[TSH]).Furthermore,in the smoking-behavior-stratified MR analysis,we evaluated the mediating effect of thyroid-related phenotypes on the association between smoking behaviors and lung cancer.We demonstrated significant associations between lung cancer risk and hypothyroidism(hazard ratio[HR]=1.14,95%confidence interval[CI]=1.03–1.26,P=0.009)and hyperthyroidism(HR=1.55,95%CI=1.29–1.87,P=1.90×10^(-6))in the UKB.Moreover,the MR analysis indicated a causal effect of thyroid dysfunction on lung cancer risk(ORinverse variance weighted[IVW]=1.09,95%CI=1.05–1.13,P=3.12×10^(-6)for hypothyroidism;ORIVW=1.08,95%CI=1.04–1.12,P=8.14×10^(-5)for hyperthyroidism).We found that FT4 levels were protective against lung cancer risk(ORIVW=0.93,95%CI=0.87–0.99,P=0.030).Additionally,the stratified MR analysis demonstrated distinct causal effects of thyroid dysfunction on lung cancer risk among smokers.Hyperthyroidism mediated the effect of smoking behaviors,especially the age of smoking initiation(17.66%mediated),on lung cancer risk.Thus,thyroid dysfunction phenotypes play causal roles in lung cancer development exclusively among smokers and act as mediators in the causal pathway from smoking to lung cancer.
基金supported by the Key Support Project of Regional Innovation and Development Joint Fund of National Natural Science Foundation of China(U20A20398)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82104454,82374399)+1 种基金the Clinical Medical Research Transformation Project of Anhui Province(202304295107020111)the Natural Science Research Key Project of Anhui Provincial Department of Education(KJ2021A0542).
文摘Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is a prevalent respiratory ailment that has risen to become the foremost cause of mortality globally,and statins are a widely used class of lipid-modifying drugs.Data from some observational studies suggest an association between statins use and COPD.Objectives:The main objective of this study was to investigate whether lipids and apolipoproteins are bidirectionally causally associated with COPD at the genetic level using a Mendelian randomization(MR)design,and to determine the potential role of circulating inflammatory proteins as mediators in this association.Methods:The publicly available Genome-Wide Association Study(GWAS)database was utilised for the purposes of the analysis.The data on high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C),triglycerides(TG),apolipoprotein A-1(ApoA1),and apolipoprotein B(ApoB)were obtained from the UK BioBank,while the COPD dataset was obtained from the FinnGen BioBank R11(number of cases:21,617,number of controls:372,627).Furthermore,data were gathered on genetic variants linked to inflammatory processes,encompassing 91 circulating inflammatory proteins(n=14,823 individuals).A two-sample MR study was conducted using these data to assess the association between HDL-C,LDL-C,TG,ApoA1,and ApoB with the risk of COPD.Furthermore,in order to investigate the potential mediating influence of inflammatory factor alterations between lipids and COPD,a two-step Mendelian randomization(MR)mediation analysis was conducted.Results:The forward MR methods identified two lipids that were found to have a causal relationship with the development of COPD.An elevated level of LDL-C and ApoB was found to be associated with a diminished risk of COPD.Furthermore,the researchers identified circulating inflammatory factors that were determined to be the causal agents in the development of COPD.Mediation analysis indicated that the inflammatory protein S100-A12 may act as a mediator between the LDL-C and COPD pathways.Conclusion:The present MR study provides genetic evidence for a causal relationship between lipids and apolipoproteins and COPD,as well as identifying the inflammatory protein S100-A12 as a potential mediator of the COPD association.The findings offer valuable insights into the mechanistic studies of statins for COPD and potential targets for disease intervention and treatment.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M703366)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(Grant No.KQTD20190929172835662).
文摘Objective Observational studies have found associations between inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and the risk of dementia,including Alzheimer’s dementia(AD)and vascular dementia(VD);however,these findings are inconsistent.It remains unclear whether these associations are causal.Methods We conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching for observational studies on the association between IBD and dementia.Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis based on summary genome-wide association studies(GWASs)was performed.Genetic correlation and Bayesian colocalization analyses were used to provide robust genetic evidence.Results Ten observational studies involving 80,565,688 participants were included in this metaanalysis.IBD was significantly associated with dementia(risk ratio[RR]=1.36,95%CI=1.04-1.78;I2=84.8%)and VD(RR=2.60,95%CI=1.18-5.70;only one study),but not with AD(RR=2.00,95%CI=0.96-4.13;I^(2)=99.8%).MR analyses did not supported significant causal associations of IBD with dementia(dementia:odds ratio[OR]=1.01,95%CI=0.98-1.03;AD:OR=0.98,95%CI=0.95-1.01;VD:OR=1.02,95%CI=0.97-1.07).In addition,genetic correlation and co-localization analyses did not reveal any genetic associations between IBD and dementia.Conclusion Our study did not provide genetic evidence for a causal association between IBD and dementia risk.The increased risk of dementia observed in observational studies may be attributed to unobserved confounding factors or detection bias.
