Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessA burden of proof study on alcohol consumption and ischemic heart disease
Alcohol use is commonplace and ischemic heart disease (IHD) the leading cause of death globally, yet their relationship is unclear. Here we show that study type determines whether research finds alcohol reduces IHD risk or is unrelated, arguing for new approaches to settle this critical debate.
- Sinclair Carr
- , Dana Bryazka
- & Emmanuela Gakidou
-
Article
| Open AccessMammographic density mediates the protective effect of early-life body size on breast cancer risk
Mammographic density is known to be linked to breast cancer risk. Here, the authors use Mendelian randomization to estimate the effects of childhood body size and age at menarche on density phenotypes and breast cancer risk.
- Marina Vabistsevits
- , George Davey Smith
- & Eleanor Sanderson
-
Article
| Open AccessHigh SARS-CoV-2 incidence and asymptomatic fraction during Delta and Omicron BA.1 waves in The Gambia
Many low- and middle-income countries, including The Gambia, had low COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants. Here, the authors perform a prospective household cohort study in the Gambia to investigate the dynamics of SARS-Cov-2 infection in this setting.
- Sheikh Jarju
- , Rhys D. Wenlock
- & Thushan I. de Silva
-
Article
| Open AccessIdentifying therapeutic targets for cancer among 2074 circulating proteins and risk of nine cancers
Circulating proteins are a potential source of cancer biomarkers. Here, the authors assessed 2,074 circulating proteins and used Mendelian randomisation to compare with the risk of 9 common cancer types across multiple GWAS cohorts and identified key considerations with respect to the potential for adverse effects of altering cancer-risk proteins that inform their utility in cancer prevention.
- Karl Smith-Byrne
- , Åsa Hedman
- & Anders Mälarstig
-
Article
| Open AccessIndividualized prevention of proton pump inhibitor related adverse events by risk stratification
The safety profile of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use remains controversial. Here, the authors show that PPI use is associated with an increased risk of 15 leading global diseases, with absolute risks increasing with baseline risks, highlighting the need for personalized PPI use strategies.
- Bin Xia
- , Qiangsheng He
- & Jinqiu Yuan
-
Article
| Open AccessClinical associations with a polygenic predisposition to benign lower white blood cell counts
Here, the authors find that a benign polygenic predisposition to lower white blood cell counts is associated with multiple clinical endpoints, suggesting that predisposed individuals are susceptible to escalations or alterations in clinical care that may be harmful or of little benefit.
- Jonathan D. Mosley
- , John P. Shelley
- & Vivian K. Kawai
-
Article
| Open AccessAn approach to identify gene-environment interactions and reveal new biological insight in complex traits
Here, the authors report 5 loci interacting with smoking/alcohol for serum lipids using a new method akin to Mendelian randomization. They unveil significant heritability through gene-environment interaction and mediation, enhancing understanding of complex trait genetics.
- Xiaofeng Zhu
- , Yihe Yang
- & Hugues Aschard
-
Article
| Open AccessData-driven identification of predictive risk biomarkers for subgroups of osteoarthritis using interpretable machine learning
Osteoarthritis can be caused by multiple biological mechanisms but the drivers of disease risk are not well understood. Here, the authors use data from UK Biobank in machine learning models to identify clinical and biological markers associated with development of osteoarthritis and identify sub-groups with different risk profiles.
- Rikke Linnemann Nielsen
- , Thomas Monfeuga
- & Ramneek Gupta
-
Article
| Open AccessClinically used broad-spectrum antibiotics compromise inflammatory monocyte-dependent antibacterial defense in the lung
Authors utilise a murine model of infection to provide mechanistic insight into how antimicrobial therapy may be a predisposing risk factor for hospital-acquired pneumonia. They show that antibiotic-induced microbiota perturbations compromise inflammatory monocytes and thereby impair antibacterial defence.
- Patrick J. Dörner
- , Harithaa Anandakumar
- & Bastian Opitz
-
Article
| Open AccessThe effects of genetic and modifiable risk factors on brain regions vulnerable to ageing and disease
A network of brain regions degenerates earlier in aging. Here the authors show that, this network is most vulnerable to diabetes, traffic-related pollution and alcohol consumption in terms of risk factors for dementia, and associated with the XG blood group genes.
- Jordi Manuello
- , Joosung Min
- & Gwenaëlle Douaud
-
Article
| Open AccessEffect of mobile food environments on fast food visits
Using large-scale mobility data, the authors examine how the quality of food in mobile environments away from home affects food choice.
- Bernardo García Bulle Bueno
- , Abigail L. Horn
- & Esteban Moro
-
Article
| Open AccessAn exposome atlas of serum reveals the risk of chronic diseases in the Chinese population
Current studies have provided limited knowledge on real-world chemical exposures and related risks. Here, the authors show serum exposure characteristics of humans in different regions and age groups, revealing diverse risk relationships with multiple chronic diseases.
- Lei You
- , Jing Kou
- & Guowang Xu
-
Article
| Open AccessPopulation exposure to multiple air pollutants and its compound episodes in Europe
European population exposure to most air pollutants has been reduced significantly, however for PM2.5 and O3, single pollutant and compound events remain a threat, particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe
- Zhao-Yue Chen
- , Hervé Petetin
- & Joan Ballester
-
Article
| Open AccessEffect of gut microbiome modulation on muscle function and cognition: the PROMOTe randomised controlled trial
Here, the authors present the results of the PROMOTe trial, reporting improved cognition with prebiotic vs placebo in twins over 60 years old, probing that remote trials are feasible in older adults, and suggesting that the gut microbiota may represent a therapeutic target for age-associated morbidity.
- Mary Ni Lochlainn
- , Ruth C. E. Bowyer
- & Claire J. Steves
-
Article
| Open AccessExploring the gut DNA virome in fecal immunochemical test stool samples reveals associations with lifestyle in a large population-based study
Here, the authors use fecal immunochemical test (FIT) samples from around 1000 individuals to characterize their gut virome, showing a diverse viral community, indicative of the individual lifestyle (smoking, fiber consumption and physical activity), thus highlighting FIT samples as a useful alternative for virome analyses.
- Paula Istvan
- , Einar Birkeland
- & Trine B. Rounge
-
Article
| Open AccessMetabolomic profiles of sleep-disordered breathing are associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus development
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a prevalent disorder linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk. Here, the authors show that summary scores reflecting SDB metabolite signatures are associated with increased risks for incident hypertension and diabetes, potentially useful in guiding risk stratification.
- Ying Zhang
- , Bing Yu
- & Tamar Sofer
-
Article
| Open AccessImpact of population aging on future temperature-related mortality at different global warming levels
This study reveals that population aging intensifies heat- and cold-related deaths, more so than climate change, in 50 countries. At 1.53 °C global warming, aging contributes to rising heat-related deaths, offsetting declines in cold related death.
- Kai Chen
- , Evan de Schrijver
- & Ana M. Vicedo-Cabrera
-
Matters Arising
| Open AccessDaylight saving time and mortality—proceed with caution
- Elizabeth B. Klerman
- , Matthew D. Weaver
- & Karin G. Johnson
-
Article
| Open AccessFasting-mimicking diet causes hepatic and blood markers changes indicating reduced biological age and disease risk
Fasting mimicking diets (FMDs) can promote healthy aging in animal models but effects on human healthspan remain elusive. Here the authors provide support for beneficial effects of the FMD on cardiometabolic risk factors and biological age biomarkers.
- Sebastian Brandhorst
- , Morgan E. Levine
- & Valter D. Longo
-
Article
| Open AccessDemographic and Clinical Factors Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Spike 1 Antibody Response Among Vaccinated US Adults: the C4R Study
The antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines varies among individuals. Here the authors find that older age, male sex, smoking, higher BMI, vaccine type, and certain comorbidities are associated with lower anti-S1 antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccinations, indicating that certain groups might benefit from higher frequency or doses of vaccination.
- John S. Kim
- , Yifei Sun
- & Elizabeth C. Oelsner
-
Article
| Open AccessLong-term exposure to ambient PM2.5, particulate constituents and hospital admissions from non-respiratory infection
The study evaluated the impact of PM2.5 and its constituents on hospital admissions from non-respiratory infection. Here, the authors showed that nonrespiratory infections are an under-appreciated health effect of PM2.5 while Sulfates contributed the largest weights in the observed associations
- Yijing Feng
- , Edgar Castro
- & Joel Schwartz
-
Article
| Open AccessIntrauterine growth and the tangential expansion of the human cerebral cortex in times of food scarcity and abundance
The human cerebral cortex grows the fastest before birth. Here, the authors find positive associations between cortical expansion and both maternal and fetal birthweight genetics, and that the effects vary across years of birth.
- Daniel E. Vosberg
- , Igor Jurisica
- & Tomáš Paus
-
Article
| Open AccessHealth effects associated with chewing tobacco: a Burden of Proof study
While the number of chewing tobacco users is increasing in many countries, it is often under-emphasized in tobacco control. Here, the authors show that chewing tobacco is a risk factor for major causes of disease burden, including stroke and various cancers, meriting future research and policy attention.
- Gabriela F. Gil
- , Jason A. Anderson
- & Emmanuela Gakidou
-
Article
| Open AccessRisk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection during multiple Omicron variant waves in the UK general population
The factors influencing risk of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 are poorly understood. Here, the authors use data from the UK COVID-19 Infection Survey, a community based longitudinal study, to assess characteristics of ~45,000 reinfections compared to initial infections.
- Jia Wei
- , Nicole Stoesser
- & Chris Cunningham
-
Article
| Open AccessRisk of COVID-19 death in adults who received booster COVID-19 vaccinations in England
Ward et al. utilise electronic health records to identify groups of adults (who had received a second booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine) at elevated risk of COVID-19 death.
- Isobel L. Ward
- , Chris Robertson
- & Vahé Nafilyan
-
Article
| Open AccessEstimating the heritability of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 severity
How our genes and environment determine our vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of COVID19 remains uncertain. Here, the authors find that as the pandemic progressed the relative importance of genetic variation increased, highlighting the dynamic nature of heritability amidst changing public policies and vaccination rates.
- Kathleen LaRow Brown
- , Vijendra Ramlall
- & Nicholas P. Tatonetti
-
Article
| Open AccessFlood exposure and pregnancy loss in 33 developing countries
Flooding impacts billions globally and indirect health effects are not sufficiently examined, especially for women in developing countries. Here, the authors show that flood exposure during pregnancy correlates with a higher risk of pregnancy loss, particularly for marginalized women, revealing increased health disparities in a changing climate.
- Cheng He
- , Yixiang Zhu
- & Haidong Kan
-
Article
| Open AccessA nanoemulsion targeting adipose hypertrophy and hyperplasia shows anti-obesity efficiency in female mice
Adipose tissue enlargement involves adipose hyperplasia and hypertrophy, which correlate with excessive ROS and hyperactivated XBP1. Here, the authors introduce KT-NE, a nanoemulsion combining KIRA6 (an XBP1 inhibitor) and α-Tocopherol, easing ER and oxidative stress in (pre)adipocytes and showing anti-obesity effectiveness.
- Yichao Lu
- , Zhenyu Luo
- & Lihua Luo
-
Article
| Open AccessUnraveling the causal genes and transcriptomic determinants of human telomere length
Variation in human telomere length has been well studied, but most previous studies have used adult telomere length. Here, the authors explore the genetic basis of telomere length in the placenta and find suggestive causal genes modulating human telomere length.
- Ying Chang
- , Yao Zhou
- & Dandan Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessFirst close insight into global daily gapless 1 km PM2.5 pollution, variability, and health impact
AI-driven daily 1-km gapless PM2.5 data reveal the dynamics of unhealthy air around the world, stark disparities exist between nations and among neighbourhoods. Drastic air quality changes are associated with implementation and lifting of lockdown policies.
- Jing Wei
- , Zhanqing Li
- & Tong Zhu
-
Article
| Open AccessDietary circadian rhythms and cardiovascular disease risk in the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort
The relation between daily meal and fasting timing with cardiovascular disease incidence remains unclear. Here, authors show that a later daily meal timing is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, especially in women. This study suggests that adopting earlier daily eating patterns may be beneficial for cardiovascular prevention.
- Anna Palomar-Cros
- , Valentina A. Andreeva
- & Bernard Srour
-
Article
| Open AccessTemperature-related death burden of various neurodegenerative diseases under climate warming: a nationwide modelling study
Examining non-optimal temperatures’ influence on neurodegenerative diseases amid climate warming is vital for public health. Here, the authors project a notable net increase of death burden from neurodegenerative diseases after the mid-21st century.
- Peng Yin
- , Ya Gao
- & Haidong Kan
-
Article
| Open AccessA physiological approach for assessing human survivability and liveability to heat in a changing climate
Research examining the ability to survive or safely live under extreme heat often oversimplifies human exposure and responses. Here, the authors apply a physiology-based approach for young and older adults to improve survivability estimates and introduce liveability in current and future climates.
- Jennifer Vanos
- , Gisel Guzman-Echavarria
- & Ollie Jay
-
Article
| Open AccessEpidemiology, mortality, and health service use of local-level multimorbidity patterns in South Spain
Multimorbidity—the occurrence of chronic diseases together—represents a major challenge for healthcare systems. Here, the authors characterise multimorbidity patterns in a large dataset of patients residing in southern Spain and show the unequal distribution of multimorbidity patterns along different socioeconomic areas at the local level.
- Javier Alvarez-Galvez
- , Esther Ortega-Martin
- & Jesus Carretero-Bravo
-
Article
| Open AccessSurrounding greenness is associated with lower risk and burden of low birth weight in Iran
Quantifying well-being effects of greenness is of great importance for achieving the Global Nutrition Targets 2025 for low birth weight. Here, the authors show underlying health benefits of improved green space in lowering low birth weight risk and burden in Iran.
- Siqi Luo
- , Yaqi Wang
- & Yunquan Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessPET/CT based cross-modal deep learning signature to predict occult nodal metastasis in lung cancer
Occult node metastasis is a key staging component of non-small cell lung cancer. Here, the authors use deep learning to improve diagnosis of lymph node metastasis from PET and CT radiomics.
- Yifan Zhong
- , Chuang Cai
- & Yunlang She
-
Article
| Open AccessEconomic valuation of temperature-related mortality attributed to urban heat islands in European cities
Urban heat islands have the greatest acute impacts on human mortality risk during extreme heat. However, protracted cold seasons result in greater annually integrated protective effects in most European cities under the current climate.
- Wan Ting Katty Huang
- , Pierre Masselot
- & Gabriele Manoli
-
Article
| Open AccessCircadian disturbances and frailty risk in older adults
The relationship between circadian function and frailty is not well understood. Here, the authors show that disturbances in circadian rest-activity rhythms were associated with an elevated frailty risk and faster progress of frailty in older adults.
- Ruixue Cai
- , Lei Gao
- & Peng Li
-
Article
| Open AccessIntegrating human activity into food environments can better predict cardiometabolic diseases in the United States
Previous studies on the connection between food environments and cardiometabolic diseases have yielded inconclusive results. Here, the authors show that integrating human activity into assessments of food environments can better predict the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases.
- Ran Xu
- , Xiao Huang
- & Xiang Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessLensAge index as a deep learning-based biological age for self-monitoring the risks of age-related diseases and mortality
Age is closely related to health, but chronologically defined age often disagrees with biological age. Here, the authors develop an indicator of biological age - LensAge index - to reveal individuals’ aging level, and it can be implemented with smartphones, showing potential for self-monitoring of aging.
- Ruiyang Li
- , Wenben Chen
- & Haotian Lin
-
Article
| Open AccessDevelopment and validation of an age-sex-ethnicity-specific metabolic syndrome score in the Chinese adults
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) could predict future risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but the traditionally defined dichotomous MetS cannot reflect MetS severity and demographic variations. Here, the authors develop a continuous, age-sex-ethnicity-specific MetS score to better identify CVD risk in a Chinese population.
- Shujuan Yang
- , Bin Yu
- & Peng Jia
-
Article
| Open AccessCumulative effect of PM2.5 components is larger than the effect of PM2.5 mass on child health in India
Health impact of air pollution is estimated using PM2.5 mass as exposure metric. Here authors show that the impacts on child health is underestimated in India using this metric relative to the cumulative impact of the various PM2.5 components.
- Ekta Chaudhary
- , Franciosalgeo George
- & Unnati Mehta
-
Article
| Open AccessGenome-wide association analysis of plasma lipidome identifies 495 genetic associations
The human plasma lipidome captures risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Here, the authors perform univariate and multivariate genome-wide analyses of 179 lipid species in 7174 Finnish individuals, revealing genetic links between diseases and lipid species beyond the standard lipids HDL-Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, Triglycerides, and total Cholesterol.
- Linda Ottensmann
- , Rubina Tabassum
- & Matti Pirinen
-
Article
| Open AccessUsing drivers and transmission pathways to identify SARS-like coronavirus spillover risk hotspots
Identification of areas with risk factors for spillover of viruses from animals to humans could assist with early detection of emerging infectious diseases. In this study, the authors characterise potential risks for spillover of SARS-like viruses from bats to humans and identify geographical regions in which multiple risk factors cluster together.
- Renata L. Muylaert
- , David A. Wilkinson
- & David T. S. Hayman
-
Article
| Open AccessMortality risks from a spectrum of causes associated with sand and dust storms in China
Sand and dust storms pose considerable health risks worldwide. Here, the authors conduct a nationwide multicenter time-series study to examine sand and dust storm-associated mortality risks.
- Can Zhang
- , Meilin Yan
- & Tiantian Li
-
Article
| Open AccessGut microbiota impacts bone via Bacteroides vulgatus-valeric acid-related pathways
Gut microbiota has been reported to influence osteoporosis risk, but the individual species, and underlying mechanisms, remain largely unknown. Here, the authors identify Bacteroides vulgatus and serum valeric acid as potential targets for osteoporosis prevention/treatment.
- Xu Lin
- , Hong-Mei Xiao
- & Hong-Wen Deng
-
Article
| Open AccessHealthy dietary patterns and the risk of individual chronic diseases in community-dwelling adults
Dietary patterns have been linked to a limited number of major chronic diseases. Here, the authors show greater adherence to healthy dietary patterns, especially Alternate Mediterranean Diet, is associated with a lower risk of most of the 48 tested chronic diseases.
- Xianwen Shang
- , Jiahao Liu
- & Mingguang He
-
Article
| Open AccessClinical utility of polygenic scores for cardiometabolic disease in Arabs
Arabs account for 5% of the world population and have a high burden of cardiometabolic disease. Here, the authors optimize polygenic scores for 10 cardiometabolic traits in 5399 Arabs, achieving a performance on par with that among European-ancestry individuals.
- Injeong Shim
- , Hiroyuki Kuwahara
- & Akl C. Fahed
-
Article
| Open AccessStretchable surface electromyography electrode array patch for tendon location and muscle injury prevention
Stretchable surface electromyography electrodes with high signal-to-noise ratios and stable recordings are challenging to develop. Here, Yang et al. design a gel-free metal-polymer electrode array patch for long-term continuous monitoring of tendon displacement and muscle stress for injury prevention.
- Shuaijian Yang
- , Jinhao Cheng
- & Xingyu Jiang