Mosaic variegated aneuploidy syndrome with tetraploid, and predisposition to male infertility triggered by mutant CEP192

In this study, we report on mosaic variegated aneuploidy (MVA) syndrome with tetraploidy and predisposition to infertility in a family. Sequencing analysis identified that the CEP192 biallelic variants (c.1912C>T, p.His638Tyr and c.5750A>G, p.Asn1917Ser) segregated with microcephaly, short stature, limb-extremity dysplasia, and reduced testicular size, while CEP192 monoallelic variants segregated with infertility and/or reduced testicular size in the family. In 1,264 unrelated patients, variant screening for CEP192 identified a same variant (c.5750A>G, p.Asn1917Ser) and other variants significantly associated with infertility. Two lines of Cep192 mice model that are equivalent to human variants were generated. Embryos with Cep192 biallelic variants arrested at E7 because of cell apoptosis mediated by MVA/tetraploidy cell acumination. Mice with heterozygous variants replicated the predisposition to male infertility. Mouse primary embryonic fibroblasts with Cep192 biallelic variants cultured in vitro showed abnormal morphology, mitotic arresting, and disruption of spindle formation. In patient epithelial cells with biallelic variants cultured in vitro, the number of cells arrested during the prophase increased because of the failure of spindle formation. Accordingly, we present mutant CEP192, which is a link for the MVA syndrome with tetraploidy and the predisposition to male infertility.

Rare copy-number variants as modulators of common disease susceptibility

BACKGROUND

Copy-number variations (CNVs) have been associated with rare and debilitating genomic disorders (GDs) but their impact on health later in life in the general population remains poorly described.

METHODS

Assessing four modes of CNV action, we performed genome-wide association scans (GWASs) between the copy-number of CNV-proxy probes and 60 curated ICD-10 based clinical diagnoses in 331,522 unrelated white British UK Biobank (UKBB) participants with replication in the Estonian Biobank.

RESULTS

We identified 73 signals involving 40 diseases, all of which indicating that CNVs increased disease risk and caused earlier onset. We estimated that 16% of these associations are indirect, acting by increasing body mass index (BMI). Signals mapped to 45 unique, non-overlapping regions, nine of which being linked to known GDs. Number and identity of genes affected by CNVs modulated their pathogenicity, with many associations being supported by colocalization with both common and rare single-nucleotide variant association signals. Dissection of association signals provided insights into the epidemiology of known gene-disease pairs (e.g., deletions in BRCA1 and LDLR increased risk for ovarian cancer and ischemic heart disease, respectively), clarified dosage mechanisms of action (e.g., both increased and decreased dosage of 17q12 impacted renal health), and identified putative causal genes (e.g., ABCC6 for kidney stones). Characterization of the pleiotropic pathological consequences of recurrent CNVs at 15q13, 16p13.11, 16p12.2, and 22q11.2 in adulthood indicated variable expressivity of these regions and the involvement of multiple genes. Finally, we show that while the total burden of rare CNVs-and especially deletions-strongly associated with disease risk, it only accounted for ~ 0.02% of the UKBB disease burden. These associations are mainly driven by CNVs at known GD CNV regions, whose pleiotropic effect on common diseases was broader than anticipated by our CNV-GWAS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results shed light on the prominent role of rare CNVs in determining common disease susceptibility within the general population and provide actionable insights for anticipating later-onset comorbidities in carriers of recurrent CNVs.

Waning immunity can drive repeated waves of infections

In infectious disease models, it is known that mechanisms such as births, seasonality in transmission and pathogen evolution can generate oscillations in infection numbers. We show how waning immunity is also a mechanism that is sufficient on its own to enable sustained oscillations. When previously infected or vaccinated individuals lose full protective immunity, they become partially susceptible to reinfections. This partial immunity subsequently wanes over time, making individuals more susceptible to reinfections and potentially more infectious if infected. Losses of full and partial immunity lead to a surge in infections, which is the precursor of oscillations. We present a discrete-time Susceptible-Infectious-Immune-Waned-Infectious (SIRWY) model that features the waning of fully immune individuals (as a distribution of time at which individuals lose fully immunity) and the gradual loss of partial immunity (as increases in susceptibility and potential infectiousness over time). A special case of SIRWY is the discrete-time SIRS model with geometric distributions for waning and recovery. Its continuous-time analogue is the classic SIRS with exponential distributions, which does not produce sustained oscillations for any choice of parameters. We show that the discrete-time version can produce sustained oscillations and that the oscillatory regime disappears as discrete-time tends to continuous-time. A different special case of SIRWY is one with fixed times for waning and recovery. We show that this simpler model can also produce sustained oscillations. In conclusion, under certain feature and parameter choices relating to how exactly immunity wanes, fluctuations in infection numbers can be sustained without the need for any additional mechanisms.

Tissue-Predisposition to Cancer Driver Mutations

Driver mutations are considered the cornerstone of cancer initiation. They are defined as mutations that convey a competitive fitness advantage, and hence, their mutation frequency in premalignant tissue is expected to exceed the basal mutation rate. In old terms, that translates to "the survival of the fittest" and implies that a selective process underlies the frequency of cancer driver mutations. In that sense, each tissue is its own niche that creates a molecular selective pressure that may favor the propagation of a mutation or not. At the heart of this stands one of the biggest riddles in cancer biology: the tissue-predisposition to cancer driver mutations. The frequency of cancer driver mutations among tissues is non-uniform: for instance, mutations in APC are particularly frequent in colorectal cancer, and 99% of chronic myeloid leukemia patients harbor the driver BCR-ABL1 fusion mutation, which is rarely found in solid tumors. Here, we provide a mechanistic framework that aims to explain how tissue-specific features, ranging from epigenetic underpinnings to the expression of viral transposable elements, establish a molecular basis for selecting cancer driver mutations in a tissue-specific manner.

HALL: a comprehensive database for human aging and longevity studies

Diverse individuals age at different rates and display variable susceptibilities to tissue aging, functional decline and aging-related diseases. Centenarians, exemplifying extreme longevity, serve as models for healthy aging. The field of human aging and longevity research is rapidly advancing, garnering significant attention and accumulating substantial data in recent years. Omics technologies, encompassing phenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microbiomics, have provided multidimensional insights and revolutionized cohort-based investigations into human aging and longevity. Accumulated data, covering diverse cells, tissues and cohorts across the lifespan necessitates the establishment of an open and integrated database. Addressing this, we established the Human Aging and Longevity Landscape (HALL), a comprehensive multi-omics repository encompassing a diverse spectrum of human cohorts, spanning from young adults to centenarians. The core objective of HALL is to foster healthy aging by offering an extensive repository of information on biomarkers that gauge the trajectory of human aging. Moreover, the database facilitates the development of diagnostic tools for aging-related conditions and empowers targeted interventions to enhance longevity. HALL is publicly available at https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/hall/index.

The hazards of genotype imputation when mapping disease susceptibility variants

BACKGROUND

The cost-free increase in statistical power of using imputation to infer missing genotypes is undoubtedly appealing, but is it hazard-free? This case study of three type-2 diabetes (T2D) loci demonstrates that it is not; it sheds light on why this is so and raises concerns as to the shortcomings of imputation at disease loci, where haplotypes differ between cases and reference panel.

RESULTS

T2D-associated variants were previously identified using targeted sequencing. We removed these significantly associated SNPs and used neighbouring SNPs to infer them by imputation. We compared imputed with observed genotypes, examined the altered pattern of T2D-SNP association, and investigated the cause of imputation errors by studying haplotype structure. Most T2D variants were incorrectly imputed with a low density of scaffold SNPs, but the majority failed to impute even at high density, despite obtaining high certainty scores. Missing and discordant imputation errors, which were observed disproportionately for the risk alleles, produced monomorphic genotype calls or false-negative associations. We show that haplotypes carrying risk alleles are considerably more common in the T2D cases than the reference panel, for all loci.

CONCLUSIONS

Imputation is not a panacea for fine mapping, nor for meta-analysing multiple GWAS based on different arrays and different populations. A total of 80% of the SNPs we have tested are not included in array platforms, explaining why these and other such associated variants may previously have been missed. Regardless of the choice of software and reference haplotypes, imputation drives genotype inference towards the reference panel, introducing errors at disease loci.

The short-term effect of ambient particulate matter on suicide death

BACKGROUND

Air pollution can cause various respiratory and neurological diseases and continuous exposure can lead to death. Previous studies have reported that particulate matter (PM) exposure increases the risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal death; however, the results are inconsistent and limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between short-term PM exposure and suicide deaths, as well as investigate the short-term effects of PM on suicide death within vulnerable groups based on factors such as sex, age group, suicide-related information (note, method, and cause), psychiatric disorders, and physical diseases.

METHODS

Data on a total of 28,670 suicide deaths from 2013 to 2017, provided by the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention, were analyzed. The study design employed a time-series analysis with a two-stage approach. In the first step, a generalized additive model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to estimate the short-term effect of PM exposure on suicide risk specific to each city. In the second step, the estimated results from each city were pooled through a meta-analysis to derive the overall effect. We determined the effects of single lag, cumulative lag, and moving average PM concentrations from days 0-7 before suicide.

RESULTS

We confirmed an association between exposure to PM10 (≤ 10 μm in diameter) and deaths due to suicide. In particular, among individuals with psychiatric disorders and those who employed non-violent suicide methods, increased exposure to PM10 was associated with a higher risk of death by suicide, with percentage changes of 5.92 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.95-7.92) and 11.47 (95% CI: 7.95-15.11), respectively. Furthermore, in the group with psychiatric disorders, there was an observed tendency of increasing suicide risk as PM10 levels increased up to 120 µg/m3, whereas in the group with non-violent suicide deaths, there was a pronounced trend of rapid increase in suicide risk with an increase in PM10 up to 100 µg/m3.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show an association between short-term exposure to PM and suicide. Our study adds evidence for the benefits of reducing PM in preventing diseases and improving mental health.

Towards Digital Twin-Oriented Complex Networked Systems: Introducing heterogeneous node features and interaction rules

This study proposes an extendable modelling framework for Digital Twin-Oriented Complex Networked Systems (DT-CNSs) with a goal of generating networks that faithfully represent real-world social networked systems. Modelling process focuses on (i) features of nodes and (ii) interaction rules for creating connections that are built based on individual node's preferences. We conduct experiments on simulation-based DT-CNSs that incorporate various features and rules about network growth and different transmissibilities related to an epidemic spread on these networks. We present a case study on disaster resilience of social networks given an epidemic outbreak by investigating the infection occurrence within specific time and social distance. The experimental results show how different levels of the structural and dynamics complexities, concerned with feature diversity and flexibility of interaction rules respectively, influence network growth and epidemic spread. The analysis revealed that, to achieve maximum disaster resilience, mitigation policies should be targeted at nodes with preferred features as they have higher infection risks and should be the focus of the epidemic control.

Development and Internal Validation of a Questionnaire Assessing Predisposition to Nonadherence to Immunosuppressive Medication in Kidney Pretransplant Patients

BACKGROUND

After kidney transplant, nonadherence to immunosuppressive therapy is the main cause of impaired kidney function and graft loss. The objective of this study was the development and internal validation of a clinical questionnaire for assessing the predisposition to adherence to immunosuppressive therapy in kidney pretransplant patients.

METHODS

Multicenter prospective study conducted in 7 kidney hemodialysis and 6 kidney transplant centers of 3 Brazilian state capitals. Kidney transplant candidate patients of both sexes and >18-y-old were included. Retransplanted patients were excluded. A 72-item pilot version of the questionnaire, created through literature review complemented with a focus group of 8 kidney pretransplant patients, was administered to 541 kidney transplant candidate patients. Factor analysis with varimax rotation was used for questionnaire development. Internal validity evaluation used Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability. Construct validity was assessed by differentiation by known groups.

RESULTS

The final questionnaire, named Kidney AlloTransplant Immunosuppressive Therapy Adherence (KATITA) Questionnaire, consisting of 25 items in 3 dimensions, presented good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.81). The 3 dimensions and respective Cronbach's alpha were "Carelessness" (14 items, 0.81), "Skepticism" (6 items, 0.57), and "Concern" (5 items, 0.62). The interdimension correlation matrix showed low correlation coefficients (<0.35). Test-retest reliability, evaluated with 154 patients, showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.62 (moderate agreement). The scale showed construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The KATITA-25 questionnaire is the first psychometric instrument for evaluation of predisposition to nonadherence to immunosuppressive medication in candidate patients for kidney transplant in the pretransplant setting.

Impact of periodic vaccination in SEIRS seasonal model

We study three different strategies of vaccination in an SEIRS (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible) seasonal forced model, which are (i) continuous vaccination; (ii) periodic short-time localized vaccination, and (iii) periodic pulsed width campaign. Considering the first strategy, we obtain an expression for the basic reproduction number and infer a minimum vaccination rate necessary to ensure the stability of the disease-free equilibrium (DFE) solution. In the second strategy, short duration pulses are added to a constant baseline vaccination rate. The pulse is applied according to the seasonal forcing phases. The best outcome is obtained by locating intensive immunization at inflection of the transmissivity curve. Therefore, a vaccination rate of 44.4% of susceptible individuals is enough to ensure DFE. For the third vaccination proposal, additionally to the amplitude, the pulses have a prolonged time width. We obtain a non-linear relationship between vaccination rates and the duration of the campaign. Our simulations show that the baseline rates, as well as the pulse duration, can substantially improve the vaccination campaign effectiveness. These findings are in agreement with our analytical expression. We show a relationship between the vaccination parameters and the accumulated number of infected individuals, over the years, and show the relevance of the immunization campaign annual reaching for controlling the infection spreading. Regarding the dynamical behavior of the model, our simulations show that chaotic and periodic solutions as well as bi-stable regions depend on the vaccination parameters range.

Digital Clock Drawing as an Alzheimer's Disease Susceptibility Biomarker: Associations with Genetic Risk Score and APOE in Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in older adults, but most people are not diagnosed until significant neuronal loss has likely occurred along with a decline in cognition. Non-invasive and cost-effective digital biomarkers for AD have the potential to improve early detection.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the validity of DCTclockTM (a digitized clock drawing task) as an AD susceptibility biomarker.

DESIGN

We used two primary independent variables, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele carrier status and polygenic risk score (PRS). We examined APOE and PRS associations with DCTclockTM composite scores as dependent measures.

SETTING

We used existing data from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), a community-based study with the largest dataset of digital clock drawing data to date.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample consisted of 2,398 older adults ages 60-94 with DCTclockTM data (mean age of 72.3, 55% female and 92% White).

MEASUREMENTS

PRS was calculated using 38 variants identified in a recent large genome-wide association study (GWAS) and meta-analysis of late-onset AD (LOAD).

RESULTS

Results showed that DCTclockTM performance decreased with advancing age, lower education, and the presence of one or more copies of APOE ε4. Lower DCTclockTM Total Score as well as lower composite scores for Information Processing Speed (both command and copy conditions) and Drawing Efficiency (command condition) were significantly associated with higher PRS levels and more copies of APOE ε4. APOE and PRS associations displayed similar effect sizes in both men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that higher AD genetic risk is associated with poorer DCTclockTM performance in older adults without dementia. This is the first study to demonstrate significant differences in clock drawing performance on the basis of APOE status or PRS.

Predicting Acute Changes in Suicidal Ideation and Planning: A Longitudinal Study of Symptom Mediators and the Role of the Menstrual Cycle in Female Psychiatric Outpatients With Suicidality

OBJECTIVE

Cross-sectional and preliminary longitudinal findings suggest that cyclical ovarian hormone fluctuations influence acute suicide risk. The authors provide the first analyses in females with suicidality to investigate which daily symptoms covary with suicidal ideation and planning thoughts, the role of the menstrual cycle in daily symptom variation, how daily fluctuations in symptoms mediate the menstrual cycle-suicidality relationship, and how these associations vary across individuals.

METHODS

Naturally cycling psychiatric outpatients (N=119) with past-month suicidal ideation provided daily ratings of psychiatric symptoms (depression, hopelessness, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, agitation, anhedonia, worthlessness, rejection sensitivity, anger, perceived burdensomeness, and interpersonal conflict), suicidal ideation, and suicidal planning across at least one menstrual cycle. Symptom ratings were decomposed into trait (person-centered mean) and state (daily person-centered mean deviation) components. Five cycle phases were identified in relation to menses onset and ovulation (surge in urine luteinizing hormone level). Hypotheses were tested in multilevel structural equation models.

RESULTS

Nearly all psychiatric symptoms covaried with fluctuations in daily suicidal ideation, and a limited set of symptoms (depression, hopelessness, rejection sensitivity, and perceived burdensomeness) predicted within-person increases in suicidal planning. Many patients demonstrated perimenstrual worsening of psychiatric symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal planning. Depressive symptoms (depression, hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness, and anhedonia) were the most robust statistical mediators predicting perimenstrual exacerbation of suicidality.

CONCLUSIONS

Research on the menstrual cycle and suicide has been limited historically by small, cross-sectional samples. This study provides the first evidence that measuring day-to-day correlates of suicidality in a large transdiagnostic sample of females with suicidal ideation can contribute to understanding the pathways by which the menstrual cycle influences acute suicide risk.

Complement alternative pathway determines disease susceptibility and severity in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis

Activation of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement is involved in the pathogenesis of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), although the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. To gain insight into the role of the AP, common gene variants in CFH/CFHR1-5, CFB, C3 and MCP, and longitudinal determinations of plasma C3, C4, FH, FHR-1, FHR-2, FHR-5, FB, properdin and sC5b-9 levels were analyzed in a Spanish AAV cohort consisting of 102 patients; 54 with active AAV (active cohort) and 48 in remission not receiving immunosuppressants or dialysis therapy (remission cohort). The validation cohort consisted of 100 patients with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis. Here, we demonstrated that common genetic variants in complement components of the AP are associated with disease susceptibility (CFB32Q/W) or severity of kidney damage in AAV (CFH-H1, CFH1H2 and ΔCFHR3/1). Plasma levels of complement components were significantly different between active and remission cohorts. In longitudinal observations, a high degree of AP activation at diagnosis was associated with worse disease outcome, while high basal FHR-1 levels and lower FH/FHR-1 ratios determined severe forms of kidney associated AAV. These genetic and plasmatic findings were confirmed in the validation cohort. Additionally, autoantibodies against FH and C3 convertase were identified in one and five active patients, respectively. Thus, our study identified key genetic and plasma components of the AP that determine disease susceptibility, prognosis, and severity in AAV. Our data also suggests that balance between FH and FHR-1 is critical and supports FHR-1 as a novel AP-specific therapeutic target in AAV.

E-Cigarette Dependence and Depressive Symptoms Among Youth

INTRODUCTION

Although the relationship between smoking and depression has been well-established, little is known about the association between use of e-cigarette and depression, particularly among youth and young adults. This study proposes that e-cigarette dependence, rather than simply use, serves as a potential stressor and may interact with pre-existing vulnerabilities to contribute to depression in youth, consistent with the diathesis-stress theory. This study examines the longitudinal association of vaping dependence and vaping frequency on depression symptoms among youth and young adults who have never smoked cigarettes.

METHODS

People who used e-cigarettes in the past month who reported never smoking a cigarette (N=1,226) aged between 16 and 25 years were followed longitudinally every 3 months for up to 1 year beginning in 2020. The Penn State E-Cigarette Dependence Index at time t was used to predict depression symptoms assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale at time t+1.

RESULTS

A total of 32.1% reported vaping in the past month with the Penn State E-Cigarette Dependence Index score (M=8.5) and a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score (M=15.8). Higher vaping dependence scores were significantly associated with increased depression symptoms scores at follow-up among youth and adults (β=0.08; 95% CI=0.01, 0.15), controlling for baseline depression symptom scores and covariates. Although vaping dependence was highly associated with vaping frequency level, no significant association between the frequency of vaping and depression was found (β= -0.33; 95% CI= 1.21, 0.54).

CONCLUSIONS

These results are consistent with the diathesis-stress model of the relationship between substance use and depression. Vaping dependence but not vaping frequency was associated with increased depressive symptoms among people who never smoked cigarettes.

IL-23 contributes to Particulate Matter induced allergic asthma in the early life of mice and promotes asthma susceptibility

Air pollutant exposure leads to and exacerbates respiratory diseases. Particulate Matter (PM) is a major deleterious factor in the pathophysiology of asthma. Nonetheless, studies on the effects and mechanisms of exposure in the early life of mice remain unresolved. This study aimed to investigate changes in allergic phenotypes and effects on allergen-specific memory T cells resulting from co-exposure of mice in the early life to PM and house dust mites (HDM) and to explore the role of interleukin-23 (IL-23) in this process. PM and low-dose HDM were administered intranasally in 4-day-old C57BL/6 mice. After confirming an increase in IL-23 expression in mouse lung tissues, changes in the asthma phenotype and lung effector/memory Th2 or Th17 cells were evaluated after intranasal administration of anti-IL-23 antibody (Ab) during co-exposure to PM and HDM. Evaluation was performed up to 7 weeks after the last administration. Co-exposure to PM and low-dose HDM resulted in increases in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophils, neutrophils, and persistent Th2/Th17 effector/memory cells, which were all inhibited by anti-IL-23 Ab administration. When low-dose HDM was administered twice after a 7-week rest, mice exposed to PM and HDM during the previous early life period exhibited re-increases AHR, eosinophil count, HDM-specific IgG1, and effector/memory Th2 and Th17 cell populations. However, anti-IL-23 Ab administration during the early life period resulted in inhibition. Co-exposure to PM and low-dose HDM reinforced the allergic phenotypes and allergen-specific memory responses in early life of mice. During this process, IL-23 contributes to the enhancement of effector/memory Th2/Th17 cells and allergic phenotypes. KEY MESSAGES: PM-induced IL-23 expression, allergic responses in HDMinstilled mice of early life period. PM-induced effector/memory Th2/Th17 cells in HDMinstilled mice of early life period. Inhibition of IL-23 reduced the increase in allergic responses. Inhibition of IL-23 reduced the increase in allergic responses. After the resting period, HDM administration showed re-increase in allergic responses. Inhibition of IL-23 reduced the HDM-recall allergic responses.

The Assessment of Situational Judgement Questionnaire: A Novel Instrument to Detect Susceptibility to Financial Scamming

BACKGROUND

Existing measures of scam susceptibility lack ecological validity and situational variability. Evidence suggests that all adults may be susceptible to scams, though a comprehensive fraud victimization theory remains to be explored.

OBJECTIVE

To identify cognitive and sociodemographic variables that differentiate individuals with high scam susceptibility from those less susceptible. This article describes the development and feasibility of the Assessment of Situational Judgment questionnaire (ASJ), a brief tool designed to detect scam susceptibility.

METHODS

The 17-item ASJ was developed using a combination of existing scams reported by the Florida Division of Consumer Services and legitimate scenarios. Participants were presented with scam and legitimate scenarios and queried regarding their willingness to engage. Response options were offered with instructions on a 7-point Likert scale (extremely unlikely to extremely likely). Pilot data from a development sample provided the foundation for the final version of the ASJ.

RESULTS

The final version of the ASJ was administered to 183 online participants. The Scam factor (8 items) explained 50.6% of the variance. The Legit factor (9 items) reported on a 7-point Likert scale explaining 10.6% of the variance. A Scam to Legit ratio provides a proxy for overall scam susceptibility. Cut-off scores of 24 on the Scam factor, 47 on the Legit factor, and 0.62 on the ratio optimize measures of scam susceptibility.

CONCLUSIONS

The ASJ is a brief, ecologically valid measure of scam susceptibility. There is a need for a sensitive and specific tool to detect scam susceptibility in clinical, community, and financial settings.

Longitudinal machine learning uncouples healthy aging factors from chronic disease risks

To understand human longevity, inherent aging processes must be distinguished from known etiologies leading to age-related chronic diseases. Such deconvolution is difficult to achieve because it requires tracking patients throughout their entire lives. Here, we used machine learning to infer health trajectories over the entire adulthood age range using extrapolation from electronic medical records with partial longitudinal coverage. Using this approach, our model tracked the state of patients who were healthy and free from known chronic disease risk and distinguished individuals with higher or lower longevity potential using a multivariate score. We showed that the model and the markers it uses performed consistently on data from Israeli, British and US populations. For example, mildly low neutrophil counts and alkaline phosphatase levels serve as early indicators of healthy aging that are independent of risk for major chronic diseases. We characterize the heritability and genetic associations of our longevity score and demonstrate at least 1 year of extended lifespan for parents of high-scoring patients compared to matched controls. Longitudinal modeling of healthy individuals is thereby established as a tool for understanding healthy aging and longevity.

Suicide risk among racial minority students in a monoethnic country: A study from South Korea: Suicide risk among racial minority students

BACKGROUND

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents. Students from intercultural families (ICFs) are hypothesized to be vulnerable to suicide. This study aimed to identify the current status of depression and suicide in students from ICFs and the risk of suicide according to family type.

METHODS

Data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) were used for this study. We selected 586,829 participants from 2011 to 2020. We analyzed the statistical differences between groups using the chi-square and Bonferroni tests. Last, multiple logistic regressions were performed.

RESULTS

Regarding experiencing extreme sadness/desperation and suicidal ideation, the group with both parents born outside Korea had the highest rate (37.1 % and 24.7 %, respectively), followed by the father-only, non-ICF, and mother-only groups. The both-parents group had the highest risk for suicidal plan and attempts, and for suicidal attempts after hospital visits (17.2 %, 14.9 %, and 59.5 %, respectively), followed by the father-only, mother-only, and non-ICF groups. In particular, the both-parents group had 1.74, 3.40, 4.56, and 6.44 times higher odds for suicidal ideation, suicidal plan, and suicidal attempt, and hospital visit after suicidal attempt than the non-ICF group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

ICF students were more vulnerable to suicide than the non-ICF group, particularly the both-parents and father-only groups. Thus, adolescents from ICFs are a high-risk group for suicide and should be a top priority for intervention.

Optimised Multi-Channel Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (MtDCS) Reveals Differential Involvement of the Right-Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (rVLPFC) and Insular Complex in those Predisposed to Aberrant Experiences

Research has shown a prominent role for cortical hyperexcitability underlying aberrant perceptions, hallucinations, and distortions in human conscious experience - even in neurotypical groups. The rVLPFC has been identified as an important structure in mediating cognitive affective states / feeling conscious states. The current study examined the involvement of the rVLPFC in mediating cognitive affective states in those predisposed to aberrant experiences in the neurotypical population. Participants completed two trait-based measures: (i) the Cortical Hyperexcitability Index_II (CHi_II, a proxy measure of cortical hyperexcitability) and (ii) two factors from the Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale (CDS). An optimised 7-channel MtDCS montage for stimulation conditions (Anodal, Cathodal and Sham) was created targeting the rVLPFC in a single-blind study. At the end of each stimulation session, participants completed a body-threat task (BTAB) while skin conductance responses (SCRs) and psychological responses were recorded. Participants with signs of increasing cortical hyperexcitability showed significant suppression of SCRs in the Cathodal stimulation relative to the Anodal and sSham conditions. Those high on the trait-based measures of depersonalisation-like experiences failed to show reliable effects. Collectively, the findings suggest that baseline brain states can mediate the effects of neurostimulation which would be missed via sample level averaging and without appropriate measures for stratifying individual differences.

Evolutionary trends of carbapenem-resistant and susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in a major tertiary care setting from North India

Emergence of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) is a global, ongoing healthcare concern. CRAB is among the topmost priority pathogens, with various studies focusing on its global population structure and resistant allelic profiles. However, carbapenem-susceptible A. baumannii (CSAB) isolates are often overlooked due to their sensitivity to beta-lactams, which can provide important insights into origin of CRAB lineages and isolates. In the present study, we report genomic investigation of CRAB and CSAB coexisting in Indian hospital setting. MLST based population structure and phylogenomics suggest they mainly follow distinct evolutionary routes forming two phylogroups. PG-I exclusively for a successful clone (ST2) of CRAB and PG-II comprises diversified CSAB isolates except PG3373, which is CRAB. Additionally, there are few CRAB isolates not belonging to PG-I and sharing clonal relationship with CSAB isolates indicating role of genome plasticity towards extensive drug resistance in the nosocomial environment. Further, genealogical analysis depicts prominent role of recombination in emergence and evolution of a major CRAB lineage. Further, CRAB isolates are enriched in resistomes as compared to CSAB isolates, which were encoded on the genomic island. Such comparative genomic insights will aid in our understanding and localized management of rapidly evolving pandrug resistant nosocomial pathogens.

The Role of Attachment, Insecurity, and Stress in Partner Maltreatment: A Meta-Analysis

Negative, destructive, and abusive behaviors in romantic relationships can vary from explicit kinds of abuse and aggression to more subtle and seemingly innocuous slights against or ways of treating a partner. However, regardless of the severity or explicit nature, these behaviors all, to one extent or another, reflect acts of invalidation, disrespect, aggression, or neglect toward a partner, and could be considered maltreatment of a partner. The current paper proposes the term partner maltreatment as a broad overarching concept, which was used to facilitate a meta-analytic synthesis of the literature to examine the associations between attachment insecurity (i.e., attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance) and perpetration of partner maltreatment. Additionally, this paper situated partner maltreatment within an attachment-based diathesis-stress perspective to explore the moderating role of stress. Five databases were systematically searched for published and unpublished studies that examined the direct association between perpetrator's adult attachment orientation and perpetration of partner maltreatment behaviors. We synthesized effect sizes from 139 studies (N = 38,472) and found the effect between attachment insecurity and acts of partner maltreatment varied between r = .11 to .21. Our findings provide meta-analytic evidence to suggest that attachment insecurity is a significant individual vulnerability factor (diathesis) associated with partner maltreatment; and that when individuals with an insecure attachment orientation experience stress, the tendency to perpetrate partner maltreatment is typically heightened. The findings of this meta-analysis provide empirical evidence for the importance of considering and addressing contextual factors, especially stress, for those individuals and couples seeking therapy for partner maltreatment.

Seasickness susceptibility and the vestibular time constant: a prospective study

Human passive motion during boat, car or airplane travel may trigger motion sickness. Seasickness is the most provoking manifestation of motion sickness. It imposes major constraints on quality of life and human performance. Based on seasickness susceptibility the population is usually categorized into susceptible (S) and non-susceptible (NS). During repeated exposure some susceptible individuals undergo habituation and obtain symptoms relief, reflecting a third group of habituating (H) individuals. Recently, accumulative evidence suggests that the vestibular time constant (Tc) is associated with motion sickness susceptibility and attenuation of symptoms. These studies demonstrated that repeated passive motion stimuli lead to temporary short-term (days) changes in Tc, whereas sea sickness habituation process lasts 3 to 6 months. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to examine the behavior of Tc during the entire span of the seasickness habituation process between the H, S and NS groups to find an objective test for seasickness severity prediction. Tc of 30 subjects was prospectively evaluated pre, 3 and 6 months post exposure to sea environment using a computerized rotatory chair system protocol. Seasickness severity was evaluated by Wiker questionnaire. Significantly shorter Tc was found in the S group compared with the NS and H groups. Further analysis revealed lower maximal Slow Phase Velocity (mSPV) and nystagmus frequency (total number of beats/second) in the S group. Our results suggest that Tc, mSPV and nystagmus frequency might serve as a prediction for seasickness severity. This study was retrospectively registered on December 7th 2022 and assigned the identifier number NCT05640258.

Immuno-molecular profile for Biomphalaria glabrata/Schistosoma mansoni interaction

The complex innate immune defense of Biomphalaria glabrata, the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni, governs the successful development of the intramolluscan stages of the parasite. The interaction between the snail and the parasite involves a complex immune molecular crosstalk between several parasite antigens and the snail immune recognition receptors, evoking different signals and effector molecules. This work seeks to discuss the immune-related molecules that influence compatibility in Biomphalaria glabrata/Schistosoma mansoni interaction and the differential expression of these molecules between resistant and susceptible snails. It also includes the current understanding of the immune molecular determinants that govern the compatibility in sympatric and allopatric interactions, and the expression of these molecules after immune priming and the secondary immune response. Herein, the differences in the immune-related molecules in the interaction of other Biomphalaria species with Schistosoma mansoni compared to the Biomphalaria glabrata model snail are highlighted. Understanding the diverse immune molecular determinants in the snail/schistosome interaction can lead to alternative control strategies for schistosomiasis.

Germline HPF1 retrogene insertion in RB1 gene involved in cancer predisposition

About half of the human genome is composed of repeated sequences derived from mobile elements, mainly retrotransposons, generally without pathogenic effect. Familial forms of retinoblastoma are caused by germline pathogenic variants in RB1 gene. Here, we describe a family with retinoblastoma affecting a father and his son. No pathogenic variant was identified after DNA analysis of RB1 gene coding sequence and exon-intron junctions. However, RB1 mRNA analysis showed a chimeric transcript with insertion of 114 nucleotides from HPF1 gene inside RB1 gene. This chimeric transcript led to an insertion of 38 amino acids in functional domain of retinoblastoma protein. Subsequent DNA analysis in RB1 intron 17 revealed the presence of a full-length HPF1 retrogene insertion in opposite orientation. Functional assay shows that this insertion has a deleterious impact on retinoblastoma protein function. This is the first report of a full-length retrogene insertion involved in human Mendelian disease leading to a chimeric transcript and a non-functional chimeric protein. Some retrogene insertions may be missed by standard diagnostic genetic testing, so contribution of retrogene insertions to human disease may be underestimated. The increasing use of whole genome sequencing in diagnostic settings will help to get a more comprehensive view of retrogenes.

Runx1-R188Q germ line mutation induces inflammation and predisposition to hematologic malignancies in mice

Germ line mutations in the RUNX1 gene cause familial platelet disorder (FPD), an inherited disease associated with lifetime risk to hematopoietic malignancies (HM). Patients with FPD frequently show clonal expansion of premalignant cells preceding HM onset. Despite the extensive studies on the role of RUNX1 in hematopoiesis, its function in the premalignant bone marrow (BM) is not well-understood. Here, we characterized the hematopoietic progenitor compartments using a mouse strain carrying an FPD-associated mutation, Runx1R188Q. Immunophenotypic analysis showed an increase in the number of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the Runx1R188Q/+ mice. However, the comparison of Sca-1 and CD86 markers suggested that Sca-1 expression may result from systemic inflammation. Cytokine profiling confirmed the dysregulation of interferon-response cytokines in the BM. Furthermore, the expression of CD48, another inflammation-response protein, was also increased in Runx1R188Q/+ HSPCs. The DNA-damage response activity of Runx1R188Q/+ hematopoietic progenitor cells was defective in vitro, suggesting that Runx1R188Q may promote genomic instability. The differentiation of long-term repopulating HSCs was reduced in Runx1R188Q/+ recipient mice. Furthermore, we found that Runx1R188Q/+ HSPCs outcompete their wild-type counterparts in bidirectional repopulation assays, and that the genetic makeup of recipient mice did not significantly affect the clonal dynamics under this setting. Finally, we demonstrate that Runx1R188Q predisposes to HM in cooperation with somatic mutations found in FPDHM, using 3 mouse models. These studies establish a novel murine FPDHM model and demonstrate that germ line Runx1 mutations induce a premalignant phenotype marked by BM inflammation, selective expansion capacity, defective DNA-damage response, and predisposition to HM.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic differences between banana varieties which are resistant or susceptible to Fusarium wilt

Background

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (Foc4), is the most lethal disease of bananas in Asia.

Methods

To better understand the defense response of banana to Fusarium wilt, the transcriptome and metabolome profiles of the roots from resistant and susceptible bananas inoculated with Foc4 were compared.

Results

After Foc4 inoculation, there were 172 and 1,856 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Foc4-susceptible variety (G1) and Foc4-resistant variety (G9), respectively. In addition, a total of 800 DEGs were identified between G1 and G9, which were mainly involved in the oxidation-reduction process, cell wall organization, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and lipid and nitrogen metabolism, especially the DEGs of Macma4_08_g22610, Macma4_11_g19760, and Macma4_03_g06480, encoding non-classical arabinogalactan protein; GDSL-like lipase; and peroxidase. In our study, G9 showed a stronger and earlier response to Foc4 than G1. As the results of metabolomics, lipids, phenylpropanoids and polyketides, organic acids, and derivatives played an important function in response to Fusarium wilt. More importantly, Macma4_11_g19760 might be one of the key genes that gave G9 more resistance to Foc4 by a lowered expression and negative regulation of lipid metabolism. This study illustrated the difference between the transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of resistant and susceptible bananas. These results improved the current understanding of host-pathogen interactions and will contribute to the breeding of resistant banana plants.

Environmental and Genetic Traffic in the Journey from Sperm to Offspring

Recent advancements in the understanding of how sperm develop into offspring have shown complex interactions between environmental influences and genetic factors. The past decade, marked by a research surge, has not only highlighted the profound impact of paternal contributions on fertility and reproductive outcomes but also revolutionized our comprehension by unveiling how parental factors sculpt traits in successive generations through mechanisms that extend beyond traditional inheritance patterns. Studies have shown that offspring are more susceptible to environmental factors, especially during critical phases of growth. While these factors are broadly detrimental to health, their effects are especially acute during these periods. Moving beyond the immutable nature of the genome, the epigenetic profile of cells emerges as a dynamic architecture. This flexibility renders it susceptible to environmental disruptions. The primary objective of this review is to shed light on the diverse processes through which environmental agents affect male reproductive capacity. Additionally, it explores the consequences of paternal environmental interactions, demonstrating how interactions can reverberate in the offspring. It encompasses direct genetic changes as well as a broad spectrum of epigenetic adaptations. By consolidating current empirically supported research, it offers an exhaustive perspective on the interwoven trajectories of the environment, genetics, and epigenetics in the elaborate transition from sperm to offspring.

Antithrombotic therapy and assessment for bleeding diathesis in elective gastrointestinal endoscopy - Expert Opinion Statement on behalf of the Swiss Society of Gastroenterology

INTRODUCTION

Interpersonal Stress and Late Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: Moderation by Perceptual Sensitivity to Facial Expression of Anger

The interpersonal theories of depression highlight the role of interpersonal stress and individual's sensitivity to social rejection in the development of depression. However, previous research has tested their respective effects, whereas whether or not these two factors interact to affect depression, especially in ways of differential susceptibility or diathesis-stress, remains unknown. By adopting a morphed facial expressions recognition paradigm, the current study investigated the potential moderating role of perceptual sensitivity to facial expressions, especially that to angry expression which signaled social rejection, in the association between interpersonal stress and adolescent depressive symptoms. A total of 186 Chinese late adolescents (Mage = 21.16 ± 1.81 years; 73.7% females) participated in this study. The results demonstrated that perceptual sensitivity for angry faces, but not sad or happy faces, functioned as a plasticity factor significantly moderating the effect of interpersonal stress on depressive symptoms, which was consistent with hypothesis of differential susceptibility rather than diathesis-stress. No interactions were observed regarding non-interpersonal dimensions. These results were robust and survived a series of sensitivity analyses, including k-fold cross-validation test. The current findings highlight the crucial role of perceptual sensitivity to angry expression in explaining individual differences behind the links between interpersonal stress and adolescent depressive symptoms.

Lung dendritic-cell metabolism underlies susceptibility to viral infection in diabetes

People with diabetes feature a life-risking susceptibility to respiratory viral infection, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (ref. 1), whose mechanism remains unknown. In acquired and genetic mouse models of diabetes, induced with an acute pulmonary viral infection, we demonstrate that hyperglycaemia leads to impaired costimulatory molecule expression, antigen transport and T cell priming in distinct lung dendritic cell (DC) subsets, driving a defective antiviral adaptive immune response, delayed viral clearance and enhanced mortality. Mechanistically, hyperglycaemia induces an altered metabolic DC circuitry characterized by increased glucose-to-acetyl-CoA shunting and downstream histone acetylation, leading to global chromatin alterations. These, in turn, drive impaired expression of key DC effectors including central antigen presentation-related genes. Either glucose-lowering treatment or pharmacological modulation of histone acetylation rescues DC function and antiviral immunity. Collectively, we highlight a hyperglycaemia-driven metabolic-immune axis orchestrating DC dysfunction during pulmonary viral infection and identify metabolic checkpoints that may be therapeutically exploited in mitigating exacerbated disease in infected diabetics.

Daily stair climbing, disease susceptibility, and risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The associations between intensity of stair climbing and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and how these vary by underlying disease susceptibility are not fully understood. We aim to evaluate the intensity of stair climbing and risk of ASCVD types and whether these vary with the presence of ASCVD risk factors.

METHODS

This prospective study used data of 458,860 adult participants from the UK Biobank. Information about stair climbing, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors was collected at baseline and a resurvey 5 years after baseline. ASCVD was defined as coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke (IS), or acute complications. Associations between flights of stair climbing and ASCVD were examined as hazard ratios (HRs) from Cox proportional hazards models. The modification role of disease susceptibility on such associations was assessed by analyses stratified by levels of genetic risk score (GRS), 10-year risks of ASCVD, and self-reported family history of ASCVD.

RESULTS

During a median of 12.5 years of follow-up, 39,043 ASCVD, 30,718 CAD, and 10,521 IS cases were recorded. Compared with the reference group (reported climbing stairs 0 times/day at baseline), the multivariable-adjusted HRs for ASCVD were 0.97 (95% CI, 0.93-1.01), 0.84 (0.82-0.87), 0.78 (0.75-0.81), 0.77 (0.73-0.80) and 0.81 (0.77-0.85) for stair climbing of 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and ≥21 times/day, respectively. Comparable results were obtained for CAD and IS. When stratified by different disease susceptibility based on the GRS for CAD/IS, 10-year risk, and family history of ASCVD, the protection association of stair climbing was attenuated by increasing levels of disease susceptibility. Furthermore, compared with people who reported no stair climbing (<5 times/d) at two examinations, those who climbed stairs at baseline and then stopped at resurvey experienced a 32% higher risk of ASCVD (HR 1.32, 95% CI:1.06-1.65).

CONCLUSIONS

Climbing more than five flights of stairs (approx 50 steps) daily was associated with a lower risk of ASCVD types independent of disease susceptibility. Participants who stopped stair climbing between baseline and resurvey had a higher risk of ASCVD compared with those who never climbed stairs.

Grandmaternal allergen sensitization reprograms epigenetic and airway responses to allergen in second-generation offspring

Asthma susceptibility is influenced by environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. DNA methylation is one form of epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression and is both inherited and modified by environmental exposures throughout life. Prenatal development is a particularly vulnerable time period during which exposure to maternal asthma increases asthma risk in offspring. How maternal asthma affects DNA methylation in offspring and what the consequences of differential methylation are in subsequent generations are not fully known. In this study, we tested the effects of grandmaternal house dust mite (HDM) allergen sensitization during pregnancy on airway physiology and inflammation in HDM-sensitized and challenged second-generation mice. We also tested the effects of grandmaternal HDM sensitization on tissue-specific DNA methylation in allergen-naïve and -sensitized second-generation mice. Descendants of both allergen- and vehicle-exposed grandmaternal founders exhibited airway hyperreactivity after HDM sensitization. However, grandmaternal allergen sensitization significantly potentiated airway hyperreactivity and altered the epigenomic trajectory in second-generation offspring after HDM sensitization compared with HDM-sensitized offspring from vehicle-exposed founders. As a result, biological processes and signaling pathways associated with epigenetic modifications were distinct between lineages. A targeted analysis of pathway-associated gene expression found that Smad3 was significantly dysregulated as a result of grandmaternal allergen sensitization. These data show that grandmaternal allergen exposure during pregnancy establishes a unique epigenetic trajectory that reprograms allergen responses in second-generation offspring and may contribute to asthma risk.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Asthma susceptibility is influenced by environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. This study shows that maternal allergen exposure during pregnancy promotes unique epigenetic trajectories in second-generation offspring at baseline and in response to allergen sensitization, which is associated with the potentiation of airway hyperreactivity. These effects are one mechanism by which maternal asthma may influence the inheritance of asthma risk.

Statistical mechanics of inference in epidemic spreading

We investigate the information-theoretical limits of inference tasks in epidemic spreading on graphs in the thermodynamic limit. The typical inference tasks consist in computing observables of the posterior distribution of the epidemic model given observations taken from a ground-truth (sometimes called planted) random trajectory. We can identify two main sources of quenched disorder: the graph ensemble and the planted trajectory. The epidemic dynamics however induces nontrivial long-range correlations among individuals' states on the latter. This results in nonlocal correlated quenched disorder which unfortunately is typically hard to handle. To overcome this difficulty, we divide the dynamical process into two sets of variables: a set of stochastic independent variables (representing transmission delays), plus a set of correlated variables (the infection times) that depend deterministically on the first. Treating the former as quenched variables and the latter as dynamic ones, computing disorder average becomes feasible by means of the replica-symmetric cavity method. We give theoretical predictions on the posterior probability distribution of the trajectory of each individual, conditioned to observations on the state of individuals at given times, focusing on the susceptible infectious (SI) model. In the Bayes-optimal condition, i.e., when true dynamic parameters are known, the inference task is expected to fall in the replica-symmetric regime. We indeed provide predictions for the information theoretic limits of various inference tasks, in form of phase diagrams. We also identify a region, in the Bayes-optimal setting, with strong hints of replica-symmetry breaking. When true parameters are unknown, we show how a maximum-likelihood procedure is able to recover them with mostly unaffected performance.

Sex as a Biological Variable in Oral Diseases: Evidence and Future Prospects

The interest of the scientific community on sex and gender differences in health and disease has increased substantially over the past 25 to 30 y as a result of a long process of events and policies in the biomedical field. This is crucial as compelling evidence from human and animal model studies has demonstrated that sex and gender influence health, molecular and cellular processes, and response and predisposition to disease. The present scoping review aims to provide a synthesis of sex differences in oral diseases, ranging from periodontal disease to orofacial pain conditions, from risk of caries development to apical periodontitis. Overall, findings from this review further support a role for sexual dimorphism influencing disease predisposition and/or progression in oral diseases. Of note, this review also highlights the lack of consideration of additional factors such as gender and other psychosocial and external factors potentially influencing oral health and disease. New conceptual frameworks capable of capturing multiple fundamental domains and measurements should be developed in clinical and preclinical studies to inform sex-based individualized preventive and treatment strategies.

Both C57BL/KsJ (H2d haplotype) and CB10-H2 (H2b haplotype) mice are highly susceptible to congenital toxoplasmosis

Congenital toxoplasmosis may cause abortion, neonatal death, or foetal abnormalities. Despite little information from human studies, a genetic influence over congenital disease was demonstrated and, host genome have been implicated to resistance/susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii infection in both human and mice. It was previously shown that BALB/c mice (H2d) were more resistant to congenital toxoplasmosis than C57BL/6 mice (H2b). However, it is unclear whether these differences are attributable to the MHC haplotype or to other components of the mouse's genetic background. Therefore, in this work, we intend to address this question by investigating the pregnancy outcome in H2d -congenic C57BL/6 mice (C57BL/KsJ-H2d) and H2b-congenic BALB/c mice (CB10-H2-H2b). For this, animals were infected by intragastric route on the first day of pregnancy and examined on days 8 (8dP/8dI) or 18 (18dP/18dI) of gestation and infection. The pregnancy outcome, parasite burden, systemic cytokine profile and antibody response to infection were evaluated. Infected mice showed adverse pregnancy outcomes, in parallel low parasite detection in the uterus/placenta, being that the C57BL/KsJ showed the worst results in relation to CB10-H2 mice. Both mouse lineages showed an increase in IFN-γ and TNF levels systemically on 8dP/8dI and on 18dP/18dI, and C57BL/KsJ showed an increase in IL-6 levels in both gestation/infection periods. Additionally, C57BL/KsJ showed 7- and 7-fold increase in IL-6, 4- and 2.5-fold increase in IFN-γ and, 6- and 4-fold increase in TNF production on 8dP/8dI and 18dP/18dI, respectively in association with 1.5-fold decrease in TGF-β levels on 8dP/8dI compared to CB10-H2 mice. In conclusion, the high IFN-γ and TNF serum levels observed in C57BL/KsJ (H2d) and CB10-H2 (H2b) mice were involved in the poor pregnancy outcomes in congenital toxoplasmosis. In addition, the higher IFN-γ, IL-6 and TNF levels detected in C57BL/KsJ in relation to CB10-H2 mice on 8dP/8dI seem to be related to the genetic background of C57BL/6J mice that may have contributed to the worse pregnancy outcome in this mouse lineage.

Micronutrients in early life and offspring metabolic health programming: a promising target for preventing non-communicable diseases

Chronic non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Developing and implementing effective preventive strategies is the best way to ensure the overall metabolic health status of the population and to counter the global burden of non-communicable diseases. Predisposition to obesity and other non-communicable diseases is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors throughout life, but the early environment, particularly the environment during the fetal period and the early years of life, is crucial in determining metabolic health, hence the concept of 'fetal programming'. The origins of this causal link between environmental factors and disease lie in epigenetic mechanisms. Among the environmental factors, diet plays a crucial role in this process. Substantial evidence documented the key role of macronutrients in the programming of metabolic diseases early in life. Recently, the effect of maternal micronutrient intake on offspring metabolic health in later life emerged. The purpose of this narrative review is to bring to light available evidence in the literature on the effect of maternal micronutrient status on offspring metabolic health and underlying epigenetic mechanisms that drive this link to highlight its potential role in the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

A mathematical model with nonlinear relapse: conditions for a forward-backward bifurcation

We constructed a Susceptible-Addicted-Reformed model and explored the dynamics of nonlinear relapse in the Reformed population. The transition from susceptible considered at-risk is modeled using a strictly decreasing general function, mimicking an influential factor that reduces the flow into the addicted class. The basic reproductive number is computed, which determines the local asymptotically stability of the addicted-free equilibrium. Conditions for a forward-backward bifurcation were established using the basic reproductive number and other threshold quantities. A stochastic version of the model is presented, and some numerical examples are shown. Results showed that the influence of the temporarily reformed individuals is highly sensitive to the initial addicted population.

Histopathological Investigation of Varietal Responses to Cercospora beticola Infection Process on Sugar Beet Leaves

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is the most destructive foliar disease in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). It is caused by Cercospora beticola Sacc., a fungal pathogen that produces toxins and enzymes which affect membrane permeability and cause cell death during infection. In spite of its importance, little is known about the initial stages of leaf infection by C. beticola. Therefore, we investigated the progression of C. beticola on leaf tissues of susceptible and resistant sugar beet varieties at 12-h intervals during the first 5 days after inoculation using confocal microscopy. Inoculated leaf samples were collected and stored in DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine) solution until processed. Samples were stained with Alexa Fluor-488-WGA dye to visualize fungal structures. Fungal biomass accumulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the area under the disease progress curve were evaluated and compared. ROS production was not detected on any variety before 36 h postinoculation (hpi). C. beticola biomass accumulation, percentage leaf cell death, and disease severity were all significantly greater in the susceptible variety compared with the resistant variety (P < 0.05). Conidia penetrated directly through stomata between 48 to 60 hpi and produced appressoria on stomatal guard cells at 60 to 72 hpi in susceptible and resistant varieties, respectively. Penetration of hyphae inside the parenchymatous tissues varied in accordance with time postinoculation and varietal genotypes. Overall, this study provides a detailed account to date of events leading to CLS disease development in two contrasting varieties.

The sleep response to stress: how sleep reactivity can help us prevent insomnia and promote resilience to trauma

Sleep reactivity is a predisposition to sleep disturbance during environmental perturbations, pharmacological challenges, or stressful life events. Consequently, individuals with highly reactive sleep systems are prone to insomnia disorder after a stressor, engendering risk of psychopathology and potentially impeding recovery from traumatic stress. Thus, there is tremendous value in ameliorating sleep reactivity to foster a sleep system that is robust to stress exposure, ultimately preventing insomnia and its downstream consequences. We reviewed prospective evidence for sleep reactivity as a predisposition to insomnia since our last review on the topic in 2017. We also reviewed studies investigating pre-trauma sleep reactivity as a predictor of adverse post-traumatic sequelae, and clinical trials that reported the effect of behavioural treatments for insomnia on mitigating sleep reactivity. Most studies measured sleep reactivity via self-report using the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), demonstrating high scores on this scale reliably indicate a sleep system with a lower capacity to tolerate stress. Nascent evidence suggests elevated sleep reactivity prior to trauma increases the risk of negative posttraumatic outcomes, namely acute stress disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Lastly, sleep reactivity appears most responsive to behavioural insomnia interventions when delivered early during the acute phase of insomnia. Overall, the literature strongly supports sleep reactivity as a premorbid vulnerability to incident acute insomnia disorder when faced with an array of biopsychosocial stressors. The FIRST identifies individuals at risk of insomnia a priori, thereby guiding early interventions toward this vulnerable population to prevent insomnia and promote resilience to adversity.

Involuntary tobacco smoke exposures from conception to 18 years increase midlife cardiometabolic disease risk: a 40-year longitudinal study

Few population studies have sufficient follow-up period to examine early-life exposures with later life diseases. A critical question is whether involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke from conception to adulthood increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in midlife. In the Collaborative Perinatal Project, serum-validated maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSP) was assessed in the 1960s. At a mean age of 39 years, 1623 offspring were followed-up for the age at first physician-diagnoses of any CMDs, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. Detailed information on their exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in childhood and adolescence was collected with a validated questionnaire. Cox regression was used to examine associations of in utero exposure to MSP and exposure to ETS from birth to 18 years with lifetime incidence of CMD, adjusting for potential confounders. We calculated midlife cumulative incidences of hyperlipidemia (25.2%), hypertension (14.9%), diabetes (3.9%), and heart disease (1.5%). Lifetime risk of hypertension increased by the 2nd -trimester exposure to MSP (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.29, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.65), ETS in childhood (1.11, 0.99-1.23) and adolescence (1.22, 1.04-1.44). Lifetime risk of diabetes increased by joint exposures to MSP and ETS in childhood (1.23, 1.01-1.50) or adolescence (1.47, 1.02-2.10). These associations were stronger in males than females, in never-daily smokers than lifetime ever smokers. In conclusion, early-life involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke increases midlife risk of hypertension and diabetes in midlife.

Germline predisposition traits in allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes: a survey-based study and position paper on behalf of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT

The recent application of whole exome or whole genome sequencing unveiled a plethora of germline variants predisposing to myeloid disorders, particularly myelodysplastic neoplasms. The presence of such variants in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes has important clinical repercussions for haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, from donor selection and conditioning regimen to graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis and genetic counselling for relatives. No international guidelines exist to harmonise management approaches to this particular clinical scenario. Moreover, the application of germline testing, and how this informs clinical decisions, differs according to the expertise of individual clinical practices and according to different countries, health-care systems, and legislations. Leveraging the global span of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) network, we took a snapshot of the current European situation on these matters by disseminating an electronic survey to EBMT centres experienced in myelodysplastic syndromes transplantation. An international group of haematologists, transplantation physicians, paediatricians, nurses, and experts in molecular biology and constitutional genetics with experience in myelodysplastic syndromes contributed to this Position Paper. The panel met during multiple online meetings to discuss the results of the EBMT survey and to establish suggested harmonised guidelines for such clinical situations, which are presented here.

Periodontitis-resistant and -susceptible matriline regulation of gingival transcriptome in nonhuman primates

OBJECTIVE

This report identified if gingival gene expression transcriptomes demonstrated unique profiles that discriminated periodontitis-susceptible (PDS) and periodontitis-resistant (PDR) animals in health and disease.

BACKGROUND

Nonhuman primates generally organize their social groups based upon matriline origin. We have used a multi-generational colony of rhesus macaques to identify matrilines presenting with significant differences in periodontitis (e.g., earlier age onset, greater prevalence, and severity).

METHODS

Animals from 12 to 23 years of age (n = 17; 8 - PDR, 9 - PDS) were entered into a ligature-induced periodontitis trial. Gingival biopsies were taken at baseline and 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 months post-ligation, and microarray analysis was used to quantify gene expression in samples at each time point.

RESULTS

Over 1000 genes showed significant (p < .01) differences in the PDR versus PDS animals at baseline. The frequency of differences generally decreased during the disease process, and increased with resolution (i.e., 5 months). A nearly 2:1 ratio of elevated gene levels was noted in baseline PDR samples that included up-regulated MMPs, Fc receptors, chemokines, interleukins, and innate immune receptors, and down-regulated genes particularly related to epithelial biology. Most dramatically, there was a skewed differential expression of adaptive immune response genes in the PDR and epithelial cell structure/function genes in PDS samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate substantive differences in gingival tissue response capacity/programming in PDR and PDS samples that may contribute to the differences in clinical outcomes related to the heritability of disease risk through matrilines.