Asian Samples Research Articles

Genomic and transcriptomic profiling of inflammatory breast cancer reveals distinct molecular characteristics to non-inflammatory breast cancers.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a rare and highly aggressive form of breast cancer, accounts for 10% of breast cancer-related deaths. Previous omics studies of IBC have focused solely on one of genomics or transcriptomics and did not discover common differences that could distinguish IBC from non-IBC. Seventeen IBC patients and five non-IBC patients as well as additional thirty-three Asian breast cancer samples from TCGA-BRCA were included for the study. We performed whole-exon sequencing (WES) to investigate different somatic genomic alterations, copy number variants, and large structural variants between IBC and non-IBC. Bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to examine the differentially expressed genes, pathway enrichment, and gene fusions. WES and RNA-seq data were further investigated in combination to discover genes that were dysregulated in both genomics and transcriptomics. Copy number variation analysis identified 10 cytobands that showed higher frequency in IBC. Structural variation analysis showed more frequent deletions in IBC. Pathway enrichment and immune infiltration analysis indicated increased immune activation in IBC samples. Gene fusions including CTSC-RAB38 were found to be more common in IBC. We demonstrated more commonly dysregulated RAS pathway in IBC according to both WES and RNA-seq. Inhibitors targeting RAS signaling and its downstream pathways were predicted to possess promising effects in IBC treatment. We discovered differences unique in Asian women that could potentially explain IBC etiology and presented RAS signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target in IBC treatment.

Trajectories of emotional disclosure with parents during the college transition among Asian first-year students.

The college transition is a time of great emotional lability, and sharing emotional experiences with parents can be beneficial for first-year students. Guided by the social sharing of emotions framework and the cultural theory on self-construal, this study investigated the developmental course of freshmen's emotional disclosure with parents during the first semester and the mediating role of independence-orientation in two Asian contexts-Beijing (China) and Singapore. Using experience sampling method (online diary), 205 Chinese freshmen (Mage = 19.43) and 291 Singapore freshmen (Mage = 19.44) reported on four facets of emotional disclosure with parents (frequency, intimacy, negativity, and positivity) across four timepoints and their independence-interdependence orientation (Time 1). Latent growth curve modeling comparing the two Asian samples revealed that frequency increased for Chinese students and decreased for Singapore students. Intimacy indicated upward trajectories for both Asian samples, whereas negativity and positivity showed downward trajectories but were less pronounced for Chinese students. Mediated latent growth curve modeling revealed that the cultures predicted independence-orientation, which in turn negatively predicted increase in frequency for the Singapore sample and positively predicted decrease for the Chinese sample. Independence-orientation negatively predicted increase in intimacy, positively predicted decline in negativity, and negatively predicted decline in positivity. In sum, we found complex and differentiated trajectories for the four facets of emotional disclosure in two Asian samples and the mediating role of independence-orientation in explaining cultural differences in the trajectories, which have implications for understanding emotional disclosure to parents during the developmental phase of the college transition in Asian contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Selective Effect of DNA N6-Methyladenosine Modification on Transcriptional Genetic Variations in East Asian Samples.

Genetic variations and DNA modification are two common dominant factors ubiquitous across the entire human genome and induce human disease, especially through static genetic variations in DNA or RNA that cause human genetic diseases. DNA N6-methyladenosine (6mA) methylation, as a new epigenetic modification mark, has been widely studied for regulatory biological processes in humans. However, the effect of DNA modification on dynamic transcriptional genetic variations from DNA to RNA has rarely been reported. Here, we identified DNA, RNA and transcriptional genetic variations from Illumina short-read sequencing data in East Asian samples (HX1 and AK1) and detected global DNA 6mA modification using single-molecule, real-time sequencing (SMRT) data. We decoded the effects of DNA 6mA modification on transcriptional genetic variations in East Asian samples and the results were extensively verified in the HeLa cell line. DNA 6mA modification had a stabilized distribution in the East Asian samples and the methylated genes were less likely to mutate than the non-methylated genes. For methylated genes, the 6mA density was positively correlated with the number of variations. DNA 6mA modification had a selective effect on transcriptional genetic variations from DNA to RNA, in which the dynamic transcriptional variations of heterozygous (0/1 to 0/1) and homozygous (1/1 to 1/1) were significantly affected by 6mA modification. The effect of DNA methylation on transcriptional genetic variations provides new insights into the influencing factors of DNA to RNA transcriptional regulation in the central doctrine of molecular biology.

Public and Private Investment as Catalysts for Growth: An analysis of emerging markets and developing economies with a focus on Asia

The paper analyzes the growth impact of public and private investment shocks based on a large sample of emerging and developing countries over the period 1980–2021 with a particular focus on the Asian region. We develop new measures of investment shocks based on cyclically adjusted investment data. Estimations using local projections suggest that public investment shocks play a much greater role in boosting economic growth in comparison with private investment shocks. In EMDEs (including in Asia) the growth response to investment shocks is positive and much stronger in recessions (relative to economic expansions) and in countries with more fiscal space. Finally, public investment shocks in EMDE and Asian samples crowd-in private investment and private consumption.

Assessing the causal relationship between metabolic biomarkers and coronary artery disease by Mendelian randomization studies

The development of coronary artery disease (CAD) is significantly affected by impaired endocrine and metabolic status. Under this circumstance, improved prevention and treatment of CAD may result from knowing the connection between metabolites and CAD. This study aims to delve into the causal relationship between human metabolic biomarkers and CAD by using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). Utilizing two-sample bidirectional MR analysis, we assessed the correlation between 1400 blood metabolites and CAD, and the metabolites data from the CLSA, encompassing 8299 participants. Metabolite analysis identified 1091 plasma metabolites and 309 ratios as instrumental variables. To evaluate the causal link between metabolites and CAD, we analyzed three datasets: ebi-a-GCST005195 (547,261 European & East Asian samples), bbj-a-159 (29,319 East Asian CAD cases & 183,134 East Asian controls), and ebi-a-GCST005194 (296,525 European & East Asian samples). To estimate causal links, we utilized the IVW method. To conduct sensitivity analysis, we used MR-Egger, Weighted Median, and MR-PRESSO. Additionally, we employed MR-Egger interception and Cochran’s Q statistic to assess potential heterogeneity and pleiotropy. What’s more, replication and reverse analyses were performed to verify the reliability of the results and the causal order between metabolites and disease. Furthermore, we conducted a pathway analysis to identify potential metabolic pathways. 59 blood metabolites and 27 metabolite ratios nominally associated with CAD (P < 0.05) were identified by IVW analysis method. A total of four known blood metabolites, namely beta-hydroxyisovaleroylcarnitine (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.027–1.094, FDR 0.07), 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.029–1.110, FDR 0.09), 1-stearoyl-2- docosahexaenoyl (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.034–1.113, FDR 0.07) and Linoleoyl-arachidonoyl-glycerol, (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.036–1.105, FDR 0.05), and two metabolite ratios, namely spermidine to N-acetylputrescine ratio (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.903–0.972, FDR 0.09) and benzoate to linoleoyl-arachidonoyl-glycerol ratio (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.879–0.962, FDR 0.07), were confirmed as having a significant causal relationship with CAD, after correcting for the FDR method (p < 0. 1). A causal relationship was found to be established between beta -hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine and CAD with the validation in other two datasets. Moreover, multiple metabolic pathways were discovered to be associated with CAD. Our study supports the hypothesis that metabolites have an impact on CAD by demonstrating a causal relationship between human metabolites and CAD. This study is important for new strategies for the prevention and treatment of CAD.

Development of molecular sex identification method for Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and Small Indian civet (Viverricula indica): a step towards forensic identification

Civet coffee and perfume are premium products in demand worldwide. Consequently, the civet population is threatened by several factors (e.g., the rapidly growing trend of civets being removed from the wild and held in captivity), raising concerns about civet welfare and conservation. In light of this, our aim was to develop a molecular sex identification method for the Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus Hermaphroditus) and the Small Indian civet (Viverricula Indica). We collected five Asian palm civet tissue samples (two male, one female, and two of unknown sex) and one female Small Indian civet from the repository, Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC). DNA was extracted from all tissue samples using the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit. For sex identification, we optimized the PCR conditions to amplify partial fragments of sex-determining region Y (Sry) and the zinc finger X (Zfx) genes using DNA from two male Asian palm civet samples. The PCR amplicons were examined on a 2% agarose gel, and two male civets showed one distinct band at 250 bp (for Sry) and another at 120 bp (for Zfx). To confirm this finding, the PCR amplicons (Sry and Zfx genes) from one male sample were sequenced and % similarity and nucleotide pairwise analysis were calculated. The Sry and Zfx sequences showed 96.99% (for Sry) and 97.78% (Zfx) similarity to the masked palm civet, the only species in the families Paradoxurinae or Viverridae for which sequence data was publicly available. These results confirmed that the optimized PCR conditions are suitable for amplifying the Sry and Zfx genes in the Asian palm civet, which will be helpful for sex identification. Subsequently, we used this optimized method for the sex identification of three Asian palm civets and one Small Indian civet sample obtained from the repository, AIWC. Additionally, we used the method for identification of sex in a seized civet tissue sample received for forensic analysis. This report is the first to focus on developing a method for identifying the sex of Asian palm civets and Small Indian civets. This method will be helpful for researchers working on the ecology and conservation of civet population.

Domestic Violence in Asian Communities: A Scoping Review of Quantitative Literature.

Domestic violence (DV) is a prevalent social problems that threaten individuals' health and well-being, and the issue of DV in Asian communities requires extensive and comprehensive investigation. Following the steps by Arksey and O'Malley, a scoping review was conducted to (a) summarize and synthesize existing quantitative evidence on the topic of DV in Asian immigrant communities in North America, and (b) identify research gaps in the literature to guide future work. Inclusion criteria were that (a) the studies must comprise a sample of Asian immigrants in North America, (b) the focus of the article was specifically on individuals' experiences of DV in the past year or lifetime, (c) DV was measured as either independent or dependent variable, (d) full-text publications written in English, (e) articles must be peer-reviewed, quantitative studies. On completion of the review process, 35 full-text articles were identified for review. Across studies, five main topics emerged: factors related to DV victimization, prevalence and forms of DV, individuals' attitudes and/or perceptions about DV, DV-related consequences, and intervention evaluation. Some less common topics include help-seeking behaviors and sources and culturally responsive scales. The findings of this review suggest that future research will benefit from using a nationally representative Asian sample and culturally sensitive tools, examining potential protective factors against DV victimization, and employing an experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally sensitive interventions. Policies should provide stronger support to agencies and practitioners to deliver culturally sensitive services.

Quantification of AICAR and study of metabolic markers after administration.

Objectives: AICAR (5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxyamide ribonucleoside) was reported as the first pharmacological AMPK (adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase) activator, and it has been confirmed to exhibit a significant endurance enhancement effect and prohibited for doping by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Due to the fact that the human body can produce such substances, in order to ensure fairness in sports competition, methods for rapid detection and multi-type identification of AICAR drugs taken orally should be established. Methods: to assess AICAR levels, a new rapid, sensitive, efficient, and selective method was reported for the quantitative detection of AICAR in urine using LC-MS/MS. The method was validated for quantitative purposes based on the elemental selectivity, intra- (1.0-15.6%) and inter-day precision (1.3-16.3%), accuracy (99.9-112.8%), matrix effects (88.9-103.6%), recovery (87.4-106.5%), and stability at four different concentrations. The calibration curve was linear over a wide concentration range of 10-10,000 ng mL-1 with a high coefficient of determination (R 2 > 0.998). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the experiment were determined to be 1 and 10 ng mL-1, respectively. Simultaneously, metabolomics analysis was used to obtain the metabolic fingerprint of different populations and biomarkers to distinguish administration cases through partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: the method enables easy quantitation for LC-MS/MS analysis with the best recovery yield maintained, and the method was applied to 122 Asian biological samples with an average concentration of 1310.5 ± 1031.4 ng mL-1. Through drug metabolism research, 734 and 294 variables were extracted for data analysis respectively in the positive and negative ion modes, and more than 100 metabolites with significant up- and down-regulation were found after the test. Conclusions: this research developed a fast, precise, effective, and specific approach for the qualitative and quantitative identification of AICAR in urine. Meanwhile, administration metabolism studies found that there were significant changes in AICAR levels and other compounds, such as PC types PC(18:1/16:0), PC(16:0/18:0), and PC(16:0/16:0), PE types PE(18:0/20:4), and LPE-type 18:1, which could better distinguish samples before and after AICAR administration. The analysis provides a multi-perspective reference for WADA to determine a positive criterion.

Immigration status microaggressions: A moderated mediation analysis of cultural stress, fear, internalization, and psychological stress among Latinx and Asian college students.

Latinx and Asian people are experiencing an elevated rate of immigration status-related oppression-both systematically and individually-despite actual nationality, and this type of cultural stressor has seen a rampant increase recently in the United States. We aimed to assess the relation and effect of immigration status microaggressions on psychological stress and some mechanisms connected to these experiences. Using a sample of Latinx and Asian college students (N = 776), we unpack the relationships between individual cultural stressors, such as immigration status microaggressions, and psychological stress, by exploring their mediating relation with internalized racism (Mediator 1), and fear of foreign objectification (Mediator 2), using Hayes's (2012) PROCESS Model 6-serial mediation. Furthermore, we expanded on this model, highlighting differences between Latinx and Asian participants (moderator) using a moderated mediation. Findings suggest a full serial mediation. Specifically, the psychological stress associated with immigration status microaggressions was mediated by internalized racism and fear of foreign objectification. Results also highlighted that Latinx participants, compared to Asian ones, showed a significant positive association between immigration status microaggressions with internalized racism and fear of foreign objectification. Furthermore, a significant interaction for Latinx who experience more fear of foreign objectification was positively associated with psychological stress. Indirect effects for each group are discussed. Our study is one of the first to explore cultural stress in the form of immigration status microaggressions in connection with more general forms of psychological stress and internalizing processes for two groups historically persecuted around immigration in the United States. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A multi-ancestry cerebral cortex transcriptome-wide association study identifies genes associated with smoking behaviors.

Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) have provided valuable insight in identifying genes that may impact cigarette smoking. Most of previous studies, however, mainly focused on European ancestry. Limited TWAS studies have been conducted across multiple ancestries to explore genes that may impact smoking behaviors. In this study, we used cis-eQTL data of cerebral cortex from multiple ancestries in MetaBrain, including European, East Asian, and African samples, as reference panels to perform multi-ancestry TWAS analyses on ancestry-matched GWASs of four smoking behaviors including smoking initiation, smoking cessation, age of smoking initiation, and number of cigarettes per day in GWAS & Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine use (GSCAN). Multiple-ancestry fine-mapping approach was conducted to identify credible gene sets associated with these four traits. Enrichment and module network analyses were further performed to explore the potential roles of these identified gene sets. A total of 719 unique genes were identified to be associated with at least one of the four smoking traits across ancestries. Among those, 249 genes were further prioritized as putative causal genes in multiple ancestry-based fine-mapping approach. Several well-known smoking-related genes, including PSMA4, IREB2, and CHRNA3, showed high confidence across ancestries. Some novel genes, e.g., TSPAN3 and ANK2, were also identified in the credible sets. The enrichment analysis identified a series of critical pathways related to smoking such as synaptic transmission and glutamate receptor activity. Leveraging the power of the latest multi-ancestry GWAS and eQTL data sources, this study revealed hundreds of genes and relevant biological processes related to smoking behaviors. These findings provide new insights for future functional studies on smoking behaviors.

Aberrant connectivity in the hippocampus, bilateral insula and temporal poles precedes treatment resistance in first-episode psychosis: a prospective resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study with connectivity concordance mapping.

Functional connectivity resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging has been proposed to predict antipsychotic treatment response in schizophrenia. However, only a few prospective studies have examined baseline resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data in drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia patients with regard to subsequent treatment response. Data-driven approaches to conceptualize and measure functional connectivity patterns vary broadly, and model-free, voxel-wise, whole-brain analysis techniques are scarce. Here, we apply such a method, called connectivity concordance mapping to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from an Asian sample (n = 60) with first-episode psychosis, prior to pharmaceutical treatment. Using a longitudinal design, 12 months after the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured and classified patients into two groups based on psychometric testing: treatment responsive and treatment resistant. Next, we compared the two groups' connectivity concordance maps that were derived from the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data at baseline. We have identified consistently higher functional connectivity in the treatment-resistant group in a network including the left hippocampus, bilateral insula and temporal poles. These data-driven novel findings can help researchers to consider new regions of interest and facilitate biomarker development in order to identify treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients early, in advance of treatment and at the time of their first psychotic episode.

Crisis responders in Sri Lanka: Exploring impact and treatment considerations through the perspectives of mental health professionals

Purpose – South Asian mental health professionals were invited to identify influences on mental health symptom severity among responders during crisis events in Sri Lanka. Further consideration was given to the treatment that could be applied to improve the mental wellbeing of such individuals. Methodology – Twenty-nine mental health professionals (14 civilian and 15 military based) completed a semi-structured interview that incorporated a guided discussion on the mental health experiences observed in crisis responders. Key findings – Thematic Analysis was conducted, yielding two categories. The first understanding from mental health professionals of the impact of trauma that crisis responders in Sri Lanka can experience providing 10 themes capturing the diversity of impact on mental health and social structures. The second category was effective intervention for crisis mental health responders and yielded two main themes. A number of subthemes underpinned each theme across the two categories. Originality – The current study is one of the first to explore mental health symptomology and treatment considerations for crisis responders in a South Asian sample, through the perspective of mental health responders.

Do Religion and Spirituality Buffer the Effect of Childhood Trauma on Depressive Symptoms? Examination of a South Asian Cohort from the USA.

Asian Americans have been identified as a racial group that is disproportionately affected by childhood trauma. The goal of this study was to assess if religion/spirituality moderate the effects of childhood trauma on adult depressive symptoms among a sample of South Asians in the USA. Our analysis drew from the study on stress, spirituality, and health (SSSH) questionnaire fielded in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study (n = 990) during 2016-2018. A series of regression models with multiplicative interaction terms were conducted. Emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and physical neglect were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Higher religious attendance and negative religious coping techniques were found to exacerbate this relationship. There were two findings conditional on gender. Among men, gratitude and positive religious coping also exacerbated the relationship between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms. Negative religious coping also exacerbated the association between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms for women. This is the first community-based study of US South Asians to consider the association between various forms of childhood trauma and depressive symptom outcomes. South Asians remain an understudied group in the religion and health literature, and this study sheds light on the important differences in the function and effectiveness of religion/spirituality for those faced with early life trauma.

Domestic and international impacts of rice export restrictions: The recent case of indian non-basmati rice

This study examines the impact of India's export restrictions on domestic retail rice prices using a dynamic panel GARCH model. The findings suggest that export restrictions are not a sufficient condition to lower domestic prices. Export restrictions are associated with lower retail price volatility in the East Zone. Moreover, the international price transmission to a sample of Asian and African economies shows that all countries are vulnerable, but the degree and kinds of vulnerability differ. Rice exporters appear to be the most susceptible as domestic prices increase in these countries. Rice importers are also vulnerable because of price increases, but the increases are less than in countries where the private sector decides on import quantities.

Angry leaders and coworkers: Cross-cultural evaluation of anger expression through high-status and equal-status roles

Anger expressed in organizations conveys potent social information that influences social perceptions and determines subsequent relationships among employees. The present research examined how cultural contexts and hierarchical structure of a given relationship interact to shape perceptions of anger expression. Conducting a survey on subsidiary employees of a multinational high-tech company, Study 1 showed that employees from the Confucian Asian culture (specifically Korea) evaluate anger expressed by high-status counterparts (i.e., managers) more positively in terms of appropriateness and effectiveness compared to those from the Anglo culture (specifically the United States). Study 2, which was based on different samples from the same company, showed that employees from another Confucian Asian country (Japan), compared to those from the Anglo culture (the United States), provide more positive evaluations of the anger expressed by high-status counterparts. In contrast, Study 2 further showed that this cultural difference is reversed when anger is expressed by equal-status counterparts (coworkers). Finally, Study 3 replicated the findings of Study 2 using online-recruited samples and further demonstrated that Confucian Asian sample (Koreans) is more likely to decide to hire a job applicant who expressed anger as a leader than Anglo sample (Americans) is. In contrast, this pattern is reversed when considering a job applicant who expressed anger as a coworker. Theoretical and practical implications for social emotions and cross-cultural management are discussed.

Psychometric properties of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-AGE Scale in Singapore

WHOQOL-AGE is a promising quality of life (QOL) tool that has not been fully validated in Asia. The present study aimed to verify its factor structure and psychometric properties among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. This study was cross-sectional and used data (N = 593) from the Community Health and Intergenerational study that interviewed older adults between 2018 and 2021. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure of the WHOQOL-AGE, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were employed to examine internal consistency. Spearman’s rho correlations coefficients between WHOQOL-AGE and other related scales (Satisfaction with Life and the Friendship) examined convergent validity. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient between WHOQOL-AGE and compassion scale examined discriminant validity. An independent t test was used to demonstrate known-groups validity, examining differences in QOL scores between individuals with and without chronic medical conditions. Findings supported a bifactor model with more satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices than the original two-factor model and the two-correlated factor model. WHOQOL-AGE showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficients > .70). Good convergent validity was demonstrated by moderate-to-large correlations between WHOQOL-AGE and satisfaction with life (rs = .54) as well as social connectedness (rs = .33). Discriminant validity was shown by low correlations between WHOQOL-AGE and compassion (r = .19). Findings also indicated good known-groups validity (p < 0.01). The WHOQOL-AGE showed promising psychometric properties using an Asian convenience sample and can be useful in large-scale studies or busy clinical settings.

Inference of selective forces on house mouse genomes during secondary contact in East Asia.

The house mouse (Mus musculus), which is commensal to humans, has spread globally via human activities, leading to secondary contact between genetically divergent subspecies. This pattern of genetic admixture can provide insights into the selective forces at play in this well-studied model organism. Our analysis of 163 house mouse genomes, with a particular focus on East Asia, revealed substantial admixture between the subspecies castaneus and musculus, particularly in Japan and southern China. We revealed, despite the different level of autosomal admixture among regions, that all Y Chromosomes in the East Asian samples belonged to the musculus-type haplogroup, potentially explained by genomic conflict under sex-ratio distortion owing to varying copy numbers of ampliconic genes on sex chromosomes, Slx and Sly Our computer simulations, designed to replicate the observed scenario, show that the preferential fixation of musculus-type Y Chromosomes can be achieved with a slight increase in the male-to-female birth ratio. We also investigated the influence of selection on the posthybridization of the subspecies castaneus and musculus in Japan. Even though the genetic background of most Japanese samples closely resembles the subspecies musculus, certain genomic regions overrepresented the castaneus-like genetic components, particularly in immune-related genes. Furthermore, a large genomic block (∼2 Mbp) containing a vomeronasal/olfactory receptor gene cluster predominantly harbored castaneus-type haplotypes in the Japanese samples, highlighting the crucial role of olfaction-based recognition in shaping hybrid genomes.

Human Leukocyte Antigen DQB1 and its Implication in Scleroderma Pathogenesis: A Systematic Review

This systematic review explores the association between HLA-DQB1 genes and scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by collagen synthesis dysregulation and tissue fibrosis. A thorough investigation was conducted by utilizing Google Scholar and PubMed to search for relevant studies in the English language. Two independent reviewers were involved in the process of screening for appropriate studies. A limitation of the exclusion of non-English studies potentially introduces language bias. Inclusion criteria focused on articles investigating the association between HLA genes and scleroderma, providing data on patient and control groups. Risk of bias was conducted using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Case-Control Studies. The analyses focused on odds ratios (OR) as a measure of the strength of the association of HLA genes with disease susceptibility. Subgroup analyses were performed for Caucasian and Asian samples, along with a combined analysis. In Caucasian samples, DQB1*02:02 was associated with lower odds of scleroderma (OR=0.51, 95% CI [0.41, 0.63]), while DQB1*03:01 was associated with higher odds (OR=1.55, 95% CI [1.22, 1.97]). In Asian samples, DQB1*04:02 and DQB1*06:01 were associated with higher odds of scleroderma (OR=1.51, 95% CI [1.01, 2.24] and OR=1.33, 95% CI [1.06, 1.67], respectively), while DQB1*06:04 was associated with lower odds (OR=0.55, 95% CI [0.37, 0.82]). Combined samples showed decreased odds of scleroderma in DQB1*06:03 (OR=0.68, 95% CI [0.48, 0.95]) and DQB1*06:04 (OR=0.56, 95% CI [0.39, 0.81]). Future research should explore the interaction between HLA genes and environmental factors to enhance early detection and intervention strategies for individuals at risk of developing scleroderma.

Public acceptance of using artificial intelligence-assisted weight management apps in high-income southeast Asian adults with overweight and obesity: a cross-sectional study.

With in increase in interest to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into weight management programs, we aimed to examine user perceptions of AI-based mobile apps for weight management in adults with overweight and obesity. 280 participants were recruited between May and November 2022. Participants completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic profiles, Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), and Self-Regulation of Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was performed using R. Model fit was tested using maximum-likelihood generalized unweighted least squares. Associations between influencing factors were analyzed using correlation and linear regression. 271 participant responses were analyzed, representing participants with a mean age of 31.56 ± 10.75 years, median (interquartile range) BMI, and waist circumference of 27.2 kg/m2 (24.2-28.4 kg/m2) and 86.4 (80.0-94.0) cm, respectively. In total, 188 (69.4%) participants intended to use AI-assisted weight loss apps. UTAUT2 explained 63.3% of the variance in our intention of the sample to use AI-assisted weight management apps with satisfactory model fit: CMIN/df = 1.932, GFI = 0.966, AGFI = 0.954, NFI = 0.909, CFI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.059, SRMR = 0.050. Only performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and the habit of using AI-assisted apps were significant predictors of intention. Comparison with existing literature revealed vast variabilities in the determinants of AI- and non-AI weight loss app acceptability in adults with and without overweight and obesity. UTAUT2 produced a good fit in explaining the acceptability of AI-assisted apps among a multi-ethnic, developed, southeast Asian sample with overweight and obesity. UTAUT2 model is recommended to guide the development of AI-assisted weight management apps among people with overweight and obesity.

Stable isotope ratios and current-use pesticide levels in edible insects: Implications on chemical food safety

In the past years, the European Union (EU) has added edible insects to the list of novel foods, allowing an increasing number of insect-based products into the European market. With insects gaining more popularity in the Western world, it is crucial to investigate their chemical food safety. This study aimed at investigating possible isotopic patterns in different edible insect species (n = 52) from Asia, Africa and Europe using stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) to provide a framework for future investigations on food authenticity and traceability. Additionally, complementary mass-spectrometric screening approaches were applied to gain a comprehensive overview of contamination levels of current-use pesticides (CUPs) in edible insects, to assess their chemical food safety. SIRA revealed significant differences between countries in δ13CVPDB- (p < 0.001) and δ15Nair- (p < 0.001) values. While it was not possible to distinguish between individual countries using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminative analysis (LDA), the latter could be used to distinguish between larger geographical areas (i.e. Africa, Europe and Asia). In general, African samples had a more distinct isotopic profile compared to European and Asian samples. When comparing the isotopic compositions of samples containing pesticides with samples with no detected pesticides, differences in sulphur compositions could be observed. Additionally, LDA was able to correctly classify the presence of pesticides in a sample with 76% correct classification based on the sulphur composition. These findings show that SIRA could be a useful tool to provide a framework for future investigations on food authenticity and traceability of edible insects. A total of 26 CUPs were detected using suspect screening and an additional 30 CUPS were quantified using target analysis, out of which 9 compounds had a detection frequency higher than 30%. Most detected pesticides were below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for meat, suggesting low contamination levels. However, dichlorvos and fipronil could be detected in the same order of magnitude as the MRLs, even in samples purchased in Europe. These findings indicate a limited chemical risk for edible insects regarding pesticide contamination. Nevertheless, the study also highlights that further and more extensive investigations are needed to give a comprehensive assessment of the chemical risk of edible insects as a novel food source in Europe. With insects recently being potentially more incorporated into daily diets, more attention should be paid to possible chemical hazards to accurately assess their risk and to ensure food safety.