East European Research Articles

Conference Report: The Fifth Conference of the East European Network for Philosophy of Science, 9-10 September, Kraków

Conference Report: The Fifth Conference of the East European Network for Philosophy of Science, 9-10 September, Kraków

PharmFreq: a comprehensive atlas of ethnogeographic allelic variation in clinically important pharmacogenes.

Genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters as well as in genes encoding the human major histocompatibility complex contribute to inter-individual differences in drug efficacy and safety. The extent, pattern and complexity of such pharmacogenetic variation differ drastically across human populations. Here, we present PharmFreq, a global repository of pharmacogenetic frequency information that aggregates frequency data of 658 allelic variants from over 10 million individuals collected from>1200 studies across 144 countries. Most investigations were conducted in East Asian and European populations, accounting for 29.4 and 26.6% of all studies, respectively. We find that the number of studies per country and aggregated cohort size correlated significantly with population size (R=0.55, P=3*10-9) and country gross domestic product (R=0.43, P=2*10-6) with overall population coverage varying between 5% in Estonia to<0.001% in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. All frequency data are openly accessible via a web-based interactive dashboard at pharmfreq.com that facilitates the exploration, visualization and analysis of country- and population-specific data and their inferred phenotypic consequences. PharmFreq thus presents a comprehensive, freely available resource for pharmacogenetic variant frequencies that can inform about ethnogeographic pharmacogenomic diversity and reveal important inequities that help to focus future research efforts into underrepresented populations.

A Review of Value Realization and Rural Revitalization of Eco-Products: Insights for Agroforestry Ecosystem in Karst Desertification Control

Amid global rural decline, the main approach to rural revitalization (RR) is to transform rural ecological resources into development advantages by means of ecological product value realization (EPVR). The fragility of the karst ecological environment limits the development of the karst countryside, and agroforestry is an important way to achieve the ecological protection and economic development of the karst countryside. At present, research on EPVR and RR is rapidly developing. Although there is an increasing number of publications on EPVR and RR separately, the literature on their comprehensive analysis is lacking, and how the karst agroforestry ecosystem can be improved is unclear. The objective of this is to provide an overview of the current research status and challenges of EPVR and RR in order to optimize agroforestry ecosystems in karst desertification control (KDC). This paper systematically analyzed 263 relevant articles on EPVR and RR, and the results are as follows: (1) The number of studies increased exponentially after 2017. The research has primarily focused on the relationship between EPVR and RR, as well as the EPVR and the formation mechanisms of the eco-industry and value accounting of eco-products, which account for 95.53% of the total literature. China has published the most research in this area. At the intercontinental scale, this research is mainly concentrated in East Asia, Europe, and North America. (2) The main progress and landmark achievements in the research on EPVR and RR are summarized. Four key scientific questions that need to be addressed in the future are presented. (3) The above information highlights the three key areas for improving the agroforestry ecosystem in karst desertification control (KDC): the value accounting of eco-products, EPVR, and RR. This study found that EPVR and RR can improve the karst agroforestry ecosystem and further promote rural development, providing significant insights for the overall revitalization of rural areas worldwide and the scientific control of karst desertification.

Rifting Basins at the Accretion-Collision Stage of Fold Belt Development: Eastern Slope of the Southern and Middle Urals in the Carboniferous

Research subject. Sedimentary basins within the Mississippian and Early Pennsylvanian (Middle Carboniferous of Russia) rift (sensu lato) structures on the eastern slope of the Southern and Middle Urals. Methods. An analysis of lithological characteristics of sedimentary rocks and relationships with volcanic complexes in order to clarify the evolution of rifting basins. Results. During the Mississippian and Early Pennsylvanian, several large rifting basins were common in this area. The Early Carboniferous rifting basins (Magnitogorsk-Bogdanovskoe graben and Alapaevsk-Kamensk rift) of accretionary margin of the East European craton were characterized by relatively shallow-water (in some places up to coastal-marine and continental) environments, caused by intensive (compensatory) filling of depressions with sedimentary material. In this case, volcanic rocks – those of fissure-type and stratovolcanoes lava flows – also played a significant role. In the Late Visean, the rifting process paused; a relatively shallow shelf basin regime was established throughout the entire area, which persisted until the end of the Early Carboniferous. In the Early Pennsylvanian, due to a hard oblique collision, the rifting process resumed. However, the rifting basins were already smaller in terms of area and most often deeper, whereas the occurring volcanic processes were less intensive. The characteristic feature of these basins was the presence of flysch complexes. The elongated shape of the rifting basins, large thicknesses of sedimentary strata, lateral facies variability, and the abundance of coarse clastic rocks, consisting largely of fragments of directly underlying sediments (Visean, Serpukhovian, Bashkirian), suggest that the Mississippian and Early Pennsylvanian rifts of the Southern and Middle Urals eastern slope had a strike-slip nature, i.e., the rifting basins were pull-apart type depressions.

Neopatristics for the twenty-first century: neglected and new perspectives

AbstractThis article is an editorial introduction to a special issue of Studies in East European Thought devoted to neopatristics. The circumstances of the creation of the neopatristic synthesis announced by Georges Florovsky during the First Orthodox Congress in Athens are considered. The main philosophical and theological aspects that are currently discussed in the context of patristic renewal are also addressed. In particular, it is shown that the sophiology of Sergius Bulgakov also fits into the patristic paradigm. Finally, the topics of the articles included in this special issue are presented.

Coffee and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: Insights from Two-Sample and Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Analyses.

The association between coffee and pancreatic cancer risk has reported inconsistent results. Therefore, a Mendelian randomization (MR) study was undertaken to investigate the association between coffee and pancreatic cancer from a genetic perspective. In East Asian and European populations, independent genetic variants strongly associated with coffee were chosen as instrumental variables (IVs) from relevant genome-wide association studies (GWASs). GWAS data for pancreatic cancer were obtained from the JENGER (Japanese Encyclopedia of Genetic Associations by Riken) project and GWAS catalog database. Two-sample (TSMR) and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analyses were conducted to investigate the genetically predicted causal relationship between coffee consumption and pancreatic cancer. A fixed-effect meta-analysis was employed to aggregate estimates from the two populations to reveal the overall association. Both in East Asian and European populations, an increase in coffee intake of a cup per day was not associated with pancreatic cancer risk, regardless of coffee type (including caffeine drinks, instant coffee, decaffeinated coffee, ground coffee, etc.). The results aligned with the findings of the meta-analysis (OR = 1.100, 95%CI = 0.862-1.403, p = 0.450). Also, for coffee intake with positive results in the TSMR analysis (OR = 1.739, 95%CI 1.104-2.739, p = 0.017), consistent negative results were observed after adjusting for potential confounders (smoking traits, drinking, type 2 diabetes, body mass index) in the MVMR analyses. This study found no genetically predicted causal relationship between coffee consumption and pancreatic cancer risk.

Tectonics and deep structure of the southwestern part of the East European Craton within Ukraine. PART II.

У другій частині статті продовжується розгляд, за комплексом геофізичних методів, глибинної будови земної кори регіонів України, зокрема Волино-Подільської плити (ВПП), а також поверхні Мохо і мантії до глибини 850 км. Наведено геотермічну, густинну, геомагнітну та геоелектричну моделі кори. За сейсмічними даними показано, що осадовий чохол ВПП на межі з Транс’європейською шовною зоною (ТТЗ) занурюється на глибину біля 4 км проти 8—10 км, як вважалося раніше, тому що решту глибинної частини Підкарпатського трогу складають подрібнені докембрійські кристалічні породи. Межею між Східноєвропейським кратоном (СЄК) і варисцидами Західної та Центральної Європи (ВЗЦЄ) є Передкарпатський розлом, який піднімається від кільоподібного прогину поверхні Мохо під Передкарпатський передовий прогин. Кільоподібний прогин поверхні Мохо під ТТЗ є найглибшою частиною цієї поверхні на території України за даними профілів ширококутного відбиття/заломлення (WARR). У середньому глибина залягання поверхні Мохо на території України, за даними WARR, становить 40—45 км. За матеріалами геотраверсів ГСЗ і профілів WARR у земній корі і верхній частині верхньої мантії спостерігаються лістричні зони розломів, які занурюються в мантію до глибини спостержень сейсмічними методами (75—80 км). Далі у вигляді субдукуючих слебів завтовшки 100—250 км і протяжністю від 300 до 1000 км вони простежуються, за даними сейсмотомографії, на глибину 250—400 км. У статті коротко розглянуто особливості методики сейсмотомографічних досліджень, розробленої в Інституті геофізики ім. С.І. Субботіна НАН України, і наведено схему розміщення основних сутурних зон і слебів на дослідженій території. Занурення слебів спостерігається головно від Фенноскандії та від межі Фенноскандія — Волго-Уралія під Сарматію, а також від СЄК під ТТЗ і ВЗЦЄ і від ВЗЦЄ під ТТЗ. З цього випливає, що результати сейсмотомографії цілком об’єктивно підтверджують висновки прибічників плитотектонічних ідей, висловлені у 1970—1980-х роках ще до появи цих результатів. Наведено загальні висновки за результатами досліджень, викладених у І і ІІ частинах статті. Наголошується, що отримані у ХХІ ст. геофізичні та геологічні дані не залишають сумнівів у тому, що геологічний розвиток Сарматії, в тому числі платформної території України, від неоархею до сучасності відбувається за геодинамічними законами плитової—плюмової тектоніки, яким автори не бачать серйозної альтернативи.

IMEEC: Boon for Logistics Sector

IMEEC is a planned economic corridor that aims to bolster economic development by fostering connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Persian Gulf and Europe through UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Greece. On 10 Sep 23, the MoU was signed during the 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit by the Govt. of India, United States, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and European Union. The US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi along with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Abdulazir Al Saud and President of European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen on Sep 9, 2023, announce the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor to create a “better future” at the sideline of 18th G-20 Summit in New Delhi. This is the first of its kind initiative on co-operation on connectivity and Infrastructure involving India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, France, Italy, Germany and the USA.

A Satellite-Based Indicator for Diagnosing Particulate Nitrate Sensitivity to Precursor Emissions: Application to East Asia, Europe, and North America.

Particulate nitrate is a major component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and a key target for improving air quality. Its formation is varyingly sensitive to emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx ≡ NO + NO2), ammonia (NH3), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Diagnosing the dominant sensitivity is critical for effective pollution control. Here, we show that satellite observations of the NO2 column and the NH3/NO2 column ratio can effectively diagnose the dominant sensitivity regimes in polluted regions of East Asia, Europe, and North America, in different seasons, though with reduced performance in the summer. We demarcate the different sensitivity regimes using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model and apply the method to satellite observations from the OMI (NO2) and IASI (NH3) in 2017. We find that the dominant sensitivity regimes vary across regions and remain largely consistent across seasons. Sensitivity to NH3 emissions dominates in the northern North China Plain (NCP), the Yangtze River Delta, South Korea, most of Europe, Los Angeles, and the eastern United States. Sensitivity to NOx emissions dominates in central China, the Po Valley in Italy, the central United States, and the Central Valley in California. Sensitivity to VOCs emissions dominates only in the southern NCP in the winter. These results agree well with those of previous local studies. Our satellite-based indicator provides a simple tool for air quality managers to choose emission control strategies for decreasing PM2.5 nitrate pollution.

Mapping the Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs for Terminal Cancer Patients across Europe

Abstract Background In many countries, including those with universal health insurance, cost-sharing for healthcare is prevalent, resulting in out-of-pocket expenses for cancer patients. However, the proportion of government contribution to national healthcare expenditure varies across countries. This study aims to determine the prevalence and magnitude of out-of-pocket expenditure among cancer decedents in their final year of life and to assess whether decedents’ characteristics or their country’s welfare regime have a greater impact on out-of-pocket expenditure. Methods SHARE data was analyzed for individuals aged 50 and above from seven European countries (including Israel) who passed away from cancer. Interviews were conducted with the decedents’ family members to gather information about out-of-pocket expenditure on behalf of their deceased relatives. Results The study identified 1,950 cancer decedents with an average age of 74.4 (S.D.=9.39), of which 58.0 percent were male. In their last year of life, 58 percent of the decedents incurred out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare services. The welfare regime is found to be the primary factor influencing the likelihood of out-of-pocket expenditure, while patients’ characteristics have minimal impact. The proportion of out-of-pocket expenditure varies significantly across welfare regimes, with the highest probability observed in the Continental and Social Democratic regimes and the lowest in the Mediterranean and East European regimes. Conclusions A country’s welfare regime plays a crucial role in determining the generosity of its public healthcare spending and its ability to alleviate the financial burden on the households of cancer patients. Increasing public funding for cancer care may reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenditure in all countries, particularly in those where out-of-pocket expenditure is the highest. Key messages • A country’s welfare regime significantly impacts the likelihood and magnitude of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure for cancer patients in their last year of life. • Increasing public funding for cancer care may help reduce the financial burden on patients and their families, particularly in countries with high out-of-pocket expenditure.

Seismic lithospheric model across Ukrainian Shield from the Carpathians to the Dnieper-Donets Basin and its tectonic interpretation

The SW-NE directed wide-angle reflection-refraction (WARR) SHIELD’21 profile crosses entire width of Ukraine. It targeted the structure of the crust and uppermost mantle in the southwestern part of the East European Craton (EEC), between Carpathians and Voronezh Massif, across Ukrainian Shield and Dnieper-Donets Basin. The ∼660 km-long profile is an extension of the RomUkrSeis profile in Romania and Ukraine. SHIELD’21 experiment, using TEXAN and DATA-CUBE short-period seismic stations, provided high-quality seismic sections from 10 shot points. This allowed construction of a ray-tracing P-wave velocity model, supplemented by Vp/Vs ratio, for the upper part of the lithosphere in the Sarmatia segment of the EEC and constraining geodynamic processes that led to the formation of the Ukrainian Shield and its margins since Archean times.The velocity distribution in the crystalline crust indicates a rather uniform structure, with velocity changing from 6.0 km/s near the surface to 6.8 km/s at the Moho. The entire section shows the lack of a high-velocity lower crust (Vp > 6.8 km/s), presumably resulting from delamination of the primitive mafic lower crust during early evolution of a juvenile continental crust. The seismic boundaries in the upper crust reflect a Paleoproterozoic extensional detachment system below the SW flank of Dnieper-Donets rift basin, initiated in the Devonian. At larger depths, a wide dome of the lower crust with velocities of 6.5–6.8 km/s in the SW-central segment of the profile, probably represents an enormous Palaeoproterozoic(?) granitoid batholith. In the southwesternmost part of the profile, the crystalline crust shows exclusively low velocities. The prominent Moho is undulating and varies in depth between 32 and 50 km. It is underlain by high-velocity bodies (Vp: 8.36–8.40 km/s), against the background of 8.16–8.25 km/s in the mantle. The velocity model corresponds with the anomalies of potential fields and zones of high electric conductivity.

Ethnic origin of Israeli Jews and psychological responses to the extreme stress of the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.

Discrimination constitutes a source of stress for minority groups, leading to heightened levels of depression. Discrimination can also elicit positive responses aimed at reducing detrimental impacts. The stress experienced by minority groups may impact their mindset and influence their negative emotional responses. Israeli Jewish society comprised for many years two large communities: the dominant Ashkenazi people, who emigrated from East Europe, and the Mizrahi discriminated minority whose members came from Muslim countries. The Mizrahi minority has become a mainstream community over time, and its size equals the Ashkenazi group. This change raises an interesting issue that has not been investigated empirically: What characterizes the psychological responses to the stress of a formerly discriminated minority? Two representative samples responded to a similar questionnaire measuring inhibiting and bolstering coping strategies. The first sample of 930 people participated in this structured survey between October 12 and 19, 2022. No external adversity threatened Israel at that time. The second sample of 1,608 Israeli Jews participated between October 11 and 17, 2023, a few days after Hamas attacked the southern region of Israel, killed more than a 1,000 people, and kidnapped 100. We examine the impact of moderate and extreme stress of war on the maladaptive levels of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, we investigated the shielding psychological coping measures of this former minority, as compared to Ashkenazi group's response. Results show that the formerly minority Mizrahi group expresses higher levels of depression, anxiety, and sense of danger under extreme stress compared to the Ashkenazi group. Mizrahi individuals compensated concurrently for these negative emotions by fostering enhanced hope and societal resilience compared to the other group. The main contributions of the present study are (a) Demonstration that psychological responses of descendants of a minority group to highly stressful conditions do not necessarily agree with their current status as a mainstream community. (b) Indicating that the phenomenon of concurrently enhanced negative and positive responses in face of extreme stress is associated with ethnic origin and history. (c) Associating the effects of different socio-demographic variables with the psychological response of the investigated groups to extreme and moderate stress.

Climate-dependent distribution of Lemna minor, L. turionifera and L. × japonica (Lemnaceae) in temperate Eurasia and high variability of their genome size

In spite of a burst of duckweed biology studies, understanding their diversity is still in progress. We examined 174 reliably-identified (intron length polymorphism in TUBB1) samples of the Lemna minor complex from East Europe and North Asia (41 localities of L. minor, 58 localities of L. turionifera, and 75 localities of their hybrid, L. × japonica) and described clear patterns of their distribution. It is mainly determined by climatic preferences (i.e., the ability to survive unfavorable conditions). Namely, the ranges of L. minor and L. turionifera in the lowlands are separated by the Urals, with populations located west and east of these mountains respectively and coinciding with an eastward increase of climate continentality. However, historical (i.e. European origin of the species) and not ecological factors should explain the absence of L. minor in rather mild climate of the southern Russian Far East. The hybrid has an intermediate ability to tolerate continental climate, and co-occurs with one of its parents. In southern mountains (the Caucasus and Tian-Shan) the three taxa are separated by local climate conditions, determined by the terrain. We revealed high continuous variability of genome sizes within each taxon (two-fold in L. minor and L. turionifera; three-fold in L. × japonica), which is not explained by environmental factors. We propose an approach for distinguishing these three taxa in temperate Eurasia using morphology. We have not documented the invasive spread of L. aequinoctialis, L. minuta and L. turionifera in East Europe.

Rare Earth Elements in Fe oxyhydroxides from biofilms containing iron-oxidizing bacteria

Fe oxyhydroxides extracted from modern-day biofilms with iron-oxidizing bacteria Arthrobacter spp., Gallionella spp и Leptothrix ochracea in the north-west of the East European platform display the enhanced content of rare earth elements – up to 1100 ppm. REE concentration in bacterial oxyhydroxides increase by one order in magnitude during 1 year suggesting the high sorption capacity of newly formed Fe mineral phases. La/YbN, Ce and Y anomalies in bacterial oxyhydroxides are consistent with geochemistry of the surface water facies where bacterial communities live. Isotopic composition of Nd in studied bacterial oxyhydroxides is controlled by the lithology of the Q-R underlying sediment and ambient water. 143Nd/144Nd values in Fe minerals of bacterial origin vary from 0.511570 to 0.512220 (eNd(0) from –21.8 to –9.2), the high proportion of radiogenic Nd is typical for the samples located on platform cover with Palaeozoic carbonate sediment.

Database Construction and protection of Inner Mongolian Rock Paintings

Inner Mongolian rock paintings are one of the oldest rock paintings in the world, spreading from Inner Mongolia to surrounding areas, and have had a profound impact on East Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe. Inner Mongolian rock paintings are characterized by rich content and complete preservation and are the main distribution area of rock paintings in East Asia, with high historical, scientific, and artistic value. Inner Mongolian rock paintings are known for their large quantity, wide distribution, and large scale. Some of the rock paintings depict the production and living conditions of our ancestors during specific periods, as well as their knowledge of nature and society. Therefore, for the better protection of rock painting resources and serve the construction of social and economic development, local government should establish a complete system starting from database construction and establish a scientific and standardized management mechanism.

PALEOZOIC INTRAPLATE MAGMATISM OF THE EAST EUROPEAN PLATFORM: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PRIPYAT-DNIEPER-DONETS RIFT ZONE AND THE KOLA-ARKHANGELSK PROVINCE

This paper presents a comparative analysis of geochronological, geochemical, Sr-Nd isotopic data and geodynamic conditions for the Devonian magmatism of the East European Platform, using as an example the Pripyat-Dnieper-Donets rift zone in the south of the platform and the Kola alkaline province in the north.The Late Paleozoic rifting in the south of the platform was accompanied by magmatism, which formed a wide range of rocks, from alkaline-ultramafic lamprophyres and orangeites, non-diamondiferous kimberlites and carbonatites to typical tholeiites, trachyandesites, and trachyrhyodacites. Activation of rifting processes in the north of the platform has also produced a compositional diversity of magmatic occurrences dominated by kimberlites, in particular diamondiferous (Arkhangelsk diamond-bearing province), which is the main distinctive feature of the place. The Pripyat-Dnieper-Donets rift zone is subject to reverse lateral geochemical zonality of the mantle sources – from those depleted in the axial zone of the Dnieper-Donets trough to more enriched in the marginal parts – trough shoulders (Azov region, Voronezh crystalline massif): along the southeast to northwest axis of the rift zone to the Zhlobin saddle (orangeites, alkaline picrites of the Zhlobin alkaline-ultramafic complex) and in the Pripyat trough (Pripyat alkaline and subalkaline mafic complex) as well was perpendicular to the axis from the central part of the Dnieper-Donets trough to the southwest towards the Eastern Azov region (non-diamondiferous kimberlites) and to the northeast towards the Voronezh crystalline massif.Currently available petrological-mineralogical and isotopic-geochemical data on magmatites of both large magmatic structures suggest significant lithospheric heterogeneity, different types of sources of formation of rocks, and a significant influence exerted by the crustal component both in the southern and northern parts of the East European platform.

How Does the East Siberian Sea Ice Affect the June Drought Over Northwest China After 2000?

AbstractChanges in Arctic sea ice have exerted remarkably effects on the Eurasian climates, but it is unclear whether Arctic sea ice also contributes to Northwest China's ongoing summer drought. This study investigates the influence of the interannual variability of Arctic sea ice on the June drought in Northwest China from 1979 to 2021. It reveals that the early‐autumn sea ice in the East Siberian Sea is correlated with drought conditions in June in Northwest China, with a more pronounced connection during the period of 2000/2001–2020/2021 (P2) compared to 1979/1980–1999/2000 (P1). Mitigated drought in Northwest China is associated with anomalously high sea ice concentration (SIC) in the East Siberian Sea. Further analysis suggests that the strengthened link may be due to greater SIC variability in the East Siberian Sea during P2 than P1. In P2, positive early‐autumn SIC anomaly is linked to anomalous northeasterly winds, promoting drier soil and widespread cooling in the East European Plain. This dry soil signal may persist into the ensuing spring and early summer, inducing an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over Siberia, which could facilitate the water vapor convergence in Northwest China, thereby enhancing humidity conditions in the region. The insights from this study could offer valuable information for improved prediction of droughts in Northwest China.

Assessing Solutions for Resilient Dairy Farming in Europe.

The objective of the EU project Resilience for Dairy (R4D) is to develop and strengthen a self-sustainable Thematic Network on resilient dairy farms in 15 European countries. This article focusses on those solutions (practices and techniques) that are assessed contributing to a resilient dairy farming sector. The opinions of experts, farmers, and stakeholders were collected and scored through surveys and in a series of local workshops. Six key contributing knowledge fields are included: economic and social resilience, technical efficiency, environment, animal welfare and health, and societal perception. Assessing these knowledge fields proved to be a good predictor for measuring resilience. Only the impact fields of animal welfare and health and societal perception overlapped each other in response. This study shows differences in the choice of solutions across Europe. Experts from South and East Europe are more positive about the contribution of solutions to resilience than their colleagues from North and West Europe, except for social life items. Expert and farmer/stakeholder opinions differ regarding several of the solutions. Technical efficiency is a leading strategy. Priority topics of interest are communication with society, renewable energy production, strategic hoof trimming, early detection of diseases, monitoring fertility and health, and calf rearing. Besides resilience, attractiveness and readiness of the solutions were also assessed.

Multi-Omics Mendelian Randomization Study Investigating the Impact of PCSK9 and HMGCR Inhibition on Type 2 Diabetes Across Five Populations.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) varies among populations of different race/ethnicity. The influence of genetically-proxied lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering through proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) and HMG-CoA Reductase (HMGCR) on T2D in non-European populations is not well established.A drug-target Mendelian randomization (MR) approach was used to assess the effects of PCSK9 and HMGCR inhibition on T2D risk and glycemic traits in five populations: East Asian (EAS), South Asian (SAS), Hispanic (HISP), African (AFR), and European (EUR). Our study did not find relationships between genetically-proxied PCSK9 inhibition and T2D risk in EAS (odds ratio [OR]=1.02, [0.95-1.10]), SAS (OR=1.05, [0.97-1.14]), HISP (OR=1.03, [0.94-1.12]), or EUR (OR=1.04, [0.98-1.11]). However, in AFR, primary analyses suggested an increased risk of T2D due to PCSK9 inhibition (OR=1.53, [1.058-2.22], P-value=0.024), although this was not supported in sensitivity analyses. Genetically-proxied HMGCR inhibition was associated with an increased risk of T2D in SAS (OR=1.44, [1.30-1.61], P-value=9.8×10-12), EAS (OR=1.36, [1.22-1.51], P-value=4.2×10-10), and EUR (OR=1.52, [1.21-1.90], P-value=3.3×10-4). These results were consistent across various sensitivity analyses, including colocalization, indicating a robust finding. The findings indicate a neutral impact of long-term PCSK9 inhibition on T2D and glycemic markers in most non-European populations, with a potential increased risk in AFR cohorts. By contrast, HMGCR inhibition increased the risk of T2D in South Asian, East Asian, and European cohorts, underscoring the need to consider diversity in genetic research on metabolic diseases.

Research trends and hotspots in fundus image segmentation from 2007 to 2023: A bibliometric analysis

ObjectiveTo understand the current status, research hotspots, and trends of automatic segmentation of fundus lesion images worldwide, providing a reference for subsequent related studies. MethodsThe electronic database Web of Science Core Collection was searched for research in the field of automatic segmentation of fundus lesion images from 2007 to 2023. Visualization maps of countries, authors, institutions, journals, references, and keywords were generated and analyzed using the CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. ResultsAfter deduplication, 707 publications were sorted out, showing an overall increasing trend in publication volume. The countries with the highest publication counts were China, followed by India, the USA, the UK, Spain, Pakistan, and Singapore. A high degree of collaboration was observed among authors, and they cooperated widely. The keywords included “diabetic retinopathy,” “deep learning,” “vessel segmentation,” “retinal images,” “optic disc localization,” and so forth, with keyword bursts starting in 2018 for “retinal images,” “machine learning,” “biomedical imaging,” “deep learning,” “convolutional neural networks,” and “transfer learning.” The most prolific author was U Rajendra Acharya from the University of Southern Queensland, and the journal with the most publications was Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine. ConclusionsCompared with manual segmentation of fundus lesion images, the use of deep learning models for segmentation is more efficient and accurate, which is crucial for patients with eye diseases. Although the number of related publications globally is relatively small, a growing trend is still witnessed, with broad connections between countries and authors, mainly concentrated in East Asia and Europe. Research institutions in this field are limited, and hence, the research on diabetic retinopathy and retinal vessel segmentation should be strengthened to promote the development of this area.