association-between-telomere-length-thyrotoxicosis-insights-from-two

Association Between Telomere Length and Thyrotoxicosis: Insights from a Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study

Thyrotoxicosis is an endocrine disorder characterized by excess thyroid hormones, yet its etiologic links to systemic aging biology remain incompletely ...

University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), a prominent determinant of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide, is hindered by the absence of efficacious biomarkers for early diagnosis, contributing to suboptimal outcomes. Here, we explored potential causal relationships between blood metabolites and the risk of PIH using Mendelian randomization (MR). We employed a two-sample univariable MR approach to empirically estimate the causal relationships between 249 circulating metabolites and PIH. Inverse variance weighted, MR-egger, weight median, simple mode, and weighted mode methods were used for causal estimates. The exposure-to-outcome directionality was confirmed with the MR Steiger test. The Bayesian model averaging MR (MR-BMA) method was applied to detect the predominant causal metabolic traits with alignment for pleiotropy effects. In the primary analysis, analyzing 249 metabolites, we identified 25 causally linked to PIH, including 11 lipid-related traits and 6 associated with fatty acid (un)saturation. Importantly, MR-BMA analyses corroborated the total concentration of branched-chain amino acids(total-BCAA) to be the highest rank causal metabolite, followed by leucine (Leu), phospholipids to total lipids ratio in medium LDL (M-LDL-PL-pct), and Val (all P < 0.05). The directionality of causality predicted by univariable MR and MR-BMA for these metabolites remained consistent. This study highlights the causal connection between metabolites and PIH risk. It highlighted BCAAs as the strongest causal candidates warranting further investigation. Since PIH typically occurs in the second and third trimesters, extending these findings could inform earlier strategies to reduce its risk. Directed acyclic graph of the MR framework investigating the causal relationship between metabolites and PIH. MR: Mendelian randomization; GIVs: genetic instrument variables; SNPs: single-nucleotide polymorphism; IVW: inverse variance weighted; WM: weighted median; PIH: pregnancy-induced hypertension; SM: significant metabolite; MR-BMA: Bayesian model averaging MR.

BMA-based Mendelian randomization identifies blood metabolites as causal candidates in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cancer in men, making up about 21% of male cancer cases worldwide. Although prostate cancer is common, little is known about its causes, which makes treatment more difficult. Studies suggest that immunity and inflammation are linked to prostate cancer. This study explores whether inflammatory mediators play a role in its development and outcome.

Article	Year
BMA-based Mendelian randomization identifies blood metabolites as causal candidates in pregnancy-induced hypertension. Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension\| PubMed ID: 38951678	2024
Exploring the causal relationship between CX3CL1 and prostate cancer prognosis using Mendelian randomization. Discover oncology\| PubMed ID: 40544418	2025

Weixin Chu

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