Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aurina Arnatkeviciute, Ben D. Fulcher, Stuart Oldham, Jeggan Tiego, Casey Paquola, Zachary Gerring, Kevin Aquino, Ziarih Hawi, Beth Johnson, Gareth Ball, Marieke Klein, Gustavo Deco, Barbara Franke, Mark A. Bellgrove, Alex Fornito
Summary: The study shows that genes play a significant and preferential role in influencing the strength of connections between brain network hubs, which are characterized by high metabolic costs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Ben Chen, Anabel Stein, Falk-Tony Olesch, Thomas Hummel
Summary: This randomized, controlled study investigated the impact of odor deprivation using different methods on human olfactory function. The results showed that wearing an intranasal device and a mask led to changes in olfactory performance, with the nasal device group experiencing a significant reduction in odor thresholds. Changes in olfactory function were positively correlated with changes in subjective well-being. Overall, odor deprivation can impair olfactory function and may serve as a model for hyposmia in future studies, as well as potentially alleviate unpleasant odor sensations in patients with parosmia.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Masako Katsuyama, Tomomi Narita, Masaya Nakashima, Kentaro Kusaba, Masatoshi Ochiai, Naomi Kunizawa, Akihiro Kawaraya, Yukari Kuwahara, Masahiro Horiuchi, Koji Nakamoto
Summary: This study examines the relationship between psychological stress and skin gas and finds that during stress-inducing situations, the skin emits an odor similar to stir-fried leeks. Individuals who perceive this stress odor experience subjective tension, confusion, and fatigue.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takeshi Iwasaki, Yoichiro Kamatani, Kazuhiro Sonomura, Shuji Kawaguchi, Takahisa Kawaguchi, Meiko Takahashi, Koichiro Ohmura, Taka-Aki Sato, Fumihiko Matsuda
Summary: An increase in ethnic diversity in genetic studies has allowed researchers to uncover new associations between genetic variations and human phenotypes. In this study, metabolite-gene associations were analyzed in 4,888 Japanese individuals, leading to the discovery of 60 associations, with 13 previously unreported. Meta-analyses with other Japanese and European studies revealed additional unreported loci. The study also found that genetic variants influencing metabolite levels were enriched in protein-coding regions and associated with disease risks. Furthermore, a strong negative selection signature for uric acid was identified. These findings expand our understanding of genetic influences on blood metabolites and provide insights into their physiological, pathological, and selective properties.
Article
Cell Biology
Jonathan K. L. Mak, Chandra A. Reynolds, Sara Hagg, Xia Li, Malin Ericsson, Nancy L. Pedersen, Juulia Jylhava, Ralf Kuja-Halkola
Summary: The study found that the heritability of frailty is slightly higher in women than in men, with no significant difference in genetic variance sources between the sexes. There is a small-to-moderate genetic overlap between frailty and BMI, while the correlation between frailty and education is largely influenced by common environmental factors among twins.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jacklyn N. Hellwege, Todd L. Edwards
Summary: Jukarainen et al. offer a new perspective on the interpretation of heritable risk factors and human health, providing opportunities for translational efforts, characterization of genetic influences on disease disparities, and improving communication between clinicians and patients regarding genetic risks.
TRENDS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Pei Yee Ma, Jing En Tan, Edd Wyn Hee, Dylan Wang Xi Yong, Yi Shuan Heng, Wei Xiang Low, Xun Hui Wu, Christy Cletus, Dinesh Kumar Chellappan, Kyan Aung, Chean Yeah Yong, Yun Khoon Liew
Summary: This review examines a broad range of candidate genetic polymorphisms associated with susceptibility to and severity of enteric fever, focusing on specific genes that may impact disease progression. Limitations in the studies and the potential for future research directions are also highlighted. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this review may contribute to the development of risk prediction tools, novel therapies, and personalized typhoid vaccine strategies.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Karl-Johan Larsson, Johan Iraeus, Sven Holcombe, Bengt Pipkorn
Summary: The risk of rib fractures from thorax loading in vehicle crashes varies due to factors such as rib and ribcage properties. Human body models with detailed ribcages can be used to predict rib injury risk in crash analysis. This study identified that rib cortical bone thickness, rib cortical bone material properties, and rib cross-sectional width had the greatest influence on rib fracture risk in both frontal and near-side impacts. It is recommended to include these parameters in rib fracture risk analysis for vehicle occupants.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanna Kaplanis, Benjamin Ide, Rashesh Sanghvi, Matthew Neville, Petr Danecek, Tim Coorens, Elena Prigmore, Patrick Short, Giuseppe Gallone, Jeremy McRae, Jenny Carmichael, Angela Barnicoat, Helen Firth, Patrick O'Brien, Raheleh Rahbari, Matthew Hurles
Summary: Mutations in the germline are the source of all evolutionary genetic variations and can cause genetic diseases. Parental age is the main factor determining the number of new germline mutations in an individual's genome. Through analysis of genome-wide sequences from 21,879 families with rare genetic diseases, it was discovered that 12 individuals had a hypermutated genome with significantly more de novo single-nucleotide variants than expected. In most cases, the excess mutations were derived from the father. Some families had genetic drivers for germline hypermutation, with fathers carrying damaging genetic variations in DNA-repair genes. For five families, paternal exposure to chemotherapeutic agents before conception was likely a key factor for hypermutation. Overall, the results suggest that the germline is well protected from mutagenic effects, hypermutation is rare, and most individuals with a hypermutated genome will not develop genetic diseases.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Helene M. Loos, Benoist Schaal, Bettina M. Pause, Monique A. M. Smeets, Camille Ferdenzi, S. Craig Roberts, Jasper de Groot, Katrin T. Luebke, Ilona Croy, Jessica Freiherr, Moustafa Bensafi, Thomas Hummel, Jan Havlicek
Summary: Although chemical signaling has been considered negligible in humans, there is growing evidence that it affects human behavior in various social contexts. This article aims to provide a historical context for research on human chemical communication, discuss recent advances in understanding individual differences and neural mechanisms, and propose future directions for unraveling the molecular principles and understanding the variability in chemical signals.
PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Peter Dornbos, Preeti Singh, Dong-Keun Jang, Anubha Mahajan, Sudha B. Biddinger, Jerome I. Rotter, Mark I. McCarthy, Jason Flannick
Summary: This study investigates the incorporation of human genetic data in exploring new links between genes and metabolic disease. To facilitate the utilization of genetic data, the authors present an approach that enables researchers to evaluate the human genetic support for experimentally determined hypotheses.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hongfeng Wang, Fanjiang Kong, Chuanen Zhou
Summary: This review discusses the diverse factors that regulate leaf development, including transcriptional regulators, microRNAs, and phytohormones. The formation of both simple leaves and compound leaves is controlled by these factors, with a focus on the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Renee Hartig, David Wolf, Michael J. Schmeisser, Wolfgang Kelsch
Summary: The connection between social odor processing in rodents and humans in the context of health and ASD, with a focus on how genetic expression and neuronal connectivity regulate behavioral phenotypes, is crucial. Studies have found a viable link between social behaviors, circuit wiring, and altered neuronal coding related to the processing of salient social stimuli.
CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diane Rekow, Jean-Yves Baudouin, Fanny Poncet, Fabrice Damon, Karine Durand, Benoist Schaal, Bruno Rossion, Arnaud Leleu
Summary: Understanding how the young infant brain categorizes sensory inputs from the environment, researchers found that non-visual cues, such as odors, play a key role in shaping the interpretation of face-like configurations as faces. The study reveals that early multisensory inputs, especially olfactory cues, play a significant role in the development of face-selective activity in the infant brain.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Virology
Shuo Li, Mengxia Ye, Yonglin Chen, Quan Gong, Bing Mei
Summary: This study sheds light on the relationship between HPV-52 and cervical cancer, identifying variations in the E6-E7 genes and analyzing the protein's structure and selective pressure. Multiple single nucleotide variants were found in the E6 and E7 sequences of HPV-52, some impacting B cell epitopes.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
