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Facility location problem for senior centers in an upcoming super-aging society
Evaluation of aortic arch calcification to predict prognosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Genetic evidence identifies a causal relationship between EBV infection and multiple myeloma risk
Abstract Background: Previous observational studies have suggested a potential association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and the development of multiple myeloma (MM), but this relationship is not clear. Therefore, we conducted a systematic Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between EBV infection and the risk of MM, while exploring the possible mediating role of immune cells in this association. Methods: The study first conducted a two-sample MR analysis using the MM R11 dataset from the FinnGen Consortium to evaluate the causal relationship between five EBV infection-related antibodies (AEB-IgG, EA-D, EBNA-1, VCA-p18, and ZEBRA) and MM, with validation in the MM R10 dataset. A reverse MR analysis was then performed. For significant results, multivariable MR (MVMR) was used to adjust for the effects of confounding risk factors. Next, a two-step MR mediation analysis was applied to investigate the potential mediating role of 731 immune cell types between positive exposure and MM. Multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. Results: A two-sample MR study found that EBNA-1 antibodies (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06–1.73; P = 0.015) were associated with an increased risk of MM, with similar results observed in the FinnGen Consortium R10 replication study. Although the association did not remain statistically significant after false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment (P_fdr = 0.075), further adjustment for relevant confounders using multivariable MR (MVMR) demonstrated that EBNA-1 antibodies (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.01–1.75; P = 0.041) were still significantly associated with an increased risk of MM. Reverse MR analysis indicated no causal effect of MM on EBV-related antibodies. A two-sample MR analysis involving 731 immune cell phenotypes identified 27 potential mediating cell types. Ultimately, two-step MR confirmed that HLA-DR on myeloid dendritic cells (HLA-DR⁺ mDC) serves as a mediating factor, with EBNA-1 antibodies downregulating HLA-DR⁺ mDC, thereby increasing MM risk. Multiple sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these findings. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that EBNA-1 antibodies may increase the risk of MM by downregulating HLA-DR⁺ mDC. This indicates that chronic EBV infection may contribute to an elevated risk of MM. We hope these results provide new insights for future research on the prevention and treatment of MM.
Al2O3 porous ceramics with high strength by protein foaming method
Bentonite/Ti(IV) as a natural based nano-catalyst for synthesis of pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole under grinding condition
A digital twin based forecasting framework for power flow management in DC microgrids
Author Correction: Multi-spectral autofluorescence variability of the individual retinal pigmented epithelial cells in healthy aging eyes
A novel, low-cost, and high-efficiency method for nitrocellulose synthesis from plasma-modified cellulose
Social support in a large general population sample over the course of six years
Abstract Social support is an important resource that is assumed to buffer the effect of stressful events on health. The aims of this study were to test psychometric properties of the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI), to investigate the impact of several sociodemographic and behavioral variables on social support, and to analyze changes in social support over a 6-year period. A sample of 9,681 people from the general population was examined at baseline, 4,987 of whom were surveyed at a follow-up examination six years later using the ESSI and several other questionnaires. The psychometric properties of the ESSI were good (Cronbach’s α = 0.91) and measurement invariance across gender and age could be established. High socioeconomic status, sharing a household with others, and employment resulted in high levels of social support. Tobacco smokers and alcohol drinkers reported having less social support than nonsmokers and non-drinkers. During the 6-year period, the mean level of social support remained nearly unchanged (d = 0.01). The data provide a framework for the interpretation and comparison of social support with other clinical and nonclinical populations. Public health initiatives should aim to prevent social isolation to improve public health.