Chromosome 21 variants tied to severe asthma exacerbations: A genome-wide association study in a Brazilian population.

Background: Asthma exacerbations are episodes of symptom worsening requiring increased therapy, which affect patients across all asthma severities. Potential genetic associations with asthma exacerbations in an understudied population were investigated.

Objective: We sought to perform a genome-wide association study on severe asthma exacerbations in an admixed adult population with varying asthma severities and to explore potential epigenetic roles.

Prediction and Characterization of Genetically Regulated Expression of Target Tissues in Asthma.

Background: Genetic control of gene expression in asthma-related tissues is not well-characterized, particularly for African-ancestry populations, limiting advancement in our understanding of the increased prevalence and severity of asthma in those populations.

Objective: To create novel transcriptome prediction models for asthma tissues (nasal epithelium and CD4+ T cells) and apply them in transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) to discover candidate asthma genes.

Methods: We developed and validated gene expression prediction databases for unstimulated CD4+ T cells (CD4+T) and nasal epithelium using an elastic net framework.

Predictive genetic panel for adult asthma using machine learning methods.

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is heterogeneous and multifactorial, making its accurate characterization a complex process. Therefore, identifying the genetic variations associated with asthma and discovering the molecular interactions between the omics that confer risk of developing this disease will help us to unravel the biological pathways involved in its pathogenesis.

Objective: We sought to develop a predictive genetic panel for asthma using machine learning methods.

Psychological value theory: A computational cognitive model of charitable giving.

Charitable giving involves a complex economic and social decision because the giver expends resources for goods or services they will never receive. Although psychologists have identified numerous factors that influence charitable giving, there currently exists no unifying computational model of charitable choice. Here, we submit one such model, based within the strictures of Psychological Value Theory (PVT).

Epigenetics may characterize asymptomatic COVID-19 infection.

RT-PCR is the foremost clinical test for diagnosis of COVID-19. Unfortunately, PCR-based testing has limitations and may not result in a positive test early in the course of infection before symptoms develop. Enveloped RNA viruses, such as coronaviruses, alter peripheral blood methylation and DNA methylation signatures may characterize asymptomatic versus symptomatic infection.

Lipid mediators are detectable in the nasal epithelium and differ by asthma status in female subjects.

Background: Lipid mediators, bioactive products of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism, contribute to inflammation initiation and resolution in allergic diseases; however, their presence in lung-related biosamples has not been fully described.

Objective: We aimed to quantify lipid mediators in the nasal airway epithelium and characterize preliminary associations with asthma.

Methods: Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we conducted a pilot study to quantify 56 lipid mediators from nasal epithelial samples collected from 11 female participants of an outpatient asthma clinic and community controls (aged 30-55 years).

Discovering metabolite quantitative trait loci in asthma using an isolated population.

Background: Integration of metabolomics with genetics may advance understanding of disease pathogenesis but has been underused in asthma genetic studies.

Objective: We sought to discover new genetic effects in asthma and to characterize the molecular consequences of asthma genetic risk through integration with the metabolome in a homogeneous population.

Methods: From fasting serum samples collected on 348 Tangier Island residents, we quantified 2612 compounds using untargeted metabolomics.

Multiethnic genome-wide and HLA association study of total serum IgE level.

Background: Total serum IgE (tIgE) is an important intermediate phenotype of allergic disease. Whole genome genetic association studies across ancestries may identify important determinants of IgE.

Objective: We aimed to increase understanding of genetic variants affecting tIgE production across the ancestry and allergic disease spectrum by leveraging data from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program; the Consortium on Asthma among African-ancestry Populations in the Americas (CAAPA); and the Atopic Dermatitis Research Network (N = 21,901).

Zika Virus Congenital Syndrome and gene variants: insights from a family of dizygotic twins.

Congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS) is associated with damage to neural progenitor cells by ZIKA virus infection. There are no accurate statistics on the percentage of pregnant mothers who have had babies affected by the syndrome. Few cases of discordant twins have been described in the literature and, therefore, we hypothesize that the genetic background of the progeny and/or mother may play a role in the fate of the syndrome.

Whole genome sequencing identifies novel genetic mutations in patients with eczema herpeticum.

Background: Eczema herpeticum (EH) is a rare complication of atopic dermatitis (AD) caused by disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. The role of rare and/or deleterious genetic variants in disease etiology is largely unknown. This study aimed to identify genes that harbor damaging genetic variants associated with HSV infection in AD with a history of recurrent eczema herpeticum (ADEH+).

Author Correction: Association study in African-admixed populations across the Americas recapitulates asthma risk loci in non-African populations.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Descriptive analysis of free-text comments on healthcare priorities and experiences in a national sample of people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) often require care from multiple healthcare services and providers to fulfill their physical and psychological healthcare needs, including those related to their MS and those due to co-occurring disorders. However, they often experience barriers to accessing healthcare specialists, providers, and services.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand patients' healthcare preferences, perceived importance of elements of their care, and encountered barriers through analyzing patients' free-text comments.

The soluble worm antigens-specific antibodies used as biomarkers of Schistosoma japonicum in a low prevalence and intensity endemic area of Hubei, China.

The precise diagnosis of Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) infection plays a critical role in achieving the ultimate goal of eliminating schistosomiasis in endemic regions. We evaluated the S.

Author Correction: Assembly of a pan-genome from deep sequencing of 910 humans of African descent.

In the version of this article initially published, the statement "there are no pan-genomes for any other animal or plant species" was incorrect. The statement has been corrected to "there are no reported pan-genomes for any other animal species, to our knowledge." We thank David Edwards for bringing this error to our attention.

Assembly of a pan-genome from deep sequencing of 910 humans of African descent.

We used a deeply sequenced dataset of 910 individuals, all of African descent, to construct a set of DNA sequences that is present in these individuals but missing from the reference human genome. We aligned 1.19 trillion reads from the 910 individuals to the reference genome (GRCh38), collected all reads that failed to align, and assembled these reads into contiguous sequences (contigs).

A Census of Midsize to Large Supermarkets in Toronto: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Consumer Nutrition Environment.

Objective: Assess the consumer nutrition environment in midsize to large supermarkets by supermarket type and area-level socioeconomic variables.

Design: Cross-sectional census of 257 supermarkets using the Toronto Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores.

Setting: Toronto, Canada.

Effect of polymorphisms on TGFB1 on allergic asthma and helminth infection in an African admixed population.

Background: Allergic asthma is a complex disorder that results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Studies suggest that helminth infections can activate a regulatory network characterized by the production of regulatory cytokines, such as interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and subsequently protect against immune-mediated diseases, such as asthma. On the other hand, TGF-β1 is increased in the lungs of individuals with asthma and may modulate airway inflammation.