Displaying publications 41 - 44 of 44 in total

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  1. Chang Y, Liu H, Liu M, Liao X, Sahu SK, Fu Y, et al.
    Gigascience, 2019 03 01;8(3).
    PMID: 30535374 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giy152
    BACKGROUND: The expanding world population is expected to double the worldwide demand for food by 2050. Eighty-eight percent of countries currently face a serious burden of malnutrition, especially in Africa and south and southeast Asia. About 95% of the food energy needs of humans are fulfilled by just 30 species, of which wheat, maize, and rice provide the majority of calories. Therefore, to diversify and stabilize the global food supply, enhance agricultural productivity, and tackle malnutrition, greater use of neglected or underutilized local plants (so-called orphan crops, but also including a few plants of special significance to agriculture, agroforestry, and nutrition) could be a partial solution.

    RESULTS: Here, we present draft genome information for five agriculturally, biologically, medicinally, and economically important underutilized plants native to Africa: Vigna subterranea, Lablab purpureus, Faidherbia albida, Sclerocarya birrea, and Moringa oleifera. Assembled genomes range in size from 217 to 654 Mb. In V. subterranea, L. purpureus, F. albida, S. birrea, and M. oleifera, we have predicted 31,707, 20,946, 28,979, 18,937, and 18,451 protein-coding genes, respectively. By further analyzing the expansion and contraction of selected gene families, we have characterized root nodule symbiosis genes, transcription factors, and starch biosynthesis-related genes in these genomes.

    CONCLUSIONS: These genome data will be useful to identify and characterize agronomically important genes and understand their modes of action, enabling genomics-based, evolutionary studies, and breeding strategies to design faster, more focused, and predictable crop improvement programs.

  2. Kulkarni AV, Choudhury A, Arora V, Dokmeci AK, Koshy A, Gurakar A, et al.
    Hepatol Int, 2026 Oct;20(5):1281-1294.
    PMID: 42782569 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-026-11136-x
    The Kyoto Consensus introduced a key conceptual shift in characterizing acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients into Type-A and Type-B phenotypes. A day-long meeting was convened at Istanbul during APASL 2026 to assess the real-world applicability of Type-A and Type-B ACLF across continents. The objective was that physicians could recognize ACLF as a unified disease entity, and quality research and new therapeutic options with defined end-points could be undertaken. Data from APASL ACLF Research Consortium (AARC), EASL-CLIF and NACSELD were assessed and discussed in detail. While the applicability of Type-A and Type-B varied across cohorts, the definition required to be appended. The experts unanimously agreed that 'liver failure' as identified by serum bilirubin of ≥ 5 mg/dl and INR ≥ 1.5 should be the 'core' for both Type-A and Type-B ACLF. Type-A ACLF is considered when "a patient with compensated advanced chronic liver disease or compensated cirrhosis presents with index decompensation as liver failure followed by development of ascites and/or hepatic encephalopathy within 4 weeks." Type-B ACLF is considered when "a patient with prior or concurrent decompensated cirrhosis presents with acute decompensation as liver failure accompanied by one or more extrahepatic organ failures." New definitions of organ dysfunction and failure, as well as endpoints for clinical trials, were also deliberated and finalized. The "Istanbul Report", presents a milestone evidence based consensus document carrying harmonization of various aspects of ACLF, incorporating current evidence, critically analyzed unanimous recommendations, and key areas for future studies.
  3. Abouelazayem M, Jain R, Wilson MSJ, Martinino A, Balasubaramaniam V, Biffl W, et al.
    Surg Endosc, 2024 Aug;38(8):4402-4414.
    PMID: 38886232 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-024-10881-0
    BACKGROUND: There is little international data on morbidity and mortality of surgery for perforated peptic ulcer (PPU). This study aimed to understand the global 30-day morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing surgery for PPU and to identify variables associated with these.

    METHOD: We performed an international study of adults (≥ 18 years) who underwent surgery for PPU from 1st January 2022 to 30th June 2022. Patients who were treated conservatively or had an underlying gastric cancer were excluded. Patients were divided into subgroups according to age (≤ 50 and > 50 years) and time from onset of symptoms to hospital presentation (≤ 24 and > 24 h). Univariate and Multivariate analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with higher 30-day morbidity and mortality.

    RESULTS: 1874 patients from 159 centres across 52 countries were included. 78.3% (n = 1467) of the patients were males and the median (IQR) age was 49 years (25). Thirty-day morbidity and mortality were 48.5% (n = 910) and 9.3% (n = 174) respectively. Median (IQR) hospital stay was 7 (5) days. Open surgery was performed in 80% (n = 1505) of the cohort. Age > 50 years [(OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.4-2), (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 3.1-7.6)], female gender [(OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.3), (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.9)], shock on admission [(OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.7-2.7), (OR = 4.8, 95% CI 3.2-7.1)], and acute kidney injury [(OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.9-3.2), (OR = 3.9), 95% CI 2.7-5.6)] were associated with both 30-day morbidity and mortality. Delayed presentation was associated with 30-day morbidity [OR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6], but not mortality.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that surgery for PPU was associated with high 30-day morbidity and mortality rate. Age, female gender, and signs of shock at presentation were associated with both 30-day morbidity and mortality.

  4. GBD 2023 LDL Cholesterol Collaborators, Razo C, DeCleene NK, Johnson CO, Stark BA, LeGrand K, et al.
    JAMA, 2026 Aug 25;336(8):673-698.
    PMID: 42525403 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2026.8628
    IMPORTANCE: Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of premature death worldwide. Assessing the LDL-C-related burden is critical for guiding prevention and treatment strategies.

    OBJECTIVES: To estimate the global, regional, and national burden of ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke attributable to elevated LDL-C (relative to 35-54 mg/dL) from 1990 to 2023 and to quantify the contributions of population growth, aging, risk-deleted burden, and exposure changes to burden trends.

    DESIGN, SETTING, AND POPULATION: This comparative risk assessment, part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, estimated population-level LDL-C exposure and associated health loss in 204 countries and territories. Mean LDL-C levels were estimated using spatiotemporal gaussian process regression based on 806 studies across 161 countries. Relative risks were derived from meta-analyses of 38 randomized clinical trials. Population-attributable fractions for deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated by age and sex for adults aged 25 years or older from 1990 to 2023, with 95% uncertainty intervals.

    EXPOSURE: Population-level LDL-C concentrations.

    MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Population-attributable fractions, counts, and rates (all ages and age standardized per 100 000) of LDL-C-attributable deaths and DALYs from ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke, with uncertainty intervals.

    RESULTS: In 2023, elevated LDL-C accounted for 3.6 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval, 2.2-5.4 million; 6.0% of global mortality) and 90.7 million DALYs (95% uncertainty interval, 58.9-123.3 million; 3.2% of DALYs). Although global all-ages rates remained stable, age-standardized death and DALY rates decreased by 45.6% and 39.5%, respectively, since 1990. In 2023, age-standardized LDL-C-attributable DALY rates were highest in Eastern Europe and lowest in high-income Asia-Pacific. One-third of the global LDL-C burden occurred in India and China. Population growth and aging drove the increasing burden, with notable regional disparities in LDL-C exposure and risk-deleted DALY rates shifting toward middle-sociodemographic settings.

    CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Despite declining age-standardized rates, the absolute LDL-C burden has increased since 1990 due to demographic changes and has shifted toward middle-sociodemographic countries. Measurement and surveillance gaps persist. Strengthened prevention, diagnosis, and treatment access strategies are essential to mitigate the health burden of LDL-C.

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