mp China Withholding H7N9 Bird Flu Virus Samples From U.S. By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: China Withholding H7N9 Bird Flu Virus Samples From U.S.Category: Health NewsCreated: 8/31/2018 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/31/2018 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Taming Those High-Calorie Temptations By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Taming Those High-Calorie TemptationsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/31/2018 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/31/2018 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Brain Implant Puts the Brakes on Epileptic Seizures in Mice By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Brain Implant Puts the Brakes on Epileptic Seizures in MiceCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/30/2018 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/31/2018 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Judge Orders Johnson & Johnson to Pay $572 Million Over Opioid Drug Crisis By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Judge Orders Johnson & Johnson to Pay $572 Million Over Opioid Drug CrisisCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/27/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/27/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Concussions May Leave Former NFL Players With Another Issue: Impotence By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Concussions May Leave Former NFL Players With Another Issue: ImpotenceCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/26/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/27/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Vaping May Trigger Lung Damage Like That Seen in Emphysema By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Vaping May Trigger Lung Damage Like That Seen in EmphysemaCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/26/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/27/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Jumps in Pot Use, Depression and Drinking Threaten Gains Against Smoking By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Jumps in Pot Use, Depression and Drinking Threaten Gains Against SmokingCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/28/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Alex Trebek Back Hosting 'Jeopardy!' After Completing Chemotherapy By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Alex Trebek Back Hosting 'Jeopardy!' After Completing ChemotherapyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Mumps Outbreaks Hitting U.S. Migrant Detention Centers By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Mumps Outbreaks Hitting U.S. Migrant Detention CentersCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Brutus & Barnaby Pig Ear Treats For Dogs Recalled By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Brutus & Barnaby Pig Ear Treats For Dogs RecalledCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Blood Pressure Meds Could Improve Survival in COVID-19 Patients By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Blood Pressure Meds Could Improve Survival in COVID-19 PatientsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/24/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/25/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp AHA News: Preeclampsia May Double a Woman's Chances for Later Heart Failure By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: AHA News: Preeclampsia May Double a Woman's Chances for Later Heart FailureCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/24/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/25/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Thousands of COVID Cases Already on College Campuses By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Thousands of COVID Cases Already on College CampusesCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/26/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/26/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Olympian Usain Bolt Reported to Have COVID-19 By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Olympian Usain Bolt Reported to Have COVID-19Category: Health NewsCreated: 8/25/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/26/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Maine Summer Camps Identified, Isolated COVID-19 Cases By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Maine Summer Camps Identified, Isolated COVID-19 CasesCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/27/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/27/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp President Trump Promises a COVID Vaccine Before the End of the Year By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: President Trump Promises a COVID Vaccine Before the End of the YearCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/28/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/28/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Age Can Impair a Man's Odds for Fatherhood: Study By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Age Can Impair a Man's Odds for Fatherhood: StudyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/23/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/23/2021 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp U.S. Kidney Transplant Outcomes Are Improving By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: U.S. Kidney Transplant Outcomes Are ImprovingCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/24/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/24/2021 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp J&J Says Booster Shot Ups Immune Response to COVID By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: J&J Says Booster Shot Ups Immune Response to COVIDCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/25/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/25/2021 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp A Little Wine & Certain Foods Could Help Keep Blood Pressure Healthy By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: A Little Wine & Certain Foods Could Help Keep Blood Pressure HealthyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/24/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/25/2021 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Smart Phones, Watches Can Mess With Implanted Pacemakers By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Smart Phones, Watches Can Mess With Implanted PacemakersCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/26/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/26/2021 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp COVID Symptoms Haunt Nearly Half of Patients a Year Later By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: COVID Symptoms Haunt Nearly Half of Patients a Year LaterCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Don't Forget to Apply Sunscreen Before & After Water Fun By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Don't Forget to Apply Sunscreen Before & After Water FunCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Fatal ODs From Illicit Tranquilizers Jumped 6-Fold During Pandemic By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Fatal ODs From Illicit Tranquilizers Jumped 6-Fold During PandemicCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/26/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Why Coffee & Cigarette Is a Morning Ritual for Millions By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Why Coffee & Cigarette Is a Morning Ritual for MillionsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/22/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/22/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp What Are Symptoms of a Silent Migraine? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Jun 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: What Are Symptoms of a Silent Migraine?Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 6/17/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 6/17/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp AHA News: Obstacles Didn't Stop This Heart Defect Survivor From Competing on 'American Ninja Warrior By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: AHA News: Obstacles Didn't Stop This Heart Defect Survivor From Competing on 'American Ninja WarriorCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/12/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/15/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp AHA News: New Report Details What to Know About Cardiovascular Disease Symptoms By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: AHA News: New Report Details What to Know About Cardiovascular Disease SymptomsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/18/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/19/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp 7 Scrumptious Drinks That Are High in Iron By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 26 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: 7 Scrumptious Drinks That Are High in IronCategory: Health and LivingCreated: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Does Hot Chocolate Have Caffeine? Hot Chocolate vs. Coffee & Tea By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 26 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Does Hot Chocolate Have Caffeine? Hot Chocolate vs. Coffee & TeaCategory: Health and LivingCreated: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp People Underestimate Impact of Random Acts of Kindness By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: People Underestimate Impact of Random Acts of KindnessCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/25/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp 12 Best Compression Leggings in 2022 By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: 12 Best Compression Leggings in 2022Category: Health and LivingCreated: 8/16/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/16/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp How to Manage Menopause Symptoms After Breast Cancer By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Thu, 7 Jul 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: How to Manage Menopause Symptoms After Breast CancerCategory: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 7/7/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 7/7/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Self-Employed Women Are Often Healthier: Study By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 8 Aug 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Self-Employed Women Are Often Healthier: StudyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 8/8/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 8/8/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Is Syphilis Completely Curable? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Is Syphilis Completely Curable?Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 7/15/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 7/15/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Erectile Dysfunction (ED, Impotence) By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 25 Jul 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Erectile Dysfunction (ED, Impotence)Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 7/25/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp When Hospital Patient & Doctor Speak Same Language, Outcomes Improve By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: When Hospital Patient & Doctor Speak Same Language, Outcomes ImproveCategory: Health NewsCreated: 7/11/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 7/11/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Salicylate Sensitivity Causes, Symptoms, and Foods to Avoid By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 8 Jul 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Salicylate Sensitivity Causes, Symptoms, and Foods to AvoidCategory: Health and LivingCreated: 7/8/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 7/8/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Postpartum Depression Can Hit Both Mom & Dad, Sometimes at Same Time By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Jun 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: Postpartum Depression Can Hit Both Mom & Dad, Sometimes at Same TimeCategory: Health NewsCreated: 6/27/2022 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 6/28/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp What Are 4 Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 6 Jul 2022 00:00:00 PDT Title: What Are 4 Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 12/10/2021 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 7/6/2022 12:00:00 AM Full Article
mp Evidence-based management of symptoms in serious respiratory illness: what is in our toolbox? By err.ersjournals.com Published On :: 2024-10-30T01:30:15-07:00 Extract Living with a respiratory illness requires patients to manage a wide range of symptoms, many of which will worsen as a disease progresses. Breathlessness is a hallmark feature of respiratory conditions, occurring in almost all individuals with COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD) [1, 2]. Cough is present in 78% of people with ILD and is frequently distressing, with physical, social and emotional impacts [1, 3]. Full Article
mp Impaired lung function and associated risk factors in children born prematurely: a systematic review and meta-analysis By err.ersjournals.com Published On :: 2024-10-09T00:15:15-07:00 Background Immature lung development and respiratory morbidity place preterm-born children at high risk of long-term pulmonary sequelae. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to quantify lung function in preterm-born children and identify risk factors for a compromised lung function. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus for relevant studies published on preterm cohorts born since 1990. Studies comparing forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in preterm-born children aged ≥5 years to term-born controls or normative data were included. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Standardised mean differences in FEV1 and secondary spirometry outcomes per study were pooled using meta-analysis. The impact of different demographic and neonatal variables on studies’ FEV1 effect sizes was investigated by meta-regression analyses. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations framework. Results We identified 42 studies with unique cohorts including 4743 preterm children and 9843 controls. Median gestational age in the studies was 28.0 weeks and age at assessment ranged from 6.7 to 16.7 years. Preterm children had lower FEV1 than controls (–0.58 sd, 95% CI –0.69– –0.47 sd, p<0.001) resulting in a relative risk of 2.9 (95% CI 2.4–3.4) for abnormal outcome, with high certainty of evidence. FEV1 was significantly associated with gestational age, birthweight, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and invasive mechanical ventilation in univariate meta-regression analyses (R2=36–96%). Conclusion This systematic review shows robust evidence of impaired lung function in preterm-born children with a high certainty of evidence. Full Article
mp Multicomponent services for symptoms in serious respiratory illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis By err.ersjournals.com Published On :: 2024-10-30T01:30:15-07:00 Background People living with serious respiratory illness experience a high burden of symptoms. This review aimed to determine whether multicomponent services reduce symptoms in people with serious illness related to respiratory disease. Methods Electronic databases were searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating multicomponent services that enrolled patients due to symptoms, rather than underlying disease, and provided at least one nonpharmacological intervention. The primary outcome was chronic breathlessness and secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life (HRQoL), cough, fatigue and adverse events. At least two authors independently screened studies, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. Results Five RCTs, involving 439 patients, were included. In comparison to usual care, multicomponent services improved breathlessness mastery (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) mastery scale, mean difference (MD) 0.43 points, 95% CI 0.20–0.67, three RCTs, 327 participants) and HRQoL (CRQ total score, MD 0.24 points, 95% CI 0.04–0.40, two RCTs, 237 participants). Fatigue did not improve with multicomponent services and no studies evaluated cough. No serious adverse events were reported. The one study evaluating mortality found increased survival in those accessing a multicomponent service. The certainty of evidence was very low, mainly due to detection and reporting bias. Conclusion Multicomponent services improve breathlessness mastery and HRQoL, with minimal risk. These findings support the use of multicomponent symptom-directed services for people living with serious respiratory illness. Full Article
mp Breathing techniques to reduce symptoms in people with serious respiratory illness: a systematic review By err.ersjournals.com Published On :: 2024-10-30T01:30:15-07:00 Background In adults with serious respiratory illness, breathlessness is prevalent and associated with reduced health-related quality of life. The aim of this review was to assess the impact of breathing techniques on breathlessness in adults with serious respiratory illness. Methods Electronic databases were searched to identify randomised controlled trials testing breathing techniques (techniques that aim to alter the respiratory pattern, excluding respiratory muscle training) in people with serious respiratory illness. The primary outcome was breathlessness and secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life and adverse events. Two authors independently screened for inclusion, evaluated risk of bias and extracted data. Results 73 randomised controlled trials were included with 5479 participants, most with COPD or asthma. Breathing exercises (pursed lip and/or diaphragmatic breathing) reduced breathlessness measured by the modified Medical Research Council scale compared to usual care (mean difference (MD) –0.40 points, 95% CI –0.70– –0.11, eight studies, n=323), although the effect did not exceed the minimal important difference. Yoga breathing also improved modified Medical Research Council score compared to usual care (MD –1.05 points, 95% CI –2.45–0.35, three studies, n=175). Breathing techniques consistently improved health-related quality of life in people with COPD and asthma on multiple health-related quality of life measures in comparison to usual care, with effects that generally exceeded the minimal important difference. No adverse events related to breathing techniques were reported. Conclusion Breathing techniques may improve breathlessness, and consistently improve health-related quality of life, in people with serious respiratory illness. These findings support the use of breathing exercises in the care of people with serious respiratory illness. Full Article
mp Opioids for the palliation of symptoms in people with serious respiratory illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis By err.ersjournals.com Published On :: 2024-10-09T00:15:15-07:00 Background People living with serious respiratory illness experience a high burden of distressing symptoms. Although opioids are prescribed for symptom management, they generate adverse events, and their benefits are unclear. Methods We examined the efficacy and safety of opioids for symptom management in people with serious respiratory illness. Embase, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to 11 July 2022. Reports of randomised controlled trials administering opioids to treat symptoms in people with serious respiratory illness were included. Key exclusion criteria included <80% of participants having a nonmalignant lung disease. Data were extracted regarding study characteristics, outcomes of breathlessness, cough, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and adverse events. Treatment effects were pooled using a generic inverse variance model with random effects. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 1. Results Out of 17 included trials, six were laboratory-based exercise trials (n=70), 10 were home studies measuring breathlessness in daily life (n=788) and one (n=18) was conducted in both settings. Overall certainty of evidence was "very low" to "low". Opioids reduced breathlessness intensity during laboratory exercise testing (standardised mean difference (SMD) –0.37, 95% CI –0.67– –0.07), but not breathlessness measured in daily life (SMD –0.10, 95% CI –0.64–0.44). No effects on HRQoL (SMD –0.42, 95% CI –0.98–0.13) or cough (SMD –1.42, 95% CI –3.99–1.16) were detected. In at-home studies, opioids led to increased frequency of nausea/vomiting (OR 3.32, 95% CI 1.70–6.51), constipation (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.69–5.61) and drowsiness (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.01–1.86), with serious adverse events including hospitalisation and death identified. Conclusions Opioids improved exertional breathlessness in laboratory exercise studies, but did not improve breathlessness, cough or HRQoL measured in daily life at home. There were significant adverse events, which may outweigh any benefits. Full Article
mp PWAS Hub for exploring gene-based associations of common complex diseases [RESOURCES] By genome.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-29T06:46:08-07:00 PWAS (proteome-wide association study) is an innovative genetic association approach that complements widely used methods like GWAS (genome-wide association study). The PWAS approach involves consecutive phases. Initially, machine learning modeling and probabilistic considerations quantify the impact of genetic variants on protein-coding genes’ biochemical functions. Secondly, for each individual, aggregating the variants per gene determines a gene-damaging score. Finally, standard statistical tests are activated in the case-control setting to yield statistically significant genes per phenotype. The PWAS Hub offers a user-friendly interface for an in-depth exploration of gene–disease associations from the UK Biobank (UKB). Results from PWAS cover 99 common diseases and conditions, each with over 10,000 diagnosed individuals per phenotype. Users can explore genes associated with these diseases, with separate analyses conducted for males and females. For each phenotype, the analyses account for sex-based genetic effects, inheritance modes (dominant and recessive), and the pleiotropic nature of associated genes. The PWAS Hub showcases its usefulness for asthma by navigating through proteomic-genetic analyses. Inspecting PWAS asthma-listed genes (a total of 27) provide insights into the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. Comparison of PWAS-statistically significant genes for common diseases to the Open Targets benchmark shows partial but significant overlap in gene associations for most phenotypes. Graphical tools facilitate comparing genetic effects between PWAS and coding GWAS results, aiding in understanding the sex-specific genetic impact on common diseases. This adaptable platform is attractive to clinicians, researchers, and individuals interested in delving into gene–disease associations and sex-specific genetic effects. Full Article
mp Theoretical framework for the difference of two negative binomial distributions and its application in comparative analysis of sequencing data [METHODS] By genome.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-29T06:46:08-07:00 High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have been instrumental in investigating biological questions at the bulk and single-cell levels. Comparative analysis of two HTS data sets often relies on testing the statistical significance for the difference of two negative binomial distributions (DOTNB). Although negative binomial distributions are well studied, the theoretical results for DOTNB remain largely unexplored. Here, we derive basic analytical results for DOTNB and examine its asymptotic properties. As a state-of-the-art application of DOTNB, we introduce DEGage, a computational method for detecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in scRNA-seq data. DEGage calculates the mean of the sample-wise differences of gene expression levels as the test statistic and determines significant differential expression by computing the P-value with DOTNB. Extensive validation using simulated and real scRNA-seq data sets demonstrates that DEGage outperforms five popular DEG analysis tools: DEGseq2, DEsingle, edgeR, Monocle3, and scDD. DEGage is robust against high dropout levels and exhibits superior sensitivity when applied to balanced and imbalanced data sets, even with small sample sizes. We utilize DEGage to analyze prostate cancer scRNA-seq data sets and identify marker genes for 17 cell types. Furthermore, we apply DEGage to scRNA-seq data sets of mouse neurons with and without fear memory and reveal eight potential memory-related genes overlooked in previous analyses. The theoretical results and supporting software for DOTNB can be widely applied to comparative analyses of dispersed count data in HTS and broad research questions. Full Article
mp Contrasting and combining transcriptome complexity captured by short and long RNA sequencing reads [METHODS] By genome.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-29T06:46:08-07:00 Mapping transcriptomic variations using either short- or long-read RNA sequencing is a staple of genomic research. Long reads are able to capture entire isoforms and overcome repetitive regions, whereas short reads still provide improved coverage and error rates. Yet, open questions remain, such as how to quantitatively compare the technologies, can we combine them, and what is the benefit of such a combined view? We tackle these questions by first creating a pipeline to assess matched long- and short-read data using a variety of transcriptome statistics. We find that across data sets, algorithms, and technologies, matched short-read data detects ~30% more splice junctions, such that ~10%–30% of the splice junctions included at ≥20% by short reads are missed by long reads. In contrast, long reads detect many more intron-retention events and can detect full isoforms, pointing to the benefit of combining the technologies. We introduce MAJIQ-L, an extension of the MAJIQ software, to enable a unified view of transcriptome variations from both technologies and demonstrate its benefits. Our software can be used to assess any future long-read technology or algorithm and can be combined with short-read data for improved transcriptome analysis. Full Article
mp Complete genomes of Asgard archaea reveal diverse integrated and mobile genetic elements [RESEARCH] By genome.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-29T06:46:08-07:00 Asgard archaea are of great interest as the progenitors of Eukaryotes, but little is known about the mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that may shape their ongoing evolution. Here, we describe MGEs that replicate in Atabeyarchaeia, a wetland Asgard archaea lineage represented by two complete genomes. We used soil depth–resolved population metagenomic data sets to track 18 MGEs for which genome structures were defined and precise chromosome integration sites could be identified for confident host linkage. Additionally, we identified a complete 20.67 kbp circular plasmid and two family-level groups of viruses linked to Atabeyarchaeia, via CRISPR spacer targeting. Closely related 40 kbp viruses possess a hypervariable genomic region encoding combinations of specific genes for small cysteine-rich proteins structurally similar to restriction-homing endonucleases. One 10.9 kbp integrative conjugative element (ICE) integrates genomically into the Atabeyarchaeum deiterrae-1 chromosome and has a 2.5 kbp circularizable element integrated within it. The 10.9 kbp ICE encodes an expressed Type IIG restriction-modification system with a sequence specificity matching an active methylation motif identified by Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) high-accuracy long-read (HiFi) metagenomic sequencing. Restriction-modification of Atabeyarchaeia differs from that of another coexisting Asgard archaea, Freyarchaeia, which has few identified MGEs but possesses diverse defense mechanisms, including DISARM and Hachiman, not found in Atabeyarchaeia. Overall, defense systems and methylation mechanisms of Asgard archaea likely modulate their interactions with MGEs, and integration/excision and copy number variation of MGEs in turn enable host genetic versatility. Full Article
mp Evidence for compensatory evolution within pleiotropic regulatory elements [RESEARCH] By genome.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-29T06:46:07-07:00 Pleiotropy, measured as expression breadth across tissues, is one of the best predictors for protein sequence and expression conservation. In this study, we investigated its effect on the evolution of cis-regulatory elements (CREs). To this end, we carefully reanalyzed the Epigenomics Roadmap data for nine fetal tissues, assigning a measure of pleiotropic degree to nearly half a million CREs. To assess the functional conservation of CREs, we generated ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data from humans and macaques. We found that more pleiotropic CREs exhibit greater conservation in accessibility, and the mRNA expression levels of the associated genes are more conserved. This trend of higher conservation for higher degrees of pleiotropy persists when analyzing the transcription factor binding repertoire. In contrast, simple DNA sequence conservation of orthologous sites between species tends to be even lower for pleiotropic CREs than for species-specific CREs. Combining various lines of evidence, we propose that the lack of sequence conservation in functionally conserved pleiotropic CREs is owing to within-element compensatory evolution. In summary, our findings suggest that pleiotropy is also a good predictor for the functional conservation of CREs, even though this is not reflected in the sequence conservation of pleiotropic CREs. Full Article