PurposeThis paper is to offer insights for designing research utilizing Olink technology to identify biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for disease treatment.Experimental DesignWe discusses the application of Olink technology in oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory and immune-related diseases, and Outlines the advantages and limitations of Olink technology.ResultsOlink technology simplifies the search for therapeutic targets, advances proteomics research, reveals the pathogenesis of diseases, and ultimately helps patients develop precision treatments.ConclusionsAlthough proteomics technology has been rapidly developed in recent years, each method has its own disadvantages, so in the future research, more methods should be selected for combined application to verify each other.

BackgroundWe aimed to examine the association between blood levels of Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) - specifically isoleucine, leucine, and valine - and the susceptibility to three neurodegenerative disorders: dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD).MethodsBased on data from the UK Biobank, a Cox proportional hazard regression model and a dose–response relationship were used to analyze the association between BCAAs and the risks of dementia, AD, and PD. We also generated a healthy lifestyle score and a polygenic risk score. Besides, we conducted a sensitivity analysis to ensure the robustness of our findings.ResultsAfter adjusting for multiple covariates, blood concentrations of isoleucine, leucine, and valine were significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia and AD. This association remained robust even in sensitivity analyses. Similarly, higher levels of isoleucine and leucine in the blood were found to be associated with an increased risk of PD, but this positive correlation could potentially be explained by the presence of covariates. Further analysis using a dose–response approach revealed that a blood leucine concentration of 2.14 mmol/L was associated with the lowest risk of dementia.ConclusionBCAAs have the potential to serve as a biomarker for dementia and AD. However, the specific mechanism through which BCAAs are linked to the development of dementia, AD, and PD remains unclear and necessitates additional investigation.

BackgroundWe aimed to estimate the burden of nutritional deficiency according to sex and age in countries with a low sociodemographic index (SDI).MethodsFollowing the methods of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019, estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to determine trends in the age-standardized rates of incidence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of nutritional deficiency and its main subcategories from 1990 to 2019 in low-SDI countries.FindingsFrom 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized incidence and DALY rates of nutritional deficiency showed decreasing trends, with EAPCs of −0.90 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06 to −0.75] and −3.20 (95% CI, −3.29 to −3.10), respectively, in low-SDI countries. In 2019, of the subcategories analyzed, vitamin A deficiency had the highest age-standardized incidence rate and protein–energy malnutrition had the highest age-standardized DALY rate. From 1990 to 2019, the greatest decrease in the age-standardized incidence rate was observed for vitamin A deficiency and the greatest decrease in the age-standardized DALY rate was observed for protein–energy malnutrition. At the national level, from 1990 to 2019, the greatest increase in the age-standardized incidence rate of overall nutritional deficiency was observed in males in Afghanistan (EAPC: 0.28; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.49). Of the age groups analyzed, the highest incidence and DALY rates of overall nutritional deficiency and dietary iron deficiency were observed in children aged 1–4 years.InterpretationThe age-standardized incidence and DALY rates of nutritional deficiency decreased significantly from 1990 to 2019, especially for vitamin A deficiency and protein–energy malnutrition. Overall nutritional deficiency and dietary iron deficiency occurred primarily in children aged 1–4 years.

BackgroundWe aimed to determine whether the plasma cystatin C is a causal risk factor for cardiovascular events, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality by conducting Mendelian randomization (MR) designs.MethodsOur study included 277,057 individuals free of CVDs or cancer at baseline in the UK Biobank. The genetic scores of plasma cystatin C comprising 67 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were calculated on the basis of data from a large genome-wide association study. By stratifying the genetic score, we conducted cox regression to assess the relationship between plasma cystatin C and CVDs. In this study, linear MR analysis was used to estimate the causal association between plasma cystatin C and CVDs.ResultsObservational analyses showed that plasma cystatin C concentrations were associated with the risk of CVDs [hazard ratios (HR) per standard deviation (SD) 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.07-1.10] and CVD mortality (1.14, 1.11-1.17). Among CVDs, plasma cystatin C were associated with stroke (1.10, 1.08-1.11) and MI (1.08, 1.07-1.10). Linear MR analysis did not provide evidence of a causal association between plasma cystatin C and the risk of CVDs [odds ratio (OR) per SD 0.96, 95% CI;0.90-1.03], stroke (0.96, 0.93-1.01), MI (0.97, 0.91-1.03), and CVD mortality (0.98, 0.96-1.01), with consistent estimates from sensitivity analyses.ConclusionObservational findings indicated that higher plasma cystatin C is associated with a higher risk of CVDs; According to MR studies, there is no causal association between plasma cystatin C and the risk of CVDs and CVD mortality.

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the regularities of selection of meridian acupoints for coronary heart disease (CHD) recorded in the ancient Chinese medical literature, in order to provide a reference for clinical application of meridian acupoint recipes to treat CHD nowadays.METHODS:Papers were retrieved from 1 156 ancient Chinese medical books collected in "Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine" (Fifth Edition) by using key words "Xin Tong"(cardiac pain), "Zhen Xin Tong"(true heart pain), "Jue Xin Tong"(precordial pain with cold limbs), "Xiong Bi" (obstruction of qi in the chest), "Zheng Chong"(severe palpitation), "Xin Ji"(palpitation), followed by establishment of a database. Then, the association analysis data mining technology was used to analyze the characteristics and regularities of application of meridian acupoints in the treatment of CHD.RESULTS:A total of 347 items of ancient document data were collected, containing acupoints of the 12 regular meridians, Conception Vessel and Governor Vessel, with a frequency of usage being 625 times. Among the involved meridians, the Conception Vessel was most frequently used, followed by the Pericardium Meridian. Zhongwan (CV 12) was the most frequently used acupoint, and Rangu (KI 2) and Taixi (KI 3), CV 12 and Shangwan (CV 13), and Quze (PC 3) and Daling (PC 7) were the top 3 frequently used auxiliary acupoint pairs.CONCLUSION:In ancient China, in the treatment of CHD, the main acupoints of the Conception and Pericardium Meridian, and the auxiliary acupoints i．e., five-shu points are most frequently used. PC 3 and PC 7 combination is suitable for the treatment of CHD with negative emotion.