Abstract Blood pressure (BP) was inconsistently associated with migraine and the mechanisms of BP-lowering medications in migraine prophylaxis are unknown. Leveraging large-scale summary statistics for migraine ( N cases / N controls = 59,674/316,078) and BP ( N = 757,601), we find positive genetic correlations of migraine with diastolic BP (DBP, r g = 0.11, P = 3.56 × 10 −06 ) and systolic BP (SBP, r g = 0.06, P = 0.01), but not pulse pressure (PP, r g = −0.01, P = 0.75). Cross-trait meta-analysis reveals 14 shared loci ( P ≤ 5 × 10 −08 ), nine of which replicate ( P < 0.05) in the UK Biobank. Five shared loci ( ITGB5 , SMG6 , ADRA2B , ANKDD1B , and KIAA0040 ) are reinforced in gene-level analysis and highlight potential mechanisms involving vascular development, endothelial function and calcium homeostasis. Mendelian randomization reveals stronger instrumental estimates of DBP (OR [95% CI] = 1.20 [1.15–1.25]/10 mmHg; P = 5.57 × 10 −25 ) on migraine than SBP (1.05 [1.03–1.07]/10 mmHg; P = 2.60 × 10 −07 ) and a corresponding opposite effect for PP (0.92 [0.88–0.95]/10 mmHg; P = 3.65 × 10 −07 ). These findings support a critical role of DBP in migraine susceptibility and shared biology underlying BP and migraine.
Abstract Background Hereditary factors, including single genetic variants and family history, can be used for targeting colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, but limited data exist on the impact of polygenic risk scores (PRS) on risk-based CRC screening. Methods Using longitudinal health and genomics data on 453,733 Finnish individuals including 8801 CRC cases, we estimated the impact of a genome-wide CRC PRS on CRC screening initiation age through population-calibrated incidence estimation over the life course in men and women. Results Compared to the cumulative incidence of CRC at age 60 in Finland (the current age for starting screening in Finland), a comparable cumulative incidence was reached 5 and 11 years earlier in persons with high PRS (80–99% and >99%, respectively), while those with a low PRS (< 20%) reached comparable incidence 7 years later. The PRS was associated with increased risk of post-colonoscopy CRC after negative colonoscopy (hazard ratio 1.76 per PRS SD, 95% CI 1.54–2.01). Moreover, the PRS predicted colorectal adenoma incidence and improved incident CRC risk prediction over non-genetic risk factors. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that a CRC PRS can be used for risk stratification of CRC, with further research needed to optimally integrate the PRS into risk-based screening.
Background: Helicobacter pylori gastritis is usually a lifelong disease which can cause different topographical inflammatory reactions and induce divergent effects on acid secretion in humans. High acid output and antrum-predominant gastritis are associated with duodenal ulcer disease, whereas corpuspredominat gastritis has been associated with low acid output and risk of gastric carcinoma. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of different gastritis subtypes in the long-term treatment response of H. pylori -positive functional dyspepsia. Methods: The gastric biopsies from 143 H. pylori- positive patients with functional dyspepsia were classified in accordance with the Sydney System as antrumpredominant gastritis, pangastritis or corpus-predominant gastritis. The patients were randomized to receive either eradication therapy or placebo antibiotics. Moreover, to standardize acid suppression every patient received omeprazole therapy for the first 3 months. Dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated from a questionnaire and the follow-up time was 12 months. In addition, delta-over-baseline (DOB) values of the 13C-urea breath test (UBT) were analysed from a subgroup of 36 patients to measure urease activity of the stomach. Results: After 1 year, the dyspepsia symptom score was 7.4 ± 3.0 (95% CI 6.6-8.2) in successfully H. pylori -eradicated patients and 7.6 ± 3.1 (95% CI 6.9-8.4) in controls ( P = ns). Among patients with antrum-predominant gastritis, dyspepsia score was reduced more in subjects whose H. pylori was eradicated than in controls with ongoing infection (-3.6 ± 2.9 versus-1.7 ± 2.9; P = 0.05). High urease activity of the stomach was associated with severe or moderate chronic antrum-predominant gastritis. Conclusions: Patients with antrum-predominant H. pylori -positive chronic gastritis and functional dyspepsia get symptom improvement after successful eradication therapy. A high DOB value of UBT is associated with these patients.
Background and aims Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 infection with advanced liver disease has emerged as the most challenging to treat. We retrospectively assessed the treatment outcome of sofosbuvir (SOF) based regimes for treatment of HCV genotype 3 infections in a real life setting in Scandinavia. Methods Consecutive patients with chronic HCV genotype 3 infection were enrolled at 16 treatment centers in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Patients who had received a SOF containing regimen were included. The fibrosis stage was evaluated by liver biopsy or transient liver elastography. The following treatments were given according availability and local guidelines: 1) SOF + ribavirin (RBV) for 24 weeks, 2) SOF + daclatasvir (DCV) +/-RBV for 12–24 weeks, 3) SOF + pegylated interferon alpha (peg-IFN-α) + RBV for 12 weeks or 4) SOF/ledipasvir (LDV) + RBV for 12–16 weeks. The primary endpoint was sustained virological response (SVR) assessed at week 12 (SVR12) after end of treatment. Results We included 316 patients with a mean age of 55 years (range 24–79), 70% men, 49% treatment experienced, 58% with compensated cirrhosis and 12% with decompensated cirrhosis.In the modified intention to treat (mITT) population SVR12 was achieved in 284/311 (91%) patients. Among 26 treatment failures, five had non-response, 3 breakthrough and 18 relapse. Five patients were not included in the mITT population. Three patients died from reasons unrelated to treatment and two were lost to follow-up. The SVR12 rate was similar for all treatment regimens, but lower in men (p = 0.042), and in patients with decompensated liver disease (p = 0.004). Conclusion We found that sofosbuvir based treatment in a real-life setting could offer SVR rates exceeding 90% in patients with HCV genotype 3 infection and advanced liver disease.
Background/Aims We collected data on Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) patients with associated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who received past or ongoing treatment with tofacitinib to assess safety and efficacy of tofacitinib on liver and bowel disease.
Background: Pouchitis occurs in 20% to 59% of patients operated on for ulcerative colitis. Several risk factors have been identified for the development of pouchitis. This study was undertaken to assess the incidence of pouchitis at least 5 years after ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis, and to evaluate possible predictive factors for inflammation activity. Methods: A total of 107 subjects were enrolled (54 M, 53 F, mean age 45 years, range 23–69) with a J‐pouch created between 1985 and 1994. Preoperative medical history was determined, an endoscopy performed, and biopsies taken from the pouch and neoterminal ileum above the pouch. Sera from all patients were tested for perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCAs). Results: After a mean 7.5‐years' follow‐up time, the cumulative incidence of pouchitis was 58%. Risk for development of active inflammation (PDAI ≥ 7) was significantly higher in patients with preoperative extraintestinal manifestations (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1–6.4, P = 0.03). Patients who had had ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (OR 11.7, P = 0.006) or iritis (OR 9.8, P = 0.013) were especially at risk. Positive titres of pANCAs were associated with inflammation in the neoterminal ileum; 80% of patients with high pANCA levels (>100) had pouchitis. Current smokers tended to have a more benign disease course. Conclusions: A correlation existed between the prevalence and titre of pANCAs and extent and disease activity of pouchitis. Chronic pouchitis may continuously stimulate the immunological process, keeping pANCAs at detectable levels. A strong correlation between AS, iritis and pouchitis suggests a common link in their pathogenesis.