(Press-News.org) Lumbar disc herniation is one of the most common structural changes in the lower back and the most common cause of radiating pain, or sciatica, in the leg.
Hereditary risk factors for disc herniations were investigated in a recently published international study led by a University of Oulu research group, utilising data from FinnGen, the Estonian Biobank, and the UK Biobank. The study analyzed the genetic and health data of 829,699 participants.
The study found 41 novel regions of the genome that modify the disease risk for disc herniations, in addition to the previously identified 23 regions. In the study, numerous genomic regions potentially affecting the structure of the discs and inflammatory factors were found.
In addition to these, the study identified new associations near genes related to the nervous system and nerve function. Findings related to the functioning of the nervous system have increased our understanding of the connection between symptomatic disc herniations and radiating pain. "We found susceptibility genes that can, for example, partly explain the prolongation of pain and also clinically observed differences in the pain experienced by patients," says Ville Salo, Doctoral Researcher at the University of Oulu, and the main analyst in the study.
The study also analyzed disc herniation patients who required surgical treatment. A total of five novel genomic regions were found to be associated with the more severe disc herniations which require surgery. "This kind of analysis is possible thanks to the very good and extensive Finnish health registers, which allow us to study the mechanisms of disease in a very versatile manner," continues Salo.
The researchers emphasize that the study also produced a lot of data and results that can be used in future studies. "We hope that our findings and datasets can be used to develop medical and preventive solutions in the future. This could open up possibilities, for example, in the development of pain management methods for disc herniation patients suffering from radiating pain, and thereby improving their quality of life," states the specialist in physiatry, docent Juhani Määttä, who participated in the research. "Such advances would naturally also have broader social effects in addition to individual benefits, such as a decrease in direct healthcare costs and indirect financial costs, for example, lost income," states the leader of the study, Professor Johannes Kettunen.
Lumbar disc herniation is one of the most common structural changes in the lower back and it is also the most common cause for radiating pain, so-called sciatica. Radiating pain is caused by nerve irritation, which occurs due to the narrowing of the nerve caused by the disc herniation and especially by the increase of inflammatory factors in the area of the herniation. Herniations are quite common even in asymptomatic people, with frequency increasing with age, and cause symptoms for some only when they irritate the nerve. The factors related to the development of disc herniation are relatively well known, but the investigation of their hereditary background has received less attention.
The study was published in journal Nature Communications on 7 November 2024: Ville Salo, Juhani Määttä, Eeva Sliz, FinnGen, Ene Reimann, Reedik Mägi, Estonian Biobank Research Team, Kadri Reis, Abdelrahman G.Elhanas, Anu Reigo, Priit Palta, Tõnu Esko, Jaro Karppinen, Johannes Kettunen. Genome-wide meta-analysis conducted in three large biobanks expands the genetic landscape of lumbar disc herniations. Nature Communications 2024. Doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53467-z
Once the paper is published, it will be available to view online on the journal website https://www.nature.com/ncomms/ or directly at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53467-z.
END
Researchers discover dozens of new genes associated with disc herniations
2024-11-07
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Research shows caterpillar fungus can slow down growth of cancer cells
2024-11-07
New research into a chemical produced by a caterpillar fungus that has shown promise as a possible cancer treatment has revealed how it interacts with genes to interrupt cell growth signals. The discovery is an important step towards developing new drugs for the treatment of the disease.
The research into a chemical produced by a caterpillar fungus has revealed how it may work as a cancer treatment. It interrupts the cell growth signals that are overactive in cancer, an approach that could be less damaging to healthy ...
Tanning bed access and usage is driving higher rates of melanoma in specific regions
2024-11-07
Philadelphia, November 7, 2024 – Melanoma accounts for only 1% of skin cancers in the United States but results in the largest number of skin cancer deaths. Investigators evaluated the potential link between the availability and use of tanning beds and the rising rates of melanoma in New England. They found compelling evidence linking tanning bed usage to increased melanoma risk. Their spatial epidemiologic study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, published by Elsevier, provides critical insights to inform public health strategies and reduce melanoma incidence.
The incidence of melanoma in the US has been increasing ...
Mitochondrial dysfunction research transforms mental health: Dr. Ana Andreazza's vision
2024-11-07
Toronto, Canada, 7 November 2024 – From a curious young scientist investigating her grandfather's family wine to a leading expert in mitochondrial health and mental illness, Dr. Ana Cristina Andreazza's journey exemplifies the power of personal motivation in driving scientific innovation. As founder and Scientific Director of the Mitochondrial Innovation Initiative (Mito2i), Dr. Andreazza is revolutionizing our understanding of the connection between cellular energy production and mental health.
In an illuminating Genomic Press Interview, published in Brain Medicine on November 7, 2024, ...
Dr. Nora Volkow shares insights on addiction science and harm reduction in Genomic Press interview
2024-11-07
Bethesda, Maryland, USA, 7 November 2024 – Dr. Nora Volkow's mission to revolutionize addiction treatment began with a deeply personal observation: watching how excessive substance use could profoundly alter a person’s behavior while simultaneously triggering social rejection by others. As the first woman and Hispanic Director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Dr. Volkow has dedicated her career to investigating how drugs affect the human brain and how these disruptions contribute to the behavioral/emotional ...
25-year study reveals key factors in healthy brain aging and cognitive performance
2024-11-07
Edinburgh, Scotland, 7 November 2024 – A groundbreaking 25-year research program has unveiled key insights into how our brains age and what factors influence cognitive performance throughout life. The findings, published on 7 November 2024 in Genomic Psychiatry, draw from the Lothian Birth Cohorts (LBC) studies, which uniquely tracked participants' cognitive abilities from childhood through their eighth decade of life.
Professor Ian Deary and Dr. Simon Cox from the University of Edinburgh present remarkable discoveries that challenge conventional wisdom about brain aging. Their research ...
First clinical trial reveals promise of psilocybin treatment for anorexia nervosa
2024-11-07
San Diego, California, 7 November 2024 – In a groundbreaking exploration of psychedelic medicine's potential for treating one of psychiatry's most challenging conditions, researchers at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) provided an analysis and further details of a trial published in Nature Medicine (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10427429/) that had shown how psilocybin therapy affects individuals with anorexia nervosa. In the new peer-reviewed Emerging Topic article in Psychedelics ...
Fabrication of 4-inch wafer-scale heterostructure via PECVD drives AI semiconductor performance innovation!
2024-11-07
As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances, the demand for higher-performing semiconductors is rapidly growing. The development of new materials and innovative structures to achieve high-performance semiconductors has become crucial. For the first time globally, a 4-inch heterostructure fabrication technology using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) has been developed. This breakthrough enables the production of low-power, high-performance semiconductors, surpassing the capabilities of traditional silicon-based technology.
The research team led by Senior Researcher Hyeong-U Kim of the Semiconductor Manufacturing Research Center of the ...
Plastic device aids robot-assisted heart surgery
2024-11-07
Robot-assisted heart surgery usually requires an assistant at the operating table to help the surgeon insert the robot arm through a small incision. The assistant has to constantly make sure the surgeon has enough room to operate via the robot arm. For greater independence on the surgeon’s side, an Osaka Metropolitan University-led group has developed a device that can secure the surgical field.
Graduate School of Medicine Professor Toshihiko Shibata and Associate Professor Yosuke Takahashi worked with colleagues and small and ...
UVM scientists find space-for-time substitutions exaggerate urban bird–habitat ecological relationships
2024-11-07
As bird populations dwindle across the globe, a new study from University of Vermont researchers suggests some species may be more flexible to habitat changes than previously understood, creating new opportunities for supporting populations through city planting efforts. The team’s findings were published in the Journal of Animal Ecology today.
While studies have found bird populations are on the decline—Canada and the United States have lost nearly three billion birds over the last half century—measuring ...
Molecular Frontiers Symposium in Hong Kong “Frontiers of New Knowledge in Science”
2024-11-07
Event Date: 15 November 2024 to 17 November 2024
Time: 9:00am - 6:30pm
Venue: Main Hall, Shaw Auditorium, HKUST
INTRODUCTION
The Molecular Frontiers Symposium, organized by the globally renowned Molecular Frontiers Foundation - founded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences - is recognized as one of the most influential scientific organizations worldwide.
For the first time in the organization’s history, the Foundation's annual flagship symposium will be held in Greater China, hosted at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
With the theme "Frontiers of New Knowledge in Science", the Symposium ...