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Background: Mendelian randomization analysis was applied to elucidate the causal relationship between the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and common cardiovascular diseases. Method: We choose BMR as exposure. BMR is the metabolic rate of the body when the basic physiological activities (blood circulation, breathing and constant body temperature) are maintained. The normal BMR is 1507 kcal/day for men and 1276 kcal/day for women. The dataset was drawn from the public GWAS dataset (GWAS ID: ukb‐a‐268), collected and analysed by UK biobank, containing 331,307 European males and females. SNPs independently and strongly associated with BMR were used as instrumental variables in the inverse variance weighted analysis. MR‐Egger, weighted median, MR pleiotropy residual sum, and outlier methods were also performed, and the sensitivity was evaluated using horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity analyses to ensure the stability of the results. Results: An increased BMR is associated with a higher risk of cardiomyopathy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57–2.54, p = 1.87 × 10−8), heart failure (OR = 1.39, 95% CI, 1.27–2.51, p = 8.1 × 10−13), and valvular heart disease (OR = 1.18, 95% CI, 1.10–1.27, p =.00001). However, there was no clear association between BMR and the subtypes of other cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary disease (OR =.96, 95% CI,.85–1.08, p =.48651) and atrial fibrillation (AF) (OR = 1.85, 95% CI, 1.70–2.02, p = 6.28 × 10−44). Conclusion: Our study reveals a possible causal effect of BMR on the risk of cardiomyopathy, heart failure and valvular disease, but not for coronary disease and AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The concept of head and neck cancers (HNSCC) having unique molecular signatures is well accepted but relating this to clinical presentation and disease behaviour is essential for patient benefit. Currently the clinical significance of HNSCC molecular subtypes is uncertain therefore personalisation of HNSCC treatment is not yet possible.Methods: We performed meta-analysis on 8 microarray studies and identified six significantly up- (PLAU, FN1, CDCA5) and down-regulated (CRNN, CLEC3B and DUOX1) genes which were subsequently quantified by RT-qPCR in 100 HNSCC patient margin and core tumour samples.Results: Retrospective correlation with sociodemographic and clinicopathological patient details identified two subgroups of opposing molecular signature (+q6 and -q6) that correlated to two recognised high-risk HNSCC populations in the UK. The +q6 group were older, male, and excessive alcohol users whilst the -q6 group were younger, female, paan-chewers and predominantly Bangladeshi. Additionally, all patients with tumour recurrence were in the latter subgroup.Conclusions: We provide the first evidence linking distinct molecular signatures in HNSCC with clinical presentations. Prospective trials are required to determine the correlation between these distinct genotypes and disease progression or treatment response. This is an important step towards the ultimate goal of improving outcomes by utilising personalised molecular-signature-guided treatments for HNSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]