Health Science Inquiry (Journal)
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Exercise as an Adjunctive Treatment Modality for Major Depressive Disorder: A Multi-Omics Perspective
Get PDFMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) is characterized by genetic and environmental factors. Current interventions, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioural therapy, are often effective yet prone to the development of treatment resistance. A major mechanism for MDD pathogenesis involves dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which results in chronic elevation of cortisol. Cortisol has been linked to MDD symptomology through downstream cellular effects, which can be elucidated through multi-omics analyses such as genomics (NR3C1, FKBP5), proteomics (pro-inflammatory cytokines), and metabolomics (shifted kynurenine pathway).
A systematic literature search of OVID Medline and similar databases was conducted over the past 10 years to identify studies investigating exercise interventions targeting multi-omics markers in MDD. Inclusion criteria required independent MDD cohorts and included a minimum of two omics levels, and their relationship to exercise as an intervention.
Existing literature demonstrates that aerobic exercise can regulate cortisol levels, increasing NR3C1 and FKBP5 gene expression, while reducing proinflammatory cytokines, and shifting tryptophan metabolism towards the neuroprotective kynurenic acid and away from neurotoxic metabolites. A change in these biomarkers suggests that regular physical activity can exert widespread biological and neurological effects, regulating molecular dysfunctions at a multi-omic level in MDD.
Exercise, when prescribed as an adjunct to conventional MDD therapies, may improve clinical outcomes by modulating stress-responsive and inflammatory pathways at multiple omics levels. Further large-scale and longer-term randomized trials are required to validate specific biomarkers for personalized medicine, and additional work should investigate sex-based differences in exercise efficacy. Exercise offers significant promise for optimizing MDD management and promotes greater physiological resistance to depressive symptoms
Proteomic Profiling of IGFBP2: Modulation and Biomarker Potential in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Modulation and Biomarker Potential in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
No full textThe impact of population growth and aging has contributed to a continued increase in the absolute number of people living with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).1 In Canada specifically, the 5-year prevalence rates for all subtypes of ASCVD have increased from 43.7 per 1000 individuals between 2004 and 2008 to 69.1 per 1000 individuals between 2013 and 2017, concurring with the global trend.2 With the increasing burden of ASCVD in Canada, medical professionals cannot afford to misidentify high-risk individuals. Using existing research on proteomics, we have highlighted a potential novel biomarker for ASCVD development: Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 (IGFBP2). Previous proteomic research focused on four groups to determine disease progression: (1) extracellular matrix proteins, (2) lipid-binding proteins and proteins associated with metabolism, (3) proteins associated with inflammation, and (4) phagocytic ligands and receptors of apoptotic cells.3 IGFBP2 impacts the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of arteries by modulating the bioavailability of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which causes VSMC hypertrophy.4 Individuals with pre-existing cardiomyopathies have displayed higher levels of IGFBP2 and subsequent higher rates of mortality.5 In healthy individuals, higher IGFBP2 levels correlate with decreased arterial stiffness and lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, which are used to determine ASCVD severity.6 As such, the uncertainty surrounding the relationship between IGFBP2 and ASCVD remains unknown; however, further investigation is pertinent as IGFBP2 presents as a promising biomarker due to its association with ASCVD-related effects and bioavailability. We propose further exploration of IGFBP2’s role in different stages of ASCVD and its potential as a therapeutic target through proteomics technology. 
Navigating Ethical Challenges of Multi-Omics and Electronic Health Records in Healthcare
Get PDFThe integration of multi-omics approaches with Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has the potential to transform personalized medicine by offering deeper insights into disease mechanisms, treatment responses, and patient outcomes. By incorporating genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other omics layers, multi-omics enhances diagnostic accuracy, treatment optimization, and predictive modeling in clinical care. However, this advancement also raises critical ethical concerns, particularly regarding privacy, confidentiality, autonomy, and justice. Multi-omics data serves as a distinct biological identifier, making it highly sensitive and vulnerable to misuse. The potential for re-identification also remains a major concern, as linking genomic data with phenotypic information increases the risk of privacy breaches and unauthorized disclosures. Equity in multi-omics research remains a significant challenge, as genomic studies have historically been biased toward populations of European descent, restricting the generalizability of findings to diverse groups. While federal regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S. and Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) establish baseline legal protections, their effectiveness depends on robust digital infrastructure, public education, and the development of privacy frameworks. Robust security measures such as encryption, blockchain, and privacy-preserving algorithms are essential to mitigate risks, yet existing governance frameworks must extend beyond security protocols to establish clear regulations on data ownership, access rights, and ethical usage. Emerging challenges, including AI-driven data analysis and the commercialization of genetic information, further underscore the need for proactive governance to prevent misuse, discrimination, and bias in healthcare and insurance industries. To ensure ethical multi-omics integration into EHRs, continuous policy updates, interdisciplinary collaboration, and patient-centered approaches are essential. Balancing innovation with ethical integrity will be crucial in advancing precision medicine while safeguarding individual rights and promoting equitable healthcare access
