Article
Environmental Sciences
Nichole Nidey, Katherine Bowers, Lili Ding, Hong Ji, Robert T. Ammerman, Kimberly Yolton, E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens, Alonzo T. Folger
Summary: This study investigated the effects of in-utero exposure to maternal smoking on DNA methylation of AVPR1a gene in infants. The findings suggest that infants with in-utero exposure to maternal smoking have reduced DNA methylation at AVPR1a CpG sites.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Marta Cosin-Tomas, Ariadna Cilleros-Portet, Sofia Aguilar-Lacasana, Nora Fernandez-Jimenez, Mariona Bustamante
Summary: Studies have shown that maternal smoking during pregnancy leads to changes in offspring's DNA methylation, with effects potentially lasting for years depending on the length and dosage of exposure. DNA methylation scores have been developed as biomarkers to estimate past exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy.
CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Jordan M. Buck, Li Yu, Valerie S. Knopik, Jerry A. Stitzel
Summary: Maternal smoking during pregnancy can have negative impacts on children's neurodevelopment, while grandmaternal smoking may also lead to neurodevelopmental abnormalities in grandchildren. Research suggests that epigenetic changes, particularly DNA methylome perturbations, play a key role in these abnormalities.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Laura Schellhas, Giulietta S. Monasso, Janine F. Felix, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Peiyuan Huang, Silvia Fernandez-Barres, Martine Vrijheid, Giancarlo Pesce, Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Christian M. Page, Anne-Lise Brantsaeter, Mona Bekkhus, Siri E. Haberg, Stephanie J. London, Marcus R. Munafo, Luisa Zuccolo, Gemma C. Sharp
Summary: This study found little evidence to support the intrauterine effect of prenatal caffeine exposure on offspring DNA methylation. Statistical power limitations may have impacted the findings. However, further research is needed to explore the biological mechanism of how caffeine intake during pregnancy influences development.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Parnian Kheirkhah Rahimabad, Syed Hasan Arshad, John W. Holloway, Nandini Mukherjee, Anna Hedman, Olena Gruzieva, Ellika Andolf, Juha Kere, Goran Pershagen, Catarina Almqvist, Yu Jiang, Su Chen, Wilfried Karmaus
Summary: This study identified an association between maternal DNA methylation during pregnancy and offspring birthweight, with 8 candidate CpGs being significantly correlated. Replication studies found 3 CpGs to be marginally significant in association with 4 genes related to birthweight. Biological pathway analyses suggested potential cellular and metabolic processes that may influence birthweight outcomes.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Bereket Duko, Gavin Pereira, Kim Betts, Robert J. Tait, John Newnham, Rosa Alati
Summary: The study found an association between maternal prenatal tobacco exposure and an increased risk of tobacco smoking in offspring, especially when exposed during the first trimester and both trimesters of pregnancy. There was insufficient statistical evidence for an association between paternal smoking during pregnancy and the risk of tobacco smoking in offspring.
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Aurelie Nakamura, Olivier Francois, Johanna Lepeule
Summary: In utero exposure to maternal tobacco smoking can lead to epigenetic changes affecting the birth and development of infants, with DNA methylation being the most extensively studied mechanism. Some studies suggest reversibility in certain genomic regions of DNAm and memory of smoking exposure in other regions, especially in cases of smoking cessation before or during pregnancy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jonathan Yinhao Huang, Shirong Cai, Zhongwei Huang, Mya Thway Tint, Wen Lun Yuan, Izzuddin M. Aris, Keith M. Godfrey, Neerja Karnani, Yung Seng Lee, Jerry Kok Yen Chan, Yap Seng Chong, Johan Gunnar Eriksson, Shiao-Yng Chan
Summary: The study found that ART-conceived children at the age of 6-6.5 have lower height, weight, skinfold thickness, and blood pressure, but no significant differences in metabolic parameters. These differences are not explained by parental genetics, breastfeeding, or illnesses.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Cathal McCrory, Giovanni Fiorito, Belinda Hernandez, Silvia Polidoro, Aisling M. O'Halloran, Ann Hever, Cliona Ni Cheallaigh, Ake T. Lu, Steve Horvath, Paolo Vineis, Rose Anne Kenny
Summary: The study indicates that the GrimAge clock is a significant improvement in predicting age-related decline in various clinical phenotypes compared to other epigenetic clocks, showing better predictive utility and promising to advance precision medicine.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Aino Heikkinen, Sailalitha Bollepalli, Miina Ollikainen
Summary: DNA methylation, as an epigenetic modification, has been consistently associated with various human traits and diseases. It has the potential to serve as a disease biomarker by reflecting environmental exposures and predicting disease onset. DNA methylation patterns are more stable and easier to measure compared to transcriptomic or proteomic patterns, making them ideal for tracking different environments and risk factors. DNA methylation-based predictors have shown promise in being more accurate than self-reported or measured phenotypes, and may have applications in clinics.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Scott W. Walsh, Marwah Al Dulaimi, Kellie J. Archer, Jerome F. Strauss
Summary: The study found that gene expression profiles of neutrophils can distinguish different preeclampsia phenotypes, with changes occurring before clinical symptoms in mild cases. Severe preeclampsia showed gene expression patterns that mirrored normal pregnancy, while mild preeclampsia had distinct gene expression profiles. DNA methylation levels in circulating neutrophils were extremely low, and did not mediate gene expression differences in either mild or severe preeclampsia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Nicolas Fragoso-Bargas, Christian M. Page, Bonnie R. Joubert, Stephanie J. London, Sindre Lee-Odegard, Julia O. Opsahl, Line Sletner, Anne K. Jenum, Elisabeth Qvigstad, Rashmi B. Prasad, Gunn-Helen Moen, Kare Birkeland, Christine Sommer
Summary: This research conducted an epigenome-wide association study on serum folate levels in maternal blood and identified CpG sites associated with folate levels. The findings provide new insights into the epigenomic component of serum folate levels.
Article
Oncology
C. Christiansen, J. E. Castillo-Fernandez, A. Domingo-Relloso, W. Zhao, J. S. El-Sayed Moustafa, P. -C. Tsai, J. Maddock, K. Haack, S. A. Cole, S. L. R. Kardia, M. Molokhia, M. Suderman, C. Power, C. Relton, A. Wong, D. Kuh, A. Goodman, K. S. Small, J. A. Smith, M. Tellez-Plaza, A. Navas-Acien, G. B. Ploubidis, R. Hardy, J. T. Bell
Summary: This study identified novel smoking-associated methylation signals, which could serve as possible biomarkers of smoking exposure and enhance our understanding of smoking-related disease risks.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Robert Philibert, Kelsey Dawes, Willem Philibert, Allan M. Andersen, Eric A. Hoffman
Summary: Successful smoking cessation significantly reduces alcohol consumption. Targeted therapy for comorbid alcohol use may increase the success of smoking cessation for dual users.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edward B. Quinn, Chu J. Hsiao, Felicien M. Maisha, Connie J. Mulligan
Summary: Prenatal maternal stress has been found to have negative effects on child health, but the exact mechanisms are not well understood. This study in the Democratic Republic of Congo examined the impact of maternal stress on DNA methylation in mothers and newborns. It was found that different types of trauma, such as sexual trauma and war trauma, were associated with changes in DNA methylation in both mothers and newborns, while chronic stress did not have such an effect.
Article
Sport Sciences
Andrew Haynes, Joanne McVeigh, Leanne Lester, Peter R. Eastwood, Leon Straker, Trevor A. Mori, Lawrence Beilin, Daniel J. Green
Summary: TV watching habits during childhood and adolescence have a negative impact on cardiorespiratory fitness in adulthood, but this impact can be attenuated by engaging in higher levels of physical activity in adulthood.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SPORT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Phillip E. E. Melton, M. A. Burton, K. A. Lillycrop, K. M. Godfrey, S. Rauschert, D. Anderson, G. C. Burdge, T. A. Mori, L. J. Beilin, O. T. Ayonrinde, J. M. Craig, J. K. Olynyk, J. D. Holbrook, C. E. Pennell, W. H. Oddy, E. K. Moses, L. A. Adams, R. C. Huang
Summary: Through DNA methylation epigenome-wide association study, we identified novel DNA methylation loci associated with NAFLD and serum liver biochemistry markers during adolescence, implicating putative dmCpG/gene regulatory pathways and providing insights for future mechanistic studies.
HEPATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Jian Huang, Ai Peng Tan, Evelyn Law, Keith M. Godfrey, Anqi Qiu, Lourdes Mary Daniel, Marielle Fortier, Kok Hian Tan, Jerry Kok Yen Chan, David Cameron-Smith, Yap Seng Chong, Shiao-Yng Chan, Johan G. Eriksson, Michael J. Meaney, Jonathan Huang
Summary: This study found that higher levels of certain nutrient-related biomarkers in maternal preconception blood were associated with an increased risk of behavioral problems in infants. The study also found that an increase in preconception thiamine levels was associated with higher CBCL scores and a lower right subthalamic nucleus ODI.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Soo Min Han, Surabhi Devaraj, Jose G. B. Derraik, Mark H. Vickers, Fang Huang, Stephane Dubascoux, Keith M. Godfrey, Shiao-Yng Chan, Wei Wei Pang, Sagar K. Thakkar, Wayne S. Cutfield
Summary: During pregnancy and lactation, zinc supplementation can increase the zinc concentrations in human milk. This study found that a micronutrient-containing supplement including zinc increased the zinc concentrations in human milk, while having no effect on other mineral concentrations. Further studies are needed to understand the associations between zinc and other minerals in human milk and their impact on offspring outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicola A. Irvine, Annette L. West, Johanna Von Gerichten, Elizabeth A. Miles, Karen A. Lillycrop, Philip C. Calder, Barbara A. Fielding, Graham C. Burdge
Summary: This study compared the effect of incubation with 24:6 omega-3 on the fatty acid composition of two related cell types and found that cells can assimilate and metabolize exogenous 24:6 omega-3. The findings also suggest that consuming 24:6 omega-3 may provide similar health benefits as 20:5 omega-3 and 22:6 omega-3.
Letter
Allergy
Zhao Xiang Choa, Gaik Chin Yap, Ruochen Du, Evelyn Xiu Ling Loo, Anne Eng Neo Goh, Oon Hoe Teoh, Hugo P. S. Van Bever, Lynette Pei-Chi Shek, Bee Wah Lee, Kok Hian Tan, Keith M. Godfrey, Johan Gunnar Eriksson, Yap Seng Chong, Shiao Yng Chan, Elizabeth Huiwen Tham
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Educational
Filippo Abbondanza, Philip S. Dale, Carol A. Wang, Marianna E. Hayiou-Thomas, Umar Toseeb, Tanner S. Koomar, Karen G. Wigg, Yu Feng, Kaitlyn M. Price, Elizabeth N. Kerr, Sharon L. Guger, Maureen W. Lovett, Lisa J. Strug, Elsje van Bergen, Conor V. Dolan, J. Bruce Tomblin, Kristina Moll, Gerd Schulte-Koerne, Nina Neuhoff, Andreas Warnke, Simon E. Fisher, Cathy L. Barr, Jacob J. Michaelson, Dorret I. Boomsma, Margaret J. Snowling, Charles Hulme, Andrew J. O. Whitehouse, Craig E. Pennell, Dianne F. Newbury, John Stein, Joel B. Talcott, Dorothy V. M. Bishop, Silvia Paracchini
Summary: The association between handedness and language-related disorders has been extensively studied. However, the inconsistent findings may be attributed to factors such as small sample sizes, publication bias, and variation in study criteria. This study examined the frequency of non-right-handedness (NRH) in individuals with reading and/or language impairment and found a higher prevalence compared to controls. Meta-analysis results further supported the association between NRH and language/reading impairments, suggesting shared underlying pathways between brain lateralization, handedness, and cognitive functions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Prachand Issarapu, Manisha Arumalla, Hannah R. Elliott, Suraj S. Nongmaithem, Alagu Sankareswaran, Modupeh Betts, Sara Sajjadi, Noah J. Kessler, Swati Bayyana, Sohail R. Mansuri, Maria Derakhshan, G. V. Krishnaveni, Smeeta Shrestha, Kalyanaraman Kumaran, Chiara Di Gravio, Sirazul A. Sahariah, Eleanor Sanderson, Caroline L. Relton, Kate A. Ward, Sophie E. Moore, Andrew M. Prentice, Karen A. Lillycrop, Caroline H. D. Fall, Matt J. Silver, Giriraj R. Chandak
Summary: This study investigates the association between DNA methylation and child height and identifies three CpG sites in the SOCS3 gene that are significantly associated with child height in four low and middle income countries. The association is also replicated in a high-income country cohort and is shown to be independent of genetic effects. Further analysis confirms a causal effect of SOCS3 methylation on child height.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tegan Grace, Joshua Fisher, Carol Wang, Sarah R. Valkenborghs, Roger Smith, Jonathan J. Hirst, Joerg Mattes, Vanessa E. Murphy, Craig E. Pennell
Summary: Multiple cohort studies in Australia, established over 20 years ago, need to be updated due to changes in socioeconomic, environmental and cultural influences over time. The Newcastle 1000 Study aims to investigate the impact of early life factors on health outcomes by collecting repeated biological samples and in-depth phenotype data across the first 1000 days of life from conception.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Anne -Marie Aubin, Liam McAuliffe, Kimberley Williams, Ashad Issah, Rosanna Diacci, Jack E. McAuliffe, Salma Sabdia, Jason Phung, Carol A. Wang, Craig E. Pennell
Summary: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of combining cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone in the prevention of preterm birth. The results showed that combined therapy was associated with a lower risk of preterm birth and better outcomes compared to single therapy.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY MFM
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ashish Yadav, Lawrence J. Beilin, Rae-Chi Huang, John P. Newnham, Scott W. White, Trevor A. Mori
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between serial ultrasound-derived fetal growth trajectories and markers of insulin resistance in young adults in an Australian pregnancy cohort. The study found that restricted fetal head circumference and abdominal circumference from early pregnancy are associated with higher relative insulin resistance in offspring during adulthood. These findings enhance our understanding of the importance of the intrauterine environment and its impact on the risk of adult diabetes and related metabolic disorders.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
J. Ball, J. T. Neumann, A. M. Tonkin, P. Kirchhof, B. Freedman, A. Brodtmann, C. Reid, M. R. Nelson, L. J. Beilin, S. Fitzgerald, D. Stub, R. L. Woods, J. J. McNeil
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Sultana Monira Hussain, Andrew M. Tonkin, Gerald F. Watts, Paul Lacaze, Chenglong Yu, Lawrence J. Beilin, Zhen Zhou, Anne B. Newman, Johannes T. Neumann, Cammie Tran, John J. Mcneil
Summary: This study found that higher HDL-C levels are associated with increased risk of cancer and non-cancer non-CVD mortality in healthy older men, but not with CVD mortality. No significant association was found between HDL-C levels and mortality in women.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
A. R. M. Saifuddin Ekram, S. E. Espinoza, M. E. Ernst, J. Ryan, L. Beilin, N. P. Stocks, S. A. Ward, J. J. McNeil, R. C. Shah, R. L. Woods
Summary: This study aimed to examine the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and frailty, and determine whether co-existent MetS and frailty affect disability-free survival (DFS). The results showed that MetS was associated with frailty, but MetS alone did not shorten DFS, while frailty increased the risk of reduced DFS.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION HEALTH & AGING
(2023)