Article
Environmental Sciences
Limei Ke, Guoqing Feng, Yao Zhang, Xindong Ma, Bin Zhao, Yisheng Sun, Zhaoxin Dong, Jia Xing, Shuxiao Wang, Qian Di
Summary: The study found that prenatal and chronic exposure to PM2.5 in China is associated with cognitive decline and decreased income. Additionally, individuals with low cognitive function and low income are more vulnerable to the negative effects of PM2.5 exposure. Despite improvements in air quality, the long-lasting cognitive impact of prenatal PM2.5 exposure should be considered in environmental policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hisanori Fukunaga
Summary: Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to disease, and environmental factors during fetal life may influence health risks in offspring.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Michael D. Thompson, Brian J. DeBosch
Summary: With the increasing consumption of fructose in the diet, the impact of fructose exposure during pregnancy and lactation has gained significance. While human studies have established the effect of fructose consumption on maternal health, little is known about its impact on offspring. Animal models have shown an association between maternal fructose exposure and chronic diseases in offspring.
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
Medicine, General & Internal
Tom A. Bond, Rebecca C. Richmond, Ville Karhunen, Gabriel Cuellar-Partida, Maria Carolina Borges, Verena Zuber, Alexessander Couto Alves, Dan Mason, Tiffany C. Yang, Marc J. Gunter, Abbas Dehghan, Ioanna Tzoulaki, Sylvain Sebert, David M. Evans, Alex M. Lewin, Paul F. O'Reilly, Deborah A. Lawlor, Marjo-Riitta Jarvelin
Summary: This study investigates the causal relationship between maternal pre-/early pregnancy BMI and offspring adiposity. The results suggest that higher maternal BMI is not a key driver of higher adiposity in the next generation.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nadia Saadat, Muraly Puttabyatappa, Venkateswaran R. Elangovan, John Dou, Joseph N. Ciarelli, Robert C. Thompson, Kelly M. Bakulski, Vasantha Padmanabhan
Summary: This study investigates the transcriptional changes and transcriptome signature of prenatal testosterone excess-induced hepatic and muscle-specific metabolic disruptions. The findings suggest that downregulation of mitochondria, lipid catabolism, and PPAR signaling genes in the liver and dysregulation of mitochondrial and ncRNA gene pathways in muscle contribute to lipotoxic and insulin-resistant hepatic and muscle phenotype.
Article
Neurosciences
Stephanie Raymann, Sina M. Schalbetter, Ron Schaer, Alexandra C. Bernhardt, Flavia S. Mueller, Urs Meyer, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
Summary: Prenatal immune activation can have transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, affecting cognitive functions and gene expression patterns across multiple generations. These effects are found to be transmitted through both maternal and paternal lineages and are accompanied by changes in maternal care behavior.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chien-Ning Hsu, You-Lin Tain
Summary: The developmental origins of health and disease theory suggests that many adult-onset diseases can originate in early life. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in renal programming, and perinatal use of antioxidants can reverse programming processes and prevent adult-onset diseases.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chien-Ning Hsu, You-Lin Tain
Summary: The cardiovascular system can be programmed by early-life insults, potentially leading to cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Hydrogen sulfide plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease of developmental origins, with early interventions based on H2S showing benefits in preventing adult-onset CVD. Understanding cardiovascular programming and recent advances in H2S-based interventions may help lower the global burden of CVD.
Article
Neurosciences
Megan G. McGill, Irina Pokhvisneva, Andrew S. Clappison, Lisa M. McEwen, Roseriet Beijers, Marieke S. Tollenaar, Hung Pham, Michelle Z. L. Kee, Elika Garg, Euclides J. de Mendonca Filho, Neerja Karnani, Patricia P. Silveira, Michael S. Kobor, Carolina de Weerth, Michael J. Meaney, Kieran J. O'Donnell
Summary: Prenatal maternal anxiety predicts child PedBE epigenetic age acceleration, predominantly in males. PedBE age acceleration predicts increased externalizing symptoms in males in the BIBO cohort.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chien-Ning Hsu, You-Lin Tain
Summary: Animal models are essential for investigating the causal relationship between early-life exposure and the developmental programming of hypertension, providing insights into how early interventions can reprogram disease processes and prevent hypertension.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
You-Lin Tain, Chien-Ning Hsu
Summary: Hypertension is a significant global disease burden and can originate in early life. Melatonin, a hormone with multifaceted biological functions, plays important roles in pregnancy, fetal development, and blood pressure regulation. Early melatonin therapy as a reprogramming strategy can protect against the early life origins of hypertension.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David J. Halpern, Shannon Tubridy, Lila Davachi, Todd M. Gureckis
Summary: Over 40 years of research have shown associations between neuroimaging signals during memory encoding tasks and future memory performance. However, the interpretation of these subsequent memory effects (SMEs) is still unclear. Previous studies did not control for potential confounders of these effects. In this study, a large fMRI dataset was collected and adjusted for known confounding variables. The results suggest that existing neuroimaging measures may not have the precision and specificity to reliably predict subsequent memory.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
John Dou, Muraly Puttabyatappa, Vasantha Padmanabhan, Kelly M. Bakulski
Summary: Prenatal testosterone-treated female sheep show disruptions in gene expression related to adiposity, inflammation, differentiation and vascular function in different adipose tissues, suggesting that dysregulation in gene expression underlies functional differences among adipose depots and metabolic dysfunction.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Salvo Danilo Lombardo, Ivan Fernando Wangsaputra, Jorg Menche, Adam Stevens
Summary: This article highlights the importance of the early developmental phase for human health and disease, focusing on the integration and analysis methods for studying transcriptomic and epigenetic processes relevant to the periconceptional period.
Article
Rheumatology
Sarah L. N. Clarke, Ruth E. Mitchell, Gemma C. Sharp, Athimalaipet V. Ramanan, Caroline L. Relton
Summary: Using Mendelian randomization (MR), this study examined the causal relationship between vitamin D levels and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) incidence. The results showed no evidence of a causal relationship between 25-(OH)D levels and JIA incidence. Therefore, population-level vitamin D supplementation is unlikely to reduce the incidence of JIA.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kurt Taylor, Robyn E. Wootton, Qian Yang, Sam Oddie, John Wright, Tiffany C. Yang, Maria Magnus, Ole A. Andreassen, Maria Carolina Borges, Massimo Caputo, Deborah A. Lawlor
Summary: This study used genetic epidemiology methods to explore the effects of maternal body mass index (BMI), smoking, and alcohol on offspring congenital heart diseases (CHDs). The results showed inconclusive associations between maternal BMI, smoking, alcohol, and offspring CHDs, indicating the need for further large-scale studies to replicate these findings.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ahmed Elhakeem, Justiina Ronkainen, Toby Mansell, Katherine Lange, Tuija M. M. Mikkola, Binisha H. H. Mishra, Rama J. J. Wahab, Tim Cadman, Tiffany Yang, David Burgner, Johan G. G. Eriksson, Marjo-Riitta Jaervelin, Romy Gaillard, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Terho Lehtimaeki, Olli T. T. Raitakari, Richard Saffery, Melissa Wake, John Wright, Sylvain Sebert, Deborah A. A. Lawlor
Summary: This study examined the associations between common pregnancy and perinatal complications and offspring metabolic traits using data from eight population-based cohort studies. The findings indicate that these complications are mainly associated with metabolic traits in newborns, with little evidence of long-term impact on older offspring.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ahmed Elhakeem, Amy E. Taylor, Hazel M. Inskip, Jonathan Y. Huang, Toby Mansell, Carina Rodrigues, Federica Asta, Sophia M. Blaauwendraad, Siri E. Haberg, Jane Halliday, Margreet W. Harskamp-van Ginkel, Jian-Rong He, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Sharon Lewis, Gillian M. Maher, Yannis Manios, Fergus P. McCarthy, Irwin K. M. Reiss, Franca Rusconi, Theodosia Salika, Muriel Tafflet, Xiu Qiu, Bjorn O. Asvold, David Burgner, Jerry K. Y. Chan, Luigi Gagliardi, Romy Gaillard, Barbara Heude, Maria C. Magnus, George Moschonis, Deirdre Murray, Scott M. Nelson, Daniela Porta, Richard Saffery, Henrique Barros, Johan G. Eriksson, Tanja G. M. Vrijkotte, Deborah A. Lawlor
Summary: This study aimed to examine the associations of assisted reproductive technology (ART) conception with offspring cardiometabolic health outcomes and whether these associations differ with age. The researchers found small and statistically non-significant differences in offspring cardiometabolic outcomes between ART-conceived and naturally conceived offspring. The study concluded that these findings should reassure individuals receiving ART, but longer-term follow-up is needed to investigate changes in the risks of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and cardiovascular disease over adulthood.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Kjersti Westvik-Johari, Deborah A. Lawlor, Liv Bente Romundstad, Christina Bergh, Ulla -Britt Wennerholm, Mika Gissler, Anna -Karina A. Henningsen, Siri E. Haberg, Aila Tiitinen, Anne Laerke Spangmose, Anja Pinborg, Signe Opdahl
Summary: This population-based cohort study compared the risks of stillbirth and neonatal death after fresh embryo transfers (fresh-ETs) and frozen embryo transfers (frozen-ETs) with singletons conceived without medical assistance. The study found that the risk of stillbirth was similar between fresh-ETs, frozen-ETs, and singletons conceived without medical assistance, while the risk of neonatal death was higher in both fresh-ETs and frozen-ETs. The study also found a higher risk of preterm birth and neonatal mortality in both fresh-ETs and frozen-ETs compared to singletons conceived without medical assistance.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shiu Lun Au Yeung, Maria Carolina Borges, Tommy Hon Ting Wong, Deborah A. Lawlor, C. Mary Schooling
Summary: A study using Mendelian randomization (MR) found that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is likely to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in both Europeans and East Asians. Additionally, there may be differential effects on coronary artery disease (CAD) between Europeans and East Asians.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kjersti Westvik-Johari, Siri E. Haberg, Deborah A. Lawlor, Liv Bente Romundstad, Christina Bergh, Ulla-Britt Wennerholm, Mika Gissler, Anna-Karina A. Henningsen, Aila Tiitinen, Anja Pinborg, Signe Opdahl
Summary: Studies have shown that children conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) have lower perinatal mortality compared to those conceived naturally. However, this finding may be biased due to selective fertility and carryover effects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Diana L. Juvinao-Quintero, Gemma C. Sharp, Eleanor C. M. Sanderson, Caroline L. Relton, Hannah R. Elliott
Summary: This study aimed to provide evidence for a causal relationship between DNA methylation (DNAm) and type 2 diabetes. The researchers used bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomisation (2SMR) to evaluate the causality at 58 CpG sites. The results showed a strong causal effect of DNAm at cg25536676 (DHCR24) on the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulietta S. Monasso, Thanh T. Hoang, Giulia Mancano, Silvia Fernandez-Barres, John Dou, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Christian M. Page, Laura Johnson, Mariona Bustamante, Kelly M. Bakulski, Siri E. Haberg, Per M. Ueland, Thomas Battram, Simon K. Merid, Erik Melen, Doretta Caramaschi, Leanne K. Kupers, Jordi Sunyer, Wenche Nystad, Sandra G. Heil, Rebecca J. Schmidt, Martine Vrijheid, Gemma C. Sharp, Stephanie J. London, Janine F. Felix
Summary: Circulating vitamin B12 concentrations during pregnancy are associated with offspring health through DNA methylation changes. Maternal and newborn vitamin B12 concentrations have been found to be associated with DNA methylation in cord blood, and these changes may be related to birth weight, gestational age, and childhood cognition.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Kotsakis Ruehlmann, Sara Sammallahti, Andrea P. Cortes Hidalgo, Kelly M. Bakulski, Elisabeth B. Binder, Megan Loraine Campbell, Doretta Caramaschi, Charlotte A. M. Cecil, Elena Colicino, Cristiana Cruceanu, Darina Czamara, Linda Dieckmann, John Dou, Janine F. Felix, Josef Frank, Siri E. Haberg, Gunda Herberth, Thanh T. Hoang, Lotte C. Houtepen, Anke Huls, Nastassja Koen, Stephanie J. London, Maria C. Magnus, Giulia Mancano, Rosa H. Mulder, Christian M. Page, Katri Raikkonen, Stefan Roeder, Rebecca J. Schmidt, Tabea S. Send, Gemma Sharp, Dan J. Stein, Fabian Streit, Johanna Tuhkanen, Stephanie H. Witt, Heather J. Zar, Ana C. Zenclussen, Yining Zhang, Lea Zillich, Rosalind Wright, Jari Lahti, Kelly J. Brunst
Summary: Prenatal maternal stressful life events are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. This meta-analysis examined the association between maternal stressful life events during pregnancy and DNA methylation in cord blood. Children whose mothers reported higher levels of cumulative maternal stressful life events during pregnancy exhibited differential methylation of specific genes implicated in neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration, immune and cellular functions, regulation of global methylation levels, metabolism, and schizophrenia risk. These findings provide novel insights into potential mechanisms of neurodevelopment in offspring.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Bryony L. Hayes, Marina Vabistsevits, Richard M. Martin, Deborah A. Lawlor, Rebecca C. Richmond, Timothy Robinson
Summary: This study systematically evaluated the potential causal effect between sleep and adiposity traits. The results showed that insomnia symptoms increased waist circumference, BMI, and waist-hip ratio; napping increased waist-hip ratio; higher adult BMI, hip circumference, and waist circumference increased the odds of daytime sleepiness; higher childhood BMI decreased the odds of napping.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Austin Argentieri, Gabriella Kountourides, M. Austin Argentieri, Lisa Agyen, Natalie Rogers, Dawn Knight, Gemma C. Sharp, Jacqueline A. Maybin, Zuzanna Olszewsla
Summary: There has been concern over the potential impact of COVID-19 vaccination on menstrual cycles compared to actual COVID-19 infection. A survey conducted in the UK found that 18% of pre-menopausal vaccinated individuals experienced changes in their menstrual cycles after the first vaccine dose. Smoking, history of COVID-19 infection, and non-use of contraceptives containing estradiol were identified as potential risk factors for reporting menstrual changes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mai Baquedano, Samantha E. de Jesus, Filippo Rapetto, Gavin J. Murphy, Gianni Angelini, Umberto Benedetto, Patricia Caldas, Prashant K. Srivastava, Orhan Uzun, Karen Luyt, Cecilia Gonzalez Corcia, Demetris Taliotis, Serban Stoica, Deborah A. Lawlor, Andrew R. Bamber, Alison Perry, Katie L. Skeffington, Ikenna Omeje, John Pappachan, Andrew D. Mumford, Richard J. M. Coward, Damien Kenny, Massimo Caputo
Summary: This study aims to establish a prospective cohort of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing cardiac procedures. It will collect clinical data, biological samples, and participant questionnaires to investigate risk factors, predictors, and the effects of surgery on outcomes.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Amand F. Schmidt, Roshni Joshi, Maria Gordillo-Maranon, Fotios Drenos, Pimphen Charoen, Claudia Giambartolomei, Joshua C. Bis, Tom R. Gaunt, Alun D. Hughes, Deborah A. Lawlor, Andrew Wong, Jackie F. Price, Nishi Chaturvedi, Goya Wannamethee, Nora Franceschini, Mika Kivimaki, Aroon D. Hingorani, Chris Finan
Summary: Schmidt et al. assessed the effects of elevated levels of cholesterol-containing lipoproteins and apolipoproteins on various health outcomes. They found that these lipoproteins and apolipoproteins were associated with atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other diseases, independent of traditional lipid fractions like LDL-C and HDL-C.
COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maria C. Magnus, Abigail Fraser, Siri E. Haberg, Kristiina Rono, Liv Bente Romundstad, Christina Bergh, Anne Laerke Spangmose, Anja Pinborg, Mika Gissler, Ulla-Britt Wennerholm, Bjorn Olav Asvold, Deborah A. Lawlor, Signe Opdahl
Summary: A study using nationwide data from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden found that women who gave birth after assisted reproductive technologies (ART) did not have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to those who conceived without ART during a median follow-up of 11 years. Longer-term studies are needed to further investigate the association between ART and higher risk of CVD.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Samantha Horn, Yana Litovsky, George Loewenstein
Summary: This study suggests that curiosity can be a useful tool in increasing demand for and engagement with aversive health information. By manipulating curiosity through various methods, researchers found that participants were more likely to view and engage with information about their drinking habits, cancer risk, and the sugar content in drinks. Overall, curiosity prompts provide a simple and effective way to increase engagement with aversive health information.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sandra Gillner
Summary: Despite high expectations, the extensive and rapid adoption of AI in medical diagnostics has not been realized. This study investigates the perception and navigation of AI providers in complex healthcare systems, revealing their self-organization to increase adaptability and the practices utilized to mitigate tensions within the healthcare subsystems.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fabian Duartea, Alvaro Jimenez-Molina
Summary: This study found that violence related to social protest has a significant impact on depressive symptoms, leading to an increase in depression among the population in Chile. The effect varies by gender and age, with a stronger influence on men and young adults.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nick Graetz, Carl Gershenson, Sonya R. Porter, Danielle H. Sandler, Emily Lemmerman, Matthew Desmond
Summary: Investments in stable, affordable housing may be an important tool for improving population health. This study, using administrative data, found that high rent burden, increases in rent burden during midlife, and evictions were associated with increased mortality.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Wan Wei
Summary: This study explores the phenomenon of other patient participation in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), uncovering the various roles that third parties can assume during medical interactions. The findings contribute to existing research on patient resistance and triadic medical interactions, providing insights into the dynamics and implications of third-party involvement in medical consultations.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Harry Scarbrough, Katie Rose M. Sanfilippo, Alexandra Ziemann, Charitini Stavropoulou
Summary: This paper examines the contribution of pilot implementation studies to the wider spread and sustainability of innovation in healthcare systems. Through an empirical examination of an innovation intermediary organization in the English NHS, the study finds that their work in mobilizing pilot-based evidence involves configuring to context, transitioning evidence, and managing the transition. The findings contribute to theory by showing how intermediary roles can support the effective transitioning of pilot-based evidence, leading to more widespread adoption and sustainability of innovation.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Marta Seiz, Leire Salazar, Tatiana Eremenko
Summary: This study examines the impact of maternal educational selection on birth outcomes during an economic recession, and finds that more educated mothers are more likely to give birth during high unemployment periods. Additionally, maternal education mitigates the adverse effects of unemployment on birth outcomes and is consistently associated with better perinatal health.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jingyuan Shi, Hye Kyung Kim, Charles T. Salmon, Edson C. Tandoc Jr, Zhang Hao Goh
Summary: This study examines the influence of individual and collective norms on COVID-19 vaccination intention across eight Asian countries. The findings reveal nuanced patterns of how individual and collective social norms influence health behavioral decisions, depending on the degree of cultural tightness-looseness.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Elliot Friedman, Melissa Franks, Elizabeth Teas, Patricia A. Thomas
Summary: This study found that positive relations with others have a significant impact on functional limitations and longevity in aging adults, independent of social integration and social support.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Zhuolin Pan, Yuqi Liu, Ye Liu, Ziwen Huo, Wenchao Han
Summary: This study examines the effects of age-friendly neighbourhood environment and functional abilities on life satisfaction among older adults in urban China. The findings highlight the importance of transportation, housing, and social and physical environment factors in influencing functional abilities and life satisfaction. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers in enhancing older adults' life satisfaction in the Chinese urban context.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2024)