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The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical... Jan 1969
Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Weight; Female; Growth; Iodine Radioisotopes; Male; Methimazole; Rats; Reproduction; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Thiouracil; Thyroid Function Tests; Thyroid Gland; Thyroxine
PubMed: 4178410
DOI: No ID Found -
JAMA Network Open Nov 2022Very preterm neonates (24-32 weeks' gestation) remain at a higher risk of morbidity and neurodevelopmental adversity throughout their lifespan. Because the extent of...
Association of Pediatric Buccal Epigenetic Age Acceleration With Adverse Neonatal Brain Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Among Children Born Very Preterm With a Neonatal Infection.
IMPORTANCE
Very preterm neonates (24-32 weeks' gestation) remain at a higher risk of morbidity and neurodevelopmental adversity throughout their lifespan. Because the extent of prematurity alone does not fully explain the risk of adverse neonatal brain growth or neurodevelopmental outcomes, there is a need for neonatal biomarkers to help estimate these risks in this population.
OBJECTIVES
To characterize the pediatric buccal epigenetic (PedBE) clock-a recently developed tool to measure biological aging-among very preterm neonates and to assess its association with the extent of prematurity, neonatal comorbidities, neonatal brain growth, and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of age.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This prospective cohort study was conducted in 2 neonatal intensive care units of 2 hospitals in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A total of 35 very preterm neonates (24-32 weeks' gestation) were recruited in 2017 and 2018, and neuroimaging was performed and buccal swab samples were acquired at 2 time points: the first in early life (median postmenstrual age, 32.9 weeks [IQR, 32.0-35.0 weeks]) and the second at term-equivalent age (TEA) at a median postmenstrual age of 43.0 weeks (IQR, 41.0-46.0 weeks). Follow-ups for neurodevelopmental assessments were completed in 2019 and 2020. All neonates in this cohort had at least 1 infection because they were originally enrolled to assess the association of neonatal infection with neurodevelopment. Neonates with congenital malformations, genetic syndromes, or congenital TORCH (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes and other agents) infection were excluded.
EXPOSURES
The extent of prematurity was measured by gestational age at birth and PedBE age difference. PedBE age was computed using DNA methylation obtained from 94 age-informative CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanosine) sites. PedBE age difference (weeks) was calculated by subtracting PedBE age at each time point from the corresponding postmenstrual age.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Total cerebral volumes and cerebral growth during the neonatal intensive care unit period were obtained from magnetic resonance imaging scans at 2 time points: approximately the first 2 weeks of life and at TEA. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition, were used to assess neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months.
RESULTS
Among 35 very preterm neonates (21 boys [60.0%]; median gestational age, 27.0 weeks [IQR, 25.9-29.9 weeks]; 23 [65.7%] born extremely preterm [<28 weeks' gestation]), extremely preterm neonates had an accelerated PedBE age compared with neonates born at a later gestational age (β = 9.0; 95% CI, 2.7-15.3; P = .01). An accelerated PedBE age was also associated with smaller cerebral volumes (β = -5356.8; 95% CI, -6899.3 to -2961.7; P = .01) and slower cerebral growth (β = -2651.5; 95% CI, -5301.2 to -1164.1; P = .04); these associations remained significant after adjusting for clinical neonatal factors. These findings were significant at TEA but not earlier in life. Similarly, an accelerated PedBE age at TEA was associated with lower cognitive (β = -0.4; 95% CI, -0.8 to -0.03; P = .04) and language (β = -0.6; 95% CI, -1.1 to -0.06; P = .02) scores at 18 months.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This cohort study of very preterm neonates suggests that biological aging may be associated with impaired brain growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The associations between epigenetic aging and adverse neonatal brain health warrant further attention.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Infant; Male; Female; Humans; Child; Infant, Extremely Premature; Prospective Studies; Cohort Studies; Brain; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Acceleration; Epigenesis, Genetic; Ontario
PubMed: 36322087
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.39796 -
Journal of Sports Sciences Jun 1994As a consequence of the increase in popularity of skiing as a leisure sport, ski teaching has become an important pedagogic and economic issue. Unfortunately, most ski... (Review)
Review
As a consequence of the increase in popularity of skiing as a leisure sport, ski teaching has become an important pedagogic and economic issue. Unfortunately, most ski teaching curricula lack a thorough evaluation of the most important swinging techniques. Therefore, this study analyses the biomechanical characteristics of swinging techniques in alpine skiing. The data were collected using biodynamic, kinematic and electromyographic methods, employing 21 test skiers, all of whom were state-certified Austrian ski instructors. For all techniques, the individual turns were divided into a steering phase and an initiation phase. In the main, the fundamental differences between the single techniques became apparent in the initiation phase. There it seemed useful to distinguish between turns with 'up-unweighting' and turns with 'down-unweighting'. It was found that turns with up-unweighting were initiated either from the downhill ski only or from both skis. Turns with down-unweighting were used primarily on mogul pistes and in deep powder snow. Finally, some conclusions for training methodology are given.
Topics: Acceleration; Biomechanical Phenomena; Body Weight; Electromyography; Hip; Humans; Ice; Knee; Knee Joint; Leg; Movement; Muscles; Rotation; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Skiing; Snow; Stress, Mechanical; Surface Properties; Videotape Recording
PubMed: 8064973
DOI: 10.1080/02640419408732172 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Dec 2014To test if secular growth acceleration occurs during fetal life.
OBJECTIVE
To test if secular growth acceleration occurs during fetal life.
METHODS
ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-test have been used for the biometric characteristics comparison of nowadays fetal population with those three decades ago and to test the hypothesis about the existence of secular growth acceleration during fetal life. For this purpose, we first calculated mean values of particular biometric parameters for the whole pregnancy. During the period 2002-2009 biparietal diameter, fetal length and abdominal circumference measurements in singleton uncomplicated pregnancies between 22 and 41 gestational weeks were obtained. Gestational age was estimated according to Naegele's rule and confirmed with an early ultrasound examination. Pregnancies with fetal cromosomopathies and malformations were excluded as well as those resulting in perinatal death.
RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences of the examined fetal biometric parameters measured by ultrasound between contemporary fetal population and those from 35 years ago.
CONCLUSION
Our investigation did not undoubtedly prove that significant changes of fetal biometric parameters occurred in the last three decades. It is possible that secular growth acceleration does not exist in prenatal period but also the observed time period could have been short for this phenomenon to manifest.
Topics: Acceleration; Birth Weight; Female; Fetal Development; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Population Growth; Pregnancy; Reference Values; Ultrasonography, Prenatal
PubMed: 24446763
DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2014.885943 -
Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2021Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is overexpressed in response to interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). IDO-mediated degradation of tryptophan (Trp) along the kynurenine (Kyn)...
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is overexpressed in response to interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). IDO-mediated degradation of tryptophan (Trp) along the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway by immune cells is associated with the anti-microbial, and anti-tumor defense mechanisms. In contrast, IDO is constitutively expressed by various tumors and creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment around the tumor tissue both by depletion of the essential amino acid Trp and by formation of Kyn, which is immunosuppressive metabolite of Trp. IDO may activate its own expression in human cancer cells via an autocrine aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)- interleukin 6 (IL-6)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling loop. Although IDO is not a unique marker, in many clinical trials serum IDO activity is suggested to be an important parameter in the pathogenesis of cancer development and growth. Measuring IDO activity in serum seems to be an indicator of cancer growth rate, however, it is controversial whether this approach can be used as a reliable guide in cancer patients treated with IDO inhibitors. Thus, IDO immunostaining is strongly recommended for the identification of higher IDO producing tumors, and IDO inhibitors should be included in post-operative complementary therapy in IDO positive cancer cases only. Novel therapies that target the IDO pathway cover checkpoint protein kinases related combination regimens. Currently, multi-modal therapies combining IDO inhibitors and checkpoint kinase blockers in addition to T regulatory (Treg) cell-modifying treatments seem promising.
Topics: Acceleration; Humans; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase; Kynurenine; Protein Kinases; Tryptophan
PubMed: 33539022
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-49844-3_13 -
Current Biology : CB Apr 2022The strong air temperature warming between the 1950s and 2016 in the Antarctic Peninsula region exceeded the global average warming with evident impacts on terrestrial...
The strong air temperature warming between the 1950s and 2016 in the Antarctic Peninsula region exceeded the global average warming with evident impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and the two native Antarctic vascular plants Deschampsia antarctica Desv. and Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl. Subsequently, a short but intense cooling occurred from the Antarctic Peninsula to the South Orkney Islands (1999-2016), impacting terrestrial ecosystems, with reduced lichen growth and no further expansion of D. antarctica in the Argentine Islands. The strong warming trend is predicted to resume with expansion of ice-free areas and continued impacts on the abiotic and biotic components of terrestrial ecosystems including the ingression of non-native species as recently recorded at Signy Island (South Orkney Islands). In this study we document acceleration in the expansion of D. antarctica and C. quitensis in the last decade (2009-2018) at Signy Island, where the air temperature warming trend resumed in summer after 2012. We hypothesize that the striking expansion of these plants is mainly triggered by summer air warming and release from the limitation of fur seal disturbance. We also hypothesize that the "pulse" climatic event of the strong air cooling detected in 2012 did not appear to influence the vegetation community dynamics on this island. This is the first evidence in Antarctica for accelerated ecosystem responses to climate warming, confirming similar observations in the Northern Hemisphere. Our findings support the hypothesis that future warming will trigger significant changes in these fragile Antarctic ecosystems.
Topics: Acceleration; Antarctic Regions; Ecosystem
PubMed: 35167803
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.074 -
Ageing Research Reviews Aug 2020Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries associated with the aging process. Many risk factors have been identified and they are mainly... (Review)
Review
Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries associated with the aging process. Many risk factors have been identified and they are mainly related to life-styles, gene-environment interactions and socioeconomic status. Carotid and coronary artery diseases are the two major atherosclerotic conditions, being the primary cause of stroke and heart attack, respectively. Nevertheless, carotid plaque assumes particular aspects not only for the specific molecular mechanisms, but also for the types of atheroma which may be associated with a better or a worst prognosis. The identification of circulating blood biomarkers able to distinguish carotid plaque types (stable or vulnerable) is a crucial step for the improvement of adequate therapeutic approaches avoiding or delaying endarterectomy in the oldest old individuals (> 80 years), a population predicted to growth in the next years. The review highlights the most recent knowledge on carotid plaque molecular mechanisms, focusing on microRNAs (miRs), as a site-specific accelerated aging within the conceptual framework of Geroscience for new affordable therapies.
Topics: Acceleration; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Carotid Artery Diseases; Humans; MicroRNAs; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Risk Factors
PubMed: 32474155
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101090 -
Journal of Biomechanics Apr 2018Finite element (FE) models are a powerful tool that can be used to understand injury mechanisms and develop better safety systems. This study aims to extend the...
Finite element (FE) models are a powerful tool that can be used to understand injury mechanisms and develop better safety systems. This study aims to extend the understanding of pediatric spine biomechanics, where there is a paucity of studies available. A newly developed and continuously scalable FE model was validated and scaled to 1.5-, 3-, 6-, 10-, 14- and 18-year-old using a non-linear scaling technique, accounting for local topological changes. The oldest and youngest ages were also scaled using homogeneous geometric scaling. To study the effect of pediatric spinal growth on head kinematics and intervertebral disc strain, the models were exerted to 3.5 g acceleration pulse at the T1 vertebra to simulate frontal, rear and side impacts. It was shown that the head rotation increases with age, but is over predicted when geometrically scaling down from 18- to 1.5-year-old and under predicted when geometrically scaling up from 1.5- to 18-year-old. The strain in the disc, however, showed a clear decrease with age in side impact and for the upper cervical spine in rear impact, indicating a higher susceptibility for neck injury at younger ages. In the frontal impact, no clear age dependence could be seen, suggesting a large contribution from changed facet joint angles, and lower levels of strain, suggesting a lower risk of injury. The results also highlight the benefit of rearward facing children in a seat limiting head lateral motion.
Topics: Acceleration; Accidents, Traffic; Adolescent; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cervical Vertebrae; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Female; Finite Element Analysis; Head; Humans; Infant; Intervertebral Disc; Male; Models, Biological; Neck; Neck Injuries; Zygapophyseal Joint
PubMed: 29456172
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.01.038 -
Fortschritte Der Kieferorthopadie Apr 1990Using as example the secular trend, relations between growth, maturation and environment are discussed. This phenomenon is characterized by an increase of the average... (Review)
Review
Using as example the secular trend, relations between growth, maturation and environment are discussed. This phenomenon is characterized by an increase of the average height and an acceleration of growth velocity and maturation. The increase is acquired mainly in the early childhood. The secular trend has been modified by local and socio-economic differences in the frequency of malnutrition and morbidity. It is now minimal in countries with high standards of health and hygiene. It can appear or can be accelerated in all developing countries with progress in child-health, especially in early childhood. A negative trend can be expected in every country, where child-health deteriorates for a long time.
Topics: Adolescent; Body Constitution; Child; Environmental Health; Female; Growth; Humans; Menarche; Sexual Maturation; Tooth
PubMed: 2186987
DOI: 10.1007/BF02164842 -
Circulation Mar 2002People who are small at birth tend to have higher blood pressure in later life. However, it is not clear whether it is fetal growth restriction or the accelerated...
BACKGROUND
People who are small at birth tend to have higher blood pressure in later life. However, it is not clear whether it is fetal growth restriction or the accelerated postnatal growth that often follows it that leads to higher blood pressure.
METHODS AND RESULTS
We studied blood pressure in 346 British men and women aged 22 years whose size had been measured at birth and for the first 10 years of life. Their childhood growth was characterized using a conditional method that, free from the effect of regression to the mean, estimated catch-up growth. People who had been small at birth but who gained weight rapidly during early childhood (1 to 5 years) had the highest adult blood pressures. Systolic pressure increased by 1.3 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.3 to 2.3) for every standard deviation score decrease in birth weight and, independently, increased by 1.6 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.6 to 2.7) for every standard deviation score increase in early childhood weight gain. Adjustment for adult body mass index attenuated the effect of early childhood weight gain but not of birth weight. Relationships were smaller for diastolic pressure. Weight gain in the first year of life did not influence adult blood pressure.
CONCLUSIONS
Part of the risk of adult hypertension is set in fetal life. Accelerated weight gain in early childhood adds to this risk, which is partly mediated through the prediction of adult fatness. The primary prevention of hypertension may depend on strategies that promote fetal growth and reduce childhood obesity.
Topics: Adult; Birth Weight; Blood Pressure; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; England; Female; Fetus; Follow-Up Studies; Growth; Humans; Hypertension; Infant; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Life Style; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Sex Distribution; Weight Gain
PubMed: 11877360
DOI: 10.1161/hc0902.104677