Comparison of smoking-related DNA methylation between newborns from prenatal exposure and adults from personal smoking.

Cigarette smoking influences DNA methylation genome wide, in newborns from pregnancy exposure and in adults from personal smoking. Whether a unique methylation signature exists for exposure in newborns is unknown. We separately meta-analyzed newborn blood DNA methylation (assessed using Illumina450k Beadchip), in relation to sustained maternal smoking during pregnancy (9 cohorts, 5648 newborns, 897 exposed) and adult blood methylation and personal smoking (16 cohorts, 15907 participants, 2433 current smokers).

Dose and time effects of solar-simulated ultraviolet radiation on the in vivo human skin transcriptome.

Background: Terrestrial ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes erythema, oxidative stress, DNA mutations and skin cancer. Skin can adapt to these adverse effects by DNA repair, apoptosis, keratinization and tanning.

Objectives: To investigate the transcriptional response to fluorescent solar-simulated radiation (FSSR) in sun-sensitive human skin in vivo.

Mendelian randomization analysis rules out disylipidaemia as colorectal cancer cause.

Dyslipidemia and statin use have been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC), but prospective studies have shown mixed results. We aimed to determine whether dyslipidemia is causally linked to CRC risk using a Mendelian randomization approach and to explore the association of statins with CRC. A case-control study was performed including 1336 CRC cases and 2744 controls (MCC-Spain).

A trans-ancestral meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies reveals loci associated with childhood obesity.

Although hundreds of genome-wide association studies-implicated loci have been reported for adult obesity-related traits, less is known about the genetics specific for early-onset obesity and with only a few studies conducted in non-European populations to date. Searching for additional genetic variants associated with childhood obesity, we performed a trans-ancestral meta-analysis of 30 studies consisting of up to 13 005 cases (≥95th percentile of body mass index (BMI) achieved 2-18 years old) and 15 599 controls (consistently <50th percentile of BMI) of European, African, North/South American and East Asian ancestry. Suggestive loci were taken forward for replication in a sample of 1888 cases and 4689 controls from seven cohorts of European and North/South American ancestry.

Variants in the fetal genome near pro-inflammatory cytokine genes on 2q13 associate with gestational duration.

The duration of pregnancy is influenced by fetal and maternal genetic and non-genetic factors. Here we report a fetal genome-wide association meta-analysis of gestational duration, and early preterm, preterm, and postterm birth in 84,689 infants. One locus on chromosome 2q13 is associated with gestational duration; the association is replicated in 9,291 additional infants (combined P = 3.

Cavitation threshold evaluation of porcine cerebrospinal fluid using a Polymeric Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar-Confinement chamber apparatus.

Studies investigating mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) in the military population using experimental head surrogates and Finite Element (FE) head models have demonstrated the existence of transient negative pressures occurring within the head at the contrecoup location to the blast wave impingement. It has been hypothesized that this negative pressure may cause cavitation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and possibly lead to brain tissue damage from cavitation bubble collapse. The cavitation pressure threshold of human CSF is presently unknown, although existing FE studies in the literature have assumed a value of -100 kPa.

Comprehensive management of dog faeces: Composting versus anaerobic digestion.

The objective of this work was to study the possibilities to manage and recycle dog faeces (DF) using biological processes, using two approaches: composting (C) and anaerobic digestion (AD). Thus, different experiments have been carried out: i) two laboratory/pilot scale experiments (self-heating and composting tests) and one, on a commercial scale; ii) two AD experiments. In both approaches, municipal waste such as the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OMSW) and urban pruning waste (GW) were used as co-substrates.

[Dyslipidemia in schoolchildren with excess weight from Jujuy assessed by the program of school health].

Background: Excess weight (EW) and alterations in lipid metabolism constitute risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adults and children. Prevalence of dyslipidemia in schoolchildren from Jujuy with EW is analyzed in this study.

Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of 891 schoolchildren 10-14 years old (367 girls; 524 boys) from the province of Jujuy (Northwestern Argentina).

Micronutrient Analysis of Gluten-Free Products: Their Low Content Is Not Involved in Gluten-Free Diet Imbalance in a Cohort of Celiac Children and Adolescent.

Data about the nutritional composition of gluten-free products (GFP) are still limited. Most studies are based on ingredient and nutrition information described on the food label. However, analytical determination is considered the gold standard for compositional analysis of food.

Prenatal and Childhood Traffic-Related Air Pollution Exposure and Telomere Length in European Children: The HELIX Project.

Background: Telomere length is a molecular marker of biological aging.

Objective: Here we investigated whether early-life exposure to residential air pollution was associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at 8 y of age.

Methods: In a multicenter European birth cohort study, HELIX (Human Early Life Exposome) ([Formula: see text]), we estimated prenatal and 1-y childhood exposure to nitrogen dioxide ([Formula: see text]), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]), and proximity to major roads.

Reducing the composting time of broiler agro-industrial wastes: The effect of process monitoring parameters and agronomic quality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of considering different composting times on compost quality before the end of the bio-oxidative phase and after the maturation and storage phases. This study may provide useful information to optimize the composting process and increase the economic feasibility of the technology and its adoption without decreasing the quality of the end-product. In this study, three composts were prepared using chicken meat processing wastes mixed with urban tree trimmings, serving as a bulking agent, to evaluate the effect of reducing the durations of the bio-oxidative phase and the maturity stage on the different physico-chemical properties.

Lack of Association between the Gene Asp358Ala Variant (rs2228145), IL-6 Plasma Levels, and Treatment Resistance in Chilean Schizophrenic Patients Treated with Clozapine.

Alterations in neuroinflammatory processes have been suggested to contribute to the development of Schizophrenia (SZ); one component of the inflammatory system that has been linked to this disorder is interleukin-6 (IL-6). The minor allele of rs2228145, a functional polymorphism in the IL-6 receptor gene, has been associated to elevated IL-6 plasma levels and increased inflammatory activity, making it an interesting candidate to study as a possible factor underlying clinical heterogeneity in SZ. We studied a sample of 100 patients undergoing treatment with clozapine.

Inferring the Flavor of High-Energy Astrophysical Neutrinos at Their Sources.

The sources and production mechanisms of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos are largely unknown. A promising opportunity for progress lies in the study of neutrino flavor composition, i.e.

Comparative study of three different managements after colorectal anastomosis in ovarian cancer: conservative management, diverting ileostomy, and ghost ileostomy.

Objective: Anastomotic leak remains the main concern after colorectal anastomosis in ovarian cancer. Our objective was to compare the use of three different management approaches after colorectal resection and anastomosis in patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods: Between January 2010 and June 2018, a total of 133 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage II-IV ovarian cancer who underwent colorectal resection and anastomosis were included.

Effects of technological settings on yield, curd, whey, and cheese composition during the cheese-making process from raw sheep milk in small rural dairies: Emphasis on cutting and cooking conditions.

The technological conditions of cheese-making affect cheese yield and compound losses in the whey, especially the processes of cutting and cooking. Although significant compositional and functional differences have been reported among animal species, there is a lack of studies on the effects of cheese-making technology on cheese yield and losses for sheep milk. Thus, we examined the cheese-making settings in 8 small rural dairies working with raw sheep milk and their effects on cheese yield and compound losses in whey during the cheese-production season.

Comparison of Illumina 450K and EPIC arrays in placental DNA methylation.

Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (450K) has been commonly used to investigate DNA methylation in human tissues. Recently, it has been replaced by Illumina HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChip (EPIC) covering over 850,000 CpGs distributed genome-wide. Many consortia have now datasets coming from both arrays and aspire to analyze the two together.

Endoscopic imaging techniques for detecting early colorectal cancer.

Purpose Of Review: The detection of early colorectal cancer has improved notably since the introduction of bowel cancer screening programmes. This has created new challenges from endoscopic, histological and therapeutic perspectives. Here, we outline the limitations of current clinical practice and ways of implementing optical diagnosis to overcome these limitations.

Prenatal Particulate Air Pollution and DNA Methylation in Newborns: An Epigenome-Wide Meta-Analysis.

Background: Prenatal exposure to air pollution has been associated with childhood respiratory disease and other adverse outcomes. Epigenetics is a suggested link between exposures and health outcomes.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate associations between prenatal exposure to particulate matter (PM) with diameter [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) or [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) and DNA methylation in newborns and children.

Echo Technique to Distinguish Flavors of Astrophysical Neutrinos.

The flavor composition of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos is a rich observable. However, present analyses cannot effectively distinguish particle showers induced by ν_{e} vs ν_{τ}. We show that this can be accomplished by measuring the intensities of the delayed, collective light emission from muon decays and neutron captures, which are, on average, greater for ν_{τ} than for ν_{e}.

The effect of anaerobic digestate derived composts on the metabolite composition and thermal behaviour of rosemary.

The study reports on the effect of anaerobic digestate derived composts on the metabolite composition and thermal behaviour of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). Plants were cultivated in semiarid soil under four different fertiliser treatments (composts of anaerobic digested cattle (C) or pig slurry (P) at 30t/ha and 60 t/ha, and two control treatments (inorganic fertiliser and no fertiliser application).

Perceived Resources and Satisfaction With Food-Related Life Among Ecuadorian Elderly.

Objective: To identify variables that explain satisfaction with food-related life in Ecuadorian elderly people.

Design: Stratified random sampling with proportional affixation within each retirement home was conducted based on the rate of rurality, gender, age, and living circumstances.

Setting: Retirement homes in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

A long-term prospective study of the efficacy and safety of endoscopic septotomy using the LigaSure® system for the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum.

Background And Objectives: endoscopic septotomy of the cricopharyngeal muscle (ESCM) is a technique used for the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum (ZD). The experience with computerized vascular sealing systems (LigaSure® type) is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESCM using LigaSure®.