Associations of gut microbiota features and circulating metabolites with systemic inflammation in children.

Objective: Gut microbes and microbe-dependent metabolites (eg, tryptophan-kynurenine-serotonin pathway metabolites) have been linked to systemic inflammation, but the microbiota-metabolite-inflammation axis remains uncharacterised in children. Here we investigated whether gut microbiota features and circulating metabolites (both microbe-dependent and non-microbe-dependent metabolites) associated with circulating inflammation markers in children.

Methods: We studied children from the prospective Gen3G birth cohort who had data on untargeted plasma metabolome (n=321 children; Metabolon platform), gut microbiota (n=147; 16S rRNA sequencing), and inflammation markers (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumour necrosis factor-α) measured at 5-7 years.

Plasma metabolomic profile of adiposity and body composition in childhood: The Genetics of Glucose regulation in Gestation and Growth cohort.

Objective: This study identified metabolite modules associated with adiposity and body fat distribution in childhood using gold-standard measurements.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from 329 children at mid-childhood (age 5.3 ± 0.

Effects of vanilla odor on hypoxia-related periodic breathing in premature newborns: A pilot study.

Background: Periodic breathing (PB)-related intermittent hypoxia can have long-lasting deleterious consequences in preterm infants. Olfactory stimulation using vanilla odor is beneficial for apnea of prematurity in the first postnatal days/weeks. We aimed to determine for the first time whether vanilla odor can also decrease PB-related intermittent hypoxia.

A systematic review of potential productivity, egg quality, and animal welfare implications of extended lay cycles in commercial laying hens in Canada.

Lay cycle lengths in the Canadian egg industry are currently 50 to 52 wk (68-70 wk of age). In light of increased productivity in commercial laying hens over the last few decades, the much longer lay cycle lengths already implemented in other countries, extending lay cycle lengths in Canada, should be considered with careful attention to potential environmental, economic, and animal welfare implications. However, there is a lack of information in the public domain that provides robust evidence of performance levels and potential trade-offs to support comprehensive consideration of the desirability of extending lay cycles beyond current Canadian norms.

Pre-pregnancy body mass index and gut microbiota of mothers and children 5 years postpartum.

Background: Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) has been linked to altered gut microbiota in women shortly after delivery and in their offspring in the first few years of life. But little is known about how long these differences persist.

Methods: We followed 180 mothers and children from pregnancy until 5-year postpartum in the Gen3G cohort (Canada, enrolled 2010-2013).

Do Consumers Value Welfare and Environmental Attributes in Egg Production Similarly in Fresh Eggs and Prepared Meals?

Food items are increasingly chosen based on sustainability attributes as the public is becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and animal welfare impacts of production systems, in addition to the traditional consideration for nutrition. Although surveys have been used to investigate the demand for these attributes in unprocessed products, little information exists on how these attributes impact consumer preferences in the case of processed products or prepared meals. This study uses a stated preference survey to examine Quebec (Canada) consumers' preferences for eggs from four production systems with different impacts on animal welfare and on the environment.

Associations between Cord Blood Leptin Levels and Childhood Adiposity Differ by Sex and Age at Adiposity Assessment.

Lower cord blood leptin levels have been associated with lower and higher adiposity in childhood and associations seem to differ according to the child’s age, methods of adiposity assessment and sex. Our aim was to investigate sex-specific associations of cord blood leptinemia with childhood adiposity at birth, 3 and 5 years of age. We measured cord blood leptin using Luminex immunoassays in 520 offspring from the Gen3G cohort.

Associations of maternal insulin sensitivity during pregnancy with childhood central adiposity in the Genetics of Glucose regulation in Gestation and Growth (Gen3G) cohort.

Background: Childhood obesity has been associated with prenatal exposure to maternal hyperglycaemia, but we lack understanding about maternal insulin physiologic components that contribute to this association.

Objectives: Evaluate the association between maternal insulin sensitivity during pregnancy and adiposity measures in childhood.

Methods: In 422 mother-child pairs, we tested associations between maternal insulin sensitivity measures at ~26 weeks of pregnancy and child adiposity measures, including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition and anthropometry (body mass index and waist circumference) at ~5 years.

Associations of maternal glucose markers in pregnancy with cord blood glucocorticoids and child hair cortisol levels.

Exposure to maternal hyperglycemia has been associated with adverse metabolic outcomes in offspring. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between maternal hyperglycemia and offspring cortisol levels. We assessed associations of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with cortisol biomarkers in two longitudinal prebirth cohorts: Project Viva included 928 mother-child pairs and Gen3G included 313 mother-child pairs.

Implementing a Rural Natural Experiment: A Protocol for Evaluating the Impacts of Food Coops on Food Consumption, Resident's Health and Community Vitality.

Background: Local food environments are recognized by experts as a determinant of healthy eating. Food cooperatives (coop) can promote the accessibility to healthier foods and thus improve the health of the population, particularly in remote rural communities.

Objective: To measure the effects of implementing a food coop in a disadvantaged community with poor access to food.

DNA methylation mediates the association between breastfeeding and early-life growth trajectories.

Background: The role of breastfeeding in modulating epigenetic factors has been suggested as a possible mechanism conferring its benefits on child development but it lacks evidence. Using extensive DNA methylation data from the ALSPAC child cohort, we characterized the genome-wide landscape of DNA methylation variations associated with the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and assessed whether these variations mediate the association between exclusive breastfeeding and BMI over different epochs of child growth.

Results: Exclusive breastfeeding elicits more substantial DNA methylation variations during infancy than at other periods of child growth.

Associations of maternal insulin resistance during pregnancy and offspring inflammation at birth and at 5 years of age: A prospective study in the Gen3G cohort.

Background: Maternal insulin resistance is associated with greater maternal inflammation during pregnancy, but its relation to inflammation in offspring remains unclear. The goal of this study was to assess the relationship of gestational insulin resistance and other glycemic markers with offspring inflammation at birth and at 5 years of age.

Methods: We included 653 mother-child pairs from the prospective pre-birth Gen3G cohort.

Maternal glucose in pregnancy is associated with child's adiposity and leptin at 5 years of age.

Background: Exposure to maternal hyperglycaemia in pregnancy has been associated with childhood obesity. Leptin regulation might be involved in this 'adiposity programming' and may depend on timing of exposure.

Objectives: To investigate associations of maternal glycaemia at different periods in pregnancy with childhood adiposity and leptin levels at 5 years of age.

A prospective study of maternal adiposity and glycemic traits across pregnancy and mid-childhood metabolomic profiles.

Background: Fetal exposure to maternal excess adiposity and hyperglycemia is risk factors for childhood adverse metabolic outcomes. Using data from a prospective pre-birth cohort, we aimed to further understand the prenatal determinants of fetal metabolic programming based on analyses of maternal adiposity and glycemic traits across pregnancy with childhood metabolomic profiles.

Methods: This study included 330 mother-child pairs from the Gen3G cohort with information on maternal adiposity and glycemic markers at 5-16 (visit 1) and 24-30 (visit 2) weeks of pregnancy.

Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators.

This study examines poultry production stocking density (SD) effect on bird welfare and economic performance. It is based on a large dataset from commercial production including observations for 2.2 million male broilers and 2.

Potential interaction between timing of infant complementary feeding and breastfeeding duration in determination of early childhood gut microbiota composition and BMI.

Background: Introducing complementary foods other than breastmilk or formula acutely changes the infant gut microbiota composition. However, it is unknown whether the timing of introduction to complementary foods (early vs. late) in infancy is associated with early childhood gut microbiota and BMI, and if these associations depend on breastfeeding duration.

Molecular diagnosis of muscular diseases in outpatient clinics: A Canadian perspective.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic yield of an 89-gene panel in a large cohort of patients with suspected muscle disorders and to compare the diagnostic yield of gene panel and exome sequencing approaches.

Methods: We tested 1,236 patients from outpatient clinics across Canada using a gene panel and performed exome sequencing for 46 other patients with sequential analysis of 89 genes followed by all mendelian genes. Sequencing and analysis were performed in patients with muscle weakness or symptoms suggestive of a muscle disorder and showing at least 1 supporting clinical laboratory.

Interplay of Placental DNA Methylation and Maternal Insulin Sensitivity in Pregnancy.

The placenta participates in maternal insulin sensitivity changes during pregnancy; however, mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated associations between maternal insulin sensitivity and placental DNA methylation markers across the genome. We analyzed data from 430 mother-offspring dyads in the Gen3G cohort.

Associations of sleep duration, sedentary behaviours and energy expenditure with maternal glycemia in pregnancy.

Background: Women with high levels of physical activity (PA) are less likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the relations with sleep and sedentary behaviours (SB) are more controversial. We aimed to investigate all three components (sleep, PA, and SB) and their association with maternal glucose in pregnancy.

Methods: We included 766 pregnant women recruited at first trimester and that we followed at second trimester.

Association of Gestational Weight Gain With Adverse Maternal and Infant Outcomes.

Importance: Both low and high gestational weight gain have been associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes, but optimal gestational weight gain remains uncertain and not well defined for all prepregnancy weight ranges.

Objectives: To examine the association of ranges of gestational weight gain with risk of adverse maternal and infant outcomes and estimate optimal gestational weight gain ranges across prepregnancy body mass index categories.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Individual participant-level meta-analysis using data from 196 670 participants within 25 cohort studies from Europe and North America (main study sample).

Impact of maternal body mass index and gestational weight gain on pregnancy complications: an individual participant data meta-analysis of European, North American and Australian cohorts.

Objective: To assess the separate and combined associations of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain with the risks of pregnancy complications and their population impact.

Design: Individual participant data meta-analysis of 39 cohorts.

Setting: Europe, North America, and Oceania.

Maternal lipid profile differs by gestational diabetes physiologic subtype.

Aim: To characterize lipid profiles in women with different gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) physiologic subtypes.

Methods: We measured seven lipid markers (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), ApoA, ApoB) in fasting plasma collected in a prospective cohort of 805 pregnant women during second trimester. We estimated insulin sensitivity and secretion using oral glucose tolerance test-based validated indices.

Effect of gestational diabetes and insulin resistance on offspring's myocardial relaxation kinetics at three years of age.

Purpose: Scientific evidence on the long-term impact of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on offspring's myocardial relaxation is scarce. Studies have linked GDM with transient ventricular hypertrophy in newborns resulting in diastolic dysfunction, but long-term assessment is lacking. The main objective of this study was to evaluate myocardial relaxation in 3-year-old children in relation to the degree of insulin resistance of their mother during pregnancy.

Gestational weight gain charts for different body mass index groups for women in Europe, North America, and Oceania.

Background: Gestational weight gain differs according to pre-pregnancy body mass index and is related to the risks of adverse maternal and child health outcomes. Gestational weight gain charts for women in different pre-pregnancy body mass index groups enable identification of women and offspring at risk for adverse health outcomes. We aimed to construct gestational weight gain reference charts for underweight, normal weight, overweight, and grades 1, 2 and 3 obese women and to compare these charts with those obtained in women with uncomplicated term pregnancies.