Early moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal diet impact offspring DNA methylation across species.

Alcohol consumption in pregnancy can affect genome regulation in the developing offspring but results have been contradictory. We employed a physiologically relevant murine model of short-term moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) resembling common patterns of alcohol consumption in pregnancy in humans. Early moderate PAE was sufficient to affect site-specific DNA methylation in newborn pups without altering behavioural outcomes in adult littermates.

Electronic Cigarette Usage Patterns and Perceptions in Adult Australians.

Despite their increasing popularity, and Australia's unique regulatory environment, how and why Australian adults use e-cigarettes and their perceptions of their safety, efficacy and regulation have not been extensively reported before. In this study, we screened 2217 adult Australians with the aim of assessing these questions in a sample of current or former e-cigarette users. A total of 505 out of 2217 respondents were current or former e-cigarette users, with only these respondents completing the full survey.

Long-term exposure of mice to 890 ppm atmospheric CO alters growth trajectories and elicits hyperactive behaviours in young adulthood.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO ) levels are currently at 418 parts per million (ppm), and by 2100 may exceed 900 ppm. The biological effects of lifetime exposure to CO at these levels is unknown. Previously we have shown that mouse lung function is altered by long-term exposure to 890 ppm CO .

Mouse Lung Structure and Function after Long-Term Exposure to an Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Level Predicted by Climate Change Modeling.

Background: Climate change models predict that atmospheric carbon dioxide [] levels will be between 700 and 900 ppm within the next 80 y. Despite this, the direct physiological effects of exposure to slightly elevated atmospheric (as compared with experienced today), especially when exposures extend from preconception to adulthood, have not been thoroughly studied.

Objectives: In this study we aimed to assess the respiratory structure and function effects of long-term exposure to from preconception to adulthood using a mouse model.

The Evolving Landscape of e-Cigarettes: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence.

Smoking continues to be a burden to economies and health-care systems across the world. One proposed solution to the problem has been e-cigarettes; however, because they are a relatively new product in the market, little is known about their potential health impacts. Furthermore, e-cigarettes continue to evolve at a rapid rate, making it necessary to regularly review and summarize available studies.

Maternal high fat diet compromises survival and modulates lung development of offspring, and impairs lung function of dams (female mice).

Background: Epidemiological studies have identified strong relationships between maternal obesity and offspring respiratory dysfunction; however, the causal direction is not known. We tested whether maternal obesity alters respiratory function of offspring in early life.

Methods: Female C57Bl/6 J mice were fed a high or low fat diet prior to and during two rounds of mating and resulting pregnancies with offspring lung function assessed at 2 weeks of age.