Life stage impact on the human skin ecosystem: lipids and the microbial community.

Sebaceous free fatty acids are metabolized by multiple skin microbes into bioactive lipid mediators termed oxylipins. This study investigated correlations between skin oxylipins and microbes on the superficial skin of pre-pubescent children (N = 36) and adults (N = 100), including pre- (N = 25) and post-menopausal females (N = 25). Lipidomics and metagenomics revealed that Malassezia restricta positively correlated with the oxylipin 9,10-DiHOME on adult skin and negatively correlated with its precursor, 9,10-EpOME, on pre-pubescent skin.

Asian birth cohort studies on allergic diseases: The A2BC network initiative.

The Asia Allergy Birth Cohort (A2BC) network consolidates data from multiple independently established birth cohorts across Asia to enhance research on host-environment interactions in allergic diseases. These cohorts, established at different times with various methodologies, are reliable data sources. Our aim is to introduce the content, variables, and outcomes of these cohorts while highlighting their differences, laying the groundwork for future collaborative research.

Climate change and its impact on infectious diseases in Asia.

Climate change, particularly increasing temperature, changes in rainfall, extreme weather events and changes in vector ecology, impacts the transmission of many climate-sensitive infectious diseases. Asia is the world's most populous, rapidly evolving and diverse continent, and it is already experiencing the effects of climate change. Climate change intersects with population, sociodemographic and geographical factors, amplifying the public health impact of infectious diseases and potentially widening existing disparities.

A machine-learning exploration of the exposome from preconception in early childhood atopic eczema, rhinitis and wheeze development.

Background: Most previous research on the environmental epidemiology of childhood atopic eczema, rhinitis and wheeze is limited in the scope of risk factors studied. Our study adopted a machine learning approach to explore the role of the exposome starting already in the preconception phase.

Methods: We performed a combined analysis of two multi-ethnic Asian birth cohorts, the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) and the Singapore PREconception Study of long Term maternal and child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) cohorts.

Cross-sectional and prospective associations between children's 24-h time use and their health-related quality of life: a compositional isotemporal substitution approach.

Background: Promoting active, balanced lifestyles among children may be an important approach to optimising their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the relationships between children's movement behaviours and HRQoL remain unclear.

Methods: We examined the associations between movement behaviours (sleep, inactivity, light and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity) assessed using accelerometers at ages 8 and 10 years and self-reported HRQoL scores (overall, and physical and emotional well-being, self-esteem, relationship with family and friends, and school functioning domains) at age 10 years among 370 children in a local birth cohort using compositional isotemporal substitution techniques.

Clinical predictors of wheeze trajectories and associations with allergy in Asian children.

Background: Childhood wheezing is a highly heterogeneous condition with an incomplete understanding of the characteristics of wheeze trajectories, particularly for persistent wheeze.

Objective: To characterize predictors and allergic comorbidities of distinct wheeze trajectories in a multiethnic Asian cohort.

Methods: A total of 974 mother-child pairs from the prospective Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort were included in this study.

Preconception sleep quality moderates the association between preconception hair cortisol levels and mental health in pregnant women.

Background: Poor sleep quality may elevate cortisol levels and affect prenatal mental health through altered HPA axis functioning. This study aims to examine whether subjective sleep quality during preconception moderates the association between preconception hair cortisol levels and mental health from preconception to pregnancy trimesters.

Methods: Women from a prospective cohort study completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires during preconception (T0) and at each pregnancy trimesters (T1, T2, and T3).

Associations between sleep trajectories up to 54 months and cognitive school readiness in 4 year old preschool children.

Purpose: This study explores the association between the duration and variation of infant sleep trajectories and subsequent cognitive school readiness at 48-50 months.

Methods: Participants were 288 multi-ethnic children, within the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort. Caregiver-reported total, night and day sleep durations were obtained at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire and 54 months using the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire.

Modifiable Risk Factor Score and Fecundability in a Preconception Cohort in Singapore.

Importance: Although multiple modifiable risk factors have been identified for reduced fecundability (defined as lower probability of conception within a menstrual cycle), no scoring system has been established to systematically evaluate fecundability among females who are attempting to conceive.

Objective: To examine the association of a risk score based on 6 modifiable factors with fecundability, and to estimate the percentage reduction in incidence of nonconception if all study participants achieved a minimal risk score level.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cohort study obtained data from the S-PRESTO (Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes) prospective cohort study.

Trajectories of reported sleep duration associate with early childhood cognitive development.

Study Objectives: Examine how different trajectories of reported sleep duration associate with early childhood cognition.

Methods: Caregiver-reported sleep duration data (n = 330) were collected using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months and Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire at 54 months. Multiple group-based day-, night-, and/or total sleep trajectories were derived-each differing in duration and variability.

Associations of maternal and foetoplacental factors with prehypertension/hypertension in early childhood.

Objective: To evaluate whether characterization of maternal and foetoplacental factors beyond birthweight can enable early identification of children at risk of developing prehypertension/hypertension.

Methods: We recruited 693 mother-offspring dyads from the GUSTO prospective mother-offspring cohort. Prehypertension/hypertension at age 6 years was identified using the simplified paediatric threshold of 110/70 mmHg.

Immune and pathophysiologic profiling of antenatal coronavirus disease 2019 in the GIFT cohort: A Singaporean case-control study.

COVID-19 can be severe in pregnant women, and have adverse consequences for the subsequent infant. We profiled the post-infectious immune responses in maternal and child blood as well as breast milk in terms of antibody and cytokine expression and performed histopathological studies on placentae obtained from mothers convalescent from antenatal COVID-19. Seventeen mother-child dyads (8 cases of antenatal COVID-19 and 9 healthy unrelated controls; 34 individuals in total) were recruited to the Gestational Immunity For Transfer (GIFT) study.

Prevalence of IgE-mediated cow milk, egg, and peanut allergy in young Singapore children.

Background: The rising prevalence of food allergy reported in the United States, UK, and Australia may be attributable to the rise in peanut allergy prevalence. The food allergy prevalence in other parts of the world such as Asia is, however, less well documented.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cow's milk, egg, and peanut allergies in a general population of Singaporean children below 30 months of age.

Allergic sensitization trajectories to age 8 years in the Singapore GUSTO cohort.

Background: Allergic sensitization is linked to allergy development, with early sensitization often associated with worse outcomes. We aimed to identify if distinct allergic sensitization trajectories existed within a diverse and multi-ethnic Asian cohort.

Methods: We administered modified ISAAC questionnaires in the first 8 years and conducted skin prick testing at ages 18 months, 3, 5 and 8 years in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort.

Associations Between Maternal Distress During Early Life Periods and Offspring Respiratory Infections and Allergic Outcomes.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that maternal distress is a risk factor for development of respiratory infections and allergic diseases in the offspring. We aim to evaluate the link between maternal distress during critical periods in early life, namely the preconception, pregnancy and postnatal periods, and development of respiratory infections and allergic diseases in the offspring from the Singapore PREconception Study of long Term maternal and child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) cohort.

Methods: Maternal perceived distress was evaluated using validated questionnaires including Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) administered during three time periods: preconception (three months apart at four timepoints), pregnancy (during each trimester) and postnatal (3 and 6 months post-delivery).

Associations Between Eczema and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest a link between eczema and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but underlying mechanisms have not been examined.

Objective: We aim to investigate the association between eczema and subsequent ADHD symptoms in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes cohort and explore the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and gut microbiome.

Methods: The modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV were administered to assess reported eczema within the first 18 months and presence of ADHD symptoms at 54 months, respectively.

Metabolic health status and fecundability in a Singapore preconception cohort study.

Background: Obesity compromises metabolic health and female fertility, yet not all obese women are similar in metabolic status. The extent to which fecundability is influenced by the metabolic health status of women who are overweight or obese before conception is unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to: (1) determine the metabolic health status, and (2) examine the association between metabolic health status and fecundability of overweight and obese women trying to conceive in the Singapore PREconception Study of long-Term maternal and child Outcomes cohort study.

Validation of a Web-Based, Time-Use Application to Assess Children's School Meal Intakes: My E-Diary for Activities and Lifestyle (MEDAL).

My E-Diary for Activities and Lifestyle (MEDAL), a web-based application, was developed to assess the diets of children. This study examined the validity of school recess meals reported by children on MEDAL, using meal photography as the reference. Recess meals were photographed by trained researchers, and food items and portion sizes of recess meals reported on MEDAL were compared to recess meal photos.

Associations of Childcare Arrangements with Adiposity Measures in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Cohort: The GUSTO Study.

Childcare arrangements shape behavioural patterns that influence the risk of childhood obesity. However, little is known of its influence on childhood obesity in Singapore. We aim to examine the associations between childcare arrangements at the age of 5 years and childhood adiposity at age 6 years.