Telomere Length and Symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder in Children at 6-12 Years.

Objective: To explore the association between telomere length (TL) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children at 6-12 years.

Method: Data from 1,759 children belonging to the HELIX project cohorts and the Asturias, Gipuzkoa and Valencia cohorts of INMA project were included. TL was determined by blood sample using a PCR protocol.

The multi-omics signatures of telomere length in childhood.

Background: Telomere length is an important indicator of biological age and a complex multi-factor trait. To date, the telomere interactome for comprehending the high-dimensional biological aspects linked to telomere regulation during childhood remains unexplored. Here we describe the multi-omics signatures associated with childhood telomere length.

Process intensification of the baculovirus expression vector system using a perfusion process with a low multiplicity of infection at high cell concentrations.

The emergence of new viruses and the spread of existing pathogens necessitate efficient vaccine production methods. The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) is an efficient and scalable system for subunit and virus-like particle vaccine production and gene therapy vectors. However, current production processes are often limited to low cell concentrations (1-4 × 10 cells/mL) in fed-batch mode.

Prenatal ambient temperature exposure and cord blood and placental mitochondrial DNA content: Insights from the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort study.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA content (mtDNAc) at birth is a sensitive biomarker to environmental exposures that may play an important role in later life health. We investigated sensitive time windows for the association between prenatal ambient temperature exposure and newborn mtDNAc.

Methods: In the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort (Belgium), we measured cord blood and placental mtDNAc in 911 participants using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Telomere Length in Neonatal Dairy Calves in Relation to Lifetime Parameters.

Telomere length (TL) has gained attention as a biomarker for longevity and productivity in dairy cattle. This study explored the association between neonatal TL in Holstein calves and lifetime parameters (lifespan, milk production, and reproduction). Blood samples were collected from 210 calves (≤10d old) across four dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium.

The Impact of Cloaking Digital Footprints on User Privacy and Personalization.

Our online lives generate a wealth of behavioral records--which are stored and leveraged by technology platforms. These data can be used to create value for users by personalizing services. At the same time, however, it also poses a threat to people's privacy by offering a highly intimate window into their private traits (e.

Racial and regional disparities in the risk of noncommunicable disease between sub-Saharan black and European white patients.

Objectives: Greater vulnerability of Black vs. White individuals to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well charted in the United States, but studies involving sub-Saharan blacks are scarce.

Methods: Baseline data (2021-2024) were collected in 168 sub-Saharan Blacks and 93 European Whites in an ongoing clinical trial (NCT04299529), using standardized patient selection criteria.

Urinary Proteomics and Systems Biology Link Eight Proteins to the Higher Risk of Hypertension and Related Complications in Blacks Versus Whites.

Blacks are more prone to salt-sensitive hypertension than Whites. This cross-sectional analysis of a multi-ethnic cohort aimed to search for proteins potentially involved in the susceptibility to salt sensitivity, hypertension, and hypertension-related complications. The study included individuals enrolled in African Prospective Study on the Early Detection and Identification of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension (African-PREDICT), Flemish Study of the Environment, Genes and Health Outcomes (FLEMENGHO), Prospective Cohort Study in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus for Validation of Biomarkers (PROVALID)-Austria, and Urinary Proteomics Combined with Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring for Health Care Reform Trial (UPRIGHT-HTM).

Development of hybrid photonic integrated wavelength-tunable laser at 2 µm and its application to FMCW LiDAR.

This paper reports on the experimental demonstration of a fully integrated frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LiDAR sensing system, operating at 2.0 µm. It makes use of a widely tunable hybrid external cavity laser based on the combination of GaSb gain chip and silicon waveguide circuits.

Alterations in the placental proteome in association with the presence of black carbon particles: A discovery study.

Background: Exposure to ambient air pollution is known to cause direct and indirect molecular expression changes in the placenta, on the DNA, mRNA, and protein levels. Ambient black carbon (BC) particles can be found in the human placenta already very early in gestation. However, the effect of in utero BC exposure on the entire placental proteome has never been studied to date.

Leukocyte telomere length and attrition in association with disease severity in cystic fibrosis patients.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and premature aging. The link with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) as a marker of biological aging is unclear. We studied disease severity and LTL in 168 CF patients of which 85 patients had a second retrospective LTL assessment.

Osteoporosis in Relation to a Bone-Related Aging Biomarker Derived from the Urinary Proteomic Profile: A Population Study.

Screening for and prevention of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures is imperative, given the high burden on individuals and society. This study constructed and validated an aging-related biomarker derived from the urinary proteomic profile (UPP) indicative of osteoporosis (UPPost-age). In a prospective population study done in northern Belgium (1985-2019), participants were invited for a follow-up examination in 2005-2010 and participants in the 2005-2010 examination again invited in 2009-2013.

Maternal perceived stress and green spaces during pregnancy are associated with adult offspring gene (NR3C1 and IGF2/H19) methylation patterns in adulthood: A pilot study.

Background: Changes in NR3C1 and IGF2/H19 methylation patterns have been associated with behavioural and psychiatric outcomes. Maternal mental state has been associated with offspring NR3C1 promotor and IGF2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR) methylation patterns. However, there is a lack of prospective studies with long-term follow-up.

Telomere length in early childhood and its association with attention: a study in 4-6 year old children.

Telomere length (TL), a marker of cellular aging, has been studied in adults with regard to its connection to cognitive function. However, little is known about the association between TL and cognitive development in children. This study investigated the interplay between TL and cognitive functioning in 283 Belgian children aged four to six years of the Environmental Influence on Aging in Early Life (ENVIRAGE) birth cohort.

Cord Blood Proteomic Profiles, Birth Weight, and Early Life Growth Trajectories.

Importance: The cord blood proteome, a repository of proteins derived from both mother and fetus, might offer valuable insights into the physiological and pathological state of the fetus. However, its association with birth weight and growth trajectories early in life remains unexplored.

Objective: To identify cord blood proteins associated with birth weight and the birth weight ratio (BWR) and to evaluate the associations of these cord blood proteins with early growth trajectories.

Exploring the impact of lifestyle and environmental exposures on appetite hormone levels in children and adolescents: An observational study.

Background: Appetite hormones are considered a promising target in fighting obesity as impaired appetite hormone levels have already been associated with obesity. However, further insights in the drivers of appetite hormone levels are needed.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the associations of fasting appetite hormone levels with lifestyle and environmental exposures in children and adolescents.

Mortality and Cardiovascular End Points In Relation to the Aortic Pulse Wave Components: An Individual-Participant Meta-Analysis.

Background: Wave separation analysis enables individualized evaluation of the aortic pulse wave components. Previous studies focused on the pressure height with overall positive but differing results. In the present analysis, we assessed the associations of the pressure of forward and backward (P and P) pulse waves with prospective cardiovascular end points, with extended analysis for time to pressure peak (T and T).

Association between telomere length and neuropsychological function at 4-5 years in children from the INMA project: a cross-sectional study.

Shortened telomere length (TL) has been associated with lower cognitive performance, different neurological diseases in adults, and certain neurodevelopmental disorders in children. However, the evidence about the association between TL and neuropsychological developmental outcomes in children from the general population is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between TL and neuropsychological function in children 4-5 years of age.

Prenatal air pollution exposure in relation to the telomere-mitochondrial axis of aging at birth: A systematic review.

Background: Telomere length (TL) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are central markers of vital biological mechanisms, including cellular aging. Prenatal air pollution exposure may impact molecular markers of aging leading to adverse health effects.

Objective: To perform a systematic review on human population-based studies investigating the association between prenatal air pollution exposure and TL or mtDNA content at birth.

Triple Space-Time Yield in Discontinuous Antibody Biomanufacturing by Combination of Synergetic Process Intensification Strategies.

Monoclonal antibodies are the workhorse of the pharmaceutical industry due to their potential to treat a variety of different diseases while providing high specificity and efficiency. As a consequence, a variety of production processes have been established within the biomanufacturing industry. However, the rapidly increasing demand for therapeutic molecules amid the recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that there still is a clear need to establish novel, highly productive, and flexible production processes.