Publications by authors named "Pei Wen Tung"
Aims: To describe tDRs in human milk EVs and their associations with maternal body mass index, age, dietary indices, breastfeeding frequency, season and time of milk collection in a Latina population.
Materials & Methods: We sequenced small RNAs from EVs from 109 mature human milk samples collected at 1 month after delivery in the Southern California Mother's Milk Study. We grouped tDRs using hierarchical clustering and clusters were compared across tDR characteristics.
Article Synopsis
- Low mtDNA copy number (mtDNAcn) in early life has been linked to cognitive decline, but its impact on healthy cognitive development in children is still unclear.
- The study measured mtDNAcn in umbilical cord blood and child blood at ages 5-7 and analyzed cognitive performance later using standardized tests, finding that both low and high mtDNAcn were associated with poorer cognitive outcomes.
- Results suggest mtDNAcn may be an important biomarker for assessing neurocognitive performance in children, highlighting the need for further research on mitochondrial markers in healthy populations.
Purpose Of Review: This narrative review summarizes current literature on the relationship of mitochondrial biomarkers with obesity-related characteristics, including body mass index and body composition.
Recent Findings: Mitochondria, as cellular powerhouses, play a pivotal role in energy production and the regulation of metabolic process. Altered mitochondrial functions contribute to obesity, yet evidence of the intricate relationship between mitochondrial dynamics and obesity-related outcomes in human population studies is scarce and warrants further attention.
Article Synopsis
- - Prenatal lead (Pb) exposure is linked to harmful developmental outcomes in infants and causes changes in DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in placental and newborn tissues.
- - A study involving 167 mothers and their infants analyzed toenail and placenta samples to see how lead exposure affected DNA modifications, revealing 480 differential methylated sites and several hydroxymethylated sites linked to maternal and infant Pb levels.
- - The research highlighted that pathways related to nervous system and organ development, as well as calcium regulation, were particularly affected by lead exposure, suggesting that these epigenetic changes may influence placental function.
Article Synopsis
- Prenatal exposure to cadmium (Cd) is linked to harmful effects on the placenta and can negatively affect neurobehavioral outcomes in newborns, potentially through the alteration of placental microRNAs (miRNAs).
- The study employed small RNA sequencing in two cohorts to discover how placental Cd concentrations influence the expression of specific miRNAs, which are associated with genes important for nervous system development.
- The findings suggest that altered miRNA expression due to Cd exposure may disrupt normal developmental processes, contributing to adverse health outcomes in infants, and highlight the need for further research on the mechanisms behind these effects.
Article Synopsis
- Prenatal exposure to metals can adversely affect a developing fetus's neurobehavior, but the combined impact of multiple metals has been less explored.
- This study analyzed data from 192 infants, focusing on eight metals found in the placenta and their correlation with atypical neurobehavior, using statistical methods to assess both individual and joint effects.
- Results indicated that higher levels of cadmium were linked to increased atypical neurobehavior, and the combined exposure to multiple metals further heightened the likelihood of adverse outcomes in newborns.
Article Synopsis
- Prenatal exposure to heavy metals like cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) has been linked to negative effects on newborn health and behavior.
- This study aimed to explore the relationship between placental levels of these toxic metals and neurobehavioral performance in newborns, using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS).
- Results indicated that higher placental Cd and detectable Pb levels were associated with increased likelihood of newborns exhibiting atypical neurobehavioral profiles, suggesting that measuring toxic metals in the placenta can help understand their impact on infant health.