Lung function-associated exposome profile in the era of climate change: Pooled analysis of 8 population-based European cohorts within the EXPANSE project.

Background: The independent and interrelated long-term effects of the exposome such as air pollution, greenness, and ambient temperature on lung function are not well understood, yet relevant in the light of climate change.

Methods: Pre-bronchodilation FEV1 from five mature birth cohorts (N = 4724) and three adult cohorts (N = 6052) from five European countries were used to assess cross-sectional associations with air pollution, greenness, and ambient temperature, assigned to their residential address. All two-way interactions and square terms were a priori included in building the final elastic net regression model.

Diurnal timing of physical activity in relation to obesity and diabetes in the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Background: Physical activity supports weight regulation and metabolic health, but its timing in relation to obesity and diabetes remains unclear. We aimed to assess the diurnal timing of physical activity and its association with obesity and diabetes.

Methods: We cross-sectionally analyzed hip-worn accelerometry data from 61,116 participants aged 20-75 in the German National Cohort between 2015 and 2019.

Mapping out strategies to further develop human-relevant, new approach methodology (NAM)-based developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) testing.

On occasion of the DNT5 meeting in Konstanz, Germany (April-2024), participants brainstormed on future challenges concerning a regulatory implementation of the developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) in vitro test battery (DNT-IVB). The five discussion topics below outline some of the key issues, opportunities and research directions for the next several years: (1) How to contextualize DNT hazard with information on potential maternal toxicity or other toxicity domains (non-DNT)? Several approaches on how to use cytotoxicity data from NAMs were discussed. (2) What opportunities exist for an immediate or near-future application of the DNT-IVB, e.

The long way from raw data to NAM-based information: Overview on data layers and processing steps.

Toxicological test methods generate raw data and provide instructions on how to use these to determine a final outcome such as a classification of test compounds as hits or non-hits. The data processing pipeline provided in the test method description is often highly complex. Usually, multiple layers of data, ranging from a machine-generated output to the final hit definition, are considered.

Gene regulation by convergent promoters.

Convergent transcription, that is, the collision of sense and antisense transcription, is ubiquitous in mammalian genomes and believed to diminish RNA expression. Recently, antisense transcription downstream of promoters was found to be surprisingly prevalent. However, functional characteristics of affected promoters are poorly investigated.

Accelerometry-assessed sleep clusters and obesity in adolescents and young adults: a longitudinal analysis in GINIplus/LISA birth cohorts.

Background: Some studies have revealed various sleep patterns in adolescents and adults using multidimensional objective sleep parameters. However, it remains unknown whether these patterns are consistent from adolescence to young adulthood and how they relate to long-term obesity.

Methods: Seven-day accelerometry was conducted in German Infant Study on the influence of Nutrition Intervention PLUS environmental and genetic influences on allergy development (GINIplus) and Influence of Lifestyle factors on the development of the Immune System and Allergies in East and West Germany (LISA) birth cohorts during the 15-year and 20-year follow-ups, respectively.

Low income, being without employment, and living alone: how they are associated with cognitive functioning-Results from the German national cohort (NAKO).

Aim was to investigate to what extent cognitive functioning differs by three socioeconomic conditions: low income, being without employment, and living alone. A total of N = 158,144 participants of the population-based German National Cohort (NAKO) provided data on socioeconomic conditions and completed cognitive tests. Multivariable confounder-adjusted regression analyses indicated that cognitive functioning was lower in those with low income (b = -0.

State of the science on assessing developmental neurotoxicity using new approach methods.

The workshop titled State of the Science on Assessing Developmental Neurotoxicity Using New Approach Methods was co-organized by University of Maryland’s Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN; now called the Human Foods Program), and was hosted by FDA in College Park, MD on November 14-15, 2023.

Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants inhibit growth factor-induced activation of EGFR by binding to its extracellular domain.

For many years, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were used as flame retardants in a large number of consumer products. Even though international law meanwhile prohibits the production and usage of PBDEs, these persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals still leak into the environment, and are frequently detected in wildlife and humans. Population-based studies reveal positive correlations between human PBDE exposure and various adverse health effects, emphasizing that a better understanding of the mode of action of these polybrominated chemicals is urgently needed.

Impact on murine neurodevelopment of early-life exposure to airborne ultrafine carbon nanoparticles.

The effects of ultrafine particle (UFP) inhalation on neurodevelopment, especially during critical windows of early life, remain largely unexplored. The specific time windows during which exposure to UFP might be the most detrimental remain poorly understood. Here, we studied early-life exposure to clean ultrafine carbonaceous particles (UFP) and neurodevelopment and central nervous system function in offspring.

has mammal-like mutation rates facilitating fast adaptation despite its nonaging phenotype.

Growing evidence suggests that somatic mutations may be a major cause of the aging process. However, it remains to be tested whether the predictions of the theory also apply to species with longer life spans than humans. is a genus of freshwater polyps with remarkable regeneration abilities and a potentially unlimited life span under laboratory conditions.

Transcriptomic characterization of 2D and 3D human induced pluripotent stem cell-based in vitro models as New Approach Methodologies for developmental neurotoxicity testing.

The safety and developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) potential of chemicals remain critically understudied due to limitations of current in vivo testing guidelines, which are low throughput, resource-intensive, and hindered by species differences that limit their relevance to human health. To address these issues, robust New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) using deeply characterized cell models are essential. This study presents the comprehensive transcriptomic characterization of two advanced human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived models: a 2D adherent and a 3D neurosphere model of human neural progenitor cells (hiNPCs) differentiated up to 21 days.

Combined Effect of Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity on Skin Aging Phenotypes in the Era of Climate Change: Results From an Indian Cohort Study.

There is no doubt that global warming, with its extreme heat events, is having an increasing impact on human health. Heat is not independent of ambient temperature but acts synergistically with relative humidity (RH) to increase the risk of several diseases, such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Although the skin is the organ in direct contact with the environment, it is currently unknown whether skin health is similarly affected.

Dynamics of intracellular and intercellular redox communication.

Cell and organ metabolism is organized through various signaling mechanisms, including redox, Ca, kinase and electrochemical pathways. Redox signaling operates at multiple levels, from interactions between individual molecules in their microenvironment to communication among subcellular organelles, single cells, organs, and the entire organism. Redox communication is a dynamic and ongoing spatiotemporal process.

Vδ1 T Cells Integrated in Full-Thickness Skin Equivalents: A Model for the Role of Human Skin-Resident γδT Cells.

Vδ1 T cells are a subpopulation of γδT cells found in human dermis. Much less is known regarding their role and function in skin health and disease than regarding the roles of murine skin-resident γδT cells. In this study, we report the successful integration of Vδ1 T cells into long-term fibroblast-derived matrix skin equivalents.

Optimizing Skin Surface Metabolomics: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Sampling Methods, Extraction Solvents, and Analytical Techniques.

Characterizing the metabolite fingerprint from the skin surface provides invaluable insights into skin biology and microbe-host interactions. To ensure data accuracy and reproducibility, it is essential to develop standard operating procedures for skin surface metabolomics. However, there is a notable lack of studies in this area.

Characterization of the C17.2 cell line as test system for endocrine disruption-induced developmental neurotoxicity.

Hormone signaling plays an essential role during fetal life and is vital for brain development. Endo­crine-disrupting chemicals can interfere with the hormonal milieu during this critical time-period, disrupting key neurodevelopmental processes. Hence, there is a need for the development of assays that evaluate developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) induced by an endocrine mode of action.

Evaluating the Frequency of Mole Checks by a Dermatologist and Correlated Variables in a Global Survey across 17 Countries: HELIOS Project.

Secondary prevention of skin cancer consists in early detection of malignant lesions through patients' mole self-examination and medical examination. The objective of this study was to assess the self-reported  frequency of mole examination in a large, representative sample of the adult general population of 17 countries from all continents. Of a total of 17,001 participants, 4.