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Recio Alcaide A, Pérez López C, Ortega MÁ, Borrell LN, Bolúmar F. Is there an association between family members' season of birth that could influence birth seasonality? Evidence from Spain and France. POPULATION STUDIES 2024; 78:151-166. [PMID: 38093442 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2023.2272983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The number of births varies by season. Research on birth seasonality has shown that women's season of birth somehow influences that of their children, but factors underlying the intergenerational transmission of birth seasonality remain unknown. With data from Spain and France, we analysed the possibility of transmission of birth season between generations, testing whether relatives tended to be born in the same season. Results indicated that there was an association-a similarity-between parents' and children's birth seasons, partially explaining the stability of seasonal patterns over time. This association also existed between parents' birth seasons. While parents' association is directly explained by an excess of marriages with spouses born in the same month, the overall association may be explained by two facts: different socio-demographic groups show differentiated birth patterns, and relatives share socio-demographic features. Birth season seems to be related to family characteristics, which should be controlled for when assessing birth-month effects on subsequent social/health outcomes.
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Gaml-Sørensen A, Brix N, Ernst A, Lunddorf LLH, Lindh C, Toft G, Henriksen TB, Arah OA, Ramlau-Hansen CH. The estimated effect of season and vitamin D in the first trimester on pubertal timing in girls and boys: a cohort study and an instrumental variable analysis. Int J Epidemiol 2023; 52:1328-1340. [PMID: 37178177 PMCID: PMC11046010 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Season of birth has been associated with age at menarche. Maternal vitamin D levels in pregnancy may explain this effect. We investigated whether the season of first trimester or maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] levels were associated with pubertal timing in children. METHODS We conducted a follow-up study of 15 819 children born in 2000-03 from the Puberty Cohort, nested in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). Mean differences in attaining numerous pubertal markers, including a combined estimate for the average age at attaining all pubertal markers, were estimated for low (November-April) relative to high (May-October) sunshine exposure season in the first trimester using multivariable interval-censored regression models. Moreover, we conducted a two-sample instrumental variable analysis using season as an instrument for maternal first-trimester 25(OH)D3 plasma levels obtained from a non-overlapping subset (n = 827) in the DNBC. RESULTS For the combined estimate, girls and boys of mothers who had their first trimester during November-April had earlier pubertal timing than girls and boys of mothers whose first trimester occurred during May-October: -1.0 months (95% CI: -1.7 to -0.3) and -0.7 months (95% CI: -1.4 to -0.1), respectively. In the instrumental variable analysis, girls and boys also had earlier pubertal timing: respectively, -1.3 months (95% CI: -2.1 to -0.4) and -1.0 months (95% CI: -1.8 to -0.2) per SD (22 nmol/L) decrease in 25(OH)D3. CONCLUSIONS Both first pregnancy trimester during November-April and lower 25(OH)D3 were associated with earlier pubertal timing in girls and boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Gaml-Sørensen
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Bartholins Allé 2, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 650 Charles E Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Nis Brix
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Bartholins Allé 2, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgårdsvej 21 C, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Andreas Ernst
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Bartholins Allé 2, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens, Boulevard 35, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Lea Lykke Harrits Lunddorf
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Bartholins Allé 2, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Christian Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Medicon Village, Byggnad 402 A, 22363, Lund, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Toft
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Hedeager 3, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Tine Brink Henriksen
- Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Aarhus University and Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 103, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Onyebuchi A Arah
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Bartholins Allé 2, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 650 Charles E Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Statistics, Division of Physical Sciences, UCLA College, Boelter Hall 9434, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Cecilia Høst Ramlau-Hansen
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Bartholins Allé 2, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 650 Charles E Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Koskinen A, Lemmetyinen R, Luukkainen A, Kankaanranta H, Ilmarinen P, Karjalainen J, Pekkanen J, Huhtala H, Haukka J, But A, Toppila-Salmi S. Season of birth affects the risk of adult-onset asthma in Finland. Allergy 2023; 78:555-558. [PMID: 36067009 PMCID: PMC10087432 DOI: 10.1111/all.15504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anni Koskinen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Inflammation Center, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Lemmetyinen
- Inflammation Center, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annika Luukkainen
- Inflammation Center, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Kankaanranta
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland.,Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Pinja Ilmarinen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jussi Karjalainen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Juha Pekkanen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heini Huhtala
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jari Haukka
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna But
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sanna Toppila-Salmi
- Inflammation Center, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Haartman Institute, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Candela-Martínez B, Ramallo-Ros S, Cañabate J, Martínez-Carrión JM. Month of birth and height. A case study in rural Spain. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2022; 47:101157. [PMID: 35834878 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2022.101157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Season of birth correlates to a wide range of health conditions throughout life measured by anthropometrics. This study explores whether the month of birth and weather during gestation influence male adult height, based on Spain's rural population before the end of the modernization process. METHODS The database of heights (N = 16.266) is composed of conscripts who reached the age of 21 between 1908 and 1985 (birth cohorts 1886-1965). The population sample has been taken from a municipality in inner Spain: Hellín, in the region of Castilla-La Mancha, mainly an agrarian area, with poor resources and low income until the 1970 s/1980 s. Two different methodologies have been implemented: a harmonic regression using sinusoidal covariables and a random forest model. RESULTS we find that being born at the end of the summer and during the autumn was favorable to height. The birth month with the highest statures is September, with heights 0.5 cm above the annual average and 0.9 cm above February, the birth month with the lowest average height. Furthermore, we can observe that rainfall and temperature during gestation had little additional influence due to a substitution effect with the birth month variable. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the seasonal effects on height can be significant and that it can be partially affected by environmental factors during early life. Our findings could be of interest for low-income populations and developing rural societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Candela-Martínez
- International School of Doctoral Studies, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Salvador Ramallo-Ros
- International School of Doctoral Studies, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | | | - José-Miguel Martínez-Carrión
- Department of Applied Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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Strow CW, Strow BK. Seasonal differences in breastfeeding in the United States: a secondary analysis of longitudinal survey data. Int Breastfeed J 2022; 17:51. [PMID: 35799249 PMCID: PMC9261048 DOI: 10.1186/s13006-022-00479-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both the consumption of breastmilk in infancy and a person's season of birth influences his or her health, educational, professional, and behavioral outcomes. Further, season of birth effects differ by sex. However, current research, for the most part, neglects to examine if season of birth and breastfeeding are related. This paper examines the impact of sex-based variations in season of birth on breastfeeding likelihood and duration in the U.S. METHODS Using data from children born to female respondents of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (born between 1970 and 2012), this study examines with Probit, Negative Binomial, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions if a child's season of birth and sex are correlated with breastfeeding incidence and duration. The breastfeeding incidence and duration data are self-reported by the mother. RESULTS Season of birth has a small but statistically significant impact on the incidence and duration of breastfeeding, which varies depending on the sex of the infant. Mothers giving birth to sons in the spring are 13.5% less likely to breastfeed than those giving birth to sons in the winter (with a p - value of 0.0269). Mothers with daughters born in the summer or fall (autumn) breastfeed slightly longer than mothers with daughters born in the spring. On average, mothers of summer-born daughters breastfeed 4.1% longer (with a 95% confidence interval of 0.3 - 7.8) and those with fall-born daughters 3.8% longer (with a 95% confidence interval of 0 - 7.5). Mothers giving birth to daughters in the spring are also significantly less likely to reach the breastfeeding six-week duration target (compared to fall and winter births) and the one-year duration target (compared to fall births). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the costs and benefits of breastfeeding an infant vary with the season of birth and the sex of the child. This finding could explain some of the season of birth effects previously identified in the literature. Further, policymakers seeking to increase breastfeeding rates should consider the reduced breastfeeding rates and durations for children born in the spring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia W Strow
- Rinker School of Business, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida, USA.
| | - Brian K Strow
- Rinker School of Business, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida, USA
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Linger Endalifer M, Diress G, Linger Endalifer B, Wagaye B, Almaw H. Does birth season correlate with childhood stunting? An input for astrological nutrition. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:306. [PMID: 35610626 PMCID: PMC9128290 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03343-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic malnutrition is highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and a severe public health problem in Ethiopia.At country level in the past three decades,the prevalence of stunting is above 40%.Different researchs and intervention were implemented in the past;but the progresss is non-remarkable.Despite; the effect of birth season on childhood chronic malnutrition was not studied yet in Ethiopia. METHODS This research was extracted from the 2016 demographic health survey of Ethiopia. The data was collected based on national and international scientific protocols. A total of 645 enumeration areas were selected for the national survey.The surevey uses two stage stratified sampling technique to gather data from the sampling unit. After excluding non eligible children a total of 8855 participants were included for final analysis.Height and weight were measured based on the standards nutritional assessment procedure.SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data.Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were regressed to identify the potential predictors.A p-value of less than 0.05 with 95% CI were used to declare an association. RESULT The prevalence of stunting in Ethiopia was 38.7% (95% CI: 36.8, 40.6). Season of birth had a significant association with stunting. The odds of being stunted among children born in the spring season were decreased by 16% as compared to children born in the winter season. CONCLUSION Children born in the spring season were less likely to be stunted (the so called October effect). The clear scientific relation between the season of birth and child anthropometric indicator is not well understood. Nutritional interventions and policies are better to consider the birth season of the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melese Linger Endalifer
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
| | - Gedefaw Diress
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bedilu Linger Endalifer
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Birhanu Wagaye
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Hunegnaw Almaw
- Department of Public Health Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medcine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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He Y, Li J, Yue T, Zheng W, Guo Y, Zhang H, Chen L, Li C, Li H, Cui C, Qi X, Su B. Seasonality and Sex-Biased Fluctuation of Birth Weight in Tibetan Populations. PHENOMICS (CHAM, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 2:64-71. [PMID: 36939792 PMCID: PMC9590487 DOI: 10.1007/s43657-021-00038-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Birth weight (BW) is a key determinant of infant mortality. Previous studies have reported seasonal fluctuation of BW. However, the responsible environmental factors remain disputable. High-altitude environment provides a great opportunity to test the current hypotheses due to its distinctive climate conditions. We collected BW data of ~ 9000 Tibetan singletons born at Lhasa (elevation: 3660 m) from 2014 to 2018. Using regression models, we analyzed BW seasonality of highland Tibetans. Multivariate models with meteorological factors as independent variables were employed to examine responsible environmental factors accounting for seasonal variation. We compared BW, low-BW prevalence and sex ratio between highland and lowland populations, and we observed a significant seasonal pattern of BW in Tibetans, with a peak in winter and a trough in summer. Notably, there is a marked sex-biased pattern of BW seasonality (more striking in males than in females). Sunlight exposure in the 3rd trimester and barometric pressure exposure in the 2nd trimester are significantly correlated with BW, and the latter can be explained by seasonal change of oxygen partial pressure. In particular, due to the male-biased BW seasonality, we found a more serious BW reduction and higher prevalence of low-BW in males, and a skewed sex ratio in highlanders. The infant BW of highland Tibetans has a clear pattern of seasonality. The winter BW is larger than the summer BW, due to the longer sunlight exposure during the late-trimester. Male infants are more sensitive to hypoxia than female infants during the 2nd trimester, leading to more BW reduction and higher mortality. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43657-021-00038-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoxi He
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
| | - Jun Li
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000 China
- High Altitude Medical Research Center, School of Medicine, Tibetan University, Lhasa, 850000 China
| | - Tian Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Wangshan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Yongbo Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
| | - Li Chen
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000 China
| | - Chunxia Li
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000 China
| | - Hongyan Li
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000 China
| | - Chaoying Cui
- High Altitude Medical Research Center, School of Medicine, Tibetan University, Lhasa, 850000 China
| | - Xuebin Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000 China
| | - Bing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223 China
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Molecular docking and dynamics studies of Nicotinamide Riboside as a potential multi-target nutraceutical against SARS-CoV-2 entry, replication, and transcription: A new insight. J Mol Struct 2022; 1247:131394. [PMID: 34483364 PMCID: PMC8404146 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The highly contagious Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is a newborn infectious member of the dangerous beta-coronaviruses (β-CoVs) following SARS and MERS‐CoVs, can be regarded as the most significant issue afflicting the whole world shortly after December 2019. Considering CoVs as RNA viruses with a single-stranded RNA genome (+ssRNA), the critical viral enzyme RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is a promising therapeutic target for the potentially fatal infection COVID-19. Nicotinamide riboside (NR), which is a naturally occurring analogue of Niacin (vitamin B3), is expected to have therapeutic effects on COVID-19 due to its super close structural similarity to the proven RdRp inhibitors. Thus, at the first phase of the current molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies, we targeted SARS-CoV-2 RdRp. On the next phase, SARS-CoV RdRp, human Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, Inosine-5’-monophosphate dehydrogenase, and the SARS-CoV-2 Structural Glycoproteins Spike, Nonstructural viral protein 3-Chymotrypsin-like protease, and Papain-like protease were targeted using the docking simulation to find other possible antiviral effects of NR serendipitously. In the current study, the resulted scores from molecular docking and dynamics simulations as the primary determinative factor as well as the observed reliable binding modes have demonstrated that Nicotinamide Riboside and its active metabolite NMN can target human ACE2 and IMPDH, along with the viral Spro, Mpro, PLpro, and on top of all, RdRp as a potential competitive inhibitor.
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9
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The effect of season of birth on brain epigenome-wide DNA methylation of older adults. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021; 13:367-377. [PMID: 34308828 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174421000453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Perinatal light exposure predisposes towards health and behaviour in adulthood. Season of birth is associated with psychiatric, allergic, cardiovascular and metabolic problems. It has been proposed that early-life environmental light disrupts the development of biological rhythms which, in turn, influence later-life health. However, the mechanisms linking perinatal seasonal light to later-life biological rhythm and health in humans are unknown. In this study, we investigated the association between season of birth and epigenome-wide DNA methylation of two postmortem human brain regions (16 hypothalamus, 14 temporal cortex). We did not find statistically significant differences at the whole epigenome level, either because we lacked statistical power or that no association exists. However, when we examined 24 CpG sites that had the highest significance or differential methylation, we identified regions which may be associated with circadian rhythm entrainment, cholinergic neurotransmission and neural development. Amongst methylation of the core clock genes, we identified that hypothalamus Neuronal PAS Domain Protein 2 (NPAS2) gene has hypermethylated regions in long photoperiod-born individuals. In addition, we found nominal associations between season of birth and genes linked to chronotype and narcolepsy. Season of birth-related brain DNA methylation profile was different than a previously reported blood methylation profile, suggesting a tissue-specific mechanism of perinatal light programming. Overall, we are the first to analyse the relationship between season of birth and human brain DNA methylation. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm an imprinting effect of perinatal light on the circadian clock.
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Jahan D, Peile E, Sheikh MA, Islam S, Parasnath S, Sharma P, Iskandar K, Dhingra S, Charan J, Hardcastle TC, Samad N, Chowdhury TS, Dutta S, Haque M. Is it time to reconsider prophylactic antimicrobial use for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation? a narrative review of antimicrobials in stem cell transplantation. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2021; 19:1259-1280. [PMID: 33711240 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1902304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is a life-saving procedure for multiple types of hematological cancer, autoimmune diseases, and genetic-linked metabolic diseases in humans. Recipients of HSCT transplant are at high risk of microbial infections that significantly correlate with the presence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the degree of immunosuppression. Infection in HSCT patients is a leading cause of life-threatening complications and mortality. AREAS COVERED This review covers issues pertinent to infection in the HSCT patient, including bacterial and viral infection; strategies to reduce GVHD; infection patterns; resistance and treatment options; adverse drug reactions to antimicrobials, problems of antimicrobial resistance; perturbation of the microbiome; the role of prebiotics, probiotics, and antimicrobial peptides. We highlight potential strategies to minimize the use of antimicrobials. EXPERT OPINION Measures to control infection and its transmission remain significant HSCT management policy and planning issues. Transplant centers need to consider carefully prophylactic use of antimicrobials for neutropenic patients. The judicious use of appropriate antimicrobials remains a crucial part of the treatment protocol. However, antimicrobials' adverse effects cause microbiome diversity and dysbiosis and have been shown to increase morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilshad Jahan
- Department of Hematology, Asgar Ali Hospital, 111/1/A Distillery Road, Gandaria Beside Dhupkhola, Dhaka 1204, Bangladesh
| | - Ed Peile
- Department of Medical Education, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Salequl Islam
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh
| | - Sharlene Parasnath
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, 800 Vusi Mzimela Road, Cato Manor, Durban, South Africa
| | - Paras Sharma
- Department of Pharmacognosy, BVM College of Pharmacy, Gwalior, India
| | - Katia Iskandar
- Lebanese University, School of Pharmacy, Beirut, Lebanon.,INSPECT-LB: Institute National de Sante Publique, Epidemiologie Clinique et Toxicologie, Beirut, Lebanon.,Universite Paul Sabatier UT3, INSERM, UMR1027, Toulouse, France
| | - Sameer Dhingra
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, Bihar, India
| | - Jaykaran Charan
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Timothy Craig Hardcastle
- Trauma Service, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Mayville, South Africa.,Department of Surgery, Nelson R Mandela School of Clinical Medicine, UKZN, South Africa
| | - Nandeeta Samad
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Bangladesh
| | | | - Siddhartha Dutta
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Mainul Haque
- The Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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11
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Lorsung E, Karthikeyan R, Cao R. Biological Timing and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Role for Circadian Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:642745. [PMID: 33776640 PMCID: PMC7994532 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.642745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, as well as stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. ASDs affect nearly 2% of the United States child population and the worldwide prevalence has dramatically increased in recent years. The etiology is not clear but ASD is thought to be caused by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Circadian rhythms are the ∼24 h rhythms driven by the endogenous biological clock, and they are found in a variety of physiological processes. Growing evidence from basic and clinical studies suggest that the dysfunction of the circadian timing system may be associated with ASD and its pathogenesis. Here we review the findings that link circadian dysfunctions to ASD in both experimental and clinical studies. We first introduce the organization of the circadian system and ASD. Next, we review physiological indicators of circadian rhythms that are found disrupted in ASD individuals, including sleep-wake cycles, melatonin, cortisol, and serotonin. Finally, we review evidence in epidemiology, human genetics, and biochemistry that indicates underlying associations between circadian regulation and the pathogenesis of ASD. In conclusion, we propose that understanding the functional importance of the circadian clock in normal and aberrant neurodevelopmental processes may provide a novel perspective to tackle ASD, and clinical treatments for ASD individuals should comprise an integrative approach considering the dynamics of daily rhythms in physical, mental, and social processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Lorsung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, United States
| | - Ramanujam Karthikeyan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, United States
| | - Ruifeng Cao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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12
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Morgan H, Collins H, Moore S, Eley C. Written in the stars: did your specialty choose you? Postgrad Med J 2021; 98:205-211. [PMID: 33414176 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Established over 2000 years ago, horoscopes remain a regular feature in contemporary society. We aimed to assess whether there could be a link between zodiac sign and medical occupation, asking the question-did your specialty choose you? STUDY DESIGN A questionnaire-based study was distributed using an online survey tool. Questions explored the zodiac sign, specialty preferences and personality features of physicians. RESULTS 1923 physicians responded between February and March 2020. Variations in personality types between different medical specialties were observed, introverts being highly represented in oncology (71.4%) and rheumatology (65.4%), and extroverts in sexual health (55%), gastroenterology (44.4%) and obstetrics and gynaecology (44.2%) (p<0.01). Proportions of zodiac signs in each specialty also varied; for example, cardiologists were more likely to be Leo compared with Aries (14.4% vs 3.9%, p=0.047), medical physicians more likely Capricorn than Aquarius (10.4% vs 6.7%, p=0.02) and obstetricians and gynaecologists more likely Pisces than Sagittarius (17.5% vs 0%, p=0.036). Intensive care was the most commonly reported second choice career, but this also varied between zodiac signs and specialties. Fountain pen use was associated with extroversion (p=0.049) and gastroenterology (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Personality types vary in different specialties. There may be links to zodiac signs which warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Morgan
- Cardiology Department, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK
| | - Hannah Collins
- Surgical Department, University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS Trust, Cardiff, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sacha Moore
- Cardiology Department, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK
| | - Catherine Eley
- Surgical Department, University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS Trust, Cardiff, Cardiff, UK
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13
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Wang S, Shao N, Ding Y, Cai H, Zou R, Wang C. The Relationship Between Children's Birth Time and Short Stature. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:766448. [PMID: 35186816 PMCID: PMC8854769 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.766448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are few current reports on the relationship between time of birth and short stature in children. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether there is an association between time of birth and short stature in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, basic information was collected from 462 children aged 2-14 years old. We collected data on gender, height, height standard deviation score (SDS), weight, body mass index (BMI), serum 25(OH)D levels, date of birth, and whether the above children were short stature. Demographic description, univariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, smooth curve fitting, and threshold effects were used to explore possible linear or non-linear relationships between children's birth time and short stature. RESULTS The mean age of the 462 children was 9.76 ± 3.10 years old, and 52.16% were male. A total of 129 (27.92%) children were defined as 25(OH)D insufficiency, including 107 (38.91%) in the short stature group and 22 (11.76%) in the normal stature group. Fully adjusted logistic regression showed that the risk of short stature was reduced by 56.5% in children born in summer compared with spring (P < 0.05) [odds ratio (OR): 0.435, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.197-0.959]. A non-linear relationship was found between "sequential day of the year" and short stature from the 1st to the 250th day of the year, the risk of short stature in children is reduced by 0.6% for each day that passes (P = 0.002) (OR: 0.994, 95% CI: 0.990-0.998), and from the 250th to the 365th day of the year, the risk of short stature in children was increased by 0.8% for each day that passed (P = 0.008) (OR: 1.008, 95% CI: 1.001-1.025). CONCLUSIONS Children born in summer have a lower risk of short stature than spring. For children born before the 250th day of the year, "sequential day of the year" was negatively associated with short stature, and for children born after the 250th day, "sequential day of the year" was positively associated with short stature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Wang
- Department of Neonatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Na Shao
- Department of Pediatrics, The First People's Hospital of Changde City, Changde, China
| | - Yiyi Ding
- Department of Pediatrics, The First People's Hospital of Changde City, Changde, China
| | - Hong Cai
- Department of Pediatric Cardiovasology, Children's Medical Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Runmei Zou
- Department of Pediatric Cardiovasology, Children's Medical Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Pediatric Cardiovasology, Children's Medical Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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14
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A systematic review on the association of month and season of birth with future anthropometric measures. Pediatr Res 2021; 89:31-45. [PMID: 32353858 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-0908-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal factors might have some health impacts later in life. This study aims to systematically review the current literature on the association between season and month of birth with birth weight as well as with weight status in childhood. METHODS The search process was conducted in electronic databases, including papers published until April 2019 in ISI Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The following search strategy was used with MeSH terms: ("Seasons"[Mesh]) AND ("Obesity"[Mesh] OR "Pediatric Obesity"[Mesh] OR "Obesity, Abdominal"[Mesh] OR "Overweight"[Mesh] OR "Birth Weight"[Mesh] OR "Body Height"[Mesh]). After the selection process, 50 papers were included in this systematic review. RESULTS This review showed that individuals who are born in cold season (winter month) have higher body mass index (BMI) and weight in childhood. Birth in March was associated with lower weight and BMI in boys according to most studies. All studies, except one of them, showed that season/month of birth was not associated with birth weight. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review confirms a relationship between season and month of birth with birth weight and body size in childhood; however, the impact of confounding factors, for example, vitamin D status, should be considered in the underlying pathway of this association. IMPACT The results provide evidence for the effect of season and month of birth on body size in childhood. Our systematic review suggests that there is no pattern between birth weight and season/month of birth, and the occurrence of low birth weight was more frequent among infants who were born in summer than others. Further research should focus on identifying the impact of confounding factors, for example, vitamin D status in the underlying pathway of this association. There was response to the controversial findings about the effect of environment factors, such as season and month of birth, and future anthropometric indices, such as obesity, weight, height, and birth weight. Obesity is a complex and multifactorial disorder; the findings of the current study would be useful in determining the relationship pathway between the season and the month of birth with other underlying factors for childhood obesity.
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15
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Season-of-birth phenomenon in health and longevity: epidemiologic evidence and mechanistic considerations. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:849-858. [PMID: 33298226 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420001221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In many human populations, especially those living in regions with pronounced climatic differences between seasons, the most sensitive (prenatal and neonatal) developmental stages occur in contrasting conditions depending on the season of conception. The difference in prenatal and postnatal environments may be a factor significantly affecting human development and risk for later life chronic diseases. Factors potentially contributing to this kind of developmental programming include nutrition, outdoor temperature, infectious exposures, duration of sunlight, vitamin D synthesis, etc. Month of birth is commonly used as a proxy for exposures which vary seasonally around the perinatal period. Season-of-birth patterns have been identified for many chronic health outcomes. In this review, the research evidence for the seasonality of birth in adult-life disorders is provided and potential mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of early life seasonal programming of chronic disease and longevity are discussed.
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16
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Obesity incidence is related to month of birth. MARMARA MEDICAL JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.5472/marumj.815578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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17
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Bollen AM, Hujoel PP. Effect of birth season on anthropometrics and diseases of bone mineralization in the US population. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 33:e23507. [PMID: 32959927 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Birth season has been inconsistently associated with anthropometrics, bone fractures, and malocclusion. Our aim was to assess the association between birth season and anthropometrics (height, weight, birth weight), bone fractures and dental malocclusion in the United States. METHODS US surveys conducted between 1963-1973 assessed 16 152 6-to-21-year-old participants. Prevalence ratios and mean differences were estimated using linear models using fall as reference. RESULTS Participants born in spring, when compared to fall, were of similar height (mean difference (MD) in height-adjusted Z score 0.03, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -0.01 to 0.08; P-value = .17), weight (MD for weight-adjusted Z-score 0.00, 95% CI: -0.05 to 0.04; P-value =0.83), had similar rates of bone fractures (Prevalence Rate [PR] 1.07; 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.22; P-value = .28) and similar rates of dental malocclusion (MD of malocclusion index HLD -0.16; 95% confidence interval - 0.39 to 0.07; P = .18). CONCLUSION We did not find an impact of birth season on anthropometrics, bone fractures, and dental malocclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Bollen
- Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Philippe P Hujoel
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Oral Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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18
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Deng J, Wang J, Xiao C, Xu S, Gao X, Pan F. The influence of birth month on total and cardiovascular mortality: a population-based surveillance study. Chronobiol Int 2020; 37:1772-1777. [PMID: 32781856 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2020.1803903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
There is little evidence about the impact of birth month on total and cardiovascular disease mortality in developing countries. We evaluated these associations using the population health registration data of Hefei City, China from 2014 to 2017. After controlling for the fixed effects of gender, education, and occupation, we fitted the Cox proportional hazard regression model to assess the relationship between birth month and mortality. Hazard ratio (HR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. All data analyses were performed by R 3.6.0 software. The data of 44 665 participants were analyzed in the study. Compared to people born in January, people born between May and October had higher total and cardiovascular mortality, being highest in June, respectively, HR: 1.130 (95%CI: 1.074 to 1.190) and HR: 1.200 (95%CI: 1.115 to 1.290). After stratification by gender, males born in June had highest risk total and cardiovascular mortality, with an increase in risk of 14.8% and 24.7%, respectively. For females, highest risk of total mortality was increased by 11.1% in those born in July, while those born in December had highest increase in cardiovascular mortality risk by 15.7%. Our results indicate in Hefei City, China month of birth is associated with total and cardiovascular disease mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixiang Deng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China
| | - Jinian Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China
| | - Changchun Xiao
- Department of Enviroment and Occupational Health, Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Hefei, China
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China
| | - Xing Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China
| | - Faming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China
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19
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Clarkson-Townsend DA, Kennedy E, Everson TM, Deyssenroth MA, Burt AA, Hao K, Chen J, Pardue MT, Marsit CJ. Seasonally variant gene expression in full-term human placenta. FASEB J 2020; 34:10431-10442. [PMID: 32574425 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202000291r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal exposures influence human health and development. The placenta, as a mediator of the maternal and fetal systems and a regulator of development, is an ideal tissue to understand the biological pathways underlying relationships between season of birth and later life health outcomes. Here, we conducted a differential expression (DE) analysis of season of birth in full-term human placental tissue to evaluate whether the placenta may be influenced by seasonal cues. Of the analyzed transcripts, 583 displayed DE between summer and winter births (False Discovery Rate [FDR] q < .05); among these, BHLHE40, MIR210HG, and HILPDA had increased expression among winter births (Bonferroni P < .05). Enrichment analyses of the seasonally variant genes between summer and winter births indicated overrepresentation of transcription factors HIF1A, VDR, and CLOCK, among others, and of GO term pathways related to ribosomal activity and infection. Additionally, a cosinor analysis found rhythmic expression for approximately 11.9% of all 17 664 analyzed placental transcripts. These results suggest that the placenta responds to seasonal cues and add to the growing body of evidence that the placenta acts as a peripheral clock, which may provide a molecular explanation for the extensive associations between season of birth and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A Clarkson-Townsend
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Kennedy
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Todd M Everson
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Maya A Deyssenroth
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amber A Burt
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ke Hao
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Machelle T Pardue
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Decatur, GA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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20
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Didikoglu A, Maharani A, Canal MM, Pendleton N, Payton A. Interactions between season of birth, chronological age and genetic polymorphisms in determining later-life chronotype. Mech Ageing Dev 2020; 188:111253. [PMID: 32371234 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Human chronotype, the temporal pattern of daily behaviors, is influenced by postnatal seasonal programming and ageing. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic variants that are associated with season of birth programming and longitudinal chronotype change. Longitudinal sleep timing and genotype data from 1449 participants were collected for up to 27 years. Gene-environment interaction analysis was performed for 445 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms that have previously been associated with chronotype. Associations were tested using linear mixed model. We identified 67 suggestively significant genomic loci that have genotype-ageing interaction and 25 genomic loci that may have genotype-season of birth interaction in determining chronotype. We attempted to replicate the results using longitudinal data of the UK Biobank from approximately 30,000 participants. Biological functions of these genes suggest that epigenetic regulation of gene expression and neural development may have roles in these processes. The strongest associated gene for sleep trajectories was ALKBH5, which has functions of DNA repair and epigenetic regulation. A potential candidate gene for postnatal seasonal programming was SIRT1, which has previously been implicated in postnatal programming, ageing and longevity. Genetic diversity may explain the heterogeneity in ageing-related change of sleep timing and postnatal environmental programming of later-life chronotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altug Didikoglu
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK(2).
| | - Asri Maharani
- Division of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - Maria Mercè Canal
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK(2)
| | - Neil Pendleton
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK(2)
| | - Antony Payton
- Division of Informatics, Imaging & Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK
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21
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Didikoglu A, Canal MM, Pendleton N, Payton A. Seasonality and season of birth effect in the
UK
Biobank cohort. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 32:e23417. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Altug Didikoglu
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health The University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Maria Mercè Canal
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health The University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Neil Pendleton
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health The University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Antony Payton
- Division of Informatics, Imaging & Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health The University of Manchester Manchester UK
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22
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Hassett BR, Dean MC, Ring S, Atkinson C, Ness AR, Humphrey L. Effects of maternal, gestational, and perinatal variables on neonatal line width observed in a modern UK birth cohort. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 172:314-332. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Susan Ring
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol Bristol UK
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23
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Calthorpe LM, Gigante DP, Horta BL, Ong KK. Age at menarche associated with subsequent educational attainment and risk-taking behaviours: the Pelotas 1982 Birth Cohort. Ann Hum Biol 2020; 47:18-24. [DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2020.1715476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucia M. Calthorpe
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Ken K. Ong
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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24
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Zhang Y, Devore EE, Strohmaier S, Grodstein F, Schernhammer ES. Birth month, birth season, and overall and cardiovascular disease mortality in US women: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2019; 367:l6058. [PMID: 31852664 PMCID: PMC7190053 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l6058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the associations between birth month, birth season, and overall and cardiovascular disease mortality, and to examine the role of familial and socioeconomic factors in these associations. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Nurses' Health Study, established in 1976, an ongoing prospective cohort study in the United States. PARTICIPANTS Female registered nurses who reported information on date of birth at study enrolment (n=116 911, 1976-2014, followed for 38 years). EXPOSURE Birth month and astronomical birth season (based on solstices and equinoxes as boundaries of the season categories). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Age and various multivariable adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between birth months (using November as the reference), astronomical birth season (using autumn as the reference), and overall and cardiovascular disease specific mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Among study participants, 43 248 overall deaths were documented during 4 136 364 person years of follow-up since enrolment, including 8360 cardiovascular disease related deaths. In fully adjusted multivariable analyses, no significant association was observed between birth month, birth season, and overall mortality. Compared with women born in November, increased cardiovascular disease mortality was observed among those born from March to July (hazard ratio for March, 1.09, 95% confidence interval 0.98 to 1.21; April, 1.12, 1.00 to 1.24; May, 1.08, 0.98 to 1.20; June, 1.07, 0.96 to 1.19; and July 1.08, 0.98 to 1.20). Those born in April had the highest cardiovascular disease mortality, and those born in December had the lowest (December, 0.95, 0.85 to 1.06). The relative difference between the lowest and highest risk month was 17.89%. Women born in spring (1.10, 1.04 to 1.17) and summer (1.09, 1.03 to 1.16) had a higher cardiovascular disease mortality than women born in the autumn. Adjustment for familial and socioeconomic factors did not change these results. The relative difference between the lowest and highest risk season was 10.00%. CONCLUSION Participants born in the spring and summer (especially those born in March-July) had a slight but significant increase in cardiovascular disease specific mortality. However, no seasonal birth month effect was observed among women for overall mortality. Familial and socioeconomic factors did not appear to alter these associations. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and reveal mechanisms of these seasonal birth month effects in cardiovascular disease mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zhang
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Devore
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Susanne Strohmaier
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Francine Grodstein
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eva S Schernhammer
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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25
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Sogawa E, Kaji T, Nakayama S, Yoshida A, Yonetani N, Maeda K, Yasui T, Irahara M. Seasonal variation of serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood in Japanese women. THE JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INVESTIGATION 2019; 66:128-133. [PMID: 31064925 DOI: 10.2152/jmi.66.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to demonstrate that the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level in maternal and umbilical cord blood has a seasonal variation in Japanese women. The study cohort comprised 256 healthy Japanese women with a singleton pregnancy who delivered after 36 gestational weeks between 2012 and 2015. The season at delivery was categorized for 3 months and recorded as "spring", "summer", "autumn" and "winter". Subjects were divided into four groups according to season. A sample of peripheral venous blood at 35-36 gestational weeks and blood from the umbilical vein at delivery were taken. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentra tion (ng/mL) in maternal blood for each season (spring, summer, autumn and winter) was 18.0 (?6.7), 17.1 (?5.1), 21.6 (?8.0) and 16.0 (?5.1), whereas that for umbilical cord blood was 8.8 (?3.6), 8.6 (?2.6), 10.7 (?3.5) and 8.6 (?2.1), respectively. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration of maternal and umbilical cord blood in autumn was higher than that for the other three seasons. In pregnant Japanese women, the mean serum 25(OH)D concentration in maternal and umbilical cord blood was affected by the season of delivery, with both being highest in autumn. Regardless of the season, the maternal serum concentration of 25(OH)D was low in Japan. J. Med. Invest. 66 : 128-133, February, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eishi Sogawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima,Japan
| | - Takashi Kaji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima,Japan
| | - Soichiro Nakayama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima,Japan
| | - Atsuko Yoshida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima,Japan
| | - Naoto Yonetani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima,Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Maeda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima,Japan.,General Perinatal Medical Center, Shikoku Medical Center for Children and Adults, Zentsuji, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Yasui
- Department of Reproductive andMenopausal Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Minoru Irahara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima,Japan
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Schelling C, Gaillard C, Russenberger J, Moseley L, Dolf G. Heritabilities for the puppy weight at birth in Labrador retrievers. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:395. [PMID: 31694632 PMCID: PMC6833269 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-2146-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Weight at birth is an important predictor of neonatal mortality and morbidity in dogs. In addition, the birthweight of the puppies in a litter influences the decision to perform a cesarean section. The goal of the present study was to estimate heritabilities for the puppy birth weight in Labrador retrievers. Results Of the 1138 Labrador retriever litters whelped at the Guiding Eye for the Blind between September 2001 and February 2018, 1013 were included in the analyses after data editing. Puppy weight at birth was the target trait, measured on a continuous scale in pounds, and converted to grams. Linear mixed models were used to identify factors influencing puppy weight at birth. The analyses showed that the sex of the puppy, litter size, length of gestation, adult weight of the dam, parity, year of birth and inbreeding coefficient of the puppies and dams contributed to the variance of the puppy birth weight. Dam and litter effects were included as random effects. A multiple trait derivative free restricted maximum likelihood approach was used to estimate variance components and genetic parameters with two animal models, one without covariates (Model 1) and one with covariates (Model 2). Sex of the puppy and litter size had moderate effects, whereas gestation length, adult weight of the dam, parity, year of birth and inbreeding coefficients of the dam and the puppies had minor effects. Estimates for Model 1 and Model 2 were 0.21 and 0.17 for the direct heritabilities, 0.22 and 0.22 for the maternal additive genetic heritabilities, 0.07 and 0.07 for the maternal permanent environmental proportions, and 0.14 and 0.08 for the environmental proportion of the litter. Conclusions In order to estimate reliable breeding values for puppy weight at birth, sex of puppy, litter size, length of gestation and the adult weight of the dam should be included. Estimates could benefit from weighing the dams prior to each mating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Schelling
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Eschikon 27, 8315, Lindau, Switzerland.
| | - Claude Gaillard
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jane Russenberger
- Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA
| | - Lou Moseley
- Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA
| | - Gaudenz Dolf
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
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Garay SM, Savory KA, Sumption LA, Penketh RJ, Jones IR, Janssen AB, John RM. Seasonal variation in salivary cortisol but not symptoms of depression and trait anxiety in pregnant women undergoing an elective caesarean section. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 108:14-19. [PMID: 31181440 PMCID: PMC6854466 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Seasonal changes in mood and behaviour are commonly reported in the general population but considerably less is known regarding seasonality and pregnancy. This study investigated the relationship between seasons and depression and anxiety symptoms, salivary cortisol concentrations, custom birthweight centiles (CBWC) and placenta weight for pregnant women living in South Wales. METHODS This study utilised data from the longitudinal Grown in Wales (GiW) cohort. Women were recruited at the presurgical elective caesarean section (ELCS) appointment, when they provided saliva samples and completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Data on birthweight and placental weight was extracted from medical notes. Seasonal data was available for 316 participants. RESULTS No association was identified between seasons and EPDS (p = .178), STAI scores (p = .544), CBWC (p = .683) or placental weight (p = .857). Significance was identified between seasons and salivary cortisol concentration (p<.001), with highest levels in autumn and winter. Adjusted linear regression identified spring (B=-.05, p=.007, 95% CI -.09, -.01) and summer (B=-.06, p = .001, 95% CI -09, -.02) compared to autumn, and spring (B=-.05, p=.009, 95% CI -.09, -.01) and summer (B=-.06, p=.002, 95% CI -.10, -.02) compared to winter to be associated with decreased cortisol concentrations. CONCLUSION This study found no association between season and maternally-reported mental health symptoms, birthweight by CBWC or placental weight but did between season and term salivary cortisol. This finding will have implications for studies that do not account for seasonality when using salivary cortisol as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M. Garay
- Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Katrina A. Savory
- Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna A. Sumption
- Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J.A. Penketh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Wales, CF144XW, United Kingdom
| | - Ian R. Jones
- National Centre for Mental Health, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Anna B. Janssen
- Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Rosalind M. John
- Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom,Corresponding author.
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Abstract
Refractive errors are the product of a mismatch between the axial length of the eye and its optical power, creating blurred vision. Uncorrected refractive errors are the second leading cause of worldwide blindness. One refractive error currently attracting significant scientific interest is myopia, mostly owing to the recent rise in its prevalence worldwide and associated ocular disease burden. This increase in myopia prevalence has also been rapid, suggesting environmental influences in addition to any genetic influences on eye growth. This review defines refractive errors, describes their prevalence, and presents evidence for the influence of genetic and environmental factors related to refractive error development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise N. Harb
- School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA;,
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Douros K, Fytanidis G, Papadimitriou A. Effect of the month of birth on the height of young adult males. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 170:447-450. [PMID: 31429077 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore a possible association between the month of birth and the final adult height in men and see if this could be described in terms of periodicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used anthropometric data of 15,109 young male conscripts of the Greek Army. The data were collected from May 2006 until May 2010 and included men who had been born over a period of 12 years (1980-1991). The data were grouped in 12 monthly periods and analyzed with the use of a sinusoidal model. RESULTS There was a statistically significant month-of-birth effect on height variation, which was described by a sinusoidal model with period T = 12 months, amplitude 0.223 cm and, two extremes which corresponded to the end of April/beginning of May (peak) and to the end of October/beginning of November (nadir). DISCUSSION Our results corroborate previous findings suggesting a seasonality in human height without, however, being able to provide a definitive explanation for this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Douros
- Third Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Attikon' General University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Grigorios Fytanidis
- Third Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Attikon' General University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasios Papadimitriou
- Third Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Attikon' General University Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Alebel A, Wagnew F, Tesema C, Gebrie A, Ketema DB, Asmare G, Kibret GD. Factors associated with low birth weight at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a hospital based cross-sectional study. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:105. [PMID: 30813968 PMCID: PMC6391783 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4143-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight among newborns delivered at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. RESULTS From the total of 368 newborn baby/mother pairs planned to be participated, 338 agreed and involved in the study giving a response rate of 91.2%. In this study, the prevalence of low birth weight was 21.6 (95% CI 17.5, 26%). Being rural residence (AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0, 4.1), duration of pregnancy (AOR = 7.6, 95% CI 3.3, 17.4), and having complications during pregnancy (AOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2, 5.7) were found to be factors significantly associated with low birth weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Animut Alebel
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, P.O. Box 269, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
| | - Fasil Wagnew
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, P.O. Box 269, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Cheru Tesema
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Alemu Gebrie
- Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Daniel Bekele Ketema
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Getnet Asmare
- College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Getiye Dejenu Kibret
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
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Abstract
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between maternal vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of chronic lung disease in offspring. While vitamin D and UV induced non-vitamin D pathways have the capacity to modulate immune function, this relationship may also be explained by an effect on lung development which is an independent predictor of lung function and the risk of lung disease later in life. To date there are not sufficient data to support the role of non-vitamin D pathways in this association, while in vivo and in vitro data suggest that there is a causal relationship between vitamin D and lung development. However, equivocal results in recent high profile clinical trials have dampened enthusiasm for vitamin D as an important public health intervention for improving lung development. In this narrative review we summarise our current understanding of the link between UV exposure, vitamin D and lung development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
| | - Graeme R Zosky
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
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Fentahun N, Belachew T, Coates J, Lachat C. Seasonality and determinants of child growth velocity and growth deficit in rural southwest Ethiopia. BMC Pediatr 2018; 18:20. [PMID: 29390985 PMCID: PMC5796588 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-018-0986-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ethiopia faces cyclic food insecurity that alternates between pre- and post- harvest seasons. Whether seasonal variation in access to food is associated with child growth has not been assessed empirically. Understanding seasonality of child growth velocity and growth deficit helps to improve efforts to track population interventions against malnutrition. The aim of this study was assess child growth velocity, growth deficit, and their determinants in rural southwest Ethiopia. Method Data were obtained from four rounds of a longitudinal household survey conducted in ten districts in Oromiya Region and Southern Nations, Nationality and Peoples Region of Ethiopia, in which 1200 households were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Households with a child under 5 years were included in the present analyses (round 1 n = 579, round 2 n = 674, round 3 n = 674 and round 4 n = 680). The hierarchical nature of the data was taken into account during the statistical analyses by fitting a linear mixed effects model. A restricted maximum likelihood estimation method was employed in the analyses. Result Compared to the post-harvest season, a higher length and weight velocity were observed in pre-harvest season with an average difference of 6.4 cm/year and 0.6 kg/year compared to the post-harvest season. The mean height of children in post-harvest seasons was 5.7 cm below the WHO median reference height. The mean height of children increased an additional 3.3 cm [95% CI (2.94, 3.73)] per year in pre-harvest season compared to the post-harvest season. Similarly, the mean weight of children increased 1.0 kg [95% CI (0.91, 1.11)] per year more in the pre-harvest season compared to the post-harvest season. Children who had a low dietary diversity and were born during the lean season in both seasons had a higher linear growth deficit. Being member of a highly food insecure household was negatively associated with higher weight gain. Having experienced no illness during the previous 2 weeks was positively associated with linear growth and weight gain. Conclusion Child growth velocities and child growth deficits were higher in the pre-harvest season and post- harvest season respectively. Low dietary diversity and being part of a highly food insecure household were significantly risk factors for decreased linear growth and weight gain respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Netsanet Fentahun
- Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. .,Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. .,School of Public Health Engineering, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
| | - Tefera Belachew
- Department of Population and Family Health, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Jennifer Coates
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Feinstein International Center at Tufts University, Boston, USA
| | - Carl Lachat
- Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Portrait FRM, van Wingerden TF, Deeg DJH. Early life undernutrition and adult height: The Dutch famine of 1944-45. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2017; 27:339-348. [PMID: 29074165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2016] [Revised: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Current research shows strong associations between adult height and several positive outcomes such as higher cognitive skills, better earning capacity, increased chance of marriage and better health. It is therefore relevant to investigate the determinants of adult height. There is mixed evidence on the effects of undernutrition during early life on adult height. Therefore, our study aims at assessing the impact of undernutrition during gestation and at ages younger than 15 on adult height. We used data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Exposure to undernutrition was determined by place of residence during the Dutch famine during World War II. Included respondents were born between 15 May 1930 and 1 November 1945 and lived in the northern part of the Netherlands during the famine period (n=1008). Exposure data was collected using interviews and questionnaires and adult height was measured. Exposed and non-exposed respondents were classified in the age categories pregnancy- age 1 (n=85), age 1-5 (n=323), age 6-10 (n=326) or puberty (age 11-15, n=274). Linear regression analyses were used to test the associations of adult height with exposure. The robustness of the regression results was tested with sensitivity analyses. In the models adjusted for covariates (i.e., number of siblings, education level of parents, and year of birth) and stratified by gender, adult height was significantly shorter for females exposed at ages younger than 1 (-4.45cm [-7.44--1.47]) or at ages younger than 2 (-4.08cm [-7.20--0.94]). The results for males were only borderline significant for exposure under age 1 (-3.16 [-6.82-0.49]) and significant for exposure under age 2 (-4.09cm [-7.20--0.96]). Exposure to the Dutch famine at other ages was not consistently significantly associated with adult height. In terms of public health relevance, the study's results further underpin the importance of supporting pregnant women and young parents exposed to undernutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- F R M Portrait
- Department of Health Sciences, FALW, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - T F van Wingerden
- Department of Health Sciences, FALW, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D J H Deeg
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Georgakis MK, Ntinopoulou E, Chatzopoulou D, Petridou ET. Season of birth and primary central nervous system tumors: a systematic review of the literature with critical appraisal of underlying mechanisms. Ann Epidemiol 2017; 27:593-602.e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2016] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Jensen CB, Sørensen TIA, Heitmann BL. No seasonality of birth in BMI at 7years of age. Early Hum Dev 2016; 103:129-131. [PMID: 27598579 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal variation in birth weight was found in a previous Danish study. In the present study we investigated if the seasonality in birth weight tracked into BMI at 7years of age, but found no seasonality of birth in either BMI, overweight, or obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Bjørn Jensen
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Thorkild I A Sørensen
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Berit L Heitmann
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; The National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark; Section for General Practice, The Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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36
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Mulmi P, Block SA, Shively GE, Masters WA. Climatic conditions and child height: Sex-specific vulnerability and the protective effects of sanitation and food markets in Nepal. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2016; 23:63-75. [PMID: 27494247 PMCID: PMC5147727 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditions in early life are known to have impacts on later health outcomes, but causal mechanisms and potential remedies have been difficult to discern. This paper uses the Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys of 2006 and 2011, combined with earlier NASA satellite observations of variation in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at each child's location and time of birth to identify the trimesters of gestation and periods of infancy when climate variation is linked to attained height later in life. We find significant differences by sex: males are most affected by conditions in their second trimester of gestation, and females in the first three months after birth. Each 100-point difference in NDVI at those times is associated with a difference in height-for-age z-score (HAZ) measured at age 12-59 months of 0.088 for boys and 0.054 for girls, an effect size similar to that of moving within the distribution of household wealth by close to one quintile for boys and one decile for girls. The entire seasonal change in NDVI from peak to trough is approximately 200-300 points during the 2000-2011 study period, implying a seasonal effect on HAZ similar to one to three quintiles of household wealth. This effect is observed only in households without toilets; in households with toilets, there is no seasonal fluctuation, implying protection against climatic conditions that facilitate disease transmission. We also use data from the Nepal Living Standards Surveys on district-level agricultural production and marketing, and find a climate effect on child growth only in districts where households' food consumption derives primarily from their own production. Robustness tests find no evidence of selection effects, and placebo regression results reveal no significant artefactual correlations. The timing and sex-specificity of climatic effects are consistent with previous studies, while the protective effects of household sanitation and food markets are novel indications of mechanisms by which households can gain resilience against adverse climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajula Mulmi
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, United States.
| | - Steven A Block
- Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 160 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, United States.
| | - Gerald E Shively
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, 403 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States.
| | - William A Masters
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, United States; Department of Economics, Tufts University, 8 Upper Campus Road, Medford, MA 02155, United States.
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Karras SN, Fakhoury H, Muscogiuri G, Grant WB, van den Ouweland JM, Colao AM, Kotsa K. Maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy and neonatal health: evidence to date and clinical implications. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2016; 8:124-35. [PMID: 27493691 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x16656810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Low maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy have been associated with a plethora of adverse neonatal outcomes, including small for gestational age and preterm births, detrimental effect on offspring bone and teeth development, and risk of infectious diseases. Although most observational studies indicate a significant linear relationship between maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the above outcomes, some randomized controlled trials to date are inconclusive, mostly due to differences in study design and supplementation regimen. The currently available results indicate that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy reduces the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, dental caries of infancy, and neonatal infectious diseases such as respiratory infections and sepsis. This narrative review aims to summarize available trial results regarding the effect of low maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy, in conjunction with neonatal outcomes on the field, with a discourse on the appropriate clinical approach of this important issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyridon N Karras
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, AHEPA Hospital, Venizelou 34b, Pilea, PO Box 55535, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Hana Fakhoury
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, AlFaisal University, Riyadh, KSA
| | | | - William B Grant
- Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Anna Maria Colao
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Kalliopi Kotsa
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
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No effect of birth month or season on height in a large international sample of adults. ANTHROPOLOGICAL REVIEW 2016. [DOI: 10.1515/anre-2016-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Although several studies in recent years have provided evidence of a relationship between month of birth and height during childhood, the association remains less clear for adult (final) height. Here, I investigated this relationship using a large international sample of adult actors. Analyses considered both the sample as a whole, as well as subsamples based on nationality, and treated men and women separately. In all instances, I found no relationship between birth month or season and height, even after controlling for year of birth. This may be due to the particular nature of samples of actors, who are taller than the general population, or could suggest more broadly that birth month effects are minimal or absent in adults.
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