scholarly journals A Systematic Review of DNA Methylation and Preterm Birth in African American Women

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza ◽  
Michelle L. Wright ◽  
Comfort Agaba ◽  
Laura Prescott ◽  
Alexandra Desir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
African American ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
American Women ◽  
Study Designs

Background: The causes of many cases of preterm birth (PTB) remain enigmatic. Increased understanding of how epigenetic factors are associated with health outcomes has resulted in studies examining DNA methylation (DNAm) as a contributing factor to PTB. However, few studies on PTB and DNAm have included African American women, the group with the highest rate of PTB. Methods: The objective of this review was to systematically analyze the existing studies on DNAm and PTB among African American women. Results: Studies ( N = 10) were limited by small sample size, cross-sectional study designs, inconsistent methodologies for epigenomic analysis, and evaluation of different tissue types across studies. African Americans comprised less than half of the sample in 50% of the studies reviewed. Despite these limitations, there is evidence for an association between DNAm patterns and PTB. Conclusions: Future research on DNAm patterns and PTB should use longitudinal study designs, repeated DNAm testing, and a clinically relevant definition of PTB and should include large samples of high-risk African American women to better understand the mechanisms for PTB in this population.

A Multisite Examination of Everyday Discrimination and the Prevalence of Spontaneous Preterm Birth in African American and Latina Women in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (13) ◽  
pp. 1340-1350
Author(s):  
Kimberly E. Fryer ◽  
Anissa I. Vines ◽  
Alison M. Stuebe
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
African American Women ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Latina Women ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
American Women ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Abstract Objective African American women have a higher risk of spontaneous preterm birth than White and Latina women. Although Latina women are exposed to similar social determinants of health, they have lower rates of spontaneous preterm birth. One theory for this difference is the maternal stress biological pathway, whereby lifetime stressors, such as racial discrimination, lead to a premature activation of parturition. We investigated the prevalence of self-reported discrimination and its association with the prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth. Study Design Using data from the Community Child Health Research Network Study, a multisite cohort study from 2008 to 2012, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1,154 African American women and 578 Latina women. Results Adjusting for multiple risk factors, African American and Latina women who experienced the highest tertile of discrimination had a higher prevalence of preterm birth compared with those who experienced discrimination less than once per year, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.5 (0.7–3.1) and 3.6 (0.9–14.4), respectively. Conclusion In our cohort, we found a statistically significant association only in the medium discrimination group in Latina women, but we did not find a statistically significant association in African American women. Reduction in experienced discrimination may be an important intervention for reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

scholarly journals DNA methylation changes in African American women with a history of preterm birth from the InterGEN study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Barcelona ◽  
Janitza L. Montalvo-Ortiz ◽  
Michelle L. Wright ◽  
Sheila T. Nagamatsu ◽  
Caitlin Dreisbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
African American ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Gene Networks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
African American Mothers ◽  
American Women ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Disorders

Abstract Background Preterm birth (< 37 weeks’ gestation) is a common outcome of pregnancy that has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease for women later in life. Little is known about the physiologic mechanisms underlying this risk. To date, no studies have evaluated if differences in DNA methylation (DNAm) among women who experience preterm birth are short-term or if they persist and are associated with subsequent cardiovascular sequelae or other health disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine long-term epigenetic effects of preterm birth in African American mothers (n = 182) from the InterGEN Study (2014–2019). In this study, we determine if differences in DNAm exist between women who reported a preterm birth in the last 3–5 years compared to those who had full-term births by using two different approaches: epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and genome-wide co-methylation analyses. Results Though no significant CpG sites were identified using the EWAS approach, we did identify significant modules of co-methylation associated with preterm birth. Co-methylation analyses showed correlations with preterm birth in gene ontology and KEGG pathways. Functional annotation analysis revealed enrichment for pathways related to central nervous system and sensory perception. No association was observed between DNAm age and preterm birth, though larger samples are needed to confirm this further. Conclusions We identified differentially methylated gene networks associated with preterm birth in African American women 3–5 years after birth, including pathways related to neurogenesis and sensory processing. More research is needed to understand better these associations and replicate them in an independent cohort. Further study should be done in this area to elucidate mechanisms linking preterm birth and later epigenomic changes that may contribute to the development of health disorders and maternal mood and well-being.

Risk factors in adolescents’ involvement in violent behaviours

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Baxendale ◽  
Leanne Lester ◽  
Robyn Johnston ◽  
Donna Cross
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Future Research ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Violent Media ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Associated

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine risk factors associated with Western Australian secondary school students’ involvement in violence-related behaviours. Design/methodology/approach – This cross-sectional study examined data collected using an anonymous self-completion questionnaire from 542 school students aged 13-17 years. The questionnaire measured risk factors associated with being a perpetrator and/or victim of violence-related behaviours. Findings – Gender was significantly associated with being a victim and perpetrator of violence-related behaviours. Males were significantly more likely than females to be a victim of threatening and physical violence at school, and to be a perpetrator of physical violence at school and in the community. Males were significantly more likely than females to watch violent media, with exposure to violent media associated with physically hurting someone at school. Students involved in greater acts of animal cruelty had increased odds of being involved in all forms of the violence measured. Research limitations/implications – Limitations such as the cross-sectional nature of the study and the small sample size are noted, along with suggestions for future research. Practical implications – Implications of the research for practitioners working with adolescents, with a particular focus on the school setting, are discussed. Originality/value – Most previously published research on adolescent involvement in violence has been conducted outside Australia, and as such, may not be directly applicable to the experiences of young people in Western Australia.

scholarly journals Genetic and Environmental Risks for High Blood Pressure Among African American Mothers and Daughters

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn Y. Taylor ◽  
Rosanna Maddox ◽  
Chun Yi Wu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Sodium Intake ◽  
Buccal Swab ◽  
African American Mothers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mothers And Daughters ◽  
American Women

Objective: To determine the relationship between genetic and environmental lifestyle factors (physical activity and sodium) on blood pressure (BP) among African-American women. Method: In this cross-sectional study involving 108 African-American mothers and daughters from a Midwestern area, investigators obtained BP measurements, information on minutes of physical activity, amount of sodium intake, and buccal swab saliva samples. Results: Of the 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the sodium bicarbonate cotransporter gene (SLC4A5), rs8179526 had a statistically significant interaction with cytosine/thymine (C/T) genotype by sodium status on systolic BP (SBP; p = .0077). For gene × physical activity interaction, 2 significant interactions (cytosine/adenine [C/A] genotype by physical activity and adenine/adenine [A/A] genotype by physical activity, p = .0107 and p = .0171, respectively) on SBP and 1 on diastolic BP (DBP; A/A genotype by physical activity, p = .0233) were found on rs1017783. Two significant guanine/adenine [G/A] genotype by physical activity interactions were found on rs6731545 for SBP and DBP (p = .0160 and p = .0492, respectively). Discussion: A gene × environmental interaction with rs8179526 has a protective effect on SBP in African-American women with high sodium intake. Participants with C/T genotype of rs8179526 who consumed greater than 2,300 mg of sodium had lower SBP than those who consumed less than recommended. Women with thymine/thymine (T/T) genotype of rs8179526 who consumed greater than 2,300 mg had lower SBP than those who consumed less. Awareness of both the protective and deleterious properties of rs8179526 in African-American women may one day assist in determining appropriate treatment plans.

Preterm Birth among African American Women in a Federal Healthy Start Program

2018 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 111S
Author(s):  
Lee Anne Roman ◽  
Zhehui Luo ◽  
Cristian Meghea ◽  
Peggy VanderMeulen ◽  
Ken Fawcett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Healthy Start ◽  
American Women ◽  
Healthy Start Program ◽  
Start Program

scholarly journals Complement Activation During Early Pregnancy and Clinical Predictors of Preterm Birth in African American Women

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. E15-E26
Author(s):  
Alexis B. Dunn ◽  
Anne L. Dunlop ◽  
Andrew H. Miller ◽  
Carol J. Hogue ◽  
Jordan M. Crofton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Complement Activation ◽  
Clinical Predictors ◽  
American Women

Mortgage discrimination and preterm birth among African American women: An exploratory study

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 102193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nana Matoba ◽  
Suzanne Suprenant ◽  
Kristin Rankin ◽  
Hailin Yu ◽  
James W. Collins
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
American Women ◽  
Mortgage Discrimination

The character of womanhood: How African American women’s perceptions of womanhood influence marriage and motherhood

Ethnicities ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Chaney
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Black Women ◽  
African American Women ◽  
White Women ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Black Feminist ◽  
American Women ◽  
Written Responses ◽  
The Family ◽  
Women’S Perceptions

This qualitative paper will focus on how black women understand and perceive womanhood, and will explore how black women’s perceptions regarding womanhood shape their attitudes and behaviours toward marriage and motherhood. Using a black feminist approach, I assert that black women’s perceptions of womanhood are not based on European notions as the family structure and experiences of African American women is characteristically different from that of white women. Further, I assert that African American women create a modified version of womanhood based on their education, social class and economic position in relation to black men, and which may, in turn, inform their decisions regarding marriage and motherhood. Specifically, I examine the written responses of fifteen African American women between the ages of 18 and 55 (mean age of 32.6 years) regarding what is expected of them as women. Qualitative analyses of the data revealed that womanhood was defined in terms of feminine attitudes (strength, sensitivity and sensuality) and feminine behaviours (familial care, their own physical appearance and self-respect). In addition, womanhood was demonstrated through a woman’s ability to care for her home and to take the lead in the absence of male leadership. Supporting qualitative data are presented in connection with each theme. Recommendations for future research are also provided.

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