scholarly journals Adverse Childhood Events and Health Biomarkers: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Soares ◽  
Vânia Rocha ◽  
Michelle Kelly-Irving ◽  
Silvia Stringhini ◽  
Sílvia Fraga

Background: This systematic review aimed to summarize evidence reporting epigenetic and/or neuro-immuno-endocrine embedding of adverse childhood events (ACEs) in children, with a particular focus on the short-term biological effect of those experiences.Methods: A search was conducted in PsycINFO®, PubMed®, Isi Web of Knowledge and Scopus, until July 2019, to identify papers reporting the short-term biological effects of exposure to ACEs.Results: The search identified 58 studies, that were included in the review. Regarding exposure, the type of ACE more frequently reported was sexual abuse (n = 26), followed by life stressors (n = 20) and physical abuse (n = 19). The majority (n = 17) of studies showed a positive association between ACEs and biomarkers of the immune system. Regarding DNA methylation 18 studies showed more methylation in participants exposed to ACEs. Two studies presented the effect of ACEs on telomere length and showed that exposure was associated with shorter telomere length.Conclusion: Overall the associations observed across studies followed the hypothesis that ACEs are associated with biological risk already at early ages. This is supporting evidence that ACEs appear to get “under the skin” and induce physiological changes and these alterations might be strongly associated with later development of disease.

Obesity ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 820-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie K. Elsenburg ◽  
Kim J. E. van Wijk ◽  
Aart C. Liefbroer ◽  
Nynke Smidt

2022 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belay Tessema ◽  
Ulrich Sack ◽  
Zoya Serebrovska ◽  
Brigitte König ◽  
Egor Egorov

The effects of short-term hyperoxia on age-related diseases and aging biomarkers have been reported in animal and human experiments using different protocols; however, the findings of the studies remain conflicting. In this systematic review, we summarized the existing reports in the effects of short-term hyperoxia on age-related diseases, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), and other oxygen-sensitive transcription factors relevant to aging, telomere length, cellular senescence, and its side effects. This review was done as described in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. A systematic search was done in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library and from the references of selected articles to identify relevant studies until May 2021. Of the total 1,699 identified studies, 17 were included in this review. Most of the studies have shown significant effects of short-term hyperoxia on age-related diseases and aging biomarkers. The findings of the studies suggest the potential benefits of short-term hyperoxia in several clinical applications such as for patients undergoing stressful operations, restoration of cognitive function, and the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury. Short-term hyperoxia has significant effects in upregulation or downregulation of transcription factors relevant to aging such as HIF-1α, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells (NF-kB), and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) among others. Short-term hyperoxia also has significant effects to increase antioxidant enzymes, and increase telomere length and clearance of senescent cells. Some of the studies have also reported adverse consequences including mitochondrial DNA damage and nuclear cataract formation depending on the dose and duration of oxygen exposure. In conclusion, short-term hyperoxia could be a feasible treatment option to treat age-related disease and to slow aging because of its ability to increase antioxidant enzymes, significantly increase telomere length and clearance of senescent cells, and improve cognitive function, among others. The reported side effects of hyperoxia vary depending on the dose and duration of exposure. Therefore, it seems that additional studies for better understanding the beneficial effects of short-term hyperoxia and for minimizing side effects are necessary for optimal clinical application.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Lance Hemady ◽  
Siu Ching Wong ◽  
Christina Thurston ◽  
Deborah Fry ◽  
Aja Louise Murray ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Research suggests that maternal exposure to childhood adversity is associated with substance use during pregnancy and poor infant outcomes (i.e., premature birth, low birth weight). However, to date, no systematic review has synthesised the effect of ACEs on these three outcomes. Method: The framework for this review will be adapted from the guidelines laid out in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. The electronic databases to be searched will include: PubMed, SCOPUS, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and CINAHL and will be carried out by one reviewer. Studies that fit the pre-specified eligibility criteria will be screened, assessed, and extracted independently by two reviewers with discrepancies to be resolved by a third reviewer. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cross-sectional and cohort studies will be used to critically evaluate the methodological quality of the selected studies. If a sufficient number of studies are found to be comparable, a meta-analysis will be conducted using a random effects model.Discussion: This review will provide supporting evidence on the body of literature exploring the long-term and intergenerational consequences of adverse childhood experiences. The results of the review can help inform policies and interventions related to maternal health as well as early childhood development. The gaps identified in the review can also help inform recommendations for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1329-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Lang ◽  
Judith McKie ◽  
Helen Smith ◽  
Angela McLaughlin ◽  
Christopher Gillberg ◽  
...  

Abstract A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted to answer the question: What epigenetic, telomeric and associated biological changes are associated with exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the under 12s? Using PRISMA guidelines, appropriate databases were searched. 190 papers were returned with 38 articles fully reviewed. Articles were each independently quality rated by two authors using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool and data were extracted. Of the 38 articles, 23 were rated as very high quality. Most study participants were adults (n = 7769) with n = 727 child participants. Only seven of the very/high-quality studies were prospective and involved children. Methylation was the most studied method of epigenetic modification. There is some evidence supporting epigenetic modification of certain markers in participants exposed to ACEs measured in adulthood. Research is lacking on non-coding aspects of the epigenome and on coding aspects other than DNA methylation. There is some evidence of a more powerful effect on telomere length if physical neglect was involved. Much further work is required to model biological and psychological effects of epigenetic changes during childhood using prospective study designs. The effect of ACEs on the cellular ageing process during childhood is inadequately investigated and relies solely on measure of telomere length. Future research suggestions are proposed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Lance Hemady ◽  
Siu Ching Wong ◽  
Christina Thurston ◽  
Deborah Fry ◽  
Aja Louise Murray ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Research suggests that maternal exposure to childhood adversity is associated with substance use during pregnancy and poor infant outcomes (i.e., premature birth, low birth weight). However, to date, no systematic review has synthesised the effect of ACEs on these three outcomes.Method: The framework for this review will be adapted from the guidelines laid out in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. The electronic databases to be searched will include: PubMed, SCOPUS, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and CINAHL and will be carried out by one reviewer. Studies that fit the pre-specified eligibility criteria will be screened, assessed, and extracted independently by two reviewers with discrepancies to be resolved by a third reviewer. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cross-sectional and cohort studies will be used to critically evaluate the methodological quality of the selected studies. If a sufficient number of studies are found to be comparable, a meta-analysis will be conducted using a random effects model.Discussion: This review will provide supporting evidence on the body of literature exploring the long-term and intergenerational consequences of adverse childhood experiences. The results of the review can help inform policies and interventions related to maternal health as well as early childhood development. The gaps identified in the review can also help inform recommendations for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasha Rudenstine ◽  
Adriana Espinosa ◽  
Andrew Brockbank McGee ◽  
Emma Routhier

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