scholarly journals Telomere length is associated with growth in children in rural Bangladesh

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrie Lin ◽  
Andrew N Mertens ◽  
Benjamin F Arnold ◽  
Sophia Tan ◽  
Jue Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
P Value ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Telomere Attrition ◽  
Healthy Growth ◽  
Gates Foundation

Background: Previously, we demonstrated that a water, sanitation, handwashing, and nutritional intervention improved linear growth and was unexpectedly associated with shortened childhood telomere length (TL) (Lin et al., 2017). Here, we assessed the association between TL and growth. Methods: We measured relative TL in whole blood from 713 children. We reported differences between the 10th percentile and 90th percentile of TL or change in TL distribution using generalized additive models, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: In cross-sectional analyses, long TL was associated with a higher length-for-age Z score at age 1 year (0.23 SD adjusted difference in length-for-age Z score (95% CI 0.05, 0.42; FDR-corrected p-value = 0.01)). TL was not associated with other outcomes. Conclusions: Consistent with the metabolic telomere attrition hypothesis, our previous trial findings support an adaptive role for telomere attrition, whereby active TL regulation is employed as a strategy to address 'emergency states' with increased energy requirements such as rapid growth during the first year of life. Although short periods of active telomere attrition may be essential to promote growth, this study suggests that a longer overall initial TL setting in the first two years of life could signal increased resilience against future telomere erosion events and healthy growth trajectories. Funding: Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

scholarly journals PFAS Concentrations and Cardiometabolic Traits in Highly Exposed Children and Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 12881
Author(s):  
Cristina Canova ◽  
Andrea Di Nisio ◽  
Giulia Barbieri ◽  
Francesca Russo ◽  
Tony Fletcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Residents of a large area of north-eastern Italy were exposed for decades to high concentrations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via drinking water. Despite the large amount of evidence in adults of a positive association between serum PFAS and metabolic outcomes, studies focusing on children and adolescents are limited. We evaluated the associations between serum PFAS concentrations that were quantifiable in at least 40% of samples and lipid profile, blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) in highly exposed adolescents and children. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 6669 adolescents (14–19 years) and 2693 children (8–11 years) enrolled in the health surveillance program of the Veneto Region. Non-fasting blood samples were obtained and analyzed for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated. Systolic and diastolic BP were measured, and BMI z-score accounting for age and sex was estimated. The associations between ln-transformed PFAS (and categorized into quartiles) and continuous outcomes were assessed using generalized additive models. The weighted quantile sum regression approach was used to assess PFAS-mixture effects for each outcome. Analyses were stratified by gender and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Among adolescents, significant associations were detected between all investigated PFAS and TC, LDL-C, and to a lesser extent HDL-C. Among children, PFOS and PFNA had significant associations with TC, LDL-C and HDL-C, while PFOA and PFHxS had significant associations with HDL-C only. Higher serum concentrations of PFAS, particularly PFOS, were associated with lower BMI z-score. No statistically significant associations were observed between PFAS concentrations and BP. These results were confirmed by the multi-pollutant analysis. Conclusions: Our study supports a consistent association between PFAS concentration and serum lipids, stronger for PFOS and PFNA and with a greater magnitude among children compared to adolescents, and a negative association of PFAS with BMI.

scholarly journals Prevalence of internalizing disorders, symptoms, and traits across age using advanced nonlinear models

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Hanna M. van Loo ◽  
Lian Beijers ◽  
Martijn Wieling ◽  
Trynke R. de Jong ◽  
Robert A. Schoevers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Nonlinear Models ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Internalizing Disorders ◽  
Relative Difference ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Point Prevalence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Most epidemiological studies show a decrease of internalizing disorders at older ages, but it is unclear how the prevalence exactly changes with age, and whether there are different patterns for internalizing symptoms and traits, and for men and women. This study investigates the impact of age and sex on the point prevalence across different mood and anxiety disorders, internalizing symptoms, and neuroticism. Methods We used cross-sectional data on 146 315 subjects, aged 18–80 years, from the Lifelines Cohort Study, a Dutch general population sample. Between 2012 and 2016, five current internalizing disorders – major depression, dysthymia, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and panic disorder – were assessed according to DSM-IV criteria. Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, neuroticism, and negative affect (NA) were also measured. Generalized additive models were used to identify nonlinear patterns across age, and to investigate sex differences. Results The point prevalence of internalizing disorders generally increased between the ages of 18 and 30 years, stabilized between 30 and 50, and decreased after age 50. The patterns of internalizing symptoms and traits were different. NA and neuroticism gradually decreased after age 18. Women reported more internalizing disorders than men, but the relative difference remained stable across age (relative risk ~1.7). Conclusions The point prevalence of internalizing disorders was typically highest between age 30 and 50, but there were differences between the disorders, which could indicate differences in etiology. The relative gap between the sexes remained similar across age, suggesting that changes in sex hormones around the menopause do not significantly influence women's risk of internalizing disorders.

scholarly journals Dose response association of objective physical activity with mental health in a representative national sample of adults: a cross-sectional study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paquito Bernard ◽  
Isabelle Doré ◽  
Romain Ahmed Jérôme ◽  
Gabriel Hains-Monfette ◽  
Kingsbury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Representative National Sample

Although higher physical activity (PA) levels are associated with better mental health, previous findings about the shape of the dose–response relationship between PA and mental health are inconsistent. Furthermore, this association may differ according to sedentary levels. We investigated the cross-sectional dose-response associations between objectively measured PA and mental health in a representative national sample of adults. We also examined whether sedentary time modified the PA - mental health associations. Based on 2007-2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey data, PA and sedentary time were measured using accelerometry among 8150 participants, aged 20 to 79 years. Generalized additive models with a smooth function were fitted to examine associations between minutes per day of moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA (LPA), daily steps (combined or not with sedentary time) and self-rated mental health. A significant curvilinear relationship between average daily minutes of MVPA and mental health was observed, with increasing benefits up to 50 minutes/day. For LPA, a more complex shape (monotonic and curvilinear) was found. For daily steps, inverted U-shaped curve suggested increasing benefits until a plateau between 5000 and 16000 steps. The MVPA-LPA combination was significantly associated with mental health but with a complex pattern. The tested PA-sedentary time combinations showed that increasing sedentary time decreased the positive PA-mental health associations. Non-linear dose-response patterns between the PA modalities and self-reported mental health were observed. Optimal doses of daily minutes of MVPA, LPA, MVPA combined with LPA and daily steps are independently associated with better mental health in adults. The results also suggest that PA-mental health associations could be hampered by daily sedentary time.

scholarly journals Telomere length and age-dependent telomere attrition: the blood-and-muscle model

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirna N. Chahine ◽  
Simon Toupance ◽  
Sandy El-Hakim ◽  
Carlos Labat ◽  
Sylvie Gautier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Muscle Model ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Telomere Attrition ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Muscle Biopsies

Short telomere length (TL) is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) and other age-related diseases. It is unclear whether these associations originate from having inherently short TL or a faster TL attrition before or during disease development. We proposed the blood-and-muscle model to assess TL dynamics throughout life course. Our objective was to measure TL in leukocytes (LTL) and in skeletal muscle (MTL), which served as a proxy of TL at birth. The delta (MTL–LTL) represented life-long telomere attrition. Blood draws and skeletal muscle biopsies were performed on 35 Lebanese individuals undergoing surgery. Following DNA extraction, LTL and MTL were measured by Southern blot. In every individual aged between 30 and 85 years, MTL was longer than LTL. With age, MTL and LTL decreased, but the delta (MTL–LTL) increased by 14 bp/year. We validated the blood-and-muscle model that allowed us to identify TL, TL at birth, and lifelong TL attrition in a cross-sectional study. This model can be used in larger cross-sectional studies to evaluate the association of telomere dynamics with age-related diseases onset and progression.

scholarly journals Sample size and sample composition for constructing growth reference centiles

2020 ◽  
pp. 096228022095843
Author(s):  
TJ Cole
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Reference Data ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Growth Reference ◽  
Borrowing Strength ◽  
Sample Composition ◽  
Age Range

Growth reference centile charts are widely used in child health to assess weight, height and other age-varying measurements. The centiles are easy to construct from reference data, using the LMS method or GAMLSS (Generalised Additive Models for Location Scale and Shape). However, there is as yet no clear guidance on how to design such studies, and in particular how many reference data to collect, and this has led to study sizes varying widely. The paper aims to provide a theoretical framework for optimally designing growth reference studies based on cross-sectional data. Centiles for weight, height, body mass index and head circumference, in 6878 boys aged 0–21 years from the Fourth Dutch Growth Study, were fitted using GAMLSS. The effect on precision of varying the sample size and the distribution of measurement ages (sample composition) was explored by fitting a series of GAMLSS models to simulated data. Sample composition was defined as uniform on the age λ scale, where λ was chosen to give constant precision across the age range. Precision was measured on the z-score scale, and was the same for all four measurements, with a standard error of 0.041 z-score units for the median and 0.066 for the 2nd and 98th centiles. Compared to a naïve calculation, the process of smoothing the centiles increased the notional sample size two- to threefold by ‘borrowing strength’. The sample composition for estimating the median curve was optimal for λ=0.4, reflecting considerable over-sampling of infants compared to children. However, for the 2nd and 98th centiles, λ=0.75 was optimal, with less infant over-sampling. The conclusion is that both sample size and sample composition need to be optimised. The paper provides practical advice on design, and concludes that optimally designed studies need 7000–25,000 subjects per sex.

scholarly journals The Dietary Inflammatory Index® and Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 in relation to leucocyte telomere length in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Mickle ◽  
D. R. Brenner ◽  
T. Beattie ◽  
T. Williamson ◽  
K. S. Courneya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Dietary Inflammatory Index ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Telomere Attrition ◽  
Inflammatory Index ◽  
Alternative Healthy Eating Index

Abstract Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that form the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes where they protect DNA from genomic instability, prevent end-to-end fusion and limit cellular replicative capabilities. Increased telomere attrition rates, and relatively shorter telomere length, is associated with genomic instability and has been linked with several chronic diseases, malignancies and reduced longevity. Telomeric DNA is highly susceptible to oxidative damage and dietary habits may make an impact on telomere attrition rates through the mediation of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to examine the association between leucocyte telomere length (LTL) with both the Dietary Inflammatory Index® 2014 (DII®) and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010). This is a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from 263 postmenopausal women from the Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention (ALPHA) Trial, in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. No statistically significant association was detected between LTL z-score and the AHEI-2010 (P = 0·20) or DII® (P = 0·91) in multivariable adjusted models. An exploratory analysis of AHEI-2010 and DII® parameters and LTL revealed anthocyanidin intake was associated with LTL (P < 0·01); however, this association was non-significant after a Bonferroni correction was applied (P = 0·27). No effect modification by age, smoking history, or recreational physical activity was detected for either relationship. Increased dietary antioxidant and decreased oxidant intake were not associated with LTL in this analysis.

scholarly journals Association Between Waist Circumference and the Prevalence of (Pre) Hypertension Among 27,894 US Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Yu Sun ◽  
Yang Hua ◽  
Hua-Yi-Yang Zou ◽  
Qiang Qu ◽  
Yue Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Confidence Intervals ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Young Group ◽  
Cubic Spline ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Trend Test ◽  
Odds Ratios ◽  
Cross Sectional

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the association between waist circumference and the prevalence of (pre) hypertension.Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The historical trend of abdominal obesity was assessed by the Cochran–Armitage trend test. After preprocessed by the multiple imputation strategy, we used generalized additive models to assess the association of waist circumference with systolic/diastolic blood pressure and performed correlation analysis by the Spearman correlation coefficient. Moreover, we used multivariable logistic regression (non-adjusted, minimally adjusted, and fully adjusted models), restricted cubic spline, and sensitivity analysis to investigate the association between waist circumference and (pre) hypertension.Results: A total of 27,894 participants were included in this study. In the fully adjusted model, waist circumference was positively associated with (pre) hypertension with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.28 (1.18–1.40) in the young group and 1.23 (1.15–1.33) in the old group. Restricted cubic spline showed a higher prevalence of (pre) hypertension with the increase of waist circumference. In the subgroup analysis, waist circumference showed a robust trend across all BMI categories with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 3.33 (1.29–8.85), 1.35 (1.17–1.57), 1.27 (1.13–1.41), and 1.09 (1.01–1.17) in underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese individuals, respectively.Conclusion: This study highlighted waist circumference as a significant biomarker to evaluate the risk of (pre) hypertension. Our results supported the measure of waist circumference regardless of BMI when evaluating the cardiometabolic risk related to fat distribution.

scholarly journals HUBUNGAN STATUS GIZI (BERAT BADAN MENURUT UMUR) TERHADAP KEJADIAN INFEKSI SALURAN PERNAFASAN AKUT (ISPA) PADA BALITA

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Crista Lorensa ◽  
Galih Indra Permana ◽  
Irka Gibriela Mia ◽  
Nindya Abelina Octoviani Leiden ◽  
Nurul Atdania Lestari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
P Value ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional

Infeksi Saluran Pernafasan Akut (ISPA) adalah penyebab utama morbiditas dan mortalitas pada anak-anak di negara berkembang. Di Kota Palangka Raya tahun 2016, penyakit ISPA menempati urutan pertama dari 10 penyakit. Puskesmas Pahandut memiliki kejadian ISPA tertinggi tiap tahunnya. Faktor yang berkaitan dengan tingginya angka insiden ISPA antara lain status gizi balita. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui hubungan status gizi (berat badan menurut umur) terhadap kejadian Infeksi Saluran Pernafasan Akut (ISPA) pada balita di Puskesmas Pahandut, Kota Palangka Raya pada bulan Maret-Februari tahun 2017. Jenis penelitian ini adalah observasional analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Sampel dalam penelitian ini yaitu balita berusia 1-5 tahun berjumlah 70 responden yang didapat dengan teknik simple random sampling. Status gizi dinilai berdasarkan data antropometri berupa berat badan/umur dan diinterpretasi dengan Z-score menurut standar WHO 2005. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan kuesioner dan wawancara. Analisis data menggunakan Uji Chi Square (x2). Hasil penelitian ini diperoleh balita yang terkena ISPA 31,4% dengan gizi kurang 18,6 % dan status gizi baik 12,9%. Analisis hubungan variabel diperoleh P value 0,000 (P<0,05) yaitu secara statistik terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara status gizi terhadap kejadian ISPA pada balita. Kesimpulan penelitian ini ada hubungan status gizi (berat badan menurut umur) terhadap kejadian Infeksi Saluran Pernafasan Akut (ISPA) pada balita di Puskesmas Pahandut, Kota Palangka Raya pada bulan Maret-Februari tahun 2017.

scholarly journals Environmental and Household-Based Spatial Risks for Tungiasis in an Endemic Area of Coastal Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Ayako Hyuga ◽  
Peter S. Larson ◽  
Morris Ndemwa ◽  
Sheru W. Muuo ◽  
Mwatasa Changoma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Aluminum Content ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
P Value ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Kenyan Coast ◽  
Case Status ◽  
Similar Risk

Tungiasis is a cutaneous parasitosis caused by an embedded female sand flea. The distribution of cases can be spatially heterogeneous even in areas with similar risk profiles. This study assesses household and remotely sensed environmental factors that contribute to the geographic distribution of tungiasis cases in a rural area along the Southern Kenyan Coast. Data on household tungiasis case status, demographic and socioeconomic information, and geographic locations were recorded during regular survey activities of the Health and Demographic Surveillance System, mainly during 2011. Data were joined with other spatial data sources using latitude/longitude coordinates. Generalized additive models were used to predict and visualize spatial risks for tungiasis. The household-level prevalence of tungiasis was 3.4% (272/7925). There was a 1.1% (461/41,135) prevalence of infection among all participants. A significant spatial variability was observed in the unadjusted model (p-value < 0.001). The number of children per household, earthen floor, organic roof, elevation, aluminum content in the soil, and distance to the nearest animal reserve attenuated the odds ratios and partially explained the spatial variation of tungiasis. Spatial heterogeneity in tungiasis risk remained even after a factor adjustment. This suggests that there are possible unmeasured factors associated with the complex ecology of sand fleas that may contribute to the disease’s uneven distribution.

scholarly journals Distributional Regression Techniques in Socioeconomic Research on the Inequality of Health with an Application on the Relationship between Mental Health and Income

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 4009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Silbersdorff ◽  
Kai Sebastian Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Mental Health Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Regression Techniques ◽  
German Socioeconomic Panel ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Distributional Regression

This study addresses the much-discussed issue of the relationship between health and income. In particular, it focuses on the relation between mental health and household income by using generalized additive models of location, scale and shape and thus employing a distributional perspective. Furthermore, this study aims to give guidelines to applied researchers interested in taking a distributional perspective on health inequalities. In our analysis we use cross-sectional data of the German socioeconomic Panel (SOEP). We find that when not only looking at the expected mental health score of an individual but also at other distributional aspects, like the risk of moderate and severe mental illness, that the relationship between income and mental health is much more pronounced. We thus show that taking a distributional perspective, can add to and indeed enrich the mostly mean-based assessment of existent health inequalities.

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