Foramina of the anterior mandible in dentate and edentulous mandibles

The study provides a morphometric analysis of the foramina located at the anterior mandible according to dental status. The inner surface from the midline to the distal border of the second premolars of 70 dentate and 27 edentulous Greek adult dry mandibles was investigated. The lingual foramina were divided into medial and lateral foramina. Foramina located at the alveolar process and the midline were subdivided according to their location to genial tubercles. Moreover, the height of the mandible in the genial symphysis and the distances from the foramina to the alveolar crest and the lower border of the mandible were measured. Medial and lateral lingual foramina were presented in 97.9% and 78.4% of the mandibles, respectively. The alveolar medial and lateral lingual foramina were detected in 19.6% and 27.3%, respectively. The mean height of the genial symphysis was 32.06 ± ± 4.88 mm for the dentate and 23.87± 5.37 mm for the edentulous mandibles. The meticulous knowledge of the topography of the lingual foramina and their content is of paramount importance for dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons during dental implants placement. Middle and lateral lingual foramina are constant structures, while the alveolar foramina presented only in dentate mandibles. The foramina location is directly affected by dental status. The morphology of edentulous mandibles increases the risk of intraoperative complications at the anterior mandible.

Leptin, acylcarnitine metabolites and development of adiposity in the Rhea mother-child cohort in Crete, Greece.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate relations of serum leptin at age 4 with development of adiposity and linear growth during 3 years of follow-up among 75 Greek children and to identify serum metabolites associated with leptin at age 4 and to characterize their associations with adiposity gain and linear growth. METHODS: Linear regression models that accounted for maternal age, education and gestational weight gain and child's age and sex were used to examine associations of leptin and leptin-associated metabolites measured at age 4 with indicators of adiposity and linear growth at age 7. RESULTS: Each 1-unit increment in natural log-(ln)-transformed leptin corresponded with 0.33 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.55) units greater body mass index-for-age z-score gain during follow-up. Likewise, higher levels of the leptin-associated metabolites methylmalonyl-carnitine and glutaconyl-carnitine corresponded with 0.14 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.27) and 0.07 (95% CI: -0.01, 0.16) units higher body mass index-for-age z-score gain, respectively. These relationships did not differ by sex or baseline weight status and were independent of linear growth. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that leptin, methylmalonyl-carnitine and possibly glutaconyl-carnitine are associated with weight gain during early childhood. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings in other populations

Assessment of metabolic phenotypic variability in children's urine using 1H NMR spectroscopy

The application of metabolic phenotyping in clinical and epidemiological studies is limited by a poor understanding of inter-individual, intra-individual and temporal variability in metabolic phenotypes. Using 1H NMR spectroscopy we characterised short-term variability in urinary metabolites measured from 20 children aged 8-9 years old. Daily spot morning, night-time and pooled (50:50 morning and night-time) urine samples across six days (18 samples per child) were analysed, and 44 metabolites quantified. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and mixed effect models were applied to assess the reproducibility and biological variance of metabolic phenotypes. Excellent analytical reproducibility and precision was demonstrated for the 1H NMR spectroscopic platform (median CV 7.2%). Pooled samples captured the best inter-individual variability with an ICC of 0.40 (median). Trimethylamine, N-acetyl neuraminic acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, 3-hydroxybutyrate/3-aminoisobutyrate, tyrosine, valine and 3-hydroxyisovalerate exhibited the highest stability with over 50% of variance specific to the child. The pooled sample was shown to capture the most inter-individual variance in the metabolic phenotype, which is of importance for molecular epidemiology study design. A substantial proportion of the variation in the urinary metabolome of children is specific to the individual, underlining the potential of such data to inform clinical and exposome studies conducted early in life

In utero and childhood exposure to tobacco smoke and multi-layer molecular signatures in children

Background The adverse health effects of early life exposure to tobacco smoking have been widely reported. In spite of this, the underlying molecular mechanisms of in utero and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke are only partially understood. Here, we aimed to identify multi-layer molecular signatures associated with exposure to tobacco smoke in these two exposure windows. Methods We investigated the associations of maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure with molecular features measured in 1203 European children (mean age 8.1 years) from the Human Early Life Exposome (HELIX) project. Molecular features, covering 4 layers, included blood DNA methylation and gene and miRNA transcription, plasma proteins, and sera and urinary metabolites. Results Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with DNA methylation changes at 18 loci in child blood. DNA methylation at 5 of these loci was related to expression of the nearby genes. However, the expression of these genes themselves was only weakly associated with maternal smoking. Conversely, childhood SHS was not associated with blood DNA methylation or transcription patterns, but with reduced levels of several serum metabolites and with increased plasma PAI1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), a protein that inhibits fibrinolysis. Some of the in utero and childhood smoking-related molecular marks showed dose-response trends, with stronger effects with higher dose or longer duration of the exposure. Conclusion In this first study covering multi-layer molecular features, pregnancy and childhood exposure to tobacco smoke were associated with distinct molecular phenotypes in children. The persistent and dose-dependent changes in the methylome make CpGs good candidates to develop biomarkers of past exposure. Moreover, compared to methylation, the weak association of maternal smoking in pregnancy with gene expression suggests different reversal rates and a methylation-based memory to past exposures. Finally, certain metabolites and protein markers evidenced potential early biological effects of postnatal SHS, such as fibrinolysis

Safety of oil from Schizochytrium limacinum (strain TKD-1) for use in infant and follow-on formula as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of Schizochytrium sp. (TKD-1) oil as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Schizochytrium sp. is a single-cell microalga. The strain TKD-1, used by the applicant (ATK Biotech Co. Ltd.), belongs to the species Schizochytrium limacinum. The NF is a mixture of triglycerides in which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) represents 53%–61% of fatty acids. The applicant proposed to use the NF in infant formulae (IF) and follow-on formulae (FOF). The use levels proposed by the applicant were derived from Regulation (EU) 2016/127, which states the mandatory addition of DHA to IF and FOF at the level of 20–50 mg/100 kcal. S. limacinum was attributed the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) status with the qualification ‘for production purposes only’. Data provided by the applicant demonstrated the absence of viable cells in the NF. No toxicological studies were performed with the NF. However, based on the available toxicological data on oils derived from Schizochytrium sp., the QPS status of the source of the NF, the production process, the composition of the NF and the absence of marine biotoxins and viable cells in the NF, the Panel considers there are no concerns with regard to toxicity of the NF. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed conditions of use

Safety of oil from Schizochytrium sp. (strain ATCC 20889) for use in infant and follow-on formula as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of Schizochytrium sp. oil as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF which is the subject of the application is an oil rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is produced by the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. (strain ATCC-20889). The applicant proposed to add the NF in infant formulae (IF) and follow-on formulae (FOF) at use levels in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 609/2013. The evidence provided by the applicant does not demonstrate to which species the strain Schizochytrium sp. ATCC 20889 belongs. As the source organism of the NF is not characterised at species level, no assessment for inclusion in the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) list can be performed by EFSA. Marine biotoxins (including cyanotoxins) in the NF were below their limits of quantification. However, since it is unknown to which species the strain Schizochytrium sp. ATCC 20889 belongs, the concern that this strain has the potential to produce other toxins remains. No toxicological studies with the NF were provided by the applicant. Toxicological studies are available with DHA-rich algal oils produced from other strains of Schizochytrium sp. However, the Panel considers that those toxicological studies cannot be used to establish the safety of the oil produced by the strain which is under assessment in this application (Schizochytrium sp. ATCC 20889). Therefore, based on the information provided by the applicant, the Panel concludes that the safety of the NF has not been established

Safety of lacto-N-fucopentaose I/2’-fucosyllactose (LNFP-I/2’-FL) mixture as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on lacto-N-fucopentaose I (LNFP-I)/2′-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) mixture as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is mainly composed of the human-identical milk oligosaccharides (HiMO) LNFP-I and 2’-FL, but it also contains d-lactose, lacto-N-tetraose, difucosyllactose, 3-fucosyllactose, LNFP-I fructose isomer, 2′-fucosyl-d-lactulose, l-fucose and 2′-fucosyl-d-lactitol, and a small fraction of other related saccharides. The NF is produced by fermentation by a genetically modified strain (Escherichia coli K-12 DH1 MDO MP2173b) of E. coli K-12 DH1 (DSM 4235). The information provided on the identity, manufacturing process, composition and specifications of the NF does not raise safety concerns. The applicant intends to add the NF in a variety of foods, including infant formula (IF) and follow-on formula, foods for infants and toddlers, foods for special medical purposes and food supplements (FS). The target population is the general population. The anticipated daily intake of LNFP-I from use in IF is similar to the estimated natural mean highest daily intake in breastfed infants. Overall, the anticipated daily intake of LNFP-I from the NF as a food ingredient at the maximum proposed use levels is unlikely to exceed the intake level of breastfed infants on a body weight basis. The intake in breastfed infants on a body weight basis is expected to be safe also for other population groups. The anticipated 2’-FL intake is generally rather low. The use of the NF in FS is not intended if other foods with added NF components or human milk (for infants and young children) are consumed on the same day. The Panel concludes that the NF, a mixture of LNFP-I and 2’-FL, is safe under the proposed conditions of use