Mediation Analysis Supports a Causal Relationship between Maternal Hyperglycemia and Placental DNA Methylation Variations at the Leptin Gene Locus and Cord Blood Leptin Levels.

Changes in fetal DNA methylation (DNAm) of the leptin (LEP) gene have been associated with exposure to maternal hyperglycemia, but their links with childhood obesity risk are still unclear. We investigated the association between maternal hyperglycemia, placental LEP DNAm (25 5-C-phosphate-G-3 (CpG) sites), neonatal leptinemia, and adiposity (i.e., BMI and skinfold thickness (ST) (subscapular (SS) + triceps (TR) skinfold measures, and the ratio of SS:TR) at 3-years-old, in 259 mother-child dyads, from Gen3G birth cohort. We conducted multivariate linear analyses adjusted for gestational age at birth, sex of the child, age at follow-up, and cellular heterogeneity. We assessed the causal role of DNAm in the association between maternal glycemia and childhood outcomes, using mediation analysis. We found three CpGs associated with neonatal leptinemia (p ≤ 0.002). Of these, cg05136031 and cg15758240 were also associated with BMI (β = -2.69, p = 0.05) and fat distribution (β = -0.581, p = 0.05) at 3-years-old, respectively. Maternal glycemia was associated with DNAm at cg15758240 (β = -0.01, p = 0.04) and neonatal leptinemia (β = 0.19, p = 0.004). DNAm levels at cg15758240 mediates 0.8% of the association between maternal glycemia and neonatal leptinemia (p < 0.001). Our results support that DNAm regulation of the leptin pathway in response to maternal glycemia might be involved in programming adiposity in childhood

Le FORUM, Vol. 34 No. 2

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/francoamericain_forum/1026/thumbnail.jp

Effet de l'addition de Rhodomonas salina dans le régime alimentaire de Pecten maximus

L'objectif principal de cette étude était d'évaluer l'effet de l'addition de Rhodomonas satina dans le régime alimentaire de Pecten maximus sur la croissance, la survie et le succès de métamorphose en relation avec le contenu biochimique. La microalgue Rhodomonas salina (R) a été ajoutée à un régime alimentaire standard couramment utilisé en écloserienurserie (Pavlova lutheri (P), Isochrysis galbana (I) et Chaetoceros calcitrans (C)). La qualité du régime alimentaire, particulièrement la teneur en acides gras polyinsaturés, est un facteur essentiel dans le succès du développement larvaire, post-larvaire et juvénile. Nos résultats démontrent que l'addition de R. salina semble avantageuse avec une métamorphose plus rapide, mais aucune différence n'a été observée sur la croissance et la survie entre les deux régimes alimentaires à l'étude. Une accumulation plus rapide des triglycérides chez les larves nourries par PICR dans les 19 premiers jours de l'élevage larvaire pourrait expliquer cette métamorphose plus rapide. Les larves et post-larves nourries avec le régime PICR ont démontré une accumulation importante de AA (20:4n-6), mais une concentration plus faible en DRA (22:6n-3) et en EPA (20:5n-3). Une incorporation préférentielle de DRA et AA dans les lipides polaires a été observée pour les deux régimes, ce qui démontre l'importance de ces acides gras sur le métabolisme de P. maximus. La composition en stérol observée chez les larves nourries avec PICR démontre une forte concentration de brassicasterol. Ces résultats suggèrent que le brassicastérol semble être un stérol très important qui pourrait même remplacer certaines fonctions membranaires du cholestérol

The Effect of Intramolecular Interactions on the Mechanical Properties of Organic -Conjugated Semiconducting Polymers

The next generation of electronics is heading towards the integration of devices onto the human person through wearable electronics on both skin and clothing. Classical electronics are traditionally built with silicon, since its highly crystalline and periodic morphology results in outstanding electronic properties. However, silicon is a brittle material and therefore its lack of mechanical compliance make it a poor candidate moving forward with wearable technology and bioelectronics. To address this challenge, the use of organic pi-conjugated semi-conducting polymers has shown a lot of promise for the development of next generation electronics and these materials are solution processable, mechanically compliant and synthetically tunable. Recently, our group has been investigating the effect of intra-molecular interactions on the mechanical properties of semi-conducting polymers. Through the addition of dynamic hydrogen bonding to the polymer, we have been able to significantly impact the stretchability and flexibility of the material to more closely match the elastic modulus of human skin; a requirement for moving forward with the design and construction of wearable bioelectronics. Our design exploits the dynamic nature of hydrogen bonding to facilitate strain dissipation throughout the material. Interestingly, the introduction of hydrogen bonds can also improve the conductivity of the material by improving the crystallinity of the polymer chains, while maintaining good mechanical properties. This presentation will cover our strategy for incorporating dynamic intra-molecular interactions into polymer backbones to increase the mechanical properties of semi-conducting materials. Design and characterization of the new materials will be discussed, as well as future applications in electronics

Mediation Analysis Supports a Causal Relationship between Maternal Hyperglycemia and Placental DNA Methylation Variations at the Leptin Gene Locus and Cord Blood Leptin Levels

Changes in fetal DNA methylation (DNAm) of the leptin (LEP) gene have been associated with exposure to maternal hyperglycemia, but their links with childhood obesity risk are still unclear. We investigated the association between maternal hyperglycemia, placental LEP DNAm (25 5′-C-phosphate-G-3′ (CpG) sites), neonatal leptinemia, and adiposity (i.e., BMI and skinfold thickness (ST) (subscapular (SS) + triceps (TR) skinfold measures, and the ratio of SS:TR) at 3-years-old, in 259 mother–child dyads, from Gen3G birth cohort. We conducted multivariate linear analyses adjusted for gestational age at birth, sex of the child, age at follow-up, and cellular heterogeneity. We assessed the causal role of DNAm in the association between maternal glycemia and childhood outcomes, using mediation analysis. We found three CpGs associated with neonatal leptinemia (p ≤ 0.002). Of these, cg05136031 and cg15758240 were also associated with BMI (β = −2.69, p = 0.05) and fat distribution (β = −0.581, p = 0.05) at 3-years-old, respectively. Maternal glycemia was associated with DNAm at cg15758240 (β = −0.01, p = 0.04) and neonatal leptinemia (β = 0.19, p = 0.004). DNAm levels at cg15758240 mediates 0.8% of the association between maternal glycemia and neonatal leptinemia (p < 0.001). Our results support that DNAm regulation of the leptin pathway in response to maternal glycemia might be involved in programming adiposity in childhood

Mediation Analysis Supports a Causal Relationship between Maternal Hyperglycemia and Placental DNA Methylation Variations at the Leptin Gene Locus and Cord Blood Leptin Levels.

Changes in fetal DNA methylation (DNAm) of the leptin (LEP) gene have been associated with exposure to maternal hyperglycemia, but their links with childhood obesity risk are still unclear. We investigated the association between maternal hyperglycemia, placental LEP DNAm (25 5'-C-phosphate-G-3' (CpG) sites), neonatal leptinemia, and adiposity (i.e., BMI and skinfold thickness (ST) (subscapular (SS) + triceps (TR) skinfold measures, and the ratio of SS:TR) at 3-years-old, in 259 mother-child dyads, from Gen3G birth cohort. We conducted multivariate linear analyses adjusted for gestational age at birth, sex of the child, age at follow-up, and cellular heterogeneity. We assessed the causal role of DNAm in the association between maternal glycemia and childhood outcomes, using mediation analysis. We found three CpGs associated with neonatal leptinemia (p ≤ 0.002). Of these, cg05136031 and cg15758240 were also associated with BMI (β = -2.69, p = 0.05) and fat distribution (β = -0.581, p = 0.05) at 3-years-old, respectively. Maternal glycemia was associated with DNAm at cg15758240 (β = -0.01, p = 0.04) and neonatal leptinemia (β = 0.19, p = 0.004). DNAm levels at cg15758240 mediates 0.8% of the association between maternal glycemia and neonatal leptinemia (p < 0.001). Our results support that DNAm regulation of the leptin pathway in response to maternal glycemia might be involved in programming adiposity in childhood

Violence conjugale commise et subie : profils personnologiques de personnes avec un trouble de personnalité limite

Objectif Les troubles de la personnalité et la violence conjugale (VC) sont deux problématiques reconnues comme des enjeux majeurs en santé publique associées à de graves répercussions individuelles et sociétales. Plusieurs études ont documenté les liens entre le trouble de personnalité limite (TPL) et la VC, mais nous en connaissons très peu quant aux traits pathologiques spécifiques contribuant à la VC. L’étude vise à documenter le phénomène de VC commise et subie chez des personnes souffrant de TPL et à dresser des profils à partir des facettes de la personnalité du Modèle alternatif pour les troubles de la personnalité du DSM-5.Méthode Cent huit participants/participantes avec un TPL (83,3 % femmes ; Mâge = 32,39, É.-T. = 9) référées à un programme d’hôpital de jour à la suite d’un épisode de crise ont rempli une batterie de questionnaires comprenant les versions françaises du Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, évaluant la VC psychologique et physique, commise et subie, et du Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 — FacetedBrief Form, évaluant 25 facettes pathologiques de la personnalité.Résultats Parmi les participants/participantes, 78,7 % rapportent avoir déjà commis de la VC psychologique, alors que 68,5 % en auraient été victimes, ce qui est plus que les estimations publiées par l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (27 %). De plus, 31,5 % auraient commis de la VC physique, alors que 22,2 % en auraient été victimes. La VC semble bidirectionnelle puisque 85,9 % des personnes ayant commis de la VC psychologique rapportent aussi en subir et 52,9 % des personnes ayant commis de la VC physique rapportent en être également victimes. Des comparaisons de groupes non paramétriques indiquent que les facettes Hostilité, Méfiance, Duplicité, Prise de risques et Irresponsabilité distinguent les personnes violentes physiquement et psychologiquement des personnes non violentes. Des résultats élevés aux facettes Hostilité, Dureté/Insensibilité, Manipulation et Prise de risque caractérisent les participants/participantes victimes de VC psychologique, alors qu’une élévation aux facettes Hostilité, Retrait, Évitement de l’intimité et Prise de risque et un résultat faible à la facette Tendance à la soumission distinguent les participants/participantes victimes de VC physique des non-victimes. Des analyses de régression mettent en évidence que la facette Hostilité explique à elle seule une variance significative des résultats de VC commise, alors que la facette Irresponsabilité contribuerait de façon substantielle à la variance des résultats de VC subie.Conclusion Les résultats font état de la prévalence élevée de VC chez des personnes aux prises avec un TPL ainsi que de son caractère bidirectionnel. Au-delà du diagnostic de TPL, certaines facettes spécifiques de la personnalité (dont l’Hostilité et l’Irresponsabilité) permettent de cibler les personnes plus à risque de commettre de la VC psychologique et physique et d’en subir.Objective Personality disorders and intimate partner violence (IPV) are two problems recognized as major public health issues associated with serious individual and societal repercussions. Several studies have documented the links between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and IPV; however, we know very little about the specific pathological traits contributing to IPV. The study aims to document the phenomenon of IPV committed and suffered in persons with BPD and to draw profiles from the personality facets of the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD).Method One hundred and eight BPD participants (83.3% female; Mage = 32.39, SD = 9.00) referred to a day hospital program following a crisis episode completed a battery of questionnaires including the French versions of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, evaluating physical and psychological IPV committed and suffered, and the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5- Faceted Brief Form, evaluating 25 pathological facets of personality.Results Among the participants, 78.7% report having committed psychological IPV, while 68.5% have been victims, which is more than the estimates published by the World Health Organization (27%). In addition, 31.5% would have committed physical IPV, while 22.2% would have been victims. IPV appears to be bidirectional since 85.9% of participants who are perpetrators of psychological IPV also report suffering from it and 52.9% of participants who are perpetrators of physical IPV report being also victims. Nonparametric group comparisons indicate that Hostility, Suspiciousness, Duplicity, Risk-Taking, and Irresponsibility facets distinguish physically and psychologically violent participants from nonviolent participants. High results on Hostility, Callousness, Manipulation, and Risk-taking facets characterize participants who are victims of psychological IPV, while an elevation in Hostility, Withdrawal, Avoidance of intimacy, and Risk-taking facets and a low result on the Submission facet distinguish participants who are victims of physical IPV from non-victims. Regression analyzes show that the Hostility facet alone explains a significant variance in the results of IPV perpetrated, while the Irresponsibility facet contributes substantially to the variance of the results of IPV experienced.Conclusion Results show the high prevalence of IPV in a sample of persons with BPD, as well as its bidirectional nature. Beyond the diagnosis of BPD, certain specific facets of the personality (including Hostility and Irresponsability) make it possible to target persons at greater risk of committing and suffering from psychological and physical IPV

Placental Epigenome-Wide Association Study Identified Loci Associated with Childhood Adiposity at 3 Years of Age.

The aim of this study was to identify placental DNA methylation (DNAm) variations associated with adiposity at 3 years of age. We quantified placental DNAm using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChips. We assessed associations between DNAm at single-CpGs and skinfold thickness using robust linear regression models adjusted for gestational age, child's sex, age at follow-up and cellular heterogeneity. We sought replication of DNAm association with child adiposity in an independent cohort. We quantified placental mRNA levels for annotated gene using qRT-PCR and tested for correlation with DNAm. Lower DNAm at cg22593959 and cg22436429 was associated with higher adiposity (β = -1.18, q = 0.002 and β = -0.82, q = 0.04). The cg22593959 is located in an intergenic region (chr7q31.3), whereas cg22436429 is within the TFAP2E gene (1p34.3). DNAm at cg22593959 and cg22436429 was correlated with mRNA levels at FAM3C (rs = -0.279, p = 0.005) and TFAP2E (rs = 0.216, p = 0.03). In an independent cohort, the association between placental DNAm at cg22593959 and childhood adiposity was of similar strength and direction (β = -3.8 ± 4.1, p = 0.36), yet non-significant. Four genomic regions were also associated with skinfold thickness within FMN1, MAGI2, SKAP2 and BMPR1B genes. We identified placental epigenetic variations associated with adiposity at 3 years of age suggesting that childhood fat accretion patterns might be established during fetal life

Challenge and Solution of Characterizing Glass Transistion Temperature for Conjugated Polymers by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Thermomechanical properties of polymers highly depend on their glass transition temperature (T g). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is commonly used to measure T g of polymers. However, many conjugated polymers (CPs), especially donor–acceptor CPs (D–A CPs), do not show a clear glass transition when measured by conventional DSC using simple heat and cool scan. In this work, we discuss the origin of the difficulty for measuring T g in such type of polymers. The changes in specific heat capacity (Δc p) at T g were accurately probed for a series of CPs by DSC. The results showed a significant decrease in Δc p from flexible polymer (0.28 J g−1 K−1 for polystyrene) to rigid CPs (10−3 J g−1 K−1 for a naphthalene diimide‐based D–A CP). When a conjugation breaker unit (flexible unit) is added to the D–A CPs, we observed restoration of the Δc p at T g by a factor of 10, confirming that backbone rigidity reduces the Δc p. Additionally, an increase in the crystalline fraction of the CPs further reduces Δc p. We conclude that the difficulties of determining T g for CPs using DSC are mainly due to rigid backbone and semicrystalline nature. We also demonstrate that physical aging can be used on DSC to help locate and confirm the glass transition for D‐A CPs with weak transition signals

Precise Control of Noncovalent Interactions in Semiconducting Polymers for High-Performance Organic Field-Effect Transistors

Performed through side-chain engineering or by incorporating intramolecular locking units, the directionality and dynamic nature of noncovalent interactions are particularly attractive for the design of novel semiconducting materials in a wide variety of applications. This work investigates the nature and position of hydrogen bonding (intra- versus intermolecular), with the objective of developing a rational approach to the design of new semiconducting materials with improved properties in the solid state. To control the polymer chains’ self-assembly, a π-conjugated polymer incorporating a moiety capable of generating intramolecular hydrogen bonding is evaluated against a polymer that allows for intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Characterization through various techniques, optical spectroscopies, grazing incidence wide-angle x-ray scattering, and solution small-angle neutron scattering showed that intramolecular hydrogen bonds resulted in materials with improved crystallinity and higher effective conjugation in the solid state. Additionally, the effect of the noncovalent interaction configuration on the optoelectronic properties was analyzed in organic field-effect transistor fabrication. Devices prepared from the materials with intramolecular hydrogen bonds showed significantly higher performance, with three orders of magnitude higher charge mobility than their counterparts fabricated from polymers with intermolecular hydrogen bonds. These results confirm the importance of chemical design on polymer structures and offer a novel route for the design of high-efficiency semiconducting polymers for next-generation electronics