Longitudinal data reveal strong genetic and weak non-genetic components of ethnicity-dependent blood DNA methylation levels

Epigenetic architecture is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, but little is known about their relative contributions or longitudinal dynamics. Here, we studied DNA methylation (DNAm) at over 750,000 CpG sites in mononuclear blood cells collected at birth and age 7 from 196 children of primarily self-reported Black and Hispanic ethnicities to study race-associated DNAm patterns. We developed a novel Bayesian method for high-dimensional longitudinal data and showed that race-associated DNAm patterns at birth and age 7 are nearly identical. Additionally, we estimated that up to 51% of all self-reported race-associated CpGs had race-dependent DNAm levels that were mediated through local genotype and, quite surprisingly, found that genetic factors explained an overwhelming majority of the variation in DNAm levels at other, previously identified, environmentally-associated CpGs. These results indicate that race-associated blood DNAm patterns in particular, and blood DNAm levels in general, are primarily driven by genetic factors, and are not as sensitive to environmental exposures as previously suggested, at least during the first 7 years of life

Are digital interventions for smoking cessation in pregnancy effective?:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Smoking in pregnancy remains a global public health issue due to foetal health risks and potential maternal complications. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to explore: (1) whether digital interventions for pregnancy smoking cessation are effective, (2) the impact of intervention platform on smoking cessation, (3) the associations between specific Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) delivered within interventions and smoking cessation, and (4) the association between the total number of BCTs delivered and smoking cessation. Systematic searches of nine databases resulted in the inclusion of 12 published articles (n = 2970). The primary meta-analysis produced a sample-weighted odds ratio (OR) of 1.44 (95% CI 1.04–2.00, p=0.03) in favour of digital interventions compared with comparison groups. Computer-based (OR=3.06, 95% CI 1.28 – 7.33) and text-message interventions (OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.07 – 2.38) were the most effective digital platform. Moderator analyses revealed seven BCTs associated with smoking cessation: information about antecedents; action planning; problem solving; goal setting (behaviour); review behaviour goals; social support (unspecified); and pros and cons. A meta-regression suggested that interventions using larger numbers of BCTs produced the greatest effects. This paper highlights the potential for digital interventions to improve rates of smoking cessation in pregnancy

A digital behaviour change intervention to increase booking and attendance at Stop Smoking Services: the MyWay feasibility RCT

© Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO 2021. This work was produced by Fulton et al. under the terms of a commissioning contract issued by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The final published version can be accessed here: https://dx.doi.org/10.3310/phr09050Background: Smoking remains a leading cause of illness and preventable death. NHS Stop Smoking Services increase quitting, but, as access is in decline, cost-effective interventions are needed that promote these services. StopApp™ (Coventry University, Coventry, UK) is designed to increase booking and attendance at Stop Smoking Services. Design: A two-arm feasibility randomised controlled trial of StopApp (intervention) compared with standard promotion and referral to Stop Smoking Services (control) was conducted to assess recruitment, attrition and health equity of the design, alongside health economic and qualitative process evaluations. Setting: Smokers recruited via general practitioners, community settings and social media. Participants: Smokers aged ≥ 16 years were recruited in one local authority. Participants had to live or work within the local authority area, and there was a recruitment target of 120 participants. Interventions: StopApp to increase booking and attendance at Stop Smoking Services. Main outcome measures: Participants completed baseline measures and follow-up at 2 months post randomisation entirely online. Objective data on the use of Stop Smoking Services were collected from participating Stop Smoking Services, and age groups, sex, ethnicity and socioeconomic status in baseline recruits and follow-up completers/non-completers were assessed for equity. Results: Eligible participants (n = 123) were recruited over 116 days, with good representation of lower socioeconomic status groups; black, Asian and minority ethnic groups; and all age groups. Demographic profiles of follow-up completers and non-completers were broadly similar. The attrition rate was 51.2%Peer reviewe

Tree migration-rates : narrowing the gap between inferred post-glacial rates and projected rates

Faster-than-expected post-glacial migration rates of trees have puzzled ecologists for a long time. In Europe, post-glacial migration is assumed to have started from the three southern European peninsulas (southern refugia), where large areas remained free of permafrost and ice at the peak of the last glaciation. However, increasing palaeobotanical evidence for the presence of isolated tree populations in more northerly microrefugia has started to change this perception. Here we use the Northern Eurasian Plant Macrofossil Database and palaeoecological literature to show that post-glacial migration rates for trees may have been substantially lower (60–260 m yr–1) than those estimated by assuming migration from southern refugia only (115–550 m yr–1), and that early-successional trees migrated faster than mid- and late-successional trees. Post-glacial migration rates are in good agreement with those recently projected for the future with a population dynamical forest succession and dispersal model, mainly for early-successional trees and under optimal conditions. Although migration estimates presented here may be conservative because of our assumption of uniform dispersal, tree migration-rates clearly need reconsideration. We suggest that small outlier populations may be a key factor in understanding past migration rates and in predicting potential future range-shifts. The importance of outlier populations in the past may have an analogy in the future, as many tree species have been planted beyond their natural ranges, with a more beneficial microclimate than their regional surroundings. Therefore, climate-change-induced range-shifts in the future might well be influenced by such microrefugia

Measuring and Valuing Health-Related Quality of Life among Children and Adolescents in Mainland China - A Pilot Study

Background: The Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D), a new generic preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument, has been validated for use in young people in both the UK and Australia. The main objectives of this study were to examine the feasibility of using a Chinese version of the CHU9D (CHU9D-CHN) to assess HRQoL and to investigate the association of physical activity, homework hours and sleep duration with HRQoL in children and adolescents in Mainland China. Methods: Data were collected using a multi-stage sampling method from grades 4–12 students in May 2013 in Nanjing, China. Consenting participants (N = 815) completed a self-administered questionnaire including the CHU9D-CHN instrument and information on physical activity, homework and sleep duration, self-reported health status, and socio-demographic characteristics. Descriptive and multivariate linear regression analyses were undertaken. CHU9D-CHN utility scores were generated by employing two scoring algorithms currently available for the instrument, the first derived from UK adults utilising the standard gamble (SG) valuation method and the second derived from Australian adolescents utilising the bestworst scaling (BWS) method. Results: It was found that CHU9D utility scores discriminated well in relation to self-reported health status and that better health status was significantly associated with higher utility scores regardless of which scoring algorithm was employed (both p,0.001). The adjusted mean utilities were significantly higher for physically active than inactive students (0.023 by SG, 0.029 by BWS scoring methods, p,0.05). An additional hour of doing homework and sleep duration were, separately, associated with mean utilities of 20.019 and 0.032 based on SG, and 20.021 and 0.040 according to BWS scoring algorithms (p,0.01). Conclusion: The CHU9D-CHN shows promise for measuring and valuing the HRQoL of children and adolescents in China. Levels of self-reported physical activity, homework and sleep time were important influencers of utility scores

Epigenetic responses to rhinovirus exposure in airway epithelial cells are correlated with key transcriptional pathways in chronic rhinosinusitis

Background: Viruses may drive immune mechanisms responsible for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), but little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Objectives: To identify epigenetic and transcriptional responses to a common upper respiratory pathogen, rhinovirus (RV), that are specific to patients with CRSwNP using a primary sinonasal epithelial cell culture model. Methods: Airway epithelial cells were collected at surgery from patients with CRSwNP (cases) and from controls without sinus disease, cultured, and then exposed to RV or vehicle for 48 h. Differential gene expression and DNA methylation (DNAm) between cases and controls in response to RV were determined using linear mixed models. Weighted gene co-expression analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify (a) co-regulated gene expression and DNAm signatures, and (b) genes, pathways, and regulatory mechanisms specific to CRSwNP. Results: We identified 5585 differential transcriptional and 261 DNAm responses (FDR Conclusion: RV activates specific epigenetic programs and correlated transcriptional networks in the sinonasal epithelium of individuals with CRSwNP. These novel observations suggest epigenetic signatures specific to patients with CRSwNP modulate response to viral pathogens at the mucosal environmental interface. Determining how viral response pathways are involved in epithelial inflammation in CRSwNP could lead to therapeutic targets for this burdensome airway disorder.</p