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Pham C, Vryer R, O’Hely M, Mansell T, Burgner D, Collier F, Symeonides C, Tang MLK, Vuillermin P, Gray L, Saffery R, Ponsonby AL. Shortened Infant Telomere Length Is Associated with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children at Age Two Years: A Birth Cohort Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094601. [PMID: 35562991 PMCID: PMC9104809 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors can accelerate telomere length (TL) attrition. Shortened TL is linked to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in school-aged children. The onset of ADHD occurs as early as preschool-age, but the TL-ADHD association in younger children is unknown. We investigated associations between infant TL and ADHD symptoms in children and assessed environmental factors as potential confounders and/or mediators of this association. Relative TL was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in cord and 12-month blood in the birth cohort study, the Barwon Infant Study. Early life environmental factors collected antenatally to two years were used to measure confounding. ADHD symptoms at age two years were evaluated by the Child Behavior Checklist Attention Problems (AP) and the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems (ADHP). Associations between early life environmental factors on TL or ADHD symptoms were assessed using multivariable regression models adjusted for relevant factors. Telomere length at 12 months (TL12), but not at birth, was inversely associated with AP (β = −0.56; 95% CI (−1.13, 0.006); p = 0.05) and ADHP (β = −0.66; 95% CI (−1.11, −0.21); p = 0.004). Infant secondhand smoke exposure at one month was independently associated with shorter TL12 and also higher ADHD symptoms. Further work is needed to elucidate the mechanisms that influence TL attrition and early neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Pham
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Regan Vryer
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Martin O’Hely
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Toby Mansell
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - David Burgner
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Fiona Collier
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Christos Symeonides
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Mimi L. K. Tang
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Peter Vuillermin
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Lawrence Gray
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anne-Louise Ponsonby
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Al-Thuwaini TM. Association of antidiabetic therapy with shortened telomere length in middle-aged Type 2 diabetic patients. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2021; 20:1161-1168. [PMID: 34900769 DOI: 10.1007/s40200-021-00835-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Introduction A wide range of antidiabetic therapies have been developed to manage diabetes and limit its lifespan but each of them have adverse long-term drug reactions. This study was performed for the investigation of the possible association of antidiabetic therapy with shortened telomere length in middle-aged Type 2 diabetic patients. Materials and methods The subjects in this case-control study included 100 non-diabetic patients and 300 patients with Type 2 diabetes with ages in the range of 30-50 years. The treated patients were further subdivided into diabetic patients using Doanil, those using insulin and those using both the therapies. The mean telomere length was determined using the southern-blotting technique. A logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the relationship between antidiabetic therapy and shortened telomere length. Results The results revealed a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the fasting blood glucose and lipid profile in non-treatment diabetic patients compared to diabetic patients with treatment, and also in diabetic patients with insulin therapy, compared to diabetic patients with Doanil or both therapies. The results showed that non-treatment diabetic patients had shorter telomere length, compared to the diabetic patients with treatment, and patients treated with insulin therapy had shorter telomere length, compared to the diabetic patients with Doanil or both therapies. The logistic regression analysis confirmed that insulin therapy was closely related to diabetic risk factors and shortened telomere length. Conclusions The results revealed that Doanil therapy was more effective in managing diabetic risk and limiting the shortening telomere length than insulin therapy.
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Sly PD, Trottier BA, Bulka CM, Cormier SA, Fobil J, Fry RC, Kim KW, Kleeberger S, Kumar P, Landrigan PJ, Lodrop Carlsen KC, Pascale A, Polack F, Ruchirawat M, Zar HJ, Suk WA. The interplay between environmental exposures and COVID-19 risks in the health of children. Environ Health 2021; 20:34. [PMID: 33771185 PMCID: PMC7996114 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00716-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An unusual feature of SARS-Cov-2 infection and the COVID-19 pandemic is that children are less severely affected than adults. This is especially paradoxical given the epidemiological links between poor air quality and increased COVID-19 severity in adults and that children are generally more vulnerable than adults to the adverse consequences of air pollution. OBJECTIVES To identify gaps in knowledge about the factors that protect children from severe SARS-Cov-2 infection even in the face of air pollution, and to develop a transdisciplinary research strategy to address these gaps. METHODS An international group of researchers interested in children's environmental health was invited to identify knowledge gaps and to develop research questions to close these gaps. DISCUSSION Key research questions identified include: what are the effects of SAR-Cov-2 infection during pregnancy on the developing fetus and child; what is the impact of age at infection and genetic susceptibility on disease severity; why do some children with COVID-19 infection develop toxic shock and Kawasaki-like symptoms; what are the impacts of toxic environmental exposures including poor air quality, chemical and metal exposures on innate immunity, especially in the respiratory epithelium; what is the possible role of a "dirty" environment in conveying protection - an example of the "hygiene hypothesis"; and what are the long term health effects of SARS-Cov-2 infection in early life. CONCLUSION A concerted research effort by a multidisciplinary team of scientists is needed to understand the links between environmental exposures, especially air pollution and COVID-19. We call for specific research funding to encourage basic and clinical research to understand if/why exposure to environmental factors is associated with more severe disease, why children appear to be protected, and how innate immune responses may be involved. Lessons learned about SARS-Cov-2 infection in our children will help us to understand and reduce disease severity in adults, the opposite of the usual scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Sly
- Children's Health and Environment Program, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Brittany A Trottier
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 530 Davis Drive, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Catherine M Bulka
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Stephania A Cormier
- LSU Superfund Research Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
| | - Julius Fobil
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Kyoung-Woong Kim
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Steven Kleeberger
- Immunity, Inflammation, and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, USA
| | | | - Philip J Landrigan
- Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, USA
| | - Karin C Lodrop Carlsen
- Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University of Oslo & Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Antonio Pascale
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | | | - Heather J Zar
- Dept of Paediatrics & Child Health and SA-MRC Unit on Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - William A Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 530 Davis Drive, Durham, NC, 27709, USA.
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Lesmana A, Tian P, Karlaftis V, Hearps S, Monagle P, Ignjatovic V, Elwood N. Continuous reference intervals for leukocyte telomere length in children: the method matters. Clin Chem Lab Med 2021; 59:1279-1288. [PMID: 33711214 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2021-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Children with very short telomeres commonly develop bone marrow failure and other severe diseases. Identifying the individuals with short telomeres can improve outcome of bone marrow transplantation, with accurate diagnosis requiring the use of age-matched reference intervals (RIs). This study aimed to establish RIs for telomere length (TL) in children using three commonly used methods for TL measurement. METHODS Healthy children aged 30 days to 18 years were recruited for assessment using age as a continuous variable. Venous blood samples were collected and leukocyte TL was measured using terminal restriction fragment (TRF) analysis, quantitative PCR (QPCR) and flow cytometry with fluorescence in situ hybridization (Flow-FISH). Fractional polynomial model and quantile regression were performed to generate continuous RIs. Factors that might contribute to variation in TL, such as gender, were also examined. RESULTS A total of 212 samples were analyzed. Continuous RIs are presented as functions of age. TRF analysis and QPCR showed significant negative correlation between TL and age (r=-0.28 and r=-0.38, p<0.001). In contrast, Flow-FISH showed no change in TL with age (r=-0.08, p=0.23). Gender did not have significant influence on TL in children. CONCLUSIONS This study provides three options to assess TL in children by establishing method-specific continuous RIs. Choosing which method to use will depend on several factors such as amount and type of sample available and required sensitivity to age-related change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analia Lesmana
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - Pei Tian
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - Vasiliki Karlaftis
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Stephen Hearps
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - Paul Monagle
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | - Vera Ignjatovic
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ngaire Elwood
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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McAninch D, Bianco-Miotto T, Gatford KL, Leemaqz SY, Andraweera PH, Garrett A, Plummer MD, Dekker GA, Roberts CT, Smithers LG, Grieger JA. The metabolic syndrome in pregnancy and its association with child telomere length. Diabetologia 2020; 63:2140-2149. [PMID: 32728890 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-020-05242-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS The aim of this study was to determine whether presence of the metabolic syndrome in pregnancy associates with child telomere length or child anthropometry (weight, BMI) and BP, measured at 10 years of age. METHODS The Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints study (SCOPE) was a multicentre, international prospective cohort of nulliparous pregnant women recruited from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK (N = 5628). The current analysis is a 10 year follow-up of SCOPE pregnant women and their children, from the Australian cohort. Clinical data collected at 14-16 weeks' gestation during the SCOPE study were used to diagnose the metabolic syndrome using IDF criteria. Telomere length, a biomarker of ageing, was assessed by quantitative PCR from children's saliva collected at 10 years of age. RESULTS In women who completed follow-up (n = 255), 20% had the metabolic syndrome in pregnancy. After adjusting for a range of confounders, children of mothers who had the metabolic syndrome in pregnancy had 14% shorter telomeres than children of mothers without the metabolic syndrome in pregnancy (mean difference -0.36 [95% CI -0.74, 0.01]). Height- and weight-for-age, and BMI z scores were similar in children of mothers who did and did not have the metabolic syndrome during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Children of mothers who had the metabolic syndrome in pregnancy have shorter telomeres, a biomarker of accelerated ageing. These findings warrant further studies in larger cohorts of children, as well as investigations into whether telomere length measured in cord blood associates with telomere length in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale McAninch
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tina Bianco-Miotto
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Waite Research Institute, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kathy L Gatford
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Shalem Y Leemaqz
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Prabha H Andraweera
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Amy Garrett
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Michelle D Plummer
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Gus A Dekker
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Women and Children's Division, Lyell McEwin Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Claire T Roberts
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Lisa G Smithers
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jessica A Grieger
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
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Nguyen MT, Lycett K, Olds T, Matricciani L, Vryer R, Ranganathan S, Burgner D, Saffery R, Wake M. Objectively measured sleep and telomere length in a population-based cohort of children and midlife adults. Sleep 2020; 43:5626508. [PMID: 31732749 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Poor sleep patterns in older adults are associated with chromosomal telomere shortening, a marker of cellular senescence. However, studies have relied on self-reported sleep characteristics, with few data for younger individuals. We investigated whether sleep measured via actigraphy was cross-sectionally associated with telomere length in children and midlife adults. METHODS A population-based sample of 1874 11-12 year olds and midlife adults (mean age 44 years, SD 5.1) had biological and physical assessments at centers across Australia in 2015-2016. Sleep characteristics, including duration, onset, offset, day-to-day variability, and efficiency, were derived from actigraphy. Relative telomere length (T/S ratio) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction on genomic DNA from peripheral blood. Multivariable regression models estimated associations, adjusting for prespecified confounders. RESULTS Both sleep and telomere data were available for 728 children and 1070 adults. Mean (SD) T/S ratio was 1.09 (0.55) in children and 0.81 (0.38) in adults. T/S ratio was not predicted by sleep duration (β 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.02 to 0.09, p = .16, children; β -0.004, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.02, p = .70, adults) or most other sleep metrics. The only exception was a weak association between later sleep timing (the midpoint of sleep onset and offset) and longer telomeres in adults (β 0.03, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.06, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS Objective sleep characteristics show no convincing associations with telomere length in two largely healthy populations up to at least midlife. Sleep-telomere associations may be a late-life occurrence or may present only with a trigger such as presence of other morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Thien Nguyen
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Kate Lycett
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,School of Psychology, Deakin University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Timothy Olds
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Lisa Matricciani
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Regan Vryer
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Sarath Ranganathan
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | - David Burgner
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Infectious Diseases, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Melissa Wake
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics and Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Nguyen MT, Saffery R, Burgner D, Lycett K, Vryer R, Grobler A, Dwyer T, Ranganathan S, Wake M. Telomere length and lung function in a population-based cohort of children and mid-life adults. Pediatr Pulmonol 2019; 54:2044-2052. [PMID: 31456360 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.24489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Telomere length is associated with poorer lung health in older adults, possibly from cumulative risk factor exposure, but data are lacking in pediatric and population-based cohorts. We examined associations of telomere length with lung function in children and mid-life adults. METHODS Data were drawn from a population-based cross-sectional study of 11 to 12 year-olds and mid-life adults. Lung function was assessed by spirometric FEV1 , FVC, FEV 1 /FVC ratio, and MMEF 25-75 . Telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction from blood and expressed as the amount of telomeric genomic DNA to the beta-globin gene (T/S ratio). Associations of telomere length with spirometric parameters were tested by linear and logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders of sex, age, body mass index, socioeconomic position, physical activity, inflammation, asthma, pubertal status, and smoking. RESULTS Mean T/S ratio was 1.09 (n = 1206; SD 0.55) in children and 0.81 (n = 1343; SD 0.38) in adults. In adults, for every additional unit in T/S ratio, FEV 1 /FVC and MMEF 25-75 z-scores were higher (β 0.21 [95% confidence interval, CI; 0.06-0.36] and 0.23 [95% CI; 0.08-0.38], respectively), and the likelihood of being in the lowest quartile for FEV 1 /FVC and MMEF 25-75 z-scores was lower (odds ratios 0.59 [95% CI, 0.39-0.89] and 0.64 [95% CI, 0.41-0.99], respectively). No evidence of association was seen for adult FEV 1 or FVC, or any childhood spirometric index after adjustments. CONCLUSION Shorter telomere length showed moderate associations with poorer airflow parameters, but not vital capacity (lung volume) in mid-life adults. However, there was no convincing evidence of associations in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Thien Nguyen
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David Burgner
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Infectious Diseases, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kate Lycett
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Regan Vryer
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anneke Grobler
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Terence Dwyer
- George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Sarath Ranganathan
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Melissa Wake
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics and Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Abstract
In an ambitious undertaking, Growing Up in Australia's Child Health CheckPoint streamlined and implemented wide-ranging population phenotypes and biosamples relevant to non-communicable diseases in nearly 1900 parent-child dyads throughout Australia at child aged 11-12 years. This BMJ Open Special Issue describes the methodology, epidemiology and parent-child concordance of 14 of these phenotypes, spanning cardiovascular, respiratory, bone, kidney, hearing and language, body composition, metabolic profiles, telomere length, sleep, physical activity, snack choice and health-related quality of life. The Special Issue also includes a cohort summary and study methodology paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Wake
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics and The Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Susan A Clifford
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES 'Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children' (LSAC) is Australia's only nationally representative children's longitudinal study, focusing on social, economic, physical and cultural impacts on health, learning, social and cognitive development. LSAC's first decade collected wide-ranging repeated psychosocial and administrative data; here, we describe the Child Health CheckPoint, LSAC's dedicated biophysical module. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS LSAC recruited a cross-sequential sample of 5107 infants aged 0-1 year and a sample of 4983 children aged 4-5 years in 2004, since completing seven biennial visits. CheckPoint was a cross-sectional wave that travelled Australia in 2015-2016 to reach LSAC's younger cohort at ages 11-12 years between LSAC waves 6 and 7. Parent-child pairs participated in comprehensive assessments at 15 Assessment Centres nationwide or, if unable to attend, a shorter home visit. MEASURES CheckPoint's intergenerational, multidimensional measures were prioritised to show meaningful variation within normal ranges and capture non-communicable disease (NCD) phenotype precursors. These included anthropometry, physical activity, fitness, time use, vision, hearing, and cardiovascular, respiratory and bone health. Biospecimens included blood, saliva, buccal swabs (also from second parent), urine, hair and toenails. The epidemiology and parent-child concordance of many measures are described in separate papers. RESULTS 1874 (54% of eligible) parent-child pairs and 1051 second parents participated. Participants' geographical distribution mirrored the broader Australian population; however, mean socioeconomic position and parental education were higher and fewer reported non-English-speaking or Indigenous backgrounds. Application of survey weights partially mitigates that the achieved sample is less population representative than previous waves of LSAC due to non-random attrition. Completeness was uniformly high for phenotypic data (>92% of eligible), biospecimens (74%-97%) and consent (genetic analyses 98%, accessing neonatal blood spots 97%, sharing 96%). CONCLUSIONS CheckPoint enriches LSAC to study how NCDs develop at the molecular and phenotypic levels before overt disease emerges, and clarify the underlying dimensionality of health in childhood and mid-adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan A Clifford
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah Davies
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa Wake
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics and The Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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