Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium.

Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, show potential as biological markers and mechanisms underlying gene-environment interplay in the prediction of mental health and other brain-based phenotypes. However, little is known about how peripheral epigenetic patterns relate to individual differences in the brain itself. An increasingly popular approach to address this is by combining epigenetic and neuroimaging data; yet, research in this area is almost entirely comprised of cross-sectional studies in adults.

Developmental Trajectories of Anxiety Subtypes from Childhood to Early Adolescence: the Role of Parenting Practices and Maternal Distress.

The present study was embedded in an Asian birth cohort to (a) investigate the trajectories of specific anxiety subtypes from middle childhood to early adolescence, (b) compare developmental trajectories by child sex, and (c) examine their associations with caregiving factors including parenting practices and maternal distress. Data from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort were analyzed (N = 547; 52.8% boys; 57.

Impact of placenta-derived extracellular vesicles on endothelial function in supraphysiological maternal hypercholesterolemia.

Unlabelled: Maternal physiological hypercholesterolemia (MPH; total cholesterol (TC)≤280 mg/dL) occurs during pregnancy to support fetal growth. When TC exceeds this threshold, this condition is recognized as maternal supraphysiological hypercholesterolemia (MSPH), which is associated with endothelial dysfunction in the maternal and fetoplacental vasculature. Placenta-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), which mediate intercellular communication during pregnancy, may contribute to MSPH by affecting endothelial cells.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Smartphone-Delivered Mindfulness Intervention for Stress Reduction in Adult Singaporeans: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Fully decentralized self-administered mindfulness interventions show promise for stress reduction, but rigorous evaluations of their feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness using both self-report and physiological measures remain limited. In Singapore, where mental health concerns rank as the top health care priority (46%), ahead of cancer (38%) and stress-related issues (35%), accessible and scalable interventions are urgently needed to address the significant economic burden of mental health conditions.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a decentralized, 3-day self-administered mindfulness intervention with minimal supervision, compared with a sham control in Singaporean adults, examining effects on self-reported and physiologically measured stress responses.

Predictive capabilities of polygenic scores in an East-Asian population-based cohort: the Singapore Chinese health study.

Polygenic scores (PGS) are derived primarily from European population studies. It is unclear how these perform in risk predictions among East-Asians. We generated 2173 PGSs from 519 traits and assessed their associations with 58 baseline phenotypes in the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective cohort of 23,622 Chinese adults residing in Singapore.

Adherence to a "MediterrAsian" diet is associated with weight loss-independent improvements in liver fat and lipid profile, but not glucoregulation or inflammation: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Greater adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has been associated with improved inflammatory biomarkers in Western populations, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effect is crucial for improvements in body weight, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors observed with the MedDiet. We previously reported that a calorie-restricted MedDiet adapted to the Asian food culture has beneficial effects on body composition, liver fat, and cardiometabolic risk markers in Chinese women with fatty liver disease.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of MedDiet on inflammation and examine the relationship between dietary adherence and changes in health outcomes.

Impact of polymorphisms on gene expression and splicing in response to exercise and diet-induced weight loss in human skeletal muscle tissues.

Weight loss through exercise and diet reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, but the genetic regulation of gene expression and splicing in response to weight loss remains unclear in humans. We collected clinical data and skeletal muscle biopsies from 54 overweight/obese Asian individuals before and after a 16-week lifestyle intervention, which resulted in an average of ∼10% weight loss, accompanied by an ∼30% increase in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Improvements were observed in 118 of 252 clinical traits and six blood lipids.

Metabolome alterations in pediatric metabolically unhealthy obesity are primarily linked to abnormal glucose homeostasis.

The mechanisms underlying metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) in pediatrics remain poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the plasma metabolome of MHO versus metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) in Asian children and adolescents, to identify key metabolic drivers that undergird the MUO phenotype. MHO and MUO were defined by the absence or presence of metabolic syndrome criteria, respectively.

Exploring the association between gestational diabetes exposure and mental and behavioural disorders in offspring: the Finnish gestational diabetes (FinnGeDi) register-based study.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. Our aim was to investigate whether GDM exposure is linked to wider spectrum of mental and behavioural disorders in offspring during the first 10 years of life.

Methods: This study included a population-based cohort of all women who delivered a singleton child in Finland in 2009, including 6,560 children exposed to maternal GDM and 51,770 control children.

Epigenetic crossroads in metabolic and cardiovascular health: the role of DNA methylation in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), part of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), are major contributors to the global health crisis today. A recent report from the World Health Organisation estimates that 17.9 million lives are lost each year to CVD, and one-third of these are premature.

Integration of metabolomics and machine learning for precise management and prevention of cardiometabolic risk in Asians.

Rapid changes in dietary patterns have led to a rise in cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for effective dietary strategies to address the health issues. Compared to Caucasians, Asians are more susceptible to CMDs. Understanding the complex factors driving this increased susceptibility is essential for developing targeted interventions and preventive measures for Asian populations.

Differential contributions of lean and fat mass on bone mineral density in Asian women of reproductive age: the Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes study.

The relationships between fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and bone mass are complex with significant implications for obesity, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis later in life. While greater LM is associated with higher BMD, the association between FM and BMD is less clear. Such relationships warrant further investigation, especially in Asians, who have a higher risk of metabolic diseases and osteoporotic fractures compared to Western populations.

Do women with a history of breast cancer recommend risk-based breast cancer screening? An in-depth interview study.

Objectives: Personalizing screening recommendations could enhance efficiency, support timely detection, and optimize resource use. This study explores women's perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to current screening guidelines and the implementation of risk-based screening (RBS) for breast cancer in Singapore.

Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 women aged 21 and above with a history of breast cancer.

Genetics and epigenetics in gestational diabetes contributing to type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication and a risk factor for the subsequent development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in mothers and of several metabolic diseases in offspring. However, the molecular underpinnings of these risks are not well understood. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and epigenetic studies may provide complementary insights into the causal relationships between GDM exposure and maternal/offspring metabolic outcomes.

Longitudinal prediction of DNA methylation to forecast epigenetic outcomes.

Background: Epigenetic changes in early life play an important role in the development of health conditions in children. Longitudinally measuring and forecasting changes in DNA methylation can reveal patterns of ageing and disease progression, but biosamples may not always be available.

Methods: We introduce a probabilistic machine learning framework based on multi-mean Gaussian processes, accounting for individual and gene correlations across time to forecast the methylation status of an individual into the future.

Comparative efficacy of preloading plant-based versus animal-based proteins in evoking insulin and incretin responses to attenuate postprandial glucose.

Background: Previous studies have reported that the type of protein consumed as preloads significantly affects postprandial glucose and insulin excursions in healthy and type 2 diabetes. But little is known how protein synergistic preloading affects human health.

Objective: Using two typical Asian protein type (soya tofu and chicken) with carbohydrate (white rice), the aim of this study was to compare the effects of two different protein types presented synergistically as preloads on postprandial glycemia, insulinemia and incretin secretions in healthy adults.

Sexual dimorphism in the association of umbilical cord blood lipidome with abdominal fat in early childhood.

Background: Although the associations between cord blood lipidome and neonatal birth weight are established, it remains uncertain whether sexual dimorphism in fetal fat accumulation extends to the relationship between cord blood lipid profiles and neonatal abdominal fat compartments. Understanding these relationships could provide insights into early sex-specific differences in lipid metabolism.

Methods: We conducted lipidomics of umbilical cord blood plasma samples (350 (46.

Socioeconomic Status Predicts Infant Word Recognition: Evidence From a Linguistically, Ethnically, and Socioeconomically Diverse Community Sample in Singapore.

Prior research has demonstrated that infants have the capacity to recognize some familiar words. However, past studies have not analyzed the sociodemographic generalizability of research findings. In the current study, we examine word recognition in a linguistically, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse community sample.

Exploring parental preferences for childhood obesity prevention program in China: a discrete choice experiment.

Background: Childhood obesity has emerged as one of the most critical public health challenges in China. Despite its urgency, the existing research on parental preference for tackling childhood obesity remains insufficient. This study aimed to determine the factors that parents prioritise most when commissioning hypothetical programs that target childhood obesity prevention in China.

Young children's preferences for their mothers: concurrent predictors and correlates.

A basic tenet of Attachment Theory describes a species-wide tendency to search out an attachment figure in times of distress. Expectations of support, or lack thereof, may provide a template for socioemotional functioning. This study investigated potential concurrent predictors (i.

Spousal perceptions and their role in promoting breast cancer screening: a focus group study.

Objectives: To explore husbands' views on breast cancer screening, risk-based screening and their role in influencing their wives' health-seeking behaviours.

Design: Qualitative focus group discussion (FGD) supplemented by quantitative data from a cohort study using a structured questionnaire.

Setting: This study was conducted in a community-based setting, with participants recruited online through non-profit organisations via social media and email.

Whose sleep matters? Untangling the relationships between maternal sleep, child sleep, and maternal depressive symptoms in the first two years of life.

Infants frequently experience sleep problems in early childhood. Poor infant sleep can impact not only infants' cognitive development but also maternal sleep and maternal mental health. Studies have reported associations between infant sleep and maternal sleep and between infant sleep and maternal depression.

Short-term diet intervention comprising of olive oil, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids alters the small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) landscape of human sperm.

Offspring health outcomes are often linked with epigenetic alterations triggered by maternal nutrition and intrauterine environment. Strong experimental data also link paternal preconception nutrition with pathophysiology in the offspring, but the mechanism(s) routing effects of paternal exposures remain elusive. Animal experimental models have highlighted small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) as potential regulators of paternal effects.

Childhood adversities and home atmosphere as determinants of resilience in old age: findings from the Helsinki birth cohort study.

Early life stress has far-reaching effects on various aspects of well-being in later life, but whether it impacts resilience, i.e., the ability to tolerate hardship, in old age remains unclear.