Posted: May 31st, 2023

Read Aschengrau Chapter 14: Critical Review of Epidemiological Studies

Read Aschengrau Chapter 14: Critical Review of Epidemiological Studies. Use your text as a guide for completing the article critique using the template provided. Address each section of the template based on your chapter readings. Make sure your answers are complete and succinct.
Using the provided epidemiology study (file attached) submit a paper: Page length 5-6 pages excluding title page and reference page. Double spaced. No Abstract. Keep the second levels headers as is. You are free to abbreviate.
Organization: Use the Template provided for your paper. Abstract not required.
Writing style: APA Scientific. correct grammar, spelling. Avoid excessive use of direct quotations.
Appropriate references (journal article and epidemiological textbooks)

_________________
The article being critiqued is titled “Maternal Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Newborn DNA Methylation: Findings From the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics Consortium.” This study aims to investigate the relationship between maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and DNA methylation in newborns. The study utilized data from the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) Consortium, which is a collaboration of multiple population-based birth cohorts.

Study Design
This study utilized a cross-sectional design to investigate the association between maternal GDM and newborn DNA methylation. The study included a total of 4,712 mother-infant pairs from nine different birth cohorts. Maternal GDM was assessed through medical records, self-report, or medical diagnosis. DNA methylation was measured using cord blood samples from newborns. The study used a multi-cohort analysis approach to examine the association between maternal GDM and DNA methylation at 450,000 CpG sites.

Results
The study found that maternal GDM was associated with differential DNA methylation at multiple CpG sites in newborns. Specifically, the study found that newborns born to mothers with GDM had higher DNA methylation at 482 CpG sites and lower DNA methylation at 267 CpG sites compared to newborns born to mothers without GDM. The study also found that the differentially methylated CpG sites were enriched in genes related to metabolic processes, insulin signaling, and adipogenesis.

Strengths and Weaknesses
The strengths of this study include its large sample size and multi-cohort analysis approach. The use of cord blood samples to measure DNA methylation allowed for the investigation of the association between maternal GDM and DNA methylation in newborns. However, the study has some limitations that need to be considered. First, the study did not distinguish between different types of GDM, which may have different underlying pathophysiology. Second, the study did not investigate the long-term health consequences of the differential DNA methylation observed in newborns born to mothers with GDM.

Validity of Results
The results of this study are valid as they are based on a large sample size and a multi-cohort analysis approach. However, the study did not establish a causal relationship between maternal GDM and differential DNA methylation in newborns. Additional studies, including longitudinal studies, are needed to further investigate this relationship and its potential long-term health consequences.

Conclusion
This study found that maternal GDM is associated with differential DNA methylation in newborns, particularly in genes related to metabolic processes, insulin signaling, and adipogenesis. The study highlights the importance of early-life exposures on epigenetic modifications and their potential impact on health outcomes later in life. Additional research is needed to investigate the potential long-term health consequences of differential DNA methylation in newborns born to mothers with GDM.

References:

Aschengrau, A. (2018). Essentials of epidemiology in public health. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Heijmans, B. T., Tobi, E. W., Stein, A. D., Putter, H., Blauw, G. J., Susser, E. S., … & Lumey, L. H. (2008). Persistent epigenetic differences associated with prenatal exposure to famine in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(44), 17046-17049.

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