| 1. |
- Nelson, G., et al.
(författare)
-
QUAREP-LiMi: A community-driven initiative to establish guidelines for quality assessment and reproducibility for instruments and images in light microscopy
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Microscopy. - : Wiley. - 0022-2720 .- 1365-2818. ; 284:1, s. 56-73
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A modern day light microscope has evolved from a tool devoted to making primarily empirical observations to what is now a sophisticated , quantitative device that is an integral part of both physical and life science research. Nowadays, microscopes are found in nearly every experimental laboratory. However, despite their prevalent use in capturing and quantifying scientific phenomena, neither a thorough understanding of the principles underlying quantitative imaging techniques nor appropriate knowledge of how to calibrate, operate and maintain microscopes can be taken for granted. This is clearly demonstrated by the well-documented and widespread difficulties that are routinely encountered in evaluating acquired data and reproducing scientific experiments. Indeed, studies have shown that more than 70% of researchers have tried and failed to repeat another scientist's experiments, while more than half have even failed to reproduce their own experiments. One factor behind the reproducibility crisis of experiments published in scientific journals is the frequent underreporting of imaging methods caused by a lack of awareness and/or a lack of knowledge of the applied technique. Whereas quality control procedures for some methods used in biomedical research, such as genomics (e.g. DNA sequencing, RNA-seq) or cytometry, have been introduced (e.g. ENCODE), this issue has not been tackled for optical microscopy instrumentation and images. Although many calibration standards and protocols have been published, there is a lack of awareness and agreement on common standards and guidelines for quality assessment and reproducibility. In April 2020, the QUality Assessment and REProducibility for instruments and images in Light Microscopy (QUAREP-LiMi) initiative was formed. This initiative comprises imaging scientists from academia and industry who share a common interest in achieving a better understanding of the performance and limitations of microscopes and improved quality control (QC) in light microscopy. The ultimate goal of the QUAREP-LiMi initiative is to establish a set of common QC standards, guidelines, metadata models and tools, including detailed protocols, with the ultimate aim of improving reproducible advances in scientific research. This White Paper (1) summarizes the major obstacles identified in the field that motivated the launch of the QUAREP-LiMi initiative; (2) identifies the urgent need to address these obstacles in a grassroots manner, through a community of stakeholders including, researchers, imaging scientists, bioimage analysts, bioimage informatics developers, corporate partners, funding agencies, standards organizations, scientific publishers and observers of such; (3) outlines the current actions of the QUAREP-LiMi initiative and (4) proposes future steps that can be taken to improve the dissemination and acceptance of the proposed guidelines to manage QC. To summarize, the principal goal of the QUAREP-LiMi initiative is to improve the overall quality and reproducibility of light microscope image data by introducing broadly accepted standard practices and accurately captured image data metrics.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bammann, K, et al.
(författare)
-
The IDEFICS validation study on field methods for assessing physical activity and body composition in children: design and data collection.
- 2011
-
Ingår i: International journal of obesity (2005). - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-5497 .- 0307-0565. ; 35 Suppl 1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To describe the design, measurements and fieldwork of the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) physical activity and body composition validation study, and to determine the potential and limitations of the data obtained. Design: Multicentre validation study. Subjects: A total of 98 children from four different European countries (age: 4–10 years). Methods: An 8-day measurement protocol was carried out in all children using a collaborative protocol. Reference methods were the doubly labelled water method for physical activity, and a three- and a four-compartment model for body composition. Investigated field methods were accelerometers, a physical activity questionnaire and various anthropometric measurements. Results: For the validation of physical activity field methods, it was possible to gather data from 83 to 89 children, laying the basis for age- and sex-specific results. The validation of body composition field methods is possible in 64–80 children and allows sex-specific analyses but has only limited statistical power in the youngest age group (o6 years). The amount of activity energy expenditure (AEE) varied between centres, sexes and age groups, with boys and older children having higher estimates of AEE. After normalisation of AEE by body weight, most group-specific differences diminished, except for country-specific differences. Conclusion: The IDEFICS validation study will allow age- and sex-specific investigation of questions pertaining to the validity of several field methods of body composition and physical activity, using established reference methods in four different European countries. From the participant analyses it can be concluded that the compliance for the investigated field methods was higher than that for the reference methods used in this validation study.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bornhorst, C., et al.
(författare)
-
Early Life Factors and Inter-Country Heterogeneity in BMI Growth Trajectories of European Children: The IDEFICS Study
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Plos One. - San Francisco : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Starting from birth, this explorative study aimed to investigate between-country differences in body mass index (BMI) trajectories and whether early life factors explain these differences. The sample included 7,644 children from seven European countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden) participating in the multi-centre IDEFICS study. Information on early life factors and in total 53,409 repeated measurements of height and weight from 0 to <12 years of age were collected during the baseline (2007/2008) and follow-up examination (2009/2010) supplemented by records of routine child health visits. Country-specific BMI growth curves were estimated using fractional polynomial mixed effects models. Several covariates focussing on early life factors were added to the models to investigate their role in the between-countries differences. Large between-country differences were observed with Italian children showing significantly higher mean BMI values at all ages >= 3 years compared to the other countries. For instance, at age 11 years mean BMI values in Italian boys and girls were 22.3 [21.9; 22.8; 99% confidence interval] and 22.0 [21.5; 22.4], respectively, compared to a range of 18.4 [18.1; 18.8] to 20.3 [19.8; 20.7] in boys and 18.2 [17.8; 18.6] to 20.3 [19.8; 20.7] in girls in the other countries. After adjustment for early life factors, differences between country-specific BMI curves became smaller. Maternal BMI was the factor being most strongly associated with BMI growth (p<0.01 in all countries) with associations increasing during childhood. Gestational weight gain (GWG) was weakly associated with BMI at birth in all countries. In some countries, positive associations between BMI growth and children not being breastfed, mothers' smoking during pregnancy and low educational level of parents were found. Early life factors seem to explain only some of the inter-country variation in growth. Maternal BMI showed the strongest association with children's BMI growth.
|
|
| 4. |
- Foraita, R, et al.
(författare)
-
Does the FTO gene interact with the socioeconomic status on the obesity development among young European children? Results from the IDEFICS study.
- 2015
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Obesity. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0307-0565 .- 1476-5497. ; 39, s. 1-6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background:Various twin studies revealed that the influence of genetic factors on psychological diseases or behaviour is more expressed in socioeconomically advantaged environments. Other studies predominantly show an inverse association between socioeconomic status (SES) and childhood obesity in Western developed countries. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene interacts with the SES on childhood obesity in a subsample (N=4406) of the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS) cohort.Methods:A structural equation model (SEM) is applied with the latent constructs obesity, dietary intakes, physical activity and fitness habits, and parental SES to estimate the main effects of the latter three variables and a FTO polymorphism on childhood obesity. Further, a multiple group SEM is used to explore whether an interaction effect exists between the single nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 within the FTO gene and SES.Results:Significant main effects are shown for physical activity and fitness (standardised [betacrc ](s) = -0.113), SES ([betacrc ](s) = -0.057) and the FTO homozygous AA risk genotype ([betacrc ](s) = -0.177). The explained variance of obesity is ~9%. According to the multiple group approach of SEM, we see an interaction between SES and FTO with respect to their effect on childhood obesity (Δχ(2)=7.3, df=2, P=0.03).Conclusion:Children carrying the protective FTO genotype TT seem to be more protected by a favourable social environment regarding the development of obesity than children carrying the AT or AA genotype.International Journal of Obesity advance online publication, 23 September 2014; doi:10.1038/ijo.2014.156.
|
|
| 5. |
- Iguacel, I., et al.
(författare)
-
Associations between social vulnerabilities and psychosocial problems in European children. Results from the IDEFICS study
- 2017
-
Ingår i: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1018-8827 .- 1435-165X. ; 26:9, s. 1105-1117
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of socioeconomic inequalities on children's mental health remains unclear. This study aims to explore the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between social vulnerabilities and psychosocial problems, and the association between accumulation of vulnerabilities and psychosocial problems. 5987 children aged 2-9 years from eight European countries were assessed at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Two different instruments were employed to assess children's psychosocial problems: the KINDL (Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents) was used to evaluate children's well-being and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to evaluate children's internalising problems. Vulnerable groups were defined as follows: children whose parents had minimal social networks, children from non-traditional families, children of migrant origin or children with unemployed parents. Logistic mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between social vulnerabilities and psychosocial problems. After adjusting for classical socioeconomic and lifestyle indicators, children whose parents had minimal social networks were at greater risk of presenting internalising problems at baseline and follow-up (OR 1.53, 99% CI 1.11-2.11). The highest risk for psychosocial problems was found in children whose status changed from traditional families at T0 to non-traditional families at T1 (OR 1.60, 99% CI 1.07-2.39) and whose parents had minimal social networks at both time points (OR 1.97, 99% CI 1.26-3.08). Children with one or more vulnerabilities accumulated were at a higher risk of developing psychosocial problems at baseline and follow-up. Therefore, policy makers should implement measures to strengthen the social support for parents with a minimal social network.
|
|
| 6. |
- Iguacel, I., et al.
(författare)
-
Social vulnerability as a predictor of physical activity and screen time in European children
- 2018
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1661-8556 .- 1661-8564. ; 63:2, s. 283-295
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To examine associations between social vulnerabilities and meeting physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) recommendations during a 2-year follow-up. 13,891 children aged 2.0 to < 9.9 from eight European countries were assessed at baseline and 8482 children at follow-up. Children's sports club membership, PA and ST were collected via parental questionnaires. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was objectively assessed with accelerometers. Performing at least 1 h of MVPA daily and spending less than 2 h of ST defined physically active and non-sedentary children, respectively. Vulnerable groups were defined at baseline as children whose parents had minimal social networks, from non-traditional families, with migrant origin or with unemployed parents. Logistic mixed-effects analyses were performed adjusting for classical socioeconomic indicators. Children whose parents had minimal social networks had a higher risk of non-compliance with PA recommendations (subjectively assessed) at baseline. Migrants and children with unemployed parents had longer ST. All vulnerable groups were less likely to be sports club members. Migrants and children with unemployed parents are at risk for excessive ST and all vulnerable groups have lower odds of being sports club members.
|
|
| 7. |
- Lauria, F., et al.
(författare)
-
A common variant and the transcript levels of MC4R gene are associated with adiposity in children: The IDEFICS study
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 101:11, s. 4229-4236
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: The melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of body fat and food and energy intake. Objectives: The objectives of the study were as follows: 1) to evaluate the association of variants rs17782313 and rs17700633 near the coding region of MC4R and 2) to evaluate the association of the transcript levels of MC4R with adiposity indices and percentage of energy from fat, carbohydrates, and protein in children. Design: The Identification and Prevention of Dietary-and Lifestyle-Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants (IDEFICS) cohort was used, with examinations at baseline (T0) and after 2 years (T1). Setting and Participants: A total of 16 228 schoolchildren (2-9 y) from eight European countries participated in the study. A random sample of 4381 children genotyped for MC4R variants and a subsample of 410 children with MC4R expression data in peripheral blood cells (PBCs) were included in the analyses. Main Outcome Measures: Anthropometric measures and energy intake (total and from fat, carbohydrates, and protein) served as outcomes for adiposity status and for dietary behavior, respectively. Results: At T0, the C allele of rs17782313 (minor frequency allele 23%) was significantly associated with higher values of adiposity indices (all P<.001).Noassociation was found between rs17700633 (minor frequency allele 28%) and the variables under study. At T1, the C allele of rs17782313 was associated with a significantly higher increase in the adiposity indices over time (all P < .05). The MC4R expression levels in PBCs were inversely associated with body fat and energy intake from carbohydrates and directly with energy from fat (all P ≤ .05) but were not influenced by variants rs17782313 and rs17700633. Conclusions: The common variant rs17782313 near MC4R was cross-sectionally and longitudinally associated with body mass index and measures of body fatness in children aged 2-9 years. We showed, for the first time in humans, that MC4R expression levels in PBCs are related to body fat distribution and percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates and fat. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 101: 4229-4236, 2016). Copyright © 2016 by the Endocrine Society.
|
|
