Browsing by Author "McEvoy, Cindy T."
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Item Chinstraps are Needed for Neonatal Nasal CPAP: Reflections from a Non-Human Primate Model(Wiley, 2020-05) MacDonald, Kelvin D.; Davies, Michael; Lam, Ryan; Lund, Kelli; Park, Byung; Spindel, Eliot R.; Tepper, Robert S.; McEvoy, Cindy T.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineItem Correction: Improvements in lung function following vitamin C supplementation to pregnant smokers are associated with buccal DNA methylation at 5 years of age(Springer Nature, 2024-04-25) Shorey‑Kendrick, Lyndsey E.; McEvoy, Cindy T.; Milner, Kristin; Harris, Julia; Brownsberger, Julie; Tepper, Robert S.; Park, Byung; Gao, Lina; Vu, Annette; Morris, Cynthia D.; Spindel, Eliot R.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineCorrection to: Clinical Epigenetics (2024) 16:35 10.1186/s13148-024-01644-8 Following publication of the original article [1], the authors noticed that the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) accession series has been incorrectly listed as GSE253158 within the “Availability of data and materials section”. The correct GEO series for this work is GSE252169.Item Development and Validation of a Novel Placental DNA Methylation Biomarker of Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy in the ECHO Program(EHP, 2024) Shorey-Kendrick, Lyndsey E.; Davis, Brett; Gao, Lina; Park, Byung; Vu, Annette; Morris, Cynthia D.; Breton, Carrie V.; Fry, Rebecca; Garcia, Erika; Schmidt, Rebecca J.; O'Shea, T. Michael; Tepper, Robert S.; McEvoy, Cindy T.; Spindel, Eliot R.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineBackground: Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes in infants and children with potential lifelong consequences. Negative effects of MSDP on placental DNA methylation (DNAm), placental structure, and function are well established. Objective: Our aim was to develop biomarkers of MSDP using DNAm measured in placentas (N=96), collected as part of the Vitamin C to Decrease the Effects of Smoking in Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted between 2012 and 2016. We also aimed to develop a digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the top ranking cytosine–guanine dinucleotide (CpG) so that large numbers of samples can be screened for exposure at low cost. Methods: We compared the ability of four machine learning methods [logistic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, logistic elastic net regression, random forest, and gradient boosting machine] to classify MSDP based on placental DNAm signatures. We developed separate models using the complete EPIC array dataset and on the subset of probes also found on the 450K array so that models exist for both platforms. For comparison, we developed a model using CpGs previously associated with MSDP in placenta. For each final model, we used model coefficients and normalized beta values to calculate placental smoking index (PSI) scores for each sample. Final models were validated in two external datasets: the Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborn observational study, N=426; and the Rhode Island Children’s Health Study, N=237. Results: Logistic LASSO regression demonstrated the highest performance in cross-validation testing with the lowest number of input CpGs. Accuracy was greatest in external datasets when using models developed for the same platform. PSI scores in smokers only (n=72) were moderately correlated with maternal plasma cotinine levels. One CpG (cg27402634), with the largest coefficient in two models, was measured accurately by digital PCR compared with measurement by EPIC array (R2=0.98). Discussion: To our knowledge, we have developed the first placental DNAm-based biomarkers of MSDP with broad utility to studies of prenatal disease origins.Item Effect of Vitamin C Supplementation for Pregnant Smokers on Offspring Airway Function and Wheeze at Age 5 Years: Follow-up of a Randomized Clinical Trial(American Medical Association, 2023) McEvoy, Cindy T.; Shorey-Kendrick, Lyndsey E.; Milner, Kristin; Harris, Julia; Vuylsteke, Brittany; Cunningham, Michelle; Tiller, Christina; Stewart, Jaclene; Schilling, Diane; Brownsberger, Julie; Titus, Hope; MacDonald, Kelvin D.; Gonzales, David; Vu, Annette; Park, Byung S.; Spindel, Eliot R.; Morris, Cynthia D.; Tepper, Robert S.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineImportance: Vitamin C supplementation (500 mg/d) for pregnant smokers has been reported to increase offspring airway function as measured by forced expiratory flow (FEF) through age 12 months; however, its effects on airway function at age 5 years remain to be assessed. Objective: To assess whether vitamin C supplementation in pregnant smokers is associated with increased and/or improved airway function in their offspring at age 5 years and whether vitamin C decreases the occurrence of wheeze. Design, setting, and participants: This study followed up the Vitamin C to Decrease the Effects of Smoking in Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function (VCSIP) double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted at 3 centers in the US (in Oregon, Washington, and Indiana) between 2012 and 2016. Investigators and participants remain unaware of the treatment assignments. Forced expiratory flow measurements at age 5 years were completed from 2018 to 2021. Interventions: Pregnant smokers were randomized to vitamin C (500 mg/d) or placebo treatment. Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was the prespecified measurement of FEF between 25% and 75% expired volume (FEF25-75) by spirometry at age 5 years. Secondary outcomes included FEF measurements at 50% and 75% of expiration (FEF50 and FEF75), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and occurrence of wheeze. Results: Of the 251 pregnant smokers included in this study, 125 (49.8%) were randomized to vitamin C and 126 (50.2%) were randomized to placebo. Of 213 children from the VCSIP trial who were reconsented into this follow-up study, 192 (90.1%) had successful FEF measurements at age 5 years; 212 (99.5%) were included in the analysis of wheeze. Analysis of covariance demonstrated that offspring of pregnant smokers allocated to vitamin C compared with placebo had 17.2% significantly higher mean (SE) measurements of FEF25-75 at age 5 years (1.45 [0.04] vs 1.24 [0.04] L/s; adjusted mean difference, 0.21 [95% CI, 0.13-0.30]; P < .001). Mean (SE) measurements were also significantly increased by 14.1% for FEF50 (1.59 [0.04] vs 1.39 [0.04] L/s; adjusted mean difference, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.11-0.30]; P < .001), 25.9% for FEF75 (0.79 [0.02] vs 0.63 [0.02] L/s; 0.16 [95% CI, 0.11-0.22]; P < .001), and 4.4% for FEV1 (1.13 [0.02] vs 1.09 [0.02] L; 0.05 [95% CI, 0.01-0.09]; P = .02). In addition, offspring of pregnant smokers randomized to vitamin C had significantly decreased wheeze (28.3% vs 47.2%; estimated odds ratio, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.23-0.74]; P = .003). Conclusions and relevance: In this follow-up study of offspring of pregnant smokers randomized to vitamin C vs placebo, vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy resulted in significantly increased airway function of offspring at age 5 years and significantly decreased the occurrence of wheeze. These findings suggest that vitamin C supplementation for pregnant smokers may decrease the effects of smoking in pregnancy on childhood airway function and respiratory health.Item Extended Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Preterm Infants Increases Lung Growth at 6 Months: A Randomized Controlled Trial(American Thoracic Society, 2025) McEvoy, Cindy T.; MacDonald, Kelvin D.; Go, Mitzi A.; Milner, Kristin; Harris, Julia; Schilling, Diane; Olson, Matthew; Tiller, Christina; Slaven, James E.; Bjerregaard, Jeffrey; Vu, Annette; Martin, Alec; Mamidi, Rachna; Schelonka, Robert L.; Morris, Cynthia D.; Tepper, Robert S.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineRationale: Extended continuous positive airway pressure (eCPAP) in the neonatal ICU (NICU) for stable preterm infants increases lung volumes. Its effect on lung growth after discharge is unknown. Objectives: To assess whether 2 weeks of eCPAP in stable preterm infants is associated with increased alveolar volume (Va) at 6 months corrected age. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Oregon Health & Science University. Outpatient assessors were unaware of treatment assignment. One hundred infants were randomized to eCPAP versus CPAP discontinuation (dCPAP) to room air. Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome was Va by the single breath hold technique at 6 months corrected age. Secondary outcomes included DlCO and forced expiratory flows (FEFs). FRC was measured in the NICU. Infants randomized to eCPAP (n = 54) versus dCPAP (n = 46) had the following measurements shown as adjusted mean (SE): Va (500.2 [24.9] vs. 418.1 [23.4] ml; adjusted mean difference, 82.1 [95% confidence interval (CI), 8.3-155.9]; P = 0.033); DlCO (3.4 [0.2] vs. 2.8 [0.1] ml/min/mm Hg; adjusted mean difference, 0.6 [95% CI, 0.1-1.1]; P = 0.018); measurement of FEF at 50% of the expired volume (500.6 [18.2] vs. 437.9 [17.9] ml/s; adjusted mean difference, 62.7 [95% CI, 4.5-121.0]; P = 0.039); FEF between 25% and 75% of expired volume (452.0 [17.4] vs. 394.4 [17.4] ml/s; adjusted mean difference, 57.5 [95% CI, 1.3-113.8]; P = 0.046). Conclusions: Infants randomized to eCPAP versus dCPAP had significantly increased Va at 6 months corrected age. DlCO and FEFs were also increased. Extending CPAP in stable preterm infants in the NICU may be a nonpharmacologic and safe therapy to promote lung growth.Item Impact of vitamin C supplementation on placental DNA methylation changes related to maternal smoking: association with gene expression and respiratory outcomes(BMC, 2021-09-19) Shorey‑Kendrick, Lyndsey E.; McEvoy, Cindy T.; O’Sullivan, Shannon M.; Milner, Kristin; Vuylsteke, Brittany; Tepper, Robert S.; Haas, David M.; Park, Byung; Gao, Lina; Vu, Annette; Morris, Cynthia D.; Spindel, Eliot R.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineBackground: Maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) affects development of multiple organ systems including the placenta, lung, brain, and vasculature. In particular, children exposed to MSDP show lifelong deficits in pulmonary function and increased risk of asthma and wheeze. Our laboratory has previously shown that vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy prevents some of the adverse effects of MSDP on offspring respiratory outcomes. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation (DNAm), are a likely link between in utero exposures and adverse health outcomes, and MSDP has previously been associated with DNAm changes in blood, placenta, and buccal epithelium. Analysis of placental DNAm may reveal critical targets of MSDP and vitamin C relevant to respiratory health outcomes. Results: DNAm was measured in placentas obtained from 72 smokers enrolled in the VCSIP RCT: NCT03203603 (37 supplemented with vitamin C, 35 with placebo) and 24 never-smokers for reference. Methylation at one CpG, cg20790161, reached Bonferroni significance and was hypomethylated in vitamin C supplemented smokers versus placebo. Analysis of spatially related CpGs identified 93 candidate differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between treatment groups, including loci known to be associated with lung function, oxidative stress, fetal development and growth, and angiogenesis. Overlap of nominally significant differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs) in never-smokers versus placebo with nominally significant DMCs in vitamin C versus placebo identified 9059 candidate "restored CpGs" for association with placental transcript expression and respiratory outcomes. Methylation at 274 restored candidate CpG sites was associated with expression of 259 genes (FDR < 0.05). We further identified candidate CpGs associated with infant lung function (34 CpGs) and composite wheeze (1 CpG) at 12 months of age (FDR < 0.05). Increased methylation in the DIP2C, APOH/PRKCA, and additional candidate gene regions was associated with improved lung function and decreased wheeze in offspring of vitamin C-treated smokers. Conclusions: Vitamin C supplementation to pregnant smokers ameliorates changes associated with maternal smoking in placental DNA methylation and gene expression in pathways potentially linked to improved placental function and offspring respiratory health. Further work is necessary to validate candidate loci and elucidate the causal pathway between placental methylation changes and outcomes of offspring exposed to MSDP.Item Improvements in lung function following vitamin C supplementation to pregnant smokers are associated with buccal DNA methylation at 5 years of age(Springer Nature, 2024-02-27) Shorey‑Kendrick, Lyndsey E.; McEvoy, Cindy T.; Milner, Kristin; Harris, Julia; Brownsberger, Julie; Tepper, Robert S.; Park, Byung; Gao, Lina; Vu, Annette; Morris, Cynthia D.; Spindel, Eliot R.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineBackground: We previously reported in the "Vitamin C to Decrease the Effects of Smoking in Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function" randomized clinical trial (RCT) that vitamin C (500 mg/day) supplementation to pregnant smokers is associated with improved respiratory outcomes that persist through 5 years of age. The objective of this study was to assess whether buccal cell DNA methylation (DNAm), as a surrogate for airway epithelium, is associated with vitamin C supplementation, improved lung function, and decreased occurrence of wheeze. Methods: We conducted epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) using Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays and buccal DNAm from 158 subjects (80 placebo; 78 vitamin C) with pulmonary function testing (PFT) performed at the 5-year visit. EWAS were performed on (1) vitamin C treatment, (2) forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of expired volume (FEF25-75), and (3) offspring wheeze. Models were adjusted for sex, race, study site, gestational age at randomization (≤ OR > 18 weeks), proportion of epithelial cells, and latent covariates in addition to child length at PFT in EWAS for FEF25-75. We considered FDR p < 0.05 as genome-wide significant and nominal p < 0.001 as candidates for downstream analyses. Buccal DNAm measured in a subset of subjects at birth and near 1 year of age was used to determine whether DNAm signatures originated in utero, or emerged with age. Results: Vitamin C treatment was associated with 457 FDR significant (q < 0.05) differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs; 236 hypermethylated; 221 hypomethylated) and 53 differentially methylated regions (DMRs; 26 hyper; 27 hypo) at 5 years of age. FEF25-75 was associated with one FDR significant DMC (cg05814800), 1,468 candidate DMCs (p < 0.001), and 44 DMRs. Current wheeze was associated with 0 FDR-DMCs, 782 candidate DMCs, and 19 DMRs (p < 0.001). In 365/457 vitamin C FDR significant DMCs at 5 years of age, there was no significant interaction between time and treatment. Conclusions: Vitamin C supplementation to pregnant smokers is associated with buccal DNA methylation in offspring at 5 years of age, and most methylation signatures appear to be persistent from the prenatal period. Buccal methylation at 5 years was also associated with current lung function and occurrence of wheeze, and these functionally associated loci are enriched for vitamin C associated loci.Item Oral Vitamin C (500 mg/d) to Pregnant Smokers Improves Infant Airway Function at 3 Months (VCSIP). A Randomized Trial(American Thoracic Society, 2019-05-01) McEvoy, Cindy T.; Shorey-Kendrick, Lyndsey E.; Milner, Kristin; Schilling, Diane; Tiller, Christina; Vuylsteke, Brittany; Scherman, Ashley; Jackson, Keith; Haas, David M.; Harris, Julia; Schuff, Robert; Park, Byung S.; Vu, Annette; Kraemer, Dale F.; Mitchell, Julie; Metz, Jill; Gonzales, David; Bunten, Carol; Spindel, Eliot R.; Tepp, Robert S.; Morris, Cynthia D.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineRationale: We reported a randomized trial demonstrating daily supplemental vitamin C to pregnant smokers significantly improved newborn pulmonary function tests. The current study tests these results in a new cohort using infant pulmonary function tests. Objectives: To determine if infants of pregnant smokers randomized to daily supplemental vitamin C would have improved forced expiratory flows (FEFs) at 3 months of age compared with those randomized to placebo, and to investigate the association of the α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at three centers. Two hundred fifty-one pregnant smokers were randomized at 13-23 weeks of gestation: 125 randomized to vitamin C (500 mg/d) and 126 to placebo. Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome was FEF75 at 3 months of age performed with the raised volume rapid thoracic compression technique (Jaeger/Viasys). FEF50 and FEF25-75 obtained from the same expiratory curves were prespecified secondary outcomes. The infants of pregnant smokers randomized to vitamin C (n = 113) had the following FEFs at 3 months of age compared with those randomized to placebo (n = 109) as measured by FEF75 (200.7 vs. 188.7 ml/s; adjusted 95% confidence interval [CI] for difference, -3.33 to 35.64; P = 0.10), FEF50 (436.7 vs. 408.5 ml/s; adjusted 95% CI for difference, 6.10-61.30; P = 0.02), and FEF25-75 (387.4 vs. 365.8 ml/s; adjusted 95% CI for difference, 0.92-55.34; P = 0.04). Infant FEFs seemed to be negatively associated with the maternal risk alleles for the α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (rs16969968). Conclusions: Although the primary outcome of FEF75 was not improved after vitamin C supplementation to pregnant smokers, the predetermined secondary outcomes FEF50 and FEF25-75 were significantly improved. These results extend our previous findings and demonstrate improved airway function (FEF50 and FEF25-75) at 3 months of age in infants after vitamin C supplementation to pregnant smokers.Item Spirometry Versus Forced Oscillation to Assess Lung Function Outcome at 5 Years of Age(Wiley, 2025) Tepper, Robert S.; Milner, Kristin; Harris, Julia; Lee, Brianna; Cunningham, Michelle; Tiller, Christina; Shorey‐Kendrick, Lyndsey E.; Schilling, Diane; Brownsberger, Julie; MacDonald, Kelvin; Vu, Annette; Park, Byung S.; Spindel, Eliot R.; Morris, Cynthia D.; McEvoy, Cindy T.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineBackground: Spirometry is the gold standard for assessing airway function for clinical studies; however, obtaining high-quality data in young children remains challenging. Since the forced oscillation technique (FOT) requires less subject cooperations, there has been increasing interest in FOT, particularly in young children. We evaluated whether spirometry and FOT in young children provides comparable ability to detect a treatment effect. Methods: We recently reported in a randomized controlled trial that vitamin C compared to placebo treatment of mothers who smoked during pregnancy (MSDP) results in the offspring having significantly higher forced expiratory flows (FEFs) at 5-years of age, as well as significantly less wheeze at 4-6 years of age. In these same offspring, we also measured respiratory impedance using FOT at 8-Hz impedance at 3, 4, and 5 years of age. Results: Although spirometry demonstrated significantly increased FEFs in vitamin C compared to placebo-treatment group at 5 years of age (p < 0.001), we were not able to detect a similar treatment effect using FOT impedance. Conclusions: It may be challenging to obtain technically successful spirometry in preschool children; however, FEFs may provide a better outcome than single-frequency FOT impedance to assess improvements in airway function in these young subjects.Item Vitamin C Supplementation Among Pregnant Smokers and Airway Function Trajectory in Offspring: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial(American Medical Association, 2024) McEvoy, Cindy T.; Shorey-Kendrick, Lyndsey E.; MacDonald, Kelvin D.; Park, Byung S.; Spindel, Eliot R.; Morris, Cynthia D.; Tepper, Robert S.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineThis secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial analyzes the association of vitamin C supplementation in women who smoked during pregnancy with airway function trajectory in their offspring at 4 to 6 years of age.