Plasma metabolomic profile of adiposity and body composition in childhood: The Genetics of Glucose regulation in Gestation and Growth cohort.

OBJECTIVE: This study identified metabolite modules associated with adiposity and body fat distribution in childhood using gold-standard measurements. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data from 329 children at mid-childhood (age 5.3 ± 0.3 years; BMI 15.7 ± 1.5 kg/m2) from the Genetics of Glucose regulation in Gestation and Growth (Gen3G), a prospective pre-birth cohort. We quantified 1038 plasma metabolites and measured body composition using the gold-standard dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), in addition to skinfold, waist circumference, and BMI. We applied weighted-correlation network analysis to identify a network of highly correlated metabolite modules. Spearman's partial correlations were applied to determine the associations of adiposity with metabolite modules and individual metabolites with false discovery rate (FDR) correction. RESULTS: We identified a 'green' module of 120 metabolites, primarily comprised of lipids (mostly sphingomyelins and phosphatidylcholine), that showed positive correlations (all FDR p < 0.05) with DXA estimates of total and truncal fat (ρadjusted = 0.11-0.19), skinfold measures (ρadjusted = 0.09-0.26), and BMI and waist circumference (ρadjusted = 0.15 and 0.18, respectively). These correlations were similar when stratified by sex. Within this module, sphingomyelin (d18:2/14:0, d18:1/14:1)*, a sphingomyelin sub-specie that is an important component of cell membranes, showed the strongest associations. CONCLUSIONS: A module of metabolites was associated with adiposity measures in childhood.

A First Record on Microplastic Ingestion by Tropical Estuarine Copepods of Bangladesh.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution is a profound problem around the world yet it's study on the effect on zooplankton including copepods are very limited. The study was conducted between January 2021 and January 2022 in the Lower Meghna Estuary to investigate MPs ingestion in two different family of copepod: Calanoid and Cyclopoid. A method of acid digestion along with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to identify MPs ingested by copepods from the conducted area. However, three types of MPs namely fiber, fragment and foam were extracted from this copepod biomass. Fibers represent highest (> 50%) of the ingested MPs from both group of copepod that exceed fragments and foams in all sampling stations. The overall ingestion rate of Calanoid was found higher (0.084 ± 0.002 particles/individual) compared to the Cyclopoid group (0.077 ± 0.001 particles/individual). The results of the study have effectively illustrated that copepod, obtained from multiple sampling sites within the Lower Meghna Estuary, display a propensity to ingest MPs and subsequently endangering the food security of seafood industry.

Oral Administration of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Extract Protects Gingival Tissues against Proinflammatory TNF-α and Oxidative Stress in Periodontitis Model Rats.

Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom that has been used since ancient times. We studied whether chronic oral administration of G. lucidum extract withstands increases in levels of proinflammatory TNF-α and lipid peroxide (LPO), an indicator of oxidative stress, in the gingival tissues of periodontitis model rats. G. lucidum extract was initially examined for inhibition of in vitro oxidative stress, produced by Fenton's reagents in whole homogenates of fresh gum tissues from rats. Prior to in vivo and in vitro experiments with rats, G. lucidum extract was quantitatively tested for its total polyphenol and/or flavonoid contents and ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-free radicals. Chronic oral administration of G. lucidum extract (300 mg/kg BW) significantly decreased TNF-α and LPO levels in the gingival tissues of periodontitis model rats. G. lucidum extract also inhibited (P < 0.05) in vitro oxidative stress, as indicated by reduced levels of LPO in G. lucidum extract-preincubated gum tissue homogenates of fresh rats. The in vitro results were, thus, consistent with the in vivo inhibition of lipid peroxidation, DPPH free radical-scavenging effects, and the presence of total polyphenols/flavonoids in G. lucidum extract. Our results provide the evidence, at least partially, for the beneficial effects of G. lucidum on periodontitis, an inflammatory condition of gums which is associated with oxidative stress and preceded by infectious gum diseases.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the 100 Most Cited Articles on Otoplasty.

A bibliometric analysis was conducted in April 2024, to review the current trends in otoplasty. It involved literature search on Scopus database for original articles using the query term "otoplasty" and "pinnaplasty", without restricting publication dates or selecting journals in the database. The top 100 articles with the highest citations were reviewed. Bibliometric analysis was performed using Scimago journal impact factor. The screening was done using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses (PRISMA) guidelines to extract the top 100 most cited articles in otoplasty. We excluded articles not focused on otoplasty, those involving other surgical procedures, and non-English articles. Scopus and manual screening were used together to perform citation analysis of selected articles. Mean values were calculated for the number of citations and citations per year. Of the 951 studies identified, 100 (10.5%) were analyzed in detail. The studies were published between 1941-2024, with a mean of 36 ± 23.7 citations per paper. The journal "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery" reported the highest number (23[23%]) of articles, followed by "Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery" with 13% (n=13) articles. The highest number of articles originated from the United States (38%, n=38), followed by United Kingdom (15%, n=15). Our bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the landscape of otoplasty research, highlighting key publications, authors, and journals. This study contributes to the understanding of the evolution and impact of otoplasty literature, laying the groundwork for further research and innovation in this field.

Paddy insect identification using deep features with lion optimization algorithm.

Pests are a significant challenge in paddy cultivation, resulting in a global loss of approximately 20 % of rice yield. Early detection of paddy insects can help to save these potential losses. Several ways have been suggested for identifying and categorizing insects in paddy fields, employing a range of advanced, noninvasive, and portable technologies. However, none of these systems have successfully incorporated feature optimization techniques with Deep Learning and Machine Learning. Hence, the current research provided a framework utilizing these techniques to detect and categorize images of paddy insects promptly. Initially, the suggested research will gather the image dataset and categorize it into two groups: one without paddy insects and the other with paddy insects. Furthermore, various pre-processing techniques, such as augmentation and image filtering, will be applied to enhance the quality of the dataset and eliminate any unwanted noise. To determine and analyze the deep characteristics of an image, the suggested architecture will incorporate 5 pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network models. Following that, feature selection techniques, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and an optimization algorithm called Lion Optimization, were utilized in order to further reduce the redundant number of features that were collected for the study. Subsequently, the process of identifying the paddy insects will be carried out by employing 7 ML algorithms. Finally, a set of experimental data analysis has been conducted to achieve the objectives, and the proposed approach demonstrates that the extracted feature vectors of ResNet50 with Logistic Regression and PCA have achieved the highest accuracy, precisely 99.28 %. However, the present idea will significantly impact how paddy insects are diagnosed in the field.

Healthy dietary patterns are associated with exposure to environmental chemicals in a pregnancy cohort.

Healthy dietary patterns, such as the alternate Mediterranean diet and alternate Healthy Eating Index, benefit cardiometabolic health. However, several food components of these dietary patterns are primary sources of environmental chemicals. Here, using data from a racially and ethnically diverse US cohort, we show that healthy dietary pattern scores were positively associated with plasma chemical exposure in pregnancy, particularly for the alternate Mediterranean diet and alternate Healthy Eating Index with polychlorinated biphenyls and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. The associations appeared stronger among Asian and Pacific Islanders. These findings suggest that optimizing the benefits of a healthy diet requires concerted regulatory efforts aimed at lowering environmental chemical exposure.

Renewable energy and ecological footprint nexus: Evidence from dynamic panel threshold technique.

The escalating phenomenon of environmental degradation is an urgent global concern, imperiling ecosystems and hindering the prospects for sustainable development on a planetary scale. Therefore, this study aims to explore the intricate interplay between renewable energy (RE) and ecological footprint (EF), considering the conditional impact of fiscal capacity (FIC), human development (HDI), institutional quality (IQI), and population density (PDN). Drawing on panel data encompassing 74 developing countries from 2000 to 2022, the study employs a dynamic panel threshold regression method, both with and without an instrumental variable approach. The findings unveil a non-linear nexus between RE and EF, revealing significant threshold values for FIC (1.870), HDI (0.736), and IQI (0.311), above which RE showcases its efficacy in mitigating EF. Conversely, when these predictors dip below the thresholds of FIC (1.391), HDI (0.655), and IQI (0.2545), the impact of RE on FE becomes insignificant. Moreover, the study introduces PDN as an additional threshold variable in the analysis, pinpointing that the effectiveness of RE in reducing EF hinges on PDN being below a threshold value of 263.144; however, above a threshold value of 276.98, the influence of PDN on the RE-FE nexus diminishes. The findings underscore the complexity of policy landscapes in developing countries. They suggest that while promoting renewable energy is pivotal for environmental sustainability, it is equally imperative to bolster existing environmentally friendly fiscal capacity, advance human capital, enhance institutional quality, and craft effective population distribution policies.

Geographical altitude and stunting among children aged under 5 years in India.

Introduction: Previous studies have found positive associations between higher geographical altitude and increased risk of stunting in children under 5 years old, but little evidence exists on this relationship in the Indian context specifically. Chronic exposure to high altitudes can impair food security, healthcare access, oxygen delivery and nutrient absorption, potentially increasing malnutrition. Objective: To investigate the association between geographical altitude and stunting among children aged under 5 years in India. Methods: Using data from the 2015-2016 National Family Health Survey, logistic regression was conducted to estimate the relationship between altitude and stunting, adjusting for child, maternal and household characteristics. The analysis included over 167 555 children under 5 years old. Results: Children at higher altitudes had a significantly greater risk of stunting. Those at >2000+ metres had 40% higher adjusted odds of stunting than children below 1000 metres. The altitude-stunting association was stronger among rural children. Conclusions: This study provides robust evidence that higher geographical altitude is an important risk factor for stunting among young children in India, especially those in rural areas. Targeted interventions to improve food security, healthcare access and nutrition in high-altitude regions could help to mitigate the higher burden of stunting in these areas.

Comprehensive analysis of phytochemical profiling, cytotoxic and antioxidant potentials, and identification of bioactive constituents in methanoic extracts of Sonneratia apetala fruit.

In the delta region of Bangladesh, Sonneratia apetala, also known as Keora and mangrove apple, is widely recognized for its dual role as a source of both food and medicine. Seasonal S. apetala fruits were gathered from Hatiya, Noakhali, in October 2021. The samples were segregated into pericarps and seeds, then fractionated into methanol segments. The anti-proliferative activities of these samples against lung A549 cells were evaluated using the Trypan blue exclusion method. Additionally, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was employed to quantify phenolic compounds, while standard protocols facilitated the identification of specific phytochemical constituents. Chemical profiling via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and the isolation and detection of bioactive compounds through column chromatography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis were undertaken. The methanol fractions of the seeds and pericarp were found to contain carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids, with the absence of saponins and anthraquinones. Notably, the anti-proliferative effect demonstrated statistical significance at a concentration of 300 µg/mL for both extracts. Furthermore, HPLC analysis identified and quantified six polyphenols: catechin hydrate, (-)-epicatechin, rutin hydrate, trans-ferulic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, myricetin, and kaempferol, with the following concentrations: 46.65 and 12.72; 349.29 and 140.39; 5.26 and 33.06; 10.35 and 29.28; ND and 11.93; and 10.03 and 7.90 mg/100 g in the methanol fraction of the seed and pericarp, respectively. GC-MS analysis of S. apetala fruit revealed five notable compounds with significant peak areas (%): 2-methyltetracosane, tetratetracontane, heptacosane, 1-chloro-2-hexyl-1-octanol, and phenol, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl), exhibiting peak areas of 43.96, 35.8, and 15.95, respectively. Meanwhile, the notable peak in S. apetala seeds was 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester, with a peak area (%) of 100. These compounds are known for their anticancer and antioxidant properties. Therefore, S. apetala, particularly its seeds and fruits, shows promising potential for development into dietary supplements and functional foods.

Examining DNA Structures with In-droplet Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry.

Capillary vibrating sharp-edge spray ionization (cVSSI) combined with hydrogen/deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) has been utilized to characterize different solution-phase DNA conformers including DNA G-quadruplex topologies as well as triplex DNA and duplex DNA. In general, G-quadruplex DNA shows a wide range of protection of hydrogens extending from ~12% to ~21% deuterium incorporation. Additionally, the DNA sequences selected to represent parallel, antiparallel, and hybrid G-quadruplex topologies exhibit slight differences in deuterium uptake levels which appear to loosely relate to overall conformer stability. Notably, the exchange level for one of the hybrid sequence sub topologies of G-quadruplex DNA (24 TTG) is significantly different (compared with the others studied here) despite the DNA sequences being highly comparable. For the quadruplex-forming sequences, correlation analysis suggests protection of base hydrogens involved in tetrad hydrogen bonding. For duplex DNA ~19% deuterium incorporation is observed while only ~16% is observed for triplex DNA. This increased protection of hydrogens may be due to the added backbone scaffolding and Hoogsteen base pairing of the latter species. These experiments lay the groundwork for future studies aimed at determining the structural source of this protection as well as the applicability of the approach for ascertaining different oligonucleotide folds, co-existing conformations, and/or overall conformer flexibility.

Isolated Ni Atoms Enable Near-Unity CH4 Selectivity for Photothermal CO2 Hydrogenation.

Photothermal hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO2) into value-added products is an ideal solution for addressing the energy crisis and mitigating CO2 emissions. However, achieving high product selectivity remains challenging due to the simultaneous occurrence of numerous competing intermediate reactions during CO2 hydrogenation. We present a novel approach featuring isolated single-atom nickel (Ni) anchored onto indium oxide (In2O3) nanocrystals, serving as an effective photothermal catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation into methane (CH4) with a remarkable near-unity (∼99%) selectivity. Experiments and theoretical simulations have confirmed that isolated Ni sites on the In2O3 surface can effectively stabilize the intermediate products of the CO2 hydrogenation reaction and reduce the transition state energy barrier, thereby changing the reaction path to achieve ultrahigh selective methanation. This study provides comprehensive insights into the design of single-atom catalysts for the highly selective photothermal catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to methane.

Results of a nationally representative seroprevalence survey of chikungunya virus in Bangladesh.

There is an increasing global burden from chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Bangladesh reported a major epidemic in 2017, however, it was unclear if there had been prior widespread transmission. We conducted a nationally representative seroprevalence survey in 70 randomly selected communities immediately prior to the epidemic. We found 69/2,938 (2.4%) of sampled individuals were seropositive to CHIKV. Being seropositive to dengue virus (aOR 3.13 [95% CIs: 1.86-5.27]), male sex (aOR 0.59 [95% CIs: 0.36-0.99]), and community presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (aOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.05-3.07) were significantly associated with CHIKV seropositivity. Using a spatial prediction model, we estimated that across the country, 4.99 (95% CI: 4.89 - 5.08) million people had been previously infected. These findings highlight high population susceptibility prior to the major outbreak and that previous outbreaks must have been spatially isolated.

Comparative studies on the intestinal health of wild and cultured ricefield eel (Monopterus albus).

Fish intestinal health under intensive aquaculture mode plays an important role in growth, development, and immune function. The present study was aimed to systematically investigate the differences of intestinal health between wild and cultured Monopterus albus by biochemical parameters, histomorphology, and molecular biology. A total of 15 healthy M. albus per group, with an average body weight of 45 g, were sampled to analyze intestinal health parameters. Compared with wild fish, the cultured M. albus in the foregut had lower trypsin, lipase, SOD, CAT, T-AOC, and GSH-Px activities (P < 0.05) and higher amylase activity and MDA content (P < 0.05). The villus circumference and goblet cells in the cultured group were significantly lower than those in the wild group (P < 0.05). In addition, the cultured fish showed lower relative expression levels of occludin, zo-1, zo-2, claudin-12, claudin-15, mucin5, mucin15, lysozyme, complement 3, il-10, tgf-ß1, tgf-ß2, and tgf-ß3 (P < 0.05) and higher il-1ß, il-6, il-8, tnf-a, and ifnγ mRNA expressions than those of wild fish (P < 0.05). In terms of gut microbiota, the cultured group at the phylum level displayed higher percentages of Chlamydiae and Spirochaetes and lower percentages of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia compared to the wild group (P < 0.05). At the genus level, higher abundances of Pseudomonadaceae_Pseudomonas and Spironema and lower abundances of Lactococcus and Cetobacterium were observed in the cultured group than in the wild group (P < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the intestinal health status between wild and cultured M. albus in terms of biochemistry, histology, and molecular biology levels. Overall, the present study showed significant differences in intestinal health between wild and cultured M. albus and the main manifestations that wild M. albus had higher intestinal digestion, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal barrier functions than cultured M. albus. These results would provide theoretical basis for the subsequent upgrading of healthy aquaculture technology and nutrient regulation of intestinal health of cultured M. albus.

Biochemical, Histological, and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Underlying Differences in Flesh Quality between Wild and Farmed Ricefield Eel (Monopterus albus).

The present study aimed to systematically investigate the underlying differences in flesh quality between wild and farmed Monopterus albus. Fifteen healthy M. albus per group with an average body weight of 45 g were sampled to analyze muscle parameters by biochemical indicators, histomorphology, and molecular biology. Compared with the wild fish, the farmed M. albus in flesh had lower crude protein, collagen, lysine, histidine, total amino acids, SFA, n-3 PUFA contents, and n-3/n-6 ratio (p < 0.05), and higher moisture, crude lipid, crude ash, MUFA, n-6PUFA, and total PUFA contents (p < 0.05). The thawing loss, drip loss, steaming loss, and boiling loss in the farmed group were significantly higher, and hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience were significantly lower than those in the wild group (p < 0.05). In addition, higher muscle fiber density and lower muscle fiber diameter were observed in wild M. albus (p < 0.05). In muscle transcriptome profiling, differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways are primarily associated with muscle development, protein synthesis, catabolism, lipid metabolism, and immunity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation that compares the flesh quality between wild and farmed M. albus in terms of biochemistry, histology, and molecular biology levels. Overall, wild M. albus had a higher nutritional value and texture quality than farmed M. albus.

Draft genome sequences of clinical mastitis-associated Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium carrying multiple antimicrobial resistance genes isolated from dairy cows.

OBJECTIVES: The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant and mastitis-associated Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium is of great concern due to the huge economic losses associated with enterococcal infections. Here we report the draft genome sequences of E. faecalis and E. faecium strains that were isolated from raw milk samples obtained from mastitis-infected cows in Bangladesh. METHODS: The two strains were isolated, identified, and genomic DNA was sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq 550 platform. The assembled contigs were analysed for virulence, antimicrobial resistance genes, and multilocus sequence type. The genomes were compared to previously reported E. faecalis and E. faecium genomes to generate core genome phylogenetic trees. RESULTS: E. faecalis strain BR-MHR218Efa and E. faecium strain BR-MHR268Efe belonged to multilocus sequence types ST-190 and ST-22, respectively, both of which appear to represent relatively rare sequence types. BR-MHR268Efe harboured only one antibiotic resistance gene encoding resistance towards macrolides (lsa(A)), while BR-MHR218Efa harboured ten different antibiotic resistance genes encoding resistance to aminoglycosides (ant[6]-Ia, aph(3')-III), sulphonamides (aac(6')-II), lincosamides (lnu(B)), macrolides (erm(B)), MLSB antibiotics (msr(C)), tetracyclines (tet(M), tet(L)), trimethoprim (dfrG), and pleuromutilin-lincosamide-streptogramin A (lsa(E)). Virulence gene composition was different between the two isolates. BR-MHR218Efa harboured only two virulence genes involved in adherence (acm and scm). BR-MHR268Efe harboured eight complete virulence operons including three operons involved in adherence (Ace, Ebp pili, and EfaA), two operons involved in biofilm formation (BopD and Fsr), and three exoenzymes (gelatinase, hyaluronidase, SprE). CONCLUSIONS: The genome sequences of the strains BR-MHR268Efe and BR-MHR218Efa will serve as a reference point for molecular epidemiological studies of mastitis-associated E. faecalis and E. faecium. Additionally, the findings will help understand the complex antimicrobial-resistance in livestock-assoiated Enterococci.

Phase separation, aggregation, and complexation of triton-X100 and bovine serum albumin mixture: A combined cloud point and UV-visible spectroscopic approaches.

Phase separation and aggregation behaviour of triton X-100 (TX-100) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) mixture were investigated using cloud point and UV-visible spectroscopic techniques. The effects of various hydrotropes (HYTs) - namely, sodium salicylate (SS), sodium benzoate (SB), glycerol (Glyc), and 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA) - on the cloud point (CP) of TX-100 + BSA were determined. The obtained CP values for the mixed system in the presence of HYTs followed the order: The measured critical micellization concentration (CMC) values of the TX-100 + BSA mixture were found to be significantly altered with varying amounts of BSA. The calculated free energy of clouding and micellization indicated the non-spontaneous nature of the phase transition and the spontaneous association of the TX-100 + BSA mixture. The non-spontaneity of phase separation decreased with increasing concentrations of HYTs. The enumerated values of ∆Hco and ∆Sco were consistently recorded as negative and positive magnitudes, respectively, in all aqueous HYTs media. The clouding process occurred due to a combination of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The binding constant of the mixed system was determined employing the UV-vis spectroscopic method using the Benesi-Hildebrand equation.

O-glycosylation of intrinsically disordered regions regulates homeostasis of membrane proteins in streptococci.

Proteins harboring intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) lacking stable secondary or tertiary structures are abundant across the three domains of life. These regions have not been systematically studied in prokaryotes. Our genome-wide analysis identifies extracytoplasmic serine/threonine-rich IDRs in several biologically important membrane proteins in streptococci. We demonstrate that these IDRs are O-glycosylated with glucose by glycosyltransferases GtrB and PgtC2 in Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and with N-acetylgalactosamine by a Pgf-dependent mechanism in Streptococcus mutans. Absence of glycosylation leads to a defect in biofilm formation under ethanol-stressed conditions in S. mutans. We link this phenotype to the C-terminal IDR of a post-translocation secretion chaperone PrsA. O-glycosylation of the IDR protects this region from proteolytic degradation. The IDR length attenuates the efficiency of glycosylation and, consequently, the expression level of PrsA. Taken together, our data reveal that O-glycosylation of IDRs functions as a dynamic switch of protein homeostasis in streptococci.

Epigenome-wide association study of lung cancer among never smokers in two prospective cohorts in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of lung cancer among individuals who never smoked remains elusive, despite 15% of lung cancer cases in men and 53% in women worldwide being unrelated to smoking. Epigenetic alterations, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm) changes, have emerged as potential drivers. Yet, few prospective epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS), primarily focusing on peripheral blood DNAm with limited representation of never smokers, have been conducted. METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study of 80 never-smoking incident lung cancer cases and 83 never-smoking controls within the Shanghai Women's Health Study and Shanghai Men's Health Study. DNAm was measured in prediagnostic oral rinse samples using Illumina MethylationEPIC array. Initially, we conducted an EWAS to identify differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with lung cancer in the discovery sample of 101 subjects. The top 50 DMPs were further evaluated in a replication sample of 62 subjects, and results were pooled using fixed-effect meta-analysis. RESULTS: Our study identified three DMPs significantly associated with lung cancer at the epigenome-wide significance level of p<8.22×10-8. These DMPs were identified as cg09198866 (MYH9; TXN2), cg01411366 (SLC9A10) and cg12787323. Furthermore, examination of the top 1000 DMPs indicated significant enrichment in epithelial regulatory regions and their involvement in small GTPase-mediated signal transduction pathways. Additionally, GrimAge acceleration was identified as a risk factor for lung cancer (OR=1.19 per year; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.34). CONCLUSIONS: While replication in a larger sample size is necessary, our findings suggest that DNAm patterns in prediagnostic oral rinse samples could provide novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of lung cancer in never smokers.