A Role for Epigenetics in Broadening the Scope of Pediatric Care in the Prevention of Adolescent Smoking

Steven R.H Beach; Meg Gerrard; Frederick X Gibbons; Gene H Brody; Robert A Philibert

doi:10.2174/2214083201999140320153918

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A Role for Epigenetics in Broadening the Scope of Pediatric Care in the Prevention of Adolescent Smoking

Journal article

Peer reviewed

A Role for Epigenetics in Broadening the Scope of Pediatric Care in the Prevention of Adolescent Smoking

Steven R.H Beach, Meg Gerrard, Frederick X Gibbons, Gene H Brody and Robert A Philibert

Epigenetic diagnosis & therapy, Vol.1(2), pp.91-97

2015

DOI: 10.2174/2214083201999140320153918

PMCID: PMC4972497

PMID: 27500081

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Abstract

Adolescence presents a critical opportunity to support the development of healthy patterns of behavior and prevent future health problems. Unfortunately, there is not yet a well-developed prevention model that allows pediatricians to initiate and monitor prevention efforts for the substantial minority of individuals who engage in risky behavior during adolescence. We suggest that recently developed epigenetic technologies may provide a bridge to a new prevention paradigm in which pediatricians screen for indicated smoking prevention services. Specifically, since currently available tobacco use screening measures are insensitive to low levels of use, newly developed methylation based approaches may enhance the sensitivity of the initial screening for nascent smoking behavior as well monitoring of outcomes. We conclude that the incorporation of Next Gen screening technologies into standard pediatric evaluations may allow for more effective referral to prevention programming for tobacco use. In addition to the potential direct impact on long-term enhancement of health outcomes secondary to smoking prevention, well-established links between smoking and other risk behaviors suggest that expanded referral for nascent smoking may also create opportunities to address other risky adolescent behaviors, and so decrease several interrelated drivers of long-term health care costs.

DNA methylation

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor

cotinine

pediatrics

smoking prevention

Details

Title: Subtitle: A Role for Epigenetics in Broadening the Scope of Pediatric Care in the Prevention of Adolescent Smoking
Creators: Steven R.H Beach - The Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Meg Gerrard - University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, Storrs, CT
Frederick X Gibbons - University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, Storrs, CT
Gene H Brody - The Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Robert A Philibert - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Epigenetic diagnosis & therapy, Vol.1(2), pp.91-97
DOI: 10.2174/2214083201999140320153918
PMID: 27500081
PMCID: PMC4972497
NLM abbreviation: Epigenet Diagn Ther
ISSN: 2214-0832
eISSN: 2214-0840
Language: English
Date published: 2015
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984071697102771

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