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BACKGROUND: Gestational age is often used as a proxy for developmental maturity by clinicians and researchers alike. DNA methylation has previously been shown to be associated with age and has been used to accurately estimate chronological age in children and adults. In the current study, we examine whether DNA methylation in cord blood can be used to estimate gestational age at birth. RESULTS: We find that gestational age can be accurately estimated from DNA methylation of neonatal cord blood and blood spot samples. We calculate a DNA methylation gestational age using 148 CpG sites selected through elastic net regression in six training datasets. We evaluate predictive accuracy in nine testing datasets and find that the accuracy of the DNA methylation gestational age is consistent with that of gestational age estimates based on established methods, such as ultrasound. We also find that an increased DNA methylation gestational age relative to clinical gestational age is associated with birthweight independent of gestational age, sex, and ancestry. CONCLUSIONS: DNA methylation can be used to accurately estimate gestational age at or near birth and may provide additional information relevant to developmental stage. Further studies of this predictor are warranted to determine its utility in clinical settings and for research purposes. When clinical estimates are available this measure may increase accuracy in the testing of hypotheses related to developmental age and other early life circumstances.

Past research has highlighted the negative impact of early adverse experiences on childhood social functioning, including friendship selection, and later mental health. The current study explored the long-term effects of early adversity on young adults' close friends' psychological symptoms and the impact of these close friendships on later depressive symptoms. A prospective longitudinal design was used to examine 816 youth from a large community-based sample, who were followed from birth through age 25. Participants' mothers provided contemporaneous information about adversity exposure up to age 5, and participants completed questionnaires about their own depressive symptoms at age 20 and in their early 20s. Youth also nominated a best friend to complete questionnaires about his or her own psychopathology at age 20. Individuals who experienced more early adversity by age 5 had best friends with higher rates of psychopathology at age 20. Moreover, best friends' psychopathology predicted target youth depressive symptoms 2 to 5 years later. Results indicate that early adversity continues to affect social functioning throughout young adulthood and that best friendships marked by elevated psychopathology in turn negatively affect mental health. Findings have implications for clinical interventions designed to prevent the development of depressive symptoms in youth who have been exposed to early adversity.

Past research has highlighted the negative impact of early adverse experiences on childhood social functioning, including friendship selection, and later mental health. The current study explored the long-term effects of early adversity on young adults' close friends' psychological symptoms and the impact of these close friendships on later depressive symptoms. A prospective longitudinal design was used to examine 816 youth from a large community-based sample, who were followed from birth through age 25. Participants' mothers provided contemporaneous information about adversity exposure up to age 5, and participants completed questionnaires about their own depressive symptoms at age 20 and in their early 20s. Youth also nominated a best friend to complete questionnaires about his or her own psychopathology at age 20. Individuals who experienced more early adversity by age 5 had best friends with higher rates of psychopathology at age 20. Moreover, best friends' psychopathology predicted target youth depressive symptoms 2 to 5 years later. Results indicate that early adversity continues to affect social functioning throughout young adulthood and that best friendships marked by elevated psychopathology in turn negatively affect mental health. Findings have implications for clinical interventions designed to prevent the development of depressive symptoms in youth who have been exposed to early adversity.

We aimed to evaluate the number of articles in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (BJOMS) written by consultants and trainees within deaneries in the UK. We reviewed the authorship of articles published between January 2010 and July 2011, and subdivided them by deanery and first author. In total, 76 full length articles were published (30 written by consultants and 46 by trainees), and half came from the London, Wessex, and Mersey deaneries. Technical notes were mostly written by trainees; 5 of the 22 published came from London. A total of 38 short communications were published; most were from the Wessex (21%), Yorkshire and Humber (29%), and Mersey (13%) deaneries, and in 32% a consultant was first author. A league table of all publications showed that most came from Wessex (n = 25), Mersey (n = 23), and Yorkshire and Humber (n = 23). Most publications by trainees came from Wessex (n = 20), followed by Yorkshire (n = 18) and London (n = 11). The study shows that the amount of published material varies considerably between oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) units in the UK. To realise their ambitions, potential trainees with an interest in research and publications may consequently find the best support in these deaneries

We aimed to evaluate the number of articles in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (BJOMS) written by consultants and trainees within deaneries in the UK. We reviewed the authorship of articles published between January 2010 and July 2011, and subdivided them by deanery and first author. In total, 76 full length articles were published (30 written by consultants and 46 by trainees), and half came from the London, Wessex, and Mersey deaneries. Technical notes were mostly written by trainees; 5 of the 22 published came from London. A total of 38 short communications were published; most were from the Wessex (21%), Yorkshire and Humber (29%), and Mersey (13%) deaneries, and in 32% a consultant was first author. A league table of all publications showed that most came from Wessex (n = 25), Mersey (n = 23), and Yorkshire and Humber (n = 23). Most publications by trainees came from Wessex (n = 20), followed by Yorkshire (n = 18) and London (n = 11). The study shows that the amount of published material varies considerably between oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) units in the UK. To realise their ambitions, potential trainees with an interest in research and publications may consequently find the best support in these deaneries

We aimed to evaluate the number of articles in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (BJOMS) written by consultants and trainees within deaneries in the UK. We reviewed the authorship of articles published between January 2010 and July 2011, and subdivided them by deanery and first author. In total, 76 full length articles were published (30 written by consultants and 46 by trainees), and half came from the London, Wessex, and Mersey deaneries. Technical notes were mostly written by trainees; 5 of the 22 published came from London. A total of 38 short communications were published; most were from the Wessex (21%), Yorkshire and Humber (29%), and Mersey (13%) deaneries, and in 32% a consultant was first author. A league table of all publications showed that most came from Wessex (n = 25), Mersey (n = 23), and Yorkshire and Humber (n = 23). Most publications by trainees came from Wessex (n = 20), followed by Yorkshire (n = 18) and London (n = 11). The study shows that the amount of published material varies considerably between oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) units in the UK. To realise their ambitions, potential trainees with an interest in research and publications may consequently find the best support in these deaneries

We aimed to evaluate the number of articles in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (BJOMS) written by consultants and trainees within deaneries in the UK. We reviewed the authorship of articles published between January 2010 and July 2011, and subdivided them by deanery and first author. In total, 76 full length articles were published (30 written by consultants and 46 by trainees), and half came from the London, Wessex, and Mersey deaneries. Technical notes were mostly written by trainees; 5 of the 22 published came from London. A total of 38 short communications were published; most were from the Wessex (21%), Yorkshire and Humber (29%), and Mersey (13%) deaneries, and in 32% a consultant was first author. A league table of all publications showed that most came from Wessex (n = 25), Mersey (n = 23), and Yorkshire and Humber (n = 23). Most publications by trainees came from Wessex (n = 20), followed by Yorkshire (n = 18) and London (n = 11). The study shows that the amount of published material varies considerably between oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) units in the UK. To realise their ambitions, potential trainees with an interest in research and publications may consequently find the best support in these deaneries