Considerations in the Design, Conduct, and Interpretation of Studies in Epigenetic Epidemiology

摘要: Studies in epigenetic epidemiology may identify aberrations associated with disease, link environmental and lifestyle factors to the profile, or unveil mechanisms underlying statistical associations between risk disease outcomes. Epidemiologic studies provide framework for identifying biomarkers early detection of disease. Appropriate design considerations are imperative their success. The tissue specificity marks represents a challenge epidemiology, identification markers easily accessible surrogate tissues essential large-scale population-based studies. Nested case-control using biospecimens collected prior onset appropriate data changes preceding Selecting representative study population sufficiently large sample size comparison group is crucial validity reproducibility results. Challenges include confounding effect modification, sufficient systematic interindividual variation.