Environmental risk factors of pregnancy outcomes: A summary of recent meta-analyses of epidemiological studies.

Background Various epidemiological studies have suggested associations between environmental exposures and pregnancy outcomes. Some studies have tempted to combine information from various epidemiological studies using meta-analysis. We aimed to describe the methodologies used in these recent meta-analyses of environmental exposures and pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, we aimed to report their main findings. Methods We conducted a bibliographic search with relevant search terms. We obtained and evaluated 16 recent meta-analyses. Results The number of studies included in each reported meta-analysis varied greatly, with the largest number of studies available for environmental tobacco smoke. Only a small number of the studies reported having followed meta-analysis guidelines or having used a quality rating system. Generally they tested for heterogeneity and publication bias. Publication bias did not occur frequently. The meta-analyses found statistically significant negative associations between environmental tobacco smoke and stillbirth, birth weight and any congenital anomalies; PM2.5 and preterm birth; outdoor air pollution and some congenital anomalies; indoor air pollution from solid fuel use and stillbirth and birth weight; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) exposure and birth weight; disinfection by-products in water and stillbirth, small for gestational age and some congenital anomalies; occupational exposure to pesticides and solvents and some congenital anomalies; and agent orange and some congenital anomalies. Conclusions The number of meta-analyses of environmental exposures and pregnancy outcomes is small and they vary in methodology. They reported statistically significant associations between environmental exposures such as environmental tobacco smoke, air pollution and chemicals and pregnancy outcomes

Macro-atom versus many-electron effects in ultrafast ionization of C 60

Ionization mechanisms of C60 molecules irradiated by a short intense 800-nm laser pulse are studied. Angle-resolved photoelectron spectra show above-threshold ionization (ATI) patterns with a low peak contrast and a remarkably smooth angular distribution. The results are interpreted by combining two theoretical models. A time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) calculation based on the B-spline method that explicitly takes into account the molecular potential mimics the single-active-electron response while a statistical model accounts for the many-electron effects. We show that the latter are responsible for the loss of contrast in the ATI peaks. The smooth angular distribution arises in the TDSE calculation as a result of the high angular momentum of the C60 ground electronic state and therefore is a manifestation of the atomic behavior of the molecule