Transport of persistent organic pollutants across the human placenta

Environment International 65, 107-115 (2014

Impact of a COVID-19 Outbreak in an Elderly Care Home after Primary Vaccination

[EN] Elderly care home residents are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to immunesenescence, pre-existing medical conditions, and the risk of transmission from staff and visitors. This study aimed to describe the outcomes of a COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility for elderly persons following the initial vaccination. A single-center, retrospective, observational design was used to analyze the variables associated with hospitalization and death rate by logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Sixty-eight residents received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite being negative six days after vaccination, the performance of a second test 4 days later revealed 51 positives (75.0%) among residents and 18 among workers (56.3%). A total of 65 of the 68 residents (95.58%) had positive results with symptoms, whereas 34.9% required hospitalization, and 25.8% died. The best-fitting model to explain the distribution of cases reflects three points at the time of infection.. The time from vaccination to symptom onset explains the hospitalization and mortality rates since a day elapsed halves the risk of hospitalization (aOR = 0.57; CI = 0.38−0.75) and the risk of death by a quarter (aOR = 0.74; CI = 0.63−0.88). Nursing homes present an elevated risk of transmission and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalization and death, extreme prevention and control measures are essential in these institutions despite the high vaccination coverage.S

Prenatal Exposure to Residential Air Pollution and Infant Mental Development: Modulation by Antioxidants and Detoxification Factors

Background: Air pollution effects on children’s neurodevelopment have recently been suggested to occur most likely through the oxidative stress pathway

Prenatal exposure to NO2 and ultrasound measures of fetal growth in the Spanish INMA cohort

__Background:__ Air pollution exposure during pregnancy has been associated with impaired fetal growth. However, few studies have measured fetal biometry longitudinally, remaining unclear as to whether there are windows of special vulnerability. __Objective:__ The aim was to investigate the impact of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure on fetal and neonatal biometry in the Spanish INMA study. Methods: Biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), abdominal circumference (AC), and estimated fetal weight (EFW) were evaluated for up to 2,478 fetuses in each trimester of pregnancy. Size at 12, 20, and 34 weeks of gestation and growth between these points, as well as anthropometry at birth, were assessed by SD scores derived using cohort-specific growth curves. Temporally adjusted land-use regression was used to estimate exposure to NO2 at home addresses for up to 2,415 fetuses. Associations were investigated by linear regression in each cohort and subsequent meta-analysis. __Results:__ A 10-μg/m3 increase in average exposure to NO2 during weeks 0-12 was associated with reduced growth at weeks 0-12 in AC (-2.1%; 95% CI: -3.7, -0.6) and EFW (-1.6%; 95% CI: -3.0, -0.3). The same exposure was inversely associated with reduced growth at weeks 20-34 in BPD (-2.6%; 95% CI: -3.9, -1.2), AC (-1.8%; 95% CI: -3.3, -0.2), and EFW (-2.1%; 95% CI: -3.7, -0.2). A less consistent pattern of association was observed for FL. The negative association of this exposure with BPD and EFW was significantly stronger in smoking versus nonsmoking mothers. __Conclusi

Dietary intake of trans fatty acids in children aged 4–5 in Spain: The INMA cohort study

Trans fatty acid (TFA) intake has been identified as a health hazard in adults, but data on preschool children are scarce. We analyzed the data from the Spanish INMA Project to determine the intake of total, industrial and natural TFA, their main sources and the associated socio-demographic and lifestyle factors in children aged 4–5 (n = 1793). TFA intake was estimated using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire, and multiple linear regression was used to explore associated factors. The mean daily intakes of total, industrial and natural TFA were 1.36, 0.60, and 0.71 g/day, respectively. Ten percent of the children obtained >1% of their energy intake from TFA. The main sources of industrial TFA were fast food, white bread and processed baked goods. Milk, red and processed meat and processed baked goods were the main sources of natural TFA. Having parents from countries other than Spain was significantly associated with higher natural TFA (in mg/day) intake (β 45.5) and television viewing was significantly associated with higher industrial TFA intake (β 18.3). Higher fruits and vegetables intake was significantly associated with lower intakes of all TFAs, whereas higher sweetened beverages intake was significantly associated with lower total and natural TFA intake. Thus, total and industrial TFA intake was associated with less healthy food patterns and lifestyles in Spanish preschool children

The use of lower or higher than recommended doses of folic acid supplements during pregnancy is associated with child attentional dysfunction at 4–5 years of age in the inma project

We assessed the association between the use of lower-and higher-than-recommended doses of folic acid supplements (FAs) during pregnancy and attentional function in boys and girls at age of 4–5. We analyzed data from 1329 mother-child pairs from the mother-child cohort INfancia y Medio Ambiente Project (INMA) study. Information on FAs use during pregnancy was collected in personal interviews at weeks 12 and 30, and categorized in <400, 400–999 (recommended dose), and ≥1000 µg/day. Child attentional function was assessed by Conners’ Kiddie Continuous Performance Test. Multivariable regression analyses were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and beta coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Compared to recommended FAs doses, the periconceptional use of <400 and ≥1000 µg/day was associated with higher risk of omission errors—IRR = 1.14 (95% CI: 1.01; 1.29) and IRR = 1.16 (95% CI: 1.02; 1.33), respectively. The use of FAs < 400 µg/day and ≥1000 µg/day was significantly associated with deficits of attentional function only in boys. FAs use < 400 µg/day was associated with higher omission errors with IRR = 1.22 and increased hit reaction time (HRT) β = 34.36, and FAs use ≥ 1000 µg/day was associated with increased HRT β = 33.18 and HRT standard error β = 3.31. The periconceptional use of FAs below or above the recommended doses is associated with deficits of attentional function in children at age of 4–5, particularly in boys

Association of Gestational Free and Total Triiodothyronine With Gestational Hypertension, Preeclampsia, Preterm Birth, and Birth Weight:An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis

Context: Triiodothyronine (T3) is the bioactive form of thyroid hormone. In contrast to thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine, we lack knowledge on the association of gestational T3 with adverse obstetric outcomes. Objective: To investigate the associaiton of gestational free or total T3 (FT3 or TT3) with adverse obstetric outcomes. Methods: We collected individual participant data from prospective cohort studies on gestational FT3 or TT3, adverse obstetric outcomes (preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, preterm birth and very preterm birth, small for gestational age [SGA], and large for gestational age [LGA]), and potential confounders. We used mixed-effects regression models adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The final study population comprised 33 118 mother–child pairs of which 27 331 had data on FT3 and 16 164 on TT3. There was a U-shaped association of FT3 with preeclampsia (P = .0069) and a J-shaped association with the risk of gestational hypertension (P = .029). Higher TT3 was associated with a higher risk of gestational hypertension (OR per SD of TT3 1.20, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.33; P = .0007). A lower TT3 but not FT3 was associated with a higher risk of very preterm birth (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.94; P = .018). TT3 but not FT3 was positively associated with birth weight (mean difference per 1 SD increase in TT3 12.8, 95% CI 6.5 to 19.1 g, P &lt; .0001) but there was no association with SGA or LGA. Conclusion: This study provides new insights on the association of gestational FT3 and TT3 with major adverse pregnancy outcomes that form the basis for future studies required to elucidate the effects of thyroid function on pregnancy outcomes. Based on the current study, routine FT3 or TT3 measurements for the assessment of thyroid function during pregnancy do not seem to be of added value in the risk assessment for adverse outcomes.</p

Elevated Platelet Count Appears to Be Causally Associated with Increased Risk of Lung Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Background Platelets are a critical element in coagulation and inflammation, and activated platelets are linked to cancer risk through diverse mechanisms. However, a causal relationship between platelets and risk of lung cancer remains unclear.Methods We performed single and combined multiple instrumental variable Mendelian randomization analysis by an inverse-weighted method, in addition to a series of sensitivity analyses. Summary data for associations between SNPs and platelet count are from a recent publication that included 48,666 Caucasian Europeans, and the International Lung Cancer Consortium and Transdisciplinary Research in Cancer of the Lung data consisting of 29,266 cases and 56,450 controls to analyze associations between candidate SNPs and lung cancer risk.Results Multiple instrumental variable analysis incorporating six SNPs showed a 62% increased risk of overall non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC; OR, 1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-2.27; P = 0.005] and a 200% increased risk for small-cell lung cancer (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.27-7.06; P = 0.01). Results showed only a trending association with NSCLC histologic subtypes, which may be due to insufficient sample size and/or weak effect size. A series of sensitivity analysis retained these findings.Conclusions Our findings suggest a causal relationship between elevated platelet count and increased risk of lung cancer and provide evidence of possible antiplatelet interventions for lung cancer prevention.Impact These findings provide a better understanding of lung cancer etiology and potential evidence for antiplatelet interventions for lung cancer prevention

Transport of persistent organic pollutants across the human placenta

Environment International 65, 107-115 (2014

Gestational weight gain and exposure of newborns to persistent organic pollutants

Background: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during fetal development can increase the risk of adverse health effects during childhood. Maternal characteristics and physiological changes during gestation, such as gestational weight gain (GWG), may have an influence in the overall burden of POPs in neonates. However, the associations between GWG and POP concentrations are still not well established. Objective: We examined the association of GWG with cord serum POPs concentrations after adjusting for prepregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) and other potential determinants of the transfer of POPs into newborns. The GWG values were evaluated after grouping by the reference guidelines of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Methods: We measured levels of 14 organochlorine pesticides, 7 polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), and 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in 325 cord serum samples from a Spanish birth cohort. Multivariable models were used to estimate associations of GWG, prepregnancy BMI, and other maternal determinants on cord serum concentrations of POPs. Results: Neonatal concentrations of POPs were inversely associated with GWG after adjustment for age, prepregnancy BMI, educational level, and fish consumption. On average, neonates of women with IOM-recommended GWG have lower POP concentrations than do neonates of mothers with inadequate GWG. Conclusions: The present findings suggest an association between neonatal exposure to POPs and inadequate GWG during pregnancy. Encouraging pregnant women to meet the recommended IOM guidelines for GWG may reduce the accumulation of POPs in newborns.Peer Reviewe