Is the Day of Last Menstrual Period a Predictor of Preterm Birth?

poster abstractBackground: Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant death and disability in the US. Previous studies have demonstrated that preterm birth rates (PTBR) are seasonal and linked to month of last menstrual period (LMP). We wondered whether LMP day (LMPD) might correlate with PTBR. Objective: Is preterm birth risk positively correlated with LMPD? Design/Methods: CDC natality data from 1990-2008 were analyzed. Included were continental US residents, 22-43 weeks. Excluded were pregnancies with no prenatal care, non-US residence and LMP unknown. PTBR was calculated for each LMPD across all LMP months and years. Maternal age, race, parity, education, tobacco, alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, induction, delivery route, meconium, plurality, gestation, assisted ventilation were abstracted. PTBR was aggregated by year, month and LMPD after adjusting for month and year. Analysis was repeated in subpopulations stratified by abstracted risk factors. Random effects were used to account for within unit correlation caused by repeated measurements over months and years. Results: 64,872,927 records were reviewed. PTBR was positively correlated with LMPD(slope±SE0.08±0.01(p‹0.001). PTBR rose by 0.08% for each LMP day from 1-31. This relationship remained significant in each year from 1990-2008 and in all months except October. Subgroup analysis showed that the correlation remained significant for every demographic and pregnancy outcome variable tested. That is, regardless of race or maternal demographics, PTBR can be predicted by LMPD with lower to higher risk associated with lower to higher PTBR. LMPD represents a covariate in predicting preterm birth rates. Conclusions: PTBR increases with increasing LMPD. The correlation was remarkably strong and persisted throughout all risk categories. Despite its biological implausibility we were unable to find an explanation for this correlation within the usual risk categories. LMPD was removed from the birth certificate in 2008. These data suggest that LMPD may be more important than was previously thought

Maternal IQ Predicts Child's Birth Weight

poster abstractBackground: Prior studies correlated birth weight with child IQ. Maternal IQ correlates with IQ in her offspring. Birth weight predicted IQ in monozygotic twins dicordant for birth weight. IUGR alters global DNA methylation. IQ in mother may be a biological marker for her child's rate of intrauterine growth (birth weight). Objective: Does maternal IQ predict her child's intrauterine growth rate (birth weight)? Design/Methods: Births from 1970-2004 using NLSY '79 database were studied Primary variables were children's IQ score from most recent Peabody Picture Vocabulary Revised Form L test and birth weight in grams. Maternal IQ was estimated from AirForce Qualifying test (AFQT)and categorized as 75, 50-74, 25-49 and <25%ile resp. Race, economic status, singleton, gestation, use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs were used as covariates. Multivariate models were used to assess associations of Children's IQ and birth weight with maternal IQ levels controlling for other covariates. Results: 9,125 children were analyzed. 98.3% singleton, 12.3% preterm, and 51.2% male. Means Std's of birth weight and IQ score were 3,307 597 grams and 38 30.4 respectively.Of the total 4,121 mothers, 25.7% were blacks, 18.3% were Hispanics and 54.0% were non Hispanic non blacks(nHnB). The mean std of the AFQT was 36.9 28.1. Proportions of IQs were 13.6%, 17.2%, 27.2% and 42% from low to high IQs respectively among mothers. Multivariate models showed children's IQ scores were related to their mother's IQ ,birth weight, race/ethnicity, and economic status. In particular, the mean children's IQ scores were 28.1, 37.1, 46.8, and 55 at mother's IQ levels from low to high respectively (p-values<0.001). Children's IQs was increased by 0.14 0.06 (slope) for every 100 gram increase in birth weight (p=0.013). Children's birth weights were positively associated with their mothers' IQ. Means birth weight increased from 3,334 grams to 3,465 grams as mothers' IQ rose from low to high (p<0.001). When sub-populations stratified by race/ethnicity were analyzed, positive relationships between childs IQ and mother's IQ were found in all Hispanic, black and nHnB groups (p's<0.001); while the positive relationship between birth weight and mother's IQ levels was found significant only in the nHnB (white) group (p<0.001). The findings held even after preterm and non singleton births were excluded from analysis. Conclusions: Child's IQ correlates with birth weight and maternal IQ. Maternal IQ may also predict birth weight of offspring

Preterm birth buccal cell epigenetic biomarkers to facilitate preventative medicine

Preterm birth is the major cause of newborn and infant mortality affecting nearly one in every ten live births. The current study was designed to develop an epigenetic biomarker for susceptibility of preterm birth using buccal cells from the mother, father, and child (triads). An epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) was used to identify differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) using a comparison of control term birth versus preterm birth triads. Epigenetic DMR associations with preterm birth were identified for both the mother and father that were distinct and suggest potential epigenetic contributions from both parents. The mother (165 DMRs) and female child (136 DMRs) at p < 1e-04 had the highest number of DMRs and were highly similar suggesting potential epigenetic inheritance of the epimutations. The male child had negligible DMR associations. The DMR associated genes for each group involve previously identified preterm birth associated genes. Observations identify a potential paternal germline contribution for preterm birth and identify the potential epigenetic inheritance of preterm birth susceptibility for the female child later in life. Although expanded clinical trials and preconception trials are required to optimize the potential epigenetic biomarkers, such epigenetic biomarkers may allow preventative medicine strategies to reduce the incidence of preterm birth

Facts from Faeces: Prey Remains in Wolf, Canis lupus, Faeces Revise Occurrence Records for Mammals of British Columbia's Coastal Archipelago

Archipelagos often harbour taxa that are endemic and vulnerable to disturbance. Conservation planning and research for these areas depend fundamentally on accurate and current taxonomic inventories. Although basic ecological information is in its infancy, the temperate rainforest islands of coastal British Columbia are undergoing rapid human-caused modification, particularly logging. We report herein new mammal records for these islands as determined by prey remains in the faeces of Wolves (Canis lupus), the area’s apex mammalian terrestrial predator. Of particular interest is our detection of Marten (Martes americana) on islands previously inventoried and island occupancy by Moose (Alces alces), which have apparently migrated recently to coastal British Columbia. Remains in faeces provided valuable new species occurrence information, but more extensive and focused inventories are required to generate predictions of island occupancy by mammals based on biotic and abiotic landscape features

Facts from Faeces: Prey Remains in Wolf, Canis lupus, Faeces Revise Occurrence Records for Mammals of British Columbia’s Coastal Archipelago

Archipelagos often harbour taxa that are endemic and vulnerable to disturbance. Conservation planning and research for these areas depend fundamentally on accurate and current taxonomic inventories. Although basic ecological information is in its infancy, the temperate rainforest islands of coastal British Columbia are undergoing rapid human-caused modification, particularly logging. We report herein new mammal records for these islands as determined by prey remains in the faeces of Wolves (Canis lupus), the area’s apex mammalian terrestrial predator. Of particular interest is our detection of Marten (Martes americana) on islands previously inventoried and island occupancy by Moose (Alces alces), which have apparently migrated recently to coastal British Columbia. Remains in faeces provided valuable new species occurrence information, but more extensive and focused inventories are required to generate predictions of island occupancy by mammals based on biotic and abiotic landscape features

FETAL AND NEONATAL FACTORS INFLUENCING FREE CARNITINE

poster abstractBackground: Free Carnitine (FC) is now measured routinely in new-borns in Indiana. Studies with small numbers have suggested that FC may be dependent on fetal and neonatal factors. Objective: Our objective was to compare FC levels with various fetal and neonatal factors. Our goal was to establish normative data by gestation in a very large cohort (Indiana State) and to use these carnitine values to develop hypotheses about FC in fetal life and disease. Design/Methods: Indiana State Health Department FC values (tandem mass spec) and demographic variables were obtained for the years 2005-2010. Gender, race, birth weight, gestation, NICU admission, age at collec-tion information was also evaluated. Multivariate fixed effect models were used to compare carnitine values with independent variables. Results: The number of newborns analyzed was 459,932. FC levels were lowest in babies with gestational age 37-40 weeks and higher in both preterm and post-term babies (Table 1). Table 1. Free Carnitine vs. Gestation Gestation FC mean SE mean Gestation FC mean SE mean 23 40.88 1.00 33 39.81 0.28 24 39.86 0.73 34 38.28 0.22 25 42.61 0.69 35 37.14 0.19 26 42.77 0.64 36 36.37 0.17 27 42.65 0.63 37 35.76 0.20 28 42.47 0.57 38 35.11 0.22 29 43.51 0.53 39 35.04 0.19 30 40.4 0.46 40 35.36 0.07 31 41.96 0.41 41 38.58 0.48 32 40.65 0.34 42 40.96 1.52 FC levels were lowest in babies with birth weights between 3150-4050g (34.390.07) and higher in groups with both lower (4500g;35.660.1**). FC levels were lowest when collected be-tween 24-48 hours (34.290.05) and higher either before (36.930.1**) or after that time (2-3,3-4,4-5,>5days;34.960.06**,36.210.11**,37.320.15**,36.80.14**). Female, white, non singleton and non NICU babies had significantly lower FC levels (Table 2). Table 2. Free Carnitine vs. Demographics Category FC mean SE mean Male 39.40 0.08 Female 36.60 0.08** White 37.16 0.06 Black 37.34 0.08* Asian 39.12 0.18** Other 38.39 0.1** Singleton 38.30 0.06 Multiple 37.70 0.11** NICU 40.46 0.09 Non-NICU 35.55 0.07** *&** are p<0.05 & <0.01 vs. comp group Conclusions: FC values are significantly influenced by gestation, gender, race, time of collection, NICU admission, multiple birth and birth weight. Generally, factors which increased mortality and morbidity (immaturity, post maturity, low birth weight, male gender, black race) were associated with higher FC values. These data will be used to construct normative curves and may be useful in predicting neonatal outcomes (Figure 1). 1Biostatistics, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 4526

Area-wide distribution of lead, copper, and cadmium in air particulates from Chicago and northwest Indiana

Published air pollution emissions inventories for the urbanized and industrialized area along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan include few chemical analyses of particulates, and estimates of the elemental composition of airborne solids may be made only indirectly and compared with NASN analyses from a few locations. As a first attempt to examine the area-wide distribution of specific chemical elements in this region, lead, copper, cadmium, and bismuth were determined in 24-h average samples collected on glass fiber filters at 50 stations throughout the region. Samples from most of the 50 stations were obtained from local air pollution control organizations for 6 different days from May to August 1968 and were analyzed electrochemically by highly sensitive anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). Throughout the area the small variation of lead, generally a few micrograms per cubic meter of air, did not exceed that expected from the distribution of automobiles, the major source. Cadmium was generally 200 times lower without marked local variations and was close to the expected concentration if coal combustion is the major source. Copper was generally 20 times lower than lead throughout Chicago as expected if coal combustion is the major source of copper. However, certain stations in the northwest Indiana area showed reproducible anomalies where copper was 100 times greater than in Chicago and several times greater than lead at the same stations. The source of this anomalous copper has not been determined.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33563/1/0000064.pd

Association between increasing agricultural use of 2,4-D and population biomarkers of exposure: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2014.

BACKGROUND: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most extensively used herbicides in the United States. In 2012, 2,4-D was the most widely used herbicide in non-agricultural settings and the fifth most heavily applied pesticide in the US agricultural sector. The objective of this study was to examine trends in 2,4-D urinary biomarker concentrations to determine whether increases in 2,4-D application in agriculture are associated with increases in biomonitoring levels of urine 2,4-D. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with available urine 2,4-D biomarker measurements from survey cycles between 2001 and 2014 were utilized. Urine 2,4-D values were dichotomized using the highest limit of detection (LOD) across all cycles (0.40 μg/L or 0.4 ppb). Agricultural use of 2,4-D was estimated by compiling publicly available federal and private pesticide application data. Logistic regression models adjusted for confounders were fitted to evaluate the association between agricultural use of 2,4-D and urine 2,4-D level above the dichotomization threshold. RESULTS: Of the 14,395 participants included in the study, 4681 (32.5%) had urine 2,4-D levels above the dichotomization threshold. The frequency of participants with high 2,4-D levels increased significantly (p \u3c .0001), from a low of 17.1% in 2001-2002 to a high of 39.6% in 2011-2012. The adjusted odds of high urinary 2,4-D concentrations associated with 2,4-D agricultural use (per ten million pounds applied) was 2.268 (95% CI: 1.709, 3.009). Children ages 6-11 years (n = 2288) had 2.1 times higher odds of having high 2,4-D urinary concentrations compared to participants aged 20-59 years. Women of childbearing age (age 20-44 years) (n = 2172) had 1.85 times higher odds than men of the same age. CONCLUSIONS: Agricultural use of 2,4-D has increased substantially from a low point in 2002 and it is predicted to increase further in the coming decade. Because increasing use is likely to increase population level exposures, the associations seen here between 2,4-D crop application and biomonitoring levels require focused biomonitoring and epidemiological evaluation to determine the extent to which rising use and exposures cause adverse health outcomes among vulnerable populations (particularly children and women of childbearing age) and highly exposed individuals (farmers, other herbicide applicators, and their families)

Visualization of Genomic Changes by Segmented Smoothing Using an L0 Penalty

Copy number variations (CNV) and allelic imbalance in tumor tissue can show strong segmentation. Their graphical presentation can be enhanced by appropriate smoothing. Existing signal and scatterplot smoothers do not respect segmentation well. We present novel algorithms that use a penalty on the norm of differences of neighboring values. Visualization is our main goal, but we compare classification performance to that of VEGA