Is maternal smoking during pregnancy associated with an increased risk of congenital heart defects among offspring? A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

<p><i>Objective</i>: To investigate the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs) among offspring.</p> <p><i>Methods</i>: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for eligible studies. The outcomes of interest included risk of any CHD and nine subtypes. We summarized study characteristics and used a random-effects model in meta-analysis, and a two-stage dose–response model was utilized to assess the association between smoking consumption and risk. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed by a chi-squared test of the Cochrane Q statistic and I-squared value. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plots and Egger’s test, and trim and fill method was utilized when publication bias existed.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: Forty-three observational epidemiologic studies were included. The pooled risk ratio (RR) of any CHD was 1.11 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.18), but it exhibited substantial statistical heterogeneity (<i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>I</i>²=69.0%). In sensitivity analysis, we observed significant associations for atrial septal defect (ASD) and marginally significant associations for septal defects (SPD). The two-stage dose–response analysis showed evidence to support that higher levels of tobacco smoke was associated with an increased risk of septal defects, particularly for ASD and VSD (ventricular septal defect).</p> <p><i>Conclusion</i>: Our study presents evidence to support the cardiovascular teratogenic effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy, and their offspring may suffer from approximately a 10% relative increase in the risk of CHDs on average.</p

Acylamido-Based Anion-Functionalized Ionic Liquids for Efficient SO₂ Capture through Multiple-Site Interactions

Acid gases such as SO₂ can be absorbed by ionic liquids (ILs) because of their unique properties. In this work, we developed a new approach for improving SO₂ absorption by novel acylamido-based anion-functionalized ILs. Several kinds of such ILs with different structures of acylamido group (anionic acylamide) were designed, prepared, and used for efficient capture of SO₂. It was shown that these acylamido-based ILs strongly interacted with SO₂, resulting in a very high SO₂ capacity up to ∼4.5 mol SO₂ per mole of IL. The interactions between acylamido-based ILs and SO₂ were investigated by FT-IR, NMR, and quantum chemical calculations. It was found that the dramatic enhancement of SO₂ absorption capacity was originated from the multiple-site interactions such as N···S and CO···S interactions between the anion and SO₂. Furthermore, the captured SO₂ was easy to release by heating or bubbling N₂ through the SO₂-saturated ILs. This novel strategy provides an excellent alternative to current SO₂ capture technologies

Spatiotemporally Actuated Hydrogel by Magnetic Swarm Nanorobotics

Magnetic nanorobotic swarms can mimic collective functions of organisms in nature and be programmed for flexible spatiotemporal control. In this work, different assemblies of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) swarms were constructed. Temperature-sensitive hydrogels were used as carriers to fix the distribution and ensure the stability of the swarm structure and the biocompatibility of the microrobot. Under three different outfield assembly strategies (gravitational field, gradient magnetic field, and uniform magnetic field), six different assembly modes of MNP are encapsulated (three unilateral unfolding assemblies with different microsphere profiles, unilateral chain assembly, and two symmetric chain assemblies with different magnetic chain positions). Their differences in the execution of motion, magnetothermal effects, and release of loaded DOX drugs were explored. The results showed that the symmetrical chain assembly with the magnetic chain distributed on the outside showed the best performance due to the advantage of the magnetic moment. It has a speed of up to 600 μm/s and a temperature rise rate of up to 1.5 °C/min. The present work provides an excellent solution to the poor MNP cluster distribution stability problem and enriches the assembly control scheme of microrobots in medical, catalytic, and three-dimensional-printing fields

Spatiotemporally Actuated Hydrogel by Magnetic Swarm Nanorobotics

Magnetic nanorobotic swarms can mimic collective functions of organisms in nature and be programmed for flexible spatiotemporal control. In this work, different assemblies of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) swarms were constructed. Temperature-sensitive hydrogels were used as carriers to fix the distribution and ensure the stability of the swarm structure and the biocompatibility of the microrobot. Under three different outfield assembly strategies (gravitational field, gradient magnetic field, and uniform magnetic field), six different assembly modes of MNP are encapsulated (three unilateral unfolding assemblies with different microsphere profiles, unilateral chain assembly, and two symmetric chain assemblies with different magnetic chain positions). Their differences in the execution of motion, magnetothermal effects, and release of loaded DOX drugs were explored. The results showed that the symmetrical chain assembly with the magnetic chain distributed on the outside showed the best performance due to the advantage of the magnetic moment. It has a speed of up to 600 μm/s and a temperature rise rate of up to 1.5 °C/min. The present work provides an excellent solution to the poor MNP cluster distribution stability problem and enriches the assembly control scheme of microrobots in medical, catalytic, and three-dimensional-printing fields

Spatiotemporally Actuated Hydrogel by Magnetic Swarm Nanorobotics

Magnetic nanorobotic swarms can mimic collective functions of organisms in nature and be programmed for flexible spatiotemporal control. In this work, different assemblies of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) swarms were constructed. Temperature-sensitive hydrogels were used as carriers to fix the distribution and ensure the stability of the swarm structure and the biocompatibility of the microrobot. Under three different outfield assembly strategies (gravitational field, gradient magnetic field, and uniform magnetic field), six different assembly modes of MNP are encapsulated (three unilateral unfolding assemblies with different microsphere profiles, unilateral chain assembly, and two symmetric chain assemblies with different magnetic chain positions). Their differences in the execution of motion, magnetothermal effects, and release of loaded DOX drugs were explored. The results showed that the symmetrical chain assembly with the magnetic chain distributed on the outside showed the best performance due to the advantage of the magnetic moment. It has a speed of up to 600 μm/s and a temperature rise rate of up to 1.5 °C/min. The present work provides an excellent solution to the poor MNP cluster distribution stability problem and enriches the assembly control scheme of microrobots in medical, catalytic, and three-dimensional-printing fields

Spatiotemporally Actuated Hydrogel by Magnetic Swarm Nanorobotics

Magnetic nanorobotic swarms can mimic collective functions of organisms in nature and be programmed for flexible spatiotemporal control. In this work, different assemblies of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) swarms were constructed. Temperature-sensitive hydrogels were used as carriers to fix the distribution and ensure the stability of the swarm structure and the biocompatibility of the microrobot. Under three different outfield assembly strategies (gravitational field, gradient magnetic field, and uniform magnetic field), six different assembly modes of MNP are encapsulated (three unilateral unfolding assemblies with different microsphere profiles, unilateral chain assembly, and two symmetric chain assemblies with different magnetic chain positions). Their differences in the execution of motion, magnetothermal effects, and release of loaded DOX drugs were explored. The results showed that the symmetrical chain assembly with the magnetic chain distributed on the outside showed the best performance due to the advantage of the magnetic moment. It has a speed of up to 600 μm/s and a temperature rise rate of up to 1.5 °C/min. The present work provides an excellent solution to the poor MNP cluster distribution stability problem and enriches the assembly control scheme of microrobots in medical, catalytic, and three-dimensional-printing fields

The Effect of Maternal Death on the Health of the Husband and Children in a Rural Area of China: A Prospective Cohort Study

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To examine the effects of maternal death on the health of the index child, the health and educational attainment of the older children, and the mental health and quality of life of the surviving husband.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A cohort study including 183 households that experienced a maternal death matched to 346 households that experienced childbirth but not a maternal death was conducted prospectively between June 2009 and October 2011 in rural China. Data on household sociodemographic characteristics, physical and mental health were collected using a quantitative questionnaire and medical examination at baseline and follow-up surveys. Multivariate linear regression, logistic regression models and difference-in-difference (DID) were used to compare differences of outcomes between two groups.</p><p>Findings</p><p>The index children who experienced the loss of a mother had a significantly higher likelihood of dying, abandonment and malnutrition compared to children whose mothers survived at the follow-up survey. The risk of not attending school on time and dropping out of school among older children in the affected group was higher than those in the control group during the follow-up. Husbands whose wife died had significantly lower EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS both at baseline and at follow-up surveys compared to those without experiencing a wife’s death, suggesting an immediate and sustained poorer mental health quality of life among the surviving husbands. Also the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was 72.6% at baseline and 56.2% at follow-up among husbands whose wife died.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Maternal death has multifaceted and spillover effects on the physical and mental health of family members that are sustained over time. Programmes that reduce maternal mortality will mitigate repercussions on surviving family members are critical and needed.</p></div

Assessment in each dimension of EQ-5D for the affected and control groups.

<p>The black and gray bars represent husbands in the affected group, and the other two bars represent those from the control group. In each domain of EQ-5Q, the higher score, the worse outcome it indicates.</p

Flowchart of participants of affected households and control households.

<p>The figure represents selection of study participants in both groups from pre-baseline (end of the delivery) to baseline and follow-up. The primary reason of loss to follow-up for husbands is they went out for work during surveys. Index children in the affected group had a higher rate of death and abandonment than control group during pre-baseline and follow-up periods.</p

Effect on the quality of life and mental health of husbands.

<p>Effect on the quality of life and mental health of husbands.</p