Regional differences in autism and intellectual disability risk associated with cesarean section delivery.

Prior epidemiological studies investigating the association between delivery mode (i.e., vaginal birth and cesarean section [C-section]) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) risk have reported mixed findings.

Racial and ethnic disparities in health risk from industrial surface water pollution in the United States, 2011-2021.

Industrial chemical pollution is released into surface water at a large scale annually in the United States. However, geographic variation and racial disparities in potential exposure are poorly understood at a national scale. Using county-level Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators data for 2011-2021 and American Community Survey data, this study analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution of health risk from modeled water releases using a Gamma hurdle model.

Association between phthalate exposure and sleep quality in pregnant women: Results from the Korean Children's Environmental Health Study with repeated assessment of exposure.

Background: Evidence linking environmental toxicants to sleep quality is growing; however, these associations during pregnancy remain unclear. We examined the associations of repeated measures of urinary phthalates in early and late pregnancy with multiple markers of sleep quality among pregnant women.

Methods: The study population included 2324 pregnant women from the Korean Children's Environmental Health Study.

Observational methods for human studies of transgenerational effects.

There are substantial challenges in studying human transgenerational epigenetic outcomes resulting from environmental conditions. The task requires specialized methods and tools that incorporate specific knowledge of multigenerational relationship combinations of probands and their ancestors, phenotype data for individuals, environmental information of ancestors and their descendants, which can span historical to present datasets, and informative environmental data that chronologically aligns with ancestors and descendants over space and time. As a result, there are few epidemiologic studies of potential transgenerational effects in human populations, thus limiting the knowledge of ancestral environmental conditions and the potential impacts we face with modern human health outcomes.

Community testing practices for autism within the autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network.

Background: No data exist at the population level on what tests are used to aid in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in community practice.

Objectives: To describe autism spectrum disorder testing practices to inform autism spectrum disorder identification efforts.

Methods: Data are from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, a multi-site surveillance system reporting prevalence estimates and characteristics of 8-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder.

Health Conditions, Education Services, and Transition Planning for Adolescents With Autism.

Objective: Our objectives with this study were to describe the frequency of selected cooccurring health conditions and individualized education program (IEP) services and post-high school transition planning for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and identify disparities by sex, intellectual ability, race or ethnicity, and geographic area.

Methods: The study sample included 1787 adolescents born in 2004 who were identified as having autism through a health and education record review through age 16 years in 2020. These adolescents were part of a longitudinal population-based surveillance birth cohort from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network from 2004 to 2020 in 5 US catchment areas.

PM threshold exceedances during the prenatal period and risk of intellectual disability.

Background: Research demonstrates that chronic exposure to fine particulates (PM) increases risks of neurodevelopmental conditions, such as intellectual disability (ID). Few studies have examined neurodevelopmental health impacts of pollution spikes exceeding 24-h (24-h) PM guidelines, despite relevance to the regulatory landscape. The current potential for regulatory changes to 24-h PM standards in the United States makes research on exceedances relevant.

Rumination-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Reduces Rumination and Targeted Cross-network Connectivity in Youth With a History of Depression: Replication in a Preregistered Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (RF-CBT) is designed to reduce depressive rumination or the habitual tendency to dwell on experiences in a repetitive, negative, passive, and global manner. RF-CBT uses functional analysis, experiential exercises, and repeated practice to identify and change the ruminative habit. This preregistered randomized clinical trial (NCT03859297, R61) is a preregistered replication of initial work.

Sex-specific and sex-independent steroid-related biomarkers in early second trimester maternal serum associated with autism.

Background: Prenatal exposure to maternal metabolic conditions associated with inflammation and steroid dysregulation has previously been linked to increased autism risk. Steroid-related maternal serum biomarkers have also provided insight into the in utero steroid environment for offspring who develop autism.

Objective: This study examines the link between autism among offspring and early second trimester maternal steroid-related serum biomarkers from pregnancies enriched for prenatal metabolic syndrome (PNMS) exposure.

Individualized Education Programs and Transition Planning for Adolescents With Autism.

Objectives: The study objectives were to examine the contents of individualized education programs (IEPs) of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including postsecondary transition goals, services, and changes in special education classification over time.

Methods: This study involved a longitudinal population-based surveillance cohort from the Autism Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network from 2002 to 2018 in 3 catchment areas in the United States. The sample included 322 adolescents who were born in 2002, identified with ASD, and had an IEP available for review at ages 15-16 years.

Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2020.

Problem/condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Period Covered: 2020.

Description Of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network is an active surveillance program that estimates prevalence and characteristics of ASD and monitors timing of ASD identification among children aged 4 and 8 years.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2020.

Problem/condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Period Covered: 2020.

Description Of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is an active surveillance program that provides estimates of the prevalence of ASD among children aged 8 years.

Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Diagnostic Patterns, Co-occurring Conditions, and Transition Planning.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to describe child characteristics associated with later autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identification and the health status and educational transition plans of adolescents with ASD.

Methods: Longitudinal population-based surveillance cohort from the Autism Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network during 2002-2018 in five catchment areas in the United States. Participants included 3,148 children born in 2002 whose records were first reviewed for ASD surveillance in 2010.

Statewide county-level autism spectrum disorder prevalence estimates-seven U.S. states, 2018.

Purpose: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence information is necessary for identifying community needs such as addressing disparities in identification and services.

Methods: Seven Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network sites participated in a pilot project to link statewide health and education data to generate statewide and county-level prevalence estimates for a broader age range for their states for the first time.

Results: Statewide prevalence of ASD for ages 3-21 years in 2018 ranged from 1.