Validation of the breathmobile case identification survey for asthma screening in children with sickle cell disease.

Asthma is a chronic airway disorder with variable/recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and an inflammation. The expert panel report of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommends asthma screening in sickle cell disease (SCD); however, specific approach is not mentioned. We hypothesize that the breathmobile case identification survey (BCIS) is a valid asthma screening tool in children with SCD.

Temporal trends in diagnoses of congenital microcephaly, Texas Hospital Discharge Diagnoses, 2000-2015.

Objective: Assess temporal trends in congenital microcephaly.

Methods: We used Texas inpatient discharge diagnoses between 2000 and 2015, restricting to newborns. Between 2000 and 2003, the maximum number of fields for recording diagnostic codes was eight, and between 2004 and 2015 it was 24.

Maternal occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and major structural birth defects.

Background: Ionizing radiation (IR) is known to be carcinogenic and mutagenic, but little is known about the association between maternal occupational exposure to IR and birth defects.

Methods: We studied 38,009 mothers who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study and delivered between 1997 and 2009. We assessed odds ratios [ORs] for the association between maternal occupations with potential exposure to IR and 39 birth defects.

The association between maternal parity and birth defects.

Background: Previous studies observed that first birth is associated with an increased risk of some categories of birth defects. However, multiple statistical tests were conducted and it was unclear which of these associations would be replicated in a larger study. We used a large database to assess the association between maternal parity and 65 birth defects including birth defects that have not been previously studied.

Maternal exposure to fine particulate pollution during narrow gestational periods and newborn health in Harris County, Texas.

It remains unclear when the fetus is most susceptible to the effects of particulate air pollution. We conducted a population-based study in a large urban area to evaluate associations between preterm birth (PTB) and fetal growth and exposures to fine particles (PM(2.5)) during narrow periods of gestation.

Is maternal parity an independent risk factor for birth defects?

Background: Although associations between maternal parity and birth defects have been observed previously, few studies have focused on the possibility that parity is an independent risk factor for birth defects. We investigated the relation between levels of parity and a range of birth defects, adjusting each defect group for the same covariates.

Methods: We included infants who had an estimated delivery date between 1997 and 2007 and participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a multisite case-control study.

Maternal use of hot tub and major structural birth defects.

Background: Previous studies on the associations between hot tub use during early pregnancy and birth defects have found an increased risk of neural tube defects, but no increase in risk of cardiac defects. No previous studies have assessed the association between maternal hot tub use and other types of noncardiac birth defects.

Methods: We included mothers of infants with birth defects (n = 10,825) and mothers of infants without birth defects (n = 6795) who participated in the multisite National Birth Defects Prevention Study between 1997 and 2005.

Use of oral contraceptives in pregnancy and major structural birth defects in offspring.

Background: Oral contraceptives (OCs) are the most commonly used reversible contraceptive method among US women. Although the majority of previous studies have reported no association between OC use during pregnancy and birth defects, some studies have reported increased occurrence of neural tube defects, limb reduction defects, and urinary tract anomalies.

Methods: We assessed OC use among mothers who participated in the multisite, case-control, National Birth Defects Prevention Study.