Sunspot activity and birth defects among Texas births (1999-2016).

Background: Building on findings that linked higher levels of sunspot (SS) activity with a range of health and adverse birth outcomes, we sought to understand how SS activity over a 17-year time period may be correlated with the occurrence of birth defects.

Methods: Data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry, vital events from the Texas Center for Health Statistics, and mean monthly numbers of sunspots from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were utilized. Poisson regression was used to calculate crude/adjusted prevalence ratios (cPRs/aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals for three quartiles (Q) of increasing SS activity (compared to a referent of low activity) and 44 birth defects (31 non-cardiac; 13 cardiac) with estimated dates of conception from 1998 to 2016.

Associations between maternal reports of periconceptional fever from miscellaneous causes and structural birth defects.

Background: Associations between birth defects and fevers attributed to colds, influenza, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) have been observed in previous studies. Our aim was to study associations between birth defects and fevers attributed to other causes.

Methods: We analyzed data from 34,862 participants in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a multistate case-control study of major structural birth defects.

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.

Bone Graft Substitutes in Single- or Double-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic review OBJECTIVE.: To undertake a systematic review of published literature to evaluate efficacy of bone graft substitutes on radiographic and clinical outcomes in single- or double-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for degenerative disease.

Summary Of Background Data: ACDF is one of the most common spinal surgeries completed in the United States.

Gastroschisis and Cumulative Stressor Exposures.

Background: Gastroschisis, a congenital defect of the abdominal wall, occurs disproportionately more in offspring of young mothers and has been increasing in prevalence over the past decades. A wide range of exposures have been reported in association with an increased gastroschisis risk, independent of mother's age; many have also been correlated with stress responses.

Methods: We explored cumulative exposures to such stressor exposures among 1,261 mothers of gastroschisis cases and 10,682 mothers of controls in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997-2011).

Pre-Zika descriptive epidemiology of microcephaly in Texas, 2008-2012.

Background: There are limited population-based studies on microcephaly. We characterized the epidemiology of microcephaly in Texas during a 5-year period (2008-2012), prior to the Zika epidemic in the Western hemisphere (2015). The associations of suspected risk factors were compared across four clearly defined case groups.

Thyroid Medication Use and Birth Defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Background: Thyroid disorders are common among reproductive-aged women, with hypothyroidism affecting 2 to 3% of pregnancies, and hyperthyroidism affecting an additional 0.1 to 1%. We examined associations between thyroid medications and individual birth defects using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS).

Maternal exposure to radiographic exams and major structural birth defects.

Background: An increasing number of radiologic exams are performed in the United States, but very few studies have examined the effects of maternal exposure to radiologic exams during the periconceptional period and birth defects.

Objectives: To assess the association between maternal exposure to radiologic exams during the periconceptional period and 19 categories of birth defects using a large population-based study of birth defects.

Methods: We studied 27,809 case mothers and 10,200 control mothers who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study and delivered between 1997 and 2009.

Two Decades of ICU Utilization and Hospital Outcomes in a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Objective: To investigate ICU utilization and hospital outcomes of oncological patients admitted to a comprehensive cancer center.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Setting: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

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.

An evaluation of differences in risk factors for individual types of surgical site infections after colon surgery.

Background: Most studies and national programs aggregate the different types of surgical site infections (SSIs) potentially masking and misattributing risk. Determining that risk factors for superficial, deep, and organ space SSIs are unique is essential to improve SSI rates.

Methods: This cohort study utilized data of 59,365 patients who underwent colon resection at hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2007 to 2009.

Sociodemographic and hispanic acculturation factors and isolated anotia/microtia.

Background: It has been observed in several studies that infants with anotia/microtia are more common among Hispanics compared with other racial/ethnic groups. We examined the association between selected Hispanic ethnicity and acculturation factors and anotia/microtia in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Methods: We examined data from mothers of 351 infants with isolated anotia/microtia and 8435 unaffected infants from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study with an expected delivery date from 1997 to 2007.

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.

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.