Publications by authors named "E Lodge"
Prenatal metal(loid) exposure and preterm birth: a systematic review of the epidemiologic evidence.
J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol
January 2025
Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is a common pregnancy complication associated with significant neonatal morbidity. Prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals, including toxic and/or essential metal(loid)s, may contribute to PTB risk.
Objective: We aimed to summarize the epidemiologic evidence of the associations among levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) assessed during the prenatal period and PTB or gestational age at delivery; to assess the quality of the literature and strength of evidence for an effect for each metal; and to provide recommendations for future research.
Renewal of the catecholamine-secreting chromaffin cell population of the adrenal medulla is necessary for physiological homeostasis throughout life. Definitive evidence for the presence or absence of an adrenomedullary stem cell has been enigmatic. In this work, we demonstrate that a subset of sustentacular cells endowed with a support role, are in fact adrenomedullary stem cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFew studies have described changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in response to infection and vaccination at frequent intervals and over extended follow-up periods. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses among a prospective cohort of health care personnel over 18 months with up to 22 samples per person. Antibody levels and live virus neutralization were measured before and after mRNA-based vaccination with results stratified by (1) SARS-CoV-2 infection status prior to initial vaccination and (2) SARS-CoV-2 infection at any point during follow-up.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The primary cilium is crucial for cell signaling, particularly in pituitary gland development, but its specific role in this context had not been explored before this study.
- FUZ, a key protein for the formation of primary cilia, is necessary for proper signaling pathways, particularly SHH, which influences the specification of the pituitary gland; mutants lacking FUZ show significant developmental issues.
- The study found that while Rathke's pouch develops initially in FUZ mutants, it fails to properly specify and express vital genes, leading to underdevelopment and apoptosis of the pituitary gland due to reduced SHH signal activation and abnormal signaling of other growth factors.
Background: Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming (TGNC) people continue to experience severe health discrimination and limited access to care.
Methods: Using survey data collected during August-September, 2020, we report on our findings regarding volunteer provider and patient satisfaction with a student-run free gender-affirming care telehealth clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
Results: We find that patients report overall excellent experiences with telehealth care, primarily due to decreased transportation burden, more efficient use of time, and more frequent communication with student volunteer providers.