Publications by authors named "Emily S Barrett"

Pregnant people are ubiquitously exposed to endocrine-disrupting phthalates through consumer products and food. The placenta may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of phthalates, with evidence from animal models suggesting impacts on placental development and vascularization. We translate this research to humans, examining gestational exposure to phthalates and phthalate replacements in relation to novel markers of chorionic plate surface vascularization.

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Introduction: The New Jersey Kids Study (NJKS) is a transdisciplinary statewide initiative to understand influences on child health, development, and disease. We conducted a mixed-methods study of project planning teams to investigate team effectiveness and relationships between team dynamics and quality of deliverables.

Methods: Ten theme-based working groups (WGs) (e.

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Urinary hydroxylated-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with half-life less than 2 days, are established biomarkers of short-term exposure to PAHs, a ubiquitous constituent of air pollution mixture. In this study, we explore the use of PAHs-hemoglobin adducts as biomarkers of longer-term exposure to air pollution by leveraging an extant resource of blood samples collected from 235 pregnant women residing in Rochester, NY. We measured red blood cells for benzo[]pyrene-tetrols (BaPT) and phenanthrene-tetrols (PHET), both of which are hydrolysis products of PAH-hemoglobin adduct.

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Background: Environmental exposures to chemical toxicants during gestation and infancy can dysregulate multiple developmental processes, causing lifelong effects. There is compelling evidence of PFAS-associated immunotoxicity in adults and children. However, the effect of developmental PFAS exposure on infant T-cell immunity is unreported, and, if present, could be implicated in immune-related health outcomes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Zearalenone (ZEN), a mycotoxin from Fusarium fungi found in many food supplies, can bind to estrogen receptors and is linked to reproductive issues, yet research on its effects during pregnancy is limited.
  • A study measured ZEN levels in urine samples from 286 pregnant women and analyzed their weight gain to determine the impact of mycoestrogens.
  • The findings indicated that higher concentrations of ZEN were associated with increased gestational weight gain, particularly in those carrying male fetuses, suggesting that mycoestrogen exposure could influence pregnancy weight dynamics.
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Background: Pregnant people are widely exposed to numerous synthetic chemicals with known endocrine-disrupting properties (e.g., phthalates, phenols, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)).

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Introduction: Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are increasing in use as flame retardants and plasticizers and concerns have been raised given their endocrine-disrupting activities and possible obesogenic consequences. However, longitudinal studies on gestational OPE exposure and childhood obesity are scarce. This study examined whether OPE levels in maternal urine during pregnancy were associated with the risk of childhood obesity.

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Chronic psychosocial stress is known to adversely impact immune function. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, occupational stress among workers in healthcare was at an unprecedented level due to risks of infection and work demands. We performed a nested case-control study to investigate the associations between chronic stress and the risks of contracting SARS-CoV-2.

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Restricted fetal growth (RFG) is a leading contributor to perinatal mortality and has been associated with gestational exposure to air pollution, such as fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study examines the association between trimester-specific and weekly means of air pollution throughout gestation and placental inflammatory markers at delivery. In a prospective cohort study of 263 pregnant women in Rochester, NY, we measured interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in placental tissue and estimated gestational exposure to PM and NO using a high-resolution spatial-temporal model.

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Background: Pregnancy is a unique stage of the life course characterized by trade-offs between the nutritional, immune, and metabolic needs of the mother and fetus. The Camden Study was originally initiated to examine nutritional status, growth, and birth outcomes in adolescent pregnancies and expanded to study dietary and molecular predictors of pregnancy complications and birth outcomes in young women.

Methods: From 1985-2006, 4765 pregnant participants aged 12 years and older were recruited from Camden, NJ, one of the poorest cities in the U.

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Loss of taste and smell is one of the most troubling symptoms of long COVID and may be permanent for some. Correlation between subjectively and objectively assessed olfactory and gustatory impairment is low, leading to uncertainty about how many people are affected, how many recover, and to what extent. We prospectively investigated the effects of COVID-19 on long-term chemosensory function in a university and hospital-based cohort in NJ.

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Background: Composition of the vaginal microbiome in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal, obstetric, and child health outcomes. Therefore, identifying sources of individual differences in the vaginal microbiome is of considerable clinical and public health interest. The current study tested the hypothesis that vaginal microbiome composition during pregnancy is associated with an individual's experience of affective symptoms and stress exposure.

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Epidemiologic evidence has emerged showing an association between exposure to air pollution and increased risks of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study examines the effect of low-level air pollution exposure on a subclinical biomarker of hyperglycemia (i.e.

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Purpose Of Review: Many synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous in the environment and highly detected among pregnant people. These chemicals may disrupt maternal and/or fetal sex steroid hormones, which are critical to pregnancy maintenance and fetal development. Here, we review the epidemiological literature examining prenatal exposure to common synthetic EDCs in relation to maternal and fetal sex steroid hormones.

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Background: Prenatal fish intake is a key source of omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids needed for brain development, yet intake is generally low, and studies addressing associations with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related traits are lacking.

Objective: This study aimed to examine associations of prenatal fish intake and ω-3 supplement use with both autism diagnosis and broader autism-related traits.

Methods: Participants were drawn from 32 cohorts in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Cohort Consortium.

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Objective: Prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with adverse birth and developmental outcomes in children. We aimed to describe prenatal PAH exposures in a large, multisite U.S.

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Increased systemic oxidative stress, implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mothers and fetuses, has been associated with gestational exposure to air pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fine particulate matter (PM), and nitrogen dioxide (NO). However, it is unclear whether exposure to pollutants at levels below the current air quality standards can increase oxidative stress in pregnant women. In a cohort of 305 pregnant persons residing in western New York, we examined the association between exposure to PM, NO, and PAHs (measured as urinary 1-hydroxypyrene) and urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA] and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]) measured in each trimester.

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Article Synopsis
  • Executive functions, crucial for problem-solving and planning, develop rapidly in childhood, but prenatal exposure to environmental toxicants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may hinder this development.
  • The study analyzed 814 children from non-smoking mothers, measuring urine levels of PAH metabolites during pregnancy and evaluating their executive functions at age 8-9, focusing on cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control.
  • Results showed mostly null associations between PAH exposure and executive functions, although some interactions between specific PAH metabolites and working memory were observed, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
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Zearalenone (ZEN) is a fungal-derived toxin found in global food supplies including cereal grains and processed foods, impacting populations worldwide through diet. Because the chemical structure of ZEN and metabolites closely resembles 17β-estradiol (E2), they interact with estrogen receptors α/β earning their designation as 'mycoestrogens'. In animal models, gestational exposure to mycoestrogens disrupts estrogen activity and impairs fetal growth.

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Synopsis of recent research by authors named "Emily S Barrett"

  • - Emily S Barrett's research primarily focuses on the impact of environmental exposures during pregnancy, including chemicals like organophosphate esters, air pollutants, and mycoestrogens, on maternal and child health outcomes, particularly obesity and cognitive development.
  • - Recent studies by Barrett highlight the associations between gestational exposure to harmful substances and various adverse outcomes such as childhood obesity, placental inflammation, and executive function impairments in children, indicating significant public health implications.
  • - Her work also examines the role of maternal psychological factors, diet, and access to healthy foods, linking these socioeconomic aspects to maternal affective symptoms and child obesity trajectories, thereby emphasizing the importance of an integrated approach to maternal and child health.