Neighborhood-based PA and its environmental correlates: a GIS- and GPS based cross-sectional study in the Netherlands.

Background: To improve our understanding of the neighborhood environment - physical activity (PA) relationship, it is of importance to assess associations between neighborhood environmental characteristics and neighborhood-based PA.

Methods: Participants' (N = 308; 45-65 years) light PA (LPA) and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) within a 400, 800, and 1600 m buffer around adults' homes was measured using accelerometers and GPS-devices. Land use data in ArcGIS provided neighborhood characteristics for the same buffers.

Residential area characteristics and disabilities among Dutch community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Living longer independently may be facilitated by an attractive and safe residential area, which stimulates physical activity. We studied the association between area characteristics and disabilities and whether this association is mediated by transport-related physical activity (TPA).

Methods: Longitudinal data of 271 Dutch community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older participating in the Elderly And their Neighbourhood (ELANE) study in 2011-2013 were used.

The role of high-intensity physical exercise in the prevention of disability among community-dwelling older people.

Background: Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is considered important to prevent disability among community-dwelling older people. To develop MVPA programs aimed at reducing or preventing disability more insight is needed in the contributions of exercise duration and intensity and the interplay between the two.

Methods: Longitudinal data of 276 Dutch community-dwelling persons aged 65 years and older participating in the Elderly And their Neighbourhood (ELANE) study were used.

Children's route choice during active transportation to school: difference between shortest and actual route.

Background: The purpose of this study is to increase our understanding of environmental correlates that are associated with route choice during active transportation to school (ATS) by comparing characteristics of actual walking and cycling routes between home and school with the shortest possible route to school.

Methods: Children (n = 184; 86 boys, 98 girls; age range: 8-12 years) from seven schools in suburban municipalities in the Netherlands participated in the study. Actual walking and cycling routes to school were measured with a GPS-device that children wore during an entire school week.

Natural and built environmental exposures on children's active school travel: A Dutch global positioning system-based cross-sectional study.

Physical inactivity among children is on the rise. Active transport to school (ATS), namely walking and cycling there, adds to children's activity level. Little is known about how exposures along actual routes influence children's transport behavior.

Physical activity in non-frail and frail older adults.

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is important for healthy ageing. Better insight into objectively measured PA levels in older adults is needed, since most previous studies employed self-report measures for PA assessment, which are associated with overestimation of PA.

Aim: This study aimed to provide insight in objectively measured indoor and outdoor PA of older adults, and in PA differences by frailty levels.

Reliability of concentrations of organophosphate pesticide metabolites in serial urine specimens from pregnancy in the Generation R Study.

The widespread use of organophosphate (OP) pesticides has resulted in ubiquitous exposure in humans, primarily through their diet. Exposure to OP pesticides may have adverse health effects, including neurobehavioral deficits in children. The optimal design of new studies requires data on the reliability of urinary measures of exposure.

Reproducibility of urinary bisphenol A concentrations measured during pregnancy in the Generation R Study.

The potential human health effects of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure are a public health concern. In order to design adequately powered epidemiological studies to address potential health effects, data on the reproducibility of BPA concentration in serial urine specimens taken during pregnancy are needed. To provide additional data on the reproducibility of maternal urine specimens, 80 women in the Generation R Study (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) contributed a spot urine specimen at <18, 18-25, and >25 weeks of pregnancy.

Active transport between home and school assessed with GPS: a cross-sectional study among Dutch elementary school children.

Background: Active transport to school is associated with higher levels of physical activity in children. Promotion of active transport has therefore gained attention as a potential target to increase children's physical activity levels. Recent studies have recognized that the distance between home and school is an important predictor for active travel among children.

Characteristics of residential areas and transportational walking among frail and non-frail Dutch elderly: does the size of the area matter?

Background: A residential area supportive for walking may facilitate elderly to live longer independently. However, current evidence on area characteristics potentially important for walking among older persons is mixed. This study hypothesized that the importance of area characteristics for transportational walking depends on the size of the area characteristics measured, and older person's frailty level.

Schoolyard physical activity of 6-11 year old children assessed by GPS and accelerometry.

Background: Children's current physical activity levels are disturbingly low when compared to recommended levels. This may be changed by intervening in the school environment. However, at present, it is unclear to what extent schoolyard physical activity contributes towards reaching the daily physical activity guideline.

Management of undescended testis: a decision analysis.

Background: Undescended testis (UDT) or cryptorchidism is the most common genital anomaly seen in boys and can be treated surgically by orchidopexy. The age at which orchidopexy should be performed is controversial for both congenital and acquired UDT.

Methods: A decision analysis is performed in which all available knowledge is combined to assess the outcomes of orchidopexy at different ages.

Fetal growth and prenatal exposure to bisphenol A: the generation R study.

Background: Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) has been associated with adverse birth outcomes, but findings of previous studies have been inconsistent.

Objective: We investigated the relation of prenatal BPA exposure with intrauterine growth and evaluated the effect of the number of measurements per subject on observed associations.

Methods: This study was embedded in a Dutch population-based prospective cohort study, with urine samples collected during early, mid-, and late pregnancy.

Maternal exposure to particulate air pollution and term birth weight: a multi-country evaluation of effect and heterogeneity.

Background: A growing body of evidence has associated maternal exposure to air pollution with adverse effects on fetal growth; however, the existing literature is inconsistent.

Objectives: We aimed to quantify the association between maternal exposure to particulate air pollution and term birth weight and low birth weight (LBW) across 14 centers from 9 countries, and to explore the influence of site characteristics and exposure assessment methods on between-center heterogeneity in this association.

Methods: Using a common analytical protocol, International Collaboration on Air Pollution and Pregnancy Outcomes (ICAPPO) centers generated effect estimates for term LBW and continuous birth weight associated with PM(10) and PM(2.

Air pollution, fetal and infant tobacco smoke exposure, and wheezing in preschool children: a population-based prospective birth cohort.

Background: Air pollution is associated with asthma exacerbations. We examined the associations of exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with the risk of wheezing in preschool children, and assessed whether these associations were modified by tobacco smoke exposure.

Methods: This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study among 4,634 children.

Air pollution exposure and markers of placental growth and function: the generation R study.

Background: Air pollution exposure during pregnancy might affect placental growth and function, perhaps leading to pregnancy complications.

Objective: We prospectively evaluated the associations of maternal air pollution exposure with markers of placental growth and function among 7,801 pregnant women in the Netherlands.

Methods: We estimated levels of particulate matter ≤ 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at the home address for different periods during pregnancy using dispersion modeling techniques.

Air pollution exposure estimation using dispersion modelling and continuous monitoring data in a prospective birth cohort study in The Netherlands.

Previous studies suggest that pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution. A prospective cohort study in pregnant women and their children enables identification of the specific effects and critical periods. This paper describes the design of air pollution exposure assessment for participants of the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study from early pregnancy onwards in 9778 women in The Netherlands.

Chronic air pollution exposure during pregnancy and maternal and fetal C-reactive protein levels: the Generation R Study.

Background: Exposure to air pollution has been associated with higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, suggesting an inflammatory response. Not much is known about this association in pregnancy.

Objectives: We investigated the associations of air pollution exposure during pregnancy with maternal and fetal CRP levels in a population-based cohort study in the Netherlands.

Air pollution exposure during pregnancy, ultrasound measures of fetal growth, and adverse birth outcomes: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Air pollution exposure during pregnancy might have trimester-specific effects on fetal growth.

Objective: We prospectively evaluated the associations of maternal air pollution exposure with fetal growth characteristics and adverse birth outcomes in 7,772 subjects in the Netherlands.

Methods: Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were estimated using dispersion modeling at the home address.

European birth cohorts for environmental health research.

Background: Many pregnancy and birth cohort studies investigate the health effects of early-life environmental contaminant exposure. An overview of existing studies and their data is needed to improve collaboration, harmonization, and future project planning.

Objectives: Our goal was to create a comprehensive overview of European birth cohorts with environmental exposure data.

The International Collaboration on Air Pollution and Pregnancy Outcomes: initial results.

Background: The findings of prior studies of air pollution effects on adverse birth outcomes are difficult to synthesize because of differences in study design.

Objectives: The International Collaboration on Air Pollution and Pregnancy Outcomes was formed to understand how differences in research methods contribute to variations in findings. We initiated a feasibility study to a) assess the ability of geographically diverse research groups to analyze their data sets using a common protocol and b) perform location-specific analyses of air pollution effects on birth weight using a standardized statistical approach.

Air pollution, blood pressure, and the risk of hypertensive complications during pregnancy: the generation R study.

Exposure to air pollution is associated with elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. We assessed the associations of exposure to particulate matter (PM(10)) and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) levels with blood pressure measured in each trimester of pregnancy and the risks of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia in 7006 women participating in a prospective cohort study in the Netherlands. Information on gestational hypertensive disorders was obtained from medical records.

Testicular microlithiasis in boys and young men with congenital or acquired undescended (ascending) testis.

Purpose: We assessed the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis by ultrasound in boys and young men with congenital or acquired undescended (ascending) testis.

Materials And Methods: During followup for testicular growth patients with congenital or acquired undescended (ascending) testis were also screened by ultrasound for testicular microlithiasis, which was defined as echogenic foci without shadowing within the testis parenchyma. Classic microlithiasis was defined as 5 or more echogenic foci in either or both testes and limited microlithiasis as fewer than 5 foci.

Residential traffic exposure and pregnancy-related outcomes: a prospective birth cohort study.

Background: The effects of ambient air pollution on pregnancy outcomes are under debate. Previous studies have used different air pollution exposure assessment methods. The considerable traffic-related intra-urban spatial variation needs to be considered in exposure assessment.

Maternal exposure to the Dutch famine before conception and during pregnancy: quality of life and depressive symptoms in adult offspring.

Background: Gestational exposure to famine has been associated with several chronic diseases in adulthood, but few studies in humans have related prenatal famine exposure to health-related quality of life. We used the circumstances of the Dutch Famine of 1944-1945 (during which official rations were <900 kcal/day for 24 weeks) to assess whether exposure to famine prior to conception or at specified stages of pregnancy was related to self-reported health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in adulthood.

Methods: We studied 923 individuals, including persons born in western Holland between January 1945 and March 1946, persons born in the same 3 institutions in 1943 and 1947 and same-sex siblings of persons in series 1 or 2.