The minor in Spanish legislation: an ethics perspective.

Introduction: Legislation embodies and regulates the common values by which a society is governed. Today's society is multicultural and dynamic, a consensus must be reached and values consolidated on which different ideological groups can agree, an approach known as the ethics of minima. The concept of the minor has also been changing over the years; from being perceived as passive to being considered an autonomous individual engaged in the development of his or her life project and the bearer of duties and rights to be progressively exercised according to his or her capacity.

Social inequalities, green and blue spaces and mental health in 6-12 years old children participating in the INMA cohort.

Availability of green and blue spaces in the area of residence has been related to various health outcomes during childhood, including mental health. These environmental exposures are not evenly distributed among socioeconomic groups, which may increase social inequalities in mental health. The mechanisms through which natural environments may promote mental health are numerous and diverse.

Non-thyroidal illness syndrome and its relationship with mortality risk in critically ill children.

Introduction: Non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) is considered to be associated with adverse outcomes in critically ill children.The hypothesis that thyroid hormones and inflammatory markers are associated with increased prediction of mortality risk scores is tested in this paper.

Methods: A prospective observational study was set up in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Prenatal exposure to fluoride and neuropsychological development in early childhood: 1-to 4 years old children.

Background: Cross-sectional and prospective studies have provided evidence of the neurotoxic effect of early exposure to fluoride (F) in pregnancy. It has been negatively associated with cognitive development during childhood, with most research conducted in areas with high F levels in community drinking water (CDW).

Method: Data from 316 to 248 mother-child pairs from the Infancia y Medio Ambiente (Childhood and Environment, INMA) birth cohort project with maternal urinary F level adjusted for creatinine (MUFcr) measurements in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Association of maternal thyroid function with birthweight: a systematic review and individual-participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Adequate transplacental passage of maternal thyroid hormone is important for normal fetal growth and development. Maternal overt hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are associated with low birthweight, but important knowledge gaps remain regarding the effect of subclinical thyroid function test abnormalities on birthweight-both in general and during the late second and third trimester of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine associations of maternal thyroid function with birthweight.

Iodine intake from supplements and diet during pregnancy and child cognitive and motor development: the INMA Mother and Child Cohort Study.

Background: The effect of mild-to-moderate maternal iodine deficiency on the neuropsychological development of their offspring is uncertain. We aimed to assess the association between iodine status during pregnancy and the cognitive and motor development of children at 4-5 years.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study in four Spanish regions with recruitment of pregnant women between 2003 and 2008 and follow-up of their children up to 4-5 years (mean (SD)=4.

High doses of folic acid in the periconceptional period and risk of low weight for gestational age at birth in a population based cohort study.

Purpose: We investigated the association between maternal use of folic acid (FA) during pregnancy and child anthropometric measures at birth.

Methods: We included 2302 mother-child pairs from a population-based birth cohort in Spain (INMA Project). FA dosages at first and third trimester of pregnancy were assessed using a specific battery questionnaire and were categorized in non-user, < 1000, 1000-4999, and ≥ 5000 µg/day.

Continuous determination of blood glucose in children admitted with malaria in a rural hospital in Mozambique.

Background: Hypoglycaemia is a frequent complication among admitted children, particularly in malaria-endemic areas. This study aimed to estimate the occurrence of hypoglycaemia not only upon admission but throughout the first 72 h of hospitalization in children admitted with malaria.

Methods: A simple pilot study to continuously monitor glycaemia in children aged 0-10 years, admitted with malaria in a rural hospital was conducted in Southern Mozambique by inserting continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in subcutaneous tissue of the abdominal area, producing glycaemia readings every 5 min.

Maternal Consumption of Seafood in Pregnancy and Child Neuropsychological Development: A Longitudinal Study Based on a Population With High Consumption Levels.

Seafood consumption during pregnancy is thought to be beneficial for child neuropsychological development, but to our knowledge no large cohort studies with high fatty fish consumption have analyzed the association by seafood subtype. We evaluated 1,892 and 1,589 mother-child pairs at the ages of 14 months and 5 years, respectively, in a population-based Spanish birth cohort established during 2004-2008. Bayley and McCarthy scales and the Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test were used to assess neuropsychological development.

Prenatal exposure to mixtures of xenoestrogens and genome-wide DNA methylation in human placenta.

Background: In utero exposure to xenostrogens may modify the epigenome. We explored the association of prenatal exposure to mixtures of xenoestrogens and genome-wide placental DNA methylation.

Materials & Methods: Sex-specific associations between methylation changes in placental DNA by doubling the concentration of TEXB-alpha exposure were evaluated by robust multiple linear regression.

Use of high doses of folic acid supplements in pregnant women in Spain: an INMA cohort study.

Objectives: We examined the use of low (<400 μg/day, including no use) and high folic acid supplement (FAS) dosages (≥1000 μg/day) among pregnant women in Spain, and explored factors associated with the use of these non-recommended dosages.

Design: Population-based cohort study.

Setting: Spain.

In utero exposure to mixtures of xenoestrogens and child neuropsychological development.

Background: To date, no epidemiological studies have explored the impact and persistence of in utero exposure to mixtures of xenoestrogens on the developing brain. We aimed to assess whether the cumulative effect of xenoestrogens in the placenta is associated with altered infant neuropsychological functioning at two and at four years of age, and if associations differ among boys and girls.

Methods: Cumulative prenatal exposure to xenoestrogens was quantified in the placenta using the biomarker Total Effective Xenoestrogen Burden (TEXB-alpha) in 489 participants from the INMA (Childhood and the Environment) Project.

Prenatal exposure to cooking gas and respiratory health in infants is modified by tobacco smoke exposure and diet in the INMA birth cohort study.

Background: Studies that have evaluated the association between exposure to gas appliances emissions at home with respiratory health in children obtained heterogeneous and limited results. The aim of this study is to analyze the association between the use of gas cooking at home during pregnancy and respiratory problems in children during their first year of life.

Methods: In the years 2003 through 2008 pregnant women were enrolled in 4 Spanish areas and visited in different age-points following a common protocol.

Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity, and child neuropsychological development: two Southern European birth cohort studies.

Background: Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity may be associated with impaired infant neuropsychological development; however, there are few studies and it is unclear if reported associations are due to intrauterine mechanisms.

Methods: We assessed whether maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity were associated with cognitive and psychomotor development scores (mean 100 ± 15) of children aged 11-22 months in two birth cohorts: Environment and Childhood (INMA, Spain; n = 1967) and Mother-Child (RHEA, Greece: n = 412). Paternal body mass index (BMI) was used as a negative control exposure.

Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in pregnancy and infant neuropsychological development.

Objective: To investigate whether circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) [25(OH)D(3)] concentration in pregnancy is associated with neuropsychological development in infants.

Methods: The Spanish population-based cohort study INfancia y Medio Ambiente Project recruited pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy between November 2003 and February 2008. Completed data on 1820 mother-infant pairs were used.

Prenatal exposure to mercury and infant neurodevelopment in a multicenter cohort in Spain: study of potential modifiers.

Vulnerability of the central nervous system to mercury is increased during early development. This study aimed to evaluate whether cord blood total mercury levels may have a negative effect on both mental and psychomotor development in a maternal-birth cohort from moderate-high fish consumption areas. Study subjects were 1,683 child participants in the INMA (Environment and Childhood) Project from 4 areas of Spain between 2003 and 2010.

Urinary concentrations of phthalates and phenols in a population of Spanish pregnant women and children.

Background: Phthalate and phenol exposure is prevalent among the general population and of potential concern for pregnant women and children because of their suspected susceptibility to endocrine effects.

Objectives: To evaluate the extent of exposure to several phthalates and phenols in a sample of Spanish pregnant women - according to their individual characteristics (age, social class, education, and body mass index) - and children who participated in the INMA - Infancia y Medio Ambiente (Environment and Childhood) project.

Methods: One spot urine sample was taken during the third trimester of pregnancy from 120 pregnant women and from 30 4-year old children belonging to 5 Spanish birth cohorts, and analyzed for 11 phthalate metabolites and 9 phenols.