Extending the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort through 2030: Rationale and study protocol.

Early life environmental exposures, even those experienced before conception, can shape health and disease trajectories across the lifespan. Optimizing the detection of the constellation of exposure effects on a broad range of child health outcomes across development requires considerable sample size, transdisciplinary expertise, and developmentally sensitive and dimensional measurement. To address this, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort Study is an observational longitudinal pediatric cohort study.

Developing Practice Guidelines on Chest Masculinization: Designing Male Neo-nipple-Areolar Complex.

Background: Successful nipple-areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction greatly influences patient outcomes for transgender patients undergoing chest masculinization. Despite the recent rise in case volume, little is known on designing the ideal NAC that maintains its aesthetics in dynamic settings. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of male NACs and their dimensional variability to help develop guidelines on designing the neo-NAC.

Nuclear microRNA 9 mediates G-quadruplex formation and 3D genome organization during TGF-β-induced transcription.

The dynamics of three-dimensional (3D) genome organization are essential to transcriptional regulation. While enhancers regulate spatiotemporal gene expression, chromatin looping is a means for enhancer-promoter interactions yielding cell-type-specific gene expression. Further, non-canonical DNA secondary structures, such as G-quadruplexes (G4s), are related to increased gene expression.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnancy, Birth Experiences, and Mental Health: Voices from Women in Puerto Rico.

Objectives: The specific aims of the project are: (1) Examine the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy experiences and outcomes; (2) Examine the mental health impact of COVID-19 in pregnant women and mothers of children 12 months or younger; (3) Identify risk and protective factors among this population in Puerto Rico.

Methods: Participants were recruited from the Puerto Rico Team for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) Superfund Program, which is composed of pregnant women and mothers from the northern karst region of Puerto Rico. The research had a mixed methods approach with a quantitative survey (n = 184) and qualitative interviews (n = 10); data collection was done in virtual mode.

Changes in exposure to environmental contaminants in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria among pregnant women in northern Puerto Rico.

Experiencing a hurricane during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes and poor mental health. Pregnant people from marginalized communities are more susceptible to adverse effects, as they have fewer resources to overcome hardships at a time when shelter and nutrition are essential. When Hurricane Maria (HM) devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, the archipelago was already burdened with high poverty, health disparities, environmental contamination, and fragile utility infrastructure.