The association of Helicobacter pylori with adverse pregnancy outcomes in three European birth cohorts.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a prevalent infection that may complicate pregnancy, but evidence remains limited, controversial and may not apply to all pregnant women.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether Helicobacter pylori is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes and to identify vulnerable subpopulations.

Study Design: Multiplex serology was utilized to measure blood levels of immunoglobulin G against eight Helicobacter pylori antigens in 1372 pregnant women from three European birth cohorts: BiB (United Kingdom), Rhea (Greece) and INMA (Spain).

Association of maternal thyroglobulin with gestational thyroid function and offspring IQ and brain morphology.

Background: Low maternal urinary iodine concentration (UIC) during pregnancy is associated with adverse offspring neurodevelopment. Thyroglobulin (Tg) has been suggested as a more sensitive biomarker than UIC of long-term iodine status, but associations of Tg with neurodevelopment and the possible mediating role of thyroid function remain unknown.

Aim: To study whether maternal Tg is associated with i) maternal and newborn thyroid function and ii) offspring IQ and brain morphology.

The effects of heavy metal exposure on brain and gut microbiota: A systematic review of animal studies.

The gut-brain axis is a crucial interface between the central nervous system and the gut microbiota. Recent evidence shows that exposure to environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals, can cause dysbiosis in gut microbiota, which may affect the gut-brain communication, impacting aspects of brain function and behavior. This systematic review of the literature aims to evaluate whether deleterious effects on brain function due to heavy metal exposure could be mediated by changes in the gut microbiota profile.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols in long term care facilities and other indoor spaces with known COVID-19 outbreaks.

Coronavirus outbreaks are likely to occur in crowded and congregate indoor spaces, and their effects are most severe in vulnerable long term care facilities (LTCFs) residents. Public health officers benefit from tools that allow them to control COVID-19 outbreaks in vulnerable settings such as LTCFs, but which could be translated in the future to control other known and future virus outbreaks. This study aims to develop and test a methodology based on detection of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol samples collected with personal pumps that could be easily implemented by public health officers.