Publications by authors named "J M Felix"
Environmental exposures, including air pollutants and lack of natural spaces, are associated with suboptimal health outcomes in children. We aimed to study the associations between environmental exposures and gene expression in children. Associations of exposure to particulate matter (PM) with diameter <2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: By recent estimates, 40% of children worldwide are exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS), which has been associated with adverse health outcomes. While numerous studies have linked maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) to widespread differences in child blood DNA methylation (DNAm), research specifically examining postnatal SHS exposure remains sparse. To address this gap, we conducted epigenome-wide meta-analyses to identify associations of postnatal SHS and child blood DNAm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParticipant engagement and involvement in longitudinal cohort studies: qualitative insights from a selection of pregnancy and birth, twin, and family-based population cohort studies.
BMC Med Res Methodol
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Longitudinal cohort studies are crucial for understanding how various factors impact health by tracking participants over time, but maintaining participant engagement over decades is challenging.
- This study examined participant engagement and involvement (PEI) practices in different cohort studies across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, using interviews to gather insights on recruitment, consent, communication, and data collection.
- Findings revealed diverse recruitment strategies, a shift towards digital data collection methods, and attempts to involve participants in decision-making through advisory panels, although success varied by age and socio-economic status.
Preterm birth (PTB), defined by the WHO as delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation, remains a significant global health challenge and the leading cause of neonatal mortality. Despite extensive efforts to prevent PTB, rates have remained stable, largely due to an incomplete understanding of its underlying pathophysiology. While research has traditionally focused on the myometrium and foetal membranes, the cervix's critical role in maintaining pregnancy and initiating labour is increasingly recognized but still often underexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - Children born via cesarean delivery have a greater risk of various health issues compared to those born vaginally, but the exact reasons are still not fully understood.
- - A meta-analysis involving over 12,000 participants found six specific DNA methylation markers in newborns linked to cesarean delivery, but these markers did not persist into childhood.
- - The study indicates that cesarean delivery affects certain blood cell proportions at birth, but further research is necessary to understand its long-term impacts on child health.