Adolescent endocrine disrupting chemical exposure and academic achievement.

Background: Epidemiologic studies support associations of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as some phthalates, phenols, and parabens with a wide range of cognitive and behavioral traits. While many of these traits are associated with academic achievement, the relationship of EDC exposure specifically with academic achievement in adolescence has not yet been studied.

Objective: We assessed the association of urinary biomarker concentrations of EDCs with academic achievement in adolescents as well as the potential for psychosocial factors to modify associations.

Incidence of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome and -related epilepsy in Denmark.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) and potassium sodium-activated channel subfamily T member 1 (-related epilepsy in Denmark and to characterize the patients diagnosed with AGS and -related epilepsy.

Background: AGS and -related epilepsy are 2 distinct rare genetic disorders. Due to the rarity of AGS and -related epilepsy, the epidemiology remains unclear.

Real-world study of multiple naloxone administration for opioid overdose reversal among bystanders.

Background: The increasing prevalence of highly potent, illicitly manufactured fentanyl and its analogues (IMF) in the USA is exacerbating the opioid epidemic which has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Narcan® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for opioid-related overdoses. Due to the high potency of IMF, multiple naloxone administrations (MNA) may be needed per overdose event.

Prenatal exposure to a mixture of organochlorines and metals and internalizing symptoms in childhood and adolescence.

Background: Although prenatal chemical exposures influence neurobehavior, joint exposures are not well explored as risk factors for internalizing disorders through adolescence.

Objective: To evaluate associations of prenatal organochlorine and metal exposures, considered individually and as a mixture, with mid-childhood and adolescent internalizing symptoms.

Methods: Participants were 468 children from a prospective cohort recruited at birth (1993-1998) in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Early-Life Exposure to Green Space and Mid-Childhood Cognition in the Project Viva Cohort, Massachusetts.

The association between early-life greenness and child cognition is not well understood. Using prospective data from Project Viva (n = 857) from 1999-2010, we examined associations of early-life greenness exposure with mid-childhood cognition. We estimated residential greenness at birth, early childhood (median age 3.

Estimating the prevalence of Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) in the United States.

Background: Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) is an ultra-rare progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 genes that lead to premature death, with most individuals dying between 10 and 25 years of age. NPC can present at any age and many individuals with NPC may be misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. A key challenge with recognizing NPC is the heterogeneous and nonspecific clinical presentation.

Associations of prenatal exposure to phthalates with measures of cognition in 7.5-month-old infants.

Background: Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals that have been associated with adverse neurobehavior, but little is known about their influence on infant cognition.

Methods: A visual recognition memory task was used to assess cognition in 244 7-8-month-old infants (121 females; 123 males) from a prospective cohort study. Phthalate metabolites were quantified in maternal urines pooled from across pregnancy.

Early infant behavioural correlates of social skills in adolescents.

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically diagnosed after the second year of life; however, differences in brain structure and function associated with ASD have been ascertained in early infancy. Identifying behavioural markers of ASD risk in early infancy has the potential to facilitate early detection and intervention.

Objectives: We examined associations between infant behaviour and adolescent behaviours associated with ASD.

Association of Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals During Adolescence With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-Related Behaviors.

Importance: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood neurobehavioral disorder. Studies suggest that prenatal and early childhood exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be associated with ADHD, but the association during adolescence has not been studied to date.

Objective: To evaluate the association between exposure to select endocrine-disrupting chemicals during adolescence and ADHD-related behaviors.

Endocrine disrupting chemical exposure and maladaptive behavior during adolescence.

Background: Studies suggest that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including phthalates, phenols, and parabens may influence childhood behavior, but the relationship during adolescence has not been assessed.

Objective: We investigated the association between urinary biomarker concentrations of potential EDCs, including some phthalate and bisphenol A replacement chemicals, and behavior in adolescents.

Methods: Participants were from the New Bedford Cohort (NBC), a prospective birth cohort of residents near the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site in Massachusetts.

Prenatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances: Infant Birth Weight and Early Life Growth.

Background: Prenatal perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure has been associated with reduced birth weight and excess child adiposity, but the relationship between PFAS and early life growth is unknown.

Objective: To determine if prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with birth weight, body composition and growth until 2 years of age.

Methods: In a prospective cohort of women and their children from Cincinnati, OH, we quantified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in pregnant women's serum.

Early-Life Phthalate Exposure and Adiposity at 8 Years of Age.

Background: Early-life phthalate exposure may influence child adiposity, but prior studies have not determined if there are periods of enhanced vulnerability to phthalates.

Objective: To examine the relationship between child adiposity at 8 y of age and repeated urinary biomarkers of phthalate exposure from gestation through childhood to determine if there are distinct periods of vulnerability.

Methods: In 219 mother-child pairs from Cincinnati, Ohio, we quantified nine urinary phthalate metabolites up to two times prenatally and six times from 1-8 y of age.

Prenatal phthalate exposure and infant size at birth and gestational duration.

Background: Phthalate exposure is widespread. Prior research suggests that prenatal phthalate exposure may influence birth size and gestational duration, but published results have been inconsistent.

Objective: We quantified the relationship between maternal urinary phthalate concentrations and infant birth weight z-scores, length, head circumference, and gestational duration.

Ondansetron and sertraline may interact with 5-HTTLPR and DRD4 polymorphisms to reduce drinking in non-treatment seeking alcohol-dependent women: exploratory findings.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the interaction of 5-HTTLPR and DRD4 exon III polymorphisms with gender in non-treatment seeking alcohol-dependent (AD) individuals while alternately taking ondansetron and sertraline. Evidence suggests that alcohol dependence may be influenced by a genetic interaction that may be gender-specific with temporal changes making pharmacological treatment with serotonergic drugs complex. The main trial was a within-subject double-blind placebo-controlled human laboratory study with 77 non-treatment-seeking AD individuals randomized (55 completed, 49 complete data) to receive 200 mg/day of sertraline or 0.

Ondansetron reduces naturalistic drinking in nontreatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals with the LL 5'-HTTLPR genotype: a laboratory study.

Background: One hypothesis suggests that the differential response to ondansetron- and serotonin-specific re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be due to a functional polymorphism of the 5'-HTTLPR promoter region in SLC6A4, the gene that codes for the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). The LL 5'-HTTLPR genotype is postulated to be specifically sensitive to the effects of ondansetron with SS/SL 5'-HTTLPR genotypes sensitive to SSRIs. This study tests this hypothesis by matching nontreatment-seeking alcohol-dependent (AD) individuals with LL genotype to ondansetron and SS/SL genotypes to the SSRI sertraline, and mismatching them assessing naturalistic and bar-laboratory alcohol drinking.

A human laboratory pilot study with baclofen in alcoholic individuals.

Preclinical and clinical studies show that the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen may represent a pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence (AD). However, the mechanisms by which baclofen affects drinking are not well characterized; thus this pilot study investigated possible baclofen's biobehavioral mechanisms. The design was a double-blind controlled randomized human laboratory pilot study.

Minimum financial outlays for purchasing alcohol brands in the U.S.

Background: Low alcohol prices are a potent risk factor for excessive drinking, underage drinking, and adverse alcohol-attributable outcomes. Presently, there is little reported information on alcohol prices in the U.S.

Association of the 5-HTT gene-linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism with psychiatric disorders: review of psychopathology and pharmacotherapy.

Serotonin (5-HT) regulates important biological and psychological processes including mood, and may be associated with the development of several psychiatric disorders. An association between psychopathology and genes that regulate 5-HT neurotransmission is a robust area of research. Identification of the genes responsible for the predisposition, development, and pharmacological response of various psychiatric disorders is crucial to the advancement of our understanding of their underlying neurobiology.

Assessment of the average price and ethanol content of alcoholic beverages by brand--United States, 2011.

Background: There are no existing data on alcoholic beverage prices and ethanol (EtOH) content at the level of alcohol brand. A comprehensive understanding of alcohol prices and EtOH content at the brand level is essential for the development of effective public policy to reduce alcohol use among underage youth. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively assess alcoholic beverage prices and EtOH content at the brand level.