Publications by authors named "K Dack"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effects of maternal vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid (DHA) deficiencies on neurodevelopmental traits in offspring, using a method called Mendelian randomization to establish causal relationships rather than just correlations.
- Results showed that while higher maternal vitamin-D levels were initially linked to lower ADHD traits in children, this association disappeared when controlling for genetic factors, indicating no causal maternal influence.
- The findings suggest that prior observational studies might have been misleading due to genetic confounding, and that genetic predispositions for autism and ADHD are related to lower levels of vitamin D and DHA in mothers.
Contact tracing was used globally to prevent onwards transmission of COVID-19. Tracing contacts alone is unlikely to be sufficient in controlling community transmission, due to the pre-symptomatic, overdispersed and airborne nature of COVID-19 transmission. We describe and demonstrate the validity of a national enhanced contact tracing programme for COVID-19 cluster surveillance in England.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is evidence that tissue concentrations of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) are predicted by numerous dietary, sociodemographic, environmental, and genetic factors. This study aimed to estimate the relative importance of predictors of Hg and Se concentrations in blood samples taken from pregnant women. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in the UK measured whole blood Hg and Se concentrations in 3,972 pregnant women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Mercury is widely used in industry and products, leading to significant environmental contamination and occupational exposure, with genetic factors potentially influencing how it is absorbed and metabolized in the body.
- A study analyzed blood mercury levels in pregnant women and children to identify genetic variations (SNPs) linked to mercury concentrations, finding an estimated heritability of 24% in pregnant women but not in children.
- The research identified 16 SNPs connected to mercury levels in pregnant women and 21 in children, but there was no significant overlap or conclusive results, suggesting differences in metabolism and the need for further validation of these findings.
COVID-19 associated with universities in England, October 2020-February 2022.
Public Health
November 2023
Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 cases at universities in England (October 2020-February 2022) and investigate factors associated with rates of COVID-19 among students during autumn/winter of 2021/22.
Study Design: The study was an observational retrospective study using routine contact tracing data.
Methods: Estimates of COVID-19 cases among students and staff at universities were described.