Association between prenatal exposure to air pollutants and newborn thyroxine (T4) levels.

Background: Thyroid hormones play a key role in fetal and child development. Recent studies have linked prenatal exposure to atmospheric contaminants with changes in thyroid hormone levels in newborns, but the data from the few studies that have explored this issue are inconclusive. The present study aims to assess the association of total thyroxine (TT4) levels in newborns with weekly prenatal exposure to PM2.

Prenatal exposure to PM and NO and sex-dependent infant cognitive and motor development.

Background: Prenatal exposure to air pollutants including particulate matter (<2.5 μm of diameter,PM)and nitrogen dioxide (NO) has been identified as a potential risk factor for neuropsychological developmental and mental health disorders.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the associations between prenatal PM and NO exposure and cognitive functions in children at 4-6 years of age, including sex differences, and the modification effect of the duration predominant breastfeeding these associations.

Global Assessment of the Impact of Type 2 Diabetes on Sleep through Specific Questionnaires. A Case-Control Study.

Abstract: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an independent risk factor for sleep breathing disorders. However, it is unknown whether T2D affects daily somnolence and quality of sleep independently of the impairment of polysomnographic parameters.

Material And Methods: A case-control study including 413 patients with T2D and 413 non-diabetic subjects, matched by age, gender, BMI, and waist and neck circumferences.

Annoyance Caused by Noise and Air Pollution during Pregnancy: Associated Factors and Correlation with Outdoor NO2 and Benzene Estimations.

This study aimed to describe the degree of annoyance among pregnant women in a Spanish cohort and to examine associations with proximity to traffic, NO2 and benzene exposure. We included 2457 participants from the Spanish Childhood and Environment study. Individual exposures to outdoor NO2 and benzene were estimated, temporally adjusted for pregnancy.

Exposure to fine particle matter, nitrogen dioxide and benzene during pregnancy and cognitive and psychomotor developments in children at 15 months of age.

Background: Prenatal exposure to air pollutants has recently been identified as a potential risk factor for neuropsychological impairment.

Objectives: To assess whether prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene were associated with impaired development in infants during their second year of life.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus mimicking Alzheimer's disease: such an infrequent case?

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is an age-related condition frequently associated with degenerative and vascular brain pathologies. However, cases of NPH with no concomitant brain pathology have been described with important implications in terms of early detection and treatment. We present a case of NPH that commenced with cognitive deterioration similar to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

[Trend in lead exposure in the Spanish child population in the last 20 years. An unrecognized example of health in all policies?].

Objective: To describe the time trend in atmospheric lead concentrations in Spain, from before lead was banned as a gasoline additive to the present, and to determine the trend in lead body burden in the Spanish child population.

Methods: We obtained the annual average for atmospheric lead levels in several Spanish cities from the 1980s to the present. A literature search was conducted to identify published studies on lead concentrations in populations of Spanish children.

A Cre-reporter transgenic mouse expressing the far-red fluorescent protein Katushka.

Cre/loxP-dependent expression of fluorescent proteins represents a powerful biological tool for cell lineage, fate-mapping, and genetic analysis. Live tissue imaging has significantly improved with the development of far-red fluorescent proteins, with optimized spectral characteristics for in vivo applications. Here, we report the generation of the first transgenic mouse line expressing the far-red fluorescent protein Katushka, driven by the hybrid CAG promoter upon Cre-mediated recombination.

Air quality assessment in urban areas of Gipuzkoa (Spain).

Objectives: To evaluate the air quality to which a population of 90,000 inhabitants in the province of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain) is exposed. The population resides in a periurban environment, where industrial activity (11 iron and steel foundries) is scattered among residential areas.

Methods: Throughout 2006 and 2007, levels of particulate matter less than 2.

[Air pollutant exposure during pregnancy and fetal and early childhood development. Research protocol of the INMA (Childhood and Environment Project)].

Introduction: The INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente [Spanish for Environment and Childhood]) project is a cooperative research network. This project aims to study the effects of environment and diet on fetal and early childhood development. This article aims to present the air pollutant exposure protocol during pregnancy and fetal and early childhood development of the INMA project.