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).

Gut microbiome signature and nasal lavage inflammatory markers in young people with asthma.

Background: Asthma is a complex disease and a severe global public health problem resulting from interactions between genetic background and environmental exposures. It has been suggested that gut microbiota may be related to asthma development; however, such relationships needs further investigation.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota as well as the nasal lavage cytokine profile of asthmatic and nonasthmatic individuals.

Occupational differences in COVID-19 incidence, severity, and mortality in the United Kingdom: Available data and framework for analyses.

There are important differences in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death depending on occupation. Infections in healthcare workers have received the most attention, and there are clearly increased risks for intensive care unit workers who are caring for COVID-19 patients. However, a number of other occupations may also be at an increased risk, particularly those which involve social care or contact with the public.

Defining cases of asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis using electronic health records in the Born in Bradford birth cohort.

Key Messages • In electronic health records, the accuracy of diagnostic codes to define outcomes can be uncertain • The accuracy can vary in different settings, doctors and practices, even with validated codes • We recommend definitions combining codes previously described and other codes available in the records.

Availability and use of rapid diagnostic tests for the management of acute childhood infections in Europe: A cross-sectional survey of paediatricians.

Background: Point-of-care-tests (POCTs) have been advocated to optimise care in patients with infections but their actual use varies. This study aimed to estimate the variability in the adoption of current POCTs by paediatricians across Europe, and to explore the determinants of variability.

Methods And Findings: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of hospital and primary care paediatricians, recruited through professional networks.

Transmission and Control of SARS-CoV-2 in the Food Production Sector: A Rapid Narrative Review of the Literature.

This review aimed to provide an overview of the literature assessing the extent of COVID-19 transmission in the food processing sector along with the risk factors associated with COVID-19 infection/mortality rates in this setting, and the preventive measures used to reduce transmission. An electronic search was conducted using scientific databases, including Web of Science, OVID, PubMed and MedRxiv. The search strategy identified 26 papers that met the inclusion criteria.

Asthma inflammatory phenotypes on four continents: most asthma is non-eosinophilic.

Background: Most studies assessing pathophysiological heterogeneity in asthma have been conducted in high-income countries (HICs), with little known about the prevalence and characteristics of different asthma inflammatory phenotypes in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study assessed sputum inflammatory phenotypes in five centres, in Brazil, Ecuador, Uganda, New Zealand (NZ) and the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 998 asthmatics and 356 non-asthmatics in 2016-20.

Factors predicting amoxicillin prescribing in primary care among children: a cohort study.

Background: Antibiotic prescribing during childhood, most commonly for respiratory tract infections (RTIs), contributes to antimicrobial resistance, which is a major public health concern.

Aim: To identify factors associated with amoxicillin prescribing and RTI consultation attendance in young children in primary care.

Design And Setting: Cohort study in Bradford spanning pregnancy to age 24 months, collected 2007-2013, linked to electronic primary care and air pollution data.

An Ecological Study of COVID-19 Infection Rates within the UK Food and Drink Processing Industry.

Objectives: Food processing facilities represent critical infrastructure that have stayed open during much of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the burden of COVID-19 in this sector is thus important to help reduce the potential for workplace infection in future outbreaks.

Methods: We undertook a workplace survey in the UK food and drink processing sector and collected information on workplace size, characteristics (e.

Excess mortality among essential workers in England and Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Exposure to SARS-CoV-2, subsequent development of COVID-19 and death from COVID-19 may vary by occupation, and the risks may be higher for those categorised as 'essential workers'.

Methods: We estimated excess mortality by occupational group and sex separately for each month in 2020 and for the entire 12 months overall.

Results: Mortality for all adults of working age was similar to the annual average over the previous 5 years.

Overall Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus, Transmission Net of Clearance, and Timing of Transmission.

Background: It is widely accepted that the risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vertical transmission (VT) is 5%-6% in monoinfected women, and that 25%-40% of HCV infection clears spontaneously within 5 years. However, there is no consensus on how VT rates should be estimated, and there is a lack of information on VT rates "net" of clearance.

Methods: We reanalyzed data on 1749 children in 3 prospective cohorts to obtain coherent estimates of overall VT rate and VT rates net of clearance at different ages.

Spontaneous Clearance of Vertically Acquired Hepatitis C Infection: Implications for Testing and Treatment.

Background: Current guidelines recommend that infants born to women with hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia be screened for HCV antibody at age 18 months and, if positive, referred for RNA testing at 3 years to confirm chronic infection. This policy is based, in part, on analyses that suggest that 25%-40% of vertically acquired HCV infections clear spontaneously within 4-5 years.

Methods: Data on 179 infants with HCV RNA and/or anti-HCV evidence of vertically acquired infection in 3 prospective European cohorts were investigated.

Occupation and COVID-19 mortality in England: a national linked data study of 14.3 million adults.

Objectives: To estimate occupational differences in COVID-19 mortality and test whether these are confounded by factors such as regional differences, ethnicity and education or due to non-workplace factors, such as deprivation or prepandemic health.

Methods: Using a cohort study of over 14 million people aged 40-64 years living in England, we analysed occupational differences in death involving COVID-19, assessed between 24 January 2020 and 28 December 2020.We estimated age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) per 100 000 person-years at risk stratified by sex and occupation.

Evidence for causal associations between prenatal and postnatal antibiotic exposure and asthma in children, England.

Background: Higher risks of asthma have been observed in children with prenatal exposure to antibiotics and during early life compared with those who have not. However, the causality of such associations is unclear.

Objective: To assess whether exposure to antibiotics in early life had a causal effect in increasing the risk of asthma in children diagnosed at 5-8 years of life, and the impact in the target population.

Association between mode of delivery and body mass index at 4-5 years in White British and Pakistani children: the Born in Bradford birth cohort.

Background: Globally, it is becoming more common for pregnant women to deliver by caesarean section (CS). In 2020, 31% of births in England were CS, surpassing the recommended prevalence of CS. Concerns have been raised regarding potential unknown consequences of this mode of delivery.

Respiratory syncytial virus in young children: community cohort study integrating serological surveys, questionnaire and electronic health records, Born in Bradford cohort, England, 2008 to 2013.

BackgroundBronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in infants.AimTo describe RSV epidemiology in children in the community in a high-income setting.MethodsWe used stored blood samples from the United Kingdom Born in Bradford cohort study that had been collected at birth, age 1 and 2 years old, tested for IgG RSV postfusion F antibody and linked to questionnaires and primary and hospital care records.

Metabolomics datasets in the Born in Bradford cohort.

Metabolomics is the quantification of small molecules, commonly known as metabolites. Collectively, these metabolites and their interactions within a biological system are known as the metabolome. The metabolome is a unique area of study, capturing influences from both genotype and environment.

Age at cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus and varicella zoster virus infection and risk of atopy: The Born in Bradford cohort, UK.

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in recent decades, but the causes remain unclear. Changes in the epidemiology of childhood infections could have contributed, but the current evidence is inconclusive. This study aims to investigate whether age at cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is associated with the development of atopy.

Understanding asthma phenotypes: the World Asthma Phenotypes (WASP) international collaboration.

The World Asthma Phenotypes (WASP) study started in 2016 and has been conducted in five centres, in the UK, New Zealand, Brazil, Ecuador and Uganda. The objectives of this study are to combine detailed biomarker and clinical information in order to 1) better understand and characterise asthma phenotypes in high-income countries (HICs) and low and middle-income countries (LMICs), and in high and low prevalence centres; 2) compare phenotype characteristics, including clinical severity; 3) assess the risk factors for each phenotype; and 4) assess how the distribution of phenotypes differs between high prevalence and low prevalence centres. Here we present the rationale and protocol for the WASP study to enable other centres around the world to carry out similar analyses using a standardised protocol.

Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus infection in the first two years of life: a cohort study in Bradford, UK.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are common herpesviruses frequently acquired in childhood, which establish persistent, latent infection and are likely to impact the developing immune system. Little is known about the epidemiology of CMV and EBV infections in contemporary UK paediatric populations, particularly whether age at infection differs by ethnic group.

Methods: Children enrolled in the Born in Bradford Allergy and Infection Study had a blood sample taken and a questionnaire completed at 12 and 24 months of age.

Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus and varicella zoster virus among pregnant women in Bradford: a cohort study.

Objective: To estimate the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) among pregnant women in Bradford by ethnic group and country of birth.

Methods: A stratified random sample of 949 pregnant women enrolled in the Born in Bradford birth cohort was selected to ensure sufficient numbers of White UK born women, Asian UK born women and Asian women born in Asia. Serum samples taken at 24-28 weeks' gestation were tested for CMV IgG, EBV IgG and VZV IgG.

Evidence of impact of maternal HIV infection on immunoglobulin levels in HIV-exposed uninfected children.

HIV infection affects B cell function and is associated with increased immunoglobulin levels, including in HIV-infected pregnant women. It is unknown if maternal HIV infection affects immunoglobulins in their uninfected children. We investigated this using prospective longitudinal data from children born to HIV-infected women enrolled in the European Collaborative Study (ECS).

Genetic factors in mother-to-child transmission of HCV infection.

HCV infection transmission rate in infants born to HCV-positive mothers is about 5%. HIV co-infection and high maternal RNA viral load are associated with increased transmission. The only genetic factor previously evaluated is HLA.

Age- and sex-related reference ranges of alanine aminotransferase levels in children: European paediatric HCV network.

Background: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are commonly used to indicate liver damage. Although elevated levels indicate possible liver injury, abnormalities, or disease, some patients with "normal" ALT levels have minimal to mild liver disease. Recently, ALT reference ranges for adults were queried and revised ranges proposed with lower upper limits of normality.