Exposure to metals and metalloids among pregnant women from Spain: Levels and associated factors.

Background: Humans are regularly exposed to metals and metalloids present in air, water, food, soil and domestic materials. Most of them can cross the placental barrier and cause adverse impacts on the developing foetus.

Objectives: To describe the prenatal concentrations of metals and metalloids and to study the associated sociodemographic, environmental and dietary factors in pregnant Spanish women.

Serum Levels of α-Fetoprotein Increased More Than 10 Years Before Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Ultrasound (US)-based screening has been recommended for patients with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). US analysis, however, is limited in patients who are obese or have small tumors. The addition of serum level of α-fetoprotein (AFP) measurements to US analysis can increase detection of HCC.

Postnatal exposure to mercury and neuropsychological development among preschooler children.

The objective of this study was to describe the postnatal exposure to Hg and to evaluate its association with neuropsychological development among preschool children. The study population are 4-5 years old children (n = 1252) participant in the Spanish INMA Project. Total Hg was measured in cord blood and in hair samples taken at 4 years of age (2008-2012).

Prenatal manganese exposure and neuropsychological development in early childhood in the INMA cohort.

Introduction: Manganese (Mn) is an essential element, diet being its main source. Some epidemiological studies have found that a prenatal excess of Mn could negatively affect neuropsychological development during infancy, but the evidence is inconclusive. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between maternal serum Mn concentrations and child neuropsychological development assessed at 1 year of age.

Prenatal Se concentrations and anthropometry at birth in the INMA study (Spain).

We assessed whether prenatal selenium (Se) exposure is associated with anthropometry at birth, placental weight and gestational age. Study subjects were 1249 mother-child pairs from the Valencia and Gipuzkoa cohorts of the Spanish Childhood and Environment Project (INMA, 2003-2008). Se was determined in serum samples taken at the first trimester of pregnancy.

A continuous-time hidden Markov model for cancer surveillance using serum biomarkers with application to hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and its early detection is a critical determinant of whether curative treatment is achievable. Early stage HCC is typically asymptomatic. Thus, screening programmes are used for cancer detection in patients at risk of tumour development.

Maternal copper status and neuropsychological development in infants and preschool children.

Introduction: Copper (Cu) is an essential element involved in biological processes; however, excessive Cu could be harmful because of its reactive nature. Very few studies have evaluated its potential neurotoxic effects. We aimed to evaluate the association between maternal Cu levels and children's neuropsychological development.

Maternal selenium status and neuropsychological development in Spanish preschool children.

Background: The relationship between maternal selenium (Se) status and child neurodevelopment has been scarcely assessed. In a previous study we observed an inverse U-shaped association between maternal Se concentrations and infant neurodevelopment at 12 months of age. In this study, this non-linear association was explored at preschool age.

Selenium status during pregnancy: Influential factors and effects on neuropsychological development among Spanish infants.

Selenium (Se) has been positively associated with neurodevelopment in early life. However, its margin of safety is rather narrow, and few prospective studies have evaluated its potential neurotoxic effects at intermediate levels. We aimed to explore the association between maternal Se concentrations and child neuropsychological development, including the genetic effect modification of the Se metabolizing gene INMT.

Concentrations of urinary arsenic species in relation to rice and seafood consumption among children living in Spain.

Inorganic arsenic (i-As) has been related to wide-ranging health effects in children, leading to lifelong concerns. Proportionally, dietary i-As exposure dominates in regions with low arsenic drinking water. This study aims to investigate the relation between rice and seafood consumption and urinary arsenic species during childhood and to assess the proportion of urinary i-As metabolites.

Consensus on the criteria needed for creating a rare-disease patient registry. A Delphi study.

Background: Patient registries (PRs) are important tools for public-health surveillance and rare-disease research. The purpose of this study is to identify the most important criteria for the creation of a rare-disease PR that could be used by public-health authorities to develop health policies.

Methods: A consensus-development Delphi study was used, with participants selected for their expertize in rare diseases and registries.

Prenatal exposure to traffic-related air pollution and fetal growth in a cohort of pregnant women.

Objectives: Scant evidence is available on effects of air pollution on longitudinally measured fetal biometry, and thus it remains unclear as to whether there are critical windows of exposure or specificity of effects. Our objective was to examine the association between exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during pregnancy and fetal and neonatal anthropometry in a cohort of Spanish women.

Methods: Temporally adjusted land-use regression was used to estimate exposure to NO2 at home addresses.

Active and passive smoking during pregnancy and ultrasound measures of fetal growth in a cohort of pregnant women.

Background: In utero tobacco exposure has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes but few studies have used longitudinal ultrasound measurements to asses the effects on fetal growth. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of active and passive smoking during pregnancy on fetal biometry in a cohort of Spanish women.

Methods: Biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL) and estimated fetal weight (EFW) were evaluated in each trimester of pregnancy.