Maternal phthalates exposure promotes neural stem cell differentiation into phagocytic astrocytes and synapse engulfment via IRE1α/XBP1s pathway.

Humans are widely exposed to phthalates, a common chemical plasticizer. Previous cohort studies have revealed that maternal exposure to monobutyl phthalate (MBP), a key metabolite of phthalates, is associated with neurodevelopmental defects. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear.

Couples' preconception urinary essential trace elements concentration and spontaneous abortion risk: A nested case-control study in a community population.

Background: Previous studies have indicated a correlation between maternal imbalances in essential trace elements during pregnancy and the occurrence of spontaneous abortion (SA). Nonetheless, the impact of these elements from both partners and during the preconception period remains unexplored.

Objective: This study sought to evaluate the relationship between preconception essential trace elements and spontaneous abortion (SA) based on husband-wife dyads.

Preconception depression reduces fertility: a couple-based prospective preconception cohort.

Study Question: Is preconception depression associated with time to pregnancy (TTP) and infertility?

Summary Answer: Couples with preconception depression needed a longer time to become pregnant and exhibited an increased risk of infertility.

What Is Known Already: Preconception depression in women contributes to impaired fertility in clinical populations. However, evidence from the general population-especially based on couples-is relatively scant.

Association between behavioral patterns and depression symptoms: dyadic interaction between couples.

Background: Behavioral patterns are sometimes associated with depression symptoms; however, few studies have considered the intra-couple effects. This study examined the effect of a spouses' behavioral patterns on depression symptoms within themself and in their spouse.

Methods: A total of 61,118 childbearing age participants (30,559 husband-wife dyads) were surveyed.

Preconceptional and the first trimester exposure to PM and offspring neurodevelopment at 24 months of age: Examining mediation by maternal thyroid hormones in a birth cohort study.

Prenatal fine particulate matter (PM) exposure has been associated with impaired offspring neurodevelopment; however, the association of PM exposure during preconception with offspring's neurodevelopment and factors responsible for this association are still unclear. This study estimated the associations of PM exposure during preconception and the first trimester with offspring neurodevelopment and evaluated whether maternal thyroid hormones mediate these associations. We recruited 1329 mother-child pairs between 2013 and 2015 in Wuhan, China.

Associations between prenatal and postnatal lead exposure and preschool children humoral and cellular immune responses.

Studies have shown that lead exposure affected the immune function, but few studies have examined the relationships between in utero lead exposure, a sensitive period that is important for immune development, and later immune responses. To investigate the effects of prenatal and childhood lead exposure on the preschool-aged children's immune responses, a prospective birth cohort study was established in Wuhan, China, in which lead concentrations were analyzed in maternal urine during the third trimester and in plasma samples from children aged about 3 years. We assessed immune responses by measuring immune cytokines in the children's plasma (n = 326) and peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets (n = 394) at 3 years of age.

Multiple metal exposure and platelet counts during pregnancy: A repeated measure study.

Background: Evidence from animal and in vitro studies suggest that some metals interfere with normal platelet counts (PLT). However, limited human studies have investigated the association of metals and PLT, a marker of hematologic and hemostatic, particularly in susceptible populations such as pregnant women.

Objectives: Our purpose was to investigate the associations of repeated measures of 13 urinary metals with PLT during pregnancy.

Association of adverse birth outcomes with prenatal uranium exposure: A population-based cohort study.

Uranium (U) is a well-recognized hazardous heavy metal with embryotoxicity and fetotoxicity. However, little is known about its association with adverse birth outcomes. We aimed to investigate the potential correlation between prenatal U exposure and birth outcomes.