Associations of Organophosphate Ester Flame Retardant Exposures during Pregnancy with Gestational Duration and Fetal Growth: The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

Background: Widespread exposure to organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants with potential reproductive toxicity raises concern regarding the impacts of gestational exposure on birth outcomes. Previous studies of prenatal OPE exposure and birth outcomes had limited sample sizes, with inconclusive results.

Objectives: We conducted a collaborative analysis of associations between gestational OPE exposures and adverse birth outcomes and tested whether associations were modified by sex.

Prenatal Exposure to Toxic Metals and Neural Tube Defects: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence.

Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) affect pregnancies worldwide annually. Few nongenetic factors, other than folate deficiency, have been identified that may provide intervenable solutions to reduce the burden of NTDs. Prenatal exposure to toxic metals [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb)] may increase the risk of NTDs.

Preexisting Heterotypic Ligand-blocking Antibody Does Not Protect Against Genogroup II Norovirus Episodes in Young Children.

A birth cohort design was used to understand whether heterotypic ligand-blocking norovirus antibodies provide cross-protection within the GII genogroup. We found that almost one-half of children who experienced a norovirus GII episode had preexisting antibodies heterotypic to the infecting genotype; therefore, these antibodies did not provide cross-protection.

Patterns of Children's Blood Lead Screening and Blood Lead Levels in North Carolina, 2011-2018-Who Is Tested, Who Is Missed?

Background: No safe level of lead in blood has been identified. Blood lead testing is required for children on Medicaid, but it is at the discretion of providers and parents for others. Elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) cannot be identified in children who are not tested.

Gut Microbiota and Host Plasma Metabolites in Association with Blood Pressure in Chinese Adults.

Animal studies have revealed gut microbial and metabolic pathways of blood pressure (BP) regulation, yet few epidemiological studies have collected microbiota and metabolomics data in the same individuals. In a population-based, Chinese cohort who did not report antihypertension medication use (30-69 years, 54% women), thus minimizing BP treatment effects, we examined multivariable-adjusted (eg, diet, physical activity, smoking, kidney function), cross-sectional associations between measures of gut microbiota (16S rRNA [ribosomal ribonucleic acid], N=1003), and plasma metabolome (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, N=434) with systolic (SBP, mean [SD]=126.0 [17.

Associations of sodium and potassium consumption with the gut microbiota and host metabolites in a population-based study in Chinese adults.

Background: There is increasing evidence that sodium consumption alters the gut microbiota and host metabolome in murine models and small studies in humans. However, there is a lack of population-based studies that capture large variations in sodium consumption as well as potassium consumption.

Objective: We examined the associations of energy-adjusted dietary sodium (milligrams/kilocalorie), potassium, and sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio with the microbiota and plasma metabolome in a well-characterized Chinese cohort with habitual excessive sodium and deficient potassium consumption.

Urbanization in China is associated with pronounced perturbation of plasma metabolites.

Introduction: Urbanization is associated with major changes in environmental and lifestyle exposures that may influence metabolic signatures.

Objectives: We investigated cross-sectional urban and rural differences in plasma metabolome analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry platform in 500 Chinese adults aged 25-68 years from two neighboring southern Chinese provinces.

Methods: We first examined the overall metabolome differences by urban and rural residential location, using Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and random forest classification.

Circulating Short-Chain Fatty Acids Are Positively Associated with Adiposity Measures in Chinese Adults.

Epidemiological studies suggest a positive association between obesity and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by microbial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates, while animal models suggest increased energy harvest through colonic SCFA production in obesity. However, there is a lack of human population-based studies with dietary intake data, plasma SCFAs, gut microbial, and anthropometric data. In 490 Chinese adults aged 30-68 years, we examined the associations between key plasma SCFAs (butyrate/isobutyrate, isovalerate, and valerate measured by non-targeted plasma metabolomics) with body mass index (BMI) using multivariable-adjusted linear regression.

HIV interventions to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma: a systematic review.

We reviewed the literature to determine the effectiveness of HIV-related interventions in reducing HIV/AIDS stigma. Studies selected had randomized controlled trial (RCT), pretest-posttest with a non-randomized control group, or pretest-posttest one group study designs in which HIV-related interventions were being evaluated, and in which HIV/AIDS stigma was one of the outcomes being measured. A checklist was used to extract data from accepted studies, assess their internal validity, and overall quality.