Children's Exposure Research Articles

Macrophage MAPK7/AhR/STAT3 Signaling Mediates Mitochondrial ROS Burst and Enterohepatic Inflammatory Responses Induced by Deoxynivalenol Relevant to Low-Dose Exposure in Children.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) can induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial ROS burst, and macrophage polarization. Here, we investigated the mechanism linking the above three aspects with the dose range relevant to low-level exposure in children. At 0.5 μg/kg bw/day, we found remarkable liver and gut inflammatory responses after 6-week exposure in mice age comparable to humans 7-12 years old. Through antioxidant intervention, we found that ROS played a driver role in macrophage polarization and inflammatory responses induced by DON in the liver and gut. Further bioinformatics analysis uncovered that ER stress-associated protein MAPK7 (ERK5) may bind with AhR to initiate a mitochondrial ROS burst and macrophage M1 polarization. The downstream cellular events of MAPK7-AhR interaction may be mediated by the AhR/STAT3/p-STAT(Ser727) pathway. This mechanism was further supported by DON toxicity mitigation using cyanidin-3-glucoside (C-3-G), which docks to MAPK7 oligomerization region 200-400 aa and disrupts MAPK7-AhR interaction. Overall, our study provides novel evidence and mechanism for DON-induced inflammatory responses in the liver and gut system. Our findings call attention to the health risks associated with low-level DON exposure in the prepuberty children population.

Passive smoking and risk of pancreatic cancer: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Previous meta-analysis has demonstrated that no association was validated between passive smoking and pancreatic cancer. However, there is growing evidence on this issue recently. This study aimed to confirm this association. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to April 2024 for retrieval of full articles. Studies with the exposure of passive smoking and outcome of pancreatic cancer were eligible for the analysis. We generated pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE system. Fourteen studies were included, with 5,560 pancreatic cancer patients. Passive smoking was associated with a moderate increased risk of pancreatic cancer (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11-1.30, p<0.001). The results were consistent in both case-control (p=0.013) and cohort studies (p<0.001) and in studies with high (p=0.007) and moderate quality (p<0.001). In subgroup analysis, the risk was significant for both current (RR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.45-2.51, p<0.001) and non-current smokers (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36, p=0.037), for exposure both in adulthood (RR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.06-1.31, p=0.002) and childhood (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08-1.34, p=0.001). However, only regular or daily exposure (RR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.08-1.50, p=0.003), rather than exposing occasionally, seldom or few times per week (p=0.421), to passive smoking could increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Passive smoking exposure confers a significant increased risk for pancreatic cancer. The risk was valid in both case-control and cohort, high and moderate quality studies, in current and non-current smokers, and for both childhood and adulthood exposure. Regular or daily exposure rather than exposing occasionally, seldom or few times per week could exert a detrimental effect on pancreatic cancer.

A multi-pathogen behavioral exposure model for young children playing in public spaces in developing communities.

Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death among children under five in developing communities, despite active interventions to improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene resources. Even interventions with high fidelity and compliance saw minimal improvements in health outcomes, necessitating a need for looking beyond traditionally targeted exposure pathways. This study focuses on the pathogen exposure a young child may receive while playing in the public spaces of informal settlements, where animal feces, human feces, and garbage are frequently observed. The study utilized 79 soil samples previously collected across ten cluster sites in Corail, Haiti and processed using DelAgua cultural assays and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction methods. Molecular assays screened for Aeromonas, Vibrio cholera, and several pathogenic Escherichia coli species. Behavioral observations of young children (<5 years old) were also conducted in overlapping areas with the environmental sampling to quantify frequency of risky and mitigating behaviors. Environmental and behavioral data were combined to obtain the posterior distribution of children's pathogen exposure from playing in a public space for one hour. The model estimated that children have a likelihood of approximately 70% of being exposed to a pathogen during one hour of play and a greater than 30% chance of being exposed to multiple pathogens in the same period. While children and toddlers practice fewer risky behaviors compared to infants, they were shown to have higher likelihood of exposure and slightly higher pathogen dose per exposure. As anticipated, a high correlation between genes from the same E. coli species was observed in the model output. These findings demonstrate the need to consider public spaces as an important exposure pathway for young children for both future research and interventions.

The association between patterns of exposure to adverse life events and the risk of chronic kidney disease: a prospective cohort study of 140,997 individuals

Exposure to adverse life events is linked to somatic disorders. The study aims to evaluate the association between adverse events at varying life stages and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition affecting about 10% population worldwide. This prospective cohort study included 140,997 participants from the UK Biobank. Using survey items related to childhood maltreatment, adulthood adversity and catastrophic trauma, we performed latent class analysis to summarize five distinct patterns of exposure to adverse life events, namely “low-level exposure”, “childhood exposure”, “adulthood exposure”, “sexual abuse” and “child-to-adulthood exposure”. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to evaluate the association of patterns of exposure to adverse life events with CKD, regression-based mediation analysis to decompose the total effect, and gene-environment-wide interaction study (GEWIS) to identify interactions between genetic loci and adverse life events. During a median follow-up of 5.98 years, 2734 cases of incident CKD were identified. Compared with the “low-level exposure” pattern, “child-to-adulthood exposure” was associated with increased risk of CKD (hazard ratio 1.37, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.65). BMI, smoking and hypertension mediated 11.45%, 9.79%, and 4.50% of this total effect, respectively. Other patterns did not show significant results. GEWIS and subsequent analyses indicated that the magnitude of the association between adverse life events and CKD differed according to genetic polymorphisms, and identified potential underlying pathways (e.g., interleukin 1 receptor activity). These findings underscore the importance of incorporating an individual’s psychological encounters and genetic profiles into the precision prevention of CKD.

Childhood Exposure to Family Violence, Residential Instability, and Parental Incarceration: Compounding Household Adversities and Adolescent Delinquency

Objectives: Although childhood exposure to family violence has been linked to crime and delinquency over the life course, it rarely occurs in isolation from other household hardships. Drawing from developmental hypotheses of cumulative disadvantage and disadvantage saturation, we examine how the effect of childhood exposure to family violence (i.e., witnessing violence against one's mother) on adolescent delinquency varies when it co-occurs with two interrelated familial adversities: residential instability and parental incarceration. Methods: Using longitudinal data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study ( N = 3,191), we assess categorical combinations of childhood exposure to family violence, residential instability, and parental incarceration (years 3–9) on adolescent delinquency (year 15). Logistic regression models are specified for overall, nonviolent, and violent delinquency, controlling for a host of confounding variables. Results: Exposure to family violence has the strongest association with delinquency when combined with childhood residential instability and parental incarceration. The findings align with the cumulative disadvantage hypothesis, and these patterns are strongest for overall and nonviolent delinquency outcomes. Conclusions: Life-course research should explicitly consider the broader landscape of adversity in which childhood exposure to family violence occurs, recognizing that its long-term effects may be contingent upon or amplified by co-occurring household hardships.

Lifetime chronic stress Exposures, stress Hormones, and biological Aging: Results from the midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study

Psychosocial stress and adversity have been linked to accelerated aging and increased risk for age-related diseases. Animal and in vitro studies have shown that exposure to stress hormones (catecholamines, glucocorticoids) can impact biological aging processes such as DNA damage and cellular senescence, suggesting they play a key role in links between stress and aging; however, these associations have not been well investigated in humans. We examined cross-sectional associations between chronic stress exposures, stress hormones, and biological aging markers in midlife adults and whether stress hormones mediated associations between stress and aging. Participants were 531 adults aged 26–78 years (Mage = 53.9, 50.1 % female) in the nationally representative Midlife in the United States Refresher cohort. They reported chronic stress exposures in childhood and adulthood (Stressful Life Event Inventory) and provided 12-hour urine samples used to assess norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol. RNA sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived aging biomarkers: the DNA damage response (DDR; 30-gene composite), cellular senescence signal p16INK4a (CDKN2A), and the pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP; 57-gene composite). Regression models adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, BMI, smoking status, alcohol use, and medications revealed that more childhood exposures were associated with higher norepinephrine (β = 0.09, p = 0.04), independent from adult exposures. Higher norepinephrine was associated with elevated DDR expression (β = 0.17, p < 0.001). Higher norepinephrine (β = 0.14, p = 0.003) and epinephrine (β = 0.10, p = 0.02) were both associated with elevated SASP expression. Statistical mediation analyses implicated elevated norepinephrine as a plausible mediator of associations between childhood exposures and both DDR (unstandardized b = 0.005, 95 % CI [0.0002, 0.011]) and SASP (b = 0.002, 95 % CI [0.0001, 0.05]). Findings provide preliminary evidence in humans that stress hormones may impact key biological aging processes and may be a mechanism linking chronic stress exposures in childhood to accelerated aging later in life.

Association of Exposure to Interpersonal Racism and Racial Disparities in Inadequate Sleep Risk

To examine the association between caregiver-report of their child's inadequate sleep and exposure to interpersonal racism within racially minoritized subpopulations. We conducted cross-sectional analysis among racially minoritized 21,924 school-aged children and 27,142 adolescents using a National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) sample from 2016 through 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit to estimate predicted probabilities for the adjusted associations between caregiver-report of their child's inadequate sleep and prior exposure to interpersonal racism. In bivariate models, caregiver report of child exposure to interpersonal racism was significantly associated with a higher probability of inadequate sleep within non-Hispanic Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) school-aged children, Hispanic adolescents, and non-Hispanic multiracial adolescents. After adjusting for covariates, only the association within Hispanic youth remained significant though attenuated. Unexpectedly, non-Hispanic Black school-age children exposed to racism had a lower probability of inadequate sleep than non-Hispanic Black children without exposure to racism after adjusting for covariates. Nationally representative pooled data that showed caregiver-report of Hispanic adolescents' inadequate sleep was associated with their exposure to interpersonal racism, although an association with inadequate sleep was not found in other racially minoritized subpopulations. Examining within-race associations helps to assess more accurately risk and target efforts that seek to address racism-related stress among racially minoritized subpopulations.

Parents' attitudes and response to their child's pornography consumption in Australia: cross-sectional survey.

Background Parents play an important role in monitoring children's internet use, shaping their child's understanding of sex, and are key stakeholders in the development of sexual health education policies. Therefore, we investigated parents' awareness of and responses to children's pornography exposure. Methods We invited parents with children aged from 8 to 20years (n =1029) to complete an observational cross-sectional online survey about pornography and young people. Results A total of 48% of parents thought that young people view pornography rarely or never, and 21% agreed that watching pornography could be part of a healthy relationship for young people. Some parents (27%) were aware that their child had ever viewed pornography. Most parents (56%) acted on this by talking to their child, while others (10%) took no action, or restricted access to devices (6%). Discussing pornography was found to be strongly associated (P Conclusions These findings provide new insights for policy responses and can guide the development of tools to support parents to respond to their children's pornography exposure.

Longitudinal Change in Physical Activity in Children 6 to 36 Months of Age

To describe the developmental pattern for physical activity (PA) in children 6-36 months of age and to identify factors that are longitudinally associated with PA as children transition from infancy to preschool age. The study employed a prospective, longitudinal design with baseline data collected when children were approximately 6 months of age. Mothers and infants (n = 124) were recruited through community and educational settings in South Carolina. Data were collected at 6-month intervals from 6 through 36 months. PA was measured via accelerometry. Mothers completed questionnaires that assessed independent variables, including parent characteristics, the child's sex, race, and ethnicity, birth/delivery type, motor milestones, sleep habits, dietary practices, childcare setting, and home environmental factors. Trained research staff administered anthropometric measures and assessed motor developmental status. Growth curve models described the age-related pattern for PA and evaluated relationships between independent variables and change in PA. PA increased by approximately 45% between 6 and 36 months of age and followed a curvilinear pattern, with most of the increase occurring between 6 and 24 months. The child's exposure to television/electronic media was negatively associated with change in PA, and the presence of older siblings in the home was positively associated with change in PA. As children develop from infancy to early childhood, their PA increases substantially, with most of the increase occurring by 24 months of age.

Impact of childhood exposure to traffic related air pollution on adult cardiometabolic health: Exploring the role of perceived stress

BackgroundLittle is known about how childhood exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and stress interact to affect adults' cardiometabolic health. We examined this interaction and assessed the impact of over 10 years of childhood TRAP exposure on cardiometabolic health. MethodsFrom 2018 to 2023, 313 young adults from the Southern California Children's Health Study were enrolled in a follow-up assessment. Using CALINE4 line source dispersion model, average childhood TRAP exposures (from pregnancy to age 13) were estimated for nitrogen oxides (NOx) from all roads. Traffic density was calculated within a 300-m residential buffer. Cardiometabolic health was assessed in adulthood (mean age 24 ± 1.7) based on blood lipids (total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein [HDL, LDL], triglycerides), glucose metabolism (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c), body composition (BMI, android/gynoid ratio [AG ratio], percent body fat), and blood pressure. A PDAY (Pathobiologic Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth) score was generated to evaluate overall cardiometabolic health. Participants' perceived stress was assessed in childhood and adulthood (ages 13 and 24 years, respectively). ResultsResults of mixed effects linear models, adjusted for demographics and smoking status, suggested that each standard deviation increase in childhood exposure to traffic-related total NOx was associated with 0.62 increase in PDAY score (95% Confidence Interval [CI]:0.10,1.14), 0.09% increase in HbA1c (95%CI: 0.04, 0.15), 1.19% increase in percent body fat (95%CI: 0.18, 2.20), and 0.96 kg/m2 increase in BMI (0.11, 1.80) in adulthood. Among participants with higher childhood stress levels, we observed significant associations of traffic-related total NOx with total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, HbA1c, insulin, and BMI. None of these associations were significant among people with lower stress levels. We observed similar statistically significant associations of traffic density. ConclusionLong-term childhood exposure to TRAP in childhood may have lasting adverse impacts on cardiometabolic health, especially for children with higher stress levels.

Low-Level, Early Life Lead Exposure and School Behavior.

To measure how early childhood exposure to lead affects school behavior from third to eighth grade, measured by the number and days of total school suspensions and out-of-school suspensions (OSS). We estimate Poisson models using a cohort of 284 701 students with school records from 2006-2008 in North Carolina. We adjust for demographic and socioeconomic variables and school-grade-year cohort effects, and use coarsened exact matching to ensure similar characteristics across children with blood lead levels (BLLs) 2-10 μg/dL and children in the reference group with BLLs ≤1 μg/dL. BLLs ≥3 µg/dL are positively and significantly associated with all school suspension measures for sixth through eighth graders. The estimated effects on OSS for sixth through eighth graders are larger than the effects on total suspensions. For example, students with BLL = 3 µg/dL receive OSS 16% (95% confidence interval 3.6%-30%) more often and for 22% (95% confidence interval 7.3%-33%) more days than students with BLL ≤1 µg/dL. For third through fifth grade students, we only find a significant effect of lead exposure on suspensions at relatively high BLLs of 8-10 µg/dL. Our analysis demonstrates that BLL has significant adverse effects on third through eighth grade students' behavior, including at levels below the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's blood lead reference value of 3.5 μg/dL. We find that the adverse effects of lead are most strongly associated with more severe disruptive behavior in sixth through eighth graders, as measured by OSS. Our results underscore the long-term benefits of preventing early childhood exposure to lead.

Effect of childhood atropine treatment on adult choroidal thickness using sequential deep learning-enabled segmentation

PurposeTo describe choroidal thickness measurements using a sequential deep learning segmentation in adults who received childhood atropine treatment for myopia control. DesignProspective, observational study. MethodsChoroidal thickness was measured by swept-source optical coherence tomography in adults who received childhood atropine, segmented using a sequential deep learning approach. ResultsOf 422 eyes, 94 (22.3 %) had no previous exposure to atropine treatment, while 328 (77.7 %) had received topical atropine during childhood. After adjusting for age, sex, and axial length, childhood atropine exposure was associated with a thicker choroid by 32.1 μm (95 % CI, 9.2–55.0; P = 0.006) in the inner inferior, 23.5 μm (95 % CI, 1.9–45.1; P = 0.03) in the outer inferior, 21.8 μm (95 % CI, 0.76–42.9; P = 0.04) in the inner nasal, and 21.8 μm (95 % CI, 2.6–41.0; P = 0.03) in the outer nasal. Multivariable analysis, adjusted for age, sex, atropine use, and axial length, showed an independent association between central subfield choroidal thickness and the incidence of tessellated fundus (P < 0.001; OR, 0.97; 95 % CI, 0.96–0.98). ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that short-term (2–4 years) atropine treatment during childhood was associated with an increase in choroidal thickness of 20–40 μm in adulthood (10–20 years later), after adjusting for age, sex, and axial length. We also observed an independent association between eyes with thicker central choroidal measurements and reduced incidence of tessellated fundus. Our study suggests that childhood exposure to atropine treatment may affect choroidal thickness in adulthood.

EMDR therapy and treatment of child victims of violence in peace and war

The paper deals with the analysis of experiences in the application of EMDR therapy in working with children who were victims of trauma and violence in war and peace. The effectiveness of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) lies in the effect of bilateral stimulation on brain neurophysiological mechanisms of traumatized children. EMDR treatments, as well as CBT therapy, have shown success in working with children with PTSD based on several criteria. However, analyzes show that positive effects are achieved with the application of EMDR in a shorter time, and the results are more permanent and stable. Based on the results published in numerous clinical trials and meta-analyses, in 2013 the WHO (World Health Organization) recommended EMDR therapy for the treatment of PTSD in children, adolescents and adults. Exposure to war stress in all wars, in all areas, leaves severe consequences, especially for children. The increase in traumatic events in recent years creates a great need for preventive action and the application of EMDR to eliminate the consequences of children's exposure to trauma in war and peacetime conditions. The national EMDR associations of Russia and Serbia (https://www.emdrse-europe.org/) are increasingly focusing their activities on working with children who are victims of violence in war and peace. The mentioned advantages and facts were one of the reasons for the organized inclusion of EMDR therapy in work with trauma victims of mass murders that happened in May 2023 in Serbia. The treatment is very responsible and complex, but it shows significant effects. The evaluation is ongoing and will provide valuable experience in this area.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Criminal Charges and Convictions in Mid and Late Adolescence

Childhood exposure to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common. Individuals with a childhood history of mTBI experience more frequent criminal justice involvement in mid to late adolescence and adulthood. No study had been conducted to examine whether the link is causal or spurious. To determine whether mTBI in childhood causes criminal justice involvement in mid to late adolescence. This cohort study used population-based data for all children born between 1995 and 2000 in Denmark, with data linked to emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations before age 10 years and all criminal charges and convictions from ages 15 to 20 years. The exposure group contained all individuals diagnosed with mTBI before age 10 years without other intracranial or extracranial injuries; the comparison group was individuals not diagnosed with mTBI or intracranial or extracranial injuries. Sibling and twin fixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association after controlling for family-level confounding. Data were analyzed from May 2021 to July 2024. Mild TBI before age 10 years without other intracranial or extracranial injuries before or at the time of diagnosis. Associations between mTBI before age 10 years and criminal charges and convictions from ages 15 to 20 for the entire study population and separately by sex at birth, controlling for additional covariates. The final analytic sample consisted of 343 027 individuals, 13 514 in the exposure group and 329 513 in the comparison group. Of the total sample, 166 455 (49%) were female and 176 572 were male (51%). A total of 326 191 participants (95%) had at least 1 parent with Danish citizenship, and 79 386 mothers (23%) held a college degree. There was a positive association between mTBI and criminal charges (odds ratio [OR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.19-1.34) and convictions (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16-1.33). When controlling for family-level confounding, the associations became statistically insignificant and, in most models, greatly reduced. Results were robust across multiple model specifications. This study found that although mTBI in childhood was predictive of adolescent criminal justice involvement, there was no evidence that mTBI caused criminal charges or convictions.

Investigation of perceived parental attitude in children exposed to sexual abuse: A case-control study.

The enduring impact of children being subjected to sexual abuse is characterized by lasting traumatic effects. This study aims to assess the influence of perceived parental attitudes on the incidence of sexual abuse in children who have experienced such abuse, comparing them with a control group. The research took place at the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of a hospital in northern Turkey and in the pediatric outpatient clinics of the same institution. The study evaluated 101 children who were exposed to sexual abuse and 100 children who were not. Data collection took place between November 2022 and August 2023. The study employed a 'Descriptive Information Form' and the 'Parental Attitude Scale' for both case and control groups. The t-test for independent samples, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. Analysis of scores from the Parental Attitude Scale revealed significantly lower mean scores in acceptance-involvement and strictness-supervision in the case group (p < .05). The mean scores for 'acceptance-involvement' (X¯ = 22.82 ± 6.26, X¯ = 25.71 ± 3.89) were highest in the case and control groups. Neglectful attitude (38.6%) was more prevalent in the case group, while the control group exhibited a higher frequency of democratic attitude (37%). In terms of predictors, acceptance-involvement (OR = 1.091, p = .005) and maternal employment (OR = 4.410, p < .001) were identified as the most significant predictors of exposed to sexual abuse. The study's Cronbach's alpha value for the scale was α = .743. The study's findings on parental attitudes suggest a potential connection between children's exposure to sexual abuse and inadequate parental acceptance, involvement, supervision, and control.

The Phenomenon of Almajirci in Northern Nigeria: A Historical Perspective

The Almajirci system is an ancient tradition of Islamic scholarship that dates back to the early period of Islam in the Western Sudan. It is characterized by itinerancy, with scholars and their students traveling in search of knowledge. This practice initially yielded positive results, cultivating a large number of indigenous scholars in the region, particularly in Hausaland. However, the current form of Almajirci education, where children are left in dire conditions, often naked and more concerned with survival than with acquiring spiritual knowledge—the primary aim of the system—is foreign to Islam and the original Almajirci tradition in Northern Nigeria. Today, the phenomenon of Almajirci has evolved into a social problem, leading to the abandonment and exploitation of children, many of whom become easy recruits for criminality and violence. Previous government efforts to regulate and address the worsening situation—through integration, control, or legislation—have largely been half-hearted and politically expedient, failing to provide a lasting solution. This paper explores the historical development of the Almajirci system of education in Northern Nigeria, identifying the material conditions that led to its transformation from a productive educational system to its current, deteriorated state, and examining the reasons for the failure of previous attempts to resolve the issue. The findings of this study could help suggest a viable solution to the problem. The paper asserts that solving the Almajirci problem requires a concerted effort: a combination of genuine government action, intervention by non-governmental organizations, support from philanthropic individuals in society, and continued exhortations by respected Muslim clerics, reminding parents of their responsibilities toward their children.

Prenatal and childhood exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and early thelarche in 8-year-old girls: A prospective study using Bayesian kernel regression

BackgroundStudies on the combined effects of persistent and non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on puberty are insufficient. To date, no studies have analyzed breast development at age 8 years, a key criterion for determining precocious puberty. We investigated the relationship between prenatal or childhood exposure to EDC mixtures and early thelarche, defined as breast development before age 8 years in girls. MethodsThis prospective study included 211 girls with data on prenatal and 8-year-old exposure of cadmium (Cd), lead, mercury, bisphenol-A (BPA), 3-phenoxybenzoic acid, and three phthalate metabolites from the Environment and Development of Children cohort. Prenatal exposure was assessed through samples from pregnant women at 14–27th weeks of gestation. Tanner staging was assessed by a pediatric endocrinologist. The relationship between single and mixed chemical exposures and outcomes was assessed using logistic regression, generalized additive models (GAM), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. ResultsEarly thelarche was observed in 42 (19.9%) girls at age 8 years. In the logistic regression models, the risk of early thelarche increased with increased exposure to Cd in their mothers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per interquartile range [IQR] = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–2.65) but decreased with prenatal BPA exposure (aOR per IQR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.35–0.92). None of the 8-year-old chemical exposures was associated with early thelarche. In the GAM, early thelarche was positively correlated with prenatal Cd and inversely associated with prenatal BPA exposure (p = 0.004 for Cd and p = 0.036 for BPA). In the BKMR models, an increase in log-transformed prenatal Cd concentrations from the 25th to 75th percentile was associated with an increase in the estimated probability of early thelarche at age 8 years (risk difference: 0.46 [95% credible interval: 0.04–0.88]) when other chemicals were set at their median values. ConclusionsConsidering the combined effects of persistent and non-persistent chemical mixtures, maternal Cd exposure during the second trimester may be associated with early thelarche in 8-year-old girls.

Prenatal exposure to green space and mental health in early adolescence: findings from the TRAILS study.

Little is known about whether prenatal green space exposure contributes to mental health later in life. Using data from a Dutch cohort (TRAILS; n=1,476), we assessed associations between prenatal (1989-1991) green space exposure and four mental health outcomes, namely externalizing problems, internalizing problems, tobacco use, and alcohol use, self-reported at eleven-year-old (2001-2002), and mediation of gestational age and birthweight on these associations. In a structural equational model, adolescents with one standard deviation (SD) unit more prenatal green space exposure showed a 0.119 SD (95%CI:0.028,0.210) more externalizing problems in early adolescence. There are two potential explanations for this unexpected positive association. First, controlling for urbanicity attenuated this association to become insignificant, but the degree of attenuation was minor [0.096, (95%CI:-0.003,0.195)]. Second, this unexpected association might be a consequence of changes in green space exposure in the intervening years, namely childhood (from birth to early adolescence), indicating that individuals with increased green space exposure over childhood exhibited fewer externalizing problems in early adolescence. For the prenatal green space-externalizing problems association, we did not observe mediation by gestational age or birthweight. Overall, these findings suggest no beneficial role of prenatal green space on adolescent mental health. Instead, increased green space exposure in childhood may lead to lower externalizing problems in early adolescence.

Prediction of suicide attempt in a Swedish population-based cohort.

Suicidal behaviors are prevalent public health concerns, and we need to improve our predictive ability to better inform prevention efforts. Using nationwide longitudinal Swedish registers, we included 344,490 males and 323,177 females born 1982-1990 with information on genetic liability and environmental exposures from birth to age 16: perinatal variables, parental psychopathology (suicide attempt, substance use disorder, major depression), family status, socioeconomic difficulties, peers' psychopathology, and school grades. We conducted sex-specific analysis and developed data-driven predictive models including risk factors that occurred between ages 0 and 16 using structural equation modeling. In both females and males, the best-fitting models reveal a complex risk pathway to suicide attempt. In females, the model indicates four direct effects on suicide attempt risk: the occurrence of suicide attempt in parents during childhood (β = 0.159, 95% CI: 0.118; 0.199) and adolescence (β = 0.115, 95% CI: 0.077; 0.153), suicide attempt in peers (β = 0.068, 95% CI: 0.057; 0.079), and low academic achievement (β = 0.166, 95% CI: 0.156; 0.175). In males, aggregate genetic liability for suicide attempt (β = 0.130, 95% CI: 0.111; 0.148), suicide attempt in parents during adolescence (β = 0.099, 95% CI: 0.074; 0.124), suicide attempt in peers (β = 0.118, 95% CI: 0.108; 0.129), and low academic achievement (β = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.152; 0.171) were related to later suicide attempt. These factors also acted as mediators to explain the association between environmental exposures in childhood and later suicide attempt. These findings illustrate sex-specific pathways to suicide attempt by including risk factors that occur during the development. Results highlight the importance of genetic and family environment but also the prominent role of academic achievement.

Adults' Recollections of Support and Closeness During Adolescence Amid Interparental Conflict.

This study examined adults' memories of childhood exposure to interparental conflict, including support for and closeness to each parent. Closeness and support were explored based on three dimensions: dyadic concordance types of intimate partner violence (father to mother, mother to father, or both), form of violence (verbal or physical), and sex. This study featured 548 Israeli adults who completed a retrospective questionnaire on their parents' interparental violence, their level of support for each parent during conflict, and their closeness to each parent. The results revealed a notable pattern: adolescents exhibited greater support and closeness toward nonviolent parents compared to violent parents, irrespective of the form of violence. Sex differences emerged across types and severity of violence. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.