Abstract Objective There is a secular trend towards earlier age of menarche in the US and globally. Earlier age at menarche (AAM) has been associated with metabolic disorders that increase risk for preterm delivery (PTD), yet no studies in the US have investigated whether AAM influences risk of PTD. This study tested the hypothesis that AAM is associated with PTD. Design A case–control study. Setting The Boston Medical Center (BMC) in Boston, Massachusetts. Population or Sample 8264 mother‐newborn dyads enrolled at birth at BMC between 1998 and 2019, of which 2242 mothers had PTD (cases) and 6022 did not have PTD (controls). Methods Multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines were used to examine the association between AAM and risk of PTD. The combined impact of AAM and age at delivery on the risk of PTD was also examined. Main Outcome Measures Preterm delivery and gestational age (GA) was defined by maternal last menstrual period and early ultrasound documented in medical records. Results Maternal age at delivery was 28.1 ± 6.5 years and AAM was 12.85 ± 1.86 years. Multivariable‐adjusted cubic spline suggested an inverse dose–response association of AAM with odds of PTD and, consistently, a positive association with GA. A 1‐year earlier AAM was associated with 5% (95% CI 2%–8%) higher odds of PTD, after adjustment for maternal year of birth, parity, maternal place of birth, education, smoking status and Mediterranean‐style diet score. The association between AAM and PTD was stronger among older mothers whose age at delivery was ≥35 years. Conclusions Earlier AAM is associated with higher odds for PTD, and this association is stronger among women at advanced reproductive age.
Objective To analyze the epidemiological situation of measles in Baiyun district of Guangzhou city and develop the preventive measures.Methods Epidemicological techniques were used to analyze the occurrence of measles in Baiyun district.Results In year 2006,the incidence rate of measles was 65.60/100,000.In year 2007,the incidence rate was 64.28/100,000.The frequency of occurrence(71.11%) was mainly in children of the age 0～ 9.Peaks of the measles prevalence were spring and summer.57.28% of the measles patients had no previous history of immunization and the immunization history of another 23.86% measles patient was uncertain.Conclusion Low vaccination and immunization coverage rates in the mobile population of children are the causes of high incidence of measles in Baiyun district.Routine 2-dose immunization of children with measles vaccines and strengthening of the measles monitoring system are the preventive measures to control measles outbreak.
During July to September 2014, we performed a controlled, cross-sectional, seroepidemiologic study among 203 swine workers and 115 control subjects in Guangdong Province. Sera were tested using a hemagglutination inhibition assay against locally-isolated swine H3N2 and H1N1 viruses and commercially-obtained human influenza viral antigens. We found swine workers had a greater prevalence and odds of seropositivity against the swine H3N2 virus (17.3% vs. 7.0%; adjusted OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.1 -10.7). Younger age, self-report of a respiratory illness during the last 12 months, and seropositivity against seasonal H3N2 virus were identified as significant risk factors for seropositivity against swine H3N2 virus. As swine workers in China may be exposed to novel influenza viruses, it seems prudent for China to conduct special surveillance for such viruses among them. It also seems wise to offer such workers seasonal influenza vaccines with a goal to reduce cross-species influenza virus transmission.
EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions, cosponsored by the AHA Council on Epidemiology and Prevention (EPI) and the AHA Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health (Lifestyle) to support research into population-based approaches to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) and improve cardiovascular health (CVH), took place from March 1 to 3 in Boston, Massachusetts.The theme was "From Science to Action: Implementing Knowledge for Healthy Hearts" and featured implementation science approaches for applying CVD research in real-world settings.A total of 876 participants, including trainees, public health professionals, and clinicians, attended the meeting, which featured 531 poster presentations, 78 moderated posters, and 69 oral presentations. 1 The meeting was chaired by Dr Marie-France
Gastric cancer is the most common gastrointestinal malignancy in China and results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) materally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of gastric cancer and to construct a genetic-environmental risk assessment model.A case-control study was conducted to include 474 patients with gastric cancer diagnosed by clinical and pathological examination and 543 healthy physical examination subjects. Blood samples, general demographic data and behavioral lifestyle of the subjects were collected. The TaqMan real-time PCR method was used for testing the genotypes of MEG3 rs7158663 and rs10132552.The A allele at the rs7158663 loci of MEG3 was found to be risk factor for gastric cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.14-1.74, P=0.002). Yet, no significant association between rs10132552 polymorphisms and gastric cancer was observed. Drinking, tea drinking and preserved food eating were risk factors for gastric cancer (P<0.05). A genetic-environmental risk assessment model was established by using the logistic regression model to include MEG3 rs7158663, drinking, tea drinking, and preserved food eating. With the increase in risk score (RS), the risk of gastric cancer increased substantially (P<0.05). And the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.745, which indicates a high diagnostic value.MEG3 rs7158663 might be associated with the risk of gastric cancer; the diagnostic ability of genetic-environmental risk assessment model for gastric cancer is better.
Abstract Background Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-associated hypertension disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—molecules produced by gut microbes—have been associated with hypertension, yet their relation to PE remains uncertain. Objectives The aim was to review existing human studies that examined associations of the major SCFAs (acetate, propionate, butyrate) in pregnancy with PE development. Methods Two reviewers independently searched online databases (EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) in January 2024 using the following terms: “short-chain fatty acids,” “acetic acid,” “butyric acid,” “propionic acid,” and “preeclampsia.” The final set of included studies had to report associations of SCFAs with PE, be peer-reviewed, be written in English, and be conducted in humans. Results The abstracts of 907 studies were screened; 43 underwent full-text screening and 11 (1318 total participants, 352 with PE) were included in the final review. All studies used a case-control design. SCFAs were measured in a range of biospecimens (eg, serum, plasma, feces, placentas, and amniotic fluid) that were collected at distinct time points in pregnancy. All 7 studies that investigated butyrate found that it was lower in PE cases than in controls, with 6 of these showing statistical significance (P < .05). Five studies showed that acetate was significantly lower in individuals with PE compared with healthy individuals, while 1 study found that acetate was significantly higher in PE cases. One study reported significantly higher propionate among PE cases vs controls, while 2 studies reported significantly lower propionate levels in PE cases. The nuance in results for acetate and propionate may owe to reasons such as differences in distributions of population characteristics associated with SCFA level and PE or type of PE (early vs late). Conclusion Current epidemiologic evidence, which derives only from case-control studies, suggests that SCFAs, particularly butyrate (protective), in pregnancy are related to the development of PE. Large-cohort studies are warranted to investigate the temporality and potential causality of these associations.
Introduction: Age at menarche onset reflects many health aspects in women. Later age at menarche has been associated with lower risk of several cardiometabolic disease outcomes, including diabetes and various cardiovascular diseases. However, no studies have reported the association of maternal menarche age with risk of preterm birth (PTB)—a pregnancy outcome with significant racial disparities and cardiometabolic etiology. Hypothesis: Later age at menarche onset is associated with lower risk of PTB. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in the Boston Birth Cohort, including 2242 mothers with PTB [gestational age (GA) <37 wks], and 6022 mothers with term birth (GA ≥37 wks). We used a maternal postpartum questionnaire (administered 24-72 hrs after delivery) to collect data on age at menarche, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. We used medical records to ascertain GA. We used multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines to examine the association between age at menarche and odds of PTB. Results: Of the 8264 mothers in our study, 46.9% identified as Black and 28.8% as Hispanic. Maternal age at delivery was 28.1y ±6.5y and age at menarche was 12.85y ±1.86y. Our multivariable-adjusted cubic spline suggested a linear dose-response association of age at menarche with odds of PTB and GA (Figure). Per 1-year later menarche onset of menarche was associated with 5% (95% CI: 2%-8%) lower odds of PTB, after adjustment for maternal place of birth, education, smoking status, Mediterranean diet score, and pre-pregnancy BMI. We found a similar pattern (5% lower odds per 1-year later, 95% CI: 1%-8%) in Black mothers. Conclusion: In a large cohort of racially and ethnically diverse women, later age at menarche is associated with lower risk for PTB. Our findings suggests that the origins of higher risk for PTB start early in life, before puberty, and appear to be independent of adiposity. Future studies are needed to identify mechanisms and points of intervention.
Abstract Robust evidence on relationships between the human microbiome and health are critical for understanding and improving the human condition. However, there is little information about methodological approaches to combine and analyze multiple microbiome data sets. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review of studies that combine sequencing data from multiple data sets to understand the study objectives, data sources and selection, feature -table assembly methods, and analyses. References were identified through a systematic search of literature published between 2011 and 2022. Our final review included 60 articles. Despite the wide-spread use of the word “meta-analysis,” we found that only 24 studies used a systematic process to select their data sets, suggesting multiple meanings of the term within the field. While more than two thirds of studies used at least one publicly available data source, 19 had to request data from the original authors. Most studies (60%) combined data sets from multiple disjoint hypervariable regions. The number of hypervariable regions combined was not associated with the table construction method, but feature table construction method and the number of hypervariable regions influenced analytical resolution. Our results suggest the microbiome community needs to examine the use of terminology and analytic approaches for combining data sets; that additional work is needed to explore the impact of data source on bias in combined studies; and invite an independent evaluation of the methods used for feature table construction across disjoint regions.
Gut microbes and microbe-dependent metabolites (eg, tryptophan-kynurenine-serotonin pathway metabolites) have been linked to systemic inflammation, but the microbiota-metabolite-inflammation axis remains uncharacterised in children. Here we investigated whether gut microbiota features and circulating metabolites (both microbe-dependent and non-microbe-dependent metabolites) associated with circulating inflammation markers in children.
Introduction: Gut microbiota (GMB) has been associated with obesity in children, but no studies have examined GMB with direct measures of fat mass and trunk fat in children. In our study we examine GMB and GMB metabolites with overall body fat and trunk fat mass (TFM) measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 5-year-old children. Hypothesis: GMB composition and GMB metabolites are associated with DXA-measured overall fat and TFM. Methods: We conducted our study in children from the Gen3G cohort, a community-based cohort enrolled prenatally in 2010-2013 in Quebec, Canada. A total of 153 children had data on GMB and 140 had data on plasma metabolites in addition to DXA scan at 5-6.5 years of age. We assessed GMB by 16s rRNA sequencing of stool samples, and measured plasma metabolites using the untargeted approach by Metabolon. We used multivariable-adjusted (see figure for covariates) linear regression to examine associations of DXA measured fat with 67 pre-defined GMB-derived metabolites from the Metabolon database. We used ANCOM-BC to examine 542 GMB amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) with body composition measurements. We used a false discovery rate (FDR) correction for multiple testing and considered an FDR value of < 0.2 as significant. Results: Of the 153 children, 43.1% female, 96.1% self-identified as white. Average BMI z-score was 0.18 ± 0.90, with average TFM 2125 ± 637 g. A total of 7 ASVs were associated with total body fat, 3 ASVs with TFM, and 1 ASV with BMI ( Fig. panel A ). Of 67 metabolites tested, 1 was associated with total body fat, 2 with TFM, and 3 with BMI. The two metabolites associated with TFM in a linear fashion ( Fig. panel B ) were deoxycholic acid and glycoursodeoxycholate, which are know to be involved in secondary bile acid metabolism and the etiology of diabetes. Conclusion: In children, associations of GMB composition and metabolites with DXA-measured overall fat mass, TFM, and BMI were in a similar direction. In particular, GMB metabolites related to bile acid metabolism were related to adipose tissue accumulation.
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