Effects of postnatal exposure to phthalate, bisphenol a, triclosan, parabens, and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances on maternal postpartum depression and infant neurodevelopment: a korean mother-infant pair cohort study.

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can promote infant neurodevelopmental impairment and maternal postpartum depression (PPD). However, the associations between lactation exposure to EDCs, maternal PPD, and infant neurodevelopment are unclear. Hence, we investigated these relationships in infants aged 36-42 months. We recruited 221 Korean mothers and analyzed 29 EDCs. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess maternal PPD. Bayley scales of infant development; the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham rating scale (SNAP); and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used to assess neurodevelopment in infants exposed to the top 30% of EDC over three years. Multiple regression analyses were adjusted for maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, education, income, employment, residence, and infant age and sex. The rates of infants with clinically abnormal diagnoses on neurologic developmental tests (Balyey, SNAP, and CBCL scales) ranged from 7.7 to 38.5% in this study, with the motor and hyperactivity/impulsivity areas scoring the highest among 65 boys and girls. Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) and mono-isononyl phthalate (MiNP) levels in breast milk significantly correlated with infant inattention and hyperactivity. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS) levels correlated significantly with motor development of BSID-III and total CBCL score which mean infant might have lower developmental status. EDC concentrations in breast milk were not associated with maternal PPD. Overall, lactational exposure to EDCs during the postpartum period can exert a negative effect on maternal PPD and infant neurodevelopment.

[Identifying Trajectories of Behavioral Problems in Children with Allergic Diseases: Secondary Data Analysis of the 5th to 7th Panel Study of Korean Children].

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify latent classes of behavioral problem trajectories in children with allergic diseases and investigate their predictors. METHODS: This study used data from the 5th to 7th Panel Study of Korean Children. The participants included 840 children aged 4~6 years with allergic diseases. Statistical analyses were conducted using latent class growth analysis and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The trajectories of both internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems in children with allergic diseases were classified into five groups, that is deteriorative, recovering, changing 1 (decreasing-increasing), changing 2 (increasing-decreasing), and low state persistent group. For the internalizing behavioral problems, predictors were temperament, father's education, family interaction, and disconnection in peer interaction. For the externalizing behavioral problems, predictors child's gender, temperament, marital conflict, parenting stress, family interaction, and parenting environment. CONCLUSION: Deteriorative group has high-risk behavioral problems in children with allergic diseases. We suggest to provide interventions considering latent problem trajectories based on ecological environments for allergic children.

Enhanced exchange-coupling effect in Nd-Fe-B/Fe-B nanocomposite magnet.

Soft phase magnetic Fe-B nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation and the hard phase magnetic Nd-Fe-B nanoparticles were obtained from mechanical ball mill of the bulk Nd-Fe-B with a shaker mill. Also mechanical ball mill technique was applied to the mixture of Nd-Fe-B and Fe-B nanoparticles to build up an exchange-coupled nanocomposite magnet. It was loaded in electronic furnace and annealed under a flow of hydrogen at 953 K for 30 min. The exchange coupled interaction of isotropic magnets was characterized by smooth hysteresis loop with a high value of remanence (Mr/Ms > 0.5).