Association between serum selenium concentrations and learning disability in a nationally representative sample of U.S. children.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. As an anti-oxidative agent, selenium plays an important role in human health. However, the relationship between selenium status and learning disability (LD), a common neurodevelopmental disorder, is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between serum selenium concentrations and learning disability. DESIGN: Nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Children aged 4-11 years who have available data on serum selenium concentrations and LD (N = 1,076) from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000. EXPOSURE: Serum selenium levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnosis of LD was reported by the children's parents. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Logistic regression models with survey weights were conducted adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, family income, total energy intake, body mass index, and serum cotinine levels. RESULTS: In this study, 8.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.2%-11.2%) of children had a diagnosis of LD. Serum selenium concentration was lower among children with LD than those without LD (geometric mean ± standard error, 107.7 ± 2.7 ng/mL vs. 112.8 ± 1.0 ng/mL, P for difference = 0.08). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of LD comparing the highest with lowest tertile of serum selenium concentrations was 0.39 (95% CI 0.19-0.82). Each 10 ng/mL increment in serum selenium concentrations was associated with 31% (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51-0.93) lower odds of LD. CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum selenium concentration was associated with a lower risk of LD in U.S. children. The causal relationship between selenium and LD and the underlying mechanisms warrant further investigation.

Maternal cigarette smoking before and during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: A dose-response analysis of 25 million mother-infant pairs.

BACKGROUND: Most of the women who smoke before pregnancy continue smoking during pregnancy, and some start to quit smoking after being pregnant, although existing guidelines for pregnancy recommend that women who smoke should quit smoking before pregnancy. Findings about the timing and intensity of maternal smoking, especially low-intensity smoking (1-9 cigarettes per day), and preterm birth are still inconsistent and ambiguous. This study aimed to examine the association of the timing of smoking and doses of smoking before pregnancy and during the first or second trimester of pregnancy with preterm birth in a large-scale population-based retrospective cohort study. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We used nationwide birth certificate data from singleton mother-infant pairs in the United States National Vital Statistics System, 2011-2018. All adult women with live singleton births, without preexisting hypertension or diabetes, and with complete data on smoking and gestational age at delivery were included. Participants reported their smoking status (yes or no) and daily number of cigarettes consumed before and during each trimester of pregnancy. The outcome of interest was preterm birth, defined as a birth before 37 weeks of gestation. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of preterm birth associated with smoking status and the number of cigarettes consumed, adjusting for maternal age, race/ethnicity, parity, education levels, prepregnancy BMI, previous history of preterm birth, marital status, infant sex, and initiation of prenatal care. This study included 25,623,479 women, with a mean age of 29 years (range 20-50 years); 13,742,486 (53.6%) participants were of non-Hispanic white ancestry, 5,971,598 (23.3%) of Hispanic ancestry, and 3,417,456 (13.34%) of non-Hispanic black ancestry. The prevalence of preterm birth was 9.3% (n = 2,378,398). We found that maternal smoking during pregnancy, even at a very low level of intensity, was associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery. The adjusted ORs (95% CI) of preterm birth for mothers who smoked 1-2, 3-5, 6-9, 10-19, and ≥20 cigarettes per day during the first trimester compared with mothers who did not smoke were 1.31 (1.29-1.33), 1.31 (1.30-1.32), 1.33 (1.31-1.35), 1.44 (1.43-1.45), and 1.53 (1.52-1.55), respectively (all P values < 0.001), whereas for those who smoked during the second trimester, the corresponding ORs were 1.37 (1.35-1.39), 1.36 (1.35-1.38), 1.36 (1.34-1.38), 1.48 (1.47-1.49), and 1.59 (1.58-1.61), respectively (all P values < 0.001). Furthermore, smokers who quit before pregnancy, regardless of smoking intensity, had a comparable risk of preterm birth with nonsmokers, although this was not the case when cessation occurred in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. The major limitation of this study is the self-reported information about smoking, which may be subject to information bias. In addition, we cannot rule out the possibility of residual confounding caused by unmeasured factors in an observational research design. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that low-intensity cigarette consumption during either the first or second trimester of pregnancy, even as low as 1-2 cigarettes per day, was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. These findings suggest that there is no safe level or safe trimester for maternal smoking during pregnancy. Women of reproductive age who smoke should be strongly encouraged and supported to quit smoking before pregnancy.

Association of intimate partner violence during pregnancy, prenatal depression, and adverse birth outcomes in Wuhan, China.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) among pregnant women constitutes a global public health problem and a potential risk factor for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The present study aimed to examine the associations among IPV during pregnancy, prenatal depression, and adverse birth outcomes in Wuhan, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed from April 2013 to March 2014 in Wuhan, China. Sociodemographic characteristics, IPV during pregnancy, and depressive symptoms during pregnancy were assessed in the third trimester of pregnancy. Birth outcomes were collected after delivery using medical records. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis were used to examine the association between IPV and prenatal depression, as well as the association between IPV combined with prenatal depression and adverse birth outcomes. RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, there was a statistically significant association between IPV during pregnancy and prenatal depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.60-3.90). IPV during pregnancy (aOR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.08-2.56) and prenatal depression (aOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.11-2.68) were significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes. Women experiencing psychological abuse had a significantly higher odds of prenatal depression (aOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.19-3.49) and of adverse birth outcomes (aOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.08-2.58), compared with women who did not experience IPV and prenatal depression. CONCLUSIONS: IPV during pregnancy and prenatal depression were significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes, after adjustment for socio-demographic and behavior factors. The findings suggest that early recognition of IPV and prenatal depression during antenatal care may protect pregnant women and improve birth outcomes.

Altruistic sharing behavior in children: Role of theory of mind and inhibitory control.

This study aimed to assess altruistic sharing behavior in children aged 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 11 years and to explore the involvement of potential cognitive mechanisms, namely theory of mind (ToM) and inhibitory control. A total of 158 children completed a dictator game with stickers as incentives. ToM was evaluated using a false belief task in preschoolers and the Strange Story Test in school-age children. Inhibitory control was assessed in preschoolers with the Day-Night task and in older children with the Stroop Color-Word Test. The result was that 48.10% of children aged 3 to 5 years decided to share, and the percentage rose significantly with increasing age. The difference in altruism level in children who decided to share among the three age groups was nonsignificant. These results suggest that mechanisms underlying the decision to share or not and altruistic behavior may be different. No significant linear relations were found between cognitive processes (i.e., ToM and inhibitory control) and sharing behavior. Surprisingly, 9- to 11-year-olds who shared 3 of 10 stickers performed worse in inhibitory control than did those who shared any other number of stickers. In conclusion, the proportion of children who decided to share, but not the level of altruism, increased with age. ToM was not involved in altruistic sharing, whereas inhibitory control may play a role when deciding how much to share.

[Secular trends of overweight and obesity prevalence between 2007 and 2011 in children and adolescents in Guangzhou].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the secular trends of overweight and obesity prevalence between 2007 and 2011 in children and adolescents in Guangzhou. METHODS: The data of physical examination was collected from the routine measurements carried out by the Health Care Facilities of Primary and Secondary schools between 2007 and 2011. Random stratified cluster sampling was conducted, all the students aged 5-18 years old form 19 primary and secondary schools from 4 districts (Tianhe district, Yuexiu district, Baiyun district and Haizhu district) were included in this survey, including 27 944 students in 2007 and 38 284 students in 2011. Body mass index reference norm established by Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) and the WHO cut-off criteria were employed for overweight and obesity screening, and the trend was analyzed. RESULTS: Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents (7-18 years old) significantly increased from 5.96% (1 553/26 055) in 2007 to 6.56% (2 339/35 664) in 2011, and the difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 9.195, P < 0.05). Overweight and obesity was more common in boys (overweight: 13.25% (1 766/13 329) in 2007 and 13.87% (2 559/18 451) in 2011; obesity: 7.82% (1 042/13 329) in 2007 and 8.63% (1 592/18 451) in 2011) than in girls (overweight: 7.43% (946/12 726) in 2007 and 8.17% (1 406/17 213) in 2011; obesity: 4.11% (523/12 726) in 2007 and 4.48% (771/17 213) in 2011), and the difference showed statistical significance (overweight:χ(2) = 236.123 in 2007 and χ(2) = 292.892 in 2011; obesity:χ(2) = 158.533 in 2007 and χ(2) = 247.794 in 2011. All P values < 0.05). Further analysis found that significant increases occurred in boys aged 16 and 17 years old and in girls aged 12 years old (boy: 16 years old,χ(2) = 6.820, P < 0.05. 17 years old, χ(2) = 4.893, P < 0.05. girl: 12 years old,χ(2) = 5.921, P < 0.05). RESULTS: of Join-point regression showed that for boys less than 10 years old the prevalence increased with age increasing (in 2007, APC = 3.75; in 2011, APC = 1.76), while over 10 years old the prevalence decreased with age increasing (in 2007, 10-18 years old's APC = -18.58; in 2011, 10-18 years old's APC = -15.95). While for girls the prevalence of obesity increased with age increasing between 7-9 years old (APC = 12.16), decreased with age increasing through 9 to 18 years old (APC = -17.23) in 2007. The prevalence decreased with age increasing for girls in 2011 (APC = -4.66). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of obesity is high and still increasing in children and adolescents in Guangzhou, and it is higher in boys than in girls. It is more likely to become obesity at 10 years for boys, and for girls the prevalence decrease with age increasing.

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children and Adolescents in the United States from 2021 to 2022.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children and adolescents seem to be high in countries around the world, and it's worth understanding the latest prevalence and trends of ASD in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the latest prevalence and decade trend of ASD among individuals aged 3-17 years in the United States. METHODS: A total of 13,198 individuals aged 3-17 years were included. Annual data were examined from the National Health Interview Survey (2021-2022). Weighted prevalence for each of the selected developmental disabilities were calculated. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study estimated the weighted prevalence of autism spectrum disorder were 3.05, 3.79, and 3.42% among individuals aged 3-17 years in the US in 2021, 2022, and the 2-year overall, respectively. We also observed a decade-long upward trend even after adjusting for demographic characteristics (P for trend < .05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of ASD among children and adolescents aged 3-17 years in the United States remained high and has increased over the past decade. The further investigation is necessary to evaluate potential modifiable risk factors and causes of ASD.

Association of cerebral palsy with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children: a large-scale nationwide population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of cerebral palsy with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), providing evidence for interdisciplinary medical service for children with cerebral palsy. DESIGN: A large-scale nationwide population-based study. SETTING: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). PATIENTS: 177 899 children aged 3-17 years among NHIS participants from 1997 to 2003 and 2008 to 2018. RESULTS: Among the 177 899 children included in this analysis, 602 (0.33%) had cerebral palsy, 1997 (1.16%) had ASD, and 13 697 (7.91%) had ADHD. Compared with children without cerebral palsy, children with cerebral palsy had a higher prevalence of ASD (6.09% vs 1.15%; p<0.001) and ADHD (15.91% vs 7.89%; p<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, family highest education level, family income level and geographical region, the OR among children with cerebral palsy, compared with children without cerebral palsy, was 5.07 (95% CI 3.25 to 7.91) for ASD (p<0.001) and 1.95 (95% CI 1.43 to 2.66) for ADHD (p<0.001). Furthermore, the association of cerebral palsy with ASD and ADHD remained significant in all subgroups stratified by age, sex and race. CONCLUSION: In a large, nationally representative sample of US children, this study shows that children with cerebral palsy are at an increased risk of ASD and ADHD.

Examining associations of folic acid supplements administered to mothers during pre-conceptional and prenatal periods with autism spectrum disorders in their offspring: insights from a multi-center study in China.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between maternal folic acid (FA) supplementation during the pre-conceptional and prenatal periods and the subsequent risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. Methods: A total of 6,049 toddlers aged 16-30 months were recruited from August 2016 to March 2017 for this cross-sectional study conducted in China. The parents of the enrolled toddlers provided information on maternal supplemental FA, socio-demographic information, and related covariates. Standard diagnostic procedures were implemented to identify toddlers with ASD. Results: Among the 6,049 children included in the study, consisting of 3,364 boys with an average age of 22.7 ± 4.1 months, a total of 71 children (1.2%) were diagnosed with ASD. Mothers who did not consume FA supplements during the prenatal period were found to have a significantly increased risk of having offspring with ASD, in comparison to those who were exposed to FA supplements (odds ratio [OR] = 2.47). However, we did not find a similar association during the pre-conceptional period. Compared to mothers who consistently used FA supplements from pre-conception to the prenatal period, those who never used FA supplements were statistically significantly associated with a higher risk of ASD in their offspring (OR = 2.88). Conclusion: This study indicated that providing continuous maternal FA supplementation during the pre-conceptional and prenatal periods may decrease the risk of ASD in offspring. The prenatal period is considered to be the most crucial time for intervention.

Association between Body Iron Status and Cognitive Task Performance in a Nationally Representative Sample of Older Adults.

Iron is an essential micronutrient that is necessary for proper cognitive function. However, the dose-response relationship between body iron status and cognitive function remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between serum ferritin concentrations, an indicator of body iron status, and cognitive function in older adults. Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 -2002 in the United States, nationally representative data was collected from 2,567 adults aged 60 years and older who had objectively measured serum ferritin levels and cognitive performance. High ferritin levels were defined as a serum ferritin level >200 ng/mL in women and >300 ng/mL in men. Low ferritin levels were defined as a serum ferritin level <30 ng/mL. The digit symbol substitution test (DSST) was employed to assess cognitive function. Multivariable logistic regression analyses with survey weights were performed after the DSST was dichotomized at the median score. The weighted prevalence of adults with normal, low, and high serum ferritin levels were 73.98%, 9.12%, and 16.91%, respectively. A U-shaped association between serum ferritin concentrations and cognitive task performance was observed. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and C-reactive protein factors, the odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for lower cognitive performance was 1.39 (1.11, 1.74) in adults with high ferritin levels and 1.38 (0.86, 2.22) in adults with low ferritin levels, compared with those with normal ferritin levels. The association between serum ferritin levels and lower cognitive performance was stronger in adults aged 60 to 69 years old than those aged 70 years and older. In conclusion, in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States, a high serum ferritin level was significantly associated with worse cognitive task performance. Thus, the relationship between low serum ferritin concentrations and cognitive task performance warrants further investigation.

Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in critically ill children: Prevalence, risk factors, and impact on outcome in a large tertiary pediatric hospital of China.

Background and aims: Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections worldwide, but comprehensive study of clinical characteristics for CRPA infections among critically ill children remains limited in China. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of CRPA infections among critically ill pediatric patients in a large tertiary pediatric hospital in China. Methods: A retrospective case-control study of patients with P. aeruginosa infections was conducted in the three intensive care units (ICUs) of Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 2016 to December 2021. All patients with CRPA infection in the ICUs were enrolled as case patients. Patients with carbapenem-susceptible P. aeruginosa (CSPA) infection were randomly selected as control patients in a ratio of 1:1. Clinical characteristics of those inpatients were reviewed through the hospital information system. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors associated with the development of CRPA infections and mortality of P. aeruginosa infections. Results: A total of 528 cases of P. aeruginosa infection in the ICUs were enrolled in the 6-year study. The prevalence of CRPA and MDRPA (multidrug-resistance P. aeruginosa) was 18.4 and 25.6%, respectively. Significant risk factors related to CRPA infection were the length of hospitalization >28 days (OR = 3.241, 95% CI 1.622-6.473, p = 0.001), receiving invasive operations (OR = 2.393, 95% CI 1.196-4.788, p = 0.014) and a blood transfusion (OR = 7.003, 95% CI 2.416-20.297, p < 0.001) within 30 days before infection. Conversely, birth weight ≥2,500 g (OR = 0.278, 95% CI 0.122-0.635, p = 0.001) and breast nursing (OR = 0.362, 95% CI 0.168-0.777, p = 0.009) were significant protective factors against CRPA infections. The in-hospital mortality rate was 14.2%, and no difference in mortality was observed between patients with CRPA and CSPA infections. Platelet < 100 × 109/L (OR = 5.729, 95% CI 1.048-31.308, p = 0.044) and serum urea <3.2 mmol/L (OR = 5.173, 95% CI 1.215-22.023, p = 0.026) were independent predictors for the mortality due to P. aeruginosa infection. Conclusions: Our findings provide insights into CRPA infections among critically ill children in China. They provide guidance in identifying patients that may be at high risk for a resistant infection and emphasize the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and infection control in hospitals.

Insights into the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in critically ill children.

Background and aims: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has become a leading cause of nosocomial infections with an increasing impact on critically ill patients, yet there is limited data on contributing factors. This study was aim to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors, and clinical outcomes of CRAB infections among critically ill children in a tertiary university teaching hospital in China. Methods: From January 2016 to December 2021, all children diagnosed with nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) infections in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were identified through the computerized microbiology laboratory databases. Among them, children suffering from CRAB infection were designated as a case group, while children with carbapenem susceptible A. baumannii (CSAB) infection were assigned to a control group. This retrospective case-control study was based on two groups of patients to determine potential clinical factors contributing to CRAB infection and death among critically ill children via univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: During the 6-year study period, a total of 372 episodes of nosocomial A. baumannii infection in the PICU were eligible and included in the study. These isolates displayed moderate or high rates of resistance to all tested antimicrobials except colistin. The overall prevalence of CRAB and MDRAB (multidrug-resistant A. baumannii) was 78.0% and 80.9%, respectively. Several risk factors found to significantly increase CRAB infection included receiving invasive operation (OR = 9.412, p = 0.001), gastric intubation (OR = 2.478, p = 0.026), prior carbapenems exposure (OR = 2.543, p = 0.003), severe pneumonia (OR = 3.235, p = 0.001), and hemoglobin <110g/L (OR = 3.049, p = 0.005). Of 372 patients with CRAB infection, the mortality rate was 30.9% (115/372) and mortality did not differ between children with CRAB and CSAB infections. Septic shock (OR = 2.992, p = 0.001), AST > 46U/L (OR = 2.015, p = 0.005), bone marrow aspiration (OR = 2.704, p = 0.008), lymphocyte <20 % (OR = 1.992, p = 0.006) and age (OR = 1.094, p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for the death of A. baumanni infection. Conclusions: This study highlights considerable incidence rate and remarkable mortality of children with A. baumanni (especially CRAB) infections, and identifies age-specific risk factors for CRAB infection and mortality in critically ill children. These risk factors should be taken into account in pediatric hospitals in order to establish early intervention and rational treatment to improve clinical outcomes.

Exploring the causal effects of the gut microbiome on serum lipid levels: A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: The gut microbiome was reported to be associated with dyslipidemia in previous observational studies. However, whether the composition of the gut microbiome has a causal effect on serum lipid levels remains unclear. Objective: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to investigate the potential causal relationships between gut microbial taxa and serum lipid levels, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and log-transformed triglyceride (TG) levels. Materials and methods: Summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for the gut microbiome and four blood lipid traits were obtained from public datasets. Five recognized MR methods were applied to assess the causal estimates, among which, the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) regression was used as the primary MR method. A series of sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the causal estimates. Results: The combined results from the five MR methods and sensitivity analysis showed 59 suggestive causal associations and four significant causal associations. In particular, genus Terrisporobacter was associated with higher LDL-C (P IVW = 3.01 × 10-6) and TC levels (P IVW = 2.11 × 10-4), phylum Actinobacteria was correlated with higher LDL-C level (P IVW = 4.10 × 10-4), and genus Oscillospira was associated with lower TG level (P IVW = 2.19 × 10-6). Conclusion: This research may provide novel insights into the causal relationships of the gut microbiome on serum lipid levels and new therapeutic or prevention strategies for dyslipidemia.

Intestinal Uptake and Tolerance to Food Antigens.

Food allergy is a growing concern due to its increasing world-wide incidence. Strict avoidance of allergens is a passive treatment strategy. Since the mechanisms responsible for the occurrence and development of food allergy have not yet been fully elucidated, effective individualized treatment options are lacking. In this review, we summarize the pathways through which food antigens enter the intestine and review the proposed mechanisms describing how the intestine acquires and tolerates food antigens. When oral tolerance is not established, food allergy occurs. In addition, we also discuss the contribution of commensal bacteria of the gut in shaping tolerance to food antigens in the intestinal tract. Finally, we propose that elucidating the mechanisms of intestinal uptake and tolerance of food antigens will provide additional clues for potential treatment options for food allergy.

Association between history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis and cardiovascular disease in U.S. adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a nationally representative population sample of adults in the United States. METHOD: We included adults aged 18 years or older who participated in the National Health Interview Survey 2007 and 2012, because information about ADHD diagnosis among adults was only available in these two cycles. Physician-diagnosed ADHD and CVD were defined based on an affirmative response in the questionnaire during a household interview. Logistic regression with survey sampling weights was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CVD. RESULTS: This analysis included 57,728 adults (weighted mean age 46.20 years; 47.66% males). Among them, 1,790 reported physician-diagnosed ADHD, 7,906 had CVD, 4,061 had coronary heart disease (CHD), and 1,749 had stroke. The age-adjusted prevalence of CVD was 19.72% (95% CI [16.56%, 22.88%]) among individuals with ADHD, and 12.09% (95% CI [11.75%, 12.43%]) among those without ADHD. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, family income level, smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, and body mass index, the OR of CVD, CHD and stroke in association with ADHD was 2.06 (95% CI [1.58, 2.68]), 1.88 (95% CI [1.31, 2.69]), and 1.75 (95% CI [1.07, 2.86]), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, we found a significant, positive association between a history of ADHD diagnosis and CVD. Further investigation is needed to replicate our findings and determine the underlying mechanisms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Association of Food Allergy, Respiratory Allergy, and Skin Allergy with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder among Children.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have predominately examined associations of respiratory allergy and skin allergy with ADHD, but little is known about the association between food allergy and ADHD. METHODS: We included 192,573 children aged 4-17 years from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a leading health survey in a nationally representative sample of the US population. Allergy conditions and ADHD were defined based on an affirmative response in the NHIS questionnaire. We used weighted logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of ADHD. RESULTS: Among the 192,573 children, 15,376 reported ADHD diagnosis. The prevalence of ADHD was higher among children with allergic conditions: 12.66% vs. 7.99% among children with and without food allergy; 12.16% vs. 7.63% among children with and without respiratory allergy; and 11.46% vs. 7.83% among children with and without skin allergy. After adjusting for covariates, the OR of ADHD was 1.72 (95% CI, 1.55-1.91) comparing children with and without food allergy, 1.50 (95% CI, 1.41-1.59) comparing children with and without respiratory allergy, and 1.65 (95% CI, 1.55-1.75) comparing children with and without skin allergy. The observed associations remained significant after mutual adjustment for other allergic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: In a nationally representative sample of US children, we found a significant association of common allergic conditions (food allergy, respiratory allergy, and skin allergy) with ADHD.

DNA methylation mediates the genetic variants on ticagrelor major metabolite elimination and platelet function recovery after ticagrelor discontinuation.

Aim: To investigate the influence of DNA methylation on ticagrelor major metabolite M8 elimination and platelet function recovery after ticagrelor discontinuation. Materials & methods: Among healthy Chinese subjects, a causal inference test was conducted to identify CpG sites located on absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion genes that mediate genetic variants on M8 elimination. Colocalization analysis was used to identify the CpG sites that shared causal variants with platelet function recovery. Results: cg05300248 (CHST9), cg05640674 (SLC22A5) and cg00846580 (DHRS7) mediated genetic variants on the M8 elimination. cg06338150 (NOTCH1) and cg17456097 (RPS6KA1) were demonstrated to have strong evidence of colocalization with platelet function recovery. Conclusion: The results provide new biological insights into the impact of DNA methylation on M8 elimination and platelet function recovery after ticagrelor discontinuation. Clinical trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT03092076.

Upregulation of Centromere Proteins as Potential Biomarkers for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis and Prognosis.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has a high incidence and low survival rate, necessitating the identification of novel specific biomarkers. Centromere-associated proteins (CENPs) have been reported to be biomarkers for many cancers, but their roles in ESCC have seldom been investigated. Here, the potential clinical roles of CENPs in ESCC patients were demonstrated by a systematic bioinformatics analysis. Most CENP-encoding genes were differentially expressed between tumor and normal tissues. CENPA, CENPE, CENPF, CENPI, CENPM, CENPN, CENPQ, and CENPR were upregulated universally in the three datasets. Survival analysis demonstrated that high expression of CENPE and CENPQ was positively correlated with the outcomes of ESCC patients. The CENPE-based forecast model was more accurate than the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging-based model, which was classified as stage I/II vs. III/IV. More importantly, the forecast model based on the commonly upregulated CENPs exhibited a much higher area under the curve (AUC) value (0.855) than the currently known TTL, ZNF750, AC016205.1, and BOLA3 biomarkers. The nomogram model integrating the CENPs, TNM stage, and sex was highly accurate in the prognosis of ESCC patients (AUC = 0.906). Besides, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated that CENPE expression is significantly correlated with cell cycle, G2/M checkpoint, mitotic spindle, p53, etc. Finally, in validation experiments, we also found that CENPE and CENPQ were significantly overexpressed in esophageal cancer cells. Taken together, these results clearly suggest that CENPs are clinically promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ESCC patients.