A Prospective Cohort Study of Persistent Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Perceived Stress.

Persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can dysregulate the stress response. We evaluated associations between persistent EDCs and perceived stress among participants from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle and Fibroids (n=1,394), a prospective cohort study of Black women. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) at baseline, and every 20 months through 60 months (range of scores: 0-16); higher scores indicated higher stress. EDCs, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides, were quantified in plasma samples at baseline. We fit Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and linear mixed effects models to estimate associations of EDCs (as a mixture and individually) with PSS-4 scores at baseline and at each follow-up visit, respectively. Increasing percentiles of the mixture were not strongly associated with PSS-4 scores at baseline, and no interactions were observed among EDCs. Several individual EDCs (e.g., PFDA, PCB 118, PBDE 99) were associated with higher PSS-4 scores at baseline or follow-up, while other EDCs (e.g., PCB 138/158) were associated with lower PSS-4 scores at baseline or follow-up. The directionality of associations for individual EDCs was inconsistent across follow-up visits. In conclusion, specific EDCs may be associated with perceived stress in Black women.

Urothelial Carcinoma: Epidemiology and Imaging-Based Review.

Bladder cancer is the 6th most common malignancy in the United States, with urothelial carcinomas comprising over 95% of cases of bladder cancer, and commands a significant disease burden in Rhode Island. Imaging studies can provide valuable diagnostic information for urothelial carcinomas at initial presentation and are routinely used for noninvasive staging, treatment response monitoring, and post-treatment surveillance. This review aims to discuss and highlight three imaging modalities: ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, with particular focus on the notable features and appearance of urothelial carcinoma on each modality and their relative utility throughout the disease course. A general overview of disease epidemiology and treatment practices is also provided.

Cholangiocarcinoma: Epidemiology and Imaging-Based Review.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare cancer of the bile duct epithelium, and in the last few decades its incidence rate has been increasing. It is associated with a high mortality rate due to late diagnosis and its aggressive nature. Many risk factors have been identified; some are more common in certain regions than others. CCA can be classified according to its anatomical location or macroscopic growth pattern, the latter being most helpful for imaging interpretation. Clinical features can vary from obstructive-like symptoms to nonspecific symptoms, such as weight loss and malaise. Imaging, specifically MRI/MRCP, is crucial in diagnosing CCA, staging, and treatment planning. Surgery with chemotherapy is the mainstay treatment option, and other palliative treatment options exist for those who have unresectable disease.

Non-persistent endocrine disrupting chemical mixtures and uterine leiomyomata in the study of environment, lifestyle and fibroids (SELF).

BACKGROUND: Results of studies investigating associations between individual endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and incidence of uterine leiomyomata (UL), a hormone-dependent gynecological condition, have been inconsistent. However, few studies have evaluated simultaneous exposure to a mixture of EDCs with UL incidence. METHODS: We conducted a case-cohort analysis (n = 708) of data from the Study of the Environment, Lifestyle and Fibroids (SELF), a prospective cohort study. Participants were aged 23-35 years at enrollment, had an intact uterus, and identified as Black or African American. We measured biomarker concentrations of 21 non-persistent EDCs, including phthalates, phenols, parabens, and triclocarban, in urine collected at baseline, 20-month, and 40-month clinic visits. We ascertained UL incidence and characteristics using ultrasounds at baseline and approximately every 20 months through 60 months. We used probit Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR-P) to evaluate joint associations between EDC mixtures with cumulative UL incidence. We estimated the mean difference in the probit of UL incidence over the study period, adjusting for baseline age, education, years since last birth, parity, smoking status and body mass index. We converted probit estimates to odds ratios for ease of interpretation. RESULTS: We observed that urinary concentrations of the overall EDC mixture were inversely associated with UL incidence in the overall mixtures model, with the strongest inverse associations at the 70th percentile of all biomarkers compared with their 50th percentile (odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.36, 0.96). Strongest contributors to the joint association for the mixture were bisphenol S (BPS), ethyl paraben (EPB), bisphenol F (BPF) and mono (2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), which each demonstrated inverse associations except for MECPP. There was suggestive evidence of an interaction between MECPP and EPB. CONCLUSION: In this prospective ultrasound study, we observed evidence of an inverse association between the overall mixture of urinary biomarker concentrations of non-persistent EDCs with UL incidence.

Personal Care Products, Socioeconomic Status, and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Mixtures in Black Women.

Personal care products (PCPs) are sources of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) among women, and socioeconomic status (SES) may influence these exposures. Black women have inequitable exposure to EDCs from PCP use, but no study has investigated how exposure to EDCs through PCPs may vary by SES, independent of race. Using data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, a cohort of reproductive-aged Black women (n = 751), we quantified associations between PCPs and urinary biomarker concentrations of EDC mixtures (i.e., phthalates, phenols, parabens) within SES groups, defined using k-modes clustering based on education, income, marital status, and employment. Information about PCP use and SES was collected through questionnaires and interviews. We used principal component analysis to characterize the EDC mixture profiles. Stratified linear regression models were fit to assess associations between PCP use and EDC mixture profiles, quantified as mean differences in PC scores, by SES group. Associations between PCP use and EDC mixture profiles varied by SES group; e.g., vaginal powder use was associated with a mixture of phenols among lower SES women, whereas this association was null for higher SES women. Findings suggest that SES influences PCP EDC exposure in Black women, which has implications for public health interventions.

In vitro and in vivo approaches to assess atherosclerosis following exposure to low-dose mixtures of arsenic and cadmium.

Worldwide, millions of people are co-exposed to arsenic and cadmium. Environmental exposure to both metals is linked with a higher risk of atherosclerosis. While studies have characterized the pro-atherosclerotic effects of arsenic and cadmium as single agents, little is known about the potential effects of metal mixtures, particularly at low doses. Here, we used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models to assess the effects of low-dose metals individually and as mixtures on early events and plaque development associated with atherosclerosis. In vitro, we investigated early pro-atherogenic changes in macrophages and endothelial cells with metal treatments. The combined cytotoxic effects of both metals at low concentrations were dose interactive, specifically, synergistic in macrophages, but antagonistic in endothelial cells. Despite this differential behavior across cell types, the mixtures did not initiate early pro-atherogenic events: neither reactive oxygen species generation in macrophages nor adhesion molecule expression on endothelial cells. In vivo, we utilized the well-characterized hyperlipidemic apolipoprotein E knock-out (ApoE-/-) mouse model. Previously, we have shown that low concentrations of arsenic (down to 10 ppb) enhance atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice. This model has also been used with cadmium to demonstrate pro-atherogenic effects, although at concentrations above human-relevant exposures. In both sexes, there are some small increases in atherosclerotic lesion size, but very few changes in plaque constituents in the ApoE-/- mouse model. Together, these results suggests that low-dose metal mixtures are not significantly more pro-atherogenic than either metal alone.

Urine antimony and risk of cardiovascular disease - A prospective case-cohort study in Danish Non-Smokers.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence suggests that antimony induces vascular inflammation and oxidative stress and may play a role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, few studies have examined whether environmental antimony from sources other than tobacco smoking is related with CVD risk. The general population may be exposed through air, drinking water, and food that contains antimony from natural and anthropogenic sources, such as mining, coal combustion, and manufacturing. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of urine antimony with incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, and stroke among people who never smoked tobacco. METHODS: Between 1993 and 1997, the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health (DCH) cohort enrolled participants (ages 50-64 years), including n = 19,394 participants who reported never smoking at baseline. Among these never smokers, we identified incident cases of AMI (N = 809), heart failure (N = 958), and stroke (N = 534) using the Danish National Patient Registry. We also randomly selected a subcohort of 600 men and 600 women. We quantified urine antimony concentrations in samples provided at enrollment. We used modified Cox proportional hazards models to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for each incident CVD outcome in relation to urine antimony, statistically adjusted for creatinine. We used a separate prospective cohort, the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study (SLVDS), to replicate these results. RESULTS: In the DCH cohort, urine antimony concentrations were positively associated with rates of AMI and heart failure (HR = 1.52; 95%CI = 1.12, 2.08 and HR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.15, 2.18, respectively, comparing participants in the highest (>0.09 µg/L) with the lowest quartile (<0.02 µg/L) of antimony). In the SLVDS cohort, urinary antimony was positively associated with AMI, but not heart failure. DISCUSSION: Among this sample of Danish people who never smoked, we found that low levels of urine antimony are associated with incident CVD. These results were partially confirmed in a smaller US cohort.

Use of personal care products during pregnancy and birth outcomes - A pilot study.

Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from personal care products may be associated with birth outcomes including preterm birth and low birth weight. There is limited research examining the role of personal care product use during pregnancy on birth outcomes. Our pilot study consisted of 164 participants in the Environmental Reproductive and Glucose Outcomes (ERGO) study (Boston, MA), with data on self-reported personal care product use at four study visits throughout pregnancy (product use in the 48 h before a study visit and hair product use in the month before a study visit). We used covariate-adjusted linear regression models to estimate differences in mean gestational age at delivery, birth length, and sex-specific birth weight-for-gestational age (BW-for-GA) Z-score based on personal care product use. Hair product use in the past month prior to certain study visits was associated with decreased mean sex-specific BW-for-GA Z-scores. Notably, hair oil use in the month prior to study visit 1 was associated with a lower mean BW-for-GA Z-score (V1: -0.71, 95% confidence interval: -1.12, -0.29) compared to non-use. Across all study visits (V1-V4), increased mean birth length was observed among nail polish users vs. non-users. In comparison, decreased mean birth length was observed among shave cream users vs. non-users. Liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner use at certain study visits were significantly associated with higher mean birth length. Suggestive associations were observed across study visits for other products including hair gel/spray with BW-for-GA Z-score and liquid/bar soap with gestational age. Overall, use of a variety of personal care products throughout pregnancy was observed to be associated with our birth outcomes of interest, notably hair oil use during early pregnancy. These findings may help inform future interventions/clinical recommendations to reduce exposures linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Covid-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle length in the Apple Women's Health Study.

COVID-19 vaccination may be associated with change in menstrual cycle length following vaccination. We estimated covariate-adjusted differences in mean cycle length (MCL), measured in days, between pre-vaccination cycles, vaccination cycles, and post-vaccination cycles within vaccinated participants who met eligibility criteria in the Apple Women's Health Study, a longitudinal mobile-application-based cohort of people in the U.S. with manually logged menstrual cycles. A total of 9652 participants (8486 vaccinated; 1166 unvaccinated) contributed 128,094 cycles (median = 10 cycles per participant; inter-quartile range: 4-22). Fifty-five percent of vaccinated participants received Pfizer-BioNTech's mRNA vaccine, 37% received Moderna's mRNA vaccine, and 8% received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) vaccine. COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a small increase in MCL for cycles in which participants received the first dose (0.50 days, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.78) and cycles in which participants received the second dose (0.39 days, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.67) of mRNA vaccines compared with pre-vaccination cycles. Cycles in which the single dose of J&J was administered were, on average, 1.26 days longer (95% CI: 0.45, 2.07) than pre-vaccination cycles. Post-vaccination cycles returned to average pre-vaccination length. Estimated follicular phase vaccination was associated with increased MCL in cycles in which participants received the first dose (0.97 days, 95% CI: 0.53, 1.42) or the second dose (1.43 days, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.80) of mRNA vaccines or the J&J dose (2.27 days, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.50), compared with pre-vaccination cycles. Menstrual cycle change following COVID-19 vaccination appears small and temporary and should not discourage individuals from becoming vaccinated.

Digital Global Recruitment for Women's Health Research: Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: With the increased popularity of mobile menstrual tracking apps and boosted Facebook posts, there is a unique opportunity to recruit research study participants from across the globe via these modalities to evaluate women's health. However, no studies to date have assessed the feasibility of using these recruitment sources for epidemiological research on ovulation and menstruation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of recruiting a diverse sample of women to an epidemiological study of ovulation and menstruation (OM) health (OM Global Health Study) using digital recruitment sources. The feasibility and diversity were assessed via click and participation rates, geographic location, BMI, smoking status, and other demographic information. METHODS: Participants were actively recruited via in-app messages using the menstrual tracking app Clue (BioWink GmbH) and a boosted Facebook post by DivaCup (Diva International Inc.). Other passive recruitment methods also took place throughout the recruitment period (eg, email communications, blogs, other social media). The proportion of participants who visited the study website after viewing and clicking the hypertext link (click rates) in the in-app messages and boosted Facebook post and the proportion of participants who completed the surveys per the number of completed consent and eligibility screeners (participation rates) were used to quantify the success of recruiting participants to the study website and study survey completion, respectively. Survey completion was defined as finishing the pregnancy and birth history section of the OM Global Health Study questionnaire. RESULTS: The recruitment period was from February 27, 2018, through January 24, 2020. In-app messages and the boosted Facebook post were seen by 104,000 and 21,400 people, respectively. Overall, 215 participants started the OM Global Health Study survey, of which 140 (65.1%), 39 (18.1%), and 36 (16.8%) participants were recruited via the app, the boosted Facebook post, and other passive recruitment methods, respectively. The click rate via the app was 18.9% (19,700 clicks/104,000 ad views) and 1.6% via the boosted Facebook post (340 clicks/21,400 ad views.) The overall participation rate was 44.6% (198/444), and the average participant age was 21.8 (SD 6.1) years. In terms of geographic and racial/ethnic diversity, 91 (44.2%) of the participants resided outside the United States and 147 (70.7%) identified as non-Hispanic White. In-app recruitment produced the most geographically diverse stream, with 44 (32.8%) of the 134 participants in Europe, 77 (57.5%) in North America, and 13 (9.8%) in other parts of the world. Both human error and nonhuman procedural breakdowns occurred during the recruitment process, including a computer programming error related to age eligibility and a hacking attempt by an internet bot. CONCLUSIONS: In-app messages using the menstrual tracking app Clue were the most successful method for recruiting participants from many geographic regions and producing the greatest numbers of started and completed surveys. This study demonstrates the utility of digital recruitment to enroll participants from diverse geographic locations and provides some lessons to avoid technical recruitment errors in future digital recruitment strategies for epidemiological research.

Covid-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle length in the Apple Women's Health Study.

Background: COVID-19 vaccination may be associated with change in menstrual cycle length following vaccination. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal analysis within a subgroup of 14,915 participants in the Apple Women's Health Study (AWHS) who enrolled between November 2019 and December 2021 and met the following eligibility criteria: were living in the U.S., met minimum age requirements for consent, were English speaking, actively tracked their menstrual cycles, and responded to the COVID-19 Vaccine Update survey. In the main analysis, we included tracked cycles recorded when premenopausal participants were not pregnant, lactating, or using hormonal contraceptives. We used conditional linear regression and multivariable linear mixed-effects models with random intercepts to estimate the covariate-adjusted difference in mean cycle length, measured in days, between pre-vaccination cycles, cycles in which a vaccine was administered, and post-vaccination cycles within vaccinated participants, and between vaccinated and unvaccinated participants. We further compared associations between vaccination and menstrual cycle length by the timing of vaccine dose within a menstrual cycle (i.e., in follicular or luteal phase). We present Bonferroni-adjusted 95% confidence intervals to account for multiple comparisons. Results: A total of 128,094 cycles (median = 10 cycles per participant; interquartile range: 4-22) from 9,652 participants (8,486 vaccinated; 1,166 unvaccinated) were included. The average within-individual standard deviation in cycle length was 4.2 days. Fifty-five percent of vaccinated participants received Pfizer-BioNTech's mRNA vaccine, 37% received Moderna's mRNA vaccine, and 7% received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine (J&J). We found no evidence of a difference between mean menstrual cycle length in the unvaccinated and vaccinated participants prior to vaccination (0.24 days, 95% CI: -0.34, 0.82).Among vaccinated participants, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a small increase in mean cycle length (MCL) for cycles in which participants received the first dose (0.50 days, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.78) and cycles in which participants received the second dose (0.39 days, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.67) of mRNA vaccines compared with pre-vaccination cycles. Cycles in which the single dose of J&J was administered were, on average, 1.26 days longer (95% CI: 0.45, 2.07) than pre-vaccination cycles. Post-vaccination cycles returned to average pre-vaccination length. Estimates for pre vs post cycle lengths were 0.14 days (95% CI: -0.13, 0.40) in the first cycle following vaccination, 0.13 days (95% CI: -0.14, 0.40) in the second, -0.17 days (95% CI: -0.43, 0.10) in the third, and -0.25 days (95% CI: -0.52, 0.01) in the fourth cycle post-vaccination. Follicular phase vaccination was associated with an increase in MCL in cycles in which participants received the first dose (0.97 days, 95% CI: 0.53, 1.42) or the second dose (1.43 days, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.80) of mRNA vaccines or the J&J dose (2.27 days, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.50), compared with pre-vaccination cycles. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination was associated with an immediate short-term increase in menstrual cycle length overall, which appeared to be driven by doses received in the follicular phase. However, the magnitude of this increase was small and diminished in each cycle following vaccination. No association with cycle length persisted over time. The magnitude of change associated with vaccination was well within the natural variability in the study population. Menstrual cycle change following COVID-19 vaccination appears small and temporary and should not discourage individuals from becoming vaccinated.

Attempts to conceive and the COVID-19 pandemic: data from the Apple Women's Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that emergent events may affect pregnancy planning decisions. However, few have investigated the effect of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy planning, measured by attempting conception, and how attempting conception status may differ by individual-level factors, such as social status or educational level. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, until March 2021, on attempting conception status and to assess the effect measure modification by educational level and subjective social status. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a longitudinal analysis within a subgroup of 21,616 participants in the Apple Women's Health Study who enrolled from November 2019 to March 2021, who met the inclusion criteria, and who responded to the monthly status menstrual update question on attempting conception status (yes or no). Participants reporting hysterectomy, pregnancy, lactation, or menopause were excluded. We used generalized estimating equation methodology to fit logistic regression models that estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between the proportion of participants attempting conception and the month of response (compared with a prepandemic reference month of February 2020) while accounting for longitudinal correlation and adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, and marital status. We stratified the analysis by social status and educational level. RESULTS: We observed a trend of reduced odds of attempting conception, with an 18% reduction in the odds of attempting conception in August 2020 and October 2020 compared with the prepandemic month of February 2020 (August odds ratio: 0.82 [95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.97]; October odds ratio: 0.82 [95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.97). The participants with lower educational level (no college education) experienced a sustained reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive from June 2020 to March 2021 compared with February 2020, with up to a 24% reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive in October 2020 (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.96). Among participants that were college educated, we observed an initial reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive starting in July 2020 (odds ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.54-0.99) that returned near prepandemic odds. Moreover, we observed a reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive among those with low subjective social status, with a decline in the odds of attempting to conceive beginning in July 2020 (odds ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.10) and continuing until March 2021 (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.06), with the greatest reduction in odds in October 2020 (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.91). CONCLUSION: Among women in the Apple Women's Health Study cohort, our findings suggested a reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive during the COVID-19 pandemic, until March 2021, particularly among women of lower educational level and lower perceived social status.

Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and personal care product use during pregnancy - Results of a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Phthalates are reproductive toxicants commonly found in personal care products (PCPs). These endocrine disrupting chemicals are associated with pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes. Yet, little is known about PCP use as a contributor to urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in pregnancy. METHODS: We conducted a pilot study among 108 pregnant participants to examine the associations of self-reported PCP use with 14 phthalate and 2 DINCH (di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate) metabolite concentrations measured in single spot urine samples during pregnancy (median: 36 weeks of gestation). At the time of urine collection, participants self-reported use of hair products (within the last month) and other PCPs (within the last 48 h). We used linear regression to estimate associations for natural log-transformed, specific gravity-corrected concentrations of common PCP-associated phthalate metabolites (monoethyl phthalate [MEP], mono-n-butyl phthalate [MBP], and mono-isobutyl phthalate [MIBP]) in our primary analyses, and additional phthalate metabolites in secondary analyses. RESULTS: Most urinary metabolites were detected for >90% of participants. Participants who reported using hair oil within the past month had MEP concentrations 125% higher (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.1, 408) than non-users. For other personal care products, we observed the greatest percent difference in PCP-associated metabolites for MIBP among hair gel users (39.3%, 95% CI: -6.3, 107) and for MEP among conditioner/crème rinse users (-55.4%, 95% CI: -76.4, -15.6) compared to non-users. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that self-reported use of hair oils during late pregnancy may be associated with higher urinary concentrations of MEP. Hair gel use in late pregnancy may also be associated with higher urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations, while conditioner/crème rinse use may be associated with lower levels if MEP.

Correlates of non-persistent endocrine disrupting chemical mixtures among reproductive-aged Black women in Detroit, Michigan.

Some studies indicate that Black women have higher exposure to multiple non-persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) than white women, but little is known about correlates of exposure to EDC mixtures. Using baseline data from a prospective cohort study of reproductive-aged Black women (N = 751), we characterized profiles of EDC mixtures and identified correlates of exposure. At baseline, we quantified biomarkers of 16 phthalates, 7 phenols, 4 parabens, and triclocarban in urine and collected covariate data through self-administered questionnaires and interviews. We used principal component (PC) analysis and k-means clustering to describe EDC mixture profiles. Associations between correlates and PCs were estimated as the mean difference (ß) in PC scores, while associations between correlates and cluster membership were estimated as the odds ratio (OR) of cluster membership. Personal care product use was consistently associated with profiles of higher biomarker concentrations of non-persistent EDCs. Use of nail polish, menstrual and vaginal products (e.g., vaginal powder, vaginal deodorant), and sunscreen was associated with a mixture of phthalate and some phenol biomarkers using both methods. Current vaginal ring use, a form of hormonal contraception placed inside the vagina, was strongly associated with higher concentrations of high molecular weight phthalate biomarkers (k-means clustering: OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.28, 4.59; PCA: ß = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.71, 0.07). Several dietary, reproductive, and demographic correlates were also associated with mixtures of EDC biomarkers. These findings suggest that personal care product use, diet, and contraceptive use may be sources of exposure to multiple non-persistent EDCs among reproductive-aged Black women. Targeted interventions to reduce exposure to multiple EDCs among Black women are warranted.

Fine particulate matter and polycystic ovarian morphology.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM) is an ultrasonographic finding that can be present in women with ovulatory disorder and oligomenorrhea due to hypothalamic, pituitary, and ovarian dysfunction. While air pollution has emerged as a possible disrupter of hormone homeostasis, limited research has been conducted on the association between air pollution and PCOM. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study using electronic medical records data of 5,492 women with normal ovaries at the first ultrasound that underwent a repeated pelvic ultrasound examination during the study period (2004-2016) at Boston Medical Center. Machine learning text algorithms classified PCOM by ultrasound. We used geocoded home address to determine the ambient annual average PM2.5 exposures and categorized into tertiles of exposure. We used Cox Proportional Hazards models on complete data (n = 3,994), adjusting for covariates, and additionally stratified by race/ethnicity and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Cumulative exposure to PM2.5 during the study ranged from 4.9 to 17.5 µg/m3 (mean = 10.0 µg/m3). On average, women were 31 years old and 58% were Black/African American. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing the second and third PM2.5 exposure tertile vs. the reference tertile were 1.12 (0.88, 1.43) and 0.89 (0.62, 1.28), respectively. No appreciable differences were observed across race/ethnicity. Among women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, we observed weak inverse associations with PCOM for the second (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.33) and third tertiles (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.50, 1.57). CONCLUSIONS: In this study of reproductive-aged women, we observed little association between PM2.5 concentrations and PCOM incidence. No dose response relationships were observed nor were estimates appreciably different across race/ethnicity within this clinically sourced cohort.

Design and methods of the Apple Women's Health Study: a digital longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prospective longitudinal cohorts assessing women's health and gynecologic conditions have historically been limited. OBJECTIVE: The Apple Women's Health Study was designed to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship among menstrual cycles, health, and behavior. This paper describes the design and methods of the ongoing Apple Women's Health Study and provides the demographic characteristics of the first 10,000 participants. STUDY DESIGN: This was a mobile-application-based longitudinal cohort study involving survey and sensor-based data. We collected the data from 10,000 participants who responded to the demographics survey on enrollment between November 14, 2019 and May 20, 2020. The participants were asked to complete a monthly follow-up through November 2020. The eligibility included installed Apple Research app on their iPhone with iOS version 13.2 or later, were living in the United States, being of age greater than 18 years (19 in Alabama and Nebraska, 21 years old in Puerto Rico), were comfortable in communicating in written and spoken English, were the sole user of an iCloud account or iPhone, and were willing to provide consent to participate in the study. RESULTS: The mean age at enrollment was 33.6 years old (±standard deviation, 10.3). The race and ethnicity was representative of the US population (69% White and Non-Hispanic [6910/10,000]), whereas 51% (5089/10,000) had a college education or above. The participant geographic distribution included all the US states and Puerto Rico. Seventy-two percent (7223/10,000) reported the use of an Apple Watch, and 24.4% (2438/10,000) consented to sensor-based data collection. For this cohort, 38% (3490/9238) did not respond to the Monthly Survey: Menstrual Update after enrollment. At the 6-month follow-up, there was a 35% (3099/8972) response rate to the Monthly Survey: Menstrual Update. 82.7% (8266/10,000) of the initial cohort and 95.1% (2948/3099) of the participants who responded to month 6 of the Monthly Survey: Menstrual Update tracked at least 1 menstrual cycle via HealthKit. The participants tracked their menstrual bleeding days for an average of 4.44 (25%-75%; range, 3-6) calendar months during the study period. Non-White participants were slightly more likely to drop out than White participants; those remaining at 6 months were otherwise similar in demographic characteristics to the original enrollment group. CONCLUSION: The first 10,000 participants of the Apple Women's Health Study were recruited via the Research app and were diverse in race and ethnicity, educational attainment, and economic status, despite all using an Apple iPhone. Future studies within this cohort incorporating this high-dimensional data may facilitate discovery in women's health in exposure outcome relationships and population-level trends among iPhone users. Retention efforts centered around education, communication, and engagement will be utilized to improve the survey response rates, such as the study update feature.

Correlates of plasma concentrations of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances among reproductive-aged Black women.

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used in commercial and consumer goods. Black women are underrepresented in studies of PFAS exposure. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of correlates of plasma PFAS concentrations among 1499 Black women aged 23-35 participating in the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a Detroit-based cohort study. At baseline (2010-2012), participants provided questionnaire data on socio-demographics; behaviors; diet; and menstrual, contraceptive, and reproductive histories. Using mass spectrometry in non-fasting plasma samples collected at enrollment, we quantified several PFAS, including perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA), and 2-N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetate (MeFOSAA). We used linear regression to calculate percentage differences (%D) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between selected correlates and PFAS concentrations, adjusting for all other correlates. RESULTS: PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA were detected in ≥97 % of women; PFDA in 86 %; MeFOSAA in 70 %; and PFUnDA in 52 %. Age, income, education, and intakes of water, alcohol, and seafood were positively associated with several PFAS. Current smoking was positively associated with MeFOSAA. Body mass index was inversely associated with most PFAS, except PFHxS. Strong inverse associations (%D; 95 % CI) were observed between parity (≥3 vs. 0 births) and PFHxS (-34.7; -43.0, -25.1) and PFOA (-33.1; -39.2, -26.3); breastfeeding duration (≥6 months vs. nulliparous) and PFOA (-31.1; -37.8, -23.7), PFHxS (-24.2; -34.5, -12.3), and PFOS (-18.4; -28.3, -7.1); recent birth (<2 years ago vs. nulliparous) and PFOA (-33.1; -39.6, -25.8), PFHxS (-29.3; -39.0, -18.1), PFNA (-25.2; -32.7, -16.8), and PFOS (-18.3; -28.3, -6.9); and intensity of menstrual bleed (heavy vs. light) and PFHxS (-18.8; -28.3, -8.2), PFOS (-16.4; -24.9, -7.1), PFNA (-10.5; -17.8, -2.6), and PFOA (-10.0; -17.2, -2.1). Current use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) was positively associated with PFOS (20.2; 1.4, 42.5), PFOA (16.2; 1.5, 33.0), and PFNA (15.3; 0.4, 32.4). CONCLUSIONS: Reproductive factors that influence PFAS elimination showed strong associations with several PFAS (reduced concentrations with parity, recent birth, lactation, heavy menstrual bleeding; increased concentrations with DMPA use).

Correlates of Persistent Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Mixtures among Reproductive-Aged Black Women.

Black women are exposed to multiple endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but few studies have examined their profiles of exposure to EDC mixtures. We identified biomarker profiles and correlates of exposure to EDC mixtures in a cross-sectional analysis of data from a prospective cohort study of 749 Black women aged 23-35 years. We quantified plasma concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nonfasting samples collected at baseline. Demographic, behavioral, dietary, and reproductive covariates were also collected at baseline. We used k-means clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) to describe concentration profiles of EDC mixtures (17 PCBs, 6 PBDEs, 4 OCPs, 6 PFAS), followed by multinomial logistic and multivariable linear regression to estimate mean differences in PCA scores (ß) and odds ratios (ORs) of cluster membership with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Older age (per 1 year increase: ß = 0.47, CI = 0.39, 0.54; OR = 1.27, CI = 1.20, 1.35), lower body mass index (per 1 kg/m2 increase: ß = -0.14, CI = -0.17, -0.12; OR = 0.91, CI = 0.89, 0.94), and current smoking (≥10 cigarettes/day vs never smokers: ß = 1.37, CI = 0.20, 2.55; OR = 2.63, CI = 1.07, 6.50) were associated with profiles characterized by higher concentrations of all EDCs. Other behaviors and traits, including dietary factors and years since last birth, were also associated with EDC mixtures.

Urinary concentrations of phenols, parabens, and triclocarban in relation to uterine leiomyomata incidence and growth.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of urinary concentrations of phenols, parabens, and triclocarban with incidence and growth of uterine leiomyomata (UL; fibroids). DESIGN: Case-cohort study, nested within the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, a prospective cohort study. SETTING: Clinic visits at baseline and every 20 months for 60 months. PATIENT(S): 754 Black women aged 23-35 years residing in the Detroit, Michigan area (enrolled during 2010-2012). INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): At each study visit, women underwent transvaginal ultrasound for measurement of UL incidence and growth and provided urine specimens in which we quantified concentrations of seven phenols, four parabens, and triclocarban. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) characterizing the relation of urinary biomarker concentrations with UL incidence during the 60 months of follow-up. In a subset of UL detected and measured at multiple time points, we used linear regression to assess the associations between biomarker concentrations and UL growth. RESULT(S): Urinary biomarker concentrations were generally inversely associated with UL incidence, but the associations were weak and nonmonotonic. For example, hazard ratios comparing concentrations ≥90th with <50th percentile were 0.77 (95% CI: 0.46, 1.27) for bisphenol A, 0.72 (95% CI: 0.40, 1.28) for bisphenol S, and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.43, 1.33) for methylparaben. Biomarker concentrations were not strongly associated with UL growth. CONCLUSION(S): In this study of reproductive-aged Black women, urinary phenols, parabens, and triclocarban biomarkers were neither strongly nor consistently associated with UL incidence and growth.

Endocrine disrupting chemical-associated hair product use during pregnancy and gestational age at delivery: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure has been associated with increased risk of preterm birth. Non-Hispanic Black women have higher incidence of preterm birth compared to other racial/ethnic groups and may be disproportionately exposed to EDCs through EDC-containing hair products. However, research on the use of EDC-associated hair products during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth is lacking. Therefore, the objective of this pilot study was to estimate associations of prenatal hair product use with gestational age at delivery in a Boston, Massachusetts area pregnancy cohort. METHODS: The study population consisted of a subset of participants enrolled in the Environmental Reproductive and Glucose Outcomes (ERGO) Study between 2018 and 2020. We collected self-reported data on demographics and hair product use using a previously validated questionnaire at four prenatal visits (median: 12, 19, 26, 36 weeks' gestation) and abstracted gestational age at delivery from medical records. We compared gestational age and hair product use by race/ethnicity and used linear regression to estimate covariate-adjusted associations of product use and frequency of use at each study visit with gestational age at delivery. Primary models were adjusted for maternal age at enrollment and delivery method. RESULTS: Of the 154 study participants, 7% delivered preterm. Non-Hispanic Black participants had lower mean gestational age at delivery compared to non-Hispanic White participants (38.2 vs. 39.2 weeks) and were more likely to report ever and more frequent use of hair products. In regression models, participants reporting daily use of hair oils at visit 4 had lower mean gestational age at delivery compared to non-users (ß: -8.3 days; 95% confidence interval: -14.9, -1.6). We did not find evidence of associations at earlier visits or with other products. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent use of hair oils during late pregnancy may be associated with shorter gestational duration. As hair oils are more commonly used by non-Hispanic Black women and represent potentially modifiable EDC exposure sources, this may have important implications for the known racial disparity in preterm birth.