Gestational weight gain mediates the effects of energy intake on birth weight among singleton pregnancies in the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

BACKGROUND: Extra energy intake is commonly recommended for pregnant women to support fetal growth. However, relevant data regarding variations in energy intake and expenditure, body mass index and gestational weight gain (GWG) are frequently not considered. This study aimed to investigate how energy intake during pregnancy and gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with birth weight. METHODS: Early pregnant women were recruited into a Japanese nationwide prospective birth cohort study between 2011 and 2014. We analysed data of 89,817 mother-child pairs of live-born non-anomalous singletons after excluding births before 28 weeks or after 42 weeks. Energy intake during pregnancy was estimated from self-administered food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and was stratified into low, medium, and high. Participants completed the FFQ in mid-pregnancy (mean 27.9 weeks) by recalling food consumption at the beginning of pregnancy. Effects of energy intake on birth weight and mediation by GWG were estimated using the Karlson-Holm-Breen method; the method separates the impact of confounding in the comparison of conditional and unconditional parameter estimates in nonlinear probability models. Relative risks and risk differences for abnormal birth size were calculated. RESULTS: Mean daily energy intake, GWG, and birth weight were 1682.1 (533.6) kcal, 10.3 (4.0) kg, and 3032.3 (401.4) g, respectively. 6767 and 9010 women had small-for-gestational-age and large-for-gestational-age infants, respectively. Relative to low energy intake, moderate and high intakes increased adjusted birth weights by 13 g and 24 g, respectively: 58 and 69% of these effects, respectively, were mediated by GWG. Compared with the moderate energy intake group, the low energy intake group had seven more women per 1000 women with a small-for-gestational-age birth, whereas the high energy intake group had eight more women per 1000 women with a large-for-gestational-age birth. CONCLUSION: GWG mediates the effect of energy intake on birth weight. All pregnant women should be given adequate nutritional guidance for optimal GWG and fetal growth.

Association between nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and postpartum depression: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

OBJECTIVE: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a global emotional distress that affects women and their offspring regardless of their culture. The association between nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) and PPD has been widely described only for the severe form of NVP. We aimed to assess the relationship between PPD and NVP with regards to its severity. METHODS: Data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a birth cohort study, were analyzed. PPD was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Multiple logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between NVP and PPD. RESULTS: Out of the 80,396 women included in the study 14% had PPD. Among them 4,640 (42.1%) had mild NVP; 3,295 (29.9%) had moderate NVP whereas 1,481 (13.4%) had severe NVP. All forms of NVP were associated with PPD and the association gradually increased with the severity of NVP symptoms with odd ratio (OR): 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-1.35 for mild, OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.19-1.38 for moderate and OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.42-1.68 for severe NVP. CONCLUSION: Japanese women with NVP were more susceptible to develop PPD and the more severe the NVP symptoms were, the greater the risk of PPD. Thus, close monitoring of NVP-affected women is recommended.

Factors associated with delayed diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome among members of the Japanese Sjögren's Association for Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The heterogeneous nature of the signs and symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) often causes delays in diagnosis. The reasons for these delays have not been investigated in Japan and need to be determined. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey of members of the Japanese Sjögren's Association for Patients (JSAP). Questionnaire items were demographic (sex, age at diagnosis and current age) and factors associated with delayed diagnosis (age at first visit to hospital or clinic, medical department first attended, and initial symptoms). Patients were classified into those diagnosed in <1 year and those diagnosed in ≥1 year. RESULTS: Of the 510 patients questioned, 276 returned the questionnaire, and 255 questionnaires were assessed. The average time to diagnosis was 3.47 years. After adjustment, risk factors for delayed diagnosis were initial visit to an internal medicine department [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42-6.92] or ophthalmology department (aOR, 2.63, 95% CI 1.07-6.50), younger age at initial visit to hospital or clinic (aOR, 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99), and having symptoms of only dry eye (aOR, 2.69, 95% CI 1.09-6.64). Diagnosis was faster when patients had a dry mouth (aOR, 0.55, 95% CI 0.30-1.00) or cutaneous symptoms (aOR, 0.29, 95% CI 0.11-0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for delayed SS diagnosis were younger age, initial visit to internal medicine or ophthalmology department, and having only dry eye. We need to raise awareness of SS among doctors and the general public to improve early diagnosis and therapeutic potential.

Verbal abuse during pregnancy increases frequency of newborn hearing screening referral: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

BACKGROUND: Verbal abuse during pregnancy has a greater impact than physical and sexual violence on the incidence of postnatal depression and maternal abuse behavior towards their children. In addition, exposure of children (aged 12 months to adolescence) to verbal abuse from their parents exerts an adverse impact to the children's auditory function. However, the effect of verbal abuse during pregnancy on fetal auditory function has not yet been thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between intimate partner verbal abuse during pregnancy and newborn hearing screening (NHS) referral, which indicates immature or impaired auditory function. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The Japan Environment and Children's Study is an ongoing nationwide population-based birth-cohort study designed to determine environmental factors during and after pregnancy that affect the development, health, or wellbeing of children. Pregnant women living in 15 areas of Japan were recruited between January 2011 and March 2014. METHODS: Multiple imputation for missing data was performed, followed by multiple logistic regression using 16 confounding variables. RESULTS: Of 104,102 records in the dataset, 79,985 mother-infant pairs submitted complete data for questions related to verbal and physical abuse and the results of NHS. Of 79,985 pregnant women, 10,786 (13.5%) experienced verbal abuse and 978 (1.2%) experienced physical abuse. Of 79,985 newborns, 787 (0.98%) received a NHS referral. Verbal abuse was significantly associated with NHS referral (adjusted odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.98). CONCLUSIONS: Verbal abuse should be avoided during pregnancy to preserve the newborn's auditory function.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Congolese cement workers exposed to cement dust, in Kongo Central Province.

Chronic exposure to cement dust may induce adverse health effects, including a significant decrease in lung function. The study investigated whether the prevalence of COPD and respiratory symptoms was associated with working at different tasks exposed to varying levels of cement dust. The cross-sectional study was carried out among 223 exposed and 156 less exposed workers from two cement factories from November 20 to December 15, 2016 in DRC. Workers completed a questionnaire and spirometry was performed. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the association between occupation exposed to cement dust, COPD, and respiratory symptoms, after adjustment for confounders. Morning cough and cough on most days for as much as 3 months each year were significantly higher in the exposed group (p < 0.05) (p = 0.001) than in the less exposed group. As compared to the less exposed group, the prevalence of COPD was higher among the exposed group, 28.2 and 9.6% respectively (p < 0.001). A significant association with COPD, aOR 14.49 (5.33; 39.40), aOR 3.37 (1.44; 7.89), and aOR 3.09 (1.58; 6.05) was found among cleaning, transportation, and production workers, respectively. Working at certain tasks exposed to cement dust is associated with the higher prevalence of COPD and respiratory symptoms. A greater risk is being among cleaning, transportation, and production workers. This suggests the necessity to prioritize the quality of preventive measures in each work area.

Preconception gynecological risk factors of postpartum depression among Japanese women: The Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression is one of the major causes of disability among women who are on their childbearing years. Identifying people at risk of postpartum depression may improve its management. The objective of this study was to determine the probable association between postpartum depression and some preconception gynecological morbidities. METHODS: Data from a nationwide birth cohort study, the Japan Environment and Children's study (JECS), up to one month of postpartum were analyzed. To assess postpartum depression, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used; 11 preconception gynecological morbidities were considered as risk factors. Covariates included psychiatric illness history, psychosocial factors, some pregnancy adverse outcomes, birth outcomes, socio-demographic and health behavioral factors. RESULTS: Except for the prevalence of previous miscarriage, leiomyoma and polycystic ovarian syndrome, depressive women had more gynecological morbidities compared to non-depressive ones. In logistic regression model, endometriosis (OR, 1.27; 95%CI: 1.15-1.41), dysmenorrhea (OR, 1.13; 95%CI: 1.06-1.21) and abnormal uterine bleeding (OR, 1.21; 95%CI: 1.15-1.29) were associated with postpartum depression. LIMITATIONS: CONCLUSION: Women with endometriosis and menstrual problems were at risk of developing postpartum depression. This study suggests a perinatal mental health screening for predisposed women.