Periods of susceptibility for associations between phthalate exposure and preterm birth: Results from a pooled analysis of 16 US cohorts.

Background: Phthalate exposure during pregnancy has been associated with preterm birth, but mechanisms of action may depend on the timing of exposure.

Objective: Investigate critical periods of susceptibility during pregnancy for associations between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and preterm birth.

Methods: Individual-level data were pooled from 16 US cohorts (N = 6045, n = 539 preterm births).

Prenatal exposure to environmental bisphenols over time and their association with childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in the ECHO consortium.

Concerns persist about the potential impact of prenatal exposure to bisphenols (BP) and their replacement analogues on childhood asthma and allergies. Previous studies on single and small cohorts had limited statistical power, few investigated analogues BPF and BPS, and even fewer examined atopic outcomes. Our objective was to assess whether prenatal exposures to individual environmental bisphenols (BPA, BPF, BPS) influence risk of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.

Bridging Differences in Cohort Analyses of the Relationship between Secondhand Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy and Birth Weight: The Transportability Framework in the ECHO Program.

Background: Estimates for the effects of environmental exposures on health outcomes, including secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, often present considerable variability across studies. Knowledge of the reasons behind these differences can aid our understanding of effects in specific populations as well as inform practices of combining data from multiple studies.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the presence of effect modification by measured sociodemographic characteristics on the effect of SHS exposure during pregnancy on birth weights that may drive differences observed across cohorts.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth: A Pooled Study of Sixteen U.S. Cohorts.

Background: Phthalate exposures are ubiquitous during pregnancy and may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth.

Objectives: We investigated race and ethnicity in the relationship between biomarkers of phthalate exposure and preterm birth by examining: ) how hypothetical reductions in racial and ethnic disparities in phthalate metabolites might reduce the probability of preterm birth; and ) exposure-response models stratified by race and ethnicity.

Methods: We pooled individual-level data on 6,045 pregnancies from 16 U.

Associations Between Prenatal Urinary Biomarkers of Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth: A Pooled Study of 16 US Cohorts.

Importance: Phthalate exposure is widespread among pregnant women and may be a risk factor for preterm birth.

Objective: To investigate the prospective association between urinary biomarkers of phthalates in pregnancy and preterm birth among individuals living in the US.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Individual-level data were pooled from 16 preconception and pregnancy studies conducted in the US.

Design and Effectiveness of the Youth Engaged Strategies for Changing Adolescent Norms! (YES-CAN!) Program for Reducing Skin Cancer Risk.

Adolescence is a critical period for reducing skin cancer risks, yet the development of effective interventions for middle and high school youth has lagged behind those for younger children. We developed and implemented the "Youth Engaged Strategies for Changing Adolescent Norms!" (YESCAN!) program, a school-based peer leader program that uses a youth-researcher partnership approach and a project-based curriculum to support high school students in developing and delivering short narrative videos and related material about skin cancer prevention to middle school students. Participating middle and high school students completed pre- and post-program surveys assessing skin cancer attitudes, perceived norms, and behavioral intentions.

Trajectories of Nevus Development From Age 3 to 16 Years in the Colorado Kids Sun Care Program Cohort.

Importance: Nevi are a risk factor for melanoma and other forms of skin cancer, and many of the same factors confer risk for both. Understanding childhood nevus development may provide clues to possible causes and prevention of melanoma.

Objectives: To describe nevus acquisition from the ages of 3 to 16 years among white youths and evaluate variation by sex, Hispanic ethnicity, and body sites that are chronically vs intermittently exposed to the sun.

Interactions between ultraviolet light and MC1R and OCA2 variants are determinants of childhood nevus and freckle phenotypes.

Background: Melanocytic nevi (moles) and freckles are well known biomarkers of melanoma risk, and they are influenced by similar UV light exposures and genetic susceptibilities to those that increase melanoma risk. Nevertheless, the selective interactions between UV exposures and nevus and freckling genes remain largely undescribed.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study from ages 6 through 10 years in 477 Colorado children who had annual information collected for sun exposure, sun protection behaviors, and full body skin exams.

Mailed intervention to promote sun protection of children: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Sun exposure, especially during childhood, is the most important preventable risk factor for skin cancer, yet few effective interventions to reduce exposure exist.

Purpose: To test the effectiveness of a partially tailored mailed intervention based on the Precaution Adoption Process Model, delivered in the spring over 3 years to parents and children.

Design: RCT, with data collection through telephone interviews of parents and skin exams of children at baseline (Summer 2004) and annually (Summer 2005-2007).

Parents' perceptions of skin cancer threat and children's physical activity.

Introduction: Sun exposure is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but without physical activity, children are at risk of childhood obesity. The objective of this study was to explore relationships between parental perceptions of skin cancer threat, sun protection behaviors, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) in children.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis nested within the Colorado Kids Sun Care Program sun safety intervention trial.

Sun damage in ultraviolet photographs correlates with phenotypic melanoma risk factors in 12-year-old children.

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) photography has been used to motivate sun safety in behavioral interventions. The relationship between sun damage shown in UV photographs and melanoma risk has not been systematically investigated.

Objective: To examine the relationship between severity of sun damage in UV photographs and phenotypic melanoma risk factors in children.

Effect of hair color and sun sensitivity on nevus counts in white children in Colorado.

Background: It has been widely reported that individuals with a light phenotype (ie, light hair color, light base skin color, and propensity to burn) have more nevi and are at greater risk for developing skin cancer. No studies have systematically investigated how phenotypic traits may interact in relation to nevus development.

Objective: We sought to systematically examine whether any combinations of phenotype are associated with a greater or lesser risk for nevus development in white children.

Tanning and increased nevus development in very-light-skinned children without red hair.

Objective: To examine the relationship between tanning and nevus development in very-light-skinned children.

Design: Prospective cohort nested within a randomized controlled trial. Skin examinations in 3 consecutive years (2004, 2005, and 2006) included full-body counts of nevi, skin color and tanning measurement using colorimetry, and hair and eye color evaluation by comparison with charts.

Melanocytic nevus development in Colorado children born in 1998: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To describe the development of nevi from 3 to 8 years of age in a birth cohort of children in Colorado.

Design: Longitudinal observational study.

Setting: Large managed care organization and university and private primary care practices.

Vacations to waterside locations result in nevus development in Colorado children.

Nevi are a main risk factor for malignant melanoma, and most nevi develop in childhood. This study examined the relationship between vacations and nevi in 681 White children born in 1998 who were lifetime residents of Colorado. Vacation histories were assessed through telephone interviews of parents, whereas nevus and phenotypic characteristics were assessed through skin exams at age 7.