Associations of Metal Mixtures During Early Pregnancy With Midlife Obesity and Body Composition: A Prospective Study.

Objective: To examine the prospective associations of metal mixtures during pregnancy with midlife adiposity and explore metal-folate interactions.

Methods: In 500 participants from Project Viva, we measured six non-essential metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, mercury, and lead) and five essential metals (copper, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc) in red blood cells and folate in plasma collected during early pregnancy (mean gestational age: 10.0 weeks; mean age: 32.

Dentin Metal and Trace Elements in Deciduous Teeth: Findings from Project Viva.

Deciduous teeth can reveal historical exposure to metals, yet their distribution within populations remains underexplored. This study aimed to characterize metal levels in deciduous teeth, compare measurements across duplicate teeth, and assess associations with maternal blood metal concentrations during pregnancy, while considering maternal and child characteristics. We recruited women into Project Viva between 1999 and 2002 during early pregnancy.

GPS-based street-view greenspace exposure and wearable assessed physical activity in a prospective cohort of US women.

Background: Increasing evidence positively links greenspace and physical activity (PA). However, most studies use measures of greenspace, such as satellite-based vegetation indices around the residence, which fail to capture ground-level views and day-to-day dynamic exposures, potentially misclassifying greenspace and limiting policy relevance.

Methods: We analyzed data from the US-based Nurses' Health Study 3 Mobile Health Substudy (2018-2020).

Developing Nationwide Estimates of Built Environment Quality Characteristics Using Street-View Imagery and Computer Vision.

Environmental health studies commonly rely on urban composition measures for built environment exposure assessment. However, quality measures are equally important, as they directly influence health behaviors. We leveraged computer vision and street-view imagery to estimate five components of built environment quality (perceived beauty, relaxation potential, nature quality, safe for walking, and safety from crime) across all U.

Associations of street-view greenspace exposure with cardiovascular health (Life's Essential 8) among women in midlife.

Background: Many women experience suboptimal cardiovascular health (CVH) during midlife. Greenspace exposure has been inversely associated with cardiovascular disease because it may reduce harmful environmental exposures and promote healthy behaviors. Most prior studies used satellite-based rather than ground-level exposures and did not examine overall CVH.

Greenspace and depression incidence in the US-based nationwide Nurses' Health Study II: A deep learning analysis of street-view imagery.

Background: Greenspace exposure is associated with lower depression risk. However, most studies have measured greenspace exposure using satellite-based vegetation indices, leading to potential exposure misclassification and limited policy relevance. We examined the association of street-view greenspace measures with incident depression in a prospective cohort of US women.

Associations of metal mixtures in early pregnancy with lung function and asthma in mid-childhood in Project Viva.

Whether fetal lung development may be vulnerable to gestational exposure to metals is unknown. We analyzed mother-child pairs in Project Viva, a prospective pre-birth cohort in eastern Massachusetts, USA. Concentrations of 11 essential and non-essential metals were measured in maternal first-trimester erythrocytes (~10 weeks).

Pregnancy Metal Mixtures and Blood Pressure and Hypertension in Mid-Life: A Prospective U.S. Cohort Study.

Background: The long-term associations between metal mixtures in pregnancy and women's mid-life blood pressure (BP) and hypertension remain unclear.

Methods: In Project Viva (enrolled 1999-2002), we measured nonessential (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, mercury, lead) and essential metals (copper, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc) in red blood cells, along with folate and vitamin B12 in plasma, collected during pregnancy. We measured mid-life BP from 2017 to 2021 (median age, 51.

Associations of PFAS concentrations during pregnancy and midlife with bone health in midlife: Cross-sectional and prospective findings from Project Viva.

Background: PFAS may impair bone health, but effects of PFAS exposure assessed during pregnancy and the perimenopause-life stages marked by rapidly changing bone metabolism-on later life bone health are unknown.

Methods: We studied 531 women in the Boston-area Project Viva cohort. We used multivariable linear, generalized additive, and mixture models to examine associations of plasma PFAS concentrations during early pregnancy [median (IQR) maternal age 32.

Assessing greenspace and cardiovascular health through deep-learning analysis of street-view imagery in a cohort of US children.

Background: Accurately capturing individuals' experiences with greenspace at ground-level can provide valuable insights into their impact on children's health. However, most previous research has relied on coarse satellite-based measurements.

Methods: We utilized CVH and residential address data from Project Viva, a US-based pre-birth cohort, tracking participants from mid-childhood to late adolescence (2007-21).

Neighborhood Food Access in Early Life and Trajectories of Child Body Mass Index and Obesity.

Importance: Limited access to healthy foods, resulting from residence in neighborhoods with low food access, is a public health concern. The contribution of this exposure in early life to child obesity remains uncertain.

Objective: To examine associations of neighborhood food access during pregnancy or early childhood with child body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk.

Prenatal blood metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and antigen- or mitogen-stimulated cord blood lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion.

Background: Evidence suggests that prenatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metals, two classes of chemicals found ubiquitously in human populations, influence immune system development and response.

Objective: We evaluated whether first trimester blood PFAS and metals were associated with antigen- or mitogen-stimulated cord blood lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion.

Methods: We measured six PFAS, as well as six nonessential and four essential metals, in first trimester blood from participants in the longitudinal pre-birth Project Viva cohort, recruited between 1999 and 2000 in eastern Massachusetts.

Medication-Induced Weight Change Across Common Antidepressant Treatments : A Target Trial Emulation Study.

Background: Antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed medications, but evidence on comparative weight change for specific first-line treatments is limited.

Objective: To compare weight change across common first-line antidepressant treatments by emulating a target trial.

Design: Observational cohort study over 24 months.

Associations of street-view greenspace with Parkinson's disease hospitalizations in an open cohort of elderly US Medicare beneficiaries.

Introduction: Protective associations of greenspace with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been observed in some studies. Visual exposure to greenspace seems to be important for some of the proposed pathways underlying these associations. However, most studies use overhead-view measures (e.

Food, nutrition, and autism: from soil to fork.

Food and nutrition-related factors have the potential to impact development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and quality of life for people with ASD, but gaps in evidence exist. On 10 November 2022, Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and Food and Nutrition Innovation Institute hosted a 1-d meeting to explore the evidence and evidence gaps regarding the relationships of food and nutrition with ASD. This meeting report summarizes the presentations and deliberations from the meeting.

Associations Between Prenatal Blood Metals and Vitamins and Cord Blood Peptide Hormone Concentrations.

Background: Nonessential metals have endocrine disrupting properties, interfere with cellular processes, generate reactive oxygen and deplete antioxidants, while essential metals and vitamins act as antioxidants. The extent to which prenatal metals and vitamins are associated with cord blood hormones involved in maternal and fetal metabolic and growth processes is unknown.

Methods: We measured six nonessential (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, lead, mercury) and four essential (magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc) metals and trace elements, and two vitamins (B12 and folate) in first trimester blood from participants in the longitudinal pre-birth Project Viva cohort, who were recruited between 1999-2002 in eastern Massachusetts.

Trends of Antihypertensive Prescription Among US Adults From 2010 to 2019 and Changes Following Treatment Guidelines: Analysis of Multicenter Electronic Health Records.

Background: Guidelines for the use of antihypertensives changed in 2014 and 2017. To understand the effect of these guidelines, we examined trends in antihypertensive prescriptions in the United States from 2010 to 2019 using a repeated cross-sectional design.

Methods And Results: Using electronic health records from 15 health care institutions for adults (20-85 years old) who had ≥1 antihypertensive prescription, we assessed whether (1) prescriptions of beta blockers decreased after the 2014 Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) report discouraged use for first-line treatment, (2) prescriptions for calcium channel blockers and thiazide diuretics increased among Black patients after the JNC 8 report encouraged use as first-line therapy, and (3) prescriptions for dual therapy and fixed-dose combination among patients with blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg increased after recommendations in the 2017 Hypertension Clinical Practice Guidelines.