Association between maternal sexually transmitted diseases and birth defects in the United States: A nationwide population-based study.

Purpose: We estimated the association between maternal sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the risk of specific birth defects among live singleton births in the United States (US).

Methods: We conducted a population-based study using data from birth certificates for 14,602,822 live singleton births occurring from 2016 to 2019 in the US. We used logistic regression to estimate the associations between three maternal STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) and the risk of four specific birth defects (gastroschisis, cleft lip with or without cleft palate, spina bifida, and hypospadias), adjusting for socio-demographic and pregnancy-related factors.

Exploring the determinants of unhealthy dietary behaviors among pregnant women in China using the Theory of Planned Behavior-a cross-sectional study.

Background: Pregnant women in China are at risk of malnutrition due to an interplay of physiological, psychosocial, and environmental factors. Understanding the factors influencing dietary behaviors in pregnant women is vital for promoting maternal and infant health. This study explores the determinants of dietary behaviors among pregnant women in China based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Combined effects of ambient temperature and ozone exposure before and during pregnancy on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in 568 Chinese healthcare facilities.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) are a major contributor of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Although ambient ozone (O) and temperature have been individually associated with increased HDP risk, their combined effects remain unclear. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study involving 173,644 women, we assessed the independent and interactive relationships of O and temperature on HDP risk using logistic regression and distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM).

Quasi-1D Energy Transfer Enabling TbWO:Eu Scintillator for Low-Dose High-Resolution X-Ray Imaging.

A primary challenge in inorganic scintillators development is maximizing the X-ray energy conversion efficiency. Conventional low-doping strategies in rare-earth systems mitigate concentration quenching but result in inefficient host-to-activator energy transfer, leading to significant energy losses. To overcome this, a novel rare-earth matrix design is proposed: using Tb ions as the host lattice and incorporating energy-matched Eu ions as activators.

Causal link between humid heatwaves and ischemic heart disease: assessing hospitalizations and economic burden across 955 Chinese counties.

Background: Humid heatwaves might cause more massive destruction to human health systems, especially the cardiovascular system. However, there is no systematic approach for identifying humid heatwaves and assessing their impacts on human health and health-related economic burden. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between short-term exposure to humid heatwaves and the relative risk of hospitalization for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and the hospitalization-related economic burdens.

Fine particulate matter and its chemical constituents on oocyte quality in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles: A prospective cohort study in China.

Previous studies have examined the association between fine particulate matter (PM) and female oocyte quality; however, the specific chemical constituents influencing this association remain unclear. In this study, we examined the association between PM constituents and oocyte quality in Hubei Province, China, using a generalized estimating equations model. We used a weighted quantile sum model to identify which PM constituents most strongly impact oocyte quality.

Association between inactivated COVID-19 vaccine and semen quality among males recovered from omicron infection: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The protective effects of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2-associated semen impairment remain underexplored. We aimed to investigate the association between BBIBP-CorV vaccination and semen quality in males recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Research Design And Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included males recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection at a tertiary hospital in Urumqi, China (February-May 2023).

Chinese Expert Consensus on the Impact of Ambient Air Pollution on Allergic Rhinitis and Recommendations for Mitigation Strategies.

Ambient air pollution poses a significant yet manageable threat to human health. The growing consensus on the impact of ambient air pollutants on allergic rhinitis (AR) emphasizes the importance of prevention, control, and treatment strategies. A multidisciplinary consensus development group was established to further standardize management strategies for AR in the presence of exposure to ambient air pollutants.

Associations between multiple ambient air pollutants, genetic risk, and incident mental disorders: An interaction study in the UK population.

Mental disorders can be triggered by genetic and environmental risk factors. Limited studies have explored the effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on mental disorders, and most of the studies have focused on individual air pollutants. This study aimed to examine the relationship between long-term exposure to multiple air pollutants and incident mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, and whether the associations were affected by genetic susceptibility.

Associations Between Metals and Nonmetals in Drinking Water, Cardiovascular Events, and Diet.

Background: Metals and nonmetals in drinking water could potentially influence cardiovascular health. The relationship between poor-quality drinking water, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and diet is not well studied.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether long-term exposure to metals (copper, manganese, aluminum, zinc, and cadmium) and nonmetals (selenium, sulfate, and nitrate-nitrogen) in drinking water was associated with MACE outcomes, and whether the dietary patterns could modify the association between long-term exposure to low-quality drinking water and MACE.

modelSSE: An R Package for Characterizing Infectious Disease Superspreading from Contact Tracing Data.

Infectious disease superspreading is a phenomenon where few primary cases generate unexpectedly large numbers of secondary cases. Superspreading, is frequently documented in epidemiology literature, and is considered a consequence of heterogeneity in transmission. Since understanding the risks of superspreading became a rising concern from both statistical modelling and public health aspects, the R package modelSSE provides comprehensive analytical tools to characterize transmission heterogeneity.

Kidney failure-related excess mortality during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: a nation-wide, population-based analysis.

Background: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the healthcare system. Patients with kidney failure and related kidney disease are notably vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it remains unclear how mortality trends associated with kidney failure have evolved over the past three years.

Longitudinal associations between air pollution and incident dementia as mediated by MRI-measured brain volumes in the UK Biobank.

Background: Although there is increasing evidence that environmental exposures are associated with the risk of neurodegenerative conditions, there is still limited mechanistic evidence evaluating potential mediators in human populations.

Methods: UK Biobank is a large long-term study of 500,000 adults enrolled from 2006 to 2010 age 40-69 years. ICD-10 classified reports of dementia cases up to 2022 (Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, dementia in other classified diseases, and unspecified dementia) were identified from health record linkage.

Integrative development of a concise screening questionnaire for early detection of pregnant women at risk for dystrophy.

Background: Maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy is vital for reducing the risk of adverse birth outcomes. However, conventional methods of assessing the dietary behavior of pregnant women, such as the FFQ, are often time-consuming. This study aims to develop a concise nutritional screening questionnaire tailored for pregnant women, empowering prenatal healthcare providers to quickly identify key adverse dietary behaviors and provide targeted guidance.

Comparing the protection of heterologous booster of inhaled Ad5-nCoV vaccine and hybrid immunity against Omicron BA.5 infection: a cohort study of hospital staff in China.

Background: After the exit "zero-COVID" strategy in mainland China by the end of 2022, a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak seeded by Omicron variants occurred. An inhaled adenovirus type-5 vector-based (i.e.

Exposure to residential green space and semen quality among Chinese men.

Background: Residential greenness has been linked to various health benefits, but evidence on its association with sperm quality remains limited.

Methods: We enrolled 28,089 adult men from an infertility clinic in Hubei, China, from 2014 to 2020. Residential greenness was estimated using the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) from satellite imagery, averaged within buffers of 250 m, 500 m and 1000 m around each participant's residential address.

Relationship between global warming and autism spectrum disorder from 1990 to 2019.

Background: Despite mounting evidence linking neurological diseases with climate change, the link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and global warming has yet to be explored.

Aims: To examine the relationship between the incidence of ASD and global warming from 1990 to 2019 and estimate the trajectory of ASD incidence from 2020 to 2100 globally.

Method: We extracted meteorological data from TerraClimate between 1990 and 2019.

Ambient Ozone Exposure, Semen Plasma Metabolites, and Sperm Quality Decline among Adult Men in Wuhan China.

Ambient ozone (O) exposure may be associated with a reduction of semen quality, yet the potential biological mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the effects of certain seminal plasma metabolites on mediating the links between O exposure and the deterioration of semen quality. The untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed on semen samples of 200 Chinese adult men to determine candidate metabolites associated with characteristics of semen quality.

Exposure to ambient particulate matter and ovarian reserve impairment among reproductive age women in China.

Ovarian aging, characterized by a decline in ovarian reserve, is a critical concern in female reproductive health. However, the evidence linking ambient air pollution exposure with ovarian reserve impairment remains limited. We aimed to estimate the association between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and respirable particulate matter (PM) and key indicators of ovarian reserve, including antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian volume (OV), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), FSH/LH ratio, and inhibin B (INHB).

Weekly-specific ambient PM before and during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: Exposure to fine or respirable particulate matter has been linked to an elevated risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, the association between exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1 μm (PM) and GDM has not been explored.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study involving 60,173 pregnant women from nine hospitals in Beijing, China, from February 2015 to April 2021.

Exposure to ambient ozone and sperm quality among adult men in China.

Background: Limited evidence exists regarding the association between ozone exposure and adverse sperm quality. We aimed to assess the association between ozone exposure and sperm quality, and identify susceptible exposure windows.

Methods: We recruited 32,541 men aged between 22 and 65 years old attending an infertility clinic in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China from 2014 to 2020.

Associations of metabolic changes and polygenic risk scores with cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality across BMI categories: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Associations between metabolic status and metabolic changes with the risk of cardiovascular outcomes have been reported. However, the role of genetic susceptibility underlying these associations remains unexplored. We aimed to examine how metabolic status, metabolic transitions, and genetic susceptibility collectively impact cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality across diverse body mass index (BMI) categories.