Isotretinoin is a known human teratogen that can cause multiple malformations. At present, women who conceive one cycle after discontinuing isotretinoin are told that their teratogenic risk is not higher than baseline. We present a case of both ear malformation in a newborn whose mother had taken isotretinoin for 2 years until one month prior to the time when she became pregnant. We suggest that further studies of pharmacokinetics and malformation of isotreinoin are needed.
Abnormalities, Drug-Induced/*diagnosis/*etiology/pathology ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Isotretinoin/*adverse effects ; Male ; Pregnancy ; *Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects

OBJECTIVES: Mothers who smoke during pregnancy or while their children are small were common in some populations. Epidemiological studies have tried to detect the effect of prenatal tobacco smoke (PTS), and childhood environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on puberty timing have not shown a consensus results. We aimed to examine current evidence and estimate the associations between PTS or/and ETS and puberty timing. METHODS: Seven databases were searched from inception to May 2017. All the cohort studies examining the associations between PTS and/or ETS and puberty timing were identified. Two reviewers independently screened all studies, evaluated the quality of eligible studies, and extracted the data. The quality assessment of the eligible cohort studies was based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Risk ratio (RR), standard mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and pooled by CMA (Version 2.0, Biostat, Inc., USA). RESULTS: Compared with controls, girls with PTS and ETS exposure have an earlier age at menarche (SMD - 0.087, 95% CI 0.174 to - 0.000), and similar results were found in both PTS subgroup (SMD - 0.097, 95% CI - 0.192 to - 0.002) and prospective cohort subgroup (SMD - 0.171, 95% CI - 0.253 to - 0.090). And number of boys with early voice break in PTS group was significantly increasing than non-exposed boys (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.40). CONCLUSIONS PTS exposure possibly decrease age of menarche of girls, and studies on boys were urgent needed. Appropriate and comprehensive outcome measures using unified criteria to classify puberty should be reported in future studies.
Aging ; physiology ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Menarche ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; etiology ; Puberty ; physiology ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects

Children born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are more likely to exhibit congenital malformations, high birth weight, and obesity and have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later life. Children who are exposed to maternal diabetes in utero may be 'programmed' for later development of obesity at a critical period of development. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the associations among adiposity and systolic blood pressure in children and abnormal maternal glucose levels during pregnancy. A total of 856 mother-child pairs were included in the present retrospective study. Eligible pregnant women underwent a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks' gestation. Anthropometric characteristics of their children were measured at 6 years of age, including body mass index, the sum of subscapular and tricep skinfold thickness, and systolic blood pressure. The result suggests that children exposed to GDM have higher adiposity; prevention of childhood obesity needs to begin early in life for these children.
Adiposity ; physiology ; Aging ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes, Gestational ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity ; etiology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Risk Factors

AIMTo inspect the effects of cold-stress on filial growth and development of pregnant mice.

METHODSPregnant mice were divided into pregnant control group(PN) and pregnant cold-stress group (PC). The PC were kept in (4 +/- 2) C from 8:00 to 12:00 every day and the PN were kept in 25 degrees C. After 18 days, the blood pressure of pregnant mice were measured, and the weight of fetus, placenta and amniotic fluid were recorded. The natal mice visceral organs weight, visceral organs weight and body weight ratio were also measured. Growth curve and increment ratio curve of body weight were protracted every day from 1 st day to 44th day. Blood pressure of all filiality were measured in 8 weeks after they were born.

RESULTSThe blood pressure in PC was increased than that in PN (P < 0.05), the weight of fetus, placenta and amniotic fluid of PC decreased significantly compared with PN (P < 0.01). The filial visceral organ weight of PC reduced obviously compared with PN (P < 0.05), while the visceral organs weight and body weight ratio had no statistical meanings between the offspring of PC and PN (P > 0.05). Obvious difference of growth curve of the two filial groups was also existed until sexual maturity, but increment ratio curve of body weight of the two filial groups was basically fitted close. Filial blood pressure of PC was evidently higher than that in PN.

CONCLUSIONCold-stress stimulations seriously affect filial growth and development of pregnant mice.

Animals ; Cold Temperature ; adverse effects ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; etiology ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; etiology ; Male ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology

OBJECTIVECryptorchidism is the most common urogenital congenital malformations in males, which increases male infertility and testicular tumors. It is necessary to identify its risk factors.

METHODSA hospital-based case-control study was conducted. Cases were 99 boys with cryptorchidism with two matched controls per case were randomly selected. Both cases and controls were interviewed with a uniformed questionnaire by face to face. Conditional logistic regression model was used for univariable and multivariate analysis by SAS6.12 computer software was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their 95 per cent confidence internals (95% CI).

RESULTSMultiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that cryptorchidism was positively associated with maternal common cold accompanied fever in the first trimester (OR = 9.37, 95% CI: 2.25 - 39.09), with threatened abortion in the first and/or second trimester (OR = 4.66, 95% CI: 2.02 - 10.74), maternal preeclampsia during pregnancy (OR = 16.33, 95% CI: 1.40 - 191.20), paternal exposure to pesticides occupationally (OR = 12.79, 95% CI: 2.90 - 56.43), neonatal low birth weight (OR = 5.77, 95% CI: 1.39 - 23.98), and maternal age under 24 years (OR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.29 - 4.06).

CONCLUSIONSThe risk factors of cryptorchidism were maternal common cold accompanied fever in the first trimester, threatened abortion in the first and/or second trimester, maternal preeclampsia during pregnancy, paternal exposure to pesticides occupationally, neonatal low birth weight, maternal age under 24 years.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptorchidism ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Paternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pesticides ; adverse effects ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital malformations in humans. Inconsistent results emerged in the existed studies on associations between air pollution and congenital heart disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of gestational exposure to air pollutants with congenital heart disease, and to explore the critical exposure windows for congenital heart disease. METHODS: The nested case-control study collected birth records and the following health data in Tianjin Women and Children's Health Center, China. All of the cases of congenital heart disease from 2013 to 2015 were selected matching five healthy controls for each case. Inverse distance weighting was used to estimate individual exposure based on daily air pollution data. Furthermore, the conditional logistic regression with distributed lag non-linear model was performed to identify the association between gestational exposure to air pollution and congenital heart disease. RESULTS: A total of 8,748 mother-infant pairs were entered into the analysis, of which 1,458 infants suffered from congenital heart disease. For each 10 µg/m³ increase of gestational exposure to PM_2.5, the ORs (95% confidence interval, 95%CI) ranged from 1.008 (1.001-1.016) to 1.013 (1.001-1.024) during the 1^st-2^nd gestation weeks. Similar weak but increased risks of congenital heart disease were associated with O₃ exposure during the 1^st week and SO₂ exposure during 6^th-7^th weeks in the first trimester, while no significant findings for other air pollutants. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted that gestational exposure to PM_2.5, O₃, and SO₂ had lag effects on congenital heart disease. Our results support potential benefits for pregnancy women to the mitigation of air pollution exposure in the early stage, especially when a critical exposure time window of air pollutants may precede heart development.
Infant ; Pregnancy ; Child ; Humans ; Female ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Case-Control Studies ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/epidemiology* ; Heart Defects, Congenital/etiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Maternal Exposure/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relation between environmental factors and the occurrence of congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted. Mothers of 123 patients with congenital heart disease and 246 normal newborns were interviewed with standardized questionnaires. Chi-square test and logistic regression models were performed to analyze the influencing factors. RESULTS: As shown in multivariable logistic model, gravida with occupational exposure (OR=4.10), or gravida with chronic diseases during progestational pregnancy (OR=5.95), gravida with abnormal childbearing history (OR=6.27), and gravida catching a cold in the early stage of pregnancy (OR=2.07) would increase the risk of CHD. On the contrary, eating meat, egg (OR=0.18) and milk (OR=0.23), and taking multivitamin and microelement (OR=0.35) during the pregnancy reduced the risk of CHD. CONCLUSION The risk of the offspring developing CHD is associated with gravida's exposure to many environmental factors during pregnancy. It is time to strengthen the intervention measures to reduce the occurrence of CHD.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Environment ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to explore the association between periconceptional fish consumption by parents and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intelligence deficiency (ID).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted through a questionnaire with 108 ASD cases, 79 ID cases, and 108 controls. The ASD and ID cases were students from special educational schools in Tianjin from 2012 to 2014. The age- and sex-matched controls were from a high school, three primary schools, and a kindergarten in Tianjin. Multivariate logistic regression was performed.

RESULTSPaternal habit of eating hairtail before fertilization, maternal preference for fruits during pregnancy, and maternal habit of eating grass carp during pregnancy were preventive factors for ASD. Paternal habit of drinking alcohol before fertilization was a risk factor for ID, whereas maternal preference for fruits during pregnancy and maternal habit of eating crucian carp during pregnancy were protective factors for ID.

CONCLUSIONParental fish consumption is beneficial for the prevention of ASD and ID. Meanwhile, the protective effects of fish consumption on ASD and ID differ. More attention should be paid to the combined effect of other food when eating fish.

Adolescent ; Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; adverse effects ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Fishes ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intellectual Disability ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; Paternal Exposure ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Species Specificity

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Cervix Uteri ; pathology ; Child ; Diethylstilbestrol ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy

BACKGROUND: The Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health is an ongoing study consisting of two birth cohorts of different population sizes: the Sapporo cohort and the Hokkaido cohort. Our primary objectives are to (1) examine the effects that low-level environmental chemical exposures have on birth outcomes, including birth defects and growth retardation; (2) follow the development of allergies, infectious diseases, and neurobehavioral developmental disorders, as well as perform a longitudinal observation of child development; (3) identify high-risk groups based on genetic susceptibility to environmental chemicals; and (4) identify the additive effects of various chemicals, including tobacco. METHODS: The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the progress of the Hokkaido Study, summarize recent results, and suggest future directions. In particular, this report provides the latest details from questionnaire surveys, face-to-face examinations, and a collection of biological specimens from children and measurements of their chemical exposures. RESULTS: The latest findings indicate different risk factors of parental characteristics on birth outcomes and the mediating effect between socioeconomic status and children that are small for the gestational age. Maternal serum folate was not associated with birth defects. Prenatal chemical exposure and smoking were associated with birth size and growth, as well as cord blood biomarkers, such as adiponectin, leptin, thyroid, and reproductive hormones. We also found significant associations between the chemical levels and neuro development, asthma, and allergies. CONCLUSIONS Chemical exposure to children can occur both before and after birth. Longer follow-up for children is crucial in birth cohort studies to reinforce the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis. In contrast, considering shifts in the exposure levels due to regulation is also essential, which may also change the association to health outcomes. This study found that individual susceptibility to adverse health effects depends on the genotype. Epigenome modification of DNA methylation was also discovered, indicating the necessity of examining molecular biology perspectives. International collaborations can add a new dimension to the current knowledge and provide novel discoveries in the future.
Biomarkers/blood* ; Child ; Child Health ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Environmental Health ; Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Female ; Fetal Blood/chemistry* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth/drug effects* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/etiology* ; Infant ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Male ; Neurodevelopmental Disorders/etiology* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/etiology* ; Prevalence ; Smoking/adverse effects*