scholarly journals Ancestral smoking and developmental outcomes: A review of publications from a population birth cohort

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Golding ◽  
Marcus Pembrey ◽  
Yasmin Iles-Caven ◽  
Sarah Watkins ◽  
Matthew Suderman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Smoking During Pregnancy ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Smoking In Pregnancy ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Paternal Grandmother ◽  
Sex Specificity ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Offspring Health ◽  
In Pregnancy

Abstract The adverse effects on the child of maternal smoking in pregnancy is well-recognised, but little research has been carried out on the possible non-genetic effects of ancestral smoking prior to the pregnancy including parental initiation of cigarette smoking in their own childhoods or a grandmother smoking during pregnancy. Here we summarise the studies that have been published mainly using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). We demonstrate evidence that ancestral smoking prior to or during pregnancy can often be beneficial for offspring health and both ancestor- and sex-specific. More specifically, we report evidence of (i) adverse effects of the father starting to smoke pre-puberty on his son’s development; (ii) beneficial effects on the grandson if his maternal grandmother had smoked in pregnancy; and (iii) mainly adverse effects on the granddaughter when the paternal grandmother had smoked in pregnancy. The ancestor- and sex-specificity of these results is consistent with earlier studies reporting associations of health and mortality with ancestral food supply in their parents’ and grandparents’ pre-pubertal childhoods.

scholarly journals Grandmothers’ smoking in pregnancy is associated with a reduced prevalence of early-onset myopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy Williams ◽  
Matthew Suderman ◽  
Jeremy A. Guggenheim ◽  
Genette Ellis ◽  
Steve Gregory ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Onset ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Prenatal Smoking ◽  
Vision Disorder ◽  
Smoking In Pregnancy ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Paternal Grandmother ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Methylation Patterns ◽  
In Pregnancy

Abstract Myopia (near sightedness) is the most common vision disorder resulting in visual impairment worldwide. We tested the hypothesis that intergenerational, non-genetic heritable effects influence refractive development, using grandparental prenatal smoking as a candidate exposure. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we found that the prevalence of myopia at age 7 was lower if the paternal grandmother had smoked in pregnancy, an association primarily found among grandsons compared to granddaughters. There was a weaker, non-sex-specific, reduction in the prevalence of myopia at age 7 if the maternal grandmother had smoked in pregnancy. For children who became myopic later (between 7 and 15 years of age) there were no associations with either grandmother smoking. Differences between early and late-onset myopia were confirmed with DNA methylation patterns: there were very distinct and strong associations with methylation for early-onset but not later-onset myopia.

scholarly journals Grandchild’s IQ is associated with grandparental environments prior to the birth of the parents

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Jean Golding ◽  
Gerard van den Berg ◽  
Kate Northstone ◽  
Matthew Suderman ◽  
Genette Ellis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Maternal Grandfather ◽  
Developmental Variation ◽  
Smoking In Pregnancy ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Paternal Grandfather ◽  
Paternal Grandmother ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study ◽  
In Pregnancy

Background. Despite convincing animal experiments demonstrating the potential for environmental exposures in one generation to have demonstrable effects generations later, there have been few relevant human studies. Those that have been undertaken have demonstrated associations, for example, between exposures such as nutrition and cigarette smoking in the grandparental generation and outcomes in grandchildren. We hypothesised that such transgenerational associations might be associated with the IQ of the grandchild, and that it would be likely that there would be differences in results between the sexes of the grandparents, parents, and children. Method. We used three-generational data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).  We incorporated environmental factors concerning grandparents (F0) and focussed on three exposures that we hypothesised may have independent transgenerational associations with the IQ of the grandchildren (F2): (i) UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at grandparental birth year; (ii) whether grandfather smoked; and (iii) whether the grandmother smoked in the relevant pregnancy. Potential confounders were ages of grandparents when the relevant parent was born, ethnic background, education level and social class of each grandparent. Results. After adjustment, all three target exposures had specific associations with measures of IQ in the grandchild. Paternal grandfather smoking was associated with reduced total IQ at 15 years; maternal grandfather smoking with reduced performance IQ at 8 years and reduced total IQ at 15.  Paternal grandmother smoking in pregnancy was associated with reduced performance IQ at 8, especially in grandsons. GDP at grandparents’ birth produced independent associations of reduced IQ with higher GDP; this was particularly true of paternal grandmothers. Conclusions. These results are complex and need to be tested in other datasets. They highlight the need to consider possible transgenerational associations in studying developmental variation in populations.

scholarly journals Grandchild’s IQ is associated with grandparental environments prior to the birth of the parents

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Jean Golding ◽  
Gerard van den Berg ◽  
Kate Northstone ◽  
Matthew Suderman ◽  
Genette Ellis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Maternal Grandfather ◽  
Developmental Variation ◽  
Smoking In Pregnancy ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Paternal Grandfather ◽  
Paternal Grandmother ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study ◽  
In Pregnancy

Background: In spite of convincing animal experiments demonstrating the potential for environmental exposures in one generation to have demonstrable effects generations later, there have been few relevant human studies. Those that have been undertaken have demonstrated associations, for example, between exposures such as nutrition and cigarette smoking in the grandparental generation and outcomes in grandchildren. We hypothesised that such transgenerational associations might be associated with the IQ of the grandchild, and that it would be likely that there would be differences in results between the sexes of the grandparents, parents and children. Methods: We used three-generational data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).  We incorporated environmental factors concerning grandparents (F0) and focussed on three exposures that we hypothesised may have independent transgenerational associations with the IQ of the grandchildren (F2): (i) UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at grandparental birth year; (ii) whether the grandfather smoked; and (iii) whether the grandmother smoked in the relevant pregnancy. Potential confounders were ages of grandparents when the relevant parent was born, ethnic background, education level and social class of each grandparent. Results: After adjustment, all three target exposures had specific associations with measures of IQ in the grandchild. Paternal grandfather smoking was associated with reduced total IQ at 15 years; maternal grandfather smoking with reduced performance IQ at 8 years and reduced total IQ at 15.  Paternal grandmother smoking in pregnancy was associated with reduced performance IQ at 8, especially in grandsons. GDP at grandparents’ birth produced independent associations of reduced IQ with higher GDP; this was particularly true of paternal grandmothers. Conclusions: These results are complex and need to be tested in other datasets. They highlight the need to consider possible transgenerational associations in studying developmental variation in populations.

scholarly journals Gestation at completion of prenatal questionnaires in ALSPAC

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Yasmin Iles-Caven ◽  
Kate Northstone ◽  
Jean Golding
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Time Critical ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study ◽  
In Pregnancy ◽  
Made In

Enrolling a cohort in pregnancy can be methodologically difficult in terms of structuring data collection. For example, some exposures of interest may be time-critical while other (often retrospective) data can be collected at any point during pregnancy.  The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prime example of a cohort where certain data were collected at specific time points and others at variable times depending on the gestation at contact.  ALSPAC aimed to enrol as many pregnant women as possible in a geographically defined area with an expected date of delivery between April 1991 and December 1992. The ideal was to enrol women as early in pregnancy as possible, and to collect information, when possible, at two fixed gestational periods (18 and 32 weeks). A variety of methods were used to enrol participants.   Approximately 80% of eligible women resident in the study area were enrolled. Gestation at enrolment ranged from 4-41 (median = 14) weeks of pregnancy. Given this variation in gestation we describe the various decisions that were made in regard to the timing of questionnaires to ensure that appropriate data were obtained from the pregnant women.  45% of women provided data during the first trimester, this is less than ideal but reflects the fact that many women do not acknowledge their pregnancy until the first trimester is safely completed. Data collection from women at specific gestations (18 and 32 weeks) was much more successful (80-85%). Unfortunately, it was difficult to obtain environmental data during the first trimester. Given the time critical nature of exposures during this trimester, researchers must take the gestational age at which environmental data was collected into account. This is particularly important for data collected using the questionnaire named ‘Your Environment’ (using data known as the A files).

scholarly journals Association of intrauterine alcohol exposure and offspring depression: A negative control analysis of maternal and partner consumption

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayleigh E Easey ◽  
Nicholas J Timpson ◽  
Marcus R Munafò
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Control Comparison ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Residual Confounding ◽  
In Pregnancy

AbstractBackgroundPrevious research has suggested that intrauterine alcohol exposure is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes in offspring. However, few studies have investigated its association with offspring internalising disorders in late adolescence.MethodsUsing data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we investigated the associations of maternal drinking in pregnancy with offspring depression at age 18. We also examined partner drinking as a negative control for intrauterine exposure for comparison.ResultsOffspring of mothers that consumed any alcohol at 18 weeks gestation were at increased risk of having a diagnosis of depression (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.32), but there was no clear evidence of association between partners alcohol consumption during pregnancy and increased risk of offspring depression (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.04).ConclusionsMaternal drinking in pregnancy was associated with increased risk of offspring depression at age 18. Residual confounding may explain this association, but the negative control comparison of paternal drinking provides some evidence that it may be causal, and this warrants further investigation.

scholarly journals Maternal smoking during pregnancy and asthma during the first year of life: a comparative study between smokers and non-smoker mothers

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 32-41
Author(s):  
Cristina Rivas Juesas ◽  
Lucia Fernández Monge ◽  
Ana Delgado Vicente ◽  
Ana Ledo García ◽  
Maribel Giner Crespo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Smoking ◽  
First Year ◽  
Smoking During Pregnancy ◽  
Smoking In Pregnancy ◽  
Smoking Group ◽  
One Year ◽  
Care Problems ◽  
First Year Of Life ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
In Pregnancy

Background: We investigated the relationship between maternal smoking in pregnancy and health care problems in the offspring during the first year of life, particularly asthma.Material and Methods: A cohort of 648 consecutive infants born at term and alive at Hospitalde Sagunto (Valencia, Spain) over one year period was followed for 12 months. Clinical data of the infants were prospectively collected from the database of ambulatory medical records (ABUCASIS) of the Valencia health system.Results: Smoking during pregnancy was recorded in 164 (25.3%) mothers. During the first year of life, asthma was diagnosed in 101 infants, with an incidence of 15.7%. The diagnoses of asthma (25.6% vs. 12.3%; P < 0.0001) and bronchiolitis (44.5% vs. 28.6%; P = 0.0002) during the first year of life were more common among infants in the smoking group. The probability of developing asthma during the first year of life was two-fold higher for the male gender and 2.5 times higher when mothers smoked while pregnant. Up to 52% of asthma cases could have been avoided in infants born to smoking mothers if they did not smoke during pregnancy. Infants in the smoking group showed a lower weight and length at birth than infants in the nonsmoking group differences almost disappeared at 6 months and 12 months.Conclusion: Asthma during the first year of life showed a clear relationship with maternal smoking in pregnancy. Pregnant women should be advised of the significant perinatal risk for respiratory diseases associated with tobacco use.

Isolation, Marginalisation and Disempowerment – Understanding How Interactions with Health Providers Can Influence Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherise Fletcher ◽  
Elizabeth Hoon ◽  
Angela Gialamas ◽  
Gustaaf Dekker ◽  
John Lynch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Antenatal Clinic ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Smoking During Pregnancy ◽  
Healthcare Barriers ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Smoking In Pregnancy ◽  
In Pregnancy

Abstract BackgroundMaternal smoking during pregnancy can lead to serious adverse health outcomes for both women and their infants. While smoking in pregnancy has declined over time, it remains consistently higher in women with lower socioeconomic circumstances. Furthermore, fewer women in this group will successfully quit during pregnancy. AimThis study explores the barriers to smoking cessation experienced by socially disadvantaged pregnant women and investigates how interactions with health providers can influence their smoking cessation journey.Methodsomen (either pregnant or birthed in the previous 10 years, who smoked or quit smoking in pregnancy) were recruited from a metropolitan public hospital antenatal clinic in South Australia and community organisations in surrounding suburbs. Seventeen women participated in qualitative semi-structured small focus groups or interviews. The focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. FindingsFour interconnected themes were identified: 1) smoking embedded in women’s challenging lives and pregnancies, 2) cyclic isolation and marginalisation, 3) feeling disempowered, and 4) autonomy and self-determination. Themes 3 and 4 are characterised as being two sides of a single coin in that they coexist simultaneously and are inseparable. A key finding is a strong unanimous desire for smoking cessation in pregnancy but women felt they did not have the necessary support from health providers or confidence and self-efficacy to be successful.ConclusionWomen would like improvements to antenatal care that increase health practitioners’ understanding of the social and contextual healthcare barriers faced by women who smoke in pregnancy. They seek assistance from health providers to make informed choices about smoking cessation and would like women-centred care. Women feel that with greater support, consistency and encouragement from health providers they could be more successful at antenatal smoking cessation.

Smoking during pregnancy: A population-based study

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gudrun Nina Oskarsdottir ◽  
Hedinn Sigurdsson ◽  
Kristjan G. Gudmundsson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Health Care Centre ◽  
Smoking During Pregnancy ◽  
Smoking In Pregnancy ◽  
In Pregnancy

Aims: Tobacco is a major cause of disease and mortality in modern times. The risk of smoking in pregnancy is a serious threat to the development and future health of an unborn child. The aim of this study was to explore the epidemiological factors associated with smoking during pregnancy in a primary healthcare setting. Methods: All 856 maternity records at the Glaesibaer Health Care Centre in Reykjavik during 2006–2013 were reviewed and information on smoking habits investigated. Results: The records showed that in 108 (12.2%) pregnancies, women smoked at first visit and 63 stopped smoking in early pregnancy, leaving 45 (5.3%) mothers smoking throughout the whole gestational period. The mean age of the smoking women was 27.8 years and for the non-smokers 29.7 years. Low social status (odds ratio (OR) = 2.66; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–5.96), previous mental health diagnosis (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.3–5.6), and unstable relationship with a partner (OR = 3.78; 95% CI: 2.1–7.0) were associated with smoking. Smoking fewer cigarettes was associated with a 0.04-unit lower risk of smoking during pregnancy (OR = 0.04: 95% CI: 0.02–0.08). Conclusions: Our results indicated that the women who smoked during pregnancy were often heavy smokers and living without a partner. They were younger, had worse mental health, and a lower social status than those pregnant women who did not smoke. Bearing in mind the consequence of smoking in pregnancy, this subgroup should get increased assistance to quit smoking before and during early pregnancy, as well as appropriate medical and social support.

Dropout Rates After High-Stakes Testing in Elementary School: A Study of the Contradictory Effects of Chicago’s Efforts to End Social Promotion

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine M. Allensworth
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Grade Retention ◽  
High Stakes Testing ◽  
Dropout Rates ◽  
Dropping Out ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship

Across the country, grade promotion is tied increasingly to performance on standardized tests. One concern about such policies is that they might increase dropout rates. Policy proponents counter that adverse effects of grade retention should be more than offset by beneficial effects from rising achievement. Using data from Chicago, this study examines dropout rates after implementation of an eighth-grade promotion standard. The results indicate that retention by the policy did have adverse effects on dropping out, but the relationship was smaller than seen with traditional teacher-initiated retention and was unrelated to the timing of dropping out. Systemwide, slight decreases in dropout rates among the 90% of students who were not retained counterbalanced the higher dropout rates among those retained.

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