Environmental factors in non‐syndromic orofacial clefts: A review based on meta‐analyses results

Background: The etiology of congenital heart disease (CHD) has been extensively studied in the past decades. Therefore, it is critical to clarify clear hierarchies of evidence between types of environmental factors and CHD.Methods: Electronic searches in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane database were conducted from inception to April 20, 2020 for meta-analyses investigating the aforementioned topic.Results: Overall, 41 studies including a total of 165 meta-analyses of different environmental factors and CHD were examined, covering a wide range of risk factors. The summary random effects estimates were significant at P < 0.05 in 63 meta-analyses (38%), and 15 associations (9%) were significant at P < 10−6. Of these meta-analyses, eventually one risk factor (severe obesity; relative risk: 1.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.30–1.47) had significant summary associations at P < 10−6, included more than 1,000 cases, had 95% prediction intervals excluding the null value, and were not suggestive of large heterogeneity (I2 < 50%), small-study effects (P-value for Egger's test > 0.10), or excess significance (P > 0.10). Eight associations (5%) (including maternal lithium exposure, maternal obesity, maternal alcohol consumption, and maternal fever) had results that were significant at P < 10−6, included more than 1,000 cases, and had 95% prediction intervals excluding the null value (highly suggestive).Conclusion: This umbrella review shows that many environmental factors have substantial evidence in relation to the risk of developing CHD. More and better-designed studies are needed to establish robust evidence between environmental factors and CHD.Systematic Review Registration: [PROSPERO], identifier [CRD42020193381].

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Association Among Polymorphisms at MYH9, Environmental Factors, and Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefts in Western China

DNA and Cell Biology ◽

10.1089/dna.2009.0935 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 25-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Zhong-Lin Jia ◽

Yang Li ◽

Chun-Hui Chen ◽

Sheng Li ◽

Yan Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Western China ◽

Orofacial Clefts

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Evaluation of the association of polymorphisms in EYA1 , environmental factors, and non-syndromic orofacial clefts in Western Han Chinese

Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine ◽

10.1111/jop.12311 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 44 (10) ◽

pp. 864-869 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ni Zeng ◽

Jun Wu ◽

Wen-Chao Zhu ◽

Bing Shi ◽

Zhong-Lin Jia

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Han Chinese ◽

Orofacial Clefts

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Advances in genetic findings on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291707000773 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 37 (12) ◽

pp. 1681-1692 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

ANITA THAPAR ◽

KATE LANGLEY ◽

MICHAEL J. OWEN ◽

MICHAEL C. O'DONOVAN

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽

Variable Number Tandem Repeat ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Developmental Features

ABSTRACTAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder with adverse consequences during adult life. Family, twin and adoption studies show that genetic factors contribute to the aetiology of ADHD and that environmental factors also play a role. Family and twin studies have shown the importance of genetic influences on continuity in ADHD over time and in accounting for the co-occurrence of ADHD and conduct disorder problems. In meta-analyses of molecular genetic studies, the 48-bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) variant in the dopamine D4 gene and the CA(n) microsatellite marker in the D5 receptor gene have been found to be repeatedly associated with ADHD. Results from meta-analyses of the 480-bp VNTR in the dopamine transporter gene are mixed. Several genetic studies have also identified genetic variants that are related to specific clinical and developmental features of ADHD. In the next few years, a new generation of much larger-scale genetic studies should lead to the identification of further ADHD susceptibility genes. Such studies will also need to be integrated with other areas of neuroscience, clinical and epidemiological research to investigate how specific gene variants exert risk effects, interact with environmental factors and enable identification of the underlying causal mechanisms that lead to ADHD.

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The Role of Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefts

Journal of Craniofacial Surgery ◽

10.1097/scs.0000000000005924 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 113-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mekonen Eshete ◽

Azeez Butali ◽

Fikre Abate ◽

Taye Hailu ◽

Abiye Hailu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Orofacial Clefts

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Mechanisms of Impact of Blue Spaces on Human Health: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052486 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2486

Author(s):

Michail Georgiou ◽

Gordon Morison ◽

Niamh Smith ◽

Zoë Tieges ◽

Sebastien Chastin

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Cohen’S D ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Cohen's D

Blue spaces have been found to have significant salutogenic effects. However, little is known about the mechanisms and pathways that link blue spaces and health. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarise the evidence and quantify the effect of blue spaces on four hypothesised mediating pathways: physical activity, restoration, social interaction and environmental factors. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a literature search was conducted using six databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EBSCOHOST/CINAHL). Fifty studies were included in our systematic review. The overall quality of the included articles, evaluated with the Qualsyst tool, was judged to be very good, as no mediating pathway had an average article quality lower than 70%. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for physical activity, restoration and social interaction. Living closer to blue space was associated with statistically significantly higher physical activity levels (Cohen’s d = 0.122, 95% CI: 0.065, 0.179). Shorter distance to blue space was not associated with restoration (Cohen’s d = 0.123, 95% CI: −0.037, 0.284) or social interaction (Cohen’s d = −0.214, 95% CI: −0.55, 0.122). Larger amounts of blue space within a geographical area were significantly associated with higher physical activity levels (Cohen’s d = 0.144, 95% CI: 0.024, 0.264) and higher levels of restoration (Cohen’s d = 0.339, 95% CI: 0.072, 0.606). Being in more contact with blue space was significantly associated with higher levels of restoration (Cohen’s d = 0.191, 95% CI: 0.084, 0.298). There is also evidence that blue spaces improve environmental factors, but more studies are necessary for meta-analyses to be conducted. Evidence is conflicting on the mediating effects of social interaction and further research is required on this hypothesised pathway. Blue spaces may offer part of a solution to public health concerns faced by growing global urban populations.

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Overstating the Role of Environmental Factors in Success: A Cautionary Note

Current Directions in Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/0963721418797300 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 28-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

David Moreau ◽

Brooke N. Macnamara ◽

David Z. Hambrick

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Brain Training ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Science And Society ◽

Cautionary Note ◽

Bilingual Advantage ◽

Individual Decisions ◽

Mind Set ◽

Meta Analyses

Several currently popular areas of research—brain training, mind-set, grit, deliberate practice, and the bilingual advantage—are premised on the idea that environmental factors are the overwhelming determinants of success in real-world pursuits. Here, we describe the major claims from each of these areas of research and discuss evidence for these claims, particularly focusing on meta-analyses. We suggest that overemphasizing the malleability of abilities and other traits can have negative consequences for individuals, science, and society. We conclude with a call for balanced appraisals of the available evidence concerning this issue, to reflect current scientific discrepancies and thereby enable informed individual decisions and collective policies.

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Environmental Risk Factors and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Umbrella Review and Critical Assessment of Current Evidence from Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies

Neuroepidemiology ◽

10.1159/000443146 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 96-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Lazaros Belbasis ◽

Vanesa Bellou ◽

Evangelos Evangelou

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Random Effects ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Lateral Sclerosis

Background: The pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves both environmental and genetic factors. Our study aimed at summarising the environmental risk factors for ALS, assessing the evidence for diverse biases, and pinpointing risk factors with high epidemiological credibility. Methods: We searched PubMed from inception to August 20, 2015, to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies examining associations between environmental factors and ALS. For each meta-analysis, we estimated the summary effect size by the use of random-effects and fixed-effects models, the 95% CI, the 95% prediction interval (PI), and the between-study heterogeneity. We assessed the evidence of small-study effects and excess significance bias. Results: Sixteen unique meta-analyses of different risk factors and ALS were considered. Of them, 5 were statistically significant at p < 0.001 under the random-effects model. Only one factor presented robust evidence for a convincing association. This association pertained to chronic occupational exposure to lead (random-effects OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.39-2.35). Conclusions: A small number of published meta-analyses on environmental factors and risk of ALS was identified, a phenomenon that could be attributed to the challenges in studying a rare neurological disease. More observational studies with adequate sample size and study design are needed to clarify the environmental component of ALS pathogenesis.

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