scholarly journals Development of a data classification system for preterm birth cohort studies: the RECAP Preterm project

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Bamber ◽  
Helen E. Collins ◽  
Charlotte Powell ◽  
Gonçalo Campos Gonçalves ◽  
Samantha Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Data Mapping ◽  
Consultation Process ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Data Harmonisation

Abstract Background The small sample sizes available within many very preterm (VPT) longitudinal birth cohort studies mean that it is often necessary to combine and harmonise data from individual studies to increase statistical power, especially for studying rare outcomes. Curating and mapping data is a vital first step in the process of data harmonisation. To facilitate data mapping and harmonisation across VPT birth cohort studies, we developed a custom classification system as part of the Research on European Children and Adults born Preterm (RECAP Preterm) project in order to increase the scope and generalisability of research and the evaluation of outcomes across the lifespan for individuals born VPT. Methods The multidisciplinary consortium of expert clinicians and researchers who made up the RECAP Preterm project participated in a four-phase consultation process via email questionnaire to develop a topic-specific classification system. Descriptive analyses were calculated after each questionnaire round to provide pre- and post- ratings to assess levels of agreement with the classification system as it developed. Amendments and refinements were made to the classification system after each round. Results Expert input from 23 clinicians and researchers from the RECAP Preterm project aided development of the classification system’s topic content, refining it from 10 modules, 48 themes and 197 domains to 14 modules, 93 themes and 345 domains. Supplementary classifications for target, source, mode and instrument were also developed to capture additional variable-level information. Over 22,000 individual data variables relating to VPT birth outcomes have been mapped to the classification system to date to facilitate data harmonisation. This will continue to increase as retrospective data items are mapped and harmonised variables are created. Conclusions This bespoke preterm birth classification system is a fundamental component of the RECAP Preterm project’s web-based interactive platform. It is freely available for use worldwide by those interested in research into the long term impact of VPT birth. It can also be used to inform the development of future cohort studies.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic inequality in preterm birth in four Brazilian birth cohort studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Ana Daniela Izoton de Sadovsky ◽  
Alicia Matijasevich ◽  
Iná S. Santos ◽  
Fernando C. Barros ◽  
Angelica Espinosa Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequality

scholarly journals Socioeconomic inequality in preterm birth in four Brazilian birth cohort studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Daniela Izoton de Sadovsky ◽  
Alicia Matijasevich ◽  
Iná S. Santos ◽  
Fernando C. Barros ◽  
Angelica Espinosa Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequality

scholarly journals Prenatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Birth Outcomes; An Updated Analysis from the Danish National Birth Cohort

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 1832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Meng ◽  
Kosuke Inoue ◽  
Beate Ritz ◽  
Jørn Olsen ◽  
Zeyan Liew
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Perfluoroalkyl Substances ◽  
Danish National Birth Cohort

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widespread industrial pollutants that are extremely persistent in the environment. A previous study in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) found prenatal perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) exposure was associated with decreased birth weight, but had insufficient statistical power to evaluate adverse birth outcomes. Here, we conducted additional analyses in three samples originating from the DNBC for 3535 mothers and infant pairs to evaluate associations between prenatal PFASs exposures and low birth weight and preterm birth. Maternal plasma concentrations were measured for six types of PFASs in early pregnancy. Several PFASs were associated with a reduction in birth weight and gestational age. We estimated a nearly 2-fold increase in risks of preterm birth for the higher quartiles of PFOA and perflourooctanesulfonate (PFOS) exposure. In spline models, risk of preterm birth was increased for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in higher exposure ranges. We also observed some elevated risks for low birth weight but these estimates were less precise. Our findings strengthen the evidence that in-utero PFASs exposures affect fetal growth. Future studies are needed to evaluate whether these associations persist with the decline of PFOA and PFOS in populations and should also investigate newer types of fluorinated compounds introduced more recently.

Depressive Traits and Theory of Mind in Healthy Individuals: A Mediation Study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas James Rowark
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Prepotent Response

Depression has been associated with poor social cognitive functioning, including impaired performance on measures of theory of mind. However, the association between depression and theory of mind performance has been removed when controlling for differences in executive functioning, which is also impacted by depression. Among these executive functions, inhibition of prepotent response has been demonstrated as enabling success on theory of mind tests. In the context of these findings, the current investigation tested whether a relationship could be found between depressive traits and theory of mind in a non-clinical sample, and whether this relationship was mediated by differences in executive control of inhibition. Theory of mind was assessed in 31 healthy individuals using an audio-presented false-belief reasoning task, which also tested baseline performance in non-mental-state reasoning. Inhibition of prepotent response was assessed with interference measures on a Stroop colour-word task, and depressive traits were self-reported through the second version of the Beck Depression Inventory. Mediation analysis revealed that executive control of inhibition did not significantly mediate an indirect effect of depressive traits on theory of mind. It was interpreted that relationships previously found between major depression, executive and social-cognitive functions do not generalise beyond clinical boundaries. However, these findings are discussed in terms of the small sample size, limiting statistical power, and several methodological limitations. Future research should assess the relationship between depressive traits and theory of mind using alternative measures of mental representation, or include a neurocognitive battery assessing executive functions other than inhibition.

scholarly journals Recomposing persons: Scavenging and storytelling in a birth cohort archive

2021 ◽  
pp. 095269512199539
Author(s):  
Penny Tinkler ◽  
Resto Cruz ◽  
Laura Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Relational Embeddedness ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Over Time

Birth cohort studies can be used not only to generate population-level quantitative data, but also to recompose persons. The crux is how we understand data and persons. Recomposition entails scavenging for various (including unrecognised) data. It foregrounds the perspective and subjectivity of survey participants, but without forgetting the partiality and incompleteness of the accounts that it may generate. Although interested in the singularity of individuals, it attends to the historical and relational embeddedness of personhood. It examines the multiple and complex temporalities that suffuse people’s lives, hence departing from linear notions of the life course. It implies involvement, as well as reflexivity, on the part of researchers. It embraces the heterogeneity and transformations over time of scientific archives and the interpretive possibilities, as well as incompleteness, of birth cohort studies data. Interested in the unfolding of lives over time, it also shines light on meaningful biographical moments.

scholarly journals Work-Family Life Courses and Psychological Distress: Evidence from Three British Birth Cohort Studies

2021 ◽  
pp. 100429
Author(s):  
Anne McMunn ◽  
Rebecca Lacey ◽  
Diana Worts ◽  
Diana Kuh ◽  
Peggy McDonough ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Life Courses ◽  
Work Family

scholarly journals AB0571 IS RITUXIMAB AN ADEQUATE GLUCOCORTICOID SPARING AGENT IN IDIOPATHIC INFLAMMATORY MYOPATHIES?

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1582.1-1582
Author(s):  
B. H. Egeli ◽  
S. Ergun ◽  
Y. K. Gursoy ◽  
A. Cetin ◽  
S. Ugurlu
Keyword(s):  
Disease Activity ◽  
Alternative Treatment ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies ◽  
Inflammatory Myopathies ◽  
Treatment Methods ◽  
Before And After

Background:Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are essentially treated aiming improvement of muscle function and extra muscular disease manifestations. The backbone of the treatment is corticosteroids enhancing the survival and patient quality of life. The lack of consensus on target-specific immunosuppressive treatment highlights the need for further studies evaluating alternative treatment methods. Rituximab is potentially a glucocorticoid-sparing agent which was reviewed in multiple studies with small sample sizes due to the rarity of the disease.Objectives:Higher statistical power can enhance the trustworthiness of alternative treatment methods yielding the main objective of this study.Methods:This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary rheumatology center. Patients were diagnosed with an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (dermatomyositis [DM], polymyositis [PM]) and were treated with rituximab in order to be included in this study. Clinical signs and symptoms of the presentation were noted during the first patient encounter as well as the follow-up. Parameters of disease activity including acute phase reactants, muscle enzyme levels, and disease-specific autoantibodies were analyzed.Results:The study includes 28 patients (20 DM, 8 PM). The age of diagnosis was 43.44 ± 15.77 years, follow-up duration was 60.7 ± 70.7 months. The presenting signs and symptoms of the patients are shown in Figure 1. The parameters of disease activity before and after treatment are summarized in Table 1. The mean corticosteroid dose decreased from 31.429 ±23.934 mg to 10.278 ±12.001 (p=0.001). Other treatment methods were methotrexate (n=18), Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) (n=7), and cyclophosphamide (n=2). There were not any deaths during the follow-up. Two patients were lost to follow-up.Table 1.The Parameters of Disease Activity Before and After TreatmentBefore TreatmentAfter TreatmentP ValueCPK, mean ± std (U/L)1426 ± 2049.92263.44 ± 265.630.004LDH, mean ± std (U/L)557.5 ± 365379.78 ± 192.10.03AST, mean ± std (U/L)62.52 ± 5930.16 ± 27.590.01ALT, mean ± std (U/L)56.48 ± 49.2127.64 ± 24.520.008ESR, mean ± std (mm/hour)26.38 ± 28.9820.39 ± 18.760.36CRP, mean ± std (mg/L)19.23 ± 46.1512.53 ± 26.670.5RF, mean ± std (U/mL)0 (0)N/AN/AANA, n (%)3 (10.71)N/AN/AFigure 1.The Presenting Signs and Symptoms of the PatientsConclusion:Rituximab is shown to be effective in treating myositis along with corticosteroids as well as a corticosteroid-sparing agent in retrospective studies and open-label clinical trials; however, lack of statistical power should be underlined. Long term decrease in steroid use and decrease in disease activity markers hints the effective use of rituximab as a glucocorticoid sparing agent as well as its safety with minimal side effects.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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