scholarly journals Maternal environmental risk factors for congenital hydrocephalus: a systematic review

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. E3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristotelis V. Kalyvas ◽  
Theodosis Kalamatianos ◽  
Mantha Pantazi ◽  
Georgios D. Lianos ◽  
George Stranjalis ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE Congenital hydrocephalus (CH) is one of the most frequent CNS congenital malformations, representing an entity with serious pathological consequences. Although several studies have previously assessed child-related risk factors associated with CH development, there is a gap of knowledge on maternal environmental risk factors related to CH. The authors have systematically assessed extrinsic factors in the maternal environment that potentially confer an increased risk of CH development. METHODS The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were systematically searched for works published between 1966 and December 2015 to identify all relevant articles published in English. Only studies that investigated environmental risk factors concerning the mother—either during gestation or pregestationally—were included. RESULTS In total, 13 studies (5 cohorts, 3 case series, 3 case-control studies, 1 meta-analysis, and 1 case report) meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Maternal medication or alcohol use during gestation; lifestyle modifiable maternal pathologies such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension; lack of prenatal care; and a low socioeconomic status were identified as significant maternal environmental risk factors for CH development. Maternal infections and trauma to the mother during pregnancy have also been highlighted as potential mother-related risk factors for CH. CONCLUSIONS Congenital hydrocephalus is an important cause of serious infant health disability that can lead to health inequalities among adults. The present study identified several maternal environmental risk factors for CH, thus yielding important scientific information relevant to prevention of some CH cases. However, further research is warranted to confirm the impact of the identified factors and examine their underlying behavioral and/or biological basis, leading to the generation of suitable prevention strategies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeonkyung Park ◽  
Chiwon Ahn ◽  
Tae-Hyung Kim

AbstractIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fibrosing interstitial lung disease of unknown cause. It has a high risk of rapid progression and mortality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the risk factor of IPF. We searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library from the earliest record to March, 2020. Case–control studies on occupational and environmental risk factors or on jobs with a risk of IPF were searched for. From 2490 relevant records, 12 studies were included. Any occupational or environmental exposure to metal dust (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.15–2.91, I2 = 54%), wood dust (OR 1.62 5% CI 1.04–2.53, I2 = 5%) and pesticide (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.24–3.45, I2 = 0%) were associated with an increased risk of IPF. Farming or agricultural work (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.17–3.04, I2 = 67%) was also associated with an increased risk of IPF. Moreover, smoking increased IPF risk with an odds ratio of 1.39 (95% CI 1.01–1.91, I2 = 29%). In conclusion, metal dust, wood dust, pesticide, occupational history of farming or agriculture and ever smoking increased the risk of IPF.


Stroke ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 321-321
Author(s):  
Daniel Woo ◽  
Laura Sauerbeck ◽  
Brett M Kissela ◽  
Jane C Khoury ◽  
Rakesh Shukla ◽  
...  

27 Introduction: We report a planned midpoint analysis of a prospective, population-based, case-control study of the genetic and environmental risk factors of spontaneous, non-traumatic, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: Cases were matched to two controls by age, race and gender. Data was obtained by direct interview and review of all available medical and neuroimaging data. Apolipoprotein E (Apo E)genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Multivariable analyses were performed using logistic regression modeling. Results: Between 6/97 and 2/00, 189 cases of ICH (150 white/39 black; 68 lobar/121 non-lobar) and 368 controls were enrolled into the study. Independent risk factors for multivariable analysis are listed in the table. Only prior stroke was an independent risk factor for both lobar and non-lobar ICH. Conclusions: The importance of individual genetic and environmental risk factors for ICH vary substantially by location of ICH. A history of a first-degree relative with ICH was associated with an increased risk of lobar ICH, independent of Apo E genotype. This finding indicates that other genetic risk factors may be important in the development of ICH.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1816-1824 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Kendler ◽  
C. O. Gardner

BackgroundThis study seeks to clarify the contribution of temporally stable and occasion-specific genetic and environmental influences on risk for major depression (MD).MethodOur sample was 2153 members of female–female twin pairs from the Virginia Twin Registry. We examined four personal interview waves conducted over an 8-year period with MD in the last year defined by DSM-IV criteria. We fitted a structural equation model to the data using classic Mx. The model included genetic and environmental risk factors for a latent, stable vulnerability to MD and for episodes in each of the four waves.ResultsThe best-fit model was simple and included genetic and unique environmental influences on the latent liability to MD and unique wave-specific environmental effects. The path from latent liability to MD in the last year was constant over time, moderate in magnitude (+0.65) and weaker than the impact of occasion-specific environmental effects (+0.76). Heritability of the latent stable liability to MD was much higher (78%) than that estimated for last-year MD (32%). Of the total unique environmental influences on MD, 13% reflected enduring consequences of earlier environmental insults, 17% diagnostic error and 70% wave-specific short-lived environmental stressors.ConclusionsBoth genetic influences on MD and MD heritability are stable over middle adulthood. However, the largest influence on last-year MD is short-lived environmental effects. As predicted by genetic theory, the heritability of MD is increased substantially by measurement at multiple time points largely through the reduction of the effects of measurement error and short-term environmental risk factors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia J Kirtley ◽  
Robin Achterhof ◽  
Noëmi Hagemann ◽  
Karlijn Susanna Francisca Maria Hermans ◽  
Anu Pauliina Hiekkaranta ◽  
...  

Background: Over half of all mental health conditions have their onset in adolescence. Large-scale epidemiological studies have identified relevant environmental risk factors for mental health problems. Yet, few have focused on potential mediating inter- and intrapersonal processes in daily life, hampering intervention development. Objectives: To investigate 1) the impact of environmental risk factors on changes in inter- and intrapersonal processes; 2) the impact of altered inter- and intrapersonal processes on the development of (sub)clinical mental health symptoms in adolescents and; 3) the extent to which changes in inter- and intrapersonal processes mediate the association between environmental risk factors and the mental health outcomes in adolescents.Methods: ‘SIGMA’ is an accelerated longitudinal study of adolescents aged 12 to 18 from across Flanders, Belgium. Using self-report questionnaires, experience sampling, an experimental task, and wearables, we are investigating the relationship between environmental risk factors (e.g. trauma, parenting), inter- and intrapersonal processes (e.g. real-life social interaction and interpersonal functioning) and mental health outcomes (e.g. psychopathology, self-harm) over time. Results: N= 1913 adolescents (63% female) aged 11 – 20, from 22 schools, participated. The range of educational trajectories within the sample was broadly representative of the Flemish general adolescent population.Conclusions: Our findings will enable us to answer fundamental questions about inter- and intrapersonal processes involved in the development and maintenance of poor mental health in adolescence. This includes insights regarding the role of daily-life social and cognitive-affective processes, gained by using experience sampling. The accelerated longitudinal design enables rapid insights into developmental and cohort effects.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasha R Bayoumi ◽  
Jacky Boivin ◽  
Human M Fatemi ◽  
Lisa Hurt ◽  
Gamal I Serour ◽  
...  

Background: Well-established risk factors for fertility problems such as smoking have been included in fertility awareness efforts globally. However, these efforts neglect risks that women in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) face. Objective: To address this gap, we identified eight risk factors affecting women in LMIC and the aim of the current review was to estimate the impact of these risks on fertility. Methods: We conducted systematic reviews and where data was available meta-analyses. We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, regional databases and key organizational websites (1946-June 2016, updated January 2018, latest update taking place in 2021). Two researchers screened and extracted data independently. We included all study designs that assessed exposure to risk in clinical or community-based samples and excluded studies without control groups. The outcome of interest was fertility problems (inability to achieve pregnancy or live birth and neonatal death). We calculated pooled effect estimates from reported effect sizes or raw data. We assessed study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We registered the review with PROSPERO, registration number CRD42016048497. Results: We identified 2,418 studies and included 61 (57 in meta-analyses). Results revealed a nine-fold increased risk of inability to become pregnant in genital tuberculosis (OR 8.91, CI 1.89-42.12) and almost threefold in HIV (OR 2.93, CI 1.95-4.42) and bacterial vaginosis (OR 2.81, CI 1.85-4.27). A twofold increased risk of tubal-factor infertility in Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting [Type II/III] (OR 2.06, CI 1.03-4.15) and increased post-natal mortality in consanguinity (stillbirth, OR 1.28, CI 1.04-1.57; neonatal death, OR 1.57, CI 1.22-2.02). Strength and limitations: Reliability of results was bolstered by a rigorous systematic review methodology that is replicable but limited by methodological shortcomings of the available primary studies and the small number of studies in each meta-analysis. Conclusions: The risk factors investigated appeared to impact the reproductive process through multiple biological, behavioural, and clinical pathways. Additionally, infection and pelvic inflammatory disease seemed to be common pathways for several risk factors. The complex multifactorial risk profile can be addressed by LMIC using a global health framework to determine which risk factors are significant to their populations and how to tackle them. The subsequent health promotion encompassing these relevant health indicators could translate into more prevention and effective early detection of fertility problems in LMIC. Finally, the findings of multifactorial risk reinforced the need to put fertility as an agenda in global health initiatives.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sionne E.M. Lucas ◽  
Kathryn P. Burdon

Keratoconus, a progressive corneal ectasia, is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. The exact etiology is not known and is likely variable between individuals. Conditions such as hay fever and allergy are associated with increased risk, while diabetes may be protective. Behaviors such as eye rubbing are also implicated, but direct causality has not been proven. Genetics plays a major role in risk for some individuals, with many large pedigrees showing autosomal inheritance patterns. Several genes have been implicated using linkage and follow-up sequencing in these families. Genome-wide association studies for keratoconus and for quantitative traits such as central corneal thickness have identified several genetic loci that contribute to a cumulative risk for keratoconus, even in people without a family history of the disease. Identification of risk genes for keratoconus is improving our understanding of the biology of this complex disease.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 1247-1259 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Diehl-Schmid ◽  
R. Jox ◽  
S. Gauthier ◽  
S. Belleville ◽  
E. Racine ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:Evidence-based data on prevalence and risk factors of suicidal intentions and behavior in dementia are as scarce as the data on assisted dying. The present literature review aimed on summarizing the current knowledge and provides a critical discussion of the results.Methods:A systematic narrative literature review was performed using Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PSYNDEX, PSYCINFO, Sowiport, and Social Sciences Citation Index literature.Results:Dementia as a whole does not appear to be a risk factor for suicide completion. Nonetheless some subgroups of patients with dementia apparently have an increased risk for suicidal behavior, such as patients with psychiatric comorbidities (particularly depression) and of younger age. Furthermore, a recent diagnosis of dementia, semantic dementia, and previous suicide attempts most probably elevate the risk for suicidal intentions and behavior. The impact of other potential risk factors, such as patient's cognitive impairment profile, behavioral disturbances, social isolation, or a biomarker based presymptomatic diagnosis has not yet been investigated. Assisted dying in dementia is rare but numbers seem to increase in regions where it is legally permitted.Conclusion:Most studies that had investigated the prevalence and risk factors for suicide in dementia had significant methodological limitations. Large prospective studies need to be conducted in order to evaluate risk factors for suicide and assisted suicide in patients with dementia and persons with very early or presymptomatic diagnoses of dementia. In clinical practice, known risk factors for suicide should be assessed in a standardized way so that appropriate action can be taken when necessary.


AIDS Care ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 692-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Hochhauser ◽  
S. Gaur ◽  
R. Marone ◽  
M. Lewis

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