scholarly journals Mercury and Prenatal Growth: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7140
Author(s):  
Kyle Dack ◽  
Matthew Fell ◽  
Caroline M. Taylor ◽  
Alexandra Havdahl ◽  
Sarah J. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Head Circumference ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Toxic Metal ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Birth Length ◽  
Prior Review ◽  
Prenatal Growth ◽  
Wide Range

The intrauterine environment is critical for healthy prenatal growth and affects neonatal survival and later health. Mercury is a toxic metal which can freely cross the placenta and disrupt a wide range of cellular processes. Many observational studies have investigated mercury exposure and prenatal growth, but no prior review has synthesised this evidence. Four relevant publication databases (Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus) were systematically searched to identify studies of prenatal mercury exposure and birth weight, birth length, or head circumference. Study quality was assessed using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool, and results synthesised in a narrative review. Twenty-seven studies met the review criteria, these were in 17 countries and used 8 types of mercury biomarker. Studies of birth weight (total = 27) involving populations with high levels of mercury exposure, non-linear methods, or identified as high quality were more likely to report an association with mercury, but overall results were inconsistent. Most studies reported no strong evidence of association between mercury and birth length (n = 14) or head circumference (n = 14). Overall, our review did not identify strong evidence that mercury exposure leads to impaired prenatal growth, although there was some evidence of a negative association of mercury with birth weight.

scholarly journals The association of women’s birth size with risk of molecular breast cancer subtypes: a cohort study

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie S. Sandvei ◽  
Signe Opdahl ◽  
Marit Valla ◽  
Pagona Lagiou ◽  
Ellen Veronika Vesterfjell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Breast Cancer Risk ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Head Circumference ◽  
Birth Length ◽  
Birth Size ◽  
Luminal A ◽  
Cancer Subtypes ◽  
Luminal B

Abstract Background Because birth size appears to be positively associated with breast cancer risk, we have studied whether this risk may differ according to molecular breast cancer subtypes. Methods A cohort of 22,931 women born 1920–1966 were followed up for breast cancer occurrence from 1961 to 2012, and 870 were diagnosed during follow-up. Archival diagnostic material from 537 patients was available to determine molecular breast cancer subtype, specified as Luminal A, Luminal B (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-), Luminal B (HER2+), HER2 type, and Triple negative (TN) breast cancer. Information on the women’s birth weight, birth length and head circumference at birth was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each molecular subtype, applying Cox regression, and stratified by maternal height. Results Birth length (per 2 cm increments) was positively associated with Luminal A (HR = 1.2, 95% CI, 1.0–1.3), Luminal B (HER2+) (HR = 1.3, 95% CI, 1.0–1.7), and TN breast cancer (HR = 1.4, 95% CI, 1.0–1.9). No clear association was found for birth weight and head circumference. The positive associations of birth length were restricted to women whose mothers were relatively tall (above population median). Conclusion We found a positive association of birth length with risk of Luminal A, Luminal B (HER2+) and TN breast cancer that appears to be restricted to women whose mothers were relatively tall. This may support the hypothesis that breast cancer risk is influenced by determinants of longitudinal growth and that this finding deserves further scrutiny.

scholarly journals Serum Zinc Level at Term Pregnancy and Newborn Anthropometry

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irma Seriana ◽  
Yusrawati Yusrawati ◽  
Gustina Lubis
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Head Circumference ◽  
Serum Zinc ◽  
Zinc Level ◽  
Birth Length ◽  
Anthropometric Measurement ◽  
Term Pregnancy ◽  
Serum Zinc Level ◽  
Average Birth Weight ◽  
Newborn Anthropometry

Objective: To determine the relationship between serum zinc level at term pregnancy and newborn anthropometry. Methods: This study is an observational study with cross-sectional design. Serum zinc level at term pregnancy was measured and then anthropometric measurement was done to the newborn, including birth weight, birth length and head circumference at birth. The data were statistically analyzed using regression correlation test. Results: Mean serum zinc level at term pregnancy is 36.01 μg/dl (SD=18.34 μg/dl), the average birth weight is 3158 gr (SD=480.4 gr), the average birth length is 48.42 cm (SD=1.75 cm) and the average head circumference at birth is 33.13 cm (SD=1.14 cm). There was no statistically significant relationship between serum zinc levels at term pregnancy and birth weight (p-value=0.152). Meanwhile, there are statistically significant relationships between serum zinc level at term pregnancy with birth length and head circumference with pvalue 0.026 and 0.012, respectively. Conclusion: Serum zinc level at term pregnancy is correlated with birth length and head circumference, but is not correlated with birth weight. [Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 3-4: 190-195] Keywords: birth length, birth weight, head circumference at birth, serum zinc level, term pregnancy

Changes in LDL and HDL Subclasses in Normal Pregnancy and Associations with Birth Weight, Birth Length and Head Circumference

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 556-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Zeljkovic ◽  
Jelena Vekic ◽  
Slavica Spasic ◽  
Zorana Jelic-Ivanovic ◽  
Vesna Spasojevic-Kalimanovska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Head Circumference ◽  
Normal Pregnancy ◽  
Birth Length

scholarly journals A retrospective cross-sectional study of delayed closure of anterior fontanelle in healthy infants and its associated factors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
MengYan Tang ◽  
Fei Xiong ◽  
Ping Li ◽  
Limin Zeng ◽  
SuFei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Head Circumference ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Birth Length ◽  
Anterior Fontanelle ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Infants ◽  
Delayed Closure

Abstract Background: Anterior fontanelle (AF) is a regular feature of developing infants, and its delayed closure (AFDC) is highly valued in clinical child healthcare. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with a 3-year follow-up to understand the occurrence of AFDC in healthy infants and its associated factors.Results: 61 out of 792 infants examined had AFDC, resulting in an incidence rate of 7.71% of AFDC in healthy infants. 92.29% of infants were found to have experienced AF closure by the age of 24 months, while up to 99.87% of them achieved closure before 36 months. From the age of 1 month to 36 months, the median AF size of the AFDC group was significantly larger than that of the normal closure (AFNC) group. Between 6 and 36 months, the median weight as well as length/height of the AFDC infants were both lower than those of their counterparts. Additionally, there indicated no difference in head circumference between two groups. Several factors were associated with AFDC in healthy infants, which were heavier birth weight (OR=1.001), longer birth length (OR=0.778), larger AF size at 1 month (OR=4.196), and being male (OR=1.851).Conclusion: AFDC in healthy infants was considered within a normal range for AF development and thus not pathological in this case. AF development was correlated to infant weight as well as length/height, but had no significant relationship with head circumference. Congenital factors such as birth weight, birth length, AF size at birth, and gender were found associated with AFDC in healthy infants.

scholarly journals Early registration for antenatal care was associated with improved birth outcomes in a low-income community in Harare

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonderayi Mathew Matsungo ◽  
Shingai Mudzuri ◽  
Prosper Chopera
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Head Circumference ◽  
Apgar Score ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Birth Length ◽  
Delivery Mode ◽  
Early Registration

Abstract Background : The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends early registration, regular and consistent attendance of antenatal care (ANC) sessions for all pregnant women. Specifically, if ANC services promote evidence-based practices this improves pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal mortality. Yet there are worrying gaps in knowledge of antenatal care services in Zimbabwe. Objectives: To determine the relationship between early registration and frequency of ANC visits on birth weight, birth length, head circumference, Apgar score, birth complications, delivery mode, preterm birth and duration of labour among women aged 15-49 from Hatcliffe Polyclinic, Harare. Methods: This was a health facility based analytical cross-sectional study. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics, and associations between dependent and independent variables were determined using Pearson’s Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. Ethical approval was granted from the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ/B/1438). Results: A total of 75 mother child pairs were interviewed. Most (77.3%) had more than four ANC visits. Only 36% registered early (during first trimester). Most of the children had normal birth weight ≥2500g (80.3%), birth length ≥47cm, (76%), head circumference ≥33cm (80%), and Apgar score ≥7 (96%). A positive association was observed between number of ANC visits and birth weight [Odds ratio (OR) 7.6; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.6, 36.4 (p=0.013)], birth length [OR 6.1; 95%CI 1.8, 20.1 (p=0.010)], and head circumference [OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.3, 14.8 (p=0.013)]. Positive associations were also observed between timing of registration and birth weight [OR 1.2; 95% 1.05, 1.36 (p=0.045)], birth length [OR 0.16; 95% CI 0.03, 0.76 (p=0.012)]. Conclusions: In this study increased frequency and early registration for ANC visits had a positive relationship with birth weight, birth length and head circumference. These findings show the need for improving the uptake of ANC services, early registration for ANC in the first trimester and adoption of community wide strategies to ensure that pregnant women attend all recommended visits for improved birth outcomes in this and related settings.

scholarly journals Advanced maternal age and nicotine consumption during pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Koger ◽  
Katharina Syböck ◽  
Emily Weinelt ◽  
Beda Hartmann ◽  
Sylvia Kirchengast
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Head Circumference ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Advanced Maternal Age ◽  
Smoking Behaviour ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Birth Length ◽  
Nicotine Consumption ◽  
The Impact

Background Nicotine consumption during pregnancy and advanced maternal age are well known independent risk factors for poor pregnancy outcome and therefore serious public health problems. Objectives Considering the ongoing trend of delaying childbirth in our society, this study investigates potential additive effects of nicotine consumption during pregnancy and advanced maternal age on foetal growth. Sample and Methods In a medical record-based study, we analysed the impact of maternal age and smoking behaviour before and during pregnancy on newborn size among 4142 singleton births that took place in Vienna, Austria between 1990 and 1995. Results Birth weight (H=82.176, p<0.001), birth length (H=91.525, p<0.001) and head circumference (H=42.097, p<0.001) differed significantly according to maternal smoking behaviour. For birth weight, the adjusted mean differences between smokers and non-smokers increased from 101.8g for the < 18-year-old mothers to 254.8g for >35 year olds, with the respective values for birth length being 0.6 cm to 0.7cm, for head circumference from 0.3 cm to 0.6 cm. Conclusion Increasing maternal age amplified the negative effects of smoking during pregnancy on newborn parameters. Our findings identify older smoking mothers as a high-risk group which should be of special interest for public health systems.

scholarly journals The Impact of Gender on Anthropometric Measures of Twins

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 652-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayesteh Jahanfar ◽  
Kenneth Lim
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Birth Order ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Head Circumference ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Birth Length ◽  
Anthropometric Measures ◽  
Fetal Birth Weight ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Literature suggests that male hormones influence fetal growth in singleton pregnancies. We hypothesized that the same phenomenon is seen in twin gestations. Objectives: (1) to identify the impact of gender associated with fetal birth weight, head circumference, and birth length for twins; (2) to examine the effect of gender on standardized fetal growth at birth, according to gestational age and birth order; (3) to examine the effect of gender on placenta weight and dimensions. Methodology: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of twins (4,368 twins, 2,184 pairs) born in British Columbia, Canada from 2000–2010. We excluded twins with stillbirth, congenital anomalies, and those delivered with cesarean section. We also controlled for confounding factors, including birth order, gestational age, maternal anthropometric measures, maternal smoking habits, and obstetric history. A subsample of this population was analyzed from Children and Women Hospital to obtain chorionicity information. Results: Male–male twins were heavier than male–females and female–female twin pairs (p=.01). Within sex-discordant twin pairs, males were also heavier than females (p=.01). Regression analysis suggested that gender affects birth weight independent of birth order and gestational age. Other newborn anthropometric measures were not found to be dependent on gender. In analyzing a subsample with chorionicity data, birth weight was the only anthropometric measure that was both statistically and clinically affected by sex, even after adjustment for gestational age, chorionicity, birth order, and maternal age. Conclusion: Birth weight was affected by gender while head circumference and birth length were not.

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