Lead Content and Exposure from Children’s and Adult’s Jewelry Products

No abstract available.     

Children’s Gender and Parents’ Color Preferences

Gender differences in color preferences have been found in adults and children, but they remain unexplained. This study asks whether the gendered social environment in adulthood affects parents’ color preferences. The analysis used the gender of children to represent one aspect of the gendered social environment. Because having male versus female children in the U.S. is generally randomly distributed, it provides something of a natural experiment, offering evidence about the social construction of gender in adulthood. The participants were 749 adults with children who responded to an online survey invitation, asking “What’s your favorite color?” Men were more likely to prefer blue, while women were more likely to prefer red, purple, and pink, consistent with long-standing U.S. patterns. The effect of having only sons was to widen the existing gender differences between men and women, increasing the odds that men prefer blue while reducing the odds that women do; and a marginally significant effect showed women having higher odds of preferring pink when they have sons only. The results suggest that, in addition to any genetic, biological or child-socialization effects shaping adults’ tendency to segregate their color preferences by gender, the gender context of adulthood matters as well.     

Niacin metabolism and Parkinson’s disease

Epidemiological surveys suggest an important role for niacin in the causes of Parkinson’s disease, in that niacin deficiency, the nutritional condition that causes pellagra, appears to protect against Parkinson’s disease. Absorbed niacin is used in the synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the body, and in the metabolic process NAD releases nicotinamide by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, the activation of which has been reported to mediate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinson’s disease. Recently nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (EC2.1.1.1) activity has been discovered in the human brain, and the released nicotinamide may be methylated to 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA), via this enzyme, in the brain. A deficiency in mitochondrial NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex 1) activity is believed to be a critical factor in the development of Parkinson’s disease. MNA has been found to destroy several subunits of cerebral complex 1, leading to the suggestion that MNA is concerned in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. Based on these findings, it is hypothesized that niacin is a causal substance in the development of Parkinson’s disease through the following processes: NAD produced from niacin releases nicotinamide via poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, activated by the hydroxyl radical. Released excess nicotinamide is methylated to MNA in the cytoplasm, and superoxides formed by MNA via complex I destroy complex 1 subunits directly, or indirectly via mitochondrial DNA damage. Hereditary or environmental factors may cause acceleration of this cycle, resulting in neuronal death.     

Vitamin D levels in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases: A meta-analysis

ObjectiveRecent accumulating evidence shows that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in individuals with AD and PD. The purpose of the present study is to perform a meta-analysis on the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in this population of patients.MethodsWe searched all articles in English published up to March 2012 concerning the 25(OH)D level in AD and PD patients. For AD, six studies covering 319 patients and 573 controls were included in the meta-analysis. For PD, five studies discussing 434 patients and 3451 controls were included.ResultsIt was found that AD patients had lower levels of 25(OH)D than healthy controls (summary standardized mean difference [SMD], -1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.79 to 0.01). Similar results were found for PD patients versus healthy controls (summary SMD, -1.33; 95% CI, -2.44 to -0.21).ConclusionThe results indicate that despite the similar mean age between patients and healthy controls in each identified study, both AD and PD patients have lower levels of 25(OH)D than controls.     

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Children’s Health Research Portfolio

The objective of this work was to describe and assess the potential impact of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s, AHRQ’s, children’s health activities. Using AHRQ databases and publications lists and generic search engines, we developed a comprehensive list of AHRQ’s funded children’s health activities (1990–2005) and related publications (1996–2002). We conducted bibliometric analyses and used Stryer’s (2000) approach to categorize their potential impact. We found that AHRQ’s child health portfolio has changed over time with an increase in activities related to patient safety and health information technology, reflecting trends at AHRQ as a whole. Further, AHRQ has contributed a substantial body of new knowledge as a result of its funding for children’s health activities. The bibliometric analysis suggests that AHRQ’s children’s health activities have successfully disseminated research findings and new knowledge through the published literature. Most of the publications present research findings that can be building blocks early in the translation continuum rather than findings that directly inform policy or change clinical practice. Through its funding of children’s health activities, AHRQ has contributed new knowledge that has been disseminated effectively in the published literature. However, while AHRQ has successfully engaged the child health services research community, efforts to broaden into policy, practice and patient arenas have been less successful.     

Men’s Controlling Behaviors and Women’s Experiences of Physical Violence in Malawi

In the feminist paradigm, intimate partner violence (IPV) among heterosexual couples is gender asymmetric and largely a tactic of male control. However, research on the relationship between men’s controlling behavior and physical violence against women is limited. This study examines whether having a controlling partner is associated with women’s reports of experiencing physical violence in Malawi. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using data from 8,385 women who completed the domestic violence module of the Malawi 2004 Demographic and Health Survey. About 18 % of women reported they had experienced moderately severe physical violence and 1 % experienced very severe violence in the past 12 months. A third of women reported their partners had ever been controlling. Results from multivariable ordinal logistic regression showed that women who had controlling partners were significantly more likely to report experiencing physical violence. Other factors significantly associated with women’s experience of physical violence included women who reported initiating physical violence against their partners, women’s work status, partners’ lower education level, and partners’ alcohol consumption. Women with controlling partners were at increased risk of experiencing physical violence in the past year. However, women who reported initiating physical violence in the past year were nearly four times more likely to experience partner violence in the same time period. Future research should attempt to elucidate these two important risk factors for IPV.     

Consumption of fish and Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has been described as ‘one of the most disabling and burdensome health conditions worldwide’ and is responsible for approximately 70% of dementia in the elderly. Based on the current prevalence of AD, an aging world population and the associated projected health care requirements, it is estimated that by 2050, the prevalence of AD will reach 104 million with around 43% requiring ongoing health care. If the onset of AD can be reduced by as little as one year, the prevalence could be reduced by 10%. There is substantial commonality in research findings to date around the positive influence of seafood consumption in reducing the risk of dementia and AD. Emerging concern about the sustainability of global fisheries supports the recommendation of selective consumption of sustainable wild caught and increased emphasis on production of farmed fish supplies to meet consumption needs.     

Road traffic noise and children’s inattention

Background

An increasing number of children are exposed to road traffic noise levels that may lead to adverse effects on health and daily functioning. Childhood is a period of intense growth and brain maturation, and children may therefore be especially vulnerable to road traffic noise. The objective of the present study was to examine whether road traffic noise was associated with reported inattention symptoms in children, and whether this association was mediated by sleep duration.

Methods

This study was based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Parental reports of children’s inattention at age 8 were linked to modelled levels of residential road traffic noise. We investigated the association between inattention and noise exposure during pregnancy (n?=?1934), noise exposure averaged over 5 years (age 3 to 8 years; n?=?1384) and noise exposure at age 8 years (n?=?1384), using fractional logit response models. The participants were children from Oslo, Norway.

Results

An association with inattention at age 8 years was found for road traffic noise exposure at age 8 years (coef?=?.0083, CI?=?[.0012, .0154]; 1.2% point increase in inattention score per 10 dB increase in noise level), road traffic noise exposure average for the last 5 years (coef?=?.0090, CI?=?[.0016, .0164]; 1.3% point increase/10 dB), and for pregnancy road traffic noise exposure for boys (coef?=?.0091, CI?=?[.0010, .0171]), but not girls (coef?=??.0021, CI?=?[?.0094, .0053]). Criteria for doing mediation analyses were not fulfilled.

Conclusion

Results indicate that road traffic noise has a negative impact on children’s inattention. We found no mediation by sleep duration.

     

Homeless people’s trust and interactions with police and paramedics

Although the health impact of patients’ trust in physicians has been well documented, less is known about the possible health effects of trust in police or paramedics. Homeless people frequently interact with police officers and paramedics, and these experiences may affect their health and future willingness to seek emergency assistance. We examined homeless people’s self-reported interactions with police and paramedics in Toronto, Canada, and their level of trust in these emergency service providers. In a sample of 160 shelter users, 61% had interacted with police in the last 12 months, and 37% had interacted with paramedics (P=.0001). The proportion of subjects who expressed willingness to call police in an emergency was significantly lower than those willing to call paramedics in an emergency (69% vs. 92%, P=.0001). On a Likert scale ranging from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 5, trust levels were lower in police than in paramedics (median level 3 vs. 5, P=.0001). Among shelter users, 9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5% to 14%) reported an assault by a police officer in the last year, and 0% (95% CI, 0% to 4%) reported an assault by a paramedic. These findings showed that homeless people have much lower levels of trust in police than paramedics. Reports of negative interactions with police are not uncommon, and homeless people’s perceptions of the police may pose a barrier to seeking emergency assistance. Further research is needed for objective characterization of homeless people’s interactions with police officers and the potential health implications of low levels of trust in the police.     

Severe Physical Violence and Black Women’s Health and Well-Being

Objectives. We evaluated the association between intimate partner violence and the mental and physical health status of US Caribbean Black and African American women.Methods. We used 2001 to 2003 cross-sectional data from the National Survey of American Life—the most detailed study to date of physical and mental health disorders of Americans of African descent. We assessed participants’ health conditions by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (Washington, DC; American Psychological Association) Composite International Diagnostic Interview.Results. We found differences in health conditions between abused African American and Caribbean Black women. There were increased risks for lifetime dysthymia, alcohol dependence, drug abuse, and poor perceived health for African American victims of partner abuse, and binge eating disorder was associated with partner violence among Caribbean Black women.Conclusions. Severe intimate partner violence was associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes for US Black women, with different patterns between African American and Caribbean Blacks. Understanding intimate partner violence experiences of US Black women requires recognition of key intragroup differences, including nativity and immigrant status, and their differential relationships to women’s health.Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem that has devastating consequences for the health and well-being of women.1 Nearly 28% of women in the United States have experienced IPV.2 The risk is heightened for Black women, with an estimated 4 in 10 experiencing physical abuse by a partner in their lifetimes.2 The long- and short-term effects of partner violence may be greater for women within this population, who not only experience violence at much higher rates than do other ethnic groups (e.g., White, Hispanic)1,3–9 but also are exposed to external factors and social conditions that increase their chances for poorer outcomes.4,9–14Previous studies have indicated that associated mental conditions of IPV include depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, suicide, and tendencies for substance use (both legal and illegal).15–27 Along with these possible mental disorders, IPV victims are prone to physical health problems, such as increased risk for back, limb, gastrointestinal, stomach, and gynecological problems.22,28–31Despite the various health problems that are associated with IPV toward women in general, research devoted to understanding the influences on US Black women is limited.19,32–34 The few studies conducted have primarily used unstructured clinical assessment and are determined by clinical and community-based samples.33,35 Studies using national samples and structured clinical tools are rare, limiting valid assessments and definitive statements on the resulting effects of IPV on women within this population.In addition to these shortcomings, previous research has typically aggregated Blacks into a single category, which may obscure key intragroup differences.5,11,36 This is especially problematic because groups may have culturally distinct behaviors, practices, and experiences that may exacerbate certain health conditions or, conversely, serve as protective factors. Evidence suggests that health conditions may vary according to race and ethnicity.10,13,28,37–39 These differences, in particular, have become more apparent between African Americans and Caribbean Blacks.40 To date, however, we have less knowledge about the differences in health outcomes that may exist among abused women within these populations. Importantly, the impact of IPV on the health and well-being of US Caribbean women, one of the largest and fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States,41 has not been explored in depth.We addressed 2 underlying questions: (1) What are the associations between IPV, mental health disorders, and the physical health of African American and US Caribbean Black women? and (2) Are there differences in health outcomes between abused African American and US Caribbean Black women?     

Men’s perspectives on women’s empowerment and intimate partner violence in rural Bangladesh

Intimate partner violence (IPV) may increase as women in patriarchal societies become empowered, implicitly or explicitly challenging prevailing gender norms. Prior evidence suggests an inverse U-shaped relationship between women’s empowerment and IPV, in which violence against women first increases and then decreases as more egalitarian gender norms gradually gain acceptance. By means of focus-group discussions and in-depth interviews with men in 10 Bangladeshi villages, this study explored men’s evolving views of women, gender norms and the legitimacy of men’s perpetration of IPV in the context of a gender transition. It examines men’s often-contradictory narratives about women’s empowerment and concomitant changes in norms of masculinity, and identifies aspects of women’s empowerment that are most likely to provoke a male backlash. Findings suggest that men’s growing acceptance of egalitarian gender norms and their self-reported decreased engagement in IPV are driven largely by pragmatic self-interest: their desire to improve their economic status and fear of negative consequences of IPV.     

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems and Children’s Cognitive Development

Background

Providing enriched learning environments is important to stimulating children’s development in early childhood. Early child-care policymakers in many states in the US have adopted Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) as a way to verify quality of child care and to support children’s school readiness.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between QRIS, a statewide government-funded early childhood care and education policy which integrates structural quality of child-care, and children’s cognitive skills.

Methods

A sample of randomly selected 313 children (mean age = 54.9 months, SD = 6.7) from 36 QRIS-participating early child-care programs was included in this study.

Results

Multilevel analysis with a latent variable (i.e., observed cognitive skills consisting of vocabulary, phonological awareness, and mathematical skills) revealed that children in the highest level of QRIS programs demonstrated better cognitive skills after controlling for child demographics, and home and neighborhood environments. In addition, QRIS moderated a negative association between family socioeconomic risk and children’s cognitive skills.

Conclusions

The results suggest that policymakers may expect positive returns on QRIS investments in terms of children’s early cognitive achievements that support their school readiness in later life.

     

Provider’s and User’s Perspective about Immunization Coverage among Migratory and Non-migratory Population in Slums and Construction Sites of Chandigarh

Strengthening routine immunization is a corner stone for countries to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG 4) which aims to reduce under-five mortality by two-thirds and MDG 5 improving maternal health compared to 1990 estimates by 2015. The poor urban newborns are more vulnerable to many health and nutrition problems compared to the non-poor urban counterparts. Therefore there is a need to strengthen health system to cater the needs of urban poor. Standardized WHO30*7 cluster sampling for slums and convenience sampling for construction sites. In depth interviews were conducted for user’s as well as provider’s perspective about immunization coverage. Two hundred ten children and 210 mothers were enrolled in slums and 100 were sampled from construction sites. The slum workers are considered as non-migratory groups whereas construction site workers are considered as migratory population. Among children, 23 % were fully immunized, 73 % were partially immunized and 3 % were unimmunized in non-migratory population whereas 3 % were fully immunized, 91 % were partially immunized and 6 % were unimmunized in migratory population. Among mothers, 43 and 39 % were fully immunized, 13 and 15 % partially immunized and 43 and 46 % were unimmunized in non-migratory and migratory population, respectively. The various reasons attributed for low coverage are (a) dissatisfaction of the users with the service delivery and procedural delays (bureaucracy), (b) lack of faith in health workers, (c) insistence upon ID/vaccination card/aadhar card by the health worker before vaccinating child and (d) ignorance of the need of immunization by the people and migration of the population.     

Gender Stereotypes and Preconception Health: Men’s and Women’s Expectations of Responsibility and Intentions to Engage in Preventive Behaviors

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Introduction As mounting evidence underscores the importance of both men and women taking steps before pregnancy to improve reproductive outcomes, public health...     

Occupational Lead Exposure and Associations with Selected Cancers: The Shanghai Men’s and Women’s Health Study Cohorts

Background

Epidemiologic studies of occupational lead exposure have suggested increased risks of cancers of the stomach, lung, kidney, brain, and meninges; however, the totality of the evidence is inconsistent.

Objective

We investigated the relationship between occupational lead exposure and cancer incidence at the five abovementioned sites in two prospective cohorts in Shanghai, China.

Methods

Annual job/industry-specific estimates of lead fume and lead dust exposure, derived from a statistical model combining expert lead intensity ratings with inspection measurements, were applied to the lifetime work histories of participants from the Shanghai Women’s Health Study (SWHS; n = 73,363) and the Shanghai Men’s Health Study (SMHS; n = 61,379) to estimate cumulative exposure to lead fume and lead dust. These metrics were then combined into an overall occupational lead exposure variable. Cohort-specific relative hazard rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing exposed and unexposed participants were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression and combined by meta-analysis.

Results

The proportions of SWHS and SMHS participants with estimated occupational lead exposure were 8.9% and 6.9%, respectively. Lead exposure was positively associated with meningioma risk in women only (n = 38 unexposed and 9 exposed cases; RR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.1, 5.0), particularly with above-median cumulative exposure (RR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.3, 7.4). However, all 12 meningioma cases among men were classified as unexposed to lead. We also observed non-significant associations with lead exposure for cancers of the kidney (n = 157 unexposed and 17 ever exposed cases; RR = 1.4; 95% CI: 0.9, 2.3) and brain (n = 67 unexposed and 10 ever exposed cases; RR = 1.8; 95% CI: 0.7, 4.8) overall.

Conclusions

Our findings, though limited by small numbers of cases, suggest that lead is associated with the risk of several cancers in women and men.

Citation

Liao LM, Friesen MC, Xiang YB, Cai H, Koh DH, Ji BT, Yang G, Li HL, Locke SJ, Rothman N, Zheng W, Gao YT, Shu XO, Purdue MP. 2016. Occupational lead exposure and associations with selected cancers: the Shanghai Men’s and Women’s Health Study cohorts. Environ Health Perspect 124:97–103; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408171     

Smallpox and New York City’s Smallpox Hospital

Threatened use of the smallpox virus in bioterrorist attacks recently prompted national concerns in the United States. Smallpox, the “speckled monster,” was known in antiquity. In 1856, New York City opened its first hospital devoted to caring for victims of smallpox. Essentially, the hospital isolated and quarantined patients on Blackwell’s Island, located in the East River between Manhattan and Queens. After the hospital closed about 1875, the facility became a training school for female and male nurses. In the mid 1950s, the building was abandoned. Today, the ruins of the smallpox hospital are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At night, the ruins are illuminated casting an eerie, green aura on the remaining stone walls.     

Canadian parents and children’s knowledge of ADHD

The present study examined attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) knowledge of children with ADHD and their parents. Given the important role that parents play in advocating for their children, a better understanding of their knowledge of ADHD is critical. Additionally, understanding what children with ADHD themselves know about the disorder may provide insight into how best to support this vulnerable population. As such, 29 children with ADHD and their parents completed questionnaires measuring their ADHD knowledge across 3 areas: ADHD symptoms, treatment and general knowledge. Results found parents to be most knowledgeable in the area of ADHD symptoms and least in general information. Encouragingly, children with ADHD were found to have generally good knowledge regarding ADHD and, more importantly, reported positive attitudes regarding receiving help from their parents and teachers to manage their ADHD symptoms. These results have implications for individuals providing ADHD education to parents and children and, more specifically, may provide insight into specific areas of misconception.     

Associations between B Vitamins and Parkinson’s Disease

B vitamins may correlate with Parkinson’s disease (PD) through regulating homocysteine level. However, there is no comprehensive assessment on the associations between PD and B vitamins. The present study was designed to perform a meta-analytic assessment of the associations between folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 and PD, including the status of B vitamins in PD patients compared with controls, and associations of dietary intakes of B vitamins and risk of PD. A literature search using Medline database obtained 10 eligible studies included in the meta-analyses. Stata 12.0 statistical software was used to perform the meta-analysis. Pooled data revealed that there was no obvious difference in folate level between PD patients and healthy controls, and PD patients had lower level of vitamin B12 than controls. Available data suggested that higher dietary intake of vitamin B6 was associated with a decreased risk of PD (odds ratio (OR) = 0.65, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = (0.30, 1.01)), while no significant association was observed for dietary intake of folate and vitamin B12 and risk of PD. PD patients had lower level of vitamin B12 and similar level of folate compared with controls. Dietary intake of vitamin B6 exhibited preventive effect of developing PD based on the available data. As the number of included studies is limited, more studies are needed to confirm the findings and elucidate the underpinning underlying these associations.     

Community-Level Social Determinants and Children’s School Readiness

Prevention Science - The current study examined links between social determinants across communities and school readiness of children attending kindergarten in each community, in literacy, math,...