Associations of demographic and perinatal factors with childhood neuroblastoma in Texas, 1995–2011

BackgroundNeuroblastoma, the most common extracranial solid tumor in children, contributes disproportionately to childhood cancer mortality and few risk factors have been identified. Our objective was to evaluate associations between parental and infant characteristics and neuroblastoma incidence.MethodsChildren born in Texas between January 1995 and December 2011 were eligible for the present study. Cases (N = 637) were diagnosed with neuroblastoma in Texas during the same period; controls (N = 6370) matched on year of birth were randomly selected from birth certificates that did not link to a record in the Texas Cancer Registry. We obtained data on birth and parental demographic/reproductive characteristics from birth certificates, and estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for neuroblastoma using logistic regression.ResultsGestational age 34–36 weeks at birth was associated with neuroblastoma (OR 1.45, CI 1.09–1.90), whereas female sex was inversely associated (OR 0.68, CI 0.58–0.81). Relative to children of non-Hispanic White women, children of Hispanic (OR 0.53, CI 0.43–0.64) or non-Hispanic Black (OR 0.52, CI 0.38–0.71) women were at reduced odds of neuroblastoma. When maternal and paternal race/ethnicity were evaluated jointly, similar patterns were observed (two non-Hispanic Black parents: OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.36–0.79; two Hispanic parents: OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.41–0.67). Older maternal age was also positively associated with neuroblastoma (OR 1.41, CI 1.04–1.90 for 35–39 years; OR 1.62, CI 0.87–2.81 for ≥40 years, relative to 25–29 years).ConclusionsFindings provide further evidence of racial/ethnic disparities in neuroblastoma incidence, determinants of which are unknown. In contrast to most published studies, we observed an association between maternal age and neuroblastoma. Further studies with more robust control for confounding are warranted.     

淋巴细胞及其亚群、NK细胞与儿童原发性免疫性血小板减少症复发的相关性研究

摘要 目的：为探讨淋巴细胞及其亚群、NK细胞与儿童原发性免疫性血小板减少症（ITP）复发的关系,评估其预测价值,为临床评估患者预后提供理论支持。方法：回顾性分析2017年12月-2021年12月于新疆医科大学第一附属医院儿科中心初发首诊为原发性免疫性血小板减少症的165例患儿,根据是否复发分为复发组与无复发组,评估ITP复发的影响因素,利用ROC曲线评估淋巴细胞计数绝对值对儿童ITP复发的预测价值,运用Kaplan-Meier法绘制与淋巴细胞计数绝对值相关的儿童ITP无复发生存曲线。结果：共纳入165名ITP患儿,复发率24.8%。淋巴细胞计数绝对值对儿童ITP无复发的ROC曲线下面积为0.704,95%CI为0.613-0.795（P＜0.05）,最佳截断值为3.21×10⁹/L。儿童ITP是否复发与年龄、淋巴细胞计数、出血评分、ESR有关,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。儿童ITP是否复发与CD3⁺CD19^-细胞计数、CD3⁺CD4⁺细胞计数、CD3⁺CD8⁺细胞计数、CD4⁺/CD8⁺细胞比例、NK细胞计数有关,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：淋巴细胞计数绝对值可作为评估儿童ITP复发的预测指标,儿童ITP复发与初始T淋巴细胞亚群、NK细胞计数具有一定相关性。     

Dawn of a new day: The role of children in the assimilation of new technologies throughout the Lower Paleolithic

In this paper, I contend that children had a unique position in prehistoric social systems, functioning as primary assimilators of new technologies. Their role is especially crucial at significant turning points in history, due to a number of childhood-cognitive mechanisms that are activated in learning and playing while engaging in innovative activity. I suggest that these mechanisms developed as part of an evolutionary process that has enabled humans to better adapt to change and prosper. This line of thinking is demonstrated through a synthesis of evolutionary, cognitive-psychological models and a case study from the archaeological record of the Levantine late Lower Paleolithic. In this time, humans developed a set of creative innovations which had to be learned and assimilated, such as the innovative production of blades. I argue that these cultural changes were successfully assimilated by groups inhabiting the Levant due to the enhancement of well-established learning mechanisms, in which children played a significant role. This role might have given them a unique status in their group – as preserving old traditions practiced by their ancestors but also as active agents, part of a collective group effort of tackling present and future challenges.     

Genetic variation in oxytocin rs2740210 and early adversity associated with postpartum depression and breastfeeding duration

Mothers vary in duration of breastfeeding. These individual differences are related to a variety of demographic and individual maternal factors including maternal hormones, mood and early experiences. However, little is known about the role of genetic factors. We studied single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the OXT peptide gene (rs2740210; rs4813627) and the OXT receptor gene (OXTR rs237885) in two samples of mothers from the Maternal adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment study (MAVAN), a multicenter (Hamilton and Montreal, Canada) study following mothers and their children from pregnancy until 7 years of age. Data from the Hamilton site was the primary sample (n = 201) and data from Montreal was the replication sample (n = 151). Breastfeeding duration, maternal mood (measured by the CES‐D scale) and early life adversity (measured by the CTQ scale) were established during 12 months postpartum. In our primary sample, polymorphisms in OXT rs2740210, but not the other SNPs, interacted with early life adversity to predict variation in breastfeeding duration (overall F_8,125 = 2.361, P = 0.021; interaction effect b = ?8.12, t = ?2.3, P = 0.023) and depression (overall F_8,118 = 5.751, P ≤ 0.001; interaction effect b = 6.06, t = 3.13, P = 0.002). A moderated mediation model showed that higher levels of depression mediated the inverse relation of high levels of early life adversity to breastfeeding duration, but only in women possessing the CC genotype [effect a′ = ?3.3401, 95% confidence interval (CI) = ?7.9466 to ?0.0015] of the OXT SNP and not in women with the AA/AC genotype (a′ = ?1.2942, ns). The latter findings (moderated mediation model) were replicated in our Montreal sample (a′ = ?0.277, 95% CI = ?0.7987 to ?0.0348 for CC; a′ = ?0.1820, ns for AA/AC) .     

儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病特异性标记物的精准检测方法研究

目的：T细胞和免疫球蛋白重链基因重排是微小残留病灶水平的特异性标记物,而微小残留病灶的水平与儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病的复发强烈相关。应用传统的聚合酶链式反应方法来监测IgH／TCR基因重排不仅耗时、耗人力,而且敏感度较低。本研究旨在探索一种更为高效和敏感与实用的监测IgH／TCR基因重排的精准检测方法。方法：应用多重PCR技术检测26个患有急性淋巴细胞白血病的儿童的外周血样品中的标记物,这些儿童是在中国哈尔滨市最近两年内被诊断的患者。分别应用基因扫描和毛细血管电泳方法检测IgH（FRI,FRII,FRⅢ）／TCR（TCRB,TCRγ）基因重排和分析PCR产物的片段。结果：IgH／TCR基因重排和对IgH基因重排的阳性率分别为92．3％和75％,在26个病例中,4个复发病人的IgH的三个片段（FRI,FRII,FRⅢ）基因重排显示阳性。进一步分析显示复发与ign基因重排呈线性相关。结论：实验与临床应用表明,基因扫描这种方法对于IgH／TCR基因重排的检测是可靠的、实用的,因而可用于儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病的诊断和随访。     

DNA Methylation, Behavior and Early Life Adversity

The impact of early physical and social environments on life-long phenotypes is well known. Moreover, we have documented evidence for gene–environment interactions where identical gene variants are associated with different phenotypes that are dependent on early life adversity. What are the mechanisms that embed these early life experiences in the genome? DNA methylation is an enzymatically-catalyzed modification of DNA that serves as a mechanism by which similar sequences acquire cell type identity during cellular differentiation and embryogenesis in the same individual. The hypothesis that will be discussed here proposes that the same mechanism confers environmental-exposure specific identity upon DNA providing a mechanism for embedding environmental experiences in the genome, thus affecting long-term phenotypes. Particularly important is the environment early in life including both the prenatal and postnatal social environments.     

Clinical,socio‐demographic and psychological characteristics in individuals with persistent psychotic experiences with and without a “need for care”

Individuals reporting persistent psychotic experiences (PEs) in the general population, but without a “need for care”, are a unique group of particular importance in identifying risk and protective factors for psychosis. We compared people with persistent PEs and no “need for care” (non‐clinical, N=92) with patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (clinical, N=84) and controls without PEs (N=83), in terms of their phenomenological, socio‐demographic and psychological features. The 259 participants were recruited from one urban and one rural area in the UK, as part of the UNIQUE (Unusual Experiences Enquiry) study. Results showed that the non‐clinical group experienced hallucinations in all modalities as well as first‐rank symptoms, with an earlier age of onset than in the clinical group. Somatic/tactile hallucinations were more frequent than in the clinical group, while commenting and conversing voices were rare. Participants in the non‐clinical group were differentiated from their clinical counterparts by being less paranoid and deluded, apart from ideas of reference, and having fewer cognitive difficulties and negative symptoms. Unlike the clinical group, they were characterized neither by low psychosocial functioning nor by social adversity. However, childhood trauma featured in both groups. They were similar to the controls in psychological characteristics: they did not report current emotional problems, had intact self‐esteem, displayed healthy schemas about the self and others, showed high life satisfaction and well‐being, and high mindfulness. These findings support biopsychosocial models postulating that environmental and psychological factors interact with biological processes in the aetiology of psychosis. While some PEs may be more malign than others, lower levels of social and environmental adversity, combined with protective factors such as intact IQ, spirituality, and psychological and emotional well‐being, may reduce the likelihood of persistent PEs leading to pathological outcomes. Future research should focus on protective factors and determinants of well‐being in the context of PEs, rather than exclusively on risk factors and biomarkers of disease states.     

The association between microRNA polymorphisms and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A meta-analysis

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the relationship between microRNA polymorphisms and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia comprehensively. PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Global Index Medicus, Clinicaltrials.gov, ProQuest, and Open Grey databases were used to find relevant papers. Using the STATA 16.0 and CMA 3.0 software, the significance of relationships between microRNA polymorphisms and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk was evaluated using odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) for five genetic models. The results of the meta-analysis showed that there was no significant association between the polymorphism of miR-146a rs2910164 and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk in different genetic models. Also, in the sensitivity analysis, removing Xue's study from the analysis indicated that both the homozygote and recessive models are significantly affected. Additionally, there was a statistically significant relationship between the polymorphisms of pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 (in the homozygote and recessive models) and miR-612 rs12803915 (in the allele and dominant models) and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk. These findings suggest that the rs4938723 and rs12803915 polymorphisms may have a role in the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.     

Bodyweight and human capital development: Assessing the impact of obesity on socioemotional skills during childhood in Chile

This article analyzes the effect of bodyweight on socioemotional skills for children aged two to 12 years in Chile. Using an instrumental variable approach and a representative survey, we show that both BMI and obesity are causality related to children’s socioemotional development, even after assuming that our instrument is imperfect. Although we did not find significant differences between boys and girls, we do identify heterogeneous effects by age: the weight penalty for girls starts earlier than for boys. Our findings suggest that early interventions for childhood obesity not only might generate positive impacts on children’s health, but also a greater accumulation of non-cognitive human capital in the future.