Is meconium exposure associated with autism spectrum disorders in children?

Jenabi, Ensiyeh,Ayubi, Erfan,Khazaei, Salman,Bashirian, Saeid,Khazaei, Mojtaba The Korean Pediatric Society 2021 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.64 No.7

Background: The results differ among published studies regarding exposure to meconium and the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Purpose: The present study pooled all of the epidemiologic studies retrieved from broader databases on the association between meconium exposure and risk of developing ASD in children. Methods: The Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched without language restrictions for articles published between their inception to February 20, 2020, using relevant keywords. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated as random-effect estimates of the associations among studies. A subgroup analysis was conducted to explore any potential sources of heterogeneity among studies. Results: The pooled estimate of OR reported a weakly significant association between meconium exposure and ASD development in children (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03-1.24). There was low heterogeneity among the articles reporting risk for ASD among children (I²=19.3%; P=0.259). The results of subgroup analysis based on meconium exposure showed a significant association between a meconium-stained neonate and ASD development (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.11-1.24). Couclusion: Meconium exposure was weakly associated with an increased risk of ASD. However, more evidence based on large prospective cohort studies is required to provide conclusive evidence about whether meconium exposure is associated with an increased risk of ASD development.

Neonatal risk factors associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an umbrella review

Ensiyeh Jenabi,Erfan Ayubi,Sajjad Farashi,Saeid Bashirian,Fereshteh Mehri 대한소아청소년과학회 2023 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.66 No.10

Evaluation of drug interventions for the treatment of sleep disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review

Jenabi, Ensiyeh,Ataei, Sara,Bashirian, Saeid The Korean Pediatric Society 2019 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.62 No.11

A structured review study of drug interventions on sleep disorders in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has not been published to date. This systematic review aimed to investigate drug interventions for the treatment of sleep disorders in children with ASD. The Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched until March 2019. Study quality was assessed using the Delphi checklist. Due to the heterogeneity of the findings, a meta-analysis was not possible. Drug interventions for the treatment of sleep disorders in patients with ASD included melatonin, atomoxetine, and risperidone. Atomoxetine had no effect on sleep disorders in patients with ASD. A total of 10 studies were reviewed. Melatonin appears to be useful for the treatment of sleep problems in patients with ASD, but further studies are needed to determine the effects of other drugs.

Is fetal nuchal cord associated with autism spectrum disorder? A meta-analysis

Jenabi Ensiyeh,Ahmadi Maryam,Maleki Azam 대한소아청소년과학회 2022 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.65 No.3

Background: There is inconsistent evidence about the association between fetal nuchal cord and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We performed a meta-analysis to investigate whether fetal nuchal cord is associated with an increased risk of ASD in offspring.Methods: Three main English databases were searched until January 2021. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Study heterogeneity was determined using the I2 statistic, while publication bias was assessed using Begg and Egger tests. Results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) and relative ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and were determined by a random-effects model.Results: Five articles (1 cohort, 4 case-control; 3,088 total children) were included in the present meta-analysis. Fetal nuchal cord was not a risk factor for ASD (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.66?1.57). There was homogeneity among studies that reported a risk of ASD (I2=0.0%).Conclusion: Our results showed that fetal nuchal cord is not a risk factor for ASD. Future large cohort studies should confirm this finding. Background: There is inconsistent evidence about the association between fetal nuchal cord and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We performed a meta-analysis to investigate whether fetal nuchal cord is associated with an increased risk of ASD in offspring.Methods: Three main English databases were searched until January 2021. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Study heterogeneity was determined using the I2 statistic, while publication bias was assessed using Begg and Egger tests. Results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) and relative ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and were determined by a random-effects model.Results: Five articles (1 cohort, 4 case-control; 3,088 total children) were included in the present meta-analysis. Fetal nuchal cord was not a risk factor for ASD (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.66–1.57). There was homogeneity among studies that reported a risk of ASD (I2=0.0%).Conclusion: Our results showed that fetal nuchal cord is not a risk factor for ASD. Future large cohort studies should confirm this finding.

Correlation between Health Literacy and Quality of Life in Iranian Menopausal Women

Ensiyeh Jenabi,Behzad Gholamaliee,Salman Khazaei 대한폐경학회 2020 대한폐경학회지 Vol.26 No.1

Objectives: Understanding the factors that promote quality of life (QOL) in menopausal women is essential for establishing educational strategies and health policies. Studies on the relationship between health literacy and QOL in menopausal women in Iran are rare. Therefore, we aimed to determine health literacy in menopausal women and its relationship with QOL. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed on 177 menopausal women referred to comprehensive health services in Hamadan City, Iran. Health Literacy for Iranian Adults and Menopause-Specific QOL questionnaires were used to collect information. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between health literacy and QOL. Results: The majority of menopausal women included in this study were married housewives, and 44.6% of them were 50–55 years old; furthermore, only 6.2% had adequate or good health literacy. Health literacy was significantly correlated with total QOL score and vasomotor, psychology, and physical domains (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Health literacy was associated with various domains of QOL. Therefore, health providers should pay more attention on improving health literacy by holding educational promotional programs for menopausal women to enhance their QOL.

Association between small for gestational age and risk of autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis

Jenabi, Ensiyeh,Bashirian, Saeid,Asali, Zahra,Seyedi, Mahdieh The Korean Pediatric Society 2021 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.64 No.10

Background: The relationship between small for gestational age (SGA) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) remains unknown. Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between SGA and the risk of ASD. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception to November 2020. The heterogeneity across studies was explored using the I² statistic. The possibility of publication bias was assessed using Begg test. The results were reported using the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random-effects model. Results: The literature search yielded 824 articles with 8,752,138 participants. We assessed the association between SGA and the risk of ASD in cohort and case-control studies. Based on the random-effects model, compared with SGA, the estimated OR of the risk of ASD was 1.17 (95% CI, 1.09-1.24). Therefore, there was a significant association between SGA and the risk of ASD. Conclusion: Based on OR reports in epidemiological studies, we showed that SGA is a risk factor for and can increase the risk of ASD. The association between SGA and ASD risk has further relevance to the current public health emphasis on appropriate prepregnancy weight and pregnancy weight gain.

Effect of Fennel-Valerian Extract on Hot Flashes and Sleep Disorders in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Trial

Ensiyeh Jenabi,Salman Khazaei,Soodabeh Aghababaei,Shirin Moradkhani 대한폐경학회 2023 대한폐경학회지 Vol.29 No.1

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effect of a mixture of fennel and valerian extracts on hot flashes and sleep disorders of postmenopausal women in Iran. A randomized trial was conducted.Methods: A total of 76 postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to either of the two groups: fennel-valerian extract or control. One 500 mg fennel-valerian extract capsule was given twice, daily for 8 weeks. The 500 mg oral placebo capsule (starch) was given the same way. Results: The mean duration of hot flashes increased in both the groups over time (P < 0.001). The mean frequency and severity of hot flashes in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group, in the first and second months after intervention (P < 0.050). Women in the fennel-valerian extract group had a significantly lower Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score than the control group 2 months after intervention (P = 0.030). Conclusions: This study found that fennel-valerian extract was effective for relieving sleep disorders as well as the severity and frequency of hot flashes compared with a placebo.

Not breastfeeding and risk of autism spectrum disorders among children: a meta-analysis

Jenabi Ensiyeh,Bashirian Saeid,Salehi Amir Mohammad,khazaei Salman 대한소아청소년과학회 2023 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.66 No.1

Background: To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis of the association of not breastfeeding and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on observational studies. Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate of the association of not breastfeeding and the risk of ASD. Methods: Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) were systematically searched until December 2021. Heterogeneity was determined using the chi-square test and its quantity was measured using the I2 statistic. The Begg line regression test was used to assess publication bias. A random-effects model was used to analyze the data. Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. Results: The total study population included 3,270 individuals. According to the random-effects model, the estimated odds ratio of the risk of ASD associated with not breastfeeding was 1.81 (95% confidence interval, 1.35–2.27; I2=0%). Conclusion: The results of the included studies were homogeneous. Our findings showed that not breastfeeding is a risk factor for ASD. These results suggest the importance of breastfeeding in decreasing the risk of ASD in children.

Association between previous abortion history and risk of autism spectrum disorders among offspring: a meta-analysis

Jenabi Ensiyeh,Ayubi Erfan,Bashirian Saeid,Seyedi Mahdieh,Rezaei Mohammad 대한소아청소년과학회 2023 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.66 No.2

Background: Previous studies have been showed an association between previous abortion history and risk of Autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, there is still controversy about true effect estimate of the association.Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between previous abortion history and the risk of ASD.Methods: A systematic search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases to identify potential studies published until December 2021. The presence of statistical heterogeneity was determined using the <i>I²</i> value. In the case of substantial heterogeneity, the random-effects model meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled relative risks. The publication bias was assessed using the Egger and Begg tests.Results: Thirteen studies with a total of 331,779 children remained in the present meta-analysis. The estimated odds ratio of the risk of ASD associated with previous abortion history was 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28–2.0; <i>I²</i>=61.7%) in adjusted studies and 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01–1.20; <i>I²</i>=0.0%) in crude studies, based on the random effect model. There was moderate heterogeneity in adjusted studies. The p values for Egger and Begg regression among children with ASD were 0.393 and 0.056, respectively.Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that children born from mothers with a history of previous abortion have an increased risk of development of ASD compared to children of mothers without a history of previous abortion.

Association between assisted reproductive technology and autism spectrum disorders in Iran: a case-control study

Jenabi, Ensiyeh,Seyedi, Mahdieh,Hamzehei, Ronak,Bashirian, Saeid,Rezaei, Mohammad,Razjouyan, Katayoon,Khazaei, Salman The Korean Pediatric Society 2020 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.63 No.9

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by impairments in social interaction and verbal and nonverbal communication. Purpose: Determine the association between use of assisted reproduction technology (ART) and the risk of ASD among children. Methods: This case-control study included 300 participants (100 cases, 200 controls). The control group included women with a child aged 2-10 years without ASD, while the cases were women with a child aged 2-10 years with ASD. We used a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Stata ver. 14 at the 0.05 significance level. Results: In the univariate analysis, there was significant association between child sex, delivery mode, history of preterm delivery, history of using ART, and maternal age at child's birth and the risk of ASD. After the adjustment for other variables, this association was significant for male sex (2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-4.31; P=0.001) and history of using ART (4.03; 95% CI, 1.76-9.21; P=0.001). Therefore, after the adjustment for confounder variables, there was no significant association between ART and the risk of ASD among children (4.98; 95% CI, 0.91-27.30; P=0.065). Conclusion: After the adjustment for other variables, risk factors for ASD were male sex and history preterm delivery. Thus, there was no significant association between ART and the risk of ASD among children.