Study explores link between maternal asthma and ASD development in children
To observe the effects of maternal asthma and odds of children developing ASD, this study conducted a meta-analysis using electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library), covering studies published from the inception of the databases to October 2024. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if mothers in the exposed group were asthmatic, mothers in the control group were asthma-free, the outcome was a prevalence of ASD in the mothers' children, and if the study design was either a case-control or a cohort study. From the selection process, eight studies were selected (five in the US, one in Sweden, one multicentre, and one in Taiwan and mainland China). Additionally, subgroup analysis by the child's sex was carried out using a meta-analysis of two studies (both US-based). The joint sample size of the eight studies was 152,697 participants with maternal asthma and 1,809,488 without maternal asthma. Children of asthmatic mothers had a 36% increased odds of developing ASD compared to children of asthma-free mothers. The effects of maternal asthma on ASD development differed based on the child's sex, with only male children of asthmatic mothers being observed to have a statistically significant increased odds of ASD development, with a 28% increased odds of developing ASD, compared to those with asthma-free mothers.
This study by Zheng and colleagues provides evidence of maternal asthma being a risk factor for ASD in children, and that this risk is especially pronounced for male children. However, the certainty of these trends was classified as low, due to the study design and variation in results across the studies. Therefore, more studies assessing the relationship between maternal asthma and ASD risk are required to validate these findings. GlobalData epidemiologists forecast that in the 16 major markets: (the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, China, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and South Korea), diagnosed prevalent cases of ASD in men of all ages will decrease from 5.9 million cases in 2025 to 5.7 million cases in 2031, and cases in women of all ages will decrease from two million cases in 2025 to 1.9 million cases in 2031.
"Study explores link between maternal asthma and ASD development in children" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows, LCSW-PLLC Announces Multistate Expansion of Trauma-Informed Therapy Services
Dr. Marcia Morrison marks over 30 years of service as Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows extends its licensed practice across New York, Kentucky, Connecticut, and Virginia with global clinical experiences to include Alaska, Germany, and Japan. United States, July 12, 2025 -- Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows Announces Major Milestone in Clinical Practice Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows, LCSW-PLLC has formally announced the expansion of its trauma-informed therapy services across four U.S. states—New York, Kentucky, Connecticut, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded by Dr. Marcia Morrison, a dual-doctorate psychotherapist with over three decades of clinical and academic expertise, the announcement marks a significant development in the accessibility of individualized care grounded in global experience. With licensing credentials across state lines and therapeutic insights shaped by international service, Dr. Morrison's practice continues to grow as a trusted source of evidence-based care. The expansion underscores the practice's commitment to enhancing therapeutic access while integrating decades of research-informed strategies tailored to individuals, couples, and communities. Clinician with Global Footprint: 30+ Years of Therapy Across Continents Dr. Marcia Morrison began her career in the New York City's Administration for Children's Services, where she chaired high-level committees on adolescent care, abuse prevention, and residential treatment. Her early leadership as Director of a Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) for at-risk youth paved the way for future clinical engagements with military service members and families across Alaska, Germany, and Japan. The new licensing reach builds upon this international clinical foundation, allowing Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows to extend therapy offerings that reflect an expansive understanding of cultural sensitivity, resilience, and emotional adaptation in high-pressure environments. 'I have had the privilege of serving military communities, families, and underserved populations in complex and varied settings,' said Dr. Morrison. 'These experiences have shaped my approach to being clinically sound, compassionate, and responsive to the unique needs of each client.' Integrated Services: What the Expansion Brings The announcement brings greater visibility to the broad array of services currently offered by the practice. These include: This newly announced expansion ensures that individuals across four states now have access to trauma-informed therapy that merges academic research, global clinical experience, and a deeply personal approach to care. Dual Doctorate Leadership and Academic Excellence Dr. Morrison holds both a Ph.D. in Social Work and a Doctor of Social Welfare (DSW), credentials that reflect her long standing engagement with higher education and scholarship. Over the past 25 years, she has held professorships at multiple institutions and currently teaches at the City University of New York. Her academic background plays a critical role in the structure and development of the practice. Each treatment plan and therapy model used within Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows is informed by research-driven methodologies, aligned with national clinical standards, and continuously refined through ongoing study. Renewed Commitment to Accessible, Personalized Mental Health Care Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows operates with a mission to create a space that is safe, nonjudgmental, and transformative for every client. The recent expansion serves to reinforce that mission, with Dr. Morrison emphasizing personalized attention as the core of her practice model. 'Whether I'm working with a couple navigating a crisis, a young adult facing self-doubt, or a family in transition, my role is to help create a therapeutic space that fosters healing and clarity,' she stated. 'Growth begins when clients feel seen and supported.' The practice remains dedicated to removing barriers to care through flexible scheduling, teletherapy options, and community-centered outreach. As Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows marks over 30 years in the field, this expansion is both a reflection of sustained growth and a reaffirmation of its founding values. About Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows, LCSW-PLLC Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows is a multistate psychotherapy practice established by Dr. Marcia Morrison, a licensed clinician with over three decades of professional experience in private practice, child protective services, military mental health, and academia. The practice provides evidence-based therapeutic services to individuals and couples across New York, Kentucky, Connecticut, and Virginia. Clinical offerings include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and the Gottman Method, with a focus on trauma, relational challenges, and community engagement. Media Contact Dr. Marcia Morrison Contact Info: Name: Dr. Marcia Morrison Email: Send Email Organization: Morrison Psychotherapy Meadows, LCSW-PLLC Website: Release ID: 89164533 In case of identifying any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release that necessitate action or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions diligently to rectify any identified issues or supporting you with the removal process. Delivering accurate and reliable information remains our top priority.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Men are embracing pelvic floor therapy — and not just for better sex
Men can develop a hypertonic pelvic floor — over-activation of muscles for peeing and sex. Sometimes it's a response to too much stress or anxiety but there are other causes too. Strength training, stretching, breath work, and no more than 10 minutes on the toilet all help. If you're a woman, you probably already know what a kegel exercise is, and have been told to work on strengthening your pelvic floor. But an increasing number of men are discovering they have the opposite problem: a pelvic floor that is hyper tense and over-flexed nearly all the time. All of us, regardless of gender, are sitting on a hammock of muscles that control how well we can urinate, perform a bowel movement, and have sex. This is the pelvic floor. When operating properly, it sits largely unnoticed, helping thanklessly to facilitate these bodily functions throughout the course of each day. But, if the pelvic floor muscles become too tight or too loose, chaos can ensue. That's what happened to Adam Gvili when he was in his early 20s. "I went like 20 times a day," Gvili, now a physical therapist treating pelvic floor issues, told Business Insider, referring to his frequent urge to pee — one of the most common symptoms of hypertonic pelvic floor. According to the US National Institutes of Health's Pelvic Floor Disorders Network, up to one in five women will have surgery for a pelvic floor disorder at some point in her lifetime, and even more women — about 32% — will have some sort of diagnosed pelvic floor disorder. The number of men with chronic pelvic pain is estimated to be about half that, around 16%. Pelvic floor experts told BI these men are often suffering in the shadows. Almost no one is talking about the male pelvic floor, due to a mix of shame, a lack of awareness, and the fact that getting a diagnosis typically involves a long process of elimination with specialists. Many patients quietly find PTs like Gvili on Reddit or through frantic Google searching, he said. Others might hear him on a podcast, or are referred from a urologist. "Because they have this urge and frequency to go, it's like, 'Do I have to go? Should I go? Wait, I'm not sure. I already went like 20 minutes ago. Does that mean I really have to go?' And that's just for urination," Gvili said. "So imagine how much in your head you can get." Beyond needing to pee often, common tell-tale signs of a pelvic floor in panic mode include: Shooting pain in the rectum Erectile dysfunction (ED) Premature ejaculation Constipation Groin pain Testicular pain "It's not like the muscle pops up and says, 'Hey, I'm the problem,'" physical therapist Karen Brandon, president of the International Pelvic Pain Society, told BI. "What is more common is that men will experience symptoms of urgency and difficulty urinating and some random strange pains in their penis or their scrotum." There are myriad reasons that a pelvic floor can become tight and overengaged. Sometimes, it's stress. "For some people, they tense their pelvic floor when that [stress] happens" Gvili, the founder of Pelvis NYC, said. Tensing and tightening those muscles can also be a response to anxiety, or sexual trauma. Not all of the cases he sees are linked to stress, though. He says there are a fair number of "type B guys here that are way chill and have this" for other reasons. Older men can develop a hypertonic pelvic floor after a prostatectomy, for example. "It could be, for a lot of men, masturbating too many times, it could be after squatting or deadlifting, I mean, there's many reasons." Male pelvic floor issues can also be spurred by an infection or injury to the area, even a "really bad bowel movement," Brandon said. "What happens is your pelvic floor muscle then starts to guard and get protective." Ultimately, Gvili said, there's not a ton that men can do to prevent the pelvic floor from going into overdrive. Of course, maintaining a good exercise routine, staying flexible, breathing through stress, and time for relaxation, those all help. His work endeavors to help people pay less attention to their pelvic floor, and let "your body's natural mechanism" operate automatically again. "My goal is to decrease your awareness to a certain area of the body," Gvili said. "It's not as simple as 'just do some kegels.'" Instead, it's the engagement and then release of the pelvic floor throughout the day that will help keep it healthy. Brandon imagines the pelvic floor like a set of saloon doors that can swing both ways: lifting and pulling in, much like you would for a kegel, but also doing the opposite, by dropping and releasing, telescoping the anus to push towards the floor, almost like you're about to pass gas. One of the best things Gvili recommends for maintaining a healthy pelvic floor is strength training. "Lift heavy," he said. "Squats, dead lifts." But you have to be careful. Brandon stresses that maintaining "good form" for your strength training is essential, to ensure you're not "biasing a certain muscle and overusing the one that's connected to the pelvic floor." Men with really tight hips who never take time to stretch after they work out are prime candidates for a hypertonic pelvic floor. "Don't be shy or afraid of being flexible," she said. "The majority of the male issues I see are that." Poses like frog can help release the pelvic floor, when done correctly. The goal is to be able to both contract and relax this silent set of muscles, in proper balance. "For a lot of men that are tight, we help them use those muscles, but also tone down their nervous system to know that there's no reason to tighten them up," Gvili said. Gvili and Brandon both had the same parting piece of advice for maintaining a healthy pelvic floor: Don't spend too much time on the toilet. Invest in a squatty potty if you are often constipated, it will help relax the muscles so your bowels can flow without pushing. "I get the whole scrolling on the phone thing," Gvili said. If you need some alone time in the bathroom, that's fine, just don't spend too long with your cheeks spread across the bowl. If you're constipated, try leaning forward or backwards without pushing, breathing deeply, and if you're ultimately unsuccessful, get off and try again later. "I tell people five to 10 minutes, no longer," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider
Gizmodo
3 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Hot Tick Summer Is Here. Here's What You Need to Know and How to Stay Safe
Summer in the U.S. is now in full swing. That means plenty of outdoor fun, Sun, and, unfortunately, for many of us, tiny eight-legged ticks to avoid. Ticks and the many illnesses they carry, like Lyme disease, are a growing public health threat. Just this week, for instance, the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 2025 so far has seen the highest number of tick-related emergency room visits recorded since 2019. And though the worst tick species are especially common in the Northeast, disease-carrying populations are steadily spreading further across the U.S. What's more, scientists are still continuing to discover new viruses and bacteria spread by ticks that can potentially sicken people. With Americans firmly in the middle of hot tick summer, Gizmodo reached out to Dennis Bente, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. We spoke to Bente about why ticks are becoming a bigger problem, the best ways right now to protect ourselves against them, and the potential innovations that could eventually help us beat back the tick menace. The following conversation has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity. Ed Cara, Gizmodo: I live in the northeastern U.S., and my friends and family, especially dog owners, often complain about needing to look out for ticks sooner than they used to. Is the tick season really getting longer and larger? And what seem to be the major reasons why? Maps Show North America's Growing Tick Invasion Bente: Yes, your friends and family are absolutely correct in their observations. The tick season in the Northeastern United States has indeed become longer and more intense, with multiple scientific studies confirming both the expansion of tick activity periods and the growth of tick populations. What was once a relatively predictable seasonal threat has evolved into a year-round concern in many areas. The evidence shows that ticks are now active in winter due to climate change, with adult deer ticks active at temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit [-10 degrees Celsius]. This has led to a year-round need for vigilance, as ticks now emerge whenever the ground is unfrozen and temperatures exceed freezing, extending their season beyond traditional months. Climate warming accelerates tick development, increases survival, and enables northward expansion at about 28 miles [45 kilometers] per year, especially in the Northeast. Factors like recovering deer populations, reforestation, landscape fragmentation, and fire suppression have also promoted tick populations by providing ideal habitats and microclimate regimes that favor tick survival. Gizmodo: When it comes to tick germs, people are probably most familiar with Lyme disease. But there are plenty more out there. What are some of the lesser-known tickborne diseases that keep you up at night? And are these diseases, like Lyme, becoming more common? A New York Man Was Killed by a Rare Brain-Infecting Disease Spread by Ticks Bente: While Lyme disease dominates public awareness of tickborne illnesses, it represents just the tip of a much larger iceberg. Powassan virus (POWV) stands out as perhaps the most frightening tickborne pathogen in North America. This flavivirus can cause severe encephalitis with mortality rates approaching 18.8% and devastating neurological consequences in 72.7% of survivors. Unlike other tickborne diseases, POWV can be transmitted within just 15 minutes of tick attachment, giving victims almost no opportunity for preventive tick removal. There are also other less-known viruses. The Heartland virus emerged in 2009 and has since been documented in over 60 cases across 14 states, with an estimated mortality rate of 5-10%. Bourbon virus (BRBV) was first identified in 2014 and remains poorly understood. Only 5 human cases have been reported in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, but blood tests suggest that it is much more widespread. Borrelia miyamotoi causes hard tick relapsing fever, a disease that often goes undetected despite being transmitted by the same ticks that carry Lyme disease. Between 2013 and 2019, 300 cases were identified through surveillance in just nine states that conduct active monitoring. This likely represents massive underreporting, as the disease is often misdiagnosed. There is also Ehrlichia and the spotted fever group rickettsiae, which represent a growing and increasingly complex threat. While Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii) remains the most severe, newly recognized rickettsial pathogens are emerging that can cause similar severe illness. Overall, tickborne diseases are absolutely becoming more common. The evidence is overwhelming: Total tickborne disease cases in the US increased 25% from 40,795 (2011) to 50,856 (2019). Gizmodo: Are there any treatments, vaccines, or other innovations in development that could possibly help us beat these germs? Bente: Yes, there are indeed promising treatments, vaccines, and innovative technologies in development that could help us finally gain the upper hand against tickborne diseases. Here's what's on the horizon: The most significant immediate breakthrough is VLA15, the first Lyme disease vaccine to reach advanced clinical trials in over two decades. Developed jointly by Pfizer and Valneva, this represents a major advancement over previous failed attempts. The vaccine has completed recruitment for its Phase 3 VALOR trial with 9,437 participants enrolled across the United States, Europe, and Canada. Results are expected by the end of 2025, with potential regulatory approval in 2026. Experimental Anti-Tick Vaccine Aims to Stop Bites That Could Spread Lyme Perhaps even more exciting than pathogen-specific vaccines are anti-tick vaccines that could prevent multiple tickborne diseases simultaneously by targeting the tick itself. Researchers have developed mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines containing cocktails of tick salivary proteins. The most advanced formulation is the 19ISP vaccine. This vaccine causes rapid erythema development in the skin, early tick detachment, and decreased tick feeding by creating an immune response that alerts hosts to tick presence and prevents pathogen transmission when ticks are removed promptly. TP-05 is an investigational oral, systemic formulation of lotilaner developed by Tarsus Pharmaceuticals; it represents a revolutionary approach to tickborne disease prevention. This isoxazoline compound has successfully completed Phase 2a human trials, demonstrating 97% tick mortality within 24 hours of attachment, with a single dose providing protection for at least 30 days. Since ticks typically require 36 to 48 hours of attachment to transmit Lyme disease, killing them within 24 hours provides highly effective prophylaxis with an excellent safety profile in healthy volunteers. Gizmodo: In the meantime, how do we best keep these tiny pests from ruining our time outdoors? Bente: For reliable tick protection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE). Research consistently shows that DEET concentrations of 20 to 30% provide the most effective protection, with efficacy rates of 85 to 89% against ticks. Permethrin, readily available in stores, stands out as perhaps the most powerful weapon in your anti-tick arsenal. Unlike repellents that simply deter ticks, permethrin actually kills ticks on contact. When applied to clothing, it can provide protection for up to six weeks or six washes. The effectiveness is remarkable: permethrin-treated clothing has shown nearly 100% protection against tick attachment. A Kidney Transplant Came With an Unwelcome Hitchhiker: A Deadly Tick Germ Your clothing choices can serve as your first line of defense. Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed-toe shoes provide physical barriers, and tucking your shirt into pants and pants into socks creates additional protection by eliminating entry points. Stay on trail centers and avoid wooded, brushy areas during peak tick season (April to September). Daily tick checks are the most critical prevention measure. Most tickborne diseases require 24 to 48 hours of attachment for transmission, so quick removal dramatically reduces infection risk. Check your entire body using mirrors, focusing on warm areas: groin, armpits, scalp, behind ears and knees, and waistbands. Check children and pets daily, even after yard time, and shower within 2 hours to wash off crawling ticks. For proper removal, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin. Pull upward with steady pressure—don't twist or jerk. Don't squeeze, crush, or burn the tick. Clean the bite area and hands with alcohol or soap. Be sure to photograph the tick for identification if symptoms develop and avoid folk remedies like matches or nail polish—these increase disease transmission risk.
