Publications

The Boston Birth Cohort Profile(link is external)

Pearson C, Bartell T, Wang G, Hong X, Rusk SA, Fu L, Cerda S, Bustamante-Helfrich B, Kuohung W, Yarrington C, Adams WG, Wang X. Boston Birth Cohort Profile: Rationale and Study Design. Precis Nutr. 2022 Nov;1(2):e00011. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 36660305; PMCID: PMC9844822.

Abstract

In 1998, the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC) was initiated at Boston Medical Center (BMC) in response to persistently high rates of preterm birth (PTB, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation) in the US population and the longstanding profound PTB disparity among Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

The BBC encompasses two linked study protocols: The Preterm Birth Study serves as the baseline recruitment in the BBC. It aims to address fundamental questions about the causes and consequences of PTB. The study oversamples preterm babies using a case/control study design, in which cases are defined as mothers who deliver a preterm and/or low birthweight baby (<2500 grams regardless of gestational age). Controls are enrolled at a 2:1 control/case ratio and matched by maternal age (±5 years), self-reported race and ethnicity, and date of delivery (± 7 days for case delivery). From inception, it was designed as a comprehensive gene-environmental study of PTB. As a natural extension, the Children’s Health Study, under a separate but linked IRB protocol, is a longitudinal follow-up study of the participants who were recruited at birth in the Preterm Birth Study and who continue pediatric care at BMC. This linked model allows for investigation of early life origins of pediatric and chronic disease in a prospective cohort design.

The BBC is one of the largest and longest NIH-funded prospective birth cohort studies in the US, consisting of 8733 mother-child dyads enrolled in the Preterm Birth Study at birth, and of those, 3,592 children have been enrolled in the Children’s Health Study, with a median follow-up of 14.5 years. The BBC mirrors the urban, under-resourced and underrepresented BIPOC population served by BMC. A high proportion of BBC children were born prematurely and had chronic health conditions (e.g., asthma, obesity and elevated blood pressure) in childhood.

The BBC’s long-term goal has been to build a large, comprehensive database (epidemiological, clinical, multi-omics) and biospecimen repository to elucidate early life origins of pediatric and chronic diseases and identify modifiable upstream factors (e.g., psychosocial, environmental, nutritional) to improve health across the life course for BIPOC mothers and children.

Publications using the Boston Birth Cohort

Pre, Peri-natal and Birth Outcomes

Chen Y, Zhang M, Wang G, Hong X, Wang X, Mueller NT. Mother's age at menarche is associated with odds of preterm delivery: A case–control study. BJOG. 2023 Sept 3; 00: 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17648(link is external)  

Xu R, Hong X, Ladd-Acosta C, Buckley JP, Choi G, Wang G, Hou W, Wang X, Liang L, Ji H. Contrasting Association of Maternal Plasma Biomarkers of Smoking and 1-Carbon Micronutrients with Offspring DNA Methylation: Evidence of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor Gene-Smoking-Folate Interaction. J Nutr. 2023 May 6:S0022-3166(23)37595-3. PMID: 37156443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.05.002(link is external)

Wang G, Xu R, Zhang B, Hong X, Bartell TR, Pearson C, Liang L, Wang X. Impact of intrauterine exposure to maternal diabetes on preterm birth: fetal DNA methylation alteration is an important mediator. Clin Epigenetics. 2023 Apr 7;15(1):59. PMID: 37029435; PMCID: PMC10082529. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13148-023-01473-1(link is external)

Hu J, Hu J, Xu X, Li J, Jiang Y, Hong X, Rexrode KM, Wang G, Hu FB, Zhang H, Karmaus WJ, Wang X, Liang L. Sex differences in the intergenerational link between maternal and neonatal whole blood DNA methylation: a genome-wide analysis in 2 birth cohorts. Clin Epigenetics. 2023 Mar 25;15(1):51. PMID: 36966332; PMCID: PMC10040137. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13148-023-01442-8(link is external)

Makker K, Zhang M, Wang G, Hong X, Wang X. Maternal and fetal factors affecting cord plasma leptin and adiponectin levels and their ratio in preterm and term newborns: New insight on fetal origins of metabolic dysfunction. Precision Nutrition, September 2022 - Volume 1 - Issue 2 - p e00013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10035290/(link is external)

McArthur KL, Zhang M, Hong X, Wang G, Buckley JP, Wang X, Mueller NT. Trimethylamine N-oxide and its precursors are associated with gestational diabetes mellitus and pre-eclampsia in the Boston Birth Cohort. Curr Dev Nutr. 2022 June 21. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzac108(link is external)

Kwapong YA, Boakye E, Wang G, Hong X, Lewey J, Mamas MA, Wu P, Blaha MJ, Nasir K, Hays AG, Blumenthal RS, Wang X, Sharma G. Maternal Glycemic Spectrum and Adverse Pregnancy and Perinatal Outcomes in a Multiracial US Cohort. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease. 2022 June 4; 9(6):179. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd9060179(link is external)

Kwapong YA, Boakye E, Obisesan OH, Shah LM, Ogunwole SM, Hays AG, Blumenthal RS, Creanga AA, Blaha MJ, Cainzos-Achirica M, Nasir K, Douglas PS, Wang X, Sharma G. Nativity-Related Disparities in Preterm Birth and Cardiovascular Risk in a Multiracial U.S. Cohort. Am J Prev Med. 2022 Jun;62(6):885-894. Epub 2022 Apr 7. PMID: 35597568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.12.027(link is external)

Minhas AS, Hong X, Wang G, Rhee DK, Liu T, Zhang M, Michos ED, Wang X, Mueller NT. Mediterranean-Style Diet and Risk of Preeclampsia by Race in the Boston Birth Cohort. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 May 3;11(9):e022589. Epub 2022 Apr 20. PMID: 35441523; PMCID: PMC9238615. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.022589(link is external)

Shah LM, Kwapong YA, Boakye E, Ogunwole SM, Bennett WL, Blumenthal RS, Hays AG, Blaha MJ, Nasir K, Zakaria S, Wang G, Wang X, Sharma G. Racial Disparities in Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes by Maternal Nativity and Length of US Residence in an Urban Low-Income Population in the United States. CJC Open. 2022 Feb 19;4(6):540-550. PMID: 35734520; PMCID: PMC9207772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2022.02.008(link is external)

Zhang M, Buckley JP, Liang L, Hong X, Wang G, Guallar E, Wang MC, Wills-Karp M, Wang X, Mueller N. A metabolome-wide association study of in utero metal and trace element exposures with cord blood metabolome profile: findings from the Boston Birth Cohort. Environmental International; 2022 Jan, Volume158.106976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106976(link is external)

Minhas AS, Boakye E, Obisesan OH, Kwapong YA, Zakaria S, Creanga AA, Vaught AJ, Mehta LS, Davis MB, Bello NA, Cainzos-Achirica M, Nasir K, Blaha MJ, Blumenthal RS, Douglas PS, Wang X, Sharma G. The Association of Preterm Birth with Maternal Nativity and Length of Residence among Non-Hispanic Black Women. CJC Open, 2021, ISSN 2589-790X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2021.10.009(link is external)

Olapeju B, Hong X, Wang G, Summers A, Burd I, Cheng TL, Wang X. Birth outcomes across the spectrum of maternal age: Dissecting aging effect versus confounding by social and medical determinants. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 21, 594 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04077-w(link is external)

Boakye E, Kwapong YA, Obisesan F, Ogunwole SM, Hays AG, Nasir K, Blumenthal RS, Douglas PS, Blaha MJ, Creanga AA, Wang X, Sharma G. Nativity-related Disparities in Preeclampsia and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Profile among Racially Diverse Women in the United States. JAMA Network Open. 2021 Dec 1;4(12):e2139564. PMID: 34928357. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.39564(link is external)

Park S, Ji Y, Hong X, Zuckerman B, Wang X, Surkan PJ. Effects of Stress and Nativity on Maternal Antenatal Substance Use and Postnatal Mental Disorders. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Dec 17. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34935494. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2021.0016(link is external)

Ogunwole SM, Mwinnyaa G, Wang X, Hong X, Henderson J, Bennett WL. Preeclampsia Across Pregnancies and Associated Risk Factors: Findings From a High-Risk US Birth Cohort. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Sep 7;10(17):e019612. Epub 2021 Aug 16. PMID: 34398644. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.019612(link is external)

Wang X.  Healthy diet during pregnancy-navigating the double-edged sword. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 May 26:nqab168. PMID: 34038942. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqab168(link is external)

Rhee DK, Ji Y, Hong X, Pearson C, Wang X, Caulfield LE. Mediterranean-Style Diet and Birth Outcomes in an Urban, Multiethnic, and Low-Income US Population. Nutrients. 2021 Apr 3;13(4):1188. PMID: 33916686; PMCID: PMC8066173. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041188(link is external)

Xu R., Hong X, Zhang B, Huang W, Hou W, Wang G, Wang X, Igusa T, Liang L, Ji H. DNA methylation mediates the effect of maternal smoking on offspring birthweight: a birth cohort study of multi-ethnic US mother-newborn pairs. Clin Epigenetics. 2021 Mar 4;13(1):47. PMID: 33663600; PMCID: PMC7931602. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13148-021-01032-6(link is external)

Makker K, Ji Y, Hong X, Wang X. Antenatal and Neonatal Factors Contributing to Extra Uterine Growth Failure (EUGR) among Preterm Infants in Boston Birth Cohort (BBC). Perinatol. 2021 Feb 15:1-8. PMCID: PMC7883994. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-00948-4(link is external)

Boakye E, Sharma G, Ogunwole SM, Zakaria S, Vaught AJ, Kwapong YA, Hong X, Ji Y, Mehta L, Creanga AA, Blaha MJ, Blumenthal RS, Nasir K, Wang X. Relationship of Preeclampsia With Maternal Place of Birth and Duration of Residence Among Non-Hispanic Black Women in the United States. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2021 Feb;14(2):e007546. Epub 2021 Feb 10. PMID: 33563008; PMCID: PMC7887058. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.120.007546(link is external)

Olapeju B, Saifuddin A, Hong X, Wang G, Summers A, Cheng TL, Irina Burd, Wang X. Maternal Preeclampsia Status during Pregnancy and Postpartum Plasma B-vitamin and Homocysteine Profiles in a High-Risk Multiethnic US Population. J Women’s Health (Larchmt). 2020 Nov 16; PubMed PMID: 33252313. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8420(link is external)

Hong X, Rosenberg AZ, Zhang B, Binns-Roemer E, David V, Lv Y, Hjorten RC, Reidy KJ, Chen TK, Wang G, Ji Y, Simpson CL, Davis RL, Kopp JB, Wang X, Winkler CA. Joint Associations of Maternal-Fetal APOL1 Genotypes and Maternal Country of Origin With Preeclampsia Risk. Am J Kidney Dis. 2021 Jun;77(6):879-888.e1. Epub 2020 Dec 22. PMID: 33359152; PMCID: PMC8351532. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2020.10.020(link is external)

Hong X, Bartell TR, Wang X. Gaining a deeper understanding of social determinants of preterm birth by integrating multi-omics data. Pediatr Res. 2021 Jan;89(2):336-343. Epub 2020 Nov 13. PMID: 33188285; PMCID: PMC7898277. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-01266-9(link is external)

Hong X, Zhang B, Liang L, Zhang Y, Ji Y, Wang G, Ji H, Clish C, Burd I, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Hu F, Wang X. Postpartum plasma metabolomic profile among women with preeclampsia and preterm delivery: implications for long-term health. BMC Medicine, 2020 Oct 13;18(1):277. doi:. PubMed PMID: 33046083; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7552364. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01741-4(link is external)

Hong X, Surkan P, Zhang B, Keiser A, Ji Y, Ji H, Burd I, Bustamante-Helfrich B, Ogunwole S, Tang WY, Liu L, Pearson C, Cerda S, Zuckerman B, Hao L, Wang X. Genome-wide association study identifies a novel maternal gene × stress interaction associated with spontaneous preterm birth. Pediatric Research 2020, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1093-1(link is external)

Zhang Z, Cheng H, Hong X, Di Narzo AF, Franzen O, Peng S, Ruusalepp A, Kovacic JC, Bjorkegren JLM, Wang X, Hao K.  EnsembleCNV: an ensemble machine learning algorithm to identify and genotype copy number variation using SNP array data. Nucleic Acids Res. 2019 Apr 23;47(7):e39. PMID: 30722045. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkz068(link is external)

Liu T, Zhang M, Guallar E, Wang G, Hong X, Wang X, Mueller NT. Trace Minerals, Heavy Metals and Preeclampsia: Findings from the Boston Birth Cohort. JAHA. 2019 Aug 20;8:e012436. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.012436(link is external)

Olapeju B, Saifuddin A, Wang G, Ji Y, Hong X, Raghavan R, Summers A, Keiser A, Ji H, Zuckerman B, Heffner LJ, Cheng TL, Hao L, Surkan PJ, Wang X. Maternal folate status and preterm birth in a high-risk US population. Public Health Nutrition 2018 Nov 29:1-11. PMID: 30486913. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018003221(link is external)

Stevenson DK, Wong RJ, Aghaeepour N, Angst MS, Darmstadt GL, DiGiulio DB, Druzin ML, Gaudilliere B, Gibbs RS, B Gould J, Katz M, Li J, Moufarrej MN, Quaintance CC, Quake SR, Relman DA, Shaw GM, Snyder MP, Wang X, Wise PH. Understanding health disparities. J Perinatol. 2018 Dec 18. PMID: 30560947. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0298-1(link is external)

Li J, Hong X, Mesiano S, Muglia LJ, Wang X, Snyder M, Stevenson DK, Shaw GM. Natural Selection Has Differentiated the Progesterone Receptor among Human Populations. Am J Hum Genet. 2018 Jul 5;103(1):45-57. Epub 2018 Jun 21. PMID: 29937092; PMCID: PMC6035283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.05.009(link is external)

Surkan PJ, Hong X, Zhang B, Nawa N, Ji H, Tang WY, Ji Y, Kimmel MC, Wang G, Pearson C, Wang X. Can social support during pregnancy affect maternal DNA methylation? Findings from a cohort of African Americans. Pediatr Res. 2019 Jul 26. PMID: 31349361. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-019-0512-7(link is external) 

Duis J, Cox OH, Ji Y, Seifuddin F, Lee RS, Wang X. Effect of Genotype and Maternal Affective Disorder on Intronic Methylation of FK506 Binding Protein 5 in Cord Blood DNA.  Front Genet. 2018 Dec 17;9:648.  PMID: 30619472. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2018.00648(link is external)

Zheng Z, Bennett WL, Mueller NT, Appel LJ, Wang X. Gestational weight gain and pregnancy complications in a high-risk racially and ethnically diverse population.  J Women Health 2018 Jun 19: 29920144. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2017.6574(link is external)

Cheng TL, Mistry KB, Wang G, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Folate nutrition status in a sample of U.S. urban low-income mothers: A public health perspective. Am J Public Health. 2018 Apr 19:e1-e9. PMID: 29672150. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304355(link is external)

Rappoport N, Toung J, Hadley D, Wong RJ, Fujioka K, Reuter J, Abbott CW, Oh S, Hu D, Eng C, Huntsman S, Bodian DL, Niederhuber JE, Hong X, Zhang G, Sikora-Wohfeld W, Gignoux CR, Wang H, Oehlert J, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL, Gould JB, Darmstadt GL, Wang X, Bustamante CD, Snyder MP, Ziv E, Patsopoulos NA, Muglia LJ, Burchard E, Shaw GM, O'Brodovich HM, Stevenson DK, Butte AJ, Sirota M. A genome-wide association study identifies only two ancestry specific variants associated with spontaneous preterm birth. Scientific Reports, 2018 Jan 9;8(1):226. PMID: 29317701. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18246-5(link is external)

Surkan PJ, Dong L, Ji Y, Hong X, Ji H, Wang X. Paternal involvement and support and risk of preterm birth: Findings from the Boston Birth Cohort. J Psychosom Obs Gyn, 2017 Nov 16:1-9. PMID:29144191. https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2017.1398725(link is external)

Bustamante-Helfrich B, Chilukuri N, He H, Cerda SR, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Burd I, Wang X. Maternal vascular malperfusion of the placental bed associated with hypertensive disorders in the Boston Birth Cohort. Placenta 2017 Apr;52:106-113. PMID: 28454692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2017.02.016(link is external)

Tsai HJ, Surkan PJ, Yu, SM, Caruso D, Hong X, Bartell TR, Wahl A, Sampankanpanich C, Reily A, Zuckerman BS, Wang X.  Differential effects of stress and African ancestry on preterm birth and related traits among US born and immigrant Black mothers. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Feb;96(5):e5899. PMID: 28151865. http://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000005899(link is external)

Hong X, Sherwood B, Ladd-Acosta C, Peng S, Ji H, Hao K, Burd I, Bartell TR, Wang G, Tsai HJ, Liu X, Ji Y, Wahl A, Caruso D, Lee-Parritz A, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Genome-wide DNA methylation associations with spontaneous preterm birth in US blacks: findings in maternal and cord blood samples. Epigenetics 2017. PMID 28165855. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592294.2017.1287654(link is external)    

Hong X, Hao K, Ji H, Peng S, Sherwood B, Narzo AD, Tsai HJ, Liu X, Burd I, Wang G, Ji Y, Caruso D, Mao G, Bartell TR, Zhang Z, Pearson C, Heffner L, Sandra Cerda9, Terri H. Beaty10, M Daniele Fallin11, Lee-Parritz A, Zuckerman B, Weeks DE, Wang X. Genome-wide association study of preterm birth identified a significant gene-maternal pre-pregnancy BMI interaction in the Boston Birth Cohort. Nature Communication 2017 Jun 9;8:15608. PMID: 28598419. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15608(link is external)

Zhang B, Hong X, Ji H, Tang WY, Kimmel M, Ji Y, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Surkan PJ, Wang X. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and cord blood DNA methylation: new insight on sex differences and effect modification by maternal folate levels. Epigenetics. 2018;13(5):505-518. doi: Epub 2018 Jul 30. PMID: 29945474; PMCID: PMC6140808. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592294.2018.1475978(link is external)

Nachman RM, Mao G, Zhang X, Hong X, Chen Z, He H, Wang G, Caruso D, Pearson C, Biswal S, Zuckerman B, Wills-Karp M, Wang X. Intrauterine Inflammation and maternal exposure to ambient pm2.5 during preconception and specific periods of pregnancy: The Boston Birth Cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives 2016 Oct;124(10):1608-1615. PMCID: PMC5047781. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP243(link is external)

Dao T, Hong X, Wang X, Tang W. Aberrant 5’-CpG methylation of cord blood TNFα associated with maternal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Plos One 2015 Sep 25;10(9):e0138815. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0138815(link is external)

Chen Z, Myers R, Wei T, Bind E, Kassim P, Wang G, Ji Y, Hong X, Caruso D, Bartell T, Gong Y, Strickland P, Navas-Acien A, Guallar E, Wang X. Placental transfer and concentrations of cadmium, mercury, lead, and selenium in mothers, newborns, and young children. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2014 Sep-Oct;24(5):537-44. Epub 2014 Apr 23. PMID: 24756102; PMCID: PMC4329243. https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2014.26(link is external)

Parker MG, Ouyang F, Pearson C, Gillman MW, Belfort MB, Hong X, Wang G, Heffner L, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Prepregnancy BMI and risk of preterm birth: Association heterogeneity by preterm subgroups. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2014; 14:153. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-153(link is external)

Yu Y, Zhang S, Wang G, Hong X, Mallow EB, Walker SO, Pearson C, Heffner L, Zuckerman B, Wang X.  The Combined association of psychosocial stress and chronic hypertension with preeclampsia.  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2013; 209(5):438.e1-438.e12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2013.07.003(link is external)

Ouyang F, Parker M, Cerda S, Pearson C, Fu L, Gillman MW, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Placental weight mediates the effects of prenatal factors on fetal growth: the extent differs by preterm status.  Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013; 21(3):609-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.20254(link is external)

Wang D, Liu X, Zhou Y, Xie H, Hong X, Tsai HJ, Wang G, Liu R, Wang X.  Individual variation and longitudinal pattern of genome-wide DNA methylation from birth to the first two years of life.  Epigenetics 2012; 7(6):594-605. https://doi.org/10.4161/epi.20117(link is external)

Liu X, Wang G, Hong X, Tsai H, Liu R, Zhang S, Wang H, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Wang D, Hirsch E, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Associations between Gene Polymorphisms in Fatty Acid Metabolism Pathway and Preterm Delivery in a U.S. Urban Black Population.  Human Genetics 2012; 131(3):341-51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-011-1079-5(link is external)

Tsai H, Hong X, Chen J, Liu X, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Fu L, Hirsch E, Heffner L, Weeks DE, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Role of African Ancestry and Gene-Environment Interactions in Predicting Preterm Birth. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2011; 118(5):1081-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e31823389bb(link is external)

Kumar P, Venners S, Fu L, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Wang X. Association of antenatal steroid use with cord blood immune biomarkers in preterm births. Early Human Development 2011; 87(8):559-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2011.04.013(link is external)

Matoba N, Ouyang F, Mestan K, Porta, N, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Bauchner H, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Cord blood immune biomarkers in small for gestational age births. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2011; 2(2):89-98. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174411000018(link is external)

Mestan K, Ouyang F, Matoba N, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Wang X. Maternal obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cord blood biomarkers in large-for-gestational age infants.  Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry 2010; 1(3): 217–224. https://doi.org/10.3233/JPB-2010-0023(link is external)

Tsai HJ, Yu Y, Zhang S, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Xu X, Bauchner H, Zuckerman B, Wang X.  Association of genetic ancestry with preterm delivery and related traits among African American mothers.  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2009 July; 201(1):94.E1-10. Comments and reply: 2010; 202(6):e12-3.(link is external) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2009.02.027(link is external)

Yu Y, Tsai H, Liu X, Mestan K, Zhang S, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Xu X, Zuckerman B, Wang X. The joint association between F5 gene polymorphisms and maternal smoking during pregnancy on preterm delivery.  Human Genetics 2009;124(6):659-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-008-0589-2(link is external)

Mestan K, Yu Y, Thorsen P, Skogstrand K, Matoba N, Liu X, Kumar R, Hougaard DM, Gupta M, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Bauchner H, Wang X. Cord Blood Biomarkers of the Fetal Inflammatory Response.  Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 2009; 22(5):379-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767050802609759(link is external)

Matoba N, Yu Y, Mestan K, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Porta N, Thorsen P, Skogstrand K, Hougaard DM, Zuckerman B, Wang X.  Differential patterns of 27 cord blood immune biomarkers across gestational age.  Pediatrics. 2009 May;123(5):1320-8. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-1222(link is external)

Tsai H, Liu X, Mestan K, Yu Y, Zhang S, Fang Y, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Zuckerman B, Bauchner H, Cerda S, Stubblefield P, Xu X, Wang X. Maternal cigarette smoking, metabolic gene polymorphisms, and preterm delivery: new insights on GxE interactions and pathogenic pathways.  Human Genetics 2008; 123:359-69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-008-0485-9(link is external) 

Gupta M, Mestan KK, Martin CR, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Fu L, Stubblefield P, Cerda S, Kasznica JM, Wang X. Impact of clinical and histologic correlates of maternal and fetal inflammatory response on gestational age in preterm births.  Journal of Maternal, Fetal, and Neonatal Medicine 2007; 20(1):39-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767050601156861(link is external)

Wang L, Feng Y, Zhang Y, Zhou H, Jiang J, Niu T, Wei LJ, Xu Xin, Xu X, Wang X. Prolylcarboxypeptidase gene, chronic hypertension, and risk of preeclampsia.  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2006; 195:162-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2006.01.079(link is external)

Wang L, Wang X, Laird N, Zuckerman B, Stubblefield P, Xu Xin. Polymorphism in maternal LRP8 gene is associated with fetal growth.  American Journal of Human Genetics 2006; 78(5):770-7. https://doi.org/10.1086/503712(link is external)

Hao K, Wang X.  Incorporating individual error rate into association test of unmatched case-control design.  Human Heredity 2004; 58:154-63. https://doi.org/10.1159/000083542(link is external)

Hao K, Wang X, Niu T, Xu Xin, Li A, Chang W, Wang L, Li G, Laird N, Xu X. A candidate gene association study on preterm delivery: application of high-throughput genotyping technology and advanced statistical methods. Human Molecular Genetics 2004; 13:683-691. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddh091(link is external)

Hao K, Xu X, Laird N, Wang X, Xu X.  Power estimation of multiple SNP association test of case-control study and application.  Genetic Epidemiology 2004; 26:22-30. https://doi.org/10.1002/gepi.10293(link is external)

Wang X, Zuckerman B, Pearson C, Kaufman G, Chen C, Wang G, Niu T, Wise P, Bauchner H, Xu X.  Maternal cigarette smoking, metabolic gene polymorphism, and infant birth weight.  Journal of American Medical Association 2002; 287:195-202. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.287.2.195(link is external)  

Wang X, Zuckerman B, Kaufman G, Wise P, Hill M, Niu T, Ryan L, Wu D, Xu X.   Molecular epidemiology of preterm delivery: methodology and challenges.  Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2001; 15(suppl 2): 63-77. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3016.2001.00009.x(link is external)

Allergy, Asthma, Upper and Lower Airway Conditions

Gutierrez MJ, et al. Purine Degradation Pathway Metabolites at Birth and the Risk of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Infancy. ERJ Open Research. 2023. (In Press).

Gayoso-Liviac MG, Nino G, Montgomery AS, Hong X, Wang X, Gutierrez MJ. Infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections during the first two years of life have increased risk of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2023 Dec 28; 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppul.26810(link is external)

Wang G, Chen J, Wan J, Ji Y, Zhang C, Sweren E, Reddy SK, Wang X, Garza LA, Hong X. Early life risk factors of Atopic March in a high-risk, minority, urban, low-income, prospective birth cohort. Allergy (Copenhagen). 2023 Dec 21. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.15990(link is external)

Han X, Zhu Z, Xiao Q, Li J, Hong X, Wang X, Hasegawa K, Camargo CA Jr, Liang L. Obesity-related biomarkers underlie a shared genetic architecture between childhood body mass index and childhood asthma. Commun Biol. 2022 Oct 17;5(1):1098.PMID: 3625343. PMCID: PMC9576683. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04070-9(link is external)

Hong X, Liang L, Ji H, Larmin B, Guerrerio P, Wang G, Clish C, Pearson C, Hu FB, Wang X. Fetal lipidome and incident risk of food allergy: A prospective birth cohort study. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology First published: 2021 Dec 17 . https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.13722(link is external)

Wang Y, Hong X, Yao TC, Tsai HJ, Wang X. Interaction of maternal asthma history and plasma folate levels on child asthma risk in the Boston Birth Cohort. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2021 Oct 4. PMID: 34607393. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppul.25680(link is external)

Gutierrez MJ, Nino G, Landeo-Gutierrez J, Weiss M, Preciado DG, Hong X, Wang X. Lower respiratory tract infections in early life are associated with OSA diagnosis during childhood in a large birth cohort. Sleep, 2021; zsab198. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab198(link is external)

Gutierrez MJ, Nino G, Hong X, Wang X. Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and early life lower respiratory tract infections in a low-income urban minority birth cohort. Scientific Reports 11, 9790 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88360-y(link is external)

Gutierrez MJ, Nino G, Hong X, Wang X. Epigenomics and early life human humoral immunity: novel paradigms and research opportunities. Frontiers in Immunology, section B Cell Biology. Mini Review. September 2020  https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01766(link is external)

Gutierrez MJ, Nino G, Hong X, Wang X. Epigenetic Dynamics of the Infant Immune System Reveals a Tumor Necrosis Factor Superfamily Signature in Early Human Life. Epigenomes 2020, 4, 12.  https://doi.org/10.3390/epigenomes4030012(link is external)

McGowan EC, Hong X, Selhub J, Paul L, Wood RA, Matsui EC, Keet CA, Wang X. Association Between Folate Metabolites and the Development of Food Allergy in Children. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019 Jun 25. pii: S2213-2198(19)30569-0. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2019.06.017(link is external)

Chen T, Hughes ME, Wang H, Wang G, Hong X, Liu Li, Ji Y, Pearson C, Li S, Hao L, Wang X. Prenatal, Perinatal, Early Childhood Factors Associated with Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Role of Cord and Early Childhood Plasma Leptin. J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 25. pii: S0022-3476(19)30670-5. PMID: 31253409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.05.053(link is external)

Hong X, Liang L, Sun Q, Keet C, Tsai HJ, Ji Y, Wang G, Ji H, Clish C, Pearson C, Wang Y, Wood R, Hu FB, Wang X. Maternal Triacylglycerol Signature and Offspring Risk of Food Allergy: Effect modification by timing of solid food introduction. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019 Apr 17. pii: S0091-6749(19)30522-6. PMID: 31004614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2019.03.033(link is external)

Tsai HJ, Wang G, Hong X, Yao TC, Y Ji Y, Radovick S, Cheng TL, Wang X. Early Life Weight Gain and Development of Childhood Asthma in a Prospective Birth Cohort. Annals of the American Thoracic Society 2018; PubMed: 29979628(link is external). https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201712-921OC(link is external)

Hong X, Ladd-Acosta C, Hao K, Sherwood B, Ji H, Keet CA, Kumar R, Caruso D, Liu X, Wang G, Chen Z, Ji Y, Mao G, Walker SO, Bartell TR, Ji Z, Sun Y, Tsai HJ, Pongracic JA, Weeks DE, Wang X. Epigenome-wide association study links site-specific DNA methylation changes with cow’s milk allergy.  Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 2016 Sep;138(3):908-911.e9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2016.01.056(link is external)

He H, Butz A, Keet CA, Minkovitz CS, Hong X, Caruso DM, Pearson C, Cohen RT, Wills-Karp M, Zuckerman B, Hughes ME, Wang X.  Preterm birth with childhood asthma: the role of degree of prematurity and asthma definitions.  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2015 Aug 15;192(4):520-3. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201503-0522LE(link is external)

Hong X, Hao K, Ladd-Acosta C, Hansen KD, Tsai HJ, Liu X, Xu X, Thornton TA, Caruso D, Keet CA, Sun Y, Wang G, et al. Genome-wide Association Study identifies peanut allergy-specific loci and evidence of epigenetic mediation in U.S. children. Nat Commun. 2015 Feb 24;6: 6304. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7304. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7304(link is external)

Tripathi P, Hong X, Caruso D, Gao P, Wang X. Genetic determinants in the development of sensitization to environmental allergens in early childhood. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease 2014; 2(3):193-204. https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.38(link is external)

Liu X, Arguelles L, Zhou Y, Wang G, Chen Q, Tsai H, Hong X, Liu R, Price H, Pearson C, Apollon S, Cruz N, Schleimer R, Langman C, Pongracic J, Wang X. The longitudinal trajectory of vitamin D status from birth to early childhood on the development of food sensitization. Pediatric Research 2013; 74(3):321-6. https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2013.110(link is external)

Robison RG, Kumar R, Arguelles LM, Hong X, Wang G, Apollon S, Bonzagni A, Ortiz K, Pearson C, Pongracic JA, Bauchner H, Wang X. Maternal smoking during pregnancy, prematurity and recurrent wheezing in early childhood. Pediatric Pulmonology 2012; 47(7):666-673. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppul.22501(link is external)

Kumar R, Tsai H, Hong X, Pearson C, Fu M, Pongracic J, Bauchner H, Wang X. African ancestry, early life exposures, and respiratory morbidity in early childhood. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2012; 42(2):265-74. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2011.03873.x(link is external)

Liu X, Wang GY, Hong XM, Wang D, Tsai HJ, Zhang SC, Arguelles L, Kumar R, Wang HJ, Liu R, Zhou Y, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Schleimer R, Holt R, Pongracic J, Price HE, Langman C, Wang X. Gene-Vitamin D interactions on food sensitization: A prospective birth cohort study.  Allergy 2011; 66(11):1442-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2011.02681.x(link is external)

Kumar R, Tsai HJ, Hong X, Liu X, Wang G, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Fu L, Pongracic J, Bauchner H, Wang X. Race, ancestry and development of food allergen sensitization in early childhood.  Pediatrics  2011; 128(4):e821-9. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0691(link is external)

Hong X, Wang G, Liu X, Kumar R, Tsai H, Arguelles L, Hao K, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Bonzagni A, Apollon S, Fu L, Caruso D, Pongracic J, Schleimer R, Holt P, Bauchner H, Wang X. Gene polymorphisms, breastfeeding and development of food sensitization in early childhood.  Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology 2011; 128(2):374-381.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2011.05.007(link is external)

Hong X, Tsai HJ, Liu X, Arguelles L, Kumar R, Wang G, Kuptsova-Clarkson N, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Bonzagni A, Apollon S, Fu L, Pongracic JA, Schleimer R, Holt PG, Bauchner H, Wang X.  Does genetic regulation of IgE begin in-utero? Evidence from TH1/TH2 gene polymorphisms and cord blood total IgE. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology 2010; 126(5):1059-1067.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.08.029(link is external)

Kumar R, Story RE, Pongracic JA, Hong X, Arguelles L, Wang G, Kuptsova-Clarkson N, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Bonzagni A, Apollon S, Fu L, Bauchner H, Wang X. Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and recurrent wheezing in early childhood.  Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology 2010; 23(3):183-190. https://doi.org/10.1089/ped.2010.0032(link is external)

Kumar R, Ouyang F, Story RE, Pongracic JA, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Bauchner H, Wang X. Gestational diabetes, atopic dermatitis and allergen sensitization in early childhood.  Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology 2009; 124(5):1031-1038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.06.052(link is external)

Kumar R, Yu Y, Story RF, Pongracic JA, Gupta R, Pearson C, Ortiz K, Bauchner HC, Wang X. Prematurity, chorioamnionitis and the development of recurrent wheezing: A prospective birth cohort study.  Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology 2008; 121(4):878-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2008.01.030(link is external)

Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes

Che X, Hong X, Gross S, Pearson C, Bartell T, Wang X, Wang G. Maternal Mediterranean-Style Diet Adherence during Pregnancy and Metabolomic Signature in Postpartum Plasma: Findings from the Boston Birth Cohort. J Nutr. 2024 Jan 24:S0022-3166(24)00041-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38278216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.01.022(link is external)

Hong X, Rosenberg AZ, Heymann J, Yoshida T, Waikar SS, Ilori TO, Wang G, Rebuck H, Pearson C, Wang MC, Winkler CA, Kopp JB, Wang X. Joint Associations of Pregnancy Complications and Postpartum Maternal Renal Biomarkers With Severe Cardiovascular Morbidities: A US Racially and Ethnically Diverse Prospective Birth Cohort Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Nov 10:e029311. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.122.029311(link is external)

K Makker. Early Life Origins of Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes in Boston Birth Cohort: Review of Findings and Future directions. Precision Nutrition; 2(3):p e00050, September 2023. DOI: 10.1097/PN9.0000000000000050. https://journals.lww.com/pn/fulltext/2023/09000/early_life_origins_of_cardiometabolic_outcomes_in.6.aspx(link is external)

Si J, Yaskolka Meir A, Hong X, Wang G, Huang W, Pearson C, Adams WG, Wang X, Liang L. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, offspring epigenome-wide DNA methylation, and childhood obesity: findings from the Boston Birth Cohort. BMC Med 21, 317 (2023 Aug 23). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03003-5(link is external)

Huang W, Yaskolka Meir A, Olapeju B, Wang G, Hong X, Venkataramani M, Cheng TL, Igusa T, Liang L, Wang X. Defining longitudinal trajectory of body mass index percentile and predicting childhood obesity: methodologies and findings in the Boston Birth Cohort. Precis Nutr 2023 June;2(2):e00037. https://journals.lww.com/pn/Fulltext/2023/06000/Defining_longitudinal_trajectory_of_body_mass.2.aspx(link is external)

Wang G, Buckley JP, Bartell TR, Hong X, Pearson C, Wang X. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Postpartum Lipidomic Signatures, and Subsequent Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Lipidome-Wide Association Study. Diabetes Care. 2023 Jun 1;46(6):1223-1230. PMID: 37043831. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-1841(link is external)

Yaskolka Meir A, Huang W, Cao T, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Adams WG, Wang X, Liang L. Umbilical cord DNA methylation is associated with body mass index trajectories from birth to adolescence. 2023 Apr 21. EBioMedicine. 2023;91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104550(link is external)

Wang G, Buckley JP, Bartell TR, Hong X, Pearson C, Wang X. Cord Blood Insulin Concentration and Hypertension Among Children and Adolescents Enrolled in a US Racially Diverse Birth Cohort. Hypertension. 2023 May;80(5):1092-1101. Epub 2023 Mar 13. PMID: 36912156; PMCID: PMC10133182. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.122.20347(link is external)

Cao T, Zhao J, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Adams WG, Hu FB, Wang X, Liang L. Cord Blood Plasma Metabolome-wide Associations With Height From Birth to Adolescence. J Bone Miner Res. 2023 May;38(5):707-718. Epub 2023 Mar 8. PMID: 36805685; PMCID: PMC10182250. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.4790(link is external)

Makker K*, Zhang M, Wang G, Hong X, Zhang C, Aziz K, Wang X: Longitudinal Trajectory and Early Life Determinant of Childhood Adipokines: Findings from a Racially Diverse Birth Cohort. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Jan 7. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgad005(link is external)

Makker K, Zhang M, Wang G, Hong X, Zhang C, Wang X. Early-life determinants of childhood plasma insulin levels: implications for primordial prevention of diabetes. Pediatr Res. 2023 Jan;93(1):189-197. Epub 2022 Apr 21. PMID: 35449397; PMCID: PMC10184189. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-022-02070-3(link is external)

Hou W, Zhang M, Ji Y, Hong X, Wang G, Xu R, Liang L, Saria S, Ji H. A prospective birth cohort study of maternal prenatal cigarette smoking (by self-report and biomarkers) on offspring risk of obesity in childhood. Precis Nutr 2022 Dec 7; 1(3): e00017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10035292/(link is external)

Zhang M, Brady TM, Buckley JP, Appel LJ, Hong X, Wang G, Liang L, Wang X, Mueller NT. Metabolome-Wide Association Study of Cord Blood Metabolites With Blood Pressure in Childhood and Adolescence. Hypertension. 2022 Sep 16. PMID: 36111548. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.122.20139(link is external)

Zhang M, Yu CH, Wang G, Buckley JP, Hong X, Pearson C, Adams W, Fan Z, Wang X. Longitudinal trajectories and determinants of plasma per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels from birth to early childhood and metabolomic associations: A pilot study in the Boston Birth Cohort. Precision Nutrition. 2022 June 13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10022515/(link is external)

Huang W, Igusa T, Wang G, Buckley JP, Hong X, Bind E, Steffens A, Mukherjee J, Haltmeier D, Ji Y, Xu R, Hou W, Tina Fan Z, Wang X. In-utero co-exposure to toxic metals and micronutrients on childhood risk of overweight or obesity: new insight on micronutrients counteracting toxic metals. Int J Obes (Lond). 2022 May 19. PMID: 35589962. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-022-01127-x(link is external)

Makker K, Zhang M, Wang G, Hong X, Zhang C, Wang X: Early Life Determinants of Childhood Plasma Insulin Levels: Implications for Primordial Prevention of Diabetes. Pediatr Res. 2022 Apr 21. PubMed PMID: 35449397. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-022-02070-3(link is external)

Zhang M, Buckley JP, Liang L, Hong X, Wang G, Wang MC, Wills-Karp M, Wang X, Mueller NT. A metabolome-wide association study of in utero metal and trace element exposures with cord blood metabolome profile: Findings from the Boston Birth Cohort. Environ Int. 2022 Jan;158: Epub 2021 Nov 19. PMID: 34991243; PMCID: PMC8742133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106976(link is external)

Zhang M, Liu T, Wang G, Buckley JP, Guallar E, Hong X, Wang MC, Wills-Karp M, Wang X, Mueller NT. In-Utero Exposure to Heavy Metals and Trace Elements and Childhood Blood Pressure in a U.S. Urban, Low-Income, Minority Birth Cohort. Environ Health Perspect. 2021 Jun;129(6):67005. Epub 2021 Jun 23. PMID: 34160246; PMCID: PMC8221032. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8325(link is external)

Cao T, Zhao J, Hong X, Wang G, Hu F, Wang X, Liang L. Associations of cord blood plasma lipid metabolites with longitudinal BMI trajectory from birth to adolescence in US multi-ethnic birth cohort. Metabolites 2021, 11, 739. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11110739(link is external)

Long J, Zhang M, Wang G, Hong X, Ji Y, Bustamante-Helfrich B, Wang X, Mueller NT. Association of Placental Pathology with Childhood Blood Pressure Among Children Born Preterm. American Journal of Hypertension, Volume 34, Issue 11, November 2021, Pages 1154–1162, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpab097(link is external)

Wang G, Tang WY, Wills-Karp M, Ji H, Bartell TR, Ji Y, Hong X, Pearson C, Cheng TL, Wang X. A Nonlinear Relation Between Maternal Red Blood Cell Manganese Concentrations and Child Blood Pressure at Age 6-12 y: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study. J Nutr. 2021 Mar 11;151(3):570-578. PMID: 33438012; PMCID: PMC7948198. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa368(link is external)

Zhang M, Michos ED, Wang G, Wang X, Mueller NT. Associations of Cord Blood Vitamin D and Preeclampsia With Offspring Blood Pressure in Childhood and Adolescence. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 1;3(10):e2019046. PMID: 33017029; PMCID: PMC7536588. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19046(link is external)

Wang G, DiBari J, Bind E, Steffens AW, Mukherjee J, Bartell TR, Bellinger DC, Hong X, Ji Y, Wang MC, Wills-Karp M, Cheng TL, Wang X. In utero exposure to mercury and childhood overweight or obesity: counteracting effect of maternal folate status. BMC Med 17, 216 (2019). Published on November 2019.  PMCID: PMC6882077. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-019-1442-2(link is external)

Wang G, DiBari J, Bind E, Steffens AM, Mukherjee J, Azuine RE, Singh GK, Hong X, Ji Y, Ji H, Pearson C, Zuckerman BS, Cheng TL, Wang X. Association Between Maternal Exposure to Lead, Maternal Folate Status, and Intergenerational Risk of Childhood Overweight and Obesity. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Oct 2;2(10):e1912343. PMID: 31577354; PMCID: PMC6777254. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.12343(link is external)

Wang G, Sun Q, Liang L, Clash C, Zhang C, Hong X, Ji Y, Radovick S, Pearson C, Bartell TR, Zuckerman B, Cheng TL, Hu FB, Wang X. Inter-generational link of obesity in term and preterm births: role of maternal plasma acylcarnitines. Int J Obes (Lond). 2019 Jul 22. PMID: 31332276. PMCID: PMC6900290. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0417-x(link is external)

Wang G, Liu X, Bartell TR, Pearson C, Cheng TL, Wang X. Vitamin D trajectories from birth to early childhood and elevated systolic blood pressure during childhood and adolescence. Hypertension. 2019 Jul 1.  PMID: 31256718. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.13120(link is external)

Zhang M, Mueller NT, Wang H, Hong X, Appel LJ, Wang X. Maternal exposure to ambient pm2.5 during pregnancy and the risk for high blood pressure in childhood: findings from the Boston Birth Cohort. Hypertension 2018 Jul;72(1):194-201.117. Epub 2018 May 14.  PMCID: PMC6002908.  https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.10944(link is external)

Wang H, Mueller N, Wang G, Hong X, Chen T, Ji Y, Pearson C, Appel LJ, Wang X. The Joint Association of Small for Gestational Age and Nighttime Sleep with Blood Pressure in Childhood. Sci Rep 8, 9632 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-27815-1(link is external)

Wang H, Xu B, Xu R, Walker S, Wang G. Joint effect of maternal plasma homocysteine and prepregnancy obesity on child blood pressure. International Journal of Obesity 2017 May 3. PMID: 28454692  PMCID: PMC5412713. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.109(link is external)

Wang H, Mueller NT, Li J, Sun N, Huo Y, Ren F, Wang X. Joint association of maternal folate level and cardiometabolic risk factors on child risk of elevated blood pressure. American Journal of Hypertension 2017 Mar 6.  PMID: 28338750. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpx003(link is external)

Mueller N, Mao G, Bennet W, Hourigan S, Dominguez-Bello MG, Appel L, and Wang X. Does vaginal delivery mitigate or strengthen the intergenerational association of overweight and obesity? Findings from the Boston Birth Cohort. International Journal of Obesity. 2016 Nov 30. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.219(link is external) 

Mao G, Nachman RM, Sun Q, Zhang X, Koehler K, Chen Z, Hong X, Wang G, Caruso D, Zong G, Pearson C, Ji H, Biswal S, Zuckerman B, Wills-Karp M, Wang X. Individual and joint effects of early-life ambient pm2.5 exposure and maternal pre-pregnancy obesity on childhood overweight or obesity. Environ Health Perspect. 2017 Jun 14;125(6):067005. PMID: 28669938. PMCID: PMC5743454. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP261(link is external)

Wang G, Hu FB, Mistry KB, Zhang C, Ren F, Huo Y, Paige D, Bartell T, Hong X, Caruso D, Ji Z, Chen Z, Ji Y, Pearson C, Ji H, Zuckerman B, Cheng TL, Wang X. Maternal prepregnancy BMI, plasma folate level and child metabolic risk. JAMA pediatrics 2016 Aug 1;170(8):e160845. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.0845(link is external)

Wang G, Johnson S, Gong Y, Thornton R, Divall S, Radovick S, Paige D, Hong X, Pearson C, Wang MC, Cheng TL, Wang X. Weight Gain in the first 4 months of life and Development of Childhood Obesity among Term, Preterm, and Fetal Growth Restricted Babies in a High Risk U.S. Birth Cohort. Science report 2016 Jul 15;6:29867. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep29867(link is external)

Wang G, Divall S, Radovick S, Paige D, Ning Y, Chen Z, Ji Y, Hong X, Walker S, Caruso D, Pearson C, Wang MC, Zuckerman B, Cheng TL, Wang X. Preterm birth and random plasma insulin levels at birth and in early childhood. JAMA 2014; 311(6):587-596. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.1(link is external)

Liu X, Chen Q, Tsai H, Wang G, Hong X, Zhou Y, Zhang C, Liu C, Liu R, Wang H, Zhang S, Yu Y, Mestan K, Pearson C, Otlans P, Zuckerman B, Wang X.  Maternal preconception body mass index and offspring cord blood dna methylation: exploration of early life origins of disease.  Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2014; 55(3):223-30. https://doi.org/10.1002/em.21827(link is external)

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Che X, Gross SM, Wang G, Hong X, Pearson C, Bartell T, Wang X. Impact of consuming a Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy on neurodevelopmental disabilities in offspring: results from the Boston Birth Cohort. Precision Nutrition. 2023 July 11;2(3):e00047.

               https://journals.lww.com/pn/Fulltext/2023/09000/Impact_of_consuming_a_Mediterranean_style_diet.2.aspx(link is external)

Wang X. Prenatal Nutrition and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. Precision Nutrition. 2(2):p e00040, June 2023.

https://journals.lww.com/pn/Fulltext/2023/06000/Prenatal_Nutrition_and_Developmental_Origins_of.5.aspx(link is external)

Raghavan R, Wang G, Hong X, Pearson C, Xie H, Adams WG, Augustyn M, Wang X. Independent and joint association of cord plasma pantothenate and cysteine levels with autism spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental disabilities in children born term and preterm. Precision Nutrition. 2023 Jun 1;2(2):e00036.

https://journals.lww.com/pn/Fulltext/2023/06000/Independent_and_joint_association_of_cord_plasma.3.aspx(link is external)

Raghavan R, Anand NS, Wang G, Hong X, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Xie H, Wang X. Association between cord blood metabolites in tryptophan pathway and childhood risk of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Translational Psychiatry. Publication Date 2022-07-09. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-01992-0(link is external)

Wang Y, Guo X, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Clark AG, O'Brien KO, Wang X*, Gu G* (* Co-corresponding authors).  Association of Mitochondrial DNA Content, Heteroplasmies and Inter-generational Transmission with Autism: Findings from two independent U.S. samples. Nat Commun. 13, 3790 (2022 July 1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30805-7(link is external)

Brucato M, Lance E, Lanzkron S, Wang X, Pecker LH. Developmental disorders in children born to women with sickle cell disease: A report from the Boston Birth Cohort. EJHaem. 2022 Jun 8;3(3):894-898. PMID: 36051016; PMCID: PMC9421989. https://doi.org/10.1002/jha2.478(link is external)

Garrison-Desany HM, Hong X, Mahor BS, Beaty TH, Wang G, Pearson C, Liang L, Wang X, Ladd-Acosta C. Individual and combined association between prenatal polysubstance exposure and childhood risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. JAMA Network Open. 2022 Mar 1;5(3): e221957. PMID: 35275164; PMCID: PMC8917426. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.1957(link is external)

Qu X, Lee LC, Ladd-Acosta C, Hong X, Ji Y, Kalb LG, Volk HE, Wang X. Association between atopic diseases and neurodevelopmental disabilities in a longitudinal birth cohort. Autism Res. 2022 Feb 2. PMID: 35112480. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2680(link is external)

Anand NS, Raghavan R, Wang G, Hong X, Azuine RE, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Xie H, Wang X. Perinatal Acetaminophen Exposure and Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Exploring the Role of Umbilical Cord Plasma Metabolites in Oxidative Stress Pathways. Brain Sciences. 2021; 11(10):1302. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11101302(link is external)

Ji Y, Raghavan R, Wang X. Early Life Origins of ASD and ADHD. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Global Public Health, May 2021 https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190632366.013.181(link is external)

Lee ASE, Ji Y, Raghavan R, Wang G, Hong X, Pearson C, Mirolli G, Bind E, Steffens A, Mukherjee J, Haltmeier D, Fan ZT, Wang X. Maternal prenatal selenium levels and child risk of neurodevelopmental disorders: A prospective birth cohort study. Autism Res. 2021 Dec;14(12):2533-2543. Epub 2021 Sep 24. PMID: 34558795; PMCID: PMC8665097. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2617(link is external)

Park BY, Yao R, Tierney E, Brucato M, Hong X, Wang G, Ji Y, Pearson C, Fallin MD, Wang X, Volk H. The association between maternal lipid profile after birth and offspring risk of autism spectrum disorder. Ann Epidemiol. 2021 Jan;53:50-55.e1. Epub 2020 Sep 9. PMID: 32919032; PMCID: PMC7736082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2020.08.009(link is external)

Holingue C, Brucato M, Ladd-Acosta C, Hong X, Mueller N, Volk H, Wang X, Fallin D. Interaction Between Maternal Immune Activation and Antibiotic Use during Pregnancy and Child Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Research. 2020, Oct 16. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2411(link is external)

Anand N, Ji Y, Wang G, Hong X, van der Rijn M, Riley A, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Maternal and Cord Plasma Branched Chain Amino Acids and Child Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 22. PubMed PMID: 32960988. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13332(link is external)

Raghavan R, Selhub J, Paul L, Ji Y, Wang G, Hong X, Zuckerman B, Fallin MD, Wang X. A prospective birth cohort study on cord blood folate subtypes and risk of autism spectrum disorder. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Nov 11;112(5):1304-1317. PMID: 32844208; PMCID: PMC7657337. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa208(link is external)

Ji Y, Azuine RE, Zhang Y, Hou W, Hong X, Wang G, Riley A, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Association of Cord Plasma Biomarkers of In Utero Acetaminophen Exposure With Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Childhood. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020 Feb 1;77(2):180-189. PMID: 31664451; PMCID: PMC6822099. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3259(link is external)

Raghavan, R., Helfrich B.B, Cerda S.R., Burd I., Wang G., Hong X., Ji Y., Fu L., Pearson C., Fallin D.M., Zuckerman B., Wang X. Preterm birth subtypes, placental pathology findings, and risk of neurodevelopmental disabilities during childhood. Placenta. 2019 Aug;83:17-25. Epub 2019 Jun 14. PMID: 31477202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2019.06.374(link is external)

Panjwani AA, Ji Y, Fahey JW, Palmer A, Wang G, Hong X, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Maternal Dyslipidemia, Plasma Branched-Chain Amino Acids, and the Risk of Child Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence of Sex Difference. J Autism Dev Disord. 2020 Feb;50(2):540-550. PMID: 31686281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04264-x(link is external)

Panjwani AA, Ji Y, Fahey JW, Palmer A, Wang G, Hong X, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Maternal Obesity/Diabetes, Plasma Branched-Chain Amino Acids, and Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk in Urban Low-Income Children: Evidence of Sex Difference. Autism Res. 2019 Oct;12(10):1562-1573. Epub 2019 Aug 9. PMID: 31400063; PMCID: PMC6900287. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2177(link is external)

Raghavan R, Fallin DM, Hong X, Wang G, Ji Y, Stuart EA, Paige D, Wang X. Cord and early childhood plasma adiponectin levels and autism risk: A prospective birth Cohort study.  Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2018 Jul 24. PMID: 30043356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3688-5(link is external)

Raghavan R, Zuckerman B, Hong X, Wang G, Ji Y, Paige D, Zhang C, DiBari J, Fallin DM, Wang X.  Cord and early childhood plasma leptin, fetal and infancy growth pattern, and development of autism spectrum disorder in the Boston Birth Cohort.  Autism Research. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2011(link is external)

Ji Y, Riley AW, Lee LC, Hong X, Wang G, Tsai HJ, Pearson C, Panjwani A, Ji H, Bartell TR, Burd I, Fallin DM, Wang X.  Maternal biomarkers of acetaminophen use and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  Brain Sci. 2018 Jul 3;8(7). pii: E127. PMID: 29970852. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8070127(link is external)

Ji Y, Hong X, Wang G, Chatterjee N, Riley AW, Lee LC, Surkan P, Bartell TR, Zuckerman B, Wang X. A prospective birth cohort study on early childhood lead levels and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: new insight on sex differences. J of Pediatrics. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.03.076(link is external)

Ji Y, Riley AW, Lee LC, Volk H, Hong X, Wang G, Angomas R, Stivers T, Wahl A, Ji H, Bartell TR, Burd I, Paige D, Fallin MD, Zuckerman B, Wang X. A prospective birth cohort study on maternal cholesterol levels and offspring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: new insight on sex differences. Brain Sci. 2017 Dec 23;8(1). pii: E3. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8010003(link is external)

Okano L, Ji Y, Riley AW, Wang X. Maternal psychosocial stress and children’s ADHD diagnosis: a prospective birth cohort study.  J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2019 Sep;40(3):217-225. Epub 2018 May 23. PMID: 29790815 PMCID: PMC6251762. https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2018.1468434(link is external)

Raghavan R, Riley AW, Volk H, Caruso D, Hironaka L, Sices L, Hong X, Wang G, Ji Y, Brucato M, Wahl A, Stivers T, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Stuart EA, Landa R, Fallin MD, Wang X. Maternal Multivitamin Intake, Plasma Folate and Vitamin B12 Levels and Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk in Offspring. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2018 Jan;32(1):100-111. Epub 2017 Oct 6. PMID: 28984369; PMCID: PMC5796848. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.12414(link is external)

Brucato M, Ladd-Acosta C, Li M, Caruso D, Hong X, Kaczaniuk J, Stuart EA, Fallin MD, Wang X.  Prenatal exposure to fever is associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Boston Birth Cohort.  Autism Research.  First published: 11 August 2017. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1841(link is external)

Li M, Fallin MD, Riley A, Landa R, Walker SO, Silverstein M, Caruso D, Pearson C, Kiang S, Dahm JL, Hong X, Wang G, Wang MC, Zuckerman B, Wang X. The Association of Maternal Obesity and Diabetes with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. Pediatrics. 2016 Feb;137(2):e20152206. Epub 2016 Jan 29. PMID: 26826214; PMCID: PMC4732357. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-2206(link is external)

Opioids Epidemic: Risk factors and consequences

Garrison-Desany HM, Ladd-Acosta C, Hong X, Wang G, Burd I, Sanchez ZvdM, Wang X, Surkan P. Addressing the smoking-hypertension paradox in pregnancy: insight from a multiethnic US birth cohort. Precision Nutrition 2(2):p e00035, June 2023. https://journals.lww.com/pn/Fulltext/2023/06000/Addressing_the_smoking_hypertension_paradox_in.6.aspx(link is external)

Nawa N, Garrison-Desany H, Kim Y, Ji Y, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Zuckerman BS, Wang X, Surkan, PJ. Maternal persistent marijuana use and cigarette smoking are independently associated with shorter gestational age. Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. 2020 June 30. PubMed PMID: 32602574. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.12686(link is external)

Garrison-Desany H, Nawa N, Kim Y, Ji Y, Chang HY, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Zuckerman BS, Wang X, Surkan PJ. Polydrug Use During Pregnancy and Preterm Birth in a Low-Income, Multiethnic Birth Cohort, Boston, 1998-2018. Public Health Reports. 2020;135(3):383-392. PubMed PMID: 32311304; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7238708. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354920915437(link is external)

Azuine, E.R. Ji, Y., Chang, H.Y., Kim, Y., Ji, H., DiBari, J., Hong, X., Wang, G., Singh, K.G. Pearson, C., Zuckerman, B., Surkan, J.P., Wang, X. Prenatal Risk Factors, Peri- and Post-natal Outcomes associated with Maternal Opioids Exposure in a U.S. Urban Low-Income Multi-Ethnic Population. JAMA Network Open. 2019 Jun 5;2(6):e196405. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.6405(link is external)

Roy Adams, Yuelong Ji, Xiaobin Wang, Suchi Saria. Learning Models from Data with Measurement Error: Tackling Underreporting. International Conference on Machine Learning. 61-70. PMLR, 2019. https://proceedings.mlr.press/v97/adams19a(link is external)

Puberty and Early Life Risk Factors

Wang G, Radovick S, Buckley JP, Hauser R, Williams PL, Hong X, Pearson C, Adams WG, Wang X. Plasma Insulin Concentration in Newborns and Children and Age at Menarche. Diabetes Care. 2023 Jun 1;46(6):1231-1238. PMID: 37018448; PMCID: PMC10234748. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-2017(link is external)

Wang G, Tang WY, Ji H, Wang X. Prenatal exposure to mercury and precocious puberty: a prospective birth cohort study. Hum Reprod. 2021 Feb 18;36(3):712-720. PMID: 33367618; PMCID: PMC7891807. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deaa315(link is external)

Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal and Child Health

Osula V, Rusk SA, Hao L, Hansoti B, Gemmill A, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Adams W, Wang X. A prospective cohort study comparing emergency department visit frequency and diagnosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among urban, low-income, US- and foreign-born women in Boston, MA. WestJEM. 2023. (In press).

Rusk SA, DiBari J, Mason DM, Li M, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Mirolli G, Cheng TL, Kogan MD, Zuckerman B, Wang X. The impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric clinical encounters among low-income racially-diverse children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2023 Apr 23. PMID: 37088737. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13809(link is external)

Wang G, Foney DM, DiBari J, Hong X, Showell N, Kim KS, Ji H, Pearson C, Mirolli G, Rusk S, Sharfstein J, Cheng TL, Zuckerman B, Wang X. A prospective cohort study on the intersectionality of obesity, chronic disease, social factors, and incident risk of COVID-19 in US low-income minority middle-age mothers. International Journal of Obesity (Lond). 2021 Aug 19:1–8. PMID: 34413468; PMCID: PMC8374030. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00943-x(link is external)

Statistical Methods

Zhang H, Hong X, Zheng Y, Hou L, Zheng C, Wang X, Liu L. High-Dimensional Quantile Mediation Analysis with Application to a Birth Cohort Study of Mother-Newborn Pairs. Bioinformatics. 2024 Jan 30:btae055. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38290773. https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btae055(link is external)