Background: The study aims to use the cross-lagged model and utilize data from the Born in Shenyang Cohort Study to characterize the bidirectional associations of the term-born infants’ neurodevelopment in five domains and physical growth in early life. Method: This study consists of 688 mother-child dyads from the Born in Shenyang Cohort Study. Infants’ anthropometric (weight and length) and development in neurological outcomes (Gesell Development Scale) were measured at the age of 6 and 12 months. Cross-lagged analyses and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the longitudinal relationships in both directions. Results: In terms of longitudinal studies, the inverse associations between infants’ two skills (gross motor and social behavior) at the age of 6 months with BMI Z -scores at the age of 12 months (gross motor: aβ = − 0.20, 95% CI: − 0.31 to- 0.09; social behavior: aβ = − 0.23, 95% CI: − 0.33 to- 0.13) were found. Conversely, a higher infant Z -scored BMI at the age of 6 months predicted a lower gross motor at the age of 12 months (aβ = − 0.08, 95% CI: − 0.12 to- 0.04). In cross-lagged analyses, an adverse association in both directions between gross motor and Z -scored BMI was observed. Conclusion: We found bidirectional relationships between infants’ neurodevelopment of gross motor with physical growth and suggested the term-born infants, who are on the edge of the developmental danger, should not be overlooked.

The reported associations of maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy with gestational weight gain are inconsistent, especially among the less studied Asian Chinese populations. In a prospective pre-birth cohort study conducted in northern China, we determined the associations between maternal dietary patterns and the probability of excess gestational weight gain (EGWG) among 1026 pregnant women. We used 3-day food diaries to assess maternal diet and performed principal component analysis to identify dietary patterns. Maternal adherence to a traditional pattern, which was characterized by a higher intake of tubers, vegetables, fruits, red meat, and rice, was associated with a higher probability of EGWG (quartile 3 vs. quartile 1, odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10−2.38). This risk association was more pronounced among women who were overweight/obese before pregnancy (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1, OR = 5.17, 95% CI = 1.45–18.46; p for interaction < 0.01). Maternal adherence to a high protein pattern, which was characterized by a higher intake of fried foods, beans and bean products, dairy products, and fruits, was associated with a lower risk of EGWG (quartile 3 vs. quartile 1, OR = 0.56, 95% CI, 0.39−0.81). The protective association was more pronounced among non-overweight/obese women (p for interaction < 0.01). These findings may help to develop interventions and better define target populations for EGWG prevention.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing global epidemic. Our study aims to confirm the association between circulatory coiled-coil domain-containing 80 (CCDC80) in pregnant women with GDM, to investigate the discriminatory power of CCDC80 on GDM, and to explore the relationships between this molecular level and clinical cardiometabolic parameters. Methods: A 1:2 matched case-control study with 61 GDM patients and 122 controls was conducted using a propensity score matching protocol. All participants were screened from a multicenter prospective pre-birth cohort: Born in Shenyang Cohort Study (BISCS). During 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, follow-up individuals underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and blood sampling for cardiometabolic characterization. Results: Following propensity score matching adjustment for clinical variables, including maternal age, gestational age, body mass index, SBP and DBP, plasma CCDC80 levels were significantly decreased in patients with GDM when compared with controls (0.25 ± 0.10 vs. 0.31 ± 0.12 ng/ml, P = 0.003). Conditional multi-logistic regression analyses after adjustments for potential confounding factors revealed that CCDC80 was a strong and independent protective factor for GDM (ORs < 1). In addition, the results of the ROC analysis indicated the CCDC80 exhibited the capability to identify pregnant women with GDM (AUC = 0.633). Finally, multivariate regression analyses showed that CCDC80 levels were positively associated with AST, monoamine oxidase, complement C1q, LDL-C, apolipoprotein A1and B, and negatively associated with blood glucose levels at 1 h post- OGTT. Conclusions: Biomarker CCDC80 could be of great value for the development of prediction, diagnosis and therapeutic strategies against GDM in pregnant women.