title: Piccolipiù, a multicenter birth cohort in Italy: protocol of the study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fetal and infant life are periods of rapid development, characterized by high susceptibility to exposures. Birth cohorts provide unique opportunities to study early-life exposures in association with child development and health, as well as, with longer follow-up, the early life origin of adult diseases. Piccolipiù is an Italian birth cohort recently set up to investigate the effects of environmental exposures, parental conditions and social factors acting during pre-natal and early post-natal life on infant and child health and development. We describe here its main characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Piccolipiù is a prospective cohort of expected 3000 newborns, who will be recruiting in six maternity units of five Italian cities (Florence, Rome, Trieste, Turin and Viareggio) since October 2011. Mothers are contacted during pregnancy or at delivery and are offered to participate in the study. Upon acceptance, their newborns are recruited at birth and followed up until at least 18 years of age. At recruitment, the mothers donate a blood sample and complete a baseline questionnaire. Umbilical cord blood, pieces of umbilical cord and heel blood spots are also collected. Postnatal follow-up currently occurs at 6, 12, and 24 months of age using on-line or postal self administered questionnaire; further questionnaires and medical examinations are envisaged. Questionnaires collect information on several factors, including mother's and/or child's environmental exposures, anthropometric measures, reproductive factors, diet, supplements, medical history, cognitive development, mental health and socioeconomic factors. Health promotion materials are also offered to parents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Piccolipiù will broaden our understanding of the contribution of early-life factors to infant and child health and development. Several hypotheses on the developmental origins of health can be tested or piloted using the data collected from the Piccolipiù cohort. By pooling these data with those collected by other existing birth cohorts it will be possible to validate previous findings and to study rare exposures and outcomes.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Farchi
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Forastiere
authors: Liza
authors: L
authors: Vecchi Brumatti
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Alviti
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Arnofi
authors: Tommaso
authors: T
authors: Bernardini
authors: Maura
authors: M
authors: Bin
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Brescianini
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Colelli
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Cotichini
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Culasso
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: De Bartolo
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Felice
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Fiano
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Fioritto
authors: Alfio
authors: A
authors: Frizzi
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Gagliardi
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Giorgi
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Grasso
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: La Rosa
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Loganes
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Lorusso
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Martini
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Merletti
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Medda
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Montelatici
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Mugelli
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Narduzzi
authors: Lorenza
authors: L
authors: Nisticò
authors: Luana
authors: L
authors: Penna
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Piscianz
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Piscicelli
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Poggesi
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Porta
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Ranieli
authors: Gherardo
authors: G
authors: Rapisardi
authors: Assunta
authors: A
authors: Rasulo
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Richiardi
authors: Franca
authors: F
authors: Rusconi
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Serino
authors: Maria Antonietta
authors: MA
authors: Stazi
authors: Virgilia
authors: V
authors: Toccaceli
authors: Tullia
authors: T
authors: Todros
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Tognin
authors: Morena
authors: M
authors: Trevisan
authors: Erica
authors: E
authors: Valencic
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Volpi
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Ziroli
authors: Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via dell'Istria 65/1, Trieste 34137, Italy. luca.ronfani@burlo.trieste.it.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Ronfani
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Di Lallo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors