NSIDRC Journal Article Alert — October 19,
2007
Past issues of NSIDRC journal alerts are available at: http://www.sidscenter.org/
Ostoji? S, Volk M, Medica I, Kapovi? M, Meden-Vrtovec H, Peterlin
B.
*Polymorphisms in the interleukin-12/18 genes and recurrent
spontaneous abortion.*
Am J Reprod Immunol. 2007 Nov;58(5):403-8.
Problem Interleukin (IL) IL-12/IL-18 are involved in uterine
NK cells control of uterine vascular development. Polymorphisms
in the IL-12/IL-18 genes could modify the cytokine balance,
which might result in an increased susceptibility to recurrent
spontaneous abortion (RSA). Method of Study A case-control
study was conducted to determine the association between the
IL12 (I/D) and IL18 (-607C>A, -137G>C) gene polymorphisms
and the risk of RSA in 125 women with RSA and in 136 controls.
Results The frequencies of DD, ID, II for IL-12 were, 25.6%,
52.8% and 21.6% respectively, in patients versus 21.3%, 51.5%
and 27.2% respectively in controls; the frequencies of CC,
CA, AA genotypes for IL-18 (-607) were, 34.4%, 54.4% and 11.2%
respectively in patients versus 30.1%, 58.1% and 11.8% respectively
in controls; the frequencies of GG, GC, CC genotypes for IL-18(-137)
were 47.2%, 43.2% and 9.6% respectively in patients and 45.6%,
46.3% and 8.1% respectively in controls. Conclusion IL-12B
and IL-18 promoter gene polymorphisms were not associated with
RSA in our women.
Full-text available at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/
Duncan JR, Randall LL, Belliveau RA, Trachtenberg FL, Randall
B, Habbe D, Mandell F, Welty TK, Iyasu S, Kinney HC.
*Effect of Maternal Smoking and Drinking During Pregnancy Upon
(3)H-Nicotine Receptor Brainstem Binding in Infants Dying of
the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Initial Observations in a
High Risk Population. *
Brain Pathol. 2007 Oct 9; [Epub ahead of print].
The high rate of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in
American Indians in the Northern Plains (3.5/1000) may reflect
the high incidence of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption
during pregnancy. Nicotine, a neurotoxic component of cigarettes,
and alcohol adversely affect nicotinic receptor binding and
subsequent cholinergic development in animals. We measured
(3)H-nicotine receptor binding in 16 brainstem nuclei in American
Indian SIDS (n = 27) and controls (n = 6). In five nuclei related
to cardiorespiratory control, (3)H-nicotinic binding decreased
with increasing number of drinks (P < 0.03). There were
no differences in binding in SIDS compared with controls, except
upon stratification of prenatal exposures. In three mesopontine
nuclei critical for arousal there were reductions (P < 0.04)
in binding in controls exposed to cigarette smoke compared
with controls without exposure; there was no difference between
SIDS cases with or without exposure. This study suggests that
maternal smoking and alcohol affects (3)H-nicotinic binding
in the infant brainstem irrespective of the cause of death.
It also suggests that SIDS cases are unable to respond to maternal
smoking with the "normal" reduction seen in controls.
Future studies are needed to establish the role of adverse
prenatal exposures in altered brainstem neurochemistry in SIDS.
Full-text available at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/
Measey MA, Charles A, d'Espaignet ET, Harrison C, Deklerk
N, Douglass C.
*Aetiology of stillbirth: unexplored is not unexplained. *
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2007 Oct;31(5):444-9.
Objective: To describe the rate of and demographic factors
associated with fetal postmortem investigation and to classify
the cause of all fetal deaths that underwent postmortem investigation.
To compare the proportion of deaths remaining unexplained after
postmortem investigation with estimates derived from death
certificates. Method: All fetal deaths in Western Australia
(WA) from 1990 to 1999 were identified. These data were used
to calculate postmortem rates and describe the characteristics
of women consenting to postmortems. A multidisciplinary team
classified the cause of all deaths that underwent postmortem
investigation using the Perinatal Society of Australia and
New Zealand Perinatal Death Classification System. The proportion
of deaths that were unexplained was compared with estimates
based on death certificates. Results: Of the 1,619 fetal deaths
recorded for 1990 to 1999, 49% (n=789) underwent complete postmortem
investigation. Based on investigations, 22% of the 789 fetal
deaths were unexplained and a further 18% were identified as
having fetal growth restriction. Based on death certificates,
42% were unexplained and 65% were later explained by postmortem
investigation. Conclusion and Implications: Postmortem investigation
rates are low. They reveal a cause of death for the majority
of cases that are unexplained clinically. Epidemiological investigations
of unexplained fetal death based on cases not subject to complete
postmortem investigation may lead to inaccurate conclusions.
A standardised definition for unexplained fetal deaths that
distinguishes between cases with detailed investigation and
those with limited or no investigation is needed.|
Full-text available at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/
Byard RW, Blumbergs P, Rutty G, Sperhake J, Banner J, Krous
HF.
*Lack of evidence for a causal relationship between hypoxic-ischemic
encephalopathy and subdural hemorrhage in fetal life, infancy,
and early childhood.*
Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2007 Sep-Oct;10(5):348-50.
It has been asserted that hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
(HIE) with cerebral swelling in the absence of marked trauma
may be responsible for subural hemorrhage in the young. As
this may have considerable implications in determining both
the mechanism of death and the degree of force required to
cause injury in certain cases of inflicted head injury in infancy,
clarification is required. A retrospective study of 82 fetuses,
infants, and toddlers with proven HIE and no trauma was undertaken
from forensic institutes in Australia, the United Kingdom,
Germany, Denmark, and the United States. The age range was
35 weeks gestation to 3 years, with a male to female ratio
of 2:1. All cases had histologically confirmed HIE. Causes
of the hypoxic episodes were temporarily resuscitated sudden
infant death syndrome with delayed death (N = 30), drowning
(N = 12), accidental asphyxia (N = 10), intrauterine/delivery
asphyxia (N = 8), congenital disease (N = 6), aspiration of
food/gastric contents (N = 4), inflicted asphyxia (N = 3),
epilepsy (N = 1), dehydration (N = 1), drug toxicity (N = 1),
complications of prematurity (N = 1), and complications of
anesthesia (N = 1). The initiating event was not determined
in 4 instances. In no case was there macroscopic evidence of
subdural hemorrhage. In this study no support could be given
to the hypothesis that HIE in the young in the absence of trauma
causes subdural hemorrhage.
Full-text available at: http://www.pedpath.org/
Cinar DN.
*The advantages and disadvantages of pacifier use.*
Contemp Nurse. 2004 Jul-Aug;17(1-2):109-12.
A powerful reflex of the infant in the weeks following birth
is sucking. Breastfed babies benefit from both the nutrition
in mother's milk and the satisfaction of their sucking instinct.
Babies that can not be breastfed due to various reasons may
satisfy their sucking instinct by using pacifiers. Pacifier
use and digit sucking are believed to be harmless habits. In
many places of the world, and especially in developing countries,
pacifier use in early childhood is very common. It is said
that pacifier use eases the baby and satisfies its sucking
instinct. It has been reported in several studies that pacifier
use reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The most important risks of this non-nutritive sucking habit
are failure of breastfeeding, dental deformities, recurrent
acute otitis media, and the possibility of accidents. The development
of latex allergy, tooth decay, oral ulcers and sleep disorders
are other problems encountered with pacifier use. Parents may
hesitate to use pacifiers for their babies and consult nurses
or midwives on this issue. In this article, the advantages
and disadvantages of pacifier use are discussed with the aim
of providing guidance to nurses and midwives working in the
field of pediatrics and infant health.
Full-text available at: http://www.contemporarynurse.com/
Lillian Hatch M.S.L.S.
Project Librarian
National SIDS/ID Resource Center
8280 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
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