Alcohol Exposure Alters Cell Cycle and Apoptotic Events During Early Neurulation

Fetal alcohol exposure causes growth deficits, microencephaly, and neurological abnormalities. Although the effects of alcohol on developmental delay and growth-related deficits have been hypothesized, little is understood about how alcohol alters, in particular, the cyclin pathway within the cell cycle, which is critical to proliferation and apoptotic control. In this study, we examined cell cycle proteins pertinent to the G1–S phase transition and apoptosis, to determine if cell cycle misregulation can be attributed to apoptotic induction and growth defects.


Läs mer >>>

Third National Biennial Conference on Adolescents and Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

This conference will highlight what has been shown through this "Wisdom of Practice" to be most effective in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues in individuals with FASD, and treatment and support for their families and service providers. This conference will also focus on enhancing creative approaches to support, treatment and program planning with the goal of effective policy development and implementation.

Läs mer >>>

Fetal Alcohol Exposure, Iron-Deficiency Anemia, and Infant Growth

The association of maternal binge drinking with an increased incidence of iron-deficiency anemia may reflect disruption of accumulation of fetal iron stores or postnatal deficiencies in iron uptake, absorption, or intake. Moreover, iron deficiency seems to exacerbate the prenatal alcohol effects on growth.

Läs mer >>>

Evaluation of Psychopathological Conditions in Children With Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

These results suggest that fetal alcohol exposure should be considered a possible factor in the pathogenesis of childhood psychiatric disorders. These data provide clinically relevant information about the mental health problems that children with fetal alcohol exposure are likely to face.

Läs mer >>>

Identical Twins Not As Identical As Believed

Contrary to our previous beliefs, identical twins are not genetically identical. This surprising finding may be of great significance for research on hereditary diseases and for the development of new diagnostic methods.

Läs mer >>>

Exploring the Utility of Narrative Analysis in Diagnostic Decision Making: Picture-Bound Reference, Elaboration, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Children with prenatal alcohol exposure exhibit a wide range of abilities across all body systems. When specific growth, facial, and central nervous system impairments are present within a well-specified range, a diagnosis fromwithin the continuum of FASD can be rendered. Because the development and use of language have been reported to be affected by high levels of prenatal alcohol exposure, measurement of language ability has been an important feature of interdisciplinary assessment of these individuals. The preponderance of evidence regarding language behavior in children with an FASD has been gathered using standardized, norm-referenced tests. The goal of these studies has been to establish how well children with an FASD comprehend and/or produce language structures in standardized contexts.

Läs mer >>>

Effects of Pregnancy and Nutritional Status on Alcohol Metabolism

...it is evident that factors that increase metabolism and clearance of alcohol during pregnancy can significantly protect the fetus from developing FASD.

Läs mer >>>

Oväntat hög förekomst av alkoholskador

Hur stor andel av barnen i västvärlden är skadade av maternellt bruk av beroendeframkallande medel? Denna fråga kan ha fått ett omskakande svar i en aktuell tvärsnittsstudie av unga skolbarn i Lazioområdet i mellersta Italien [1]. I denna studie fann May och medarbetare en förekomst på 3,5 procent av barn med utvecklingsskador som kunde relateras till mödrarnas alkoholintag under graviditeten.

Läs mer >>>

Fetal ethanol exposure during pregnancy – how big is the problem and how

In this issue of Acta Paediatrica, Taisto Sarkola and collaborators
describe and discuss risk markers of child maltreatment
in connection with parental alcohol/substance abuse
in Finland. They identify an array of factors associated with
increased risk of out-of-home custody care of the child. One
inescapable impression of their study is that the severity of
the parental addiction, together with the accompanying social
consequences of the addiction, distinctly determines the
risk for out-of-home care of the child.

Läs mer >>>

Impaired Eyeblink Conditioning in Children With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

This is the first prospective study to demonstrate impaired EBC in children diagnosed with FAS. Successful EBC in a microcephalic group supports the inference that the EBC deficit is specific to prenatal alcohol exposure and a potential biomarker for diagnosis of exposed children lacking the distinctive FAS dysmorphology. Delay EBC has a high sensitivity for identifying individuals with a diagnosis of probable FAS.

Läs mer >>>

Low antioxidant level may damage fetal neurons

Fetal neurons that have low levels of a vital antioxidant, glutathione, are the first to die when exposed to alcohol in cell culture and possibly in the living brain, according to new research from the laboratory of George Henderson, Ph.D., professor of medicine and pharmacology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Läs mer >>>

Hearing in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

The prevalence of mild sensorineural hearing loss in children diagnosed with FASD (16dB hearing-level or greater) was not higher than expected in this age group. However, because children with FASD are academically and behaviorally challenged, early detection of hearing loss and early intervention is warranted.

Läs mer >>>