The 3rd International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

FASD is a window through which to view the state of our world. While it has a profound impact on individuals, families and all aspects of society, it is also a stimulus for change. This international conference will provide a forum to discuss and examine current research, policy and practice that will assist parents, caregivers, service systems and governments as they strive to prevent FASD and to provide a range of supports for people living with it. The emphasis of this conference will be the practical application of various forms of research covering these broad areas:

Biomedical
Clinical Diagnosis & Assessment
Health
Legal, justice, correction
Social Services
Family
Education
Community

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Study: Paying more for alcohol saves lives

Each time the state of Alaska raised its alcoholic beverage tax, fewer deaths were caused by or related to alcohol, according to the study that examined 28 years of data.

When Alaska raised its alcohol tax in 1983, deaths caused by or related to alcohol dropped 29 percent. A 2002 tax increase was followed by an 11 percent reduction, according to the study published in the American Journal of Public Health.

"Increasing alcohol taxes saves lives; that's the bottom line," said the study's lead author, Dr. Alexander Wagenaar, a professor at the University of Florida's Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research. "The tax increase caused some reduction in consumption of alcohol. The reduction saved lives."

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Warning labels on alcoholic drinks soon law (Sydafrika)

IN less than four months‘ time all alcoholic drinks will come with a warning label.
Anti-alcohol lobby groups are happy about the move, but industry insiders fear it is just the tip of the iceberg in the government‘s fast-tightening grip on the multi-billion rand industry.

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Drinking beer dangerous

Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) has responded to South Africa’s new law, which requires all alcoholic beverages to carry a health warning message on their labels, by placing hazard signs on its intoxicating products.
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Measurement of direct ethanol metabolites suggests higher rate of alcohol use among pregnant women than found with the AUDIT...

In all, our sample identified 25% of
subjects as possible alcohol consumers.
Of those with positive biomarkers, 3 had
acknowledged any alcohol use in the
AUDIT questionnaire, although at very
low levels. Furthermore, of the 7 subjects
in the current study whose EtG or FAEE
levels in hair that were highly suspicious
for heavy drinking, only 1 had admitted
to ongoing alcohol consumption in the
AUDIT questionnaire. Clearly, subjects
may underestimate their alcohol useand/or
be unwilling to disclose their
drinking habits during pregnancy. Although
negative results for direct ethanol
metabolites are not considered proof
of abstinence, we argue that when positive,
they provide strong evidence for
moderate or excessive drinking.

Läs mer >>>

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Warning labels on alcoholic drinks soon law

IN less than four months‘ time all alcoholic drinks will come with a warning label.
Anti-alcohol lobby groups are happy about the move, but industry insiders fear it is just the tip of the iceberg in the government‘s fast-tightening grip on the multi-billion rand industry.
As with the tobacco industry – which first was forced by law to put warning labels on all cigarette packets, followed by a ban on advertising – the alcohol industry is scrambling to prepare itself for a marketing blackout which they believe is only “a matter of time”.
Already major retailers have started receiving liquor supplies with the warning labels which read: “Alcohol reduces driving ability – don‘t drink and drive” and “Drinking during pregnancy can be harmful to your unborn baby”.
Läs mer >>>

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One third of pregnant women secretly drink alcohol, survey finds

But one in 10 mothers-to-be believe that drinking doesn't do as much damage as experts claim, according to the survey by baby charity Tommy's.
A total of 1,300 women were questioned for the survey.

The survey also found that one in 10 women did not know how much a unit of alcohol is.

Läs mer >>>

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Obstetrik, ny lärobok

Den nya läroboken är resultatet av ett unikt samarbete mellan ett stort antal specialkunniga läkare och barnmorskor inom svensk obstetrik. Boken vänder sig till läkarstuderande på grundutbildningen samt till läkare och barnmorskor som är verksamma inom såväl öppen som sluten vård. Den kan även användas som fördjupnings- och referensbok.
Kapitlet Drogmissbruk under graviditet bahandlas av Mona Göransson och Ihsan Sarman.
På bokens webbplats kan du som lärare ladda ner bokens illustrationer som PowerPoint-presentation på Studentlitteraturs hemsida. Länkar till presentationerna kan också fås via mail från FAS-föreningen. Kontakta FAS@telia.com
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Alarming Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Exposure in a Mediterranean City

In conclusion, the preliminary results of this study, which highlights a 45% ethanol consumption during pregnancy in a low socioeconomic status cohort from a Mediterranean city, may serve as an eye opener for Europeans that gestational ethanol exposure is endemic not only in areas outside of Europe.

Of critical importance, alcohol consumption by pregnant women in Mediterranean countries may be different from that of North European regions: daily consumption of mainly wine and beer during principal meals is a common pattern. In agreement with this, approximately 50% of Spanish women declared daily ethanol consumption in the most recent Spanish National Survey on Drug abuse.13 In this context, early postnatal diagnosis of fetal exposure to maternal alcohol by meconium analysis of FAEEs should be advocated for all newborns because age at diagnosis is a prognostic factor for FASD, and evidence of maternal drinking is a critical
prerequisite.

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Verbal and Visuospatial Learning and Memory Function in Children With Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

Prenatal alcohol exposure during the first trimester predicted deficits in learning, short-term memory, and long-term memory, specifically in the verbal domain. Deficits in performance were specific to learning and memory of word-pairs. In addition, deficits in memory were mediated by learning performance.

Results demonstrated that prenatal alcohol exposure lead to deficits in encoding processes as indicated by deficits in verbal learning. Initial deficits in acquisition were responsible for deficits in immediate and delayed recall of verbal information in children who were exposed to alcohol during pregnancy but did not have fetal alcohol syndrome.

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Fetal alcohol syndrome prevention in Washington State:

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine whether the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome among children in a foster care population, born between 1993 and 1998, decreased with the documented decrease in prevalence of maternal use of alcohol during pregnancy from 1993 and 1998 in Washington State. The prevalence of maternal drinking during pregnancy in Washington State declined significantly (0.001) from 1993 to 1998 as did the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome among foster children born 1993–98 (0.03). These observations support the likelihood that fetal alcohol syndrome prevention efforts in Washington State are working successfully.

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Binge Drinking During Pregnancy as a Predictor ofPsychiatric Disorders on the Structured Clinical Interviewfor DSM-IV in Young Adult Offspring

The odds of the appearance of six psychiatric disorders and traits were more than double in adults exposed to one or more binge alcohol episodes in utero. Three of these six odds ratios were uniformly stable against confounding: axis I substance dependence or abuse disorders and axis II passive-aggressive and antisocial personality disorders or traits. Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to alcohol may be a risk factor for specific psychiatric disorders and traits in early adulthood, even in a nonclinical group

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Eurocare holds successful Evening Reception on Alcohol and Pregnancy in European Parliament

Over 50 people attended the Eurocare Evening Reception in the European Parliament, marking ”International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day” on Tuesday 9th September 2008.

Hosted by MEPs Ms Mairead McGuinness (EPP, IE) and Ms Catherine Stihler (PSE, UK), the reception was attended by a number of MEPs including Jules Maaten (ALDE, NL), Glenis Willmott (PSE, UK), Mary Lou McDonald (GUE, IE) among others.
The reception was also attended by a number of Eurocare member organisations as well as representatives of NGOs supporting the Eurocare "Alcohol and Pregnancy" campaign (European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), Confederation of Family Organisations (COFACE), Mental Health Europe, and the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME).
The reception was a unique opportunity to learn more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and discuss the different policy options to curb its incidence, notably, the labelling of alcoholic beverages.

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Maelstrom Quashes Jumping Genes

Scientists have known for decades that certain genes (called transposons) can jump around the genome in an individual cell. This activity can be dangerous, however, especially when it arises in cells that produce eggs and sperm. Such changes can threaten the offspring and the success of a species. To ensure the integrity of these cells, nature developed a mechanism to quash this genetic scrambling, but how it works has remained a mystery. Now a team of scientists, including researchers at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Embryology, has identified a key protein that suppresses jumping genes in mouse sperm and found that the protein is vital to sperm formation.

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Researchers Block Damage to Fetal Brain Following Maternal Alcohol Consumption

Newswise — In a study on fetal alcohol syndrome, researchers were able to prevent the damage that alcohol causes to cells in a key area of the fetal brain by blocking acid sensitive potassium channels and preventing the acidic environment that alcohol produces. The cerebellum, the portion of the brain that is responsible for balance and muscle coordination, is particularly vulnerable to injury from alcohol during development.
The researchers also found that although alcohol lowers the amount of oxygen in the blood of the mother, it is not the lack of oxygen that damages the fetal cerebellum, but the drop in pH.

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Alcohol Binges Early in Pregnancy Increase Risk of Infant Oral Clefts

A new study by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, shows that pregnant women who binge drink early in their pregnancy increase the likelihood that their babies will be born with oral clefts.

The researchers found that women who consumed an average of five or more drinks per sitting were more than twice as likely than non-drinkers to have an infant with either of the two major infant oral clefts: cleft lip with or without cleft palate, or cleft palate alone. Women who drank at this level on three or more occasions during the first trimester were three times as likely to have infants born with oral clefts.

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Children's Cognitive Ability From 4 to 9 Years Old as a Function of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure, Environmental Risk, and Maternal Verbal Intelligence

This study examined the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure, environmental risk, and maternal verbal intelligence on children's cognitive ability. Gender and age were examined as moderators of potential cocaine exposure effects. The Stanford–Binet IV intelligence test was administered to 231 children (91 cocaine exposed, 140 unexposed) at ages 4, 6, and 9 years. Neonatal medical risk and other prenatal exposures (alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana) were also examined for their unique effects on child IQ.

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Water-diffusion technology identifies brain regions damaged by prenatal alcohol exposure

Scientists know that children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) often have structural brain damage. Yet little is known about how white matter connections, and deep gray matter structures that act as relay stations, are affected in children with FASD. A new study has used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to identify several specific white matter regions as well as deep gray matter areas of the brain that appear sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure.
Results will be published in the October issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View.

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4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIRTH DEFECTS & DISABILITIES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

Every year an estimated 7.8 million children are born in the world with a serious genetic or acquired birth defect. Of these 3.3 million die each year. The impact of birth defects is particularly severe in developing countries where 90% of births and 95% of deaths of children with serious birth defects occur. The conference is timely as most developing countries lack comprehensive programs for care and control of birth defects, either because their importance is underestimated or because they perceive lack of resources. This conference will demonstrate why both these notions are incorrect.

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MicroRNA Implicated As Molecular Factor In Alcohol Tolerance

In recent years, a class of small molecules known as microRNA have been found to play an important role in regulating gene products in most animal and plant species. A new study now indicates that microRNA may influence the development of alcohol tolerance, a hallmark of alcohol abuse and dependence.

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Peptidergic Agonists of Activity-Dependent Neurotrophic Factor Protect Against Prenatal Alcohol-Induced Neural Tube Defects and Serotonin Neuron Loss

Prenatal alcohol exposure via maternal liquid diet consumption by C57BL/6 (B6) mice causes conspicuous midline neural tube deficit (dysraphia) and disruption of genesis and development of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in the raphe nuclei, together with brain growth retardation. The current study tested the hypothesis that concurrent treatment with either an activity-dependent neurotrophic factor (ADNF) agonist peptide [SALLRSIPA, (SAL)] or an activity-dependent neurotrophic protein (ADNP) agonist peptide [NAPVSIPQ, (NAP)] would protect against these alcohol-induced deficits in brain development.

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Ny forsking om rusbarn

Forskarar ved Haukeland Universitetssjukehus har funne ut at barn utsett for narkotiske stoff i svangerskapet, har fleire nevropsykologiske skadar enn barn utsett for alkohol i svangerskapet. Vi fann signifikante utslag på konsentrasjon, merksemd, impulskontroll og generell regulering av åtferd hos barn utsett for narkotiske stoff i svangerskapet, fortel nevropsykolog Sidsel Bruarøy ved Barneklinikken på Haukeland.
– Over 90 prosent av barna framsto med ADHD. Av 130 barn vart 103 diagnostisert å ha ADHD. Også blant barn utsett for alkohol i svangerskapet er delen ADHD- barn høg, men det er likevel forskjellar.

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The Association Between Major Birth Defects and Preterm Birth

Abstract Objective To evaluate the association between preterm birth and major birth defects by maternal and infant characteristics and specific types of birth defects. Study Design We pooled data for 1995–2000 from 13 states with population-based birth defects surveillance systems, representing about 30% of all U.S. births. Analyses were limited to singleton, live births from 24–44 weeks gestational age. Results Overall, birth defects were more than twice as common among preterm births (24–36 weeks) compared with term births (37–41 weeks gestation) (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.62–2.68), and approximately 8% of preterm births had a birth defect. Birth defects were over five times more likely among very preterm births (24–31 weeks gestation) compared with term births (PR = 5.25, 95% CI 5.15–5.35), with about 16% of very preterm births having a birth defect. Defects most strongly associated with very preterm birth included central nervous system defects (PR = 16.23, 95% CI 15.49–17.00) and cardiovascular defects (PR = 9.29, 95% CI 9.03–9.56). Conclusions Birth defects contribute to the occurrence of preterm birth. Research to identify shared causal pathways and risk factors could suggest appropriate interventions to reduce both preterm birth and birth defects.

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WHO adopts Swedish alcohol resolution - Cuba fick ge sig

The WHO, in a press release summarizing the results of the assembly, recognized that work needed to be intensified to "curb the harmful use of alcohol" which is the fifth leading risk factor for death and disability in the world.

Sweden has pushed hard for the development of a global strategy and has received the backing of its Scandinavian neighbours in lobbying for the adoption of a 'Swedish' view on alcohol policy.

The resolution brought by Sweden and the other Nordic countries at the World Health Assembly in 2007 failed in the face of opposition from Cuba, a significant alcohol producer.

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Having a Drink During Pregnancy Is Common for French Women

More than half of women in France continue to drink alcohol during their pregnancies, according to a new French study. However, the researchers also found that most of these women are uninformed about the risks to their babies’ health.

The study, published in the May issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, compiled data from 837 pregnant women at public and private obstetric centers who participated in the study between July 2003 and June 2004.

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New MRI Technique Detects Subtle But Serious Brain Injury

A new technique for analyzing magnetic resonance imaging data, developed by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center, can reveal serious brain injury missed by current tests and help predict a patient’s degree of recovery.In brain injuries sustained when the head suddenly stops moving — during a motor vehicle accident, for instance — the force can shear and damage nerve cells. This kind of injury does not show up on computerized tomography scans, the researchers said, and magnetic resonance imaging does not yet reliably detect this type of injury.“This is a new way of measuring a common injury that has been overlooked,” said Dr. Ramón Díaz-Arrastia, professor of neurology and senior author of the paper, which appears in the May issue of the journal Archives of Neurology.

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Moderate Drinking Raises Risk of Mouth Cancer, Researchers Say

Drinking just two glasses of wine daily can cause a 75-percent increase in the risk of developing mouth cancer, according to Australian researchers.
The Telegraph reported May 12 that the study from the Cancer Institute of New South Wales also found that drinking a similar amount of alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer among women by 22 percent, and that men increase their risk of bowel cancer by 64 percent if they consume four units of alcohol daily.
Moderate alcohol consumption also was linked to higher risk of esophageal and larynx cancer. "We don't want a general scare, but the fact is that alcohol consumption on a regular basis, even at moderate levels, can increase the risk," said Jim Bishop, CEO of the Cancer Institute. "Clearly for cardiac disease it may be that red wine is helpful, but for cancer we cannot see any benefit at all from alcohol."

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Fourth International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World

The theme of the Fourth International Conference is "Translating Research into Cost-effective Services for the Care and Prevention of Birth Defects, Preterm Birth and Consequent Disabilities."

The conference will be organized around five central themes. A focus of each will be on the presentation of successful models of care and prevention around the world.

• Surveillance, monitoring and needs assessment;


• Care of neonates and children with birth defects and disabilities;


• Prevention of birth defects and disabilities;


• Local, regional and global networks to strengthen the quality of health service delivery and promote community awareness; and


• Clinical genetics in its broad sense, including dysmorphology, metabolic disorders, thalassemia, muscular dystrophy and mental retardation, genetic predisposition to common chronic illnesses, etc.

The conference will be structured to encourage dialogue and the sharing of experiences among health care providers, researchers, parent/patient group representatives, policy makers and other stakeholders from developing and industrialized countries.

Birth defects, preterm birth and small for date births have received relatively little attention to date by international health policy makers. Yet the global toll of death and disability from both is high. Each year an estimated 7.9 million children are born with a serious genetic birth defect. Of these, 3.3 million die within the first five years of life. Preterm birth is estimated to complicate 6-10 percent of pregnancies worldwide. The toll of mortality and disability from these conditions is substantial, with a disproportionate burden (90 percent of births and 95 percent of deaths of children with these disabilities) being experienced in developing countries.

Recognizing the growing need to build capacity in lower-resource countries for the prevention of birth defects and preterm birth and care of those affected, the primary goal of this conference is to provide specific practical tools and approaches that developing country participants can use to implement and strengthen services when they return to their respective countries. Participants are expected to include health care providers, experts in data collection and monitoring, researchers, parent-patient organizations and youth volunteers from both the developing and industrialized world.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
A Call for Abstracts will be issued in July 2008 and early submission is encouraged. A proportion of travel and per diem expenses, to be determined, will be awarded to those whose abstracts are accepted for oral presentation and who require funding.

Dr. I. C. Verma dr_icverma@yahoo.com

Dr. Michael Katz Conference Chairman & Head,

Secretary, Executive Committee

Analysis of Alcoholics’ Brains Suggests Treatment Target

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – An analysis of brain tissue samples from chronic alcoholics reveals changes that occur at the molecular level in alcohol abuse – and suggests a potential treatment target, according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Reporting in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, the scientists said that a protein known as beta-catenin that is involved in cell signaling and development is found at higher levels in the brains of chronic alcoholics compared to people of the same age with no history of alcoholism.

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Velkommen til konferanse!

Det er hyggelig å nok en gang kunne ønske velkommen til konferansen ”Barnet og Rusen”.
Tematikken barn/familie/rus engasjerer. Det handler om små og litt større barn som er sårbare i forhold til sin utvikling når oppvekstvilkårene er vanskelige fordi mor eller far har et rusproblem, det handler om å se, gripe inn og sette inn gode tiltak- så barnet og familien opplever at det er hjelp og få. Det handler også om graviditet, småbarnstid og rusproblematikk.
For oss på Borgestadklinikken som har dette som et av våre kjerneområder er det gledelig å se at det jobbes så bredt i Norden, noe vi ser gjenspeilet i dette konferanseprogrammet.
Her er tiltak og prosjekt i Danmark, Sverige, Finland, Grønland og Norge presentert. Det jobbes med å legge til rette for faglig styrking på dette feltet gjennom nasjonale satsinger og prosjekt på myndighetsnivå og det jobbes godt og systematisk i enkelt prosjekt i små og store kommuner og lokalsamfunn.
Med håp om at konferansen skal være til inspirasjon og gi mer kunnskap, ønsker vi velkommen til Sandefjord 24.-26. september!

Läs programmet >>>

Borgestadklinikken >>>

Nicotinamide Protects against Ethanol-Induced Apoptotic Neurodegeneration in the Developing Mouse Brain

Exposure to alcohol during brain development may cause a neurological syndrome called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Ethanol induces apoptotic neuronal death at specific developmental stages, particularly during the brain-growth spurt, which occurs from the beginning of third trimester of gestation and continues for several years after birth in humans, whilst occuring in the first two postnatal weeks in mice. Administration of a single dose of ethanol in 7-d postnatal (P7) mice triggers activation of caspase-3 and widespread apoptotic neuronal death in the forebrain, providing a possible explanation for the microencephaly observed in human FAS. The present study was aimed at determining whether nicotinamide may prevent ethanol-induced neurodegeneration.

Our findings indicate that nicotinamide can prevent some of the deleterious effects of ethanol on the developing mouse brain when given shortly after ethanol exposure. These results suggest that nicotinamide, which has been used in humans for the treatment of diabetes and bullous pemphigoid, may hold promise as a preventive therapy of FAS.

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Pot Plus Alcohol Kills Young Rats' Brain Cells

Researchers from Humboldt University, Berlin, administered THC, a synthetic form of THC, ethanol, an anticonvulsant called MK-801, and phenobarbital to rats between one and 14 days old. A previous study by the same team found that ethanol and drugs such as sedatives, anesthetics and anticonvulsants caused extensive nerve cell death in the brains of young rodents. The new study was conducted to determine if cannabinoids caused similar harm.

The researchers found that THC and synthetic THC did not cause nerve cell death when administered alone but did cause cell death when given with mildly intoxicating amounts of ethanol. The combined effect increased according to the dose of THC and was strongest when the rats were seven days old.

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EU says alcohol industry must not target youth

BRUSSELS: The European Union's health chief urged the alcohol industry on Wednesday to avoid targeting children and young people in their marketing campaigns to reduce the numbers of alcohol-related deaths.

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Drinking while pregnant risks autism in babies

Raja Mukherjee, consultant psychiatrist at Surrey Borders Partnership NHS trust, has spent the past 18 months examining children who have been damaged by their mother’s drinking during pregnancy and found that a high proportion of them have autism. The research has been presented at scientific meetings.

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Computational selection and prioritization of candidate genes for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

This analysis highlighted a list of strong candidate genes from the TGF-β, MAPK and
Hedgehog signalling pathways, which are all integral to fetal development and potential targets for
alcohol's teratogenic effect. We conclude that this novel bioinformatics approach effectively
prioritizes credible candidate genes for further experimental analysis.

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International survey of diagnostic services for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Diagnostic services are concentrated in North America. Most responding clinics are
using a multidisciplinary approach with neurobehavioural assessment as
recommended in published guidelines. Agreement on diagnostic criteria would
enable comparison of clinical and research data, and enhance FASD research
particularly for intervention trials. The effects on the fetus of alcohol exposure in pregnancy have been well described but barriers to diagnosis remain.

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Men's fertility is under attack and scientists fear for future generations, writes Steve Dow.

The discovery has been made in the new science known as "epigenetics", which strongly suggests chemical damage is causing abnormal sperm and male infertility via a pregnant woman's exposure to contaminants, passing infertility not only to her son but successive sons - overturning old assumptions about biology and DNA.

Until recently, it had been assumed a gene had to be mutated for a disease to be inherited. But studies on pregnant rats exposed to pesticides show male offspring can inherit reproductive disorders, and pass them on to their children and grandchildren, through an abnormality that affects the activity of genes but leaves the sequence of the DNA code unchanged.

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The Medicated Child

In recent years, there's been a dramatic increase in the number of children being diagnosed with serious psychiatric disorders and prescribed medications that are just beginning to be tested in children. The drugs can cause serious side effects, and virtually nothing is known about their long-term impact. "It's really to some extent an experiment, trying medications in these children of this age," child psychiatrist Dr. Patrick Bacon tells FRONTLINE. "It's a gamble. And I tell parents there's no way to know what's going to work."

Läs mer/se TV programmet on-line >>>

1st Central and Eastern European Summit on Preconception Health and Prevention of Birth Defects, Budapest, Hungary, August 27-30, 2008

We are pleased to announce the 1st Central and Eastern European Summit on Preconception Health and Prevention of Birth Defects in Budapest, Hungary on August 27-30, 2008, hosted by the Research and Prevention for Families Foundation and the Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry.

Conference Goal
To provide a platform for review, analysis and discussion of the promotion of women’s health before, during and beyond pregnancy, and the role of preconception health and health care in the prevention of birth defects in the Central and Eastern European region.

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Iceberg is a quarterly educational newsletter published by FASIS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Information Service), a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit, community organization, since 1991. Iceberg is funded in part by a grant from the Washington State Division of Alcohol & Substance Abuse.

Iceberg nr 1, April 2008 >>>

Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region

"All children and adolescents have the right to grow up in an
environment protected from the negative consequences
of alcohol consumption and, to the extent possible, from
the promotion of alcoholic beverages."

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Ny svensk rapport: Alkohol under graviditeten ledde till lägre utbildning och inkomst för barnen

Flera studier visar att det finns ett tydligt samband mellan en hög konsumtion av alkohol under graviditeten och spädbarns hälsa, beteende och inlärningsförmåga. Kunskapen om de långsiktiga konsekvenserna är dock bristfällig. Resultaten i rapporten tyder på att investeringar i barns hälsa redan i fosterstadiet har betydande effekter för utbildning och inkomster senare i livet.

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Hör en intervju med forskaren Peter Nilsson >>>

Ytterligare intervjuer, med barnläkare Magnus Landgren och studerande Karl Wittgard) ligger på FAS-föreningens hemsida. >>>

Seminar om FAS/FAE barn

Barn med skader av alkoholbruk i svangerskapet og behovene barna har for hjelp og tilrettelagte tiltak i hjem og skole er i fokus når vi inviterer til seminar 28 april i Sandefjord. Fosterforeldre/Adoptivforeldre og fagmiljø i fosterhjemsentraler / barnevern og skoler er blant de vi henvender oss til


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New Way To Screen Infants For Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Suggested

Measuring the levels of FAEE in an infant's first bowel movement could be a useful method for identifying children at risk for FAS, which may make early intervention possible.
The study is reported in "Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters in Meconium are Associated with Poorer Neurodevelopmental Outcomes to Two Years of Age"

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Etiologic Classification of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Early reports have described symptoms similar to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder that followed brain trauma or viral encephalitis, and recent MRI studies have demonstrated brain volumetric changes that may be involved in the pathophysiology of the syndrome. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic Statistical Manual, introduced in 1968, emphasizes symptomatic criteria in diagnosis. Here, an overview of environmental factors in the etiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is presented to encourage more emphasis and research on organic causal factors, preventive intervention, and specific therapies.

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Tools for Success Curriculum: Working With Youth With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the Juvenile Justice System

Welcome to the Tools for Success Curriculum: Working With Youth With Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the Juvenile Justice System (also called Tools for Success). This
curriculum was developed as a joint project of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Center for Excellence and
the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS). It is designed to help
professionals in the juvenile justice system recognize and address FASD.


U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention


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Differences in executive functioning in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

These results, which indicate that, although executive function deficits occurred in both clinical groups, the degree and pattern of deficit differed between the ALC (alcohol exposed group) and ADHD groups, may improve differential diagnosis. (JINS, 2008, 14, 119–129.)

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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.


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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.

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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.

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