Uniparental ancestry markers in Chilean populations.

The presence of Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans has led to the development of a multi-ethnic, admixed population in Chile. This study aimed to contribute to the characterization of the uniparental genetic structure of three Chilean regions. Newborns from seven hospitals in Independencia, Providencia, Santiago, Curicó, Cauquenes, Valdívia, and Puerto Montt communes, belonging to the Chilean regions of Santiago, Maule, and Los Lagos, were studied.

[Evolution of prevalence rates of orofacial clefts in a maternity of a Chilean clinical hospital].

Background: Orofacial clefts are common and have a great medical and social importance. The Latin American Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC), has maintained an epidemiological surveillance of congenital malformations since 1969, allowing the evaluation of trends in the prevalence of malformations.

Aim: To evaluate the evolution curve of prevalence rates of orofacial clefts from 1971 to 2008.

[Prevalence of microtia and anotia at the maternity of the University of Chile Clinical Hospital].

Background: Microtia is a congenital defect characterized by disturbances in the size and form of the ear lobe. Anotia corresponds to the absence of the ear lobe.

Aim: To study the prevalence of microtia and anotia at the Maternity of the University of Chile Clinical Hospital.

[Primary prevention of congenital defects].

Chile has experienced advances in the primary prevention of congenital defects. This article review separately the pre-conception and pre-natal prevention. The first avoids the production of a defective embryo and the latter avoids the effects of external agents, such as environmental teratogens, over a normaly conceived embryo.

[Prevalence of congenital malformations and low weight at birth among teenage mothers].

Background: In Chile, 14 to 16% of births occur in teenage mothers. These mothers apparently have a higher frequency of premature labor, low birth weight and congenital malformations.

Aim: To assess the frequency of prematurity, congenital malformations and weight at birth among the offspring of adolescent mothers.