Phosphatidylethanol Levels in Postpartum Women and Their Newborns in Uruguay and Brazil.

Background: There is increasing interest in the development of newborn screening tests to identify children at risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in order to provide these children with early intervention. Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) has emerged as a potential universal newborn screening candidate.

Methods: The aim of this report was to present the results of a study designed to compare PEth levels in 1,140 postpartum women and their newborn infants in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Frequency and risk factors for the birth of small-for-gestational-age newborns in a public maternity hospital.

Objective:: To determine the frequency and risk factors of small-for-gestational-age newborns in a high-risk maternity.

Methods:: This is an observational, cross-sectional, and case-control study, conducted in a public tertiary care maternity hospital. Data from 998 newborns and their mothers were collected through interviews and review of medical records and prenatal care cards.

Measurement of the palpebral fissure and the vermilion border of the upper lip in newborns with gestational ages of 25 to 43 weeks.

Objective: To prepare percentile curves for measurements of palpebral fissure and the greatest width of the vermilion border of the upper lip in newborns at a public maternity ward in the City of São Paulo.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from August 2006 to January 2008. In the first 24 to 72 hours of life, the palpebral fissure and the greatest width of the vermilion border of the upper lip were measured in 1,964 newborns with gestational ages from 25 to 43 weeks.

Congenital malformations in newborns of alcoholic mothers.

Objective: To identify the presence of fetal alcohol syndrome, other alcohol-related congenital defects, and/or neurodevelopment disorders in newborns of mothers who consumed alcohol during gestation.

Methods: In a public maternity in the city of São Paulo, 1,964 puerperal women were interviewed and 654 had consumed alcohol at some point during gestation. The newborns were clinically and laboratorially examined in order to identify the occurrence of fetal alcohol syndrome, congenital defects or neurodevelopment disorders related to alcohol.

The effects of alcohol in newborns.

The purpose of this article was to present a review of the effects of alcohol consumption by pregnant mothers on their newborn. Definitions, prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic criteria, follow-up, treatment and prevention were discussed. A search was performed in Medline, LILACS, and SciELO databases using the following terms: "fetus", "newborn", "pregnant woman", "alcohol", "alcoholism", "fetal alcohol syndrome", and "alcohol-related disorders".