Interhemispheric cooperation in global-local visual processing in pediatric multiple sclerosis.

Impairments in visuospatial abilities are commonly reported in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis (MS). Corpus callosum (CC) pathology occurs in patients with MS and may contribute to impairment in visuospatial perception, particularly when interhemispheric information transfer is required. This study used a global-local hierarchical letter paradigm to examine the relationship between interhemispheric information transfer and white matter integrity in the CC assessed using diffusion tensor imaging.

Pregnancy outcomes following maternal exposure to second-generation antipsychotics given with other psychotropic drugs: a cohort study.

Objectives: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), in conjunction with other psychotropic medications, are increasingly used to treat psychiatric disorders in pregnancy. The few available studies investigating the reproductive safety of SGAs did not reach conclusive results, and none have compared monotherapy with polytherapy involving other psychotropic medications.

Design: Descriptive cohort study using a prospectively collected database.

Cognitive aspects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Nearly four decades have passed since a link was first established between alcohol consumption during pregnancy and a particular pattern of birth defects. Since then, autopsy, longitudinal, structural imaging, and functional imaging studies have revealed a great deal about the teratogenic effects of alcohol. This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the findings from the neurocognitive and behavioral literature on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and outlines the unique profile of cognitive deficits associated with it.

Ethical considerations when communicating a diagnosis of a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to a child.

Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy may result in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions that are associated with significant neurodevelopmental impairments. Communicating an FASD diagnosis to a child is a complex and difficult task that requires a great deal of care, particularly due to the sensitive nature of the etiology of these disorders. To the best of our knowledge, there are no formal guidelines or published materials that outline the ethical considerations specifically associated with disclosing an FASD diagnosis to a child.

Investigating the effects of low to moderate levels of prenatal alcohol exposure on child behaviour: a critical review.

Conflicting findings exist regarding the risks of low to moderate levels of alcohol use during pregnancy. A recent study from Australia has suggested that mild gestational drinking is not associated with adverse fetal effects, and may even be associated with favorable outcomes as compared to "no drinking".The study may lead women to continue consuming alcohol throughout pregnancy, despite methodological limitations that render its conclusions uncertain.