Changes in Spina Bifida Lesion Level after Folic Acid Fortification in the US.

Objective: To assess whether the severity of cases of spina bifida changed after the institution of mandatory folic acid fortification in the US.

Study Design: Six active population-based birth defects programs provided data on cases of spina bifida for 1992-1996 (prefortification period) and 1999-2016 (postfortification period). The programs contributed varying years of data.

Ecology of an ocelot population at the northern edge of the species' distribution in northern Sonora, Mexico.

We used data from eight years of camera trapping at Rancho El Aribabi, a cattle ranch and conservation property in northern Sonora, Mexico, to examine the ecology of the northern-most known breeding population of ocelots (). Ocelots were found mostly in two discrete and disjunct areas: a riverine riparian canyon at just less than 1,000 masl elevation and along arroyos in an oak-mesquite savanna in the Sierra Azul at 1,266-1,406 masl. An ocelot was also detected at a site between those two areas, in an area of a Sonoran desertscrub-foothills thornscrub ecotone at 1,300 masl.

Dental professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors related to human papillomavirus vaccination.

Objectives: In Arizona, human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers are declining, with the exception of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). HPV-related OPC is largely caused by persistent infection with oncogenic HPV strains, many of which the 9-valent HPV vaccine offers protection. Little is known about dental professionals' willingness to promote the HPV vaccine to prevent OPC.

Prevalence of selected birth defects by maternal nativity status, United States, 1999-2007.

Objectives: We investigated differences in prevalence of major birth defects by maternal nativity within racial/ethnic groups for 27 major birth defects.

Methods: Data from 11 population-based birth defects surveillance systems in the United States including almost 13 million live births (approximately a third of U.S.

Study of selected birth defects among American Indian/Alaska Native population: A multi-state population-based retrospective study, 1999-2007.

Background: Higher prevalence of selected birth defects has been reported among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) newborns. We examine whether known risk factors for birth defects explain the higher prevalence observed for selected birth defects among this population.

Methods: Data from 12 population-based birth defects surveillance systems, covering a birth population of 11 million from 1999 to 2007, were used to examine prevalence of birth defects that have previously been reported to have elevated prevalence among AI/ANs.

Birth Weight and Risk of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Arizona, Illinois, and Kentucky.

Objective: To confirm the previously reported increased risk of leukemia among macrosomic children (those with birth weight >4 kg).

Methods: Birth certificates of Arizona, Illinois, and Kentucky children diagnosed as having acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) before age 5 years were matched with birth certificates from leukemia-free children of the same sex, race, and ethnicity who were born in the same county on or about the same day. Odds ratios (ORs) for ALL among children of low (<2.

Postfolate spina bifida lesion level change.

Background: Spina bifida accounts for a large proportion of birth defects in the United States. Studies have evaluated the decrease in prevalence at birth after folate fortification of food grains, but little is known about neurologic functional changes related to fortification. This study assesses the functional level of lesions in the prefortification and postfortification eras.

LOCALIZATION OF MACULAR CRYSTALS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC RETINAL DETACHMENT TO THE POSTERIOR HYALOID USING SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

Purpose: To present a case of crystalline retinopathy associated with chronic retinal detachment and localize the macular crystals using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Methods: Case Report.

Results: A 37-year-old man with previously treated chronic retinal detachment presented with normal vision and crystalline maculopathy.

MACULAR BURN DURING AN ATTEMPTED YAG LASER CAPSULOTOMY BY INADVERTENT USE OF SELECTIVE LASER TRABECULOPLASTY MODE OF A DUAL-MODE LASER.

Purpose: To present a case of a patient who suffered a macular burn after an attempted YAG laser capsulotomy because of the inadvertent use of the selective laser trabeculoplasty mode of a dual-mode laser.

Method: Case report.

Results: A 62-year-old man with slight opacification of the posterior capsule noted sudden central vision loss immediately after an attempted YAG laser capsulotomy.

Infants born with critical CHD in Arizona and capacities of birth centres for screening and management.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to identify locations of births in Arizona with critical CHD, as well as to assess the current use of pulse-oximetry screening and capacities of birth centres to manage a positive screen. Study design Infants (n=487) with a potentially critical CHD were identified from the Arizona Department of Health Services from 2012 and 2013; charts were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnosis was confirmed using echocardiographies.

Using state and provincial surveillance programs to reduce risk of recurrence of neural tube defects in the United States and Canada: A missed opportunity?

Background: Once a woman has had a fetus or infant affected with a neural tube defect (NTD), the risk of recurrence is approximately 3%. This risk can be significantly reduced by folic acid supplement consumption during the periconceptional period; however, this requires women at risk to be adequately informed about the appropriate dosage and timing of supplement intake before planning another pregnancy. As birth defects surveillance programs are tasked with identifying and documenting NTD-affected pregnancies and births, they are in a unique position to support recurrence prevention activities.

Survival of children with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18: A multi-state population-based study.

Trisomy 13 (T13) and trisomy 18 (T18) are among the most prevalent autosomal trisomies. Both are associated with a very high risk of mortality. Numerous instances, however, of long-term survival of children with T13 or T18 have prompted some clinicians to pursue aggressive treatment instead of the traditional approach of palliative care.

Updated estimates of neural tube defects prevented by mandatory folic Acid fortification - United States, 1995-2011.

In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 µg of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs).

The association between race/ethnicity and major birth defects in the United States, 1999-2007.

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between race/ethnicity and 27 major birth defects.

Methods: We pooled data from 12 population-based birth defects surveillance systems in the United States that included 13.5 million live births (1 of 3 of US births) from 1999 to 2007.

Cancer risk in children and adolescents with birth defects: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: Birth defects are an increasing health priority worldwide, and the subject of a major 2010 World Health Assembly Resolution. Excess cancer risk may be an added burden in this vulnerable group of children, but studies to date have provided inconsistent findings. This study assessed the risk for cancer in children and young adolescents with major birth defects.

External cavity laser biosensor.

Utilizing a tunable photonic crystal resonant reflector as a mirror of an external cavity laser cavity, we demonstrate a new type of label-free optical biosensor that achieves a high quality factor through the process of stimulated emission, while at the same time providing high sensitivity and large dynamic range. The photonic crystal is fabricated inexpensively from plastic materials, and its resonant wavelength is tuned by adsorption of biomolecules on its surface. Gain for the lasing process is provided by a semiconductor optical amplifier, resulting in a simple detection instrument that operates by normally incident noncontact illumination of the photonic crystal and direct back-reflection into the amplifier.

A ring-distortion strategy to construct stereochemically complex and structurally diverse compounds from natural products.

High-throughput screening is the dominant method used to identify lead compounds in drug discovery. As such, the makeup of screening libraries largely dictates the biological targets that can be modulated and the therapeutics that can be developed. Unfortunately, most compound-screening collections consist principally of planar molecules with little structural or stereochemical complexity, compounds that do not offer the arrangement of chemical functionality necessary for the modulation of many drug targets.

Process for determining the cancer burden of the Hopi Tribe.

The Hopi Tribe is located in the northeastern part of Arizona on more than one million acres of federally reserved land. Tribally based community research, conducted in collaboration with University of Arizona researchers, has been successfully implemented on Hopi beginning with a cross-sectional community survey in 1993 and continuing with a second survey in 2006. Both surveys identified a strong community interest in cancer.

Penetrating knife injury to the frontal lobe--a case report.

Penetrating injuries of the craniofacial region are increasing and have the potential to cause severe vascular and neurological deficit. We present our management of a case with a knife stab injury to the infra-orbital region, traversing the orbit and penetrating into the anterior cranial fossa, the tip lying in close proximity to the anterior cerebral circulation.

Squamous cell carcinoma presenting as peri-implantitis: a case report.

Dental implants have proved to be a useful adjunct in the rehabilitation of oral cancer patients. We describe the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented with a white patch in the oral cavity, diagnosed to be a squamous cell carcinoma. She underwent extensive surgery including microvascular reconstruction, followed by implant rehabilitation.

Premaxillary osteotomy and guided tissue regeneration in secondary bone grafting in children with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Objective: To introduce a surgical technique for secondary alveolar bone grafting performed in conjunction with premaxillary osteotomy and guided tissue regeneration in children with bilateral clefts. This paper also looks at the outcomes of this surgery in a series of 15 consecutive patients.

Methods: Secondary alveolar bone grafting (with a premaxillary osteotomy and guided tissue regeneration with a collagen membrane) is usually carried out in the mixed dentition stage.

Assessment of respiratory symptoms and asthma prevalence in a U.S.-Mexico border region.

The authors studied children who were 10-12 yr of age and who resided in sister cities in a U.S.-Mexico border region to determine the prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms.

Prevalence of birth defects among infants of Gulf War veterans in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, and Iowa, 1989-1993.

Background: Epidemiologic studies of birth defects among infants of Gulf War veterans (GWV) have been limited to military hospitals, anomalies diagnosed among newborns, or self-reported data. This study was conducted to measure the prevalence of birth defects among infants of GWVs and nondeployed veterans (NDV) in states that conducted active case ascertainment of birth defects between 1989-93.

Methods: Military records of 684,645 GWVs and 1,587,102 NDVs were electronically linked with 2,314,908 birth certficates from Arizona, Hawaii, Iowa, and selected counties of Arkansas, California, and Georgia; 11,961 GWV infants and 33,052 NDV infants were identified.