4,208 results match your criteria: "Anencephaly"
Collaborative Management of Suspected Anencephaly as Part of Perinatal Palliative Care.
J Palliat Med
December 2024
Birmingham Women's & Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Conjoined twin at abdomen: twin A anencephaly and face presentation with twin B cephalic presentation: a case report and review of the literature.
J Med Case Rep
December 2024
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Nekemte City, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.
Objectives: Conjoined twins are described as having been physically fused during pregnancy and delivery. They share some vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver, abdomen, etc. The article aims to present a unique discussion on conjoined twins at the abdomen, with twin A with anencephaly and face presentation and twin B with cephalic presentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStatus of prevention of neural tube defects post-folic acid fortification of cereal grains in South Africa.
Public Health Nutr
November 2024
Centre for Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, North-West Province, South Africa.
Objective: Neural tube defects (NTD) are serious, life-threatening birth defects. Staple food fortification with folic acid (vitamin B) is a proven, effective intervention to reduce NTD birth prevalence. Mandatory food fortification with folic acid was implemented in South Africa (SA) in 2003.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConservative political rhetoric and associated enduring threat to constitutional right to abortion-A case study from Brazil.
Contraception
November 2024
Division of Country Health Policies and Systems (CPS), World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INRAE, INSERM, Paris, France; University for Peace, United Nations Office, Genève, Switzerland; GIOYA Higher Education Institution, San Gwann, Malta; Faculdade Ciencias Médicas de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- - In Brazil, there are over 800,000 abortions annually, with around 250,000 women requiring emergency care for complications from unsafe abortions.
- - A proposed bill would make it a felony for patients to undergo abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy, even in legally permissible situations, which contradicts several UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and gender equality.
- - One suggested solution to the abortion issue in Brazil is to enhance investment in sexual education for adolescents to help reduce the need for unsafe procedures.
Approaches to a crisis in early pregnancy: an explorative qualitative study of medical students and doctors in training in Ireland, using a story completion model.
Sex Reprod Health Matters
October 2024
Researcher, University College Dublin (UCD) Perinatal Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland.
A crisis in early pregnancy can be due to an unplanned pregnancy or a suspected abnormality. Pregnant people have the right to unbiased and comprehensive advice of all options from healthcare providers. Using story completion models (SCM), the aim of this qualitative study was to explore the attitudes of medical students and doctors in training towards crisis pregnancy, specifically two scenarios: early unplanned pregnancy and fatal fetal abnormality (anencephaly).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFolate fortification for spina bifida: preventing neural tube defects.
Neurosurg Rev
October 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NYC, USA.
Article Synopsis
- * High-income countries have reduced NTD cases by adding folic acid to common foods, but many low- and middle-income countries still struggle with this problem due to various challenges.
- * The paper suggests that more countries should require folic acid in foods, improve education about its importance, and work together globally to help ensure that all women get enough folic acid to protect their babies.
Fetal Autopsy: Insights Into the Spectrum of Dysraphisms With Associated Anomalies.
Cureus
August 2024
Department of Pathology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, IND.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the frequency and distribution of neural tube defects (NTDs) in fetuses over a 4.5-year period at a medical center, emphasizing their prevalence and serious nature as congenital anomalies.
- A total of 48 cases of NTDs were analyzed, revealing that they were more common in female fetuses, with anencephaly being the most frequently observed type.
- The research also examined maternal risk factors, noting that many mothers did not take folic acid supplements during pregnancy, and some had prior pregnancies with NTDs, suggesting a possible link.
Comparison of total prevalence, perinatal prevalence, and livebirth prevalence of birth defects in Hunan Province, China, 2016-2020.
Front Public Health
September 2024
Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the prevalence of birth defects using data from Hunan Province, China, between 2016-2020, highlighting the need for surveillance to inform preventive measures.
- Data analysis indicated that out of 847,755 births, there were 23,420 birth defects, revealing significant differences in total, perinatal, and livebirth prevalence rates.
- The total prevalence rate was identified as 27.63‰, while perinatal and livebirth prevalence rates were 17.06‰ and 13.52‰ respectively, with significant underestimations of these rates compared to total prevalence.
Dichorionic Diamniotic Twin Anencephaly and Exencephaly.
Cureus
August 2024
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baldwin Woods OBGYN, Whiteville, USA.
Article Synopsis
- A case is described involving a 35-year-old woman at 13.1 weeks of pregnancy, where both of her dichorionic diamniotic twins were diagnosed with severe neural tube defects: anencephaly and exencephaly.
- Anencephaly and exencephaly result from failures in proper neural tube closure, and while neural tube defects are common, their occurrence in both twins in this type of pregnancy is extremely rare.
- The rarity of this instance highlights the need for further research to identify risk factors and develop preventive strategies, especially focusing on the genetic and environmental influences in twin pregnancies.
Cellular responses to developmental exposure to pyriproxyfen in chicken model: Contrasting embryos with and without exencephaly.
Neurotoxicol Teratol
December 2024
Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Pyriproxyfen (PPF), an insecticide found in drinking water, poses risks as a neurotoxic agent during the developmental stages of organisms, particularly affecting the central nervous system.
- A study investigated the impact of PPF on neural cell behavior in chicken embryos by comparing those with exencephaly (a congenital brain defect) to normal embryos after PPF exposure.
- Findings indicated that PPF exposure resulted in DNA damage and negatively impacted cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration, affecting neural cell layer structure in both types of embryos, suggesting broader implications for neurodevelopmental health.
Characterization of the Prenatal Ultrasound Phenotype Associated With 7q11.23 Microduplication Syndrome and Williams-Beuren Syndrome.
Prenat Diagn
October 2024
Henan Provincial Institute of Medical Genetics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates prenatal characteristics of fetuses with 7q11.23 microduplication syndrome and Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) to better understand the relationship between their genetic causes and physical traits.
- Researchers analyzed data from 7 fetuses with microduplication syndrome and 16 with WBS, using advanced genetic testing methods and collecting information on their ultrasound features and pregnancy outcomes.
- Findings reveal that both syndromes show significant cardiovascular defects in fetuses, with 7q11.23 microduplication syndrome also exhibiting other specific ultrasound features, indicating a need for more research to clarify these genetic conditions' prenatal markers.
A Devastating Diagnosis: Anencephaly With Unexpected Fetal Heartbeat.
Cureus
August 2024
Department of Radio-Diagnosis, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, IND.
Article Synopsis
- - The case report focuses on a severe birth defect, anencephaly, detected at 18 weeks of pregnancy, where the baby's brain and skull do not form properly.
- - Unusually, this condition was found later in pregnancy since most cases are identified earlier, showcasing the necessity for ongoing monitoring throughout the pregnancy.
- - The findings from this case can help healthcare providers enhance prenatal care and promote earlier detection of such defects, reinforcing the importance of continuous observation for better family support.
Neurosurgical Advocacy in the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects: Impacting Global Fortification Policies Through Leadership, Collaboration, and Stakeholder Engagement.
Neurosurg Clin N Am
October 2024
Department of Neurological Surgery, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 7 South, Washington, DC 20037, USA; Barrow Global, Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 North Third Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/grosseaumd.
Article Synopsis
- The G4 Alliance and its members attended the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023, where a key resolution was passed to tackle micronutrient deficiencies through food fortification.
- This resolution aims to prevent serious congenital disorders like spina bifida and anencephaly and is notable for being the first neurosurgery-led initiative since the WHO's founding.
- The event also featured additional resolutions and opportunities for neurosurgeons to leverage this momentum for advancing neurosurgical health initiatives and improving access to care.
[Declining Rate of Neural Tube Defects and Outcomes of Defective Infants in Shaanxi Province from 2003 to 2022].
Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao
August 2024
Department of Health Statistics,College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University,Zhengzhou 450001,China.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess changes in the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Shaanxi province from 2003 to 2022, analyze diagnosis timing and outcomes of affected infants, and predict future incidences for 2023-2025 to enhance the birth defects surveillance system.
- During the survey period, 1,106,483 perinatal infants were analyzed, revealing an overall NTD incidence of 7.66 per 10,000, with the highest rate in 2005 (48.02/10,000) and a significant decline to 0.57/10,000 by 2022, largely due to improved prenatal diagnosis.
- Key findings included that spina bif
Concordant fatal congenital anomaly in twin pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.
J Med Case Rep
August 2024
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia.
Article Synopsis
- A 22-year-old pregnant woman from Western Ethiopia discovered through a routine ultrasound that her twin pregnancy had serious congenital defects, including anencephaly and meningomyelocele.
- The patient decided to terminate the pregnancy after receiving counseling and was cared for during her hospital stay.
- The case highlights the need for early ultrasounds in twin pregnancies and emphasizes the importance of preconception counseling to ensure better outcomes in future pregnancies.*
Associations between exposure to extreme ambient heat and neural tube defects in Georgia, USA: A population-based case-control study.
Environ Res
November 2024
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- A study in Georgia investigated the link between extreme heat exposure during pregnancy and neural tube defects (NTDs) in babies, analyzing data from 1994-2017 involving 825 NTD cases and 3,300 control births.
- Researchers measured extreme heat as days when temperatures exceeded the 95th percentile for each county during an eight-week period around conception.
- Findings indicated increased risks of NTDs, particularly for spina bifida, with higher odds correlating with more consecutive days of extreme heat; this raises concerns about the health impacts of rising global temperatures on pregnant individuals.
Is there any association between blood glycoalkaloid levels and anencephaly in human?
Clin Biochem
October 2024
Harran University Application and Research Center for Science and Technology, Osmanbey Campus, 63100, Sanliurfa 63290, Turkey. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to explore the potential link between glycoalkaloid levels in blood and the occurrence of anencephaly in humans, particularly focusing on the compound solanine, which has been implicated in neural tube defects in animal studies.
- - Researchers compared blood and amniotic fluid samples from pregnant women diagnosed with fetal anencephaly to those from normal pregnancies, looking specifically at the levels of solanine, chaconine, and solamargine.
- - Results showed that solanine was undetectable in both groups, while alpha-chaconine and alpha-solamargine levels were significantly higher in the normal pregnancy group, suggesting no direct connection between solanine and anencephaly, but indicating a need
Maternal implications of fetal anomalies: a population-based cross-sectional study.
Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM
October 2024
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA (Atwani, Saade, Kawakita).
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how different types of fetal anomalies impact maternal health outcomes, particularly severe maternal morbidity (SMM), using U.S. birth data from 2011 to 2020.
- Findings show that most fetal anomalies increase the risk of SMM during pregnancy, with higher risks associated with conditions like cleft lip, spina bifida, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
- The analysis included over 35 million pregnancies and found that while most anomalies raised the risk of maternal complications, gastroschisis and limb anomalies did not significantly affect SMM outcomes.
Introduction of a nationwide first-trimester anomaly scan in the Dutch national screening program.
Am J Obstet Gynecol
July 2024
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- A study in the Netherlands evaluated the effectiveness of first-trimester anomaly scans to detect fetal structural defects in pregnant women as part of a nationwide prenatal screening program from November 2021 to November 2022.
- The study found that 74.9% of eligible women opted for the scan, and among those, 1.0% were flagged for potential anomalies while 54.9% of those cases were confirmed with abnormal findings in follow-up scans.
- The results highlighted the types of anomalies identified, including 332 structural and 117 genetic anomalies, indicating the scan's usefulness for early decision-making regarding reproductive options.
Monosymmetros Cephalothoracopagus Tetrabrachius and Tetrapus Piglets with Syndromic Evolution.
Animals (Basel)
July 2024
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I" from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timișoara, Romania.
Article Synopsis
- The study presents two cases of thoracopagus conjoined twin piglets, both with unique congenital malformations, including features like anencephaly and palatoschisis.
- Case No. 1 shows severe skull and vertebral abnormalities, while Case No. 2 features a bifid root tongue and additional skeletal duplications.
- Both cases highlight the complexity of conjoined twins and contribute to veterinary medicine by increasing awareness of their varied clinical presentations and associated internal organ anomalies.
Association between the MTHFR (rs1801133) gene variation and serum trace elements levels (Copper and Zinc) in individuals diagnosed with neural tube defects.
Clin Chim Acta
August 2024
Department of Anatomy, Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious central nervous system disorders that arise from the failure of the neural tube to close during embryonic development and can have significant health impacts when not diagnosed early.
- The study investigates the link between maternal and child NTDs and prenatal exposure to trace elements like copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), as well as variations in the MTHFR gene related to folate metabolism.
- Findings show significant associations between specific MTHFR genotypes and NTD risk, as well as notable differences in trace element levels between individuals with NTDs and healthy controls.*
Article Synopsis
- Anencephaly is a severe congenital defect of the central nervous system, characterized by a lack of significant brain structure and occurs due to improper closure of the neural tube around days 23 to 26 after fertilization.
- Various factors including genetics, environment, and socioeconomic status contribute to its development, leading to ongoing health challenges and costs.
- The study focuses on comparing the incidence of anencephaly in Slovakia and the Czech Republic from 2012 to 2020, investigating potential reasons for higher rates in Slovakia, the male predominance of the condition, and differences in prevention standards between countries.
World health assembly resolution for preventing micronutrient deficiencies and associated neural tube defects-A case study of global partnerships for a successful resolution adoption.
Birth Defects Res
June 2024
Department of Epidemiology, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Article Synopsis
- - On May 29, 2023, the 76th World Health Assembly adopted a resolution promoting food fortification to prevent micronutrient deficiencies and related conditions like spina bifida, with a target set for 2030.
- - The Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention previously advocated for mandatory folic acid fortification of staple foods, aiming to eliminate folate-related birth defects by 2024.
- - This case study highlights the quick passage of the WHA resolution due to effective global partnerships and serves as a model for future health initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child health.
Maternal periconceptional exposure to drinking water disinfection by-products and neural tube defects in offspring.
Birth Defects Res
June 2024
Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the relationship between maternal exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water during critical preconception periods and the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in their children.
- Data from maternal interviews and public water monitoring were analyzed to assess DBP levels and their potential link to NTDs, specifically spina bifida and anencephaly.
- Results showed no statistically significant associations between DBP exposure and NTDs, indicating that while some estimates suggested a potential link, the findings were not conclusive.
Craniorachischisis in a 33-week-old Female Fetus: A Case Report.
Acta Med Philipp
April 2024
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.
Article Synopsis
- * Craniorachischisis involves both anencephaly and an open defect from the brain down the spine and is fatal, emphasizing the serious nature of this condition.
- * This case highlights the importance of folic acid supplementation for all women planning to conceive, even in the absence of a family history of neural tube defects.