Children with Hirschsprung's disease have high morbidity in the first 5 years of life.

Background: Hirschsprung's disease is a rare congenital anomaly of the colon with absence of the ganglionic nerve cells. The treatment of the anomaly is surgical.

Methods: This population-based data-linkage cohort study was part of the EUROlinkCAT project and investigated mortality and morbidity for the first 5 years of life for European children diagnosed with Hirschsprung's disease.

Gastroschisis prevalence patterns in 27 surveillance programs from 24 countries, International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research, 1980-2017.

Background: Gastroschisis is a serious birth defect with midgut prolapse into the amniotic cavity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and time trends of gastroschisis among programs in the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research (ICBDSR), focusing on regional variations and maternal age changes in the population.

Methods: We analyzed data on births from 1980 to 2017 from 27 ICBDSR member programs, representing 24 countries and three regions (Europe , Latin America, North America).

Timing of Cardiac Surgical Interventions and Postoperative Mortality in Children With Severe Congenital Heart Defects Across Europe: Data From the EUROlinkCAT Study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the timing of the first cardiac surgery, the number of cardiac surgeries performed, and 30-day postoperative mortality rate for children with severe congenital heart defects (sCHDs) in their first 5 years of life.

Methods And Results: This was a population-based data linkage cohort study linking information from 9 European congenital anomaly registries to vital statistics and hospital databases. Data were extracted for 5693 children with sCHDs born from 1995 to 2004.

Surveillance of multiple congenital anomalies; searching for new associations.

Many human teratogens are associated with a spectrum of congenital anomalies rather than a single defect, and therefore the identification of congenital anomalies occurring together more frequently than expected may improve the detection of teratogens. Thirty-two EUROCAT congenital anomaly registries covering 6,599,765 births provided 123,566 cases with one or more major congenital anomalies (excluding chromosomal and genetic syndromes) for the birth years 2008-2016. The EUROCAT multiple congenital anomaly algorithm identified 8804 cases with two or more major congenital anomalies in different organ systems, that were not recognized as part of a syndrome or sequence.

Rapid, label-free classification of glioblastoma differentiation status combining confocal Raman spectroscopy and machine learning.

Label-free identification of tumor cells using spectroscopic assays has emerged as a technological innovation with a proven ability for rapid implementation in clinical care. Machine learning facilitates the optimization of processing and interpretation of extensive data, such as various spectroscopy data obtained from surgical samples. The here-described preclinical work investigates the potential of machine learning algorithms combining confocal Raman spectroscopy to distinguish non-differentiated glioblastoma cells and their respective isogenic differentiated phenotype by means of confocal ultra-rapid measurements.

Cytomegalovirus seronegativity rate in pregnant women and primary cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy in rural Germany.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common congenital infection worldwide and one of the leading causes of congenital hearing loss in newborns. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence rate for cytomegalovirus in pregnant women and the rate of CMV serological testing utilised during pregnancy in a rural region in Germany.

Methods: Retrospective data on the prevalence of CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were obtained from 3,800 women, identified in the study group of 19,511 pregnant women from outpatient settings whose samples were collected between 1 and 2014 and 30 April 2018.

European study showed that children with congenital anomalies often underwent multiple surgical procedures at different ages across Europe.

Aim: Children with congenital anomalies often require surgery but data on the burden of surgery for these children are limited.

Methods: A population-based record-linkage study in Finland, Wales and regions of Denmark, England, Italy and Spain. A total of 91 504 children with congenital anomalies born in 1995-2014 were followed to their tenth birthday or the end of 2015.

Amniotic band syndrome and limb body wall complex in Europe 1980-2019.

Amniotic band syndrome (ABS) and limb body wall complex (LBWC) have an overlapping phenotype of multiple congenital anomalies and their etiology is unknown. We aimed to determine the prevalence of ABS and LBWC in Europe from 1980 to 2019 and to describe the spectrum of congenital anomalies. In addition, we investigated maternal age and multiple birth as possible risk factors for the occurrence of ABS and LBWC.

Cross-sectional study to assess awareness of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in Germany.

Background: Study aimed to assess awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and its determinants in pregnancy.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey was conducted in five hospital-based maternity units in Germany. Pregnant women attending the maternity departments completed interviewer/self-administered survey questionnaire.

Gastrostomy and congenital anomalies: a European population-based study.

Objective: To report and compare the proportion of children with and without congenital anomalies undergoing gastrostomy for tube feeding in their first 5 years.

Methods: A European, population-based data-linkage cohort study (EUROlinkCAT). Children up to 5 years of age registered in nine EUROCAT registries (national and regional) in six countries and children without congenital anomalies (reference children) living in the same geographical areas were included.

Temporal and geographical variations in survival of children born with congenital anomalies in Europe: A multi-registry cohort study.

Background: Congenital anomalies are a major cause of perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate temporal changes and geographical variation in survival of children with major congenital anomalies (CA) in different European areas.

Methods: In this population-based linkage cohort study, 17 CA registries members of EUROCAT, the European network for the surveillance of CAs, successfully linked data on 115,219 live births with CAs to mortality records.

Prevention of Neural Tube Defects in Europe: A Public Health Failure.

Thirty years ago it was demonstrated that folic acid taken before pregnancy and in early pregnancy reduced the risk of a neural tube defect (NTD). Despite Public Health Initiatives across Europe recommending that women take 0.4 mg folic acid before becoming pregnant and during the first trimester, the prevalence of NTD pregnancies has not materially decreased in the EU since 1998, in contrast to the dramatic fall observed in the USA.

Signal Detection in EUROmediCAT: Identification and Evaluation of Medication-Congenital Anomaly Associations and Use of VigiBase as a Complementary Source of Reference.

Introduction: Knowledge on the safety of medication use during pregnancy is often sparse. Pregnant women are generally excluded from clinical trials, and there is a dependence on post-marketing surveillance to identify teratogenic medications.

Aims: This study aimed to identify signals of potentially teratogenic medications using EUROmediCAT registry data on medication exposure in pregnancies with a congenital anomaly, and to investigate the use of VigiBase reports of adverse events of medications in the evaluation of these signals.

Survival of infants born with esophageal atresia among 24 international birth defects surveillance programs.

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) affects around 2.3-2.6 per 10,000 births world-wide.

Macrolide and lincosamide antibiotic exposure in the first trimester of pregnancy and risk of congenital anomaly: A European case-control study.

This study investigated the risk of congenital heart defects (CHD) and other congenital anomalies (CA) associated with first trimester use of macrolide antibiotics (mainly erythromycin, spiramycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin) and lincosamides (clindamycin) using a case-malformed control design. Data included 145,936 babies with a CA diagnosis (livebirths, stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy for CA) from 15 population-based EUROCAT registries in 13 European countries, covering 9 million births 1995-2012. Cases were babies with CHD, anencephaly, orofacial clefts, genital and limb reduction anomalies associated with antibiotic exposure in the literature.

Periconceptional folic acid supplement use among women of reproductive age and its determinants in central rural Germany: Results from a cross sectional study.

Background: Prevalence of neural tube defects (NTD) has not decreased in Germany despite longstanding recommendations for folic acid supplementation. To examine the prevalence of periconceptional folic acid supplement use and associated factors among German women of reproductive age.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey was conducted in hospital-based maternity units in rural Germany.