Prenatal studies

Last, although highly polymorphic, the possibility exists that one or both parents are not informative (i.e.> heterozygous) for one or more of the DNA markers thereby preventing prenatal studies on future at-risk pregnancies or compromising the accuracy of future prenatal results. 

Environmental exposures to PCBs are significantly lower than those reported in the workplace and are therefore unlikely to cause adverse human health effects in adults. However, it is apparent from the results of several recent studies on children that there was a correlation between in utero exposure to PCBs, eg, cord blood levels, and developmental deficits (65—68) including reduced bkth weight, neonatal behavior anomaUes, and poorer recognition memories. At four years of age, there was stiU a correlation between prenatal PCB exposure levels and short-term memory function (verbal and quantitative). In these studies the children were all exposed to relatively low environmental levels of PCBs. Although these effects may be related to other contaminants, it is clear that this is an area of concern regarding the potential adverse human health impacts of PCBs. 

Fuchs VS, Golbs S, Kuhnert M, et al. 1976. [Studies into the prenatal toxic action of parathion methyl on Wistar rats and comparison with prenatal toxicity cyclophosphamide and trypan blue]. Arch Exp Vet Med 30 343-350. (German)... 

No information was located concerning whether the developmental process is altered in humans exposed to endosulfan either prenatally or postnatally. Studies in animals have provided inconclusive evidence (FMC 1980b, 1981 Gupta et al. 1978 Hoechst 1982, 1984a), and further well-conducted research would be helpful to clarify this issue. 

DNA sequences as short as 50-100 bp and as long as 10 kb can be amplified. Twenty cycles provide an amplification of 10 and 30 cycles of 10. The PCR allows the DNA in a single cell, hair follicle, or spermatozoon to be amplified and analyzed. Thus, the applications of PCR to forensic medicine are obvious. The PCR is also used (1) to detect Infectious agents, especially latent viruses (2) to make prenatal genetic diagnoses (3) to detect allelic polymorphisms (4) to establish precise tissue types for transplants and (5) to study... 

Hahnemann, N. "Early Prenatal Diagnosis A Study of Biopsy Techniques and Cell Culturing from Extraembryonlc Membranes". Clin. Genet., (1974), 6, 294-306. 

E. and Vlek-Noot, C. "The Use of Quantitative Cytochemlcal Analysis In Rapid Prenatal Detection and Somatic Cell Genetic Studies of Metabolic Diseases". Hlstochem. J.,... 

Wald, N. J. Brock, D. J. H. and Bonnar, J. "Prenatal Diagnosis of Spina Bifida and Anencephaly by Maternal Serum - Alpha-Fetoprotein Measurement. A Controlled Study". 

Hahnemann, N. "Early Prenatal Diagnosis A Study of Biopsy... 

The examination of individual NP case studies by other investigators, as well as summary results of our pilot research, suggest at least two clinically distinct populations. One subsample of PCP abusers has a developmental history of prenatal and birth complications, e.g., prematurity, anoxia at birth, or low APGAR scores, and of early childhood factors, e.g., CHI with loss of consciousness, febrile illnesses with or without convulsions, or chronic ear infections. These histories contribute to developmental learning and performance disorders. In this group, LD causes academic failure and frustrations, which in turn contribute to the development of psychological and interpersonal problems. 

While the aforementioned studies have described the manifestations of i n ut.ero exposure to PCP by human and animal fetuses as well as behaviors adult monkeys who had received only PCP, the longterm consequences of prenatal abuse have not been described. Therefore, this report will elaborate upon our observations of the effects of PCP upon the growth and development of 12 neonates between 2 and 18 months of age, whom we have followed from August 1983 to March 1985. 

Criteria developed in the National Institute of Medicine Study (Gortmaker 1979) was used to establish the adequacy of prenatal care. In 67 Dercent of our 12 cases. Drenatal care durina nrea-nancy was inadequate. However, among mothers of preterm infants, care was inadequate in all cases. Thirty-three percent of all mothers received no prenatal care. ... 

Information from wel1-control 1 ed animal studies that focus on the effects of prenatal exposure to single and polydrug use will be of great value. Further evaluation of the fine motor movements that appear to be clearly neurological ly deviant in the PCP-exposed infants is essential. The emerging socialization skills during the second year of life also need more detailed evaluations. 

The studies by Emhart et al. (1988) and Emhart and Greene (1990) found no associations between prenatal lead exposure and intelligence or language development, whereas those by Dietrich et al. 

In most of these studies, prenatal exposure was generally estimated through maternal and/or cord blood lead concentrations. Exposure of the mothers can be assumed to have been primarily through the oral route, but with contribution from the inhalation route as well. The most relevant studies are discussed below, along with results from a few investigations of different markers for lead exposure. 

Interim results of an investigation of 185 subjects and later results from the complete follow-up sample of 305 subjects in a prospective study of inner-city children (>80% black) bom in Cincinnati, Ohio, were reported by Dietrich et al. (1986, 1987a, 1987b). Maternal PbB levels were measured at the first prenatal visit cord PbB was measured at delivery infant PbB levels were measured at 10 days and at 3 months of age and neurobehavioral tests were performed at 3 and 6 months of age. Mean PbB levels were as follows prenatal (maternal)—8.0 pg/dL (range, 1-27 pg/dL) umbilical cord—6.3 pg/dL (range,... 

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