Fetal alcohol syndrome in twins of alcoholic mothers: concordance of diagnosis and IQ

The effects of teratogens can be modified by genetic differences in fetal susceptibility and resistance. Twins of alcoholic mothers provide a unique opportunity to study this phenomenon with respect to alcohol teratogenesis. Sixteen pairs of twins, 5 MZ and 11 DZ, all heavily exposed to alcohol prenatally, were evaluated. They represented all available twins of alcohol-abusing mothers who were on the patient rolls of the authors. The rate of concordance for diagnosis was 5/5 for MZ and 7/11 for DZ twins. In two DZ pairs, one twin had fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), while the other had fetal alcohol effects (FAE). In 2 other DZ pairs, one twin had no diagnosis while one had FAE. IQ scores were most similar within pairs of MZ twins and least similar within pairs of DZ twins discordant for diagnosis. Despite equivalent alcohol exposure within twin pairs, alcohol teratogenesis appears to be more uniformly expressed in MZ than in DZ twins. These data are interpreted as reflecting the modulating influence of genes in the expression of the teratogenic effects of alcohol.     

Intrauterine alcohol and nicotine exposure: Attention and reaction time in 4-year-old children.

452 4-yr-old children whose mothers had been interviewed during pregnancy regarding alcohol, smoking, and drug use were examined with a computer-controlled vigilance task to assess attention and RT. Multiple regression analyses were used to permit testing of alcohol and nicotine effects after adjusting for the S's birth order, maternal education, nutrition, and caffeine (and alcohol or nicotine, whichever was relevant). Maternal alcohol use during early pregnancy was significantly related to poor attention (more errors of omission and more errors of commission) and longer RT. Maternal cigarette use was significantly related to poor attention and poor orientation to the display board. Results support the hypothesis that both alcohol use (even in the absence of self-reported problems with alcohol abuse) and cigarette use by pregnant women are related to poorer attention in preschool age offspring, even when adjusting for a variety of potentially confounding variables. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mental illness in adults with fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects

PURPOSE: To investigate the aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of dacryocystitis. METHOD: Retrospective review of the 62 clinical and microbiologic records collected between 1980 and 1990. RESULTS: Aerobic or facultative bacteria were recovered in 32 cases (52%), anaerobic bacteria only in 20 cases (32%), mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in seven cases (11%), and fungi in three cases (5%). A total of 94 organisms (1.5 per specimen), which included 56 aerobic or facultative anaerobic organisms, 35 anaerobic organisms, and three fungi, were recovered. The predominant aerobic and facultative bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (15 isolates), Staphylococcus epidermidis (13 isolates), and Pseudomonas species (seven isolates). The most frequently recovered anaerobes were Peptostreptococcus species (13 isolates), Propionibacterium species (12 isolates), Prevotella species (four isolates), and Fusobacterium species (three isolates). The predominant fungus was Candida albicans (two isolates). Polymicrobial infection was present in 28 cases (45%). CONCLUSION: These data highlight the potential importance of anaerobic bacteria in dacryocystitis.     

IQ at age 4 in relation to maternal alcohol use and smoking during pregnancy.

Examined the relationship of prenatal alcohol exposure to the IQ of children at age 4 in a longitudinal prospective, population-based study. Multiple-regression analyses on data from 421 children indicated that use of more than 1.5 oz (44 ml, or approximately 3 drinks) of alcohol per day during pregnancy was significantly related to an average IQ decrement of almost 5 IQ points (? of a standard deviation; p?=?.008), even after adjustment for maternal and paternal education, race, prenatal nutrition, aspirin and antibiotics, child's sex and birth order, mother–child interaction, and preschool attendance. We caution against using these data to describe "safe" drinking levels, because other outcomes, more sensitive than IQ tests, show significant alcohol effects at lower drinking levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prenatal exposure to alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and aspirin: Effects on fine and gross motor performance in 4-year-old children.

Fine and gross motor performance in 4-year-old children was examined in relation to prenatal exposure to alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and aspirin in a longitudinal prospective population-based study. Multiple regression analyses of data from 449 children indicated statistically significant relationships between moderate levels of prenatal alcohol exposure and increased errors, increased latency, and increased total time on the Wisconsin Fine Motor Steadiness Battery and poorer balance on the Gross Motor Scale, even after adjustment for relevant covariates. Most of these alcohol-related motor findings were linear, suggesting no safe level of exposure. Alcohol scores from the period prior to pregnancy recognition were the most predictive of decrements in motor performance. Although moderate prenatal alcohol exposure was also related to lower IQ scores in this same cohort, the motor effects were independent of IQ. Some relationships with aspirin and caffeine were also found, but they were difficult to interpret. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of sex, illness, and hospitalization on daydreaming.

200 Ss matched for sex, in- and outpatient status, and for medical-psychiatric nonpatient status were administered a self-rating daydreaming questions to daydreams. Strong sex differences in content emerged, with males engaging in flamboyant, action-oriented daydreams, while the daydreams of women were passive, reality-oriented, and somewhat less frequent. Very few emerged on the illness dimension, with psychiatric Ss engaging in more improbable, ideational, and highly affect laden daydreams, but reacting with little concern. Although daydreaming less than psychiatric Ss, medical Ss were more frightened by and absorbed in their daydreams. Generally, psychiatric Ss had a greater tolerance for emotional fantasy than did medical patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)