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Concordance of strabismic phenotypes in monozygotic versus multizygotic twins and other multiple births.

PURPOSE: The concordance of strabismic phenotypes was examined in monozygotic versus multizygotic twins and other multiple births to study the role of genetic background in different types of commitant strabismus. METHODS: Medical charts of 45 consecutive pairs of twins (16 monozygotic and 18 dizygotic twins, and 11 with unknown zygosity), 3 sets of triplets (one monozygotic and 2 trizygotic triplets), and one set of quadruzygotic quadruplets examined at 6 institutions between 1973 and 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. The concordance was defined as both or all members having either esotropia or exotropia in common. RESULTS: The concordance of strabismic phenotypes was noted in 33 of 49 pairs or sets (67.3%): 14 of 17 monozygotic twins or triplets (82.4%), 10 of 21 multizygotic twins, triplets, or quadruplets (47.6%), and 9 of 11 twins with unknown zygosity (81.8%). The concordance rate was significantly higher in monozygosity than in multizygosity (P =.043, Fisher exact probability test). The predominant concordant phenotypes in monozygosity were accommodative esotropia and intermittent exotropia. CONCLUSION: A high concordance rate of strabismic phenotypes, predominantly of accommodative esotropia and intermittent exotropia in monozygosity, suggests the genetic background for these types of strabismus.

Diseases in Twins↗

Cord blood concentrations of vitamin A in preterm infants.

Plasma vitamin A concentrations were measured in cord blood samples from 56 infants of gestational ages < 33 weeks. Outcome was followed prospectively. Mothers' dietary habits and use of multivitamins during pregnancy were evaluated by means of a questionnaire. Vitamin A concentrations less than 1.05 micromol/l (low) were measured in 22, but levels below 0.7 micromol/l (deficient) only in two cases. The concentrations were not correlated with the infants' gestational ages. Infants with low concentrations were significantly more often multiplets compared to those with normal levels and the vitamin A concentrations of the multiplets were significantly lower than those of the singletons. The outcome measures used and the mothers' dietary habits and multivitamin use were similar in cases with low and normal vitamin A concentrations. Multiple gestation seems to be correlated with low plasma vitamin A concentrations in preterm infants at birth, and a complete assessment of vitamin A status to detect possible deficiency might be indicated in these cases.

Adult↗

The interpretation and use of statistics in assisted reproductive technologies.

This article has discussed some of the uses and limitations of currently available statistics for ART programs. A well-known example from statistics states that flipping a coin will produce "heads" 50% of the time and "tails" 50% of the time, provided that the coin is flipped enough times. Experience also shows that the result of individual flips cannot be predicted. Similarly, in ART, statistics can only give general probabilities and not meaningful predictions of the outcome of any particular cycle. Patients should be aware of the limits of statistical analysis as it applies to their individual treatment.

Adult↗

Risk factors for low birthweight in north-east Brazil: the role of caesarean section.

Caesarean section (CS) delivery is associated with low birthweight (LBW) in south-east Brazil. A hospital-based study was conducted on singleton infants from mothers residing in São Luís, to assess if an association between CS and LBW was found in the northern part of the country, where the CS rate is lower than in the south-east. A standardised questionnaire was administered to a sample of 2541 mothers in 10 hospitals, representing 94% of all deliveries, from March 1997 to February 1998. In a logistic model, type of delivery was the independent variable, the other variables were treated as confounders, and interaction terms were added between type of delivery and all other factors. LBW was associated with low maternal height, maternal smoking, primiparity, previous LBW, public insurance, preterm birth and CS. The CS rate was 33.7%. The risk of CS was higher for primiparous and married mothers, those with high level of schooling and attended by the same physician during prenatal and delivery care, deliveries held in private hospitals, daylight hours or evenings, and for those mothers who had adequate prenatal care. Because it appears unlikely that only medical reasons are operative, it is a possibility that CS could cause LBW, reflecting abusive indications for elective CS.

Adult↗

Natural variation in the human sex ratio.

Analysis of the effect of multiple birth, birth order, age of parents and the sexes of preceding siblings on the secondary sex ratio was performed for 815 891 children, born in Denmark, 1980-1993. The proportion of males was analysed as a function of multiple birth, birth order, age of parents and the sexes of preceding siblings, using contingency tables, chi(2) tests and logistic regression analysis. The secondary sex ratio decreased with increased number of children per plural birth and with paternal age, whereas no independent effect was observed for maternal age, birth order, the sex of the preceding child, or the combination of sexes of previously born children in the family.

Adult↗

A 39-year followup of the Genain quadruplets.

The Genains, a unique group of monozygotic female quadruplets, all developed a schizophrenic disorder by age 24. They have been studied since the 1950s, because of the rarity of this occurrence (estimated to be one in 1.5 billion) and because their illnesses varied in severity. The identical inheritance would tend to rule out genetic differences as the cause of the neuropsychological differences; however, we cannot disentangle the effects of early brain injury and harsh punitive treatment as factors accounting for the differences in the severity of their disorders. We conducted neuropsychological examinations of the Genains at age 66, compared their test profiles, and contrasted certain test scores at 66 with those at ages 27 and 51. Test results indicate generally stable (or even improved) performance over time and support the notion that cognitive decline is not a degenerative process in schizophrenia. The Genains remind us of the exquisite interaction among variables that must be understood before additional, satisfactory progress can be made in preventing the development and predicting the course of schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Breastfeeding twins and higher-order multiples.

The benefits of breastfeeding for pre-term and full-term infants are well documented. Breastfeeding facilitates maternal-infant attachment, provides optimal infant nutrition and immunologic protection, and minimizes economic impact. These benefits are multiplied with twins and higher-order multiples, who often are born at risk. Supporting a mother as she initiates and continues to breastfeed one infant requires specific knowledge and skills. Health professionals need additional knowledge and skills if they are to provide appropriate assessment, intervention, and support when a mother breastfeeds twins or higher-order multiples.

Breast Feeding↗

A regional approach to promoting improved care of multiples.

Live births of multiples in the U.S. rose 35% from 87,700 in 1988 to 118,295 in 1998. This increase presents public health issues due to the elevated health and psychosocial risks that accompany multiple birth. However, health and social service providers and educators are poorly prepared to address the specific needs of the multiple birth population. The Twin Service Network Project therefore developed regional networks of multiple birth training and resources in California to address this problem. Results indicate that these can substantially improve the care available to multiples. The project's integrated package of training and parenting education materials is available to other regions to assist in such efforts.

California↗

Epidemiological trends in multiple births in the United States, 1971-1998.

The astounding rise in multiple births in the United States continues. We analyzed live birth files from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Twin, triplet, quadruplet, and quintuplet+ rates were calculated for the period 1971-1977 and for each year between 1990 and 1998. Triplet rates were also computed within categories of mother's education and age. The twin rate increased from 1.8% in 1971-77 to 2.8% in 1998. The rate of triplets increased 5.9-fold, quadruplets 11.9-fold, and quintuplets+ 5.3-fold between 1971-77 and 1998. Increases in triplet rates were much more marked among births to university-educated women and women 30 years and older. Among women 45 years and older, the triplet rate was approximately fifty times higher in 1998 than in 1971-77. This group of older women (> or = 45 years) had the highest multiple birth rate in 1998.

Adult↗

Estimated number of multiplets under 16 years using two sets of census data in Japan: 1990 and 1995.

Data for sets of multiples under 16 years of age were obtained from the population censuses of Japan in 1990 and 1995. These numbered 147,188 twin pairs, 1410 sets of triplets, 59 sets of quadruplets, and 3 sets of quintuplets in 1990, with the corresponding numbers in 1995 being 141,354, 2,211, 136 and 12, respectively. The total number of sets of multiples was 148,660 in 1990 and 143,713 in 1995. Twinning, triplet, quadruplet and quintuplet rates were estimated for each age. Rates of monozygotic twins and triplets remained constant age by age up to 15 years, while the dizygotic twinning rate, and rates of di- and tri-zygotic triplets decreased over the same period. Quadruplet and quintuplet rates also decreased. The accuracy of estimating number of multiples from census data is discussed using data on vital statistics.

Adolescent↗

The effects of assisted reproduction on the trends and zygosity of multiple births in England and Wales 1974-99.

Assisted reproductive techniques have led to an increase in the proportion of maternities that are multiple. Though predominantly dizygotic, they are at greater risk of monozygotic division than those spontaneously conceived. England and Wales data 1974-99 on stillbirths and livebirths were analysed for 4 periods: 1974-80 (pre-assisted reproduction; 1982-8; 1989-91 (pre-redefinition of stillbirth); 1993-9 (post-redefinition of stillbirth). For twin data, Weinberg's rule was applied to estimate the proportions that were mono- (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ). Compared with the period before assisted reproduction, the most recent period shows an increase in twin maternities of 3.81 per 1,000 comprised of 3.22 (95% CI 3.10 to 3.33; p < 0.0001) DZ and 0.60 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.68; p < 0.0001) MZ twins. It is estimated that 15.7% of assisted reproduction twins are MZ. Higher order multiple births showed an increase of 3.06 (95% CI 2.85 to 3.29; p < 0.0001) per 10,000 maternities. Stillbirth rates in MZ twins are of the same order of magnitude as those in higher order multiple births but higher than those in DZ twins. The improvement in stillbirth rates over the 26 year study period is of the same order magnitude in singletons, DZ and MZ twins and higher order multiples. Assisted reproduction has led to a significant increase in the proportion of MZ twins. These are at high risk of fetal death and this needs to be considered when local stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates are used in auditing obstetric services.

England↗

The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey (Belgium): a population-based register.

The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey (EFPTS), started in 1964, is unique among the 17 major European twin registers because it is population based, the twins (and higher order births) are ascertained at birth, basic perinatal data are collected, chorion type is established and, when appropriate, genetic markers including DNA fingerprints, are determined. The total number of sets is 5089 twin, 158 triplet and 14 of higher order. Zygosity has been diagnosed on the basis of sex, placental structure and genetic markers in more than 95% of pairs. The EFPTS is the only large register that includes placental data and allows differentiation of three subtypes of monozygotic twins based on the time of the initial zygotic division: the dichorionic-diamnionic pairs (early), the monochorionic-diamnionic pairs (intermediate), and the monochorionic-monoamnionic pairs (late). Methodology and basic results in twins are considered in this article; detailed studies will be reported later. The sex proportion in dizygotic (DZ) twins is the same as in singletons, whereas monozygotic (MZ) twins number more girls than boys. The difference in perinatal mortality between DZ and MZ twins is limited to the monochorionic MZ subgroup. Birth weight is highest in DZ twins and diminishes stepwise in MZ dichorionic and MZ monochorionic twins. Duration of pregnancy follows the same trend but is limited to a few days. Iatrogenic pregnancies are increasing to the point of representing almost 50% of the twin births in 1997.

Amnion↗