Unusual patterns of neural tube defects in a high risk region of northern China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence of different types of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Luliang Prefecture, Shanxi province, where the prevalence of NTDs is unusually high and the correlation between NTDs prevalence and patterns.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A surveillance population-based birth defects was performed in Luliang Prefecture, Shanxi province.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of our study showed that the prevalence of NTDs was 2-fold higher in Luliang Prefecture than in other areas of Shanxi province. Unusual patterns of NTDs were found, however, multiple NTDs were relatively common in Luliang Prefecture, accounting for over 13% of all NTDs cases in China.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of NTDs is associated with its patterns.</p>

Epidemiology of birth defects in high-prevalence areas of China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the levels of prevalence and to describe the epidemiological features of birth defects in high-prevalence areas in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A population-based retrospective study was conducted in two counties of Shanxi province that including birth defects among fetuses and live births born after 20 weeks' gestational age in the study areas from 2002 through 2004.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During 2002 - 2004, the prevalence of birth defects was 844.2 per 10 000 births in study areas and the first five main birth defects were inguinal hernia (182.2 per 10,000 births), anencephaly (104.4 per 10 000 births), congenital mental retardation (79.4 per 10,000 births), congenital heart diseases (73.2 per 10,000 births) and spina bifida (63.9 per 10,000 births). These five main birth defects accounted for about 60% of total birth defect cases. Inguinal hernia, undescended testicle, congenital mental retardation were usually not included for statistical analysis on birth defect. Excluding these birth defects, the prevalence of birth defects in study areas was 537.2 per 10,000 births and the first five main birth defects were anencephaly, congenital heart diseases, spina bifida, hydrocephaly (40.5 per 10 000 births) and encephalocele (31.2 per 10 000 births). The male prevalence of birth defects was 966.2 per 10 000 births, which was significantly higher than prevalence in females. The prevalence rates of birth defects for maternal age groups under 20 years old and over 30 years old were remarkably higher than those for 20-24 year and 25-29 year old mothers. The teenage mothers were at higher risk of having a child with neural tube defects(NTDs) or congenital heart diseases. Prevalence rates under 20 year maternal age group were 408.8 and 188.7 per 10 000 births for NTDs and congenital heart diseases respectively, whereas corresponding rates were 204.8 and 91.0 per 10 000 births for groups over 30 years of age. The prevalence rates increased with increasing gravidity or parity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study showed that the patterns of birth defects in study areas were very different from those of other areas, with an unusually high prevalence of NTDs. The study also suggested that both young and advanced mothers were at increased risk of having a child with a birth defect.</p>

Capacity of monitoring system on birth defects during 1990s in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the status and capacity of monitoring system on birth defects in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data regarding 27 groups of birth defects from 57 monitoring programs in World Atlas of Birth Defects (2nd Edition) published by WHO/ICBDMS/EUROCAT/HGP and descriptive analysis by their ranking and contribution were carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both hospital-based (Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network, CBDMN) and population-based (Birth Defect Surveillance System in Thirty Counties of Four Provinces, Beijing) monitoring systems showed the same characteristics as below: (1) Not enough groups were monitored, with trisomy 13/18 and congenital heart disease not reported. (2) Prevalence on those 'easily observed' group was high and cleft lip with or without cleft palate in CBDMN ranked 5 among 57 programs, with similar situation in polydactyly. (3) While prevalence rates of internal system and choromosal anomaly were low, CBDMN ranked 56 with Beijing the only non-reported city among all the 57 programs. (4) Unreasonable relationship was seen with prevalence of cleft lip was 5.76,4.02 times higher than that of cleft palate in CBDMN and in Beijing program. Which was 1.58 times of the world's means. Prevalence rates of anencephaly and total anotia/microtia rose 10.39% while spina bifida, hydrocephaly, and gastroschisis had a 4%-5% increase. The prevalence of hypospadias decreased by 4.13% and Down syndrome by 3.02%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The capacity of birth defects monitoring, both hospital-based and population-based, was poor in the 1990s, in China.</p>

Intrauterine infections and birth defects / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Intrauterine infection is an important cause of some birth defects worldwide. The most common pathogens include rubella virus, cytomegaloviurs, ureaplasma urealyticum, toxoplasma, etc. General information about these pathogens in epidemiology, consequence of birth defects, and the possible mechanisms in the progress of birth defects, and the interventions to prevent or treat these pathogens' infections are described. The infections caused by rubella virus, cytomegaloviurs, ureaplasma urealyticum, toxoplasma, etc. are common, yet they are proved to be fatal during the pregnant period, especially during the first trimester. These infections may cause sterility, abortion, stillbirth, low birth weight, and affect multiple organs that may induce loss of hearing and vision, even fetal deformity and the long-term effects. These pathogens' infections may influence the microenvironment of placenta, including levels of enzymes and cytokines, and affect chondriosome that may induce the progress of birth defect. Early diagnosis of infections during pregnancy should be strengthened. There are still many things to be settled, such as the molecular mechanisms of birth defects, the effective vaccines to certain pathogens. Birth defect researches in terms of etiology and the development of applicable and sensitive pathogen detection technology and methods are imperative.

Study on the risk factors of 100 cases with vulvar dystrophy / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the risk factors for vulvar dystrophy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An epidemiological study was carried out. Data on 100 cases with vulvar dystrophy was reviewed and face to face interviewed with a uniform questionnaire including the manner of work, environmental temperature, habit of eating, mood, underwear wearing, autoimmune diseases, marriage, menstrual age, the quantity of menses, orders of pregnancy, and labor trauma of vulvar during delivery, vulvitis and urethritis ect. Univariable analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out with 1:1 case-control methodology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Multiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that vulvar dystrophy was positively associated with hot food (OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.24 - 5.25), mood (OR = 4.27, 95% CI: 1.96 - 9.29), order of pregnancy (OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 2.11 - 5.40), vulvitis (OR = 6.74, 95% CI: 2.66 - 17.09) and urethritis (OR = 11.02, 95% CI: 1.01 - 120.19). Vulviitis or urethritis increased 6.74 or 11.02 times the incidence of vulva dystrophy. Anger or nervous state contributed to the incidence of vulva dystrophy (OR = 4.27). Addict to hot food and order of labor also increased risk ratio for 2.55 and 3.37 times, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The risk factors of vulvar dystrophy were: addict to hot food, often holding a angry or nervous state, increase of labors, having vulvitis and urethritis.</p>