Correction: Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to DDT by Breast Milk Analysis in Canary Islands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083831.].

Cent anys. La recerca i la infància a l'Hospital del Mar / No disponible

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Different exposure of infants and adults to ultrafine particles in the urban area of Barcelona.

Air pollutants have been linked with a number of adverse health effects. Children are especially sensitive, particularly when they get close to the exhaust emissions of the vehicles on the street. The objective of this study was to measure the different exposure of infants and adults to ultrafine particles (UFP) as a surrogate marker of air pollution and of risk of deleterious health effects. Two different portable P-TRAK were used to measure simultaneously exposure to UFPs at different heights, one corresponding to the height of an infant in a stroller (0.55 m) and the other one to the height of the face of an adult pedestrian (1.70 m). Measurements were taken on three different streets with high traffic density in Barcelona, in 10 consecutive days during spring, with two sampling sessions of 1 h each day, moving afoot and taking into account temperature, humidity, and wind speed. Fifty-two thousand and eight (52,008) paired values were obtained, and the results showed about 10% higher levels of UFP concentration at 0.55 m (48,198 ± 25,296 pt/cm(3)) compared to 1.70 m (43,151 ± 22,517 pt/cm(3)). Differences between working and nonworking days were observed. Concentration patterns and variation by days of the week and time periods were related to traffic intensity. This study revealed that infants transported by stroller in urban areas are more exposed to air pollution than walking adults. As infants are more vulnerable and UFP have more effects on their health, measures should be taken to protect this population when it is transported in the street.

Advances in the development of novel antioxidant therapies as an approach for fetal alcohol syndrome prevention.

Ethanol is the most common human teratogen, and its consumption during pregnancy can produce a wide range of abnormalities in infants known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The major characteristics of FASD can be divided into: (i) growth retardation, (ii) craniofacial abnormalities, and (iii) central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. FASD is the most common cause of nongenetic mental retardation in Western countries. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms of ethanol neurotoxicity are not completely determined, the induction of oxidative stress is believed to be one central process linked to the development of the disease. Currently, there is no known effective strategy for prevention (other than alcohol avoidance) or treatment. In the present review we will provide the state of art in the evidence for the use of antioxidants as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment using whole-embryo and culture cells models of FASD. We conclude that the imbalance of the intracellular redox state contributes to the pathogenesis observed in FASD models, and we suggest that antioxidant therapy can be considered a new efficient strategy to mitigate the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure.

Transient exposure to ethanol during zebrafish embryogenesis results in defects in neuronal differentiation: an alternative model system to study FASD.

BACKGROUND: The exposure of the human embryo to ethanol results in a spectrum of disorders involving multiple organ systems, including the impairment of the development of the central nervous system (CNS). In spite of the importance for human health, the molecular basis of prenatal ethanol exposure remains poorly understood, mainly to the difficulty of sample collection. Zebrafish is now emerging as a powerful organism for the modeling and the study of human diseases. In this work, we have assessed the sensitivity of specific subsets of neurons to ethanol exposure during embryogenesis and we have visualized the sensitive embryonic developmental periods for specific neuronal groups by the use of different transgenic zebrafish lines. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In order to evaluate the teratogenic effects of acute ethanol exposure, we exposed zebrafish embryos to ethanol in a given time window and analyzed the effects in neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation and brain patterning. Zebrafish larvae exposed to ethanol displayed small eyes and/or a reduction of the body length, phenotypical features similar to the observed in children with prenatal exposure to ethanol. When neuronal populations were analyzed, we observed a clear reduction in the number of differentiated neurons in the spinal cord upon ethanol exposure. There was a decrease in the population of sensory neurons mainly due to a decrease in cell proliferation and subsequent apoptosis during neuronal differentiation, with no effect in motoneuron specification. CONCLUSION: Our investigation highlights that transient exposure to ethanol during early embryonic development affects neuronal differentiation although does not result in defects in early neurogenesis. These results establish the use of zebrafish embryos as an alternative research model to elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) of ethanol-induced developmental toxicity at very early stages of embryonic development.

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to DDT by breast milk analysis in Canary Islands.

INTRODUCTION: The use of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) has been banned since the late 1970s due to its toxicity. However, its long half-life makes it persistent in the environment and, consequently, almost everyone has DDT residues in the body. Human milk constitutes an ideal non-conventional matrix to investigate environmental chronic exposure to organochlorine compounds (OCs) residues. The study aimed to identify potential population risk factors of exposure to DDT due to the proximity to countries where it is still used. METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive lactating women were prospectively included in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). A validated questionnaire was used to obtain socioeconomic, demographics data, and daily habits during pregnancy. DDT levels in breast milk were measured by gas chromatography with-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Anthropometrics measurements in newborns were obtained. RESULTS: Thirty-four out of 72 (47.2%) of the analysed milk samples presented detectable levels of DDT (mean: 0.92 ng/g), ranging between 0.08 to 16.96 ng/g. The socio-demographic variables did not significantly differ between detectable DDT and non-detectable DDT groups. We found positive association between DDT levels and vegetables (OR (95%CI): 1.23 (1.01-1.50)) and poultry meat (OR (95%CI): 2.05 (1.16-3.60)) consumption, and also between the presence of DDT in breast milk and gestational age (OR (95%CI): 0.59 (0.40-0.90)). CONCLUSIONS: DDT is present in breast milk of women at the time of delivery. Residual levels and the spread from countries still using DDT explain DDT detection from vegetables and from animal origin food. The presence of this compound in breast milk represents a pre- and postnatal exposure hazard for foetuses and infants due to chronic bioaccumulation and poor elimination, with possible deleterious effects on health. This data should be used to raise awareness of the risks of OCs exposure and to help establish health policies in order to avoid its use worldwide and thus, to prevent its propagation.

Body mass index trajectory classes and incident asthma in childhood: results from 8 European Birth Cohorts--a Global Allergy and Asthma European Network initiative.

BACKGROUND: The causal link between body mass index (BMI) or obesity and asthma in children is still being debated. Analyses of large longitudinal studies with a sufficient number of incident cases and in which the time-dependent processes of both excess weight and asthma development can be validly analyzed are lacking. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether the course of BMI predicts incident asthma in childhood. METHODS: Data from 12,050 subjects of 8 European birth cohorts on asthma and allergies were combined. BMI and doctor-diagnosed asthma were modeled during the first 6 years of life with latent growth mixture modeling and discrete time hazard models. Subpopulations of children were identified with similar standardized BMI trajectories according to age- and sex-specific "World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards" and "WHO growth standards for school aged children and adolescents" for children up to age 5 years and older than 5 years, respectively (BMI-SDS). These types of growth profiles were analyzed as predictors for incident asthma. RESULTS: Children with a rapid BMI-SDS gain in the first 2 years of life had a higher risk for incident asthma up to age 6 years than children with a less pronounced weight gain slope in early childhood. The hazard ratio was 1.3 (95% CI, 1.1-1.5) after adjustment for birth weight, weight-for-length at birth, gestational age, sex, maternal smoking in pregnancy, breast-feeding, and family history of asthma or allergies. A rapid BMI gain at 2 to 6 years of age in addition to rapid gain in the first 2 years of life did not significantly enhance the risk of asthma. CONCLUSION: Rapid growth in BMI during the first 2 years of life increases the risk of asthma up to age 6 years.

Assessment of prenatal exposure to arsenic in Tenerife Island.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing awareness of the potential chronic health effects of arsenic (As) at low exposure levels has motivated efforts to better understand impaired child development during pregnancy by biomarkers of exposure. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prenatal exposure to As by analysis of an alternative matrix (meconium), to examine its effects on neonatal outcomes and investigate the association with maternal lifestyle and dietary habits during pregnancy. METHODS: A transversal descriptive study was conducted in Tenerife (Spain). A total of 96 mother-child pairs participated in the study. A questionnaire on sociodemographic, lifestyle and dietary habits during pregnancy was administered the day after the delivery. Analysis of total As in meconium was performed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer. RESULTS: Total As was detected in 37 (38.5%) meconium samples. The univariate logistic regression model indicates that prenatal exposure to As was associated with a low intake of eggs per week (OR 0.56; CI (95%): 0.34-0.94) during pregnancy. Conversely, frequent intake of vegetables was associated with prenatal As exposure (OR: 1.19; CI (95%): 1.01-1.41) and frequent intake of processed meat (as bacon, Frankfurt's sausage, and hamburger) shows a trend to As prenatal exposure (OR: 8.54; CI (95%): 0.80-90.89). The adjusted multivariate logistic regression model indicates that only frequent intake of vegetables maintains the association (OR: 1.31; CI (95%): 1.02-1.68). CONCLUSION: The studied population presented a low As exposure and was not associated with neonatal effects. Maternal consumption of vegetables during pregnancy was associated with detectable meconium As levels; however the concentration detected in meconium was too low to be considered a major public health concern in this geographical area.

Assessment of prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke by cotinine in cord blood for the evaluation of smoking control policies in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Over the last few years a decreasing trend in smoking has occurred not only in the general population but also during pregnancy. Several countries have implemented laws requiring all enclosed workplace and public places to be free of second hand smoke (SHS). In Spain, legislation to reduce SHS was implemented in 2005. The present study examines the possible effect of this legislation on prenatal SHS exposure. METHODS: Mothers and newborns were recruited from 3 independent studies performed in Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) and approved by the local Ethics Committee: 415 participated in a study in 1996-1998, 283 in 2002-2004 and 207 in 2008. A standard questionnaire, including neonatal and sociodemographic variables,tobacco use and exposure during pregnancy, was completed at delivery for all the participants in the three study groups. Fetal exposure to tobacco was studied by measuring cotinine in cord blood by radioimmunoassay (RIA). RESULTS: 32.8% of the pregnant women reported to smoke during pregnancy in 1996-1998, 25.9% in 2002-2004 and 34.1% in 2008. In the most recent group, the percentage of no prenatal SHS exposure (cord blood cotinine 0.2-1 ng/mL) showed an increase compared to the previous groups while the percentages of both: low (1.1-14 ng/mL) and very high (> 100 ng/mL) prenatal SHS exposure showed a decrease. DISCUSSION: The results of the three study periods (1996-2008) demonstrated a significant increase in the percentage of newborns free from SHS exposure and a decrease in the percentage of newborns exposed to SHS during pregnancy, especially at the very high levels of exposure. A significant maternal smoking habit was noted in this geographical area with particular emphasis on immigrant pregnant smoking women. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that there is a significant maternal smoking habit in this geographical area. Our recommendation is that campaigns against smoking should be directed more specifically towards pregnant women with particular emphasis on non-native pregnant smokers due to the highest prevalence of tobacco consumption in the immigrant women.

Assessment of exposure to drugs of abuse during pregnancy by hair analysis in a Mediterranean island.

AIMS: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of drug use by pregnant women living in Ibiza, using structured interviews and biomarkers in maternal hair. In addition, the potentially detrimental effects of maternal drug abuse on their newborns were investigated. Ibiza has a large international night-life resort associated with clubs, music and use of recreational drugs. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Hair samples were collected prospectively from January to March 2010 from a cohort of consecutive mothers after giving birth in the Hospital Can Misses in Ibiza. MEASUREMENTS: Opiates, cocaine, cannabis, methadone, amphetamines, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and their metabolites were detected in a 3-cm-long proximal segment of maternal hair corresponding to the last trimester of pregnancy by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (n = 107). Data on socio-demographic characteristics and on tobacco, alcohol, drugs of prescription and drugs of abuse consumption during pregnancy were collected using a structured questionnaire. FINDINGS: Hair analysis showed an overall 16% positivity for drugs of abuse in the third trimester of pregnancy, with a specific prevalence of cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and opiates use of 10.3, 6.4, 0.9 and 0%, respectively. In the questionnaires, only 1.9% of mothers declared using drugs of abuse during pregnancy. Gestational drug of abuse consumption was associated with active tobacco smoking, a higher number of smoked cigarettes and the mother being Spanish. CONCLUSIONS: Illicit drug use is substantially under-reported among pregnant women living in Ibiza, particularly among Spanish nationals. Voluntary, routine objective biological toxicology screening should be considered as part of routine examinations in antenatal clinics on this Mediterranean island.

Cocaine use during pregnancy assessed by hair analysis in a Canary Islands cohort.

BACKGROUND: Drug use during pregnancy is difficult to ascertain, and maternal reports are likely to be inaccurate. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of illicit drug use among pregnant women by using maternal hair analysis. METHODS: A toxicological analysis of hair was used to detect chronic recreational drug use during pregnancy. In 2007, 347 mother-infant dyads were included from the Hospital La Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). Data on socioeconomic characteristics and on substance misuse during pregnancy were collected using a structured questionnaire. Drugs of abuse: opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids and amphetamines were detected in maternal hair by immunoassay followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for confirmation and quantitation. RESULTS: Hair analysis revealed 2.6% positivity for cocaine and its metabolites. Use of cocaine during pregnancy was associated with unusual behaviour with potentially harmful effects on the baby. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study demonstrate significant cocaine use by pregnant women in Canary Islands. The data should be used for the purpose of preventive health and policy strategies aimed to detect and possibly to avoid in the future prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse.

Hair analysis following chronic smoked-drugs-of-abuse exposure in adults and their toddler: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Over the past two decades, the study of chronic cocaine and crack cocaine exposure in the pediatric population has been focused on the potential adverse effects, especially in the prenatal period and early childhood. Non-invasive biological matrices have become an essential tool for the assessment of a long-term history of drug of abuse exposure. CASE REPORT: We analyze the significance of different biomarker values in hair after chronic crack exposure in a two-year-old Caucasian girl and her parents, who are self-reported crack smokers. The level of benzoylecgonine, the principal metabolite of cocaine, was determined in segmented hair samples (0 cm to 3 cm from the scalp, and > 3 cm from the scalp) following washing to exclude external contamination. Benzoylecgonine was detectable in high concentrations in the child's hair, at 1.9 ng/mg and 7.04 ng/mg, respectively. Benzoylecgonine was also present in the maternal and paternal hair samples at 7.88 ng/mg and 6.39 ng/mg, and 13.06 ng/mg and 12.97 ng/mg, respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on the data from this case and from previously published poisoning cases, as well as on the experience of our research group, we conclude that, using similar matrices for the study of chronic drug exposure, children present with a higher cocaine concentration in hair and they experience more serious deleterious acute effects, probably due to a different and slower cocaine metabolism. Consequently, children must be not exposed to secondhand crack smoke under any circumstance.

Acute heroin intoxication in a baby chronically exposed to cocaine and heroin: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acute intoxication with drugs of abuse in children is often only the tip of the iceberg, actually hiding chronic exposure. Analysis using non-conventional matrices such as hair can provide long-term information about exposure to recreational drugs. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a one-month-old Caucasian boy admitted to our pediatric emergency unit with respiratory distress and neurological abnormalities. A routine urine test was positive for opiates, suggesting an acute opiate ingestion. No other drugs of misuse, such as cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines or derivatives, were detected in the baby's urine. Subsequently, hair samples from the baby and the parents were collected to evaluate the possibility of chronic exposure to drug misuse by segmental analysis. Opiates and cocaine metabolites were detected in hair samples from the baby boy and his parents. CONCLUSIONS: In light of these and previous results, we recommend hair analysis in babies and children from risky environments to detect exposure to heroin and other drug misuse, which could provide the basis for specific social and health interventions.

Relación entre las infecciones respiratorias de vías bajas durante el primer año de vida y el desarrollo de asma y sibilancias en niños / Relationship between Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in the First Year of Life and the Development of Asthma and Wheezing in Children

IntroducciónEn la relación entre las infecciones respiratorias de vías bajas (IRVB) y el desarrollo de asma y sibilancias durante la infancia, existen pocos datos con diseños prospectivos, de cohorte, desde el nacimiento y con población no seleccionada. El objetivo es determinar la prevalencia de asma y sibilancias recurrentes en la infancia, y establecer el efecto de las IRVB durante el primer año de vida.Pacientes y métodosCohorte poblacional de 487 recién nacidos en el Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, con seguimiento hasta los 6 años de edad. Como variables dependientes se han estudiado: presencia de asma y sibilancias; como variables independientes: IRVB ocurridas en el primer año de vida y diversas covariables como prematuridad, peso al nacer, antecedentes maternos de asma y atopia, lactancia materna y exposición prenatal al tabaco.ResultadosLa prevalencia de asma a los 6 años fue del 9,3%. Las variables asociadas al desarrollo de asma son: IRVB, ser prematuro, tener madre atópica y haber tomado lactancia artificial. Las IRVB en el primer año de vida también son un factor de riesgo relacionadas con las sibilancias recurrentes precoces y las sibilancias persistentes.ConclusionesLos resultados confirman que las IRVB durante el primer año de vida están relacionadas con el diagnóstico de asma y con los fenotipos clínicos de sibilancias precoces y de sibilancias persistentes. Estos resultados concuerdan con el concepto de que las IRVB producidas en un período crítico del desarrollo, como los primeros años de vida, tienen un papel importante en la aparición posterior de asma y de sibilancias recurrentes(AU)

IntroductionThere is limited knowledge on the relationship between lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and asthma and wheezing during infancy, as there are few studies with prospective design, birth cohort and in non selected population. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of asthma and recurrent wheezing in childhood and to analyse the relationship between LTRI during the first year of life and the development of asthma and/or wheezing in childhood.Patients and MethodsProspective birth cohort study conducted in the Hospital del Mar (Barcelona). We recruited 487 children, followed up from the pregnancy to the 6th year of life. As outcomes we studied: the presence of asthma and wheezing. As independent variables we studied: LTRI occurring during the first year of life, and some covariables including, among others: prematurity, birth weight, maternal history of asthma and atopy, breastfeeding, prenatal exposure to tobacco.ResultsThe asthma prevalence at 6 year of age was 9.3%. The variables associated with the development of asthma were LTRI, prematurity, atopic mother and formula breastfeeding. LTRI during the first year of life were also related with early recurrent wheezing and persistent wheezing.ConclusionsOur results confirm that LTRI during the first year of life are related to the diagnosis of asthma and with the clinical phenotypes of early wheezing and persistent wheezing. These results are in accordance with the concept that LTRI occurring during a critical period of development, as are the first years of life, have an important role on in the later development of asthma and recurrent wheezing(AU)

[Relationship between lower respiratory tract infections in the first year of life and the development of asthma and wheezing in children]. / Relación entre las infecciones respiratorias de vías bajas durante el primer año de vida y el desarrollo de asma y sibilancias en niños.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited knowledge on the relationship between lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and asthma and wheezing during infancy, as there are few studies with prospective design, birth cohort and in non selected population. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of asthma and recurrent wheezing in childhood and to analyse the relationship between LTRI during the first year of life and the development of asthma and/or wheezing in childhood. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective birth cohort study conducted in the Hospital del Mar (Barcelona). We recruited 487 children, followed up from the pregnancy to the 6th year of life. As outcomes we studied: the presence of asthma and wheezing. As independent variables we studied: LTRI occurring during the first year of life, and some covariables including, among others: prematurity, birth weight, maternal history of asthma and atopy, breastfeeding, prenatal exposure to tobacco. RESULTS: The asthma prevalence at 6 year of age was 9.3%. The variables associated with the development of asthma were LTRI, prematurity, atopic mother and formula breastfeeding. LTRI during the first year of life were also related with early recurrent wheezing and persistent wheezing. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that LTRI during the first year of life are related to the diagnosis of asthma and with the clinical phenotypes of early wheezing and persistent wheezing. These results are in accordance with the concept that LTRI occurring during a critical period of development, as are the first years of life, have an important role on in the later development of asthma and recurrent wheezing.

A comprehensive review of assay methods to determine drugs in breast milk and the safety of breastfeeding when taking drugs.

Most of the licit and illicit drugs consumed by the breastfeeding woman pass into the milk and can modify the production, volume and composition of the milk, as well as hypothetically have short- and long-term harmful effects on the infant. There is much confusion in the scientific community regarding this issue: should a woman breastfeed her baby while continuing to use prescription drugs and/or drugs of abuse? There are many case reports of clinically significant toxicity in breast-fed infants from some substances used by mothers (such as irritability, vomiting, sedation, respiratory depression, shock), but there are too few data on studies conducted in breastfeeding women and their infants to make a realistic risk assessment. The objective measurement of a drug and/or metabolites in maternal milk is the first step when investigating the amount of drug excreted in milk and subsequently calculating the daily dose administered to the breast-fed infant. The present review reports the analytical methods developed to detect different drugs in the breast milk, listing the principal characteristics and validation parameters, advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the mechanisms of drug transfer into breast milk are discussed, the correlation between the concentration of the drug in breast milk and potential adverse outcomes on the infant are described for each drug, and suggested harm minimization strategies and approved breastfeeding recommendations are indicated.

Matrices biológicas para la evaluación de la exposición ambiental al tabaco durante la época prenatal y la infancia / Biological matrices for the evaluation of environmental tobacco exposure during prenatal life and childhood

Introducción. La nicotina y sus principales metabolitos, cotinina y trans-3 hidroxicotinina, determinadas en matrices convencionales y no convencionales, han sido utilizadas como biomarcadores de la exposición ambiental al tabaco durante la infancia. La presencia de estas sustancias en matrices como líquido amniótico, meconio y cabello fetal se explica por la exposición prenatal al humo de tabaco durante las diferentes etapas del embarazo. Matrius biològiques per a l’avaluació de l’exposició ambiental al tabac durant l’època prenatal i la infància Esther Papaseit 1,2, Heura Llaquet 1,2, Simona Pichini 3, Xavier Joya 1,2, Oriol Vall 1,2, Óscar García-Algar 1,2 1 Unitat de Recerca Infància i Entorn, Institut Municipal d’Investigació Mèdica (IMIM)-Hospital del Mar. Barcelona 2 Departament de Pediatria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Barcelona 3 Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Roma (Itàlia) Objetivo. La determinación de la nicotina y sus metabolitos en sangre de cordón, orina neonatal y leche materna es útil para detectar la exposición al humo del tabaco durante el período inmediatamente antes y después del nacimiento. La determinación en niños de cotinina en sangre y orina y en pelo permiten conocer la exposición aguda y crónica durante la infancia, respectivamente. Sin embargo, para la monitorización y categorización de la exposición acumulada al humo del tabaco durante la totalidad de la infancia, incluyendo el período prenatal, la evaluación de nicotina en dientes ha sido propuesta como una prometedora prueba no invasiva. Resultado y conclusiones. Este artículo revisa la utilidad de la determinación de nicotina y sus metabolitos en diversas matrices biológicas fetales y pediátricas, considerando la no invasividad de su recogida, la ventana de detección y la aplicación clínica en pediatría(AU)

Background. Nicotine and its major metabolites, cotinine and trans-3-hydroxycotinine, have been used as biomarkers for determination of environmental tobacco exposure during childhood in conventional and non-conventional biological matrices. The presence of these substances in matrices such as amniotic fluid, meconium, and fetal hair can be explained by prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Objectives. The determination of nicotine and its metabolites in cord blood, neonatal urine, and maternal milk can be used to detect exposure to ETS during the period immediately before and after birth. Measurement of cotinine levels in blood and urine, and of cotinine and nicotine in hair may allow for the assessment of acute and chronic exposure, respectively. However, assessment of nicotine in teeth has been proposed as a promising, non-invasive method for the determination and monitoring of cumulative exposure to ETS during childhood. Results and Conclusions. This paper reviews the usefulness of measuring nicotine and its metabolites in different fetal and childhood biological matrices, considering its non-invasive nature, the window for detection, and the clinical application in pediatrics(AU)

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous quantification of drugs of abuse in human placenta at 12th week of gestation.

We describe the development and validation of a method for the quantification of drugs of abuse, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), in human placenta. Concentration ranges covered were 5-500 ng/g for amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, methadone, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, morphine, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, nicotine, and cotinine. Intra-assay and inter-assay imprecisions were less than 15.7% for lower quality control samples and less than 14.9% for medium and high quality control samples. Recovery range was 36.2-83.7%. Placenta samples were kept at -80 degrees C until analysis; analytes were stable after three freeze-thaw cycles (samples stored at -20 degrees C). This accurate and precise assay has sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the analysis of specimens collected from women who voluntarily terminated their pregnancy at 12th week of gestation. The method has proven to be robust and accurate for the quantification of the principal recreational drugs of abuse in this period of the prenatal life. This is the first report that highlights the presence of drugs of abuse during the first trimester of gestation.