Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia

Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jäsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe

Small-bowel Intestinal Obstruction Caused by an Unusual Internal Hernia

We report a rare case of transomental small-bowel herniation in a 91-year-old lady who presented with central abdominal pain and mild distension. Urgent abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a segment of dilated ileum with features suggestive of strangulation. Emergency exploration revealed a segment of congested small-bowel loop herniated through a defect over the greater omentum. Reduction of the bowel loops and division of the omental defect was performed without the need for bowel resection. The patient made an uneventful recovery. We discuss the value of CT scan and highlight the importance of recognizing this rare cause of small-bowel obstruction

Rectal Stump Lavage: Simple Procedure Resulting in Life-threatening Complication

In colorectal resections, rectal stump lavage is commonly performed prior to primary anastomosis for reducing bacterial counts and minimizing the risk of anastomotic recurrence. Being a potent bactericidal and cytotoxic disinfectant, chlorhexidine is frequently chosen as the irrigation solution of choice for such purposes. Despite its widespread use, the potential for developing chlorhexidine allergy is still a major concern due to the ever-rising number of literature reports of hypersensitivity reactions to chlorhexidine in surgical patients. This report illustrates the first reported case of life-threatening chlorhexidine anaphylaxis after its use in rectal stump lavage for colorectal resection. This report serves as a reminder of the potential danger of this “hidden allergen” in clinical practice

Large-Scale Programmable Integrated Photonics

A comparison of scaling trends between CMOS and photonic integrated circuits (PIC) shows a need for programmable integrated photonics. Looking beyond current technologies we offer a perspective of nonvolatile and programmable photonic platforms as a route to large scale integration (LSI) photonics