Birth defects in newborns and stillborns: an example of the Brazilian reality

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study constitutes a clinical and genetic study of all newborn and stillborn infants with birth defects seen in a period of one year in a medical school hospital located in Brazil. The aims of this study were to estimate the incidence, causes and consequences of the defects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For all infants we carried out physical assessment, photographic records, analysis of medical records and collection of additional information with the family, besides the karyotypic analysis or molecular tests in indicated cases.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>The incidence of birth defects was 2.8%. Among them, the etiology was identified in 73.6% (ci95%: 64.4-81.6%). Etiology involving the participation of genetic factors single or associated with environmental factors) was more frequent 94.5%, ci95%: 88.5-98.0%) than those caused exclusively by environmental factors (alcohol in and gestational diabetes mellitus). The conclusive or presumed diagnosis was possible in 85% of the cases. Among them, the isolated congenital heart disease (9.5%) and Down syndrome (9.5%) were the most common, followed by gastroschisis (8.4%), neural tube defects (7.4%) and clubfoot (5.3%). Maternal age, parental consanguinity, exposure to teratogenic agents and family susceptibility were some of the identified risk factors. The most common observed consequences were prolonged hospital stays and death.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The current incidence of birth defects among newborns and stillbirths of in our population is similar to those obtained by other studies performed in Brazil and in other underdeveloped countries. Birth defects are one of the major causes leading to lost years of potential life. The study of birth defects in underdeveloped countries should continue. The identification of incidence, risk factors and consequences are essential for planning preventive measures and effective treatments.</p

Germination of Phoenix roebelenii Seeds

The Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien is one of the most used plants in the Brazilian landscape. The work aimed to study the effect of different fruit harvesting locations, associated with seven temperature conditions, on the germination of P. roebelenii seeds. The fruits were collected from two different locations: Ilha Solteira, western Sao Paulo State and Jaboticabal in the middle East of the same State. The disseminules (seeds with stucked endocarp) were placed in plastic boxes (gerbox), and the experimental design was entirely randomized in a factorial scheme of 7x2 (seven temperatures conditions: room temperature, constant at 20, 25, 30 and 35 degrees C and alternated at 20-30 and 25-35 degrees C; and two fruit harvesting locations: Ilha Solteira and Jaboticabal, with four replications with 25 seeds each. The disseminules that emitted the germinative intumescence were daily noted until the germinative process got steady, in about 90 days. The germination rate (G%), the germination speed index (GSI), and the means were extracted and compared by the Tukey test. The highest values of germination rate were obtained at 30, 25-35 degrees C and room temperatures. The seeds showed a higher GSI at room temperature. The fruit harvesting locations influenced the germination

Efeito da carga de frutos e concentrações salinas no crescimento do meloeiro Cultivado em substrato Effect of fruit load and saline concentrations on the growth of melon cultivated under protected environment

O objetivo foi avaliar o efeito do número de frutos por planta e de concentrações salinas em solução nutritiva recirculante, no crescimento do meloeiro cultivado em ambiente protegido e em substrato de casca de arroz crua, durante os meses de fevereiro a maio de 2003. Três números de frutos por planta (2, 3 e 4) e três concentrações salinas da solução nutritiva (1,9; 2,3 e 2,9 dS m-1) foram estudados. A partir dos dados da matéria seca (MS) e fresca (MF) e da área foliar, acumuladas aos 62 dias após o transplante, foi determinada a produção e a distribuição de biomassa entre as diferentes partes da planta. Os frutos compreenderam de 49 a 55% da MS aérea total produzida pela planta, demonstrando que estes são os órgãos drenos de assimilados mais potentes. O aumento do número de frutos reduziu o peso médio dos frutos, sem afetar a produção e a distribuição de MS total, vegetativa e generativa. Entretanto, aumentou levemente a produção de MF dos frutos e da parte aérea como um todo, favorecendo a distribuição de MF para os frutos. Portanto, o acúmulo de água nos frutos ocorreu em uma proporção diferente do acúmulo da MS. A menor concentração salina da solução nutritiva testada pode ser indicada para o cultivo do meloeiro em substrato de casca de arroz crua durante o outono, pois promove um crescimento da planta similar ao observado nas concentrações mais altas.<br>The effect of fruit load and of saline concentrations in nutrient solution recirculating, was evaluated on the growth of melon plants cultivated under protected cultivation and in raw rice husk, during the months February to May of 2003. Three numbers of fruits/plant (2, 3 and 4) and three saline concentrations of the nutrient solution (1,9; 2,3 and 2,9 dS m-1) were studied. From the data of dry and fresh matter (DM and FM), and of the leaf area accumulated at 62 days after setting, the biomass production and distribution among the different plant parts was established. The fruits comprised from 49 to 55% of the total above-ground DM production, which demonstrated that they are the strongest sinks for assimilates. Increasing the number of fruits reduced the fruit mean weight, with no effect on the production and distribution of total, vegetative and generative DM. However, it slightly increased the fruit and whole aerial plant parts, FM production and partitioning to the fruits. Therefore, the accumulation of water in fruits was not proportional to DM accumulation. The lower saline concentration in the nutrient solution can be indicated for melon cultivation in raw rice husk during the autumn crop-season, because it promotes a similar plant growth to the observed in the highest concentrations