Neural tube defects (NTDs) are birth defects that can be disabling or lethal and are second in their prevalence after cardiac defects among major human congenital malformations. Spina bifida is a NTD where the spinal cord is dysplastic, and the overlying spinal column is absent. At present, the molecular mechanisms underlying the spinal bifida development are largely unknown. In this study, we ...

The recessive mutant mouse jumonji (jmj), obtained by a gene trap strategy, shows neural tube defects in approximately half of homozygous embryos with a BALB/cA and 129/Ola mixed background, but no neural tube defects with BALB/cA, C57BL/6J, and DBA/2J backgrounds. Here, we show that neural tube and cardiac defects are observed in all embryos with a C3H/HeJ background. In addition, abnormal gro...

OBJECTIVE A significant decline in the prevalence of neural tube defects (NTD) through food fortification has been reported. Questions remain, however, about the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing the gap in prevalence across socioeconomic status (SES). STUDY DESIGN Using health number and through record linkage, children born in Ontario hospitals between 1994 and 2009 were follow...

Neural tube defects (NTDs) in Hawaii between 1986 and 1997 were examined using data from a statewide birth defects surveillance system. The prevalence increased significantly over the twelve-year period. NTD prevalence did not appear to vary by place of residence. The relationship of type of defect, maternal age, and infant/fetus sex was similar to that reported in the literature.

The scope of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of obstetricians and obstetric nurses about folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects (NTD). A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 118 volunteers (95 physicians and 23 nurses) answered a questionnaire with 21 questions about prevention of NTD. The data were analyzed according to the reported knowledge, the recommendations ...

Shanxi province in northern China has one of the highest reported prevalence rates of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the world. The current study selected Heshun, the county with the highest rate of NTDs in Shanxi, as a study area and tested whether residence in a coal mining area was a contributing factor. A NTD cluster was detected in an area within 6 km of the coal mines for almost every year...

A body of convincing evidence demonstrates that periconceptional folic acid supplements are associated with a reduction in the risk for first occurrences of neural tube defect and for recurrence of neural tube defects among women with a previously affected pregnancy. The mechanism(s) of this protective effect are unknown, and although the effect can be seen with folate doses between 0.4 and 4 m...

Neural tube defects rank second to congenital heart disease as a major cause of congenital malformation. Recent developments in ultrasound have improved prenatal diagnosis. Due to anomaly scans at 18 weeks gestation and the availability of a genetic clinic, prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects at the Royal Maternity Hospital was 91.2% during 1987-1989. However, only 50% of parents accept t...

Failure to close the neural tube results in birth defects, with severity ranging from spina bifida to lethal anencephaly. Few genetic risk factors for neural tube defects are known in humans, highlighting the critical role of environmental risk factors, such as maternal diabetes. Yet, it is not well understood how altered maternal metabolism interferes with embryonic development, and with neuru...