The incidence of conjoined twins is estimated at 1 in 50 000 births.1 Thoracopagus is the most common form of conjoined twins,2 with fusion from the anterior thorax to the umbilicus. A common pericardial sac is present in 90% of thoracopagus twins, and conjoined hearts are seen in 75%.3 The present case was diagnosed prenatally, and the twins subsequently experienced intrauterine demise at 22 w...

A single placenta normally supports a single fetus. When the situation arises in which two fetuses have to share a single placenta, complications may sometimes develop. Identical twins that share a single placenta are called monochorionic twins (MC). ?Chorion? is the Latin root that refers to the placenta, while the word ?amnion? refers to the sac, or ?membranes? that surround each fetus. While...

BACKGROUND We aimed at studying the seasonal changes in mood and behaviour, the distribution of hospital admissions by season, and the persistence of the circadian type in twins with bipolar disorder and their healthy co-twins. METHODS All Finnish like-sex twins born from 1940 to 1969 were screened for a diagnosis of bipolar type I disorder. The diagnosis was assessed with a structured resear...

This study used data from the Swedish Medical Birth Registry between 1982 and 1995 to address the question of whether there is higher mortality in twins in relation to singletons of the same gestational age and to examine the optimal gestational age range for twins. A "varying-coefficient approach" was adopted to estimate the gestational age-specific relative and absolute risks of mortality in ...

The rate of Helicobacter pylori infection is inversely related to socioeconomic status, and childhood is thought to be the major acquisition period. The authors investigated the importance of childhood environment in the acquisition of H. pylori infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted of monozygotic and dizygotic twins who were reared apart or reared together. Three hundred twins from ...

BACKGROUND A high twinning rate and an increased risk of mortality among twins contribute to the high burden of infant mortality in Africa. This study examined the contribution of twins to neonatal and post-neonatal mortality in The Gambia, and evaluated factors that contribute to the excess mortality among twins. METHODS We analysed data from the Basse Health and Demographic Surveillance Sys...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the apparent additional and exceptional stresses associated with bearing and parenting twins affect the emotional wellbeing of mothers. SETTING Great Britain, 1970-5. DESIGN Cohort study of 13,135 children born between 4 April and 11 April 1970. Mothers of all children, both singletons and twins, were interviewed by health visitors (providing demographic data)...

Background Tay-Sachs disease is an autosomal-recessive lysosomal storage metabolic disorder. The typical symptoms of the disease include ataxia, muscle weakness, and mental disorders. The severity of the clinical symptom relies on the enzymatic activity of residual Hexosaminidase-A. Case Presentation</...

Objective: To compare the infant mortality rate (IMR) due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in twins and singletons and consider the risk factors of SIDS. Materials and methods: The IMR due to SIDS was analyzed among twins and singletons from 1995 to 2008 using the Japanese Vital Statistics. Results and discussion: The IMR for both twins and singletons decreased (1/3-1/4) significantly dur...

The health benefits of breastfeeding are well known. However, less is known about the frequency and duration of breastfeeding in twins. A population-based study of maternal factors associated with the early cessation of breastfeeding in preterm and term twins is reviewed. This is followed by research reviews and news concerning aging in twins, conjoined twin separation and school legislation fo...