Development of cranial flexure and Rathke's pouch in the chick embryo

Experiments were done to investigate the cause of the cranial (mesencephalic) flexure of the chick brain during stages 10 to 14. Measurements of the length and thickness of the roof and floor of the mesencephalon gave values similar to the values obtained previously by others. The labeling index was determined in the roof and floor of the prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon as a preliminary measure of cell division. The labeling index was about the same in all regions, and was high enough to suggest that most of the cells were dividing. The labeling indices did not suggest that differential growth was caused by differential rates of cell division in the roof and floor of the mesencephalon. It was found through time lapse photography that the foregut and heart remained stationary along the rostrocaudal axis, whereas the prosencephalon moved rostrally and the mesencephalon underwent flexure. Measurements suggested that the neural tube cranial to the otic primordium grew in volume exponentially at a rate consistent with the labeling index. The rostral tip of the neural tube was observed to be linked to the rostral tip of the foregut by the ectoderm that formed Rathke's pouch at the neural tube and the pharyngeal membrane (prospective stomodeum) at the foregut. As the neural tube grew in length, the link between the neural tube and the foregut did not. We suggest that because of this link, the growing neural tube had to bend around the foregut, forming the cranial flexure, and the ectoderm folded where it attached to the prosencephalon, forming Rathke's pouch. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The relationship of drinking and birth outcome in a US national sample of expectant mothers

Alcohol consumption by pregnant women and birth outcome were studied in 9953 livebirths, 3309 fetal deaths and 5332 infant deaths from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey. In crude analyses, race, age, mother's education, prenatal care, parity, low birthweight, gestational age, smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy were significantly related to the occurrence of fetal deaths and infant deaths. Among women having livebirths, race, age, mother's education, prenatal care, prematurity, gestational age, smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy were significantly related to having a low birthweight baby (< 2500 g). In this group, women who drank more during pregnancy also smoked more, were younger and less educated than women who drank at lower levels or not at all. The relationship of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and infant birthweight for those women having livebirths was studied using multivariable linear regression. The results indicated that race, mother's education, baby's sex, parity, mother's height, mother's body mass index and smoking, but not alcohol consumption, were significantly related to birthweight. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed for the occurrence of low birthweight, fetal death and infant death. The effect of alcohol was significant in all these analyses. These results indicate that alcohol has an important relationship with birth outcome, but that for the drinking reported in this study, the alcohol effect on mean birthweight is small relative to that of other risk factors, accounting for the non-significant result in the multiple linear regression.     

Genetic polymorphisms in dopamine-related genes and smoking cessation in women: a prospective cohort study

Background  

Genes involved in dopaminergic neurotransmission have been suggested as candidates for involvement in smoking behavior. We hypothesized that alleles associated with reduced dopaminergic neurotransmission would be more common in continuing smokers than among women who quit smoking.     

Identification of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism with Biological Parameters

The prevalence and incidence of heavy alcohol consumption are major problems which have been increasing in many countries in recent years. It is crucial for physicians to consistently identify early drinking problems as well as the various end disease states in order to minimize suffering and maximize recovery. This paper reviews the evolutionary development of clinical tools for detection of alcohol abuse. The focus is primarily on clinical/biochemical indicators of alcohol abuse, emphasizing but not limited to changes in hematological characteristics, liver enzyme activity, lipids, immune function factors, hormones, neurological factors, and some physically based tests. Use of test combinations and sophisticated statistical analysis of pattern changes in test batteries evidence increased diagnostic efficiency.