A Critical Review Of A Journal Paper

In Canada, a clinical study by De Wals et al was performed to assess whether or not folic acid fortification has an effect on the recurrence of NTDs (neural tube defects), especially on upper and lower birth defects called spina bifida (De Wals et al., 2008). The study was performed in three different regions in Canada: the eastern, western and central provinces (De Wals et al., 2008). Furthermore, the population of the study was conducted on three different types of births which were livebirths, stillbirths, and termination of pregnancies, and the study was carried out through three periods included prefortification, partial fortification and full fortifications (De Wals et al., 2008). The researchers followed the scientific investigation

Hypothesis stated that environmental agents exposure to the mother while pregnant may contribute to the childs development of ASD (NIH, 2015).

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders that affect around 1% of the global population worldwide. Although the optimal use of the 24 approved anti-epileptic drugs in The United States has successfully treat some of the symptoms-related epilepsy, but not the underlying epileptogenesis processes, particularly in neonatal epilepsy. Newborn are more subjected to early-onset of epilepsy because of the common complications of labor in human, such as hypoxia-ischemia and pre-eclampsia. Such complications may cause major damage in the neonates’ brain, including inflammation, neuronal degeneration and other types of damage-related brain injuries. In recent years, great number of evidence point to inflammation as a potential pathway

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as SIDS, is known as the number one cause of infant deaths between the ages of 1 month and 1 year. It is defined as sudden death of a young child, and the death seems to be for no apparent reason. It is still unknown why this happens but things that are known to cause it are, exposure to smoke, overheating, having soft bedding, and the way the baby is positioned when they are set to sleep (Moon, 2007). It is a problem that is known to happen just to this specific life stage. But, it is now known that the number or incidents of SIDS have reduced significantly over the past 10 years. One of the biggest decreases that happened where from 1995-2006, rates seemed to be decreasing an average of 3.6% a year, and in total decreased 33%. Since 2006 rates have stabled and seem to be at the lowest point. Many believe that the new low rate has been the increase of smoke free homes and the use of the supine sleep position use for babies (Behm,8).

(10).Gonzalez-Reyes RE et al. Manganese and epilepsy: a systematic review of the literature. Brain Res Rev. 2007; 53(2):332-6.

When given in high doses, it may be associated with maternal anemia and fetal renal disease.3

contraction led to the hypothesis that magnesium deficiency contributed to the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and menstrual migraines. To test this hypothesis, Facchinetti, et al. (1991) performed a study of 20 who were treated with either magnesium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid 360 mg/day or placebo starting on day +15 and continuing until the start of menses for 2 cycles. Despite the small number of women in the study, those receiving magnesium had a significantly reduced number of headache days (P < 01) and a lower total pain index (P < .03) (Facchinetti, et

Some studies have found that the level of incidence for ashkenazi jews, Mennonite population and the amish is greater than in the average population. (http://www.annclinlabsci.org/content/41/2/167.full) Detection of the disease is first identified via clinical symptomatology namely: smell of maple syrup in the earwax about 12 hours after birth, irritability or difficulty feeding present two to three days after birth , movements resembling “fencing” or “bicycling” present four to five days after birth, coma or respiratory failure by day seven or ten after birth. To diagnose the disorder within the first couple of days urine could be tests of abnormally large amounts of ketones (day 3-4), the concentration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and allo-isoleucine can be checked within the first day after the infant had an intake of protein. During BCAA testing leucine levels are most important to note as they will be elevated in MSUD, while isoleucine and valine could be non-specific. Allo-isoleucine is the more definitive indicator of MSUD. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1319/). An increase in leucine leads to a decreased in other amino acids such as: tryptophan, histidine, glutamine, glutamate, alanine, tyrosine. Testing for the levels of these amino acids along with BCAAs could indicate that the infant is

Deficiencies of vitamin A and zinc result in deaths; deficiencies of iodine and iron, together with stunting, contribute to children not reaching their developmental potential. Iron and calcium deficiencies can contribute substantially to maternal deaths. Maternal iron deficiency is related with babies with low weight (<2500 g) at birth. Nutrients like iron, proteins, copper, folate, zinc, iodine and certain fats play important role in building the brain during pregnancy. Zinc, in particular, supports the development of the autonomic nervous system, the hippocampus and the cerebellum. Iron impacts the myelination of the nerve fibers which affects the brain’s processing speed. Long chain PUFA’s, typically found in breast

The third phase of the Stetler model requires synthesizing and evaluating the findings by coordinating , combining and concluding the overall strength, and implementing the findings of these studies into practice. Ben conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials(RCT's) or quasi-RCT,s and data was considered statistically important as the results depicted a relative risk(RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) and risk difference (RR) and 95% (CI). The study by Herrmann and Carroll, was an observational study or a non-experimental study with two cohorts all infants <33 weeks PMA and the strength of the sample was sufficient. The electronic medical record was used by the researchers to collect the data retrospectively for their cohorts.

In 1962 there was a large number of babies born with severe physical defects across Germany and the UK. Around 3,000 children were born with either missing or deformed limbs. The cause was determined to be the sedative drug Thalidomide which had been prescribed to mothers for morning sickness. The effectiveness of it accounted for the large number of people affected.

On the other hand, cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood which can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. People who have cerebral palsy may also have visual, learning, hearing, speech, epilepsy and intellectual impairments. Unfortunately for most patients the cause is not known, although it is believed that, usually, cerebral palsy is a direct result of damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is defined as a chronic airflow obstruction that is progressive and only partially reversible. Today COPD is recognized as a major killer disease and the fourth most common cause of deaths in U.S.A. Available data suggest there are more than 12 million adults with COPD affection in India with estimated prevalence rates of 2.12% to 9.4% in north India and 1.4 % to 4.08% in Southern India1. Many studies have indicated that magnesium deficiency has contributed to exacerbation in COPD and that the treatment with intravenous magnesium in these patients helps in relieving bronchospasm by

The terms and variables chosen are relevant to the study. The assumption that it may not be effective when applied to pregnant women is clearly stated. The study did not use any hypothesis. Also, no theoretical frameworks were used.

In 1976 Sarnat and Sarnat carried out a score, the Sarnat score, which was a combination of neurological symptoms as described above and the accompanying electro-encephalographic (EEG) features. This score was, in fact, a grading of the severity of the encephalopathy. It contains three stages, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) stage 1, HIE stage 2 and HIE stage 3, the latest the most severe stage of encephalopathy. The most severely affected infants typically progress from stage 1 to 3 [7,8]. The S100B protein is produced and released primarily by astrocytes in the CNS where it has trophic functions on neurons and the glia. Many molecules are asigned a role as markers of neurological injury in cases of HIE. Glutamate, aspartate, lactate, ammonia, creatinine, specific kinase, NSE (neuron specific enolase) and other substances have been studied in serum, umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [9]. Previous studies that measured the concentration of S100B in the CSF and blood have shown a direct relationship with brain injury [10]. The aim of this study was to highlight the importance of cord blood S100B protein in the diagnosis of neonatal HIE and determination of its severity.