Problems of Birth Defects

From Hippocrates to Thalidomide and After

From Hippocrates to thalidomide and after : original papers with commentaries by T.V.N. Persaud

A collection of 57 papers and commentaries, arranged in eight sections, discuss the historical aspects, epidemiology, mechanisms, genetics, etiology, prenatal diagnosis, management, and social aspects of birth defects.

  • Paperback: 399 pages
  • Publisher: University Park Press (1977).
  1. Beliefs, Mythology, Magic and Superstition.
    • Congenital malformations in the past.
    • A brief history of teratology to the early 20th century.
  2. Epidemiology of Birth Defects.
    • Classification and nomenclature of morphological defects.
    • Epidemiologic aspects of the problem of congenital malformations.
    • Congenital malformations. A report of a study of series of consecutive births in 24 centres. (Extracts).
    • The incidence of developmental and other genetic abnormalities.
  3. Teratological Mechanisms.
    • Interrelation of the common congenital malformations. Some aetiological implications.
    • Defective regulatory mechanisms in teratogenesis.
    • Mechanisms of teratogenesis.
    • Congenital postural deformities: perinatal associations.
  4. Cytogenetic and Chromosomal Studies.
    • A morphological distinction between neurones of the male and female, and the behaviour of the nucleolar satellite during accelerated nucleoprotein synthesis.
    • The detection of chromosomal sex in hermaphrodites from a skin biopsy.
    • The chromosome number of man.
    • Retrospective and prospective epidemiological studies of 1500 karyotyped spontaneous human abortions.
    • Chromosome abnormality and perinatal death.
    • Cytogenetics of fetal wastage.
    • Spontaneous abortion and aging of human ova and spermatozoa.
    • Where have all the conceptions gone?
    • Genetics of common disorders.
    • Genetic hazards to man from environmental agents.
  5. Environmental Influences and Congenital Abnormalities.
    • Pigs born without eye balls.
    • Congenital cataract following German measles in the mother.
    • The role of viruses in congenital defects.
    • Congenital toxoplasmosis. A prospective study of 378 pregnancies.
    • Therapeutic abortions with a folic acid antagonist, 4-aminopteroyl-glutamic acid (4-amino P.G.A.) administered by the oral route. (Extract).
    • Diskussionsbemerkung von Privatdozent Dr. W. Lenz, Hamburg, zu dem Vortrag von R. A. Pfeiffer und K. Kosenow: Zur Frage der exogenen Entstehung schwerer Extremitatenmissbildungen.
    • Thalidomide and congenital abnormalities.
    • Foetal malformations due to thalidomide.
    • Nonadrenal female pseudohermaphrodism after administration of testosterone to mother during pregnancy.
    • Masculinization of female fetus due to use of orally given progestins.-
    • Adenocarcinoma of the vagina. Association of maternal stilbestrol therapy with tumor appearance in young women.
    • Are anti-epileptics harmful in pregnancy? (Extract).
    • Anticonvulsant drugs and congenital abnormalities.
    • Congenital abnormalities and anticonvulsant drugs.
    • A clinical look at the problem of drugs in pregnancy and their effect on the fetus.
    • Intra-uterine methylmercury poisoning in Iraq.
    • Assessing the impact of low level chemicals on development: behavioral and latent effects.
    • A preliminary report of cigarette smoking and the incidence of prematurity. (Extract).
    • Effect of mothers’ smoking habits on birth weight of their children.
    • The fetal alcohol syndrome.
    • Potatoes and spina bifida.
    • The outcome of 625 pregnancies in women subjected to pelvic radium or roentgen irradiation. (Extract).
    • Radiation and pregnancy.
  6. Detection of Environmental Teratogens.
    • Environmental factors in the etiology of human malformations: perspectives and problems of evaluation.
    • Hazards of the first nine months: an epidemiologist’s nightmare.
  7. Prenatal Diagnosis and Management of Congenital Abnormalities.
    • Prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. An analysis of experience with 600 cases.
    • Prenatal diagnosis of mongolism by X-ray.
    • Diagnosis of congenital fetal abnormalities by sonography.
    • Amniography for detection of congenital malformations.
    • Diagnosis of human fetal abnormalities by fetography.
    • Genetic counselling-or what can we tell parents?.
    • Pre-, peri- and postnatal prevention of major neuropediatric handicaps.
  8. Social, Ethical, and Medico-Legal Problems.
    • Moral and ethical problems of pre-natal diagnosis.
    • Attitudes toward defective newborns.
    • Ethical and social aspects of treatment of spina bifida.
    • Moral and ethical dilemmas in the special-care nursery.
    • Further References.
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