Problems of Birth Defects

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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