Memorial University of Newfoundland

About: Memorial University of Newfoundland is a education organization based out in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gadus. The organization has 13818 authors who have published 27785 publications receiving 743594 citations. The organization is also known as: Memorial University & Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Characteristics of fetal anticonvulsant syndrome associated autistic disorder

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and frequency of autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome (AS; according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition [DSM-IV] criteria) in children exposed to anticonvulsant medication in utero. During a 20-year study period, 626 children were born in Aberdeen to mothers taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The study examined long-term effects of prenatal exposure to AEDs in 260 children (122 males, 138 females). Of these, 26 (16 males) were reported by parents to have social or behavioural difficulties. Eleven children (6 males, 5 females) fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for autistic disorder and one (female) fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for AS. These children comprised 4.6% of the exposed children studied, and 1.9% of all exposed children born during the study period. Mean age of these children at diagnosis was 5 years 4 months (SD 2y 11mo) and 9 years 10 months (SD 3y 10mo) at the time of this study. Other children from the group of 26 had difficulties in areas of speech and language development and social communication but did not meet the criteria for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sodium valproate was the drug most commonly associated with autistic disorder, five of 56 (8.9%) of the study children exposed to sodium valproate alone had either autistic disorder or AS. It was concluded that prenatal exposure to anticonvulsant medication is a risk factor for the development of an ASD. Fetal anticonvulsant syndrome associated autistic disorder is characterized by an even sex ratio, absence of regression or skill loss, and language delay in the absence of global delay.

Hypoalbuminemia, cardiac morbidity, and mortality in end-stage renal disease

Abstract: A cohort of 432 ESRD (261 hemodialysis and 171 peritoneal dialysis) patients was followed up prospectively for an average of 41 months. Baseline and annual demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic assessments were performed, as well as serial clinical and laboratory tests measured monthly while patients were on dialysis therapy. Among hemodialysis patients, after adjustment was made for age, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease, as well as hemoglobin and blood pressure levels measured serially, a 10-g/L fall in mean serum albumin level was independently associated with the the development of de novo (relative risk [RR], 2.22; P = 0.001) and recurrent cardiac failure (RR, 3.84; P = 0.003), de novo (RR, 5.29; P = 0.001) and recurrent ischemic heart disease (RR, 4.24; P = 0.005), cardiac mortality (RR, 5.60; P = 0.001), and overall mortality (RR, 4.33; P < 0.001). Among peritoneal dialysis patients, a 10-g/L fall in mean serum albumin level was independently associated with the progression of left ventricular dilation as seen on follow-up echocardiography (beta, 13.4 mL/m2; P = 0.014), the development of de novo cardiac failure (RR, 4.16; P = 0.003), and overall mortality (RR, 2.06; P < 0.001). Hypoalbuminemia, a major adverse prognostic factor in dialysis patients, is strongly associated with cardiac disease.

Fugitive Salmon: Assessing the Risks of Escaped Fish from Net-Pen Aquaculture

Abstract: The farming of salmon and other marine finfish in open net pens continues to increase along the world's coastlines as the aquaculture industry expands to meet human demand. Farm fish are known to escape from pens in all salmon aquaculture areas. Their escape into the wild can result in interbreeding and competition with wild salmon and can facilitate the spread of pathogens, thereby placing more pressure on already dwindling wild populations. Here we assess the ecological, genetic, and socioeconomic impacts of farm salmon escapes, using a risk-assessment framework. We show that risks of damage to wild salmon populations, ecosystems, and society are large when salmon are farmed in their native range, when large numbers of salmon are farmed relative to the size of wild populations, and when exotic pathogens are introduced. We then evaluate the policy and management options for reducing risks and discuss the implications for farming other types of marine finfish.

Application of a 5-tiered scheme for standardized classification of 2,360 unique mismatch repair gene variants in the InSiGHT locus-specific database

Abstract: The clinical classification of hereditary sequence variants identified in disease-related genes directly affects clinical management of patients and their relatives. The International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumours (InSiGHT) undertook a collaborative effort to develop, test and apply a standardized classification scheme to constitutional variants in the Lynch syndrome-associated genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. Unpublished data submission was encouraged to assist in variant classification and was recognized through microattribution. The scheme was refined by multidisciplinary expert committee review of the clinical and functional data available for variants, applied to 2,360 sequence alterations, and disseminated online. Assessment using validated criteria altered classifications for 66% of 12,006 database entries. Clinical recommendations based on transparent evaluation are now possible for 1,370 variants that were not obviously protein truncating from nomenclature. This large-scale endeavor will facilitate the consistent management of families suspected to have Lynch syndrome and demonstrates the value of multidisciplinary collaboration in the curation and classification of variants in public locus-specific databases.