Serial examination of 20,248 newborn fetuses and infants: Correlations between drug exposure and major malformations

Maternal medication during the first trimester of pregnancy has been discussed as a risk factor for development of birth defects. The correlation between maternal drug use and major malformations was investigated in a population-based case-control study in Mainz. Over a period of 5 years (1990–1994), 20,248 livebirths, stillbirths, and abortions underwent physical and sonographic examination, and anamnestic data were collected. A total of 1,472 births with congenital anomalies (cases) and 9,682 births without major and minor malformations (controls) were analyzed. We distinguished between 30 different drug categories, which were divided into medication taken continuously (before and during …

Serial examination of 20,248 newborns: Correlations between drug exposure and major malformations

Malformations in newborn: results based on 30,940 infants and fetuses from the Mainz congenital birth defect monitoring system (1990-1998).

Prevalence rates of birth defects in the Federal Republic of Germany are informative to assess the general background risk of having a child with a birth defect. They provide basic figures to determine temporal and regional prevalence trends, to evaluate and initiate preventive measures and to initiate research projects. To avoid observer, definition and collection bias, active monitoring systems are required. Data collected in the active monitoring system of the Mainz Birth Defects Registry are presented. From 1990-1998, 30,940 live-births, stillbirths and abortions underwent standardized physical and sonographic examinations. Anamnestic data were collected from prenatal care records, mate…

Prä- und postnatales Nierenscreening im Vergleich: eine Analyse von 34.450 Neugeborenen des Geburtenregisters Mainzer Modell

Zielsetzung. Fehlbildungen des internen Urogenitalsystems sind haufig und stellen die zweithaufigste Organkategorie dar. Anhand des Mainzer Geburtenregisters werden populationsbezogene Pravalenzen von Nierenfehlbildungen, die Sensitivitat des pranatalen Ultraschalls und die Haufigkeit operationsbedurftiger Befunde ermittelt. Material und Methode. Im Zeitraum von 1990–2001 erhielten alle in Mainz geborenen Kinder neben einer klinischen Untersuchung eine Ultraschalluntersuchung der ableitenden Harnwege. Bei Totgeborenen, Spontanaborten (≥15. SSW) und induzierten Aborten wurden die Befunde der Pathologie in die Erfassung einbezogen. Seit 1996 (nach Einfuhrung des Fehlbildungsschalles in die Mu…

Medical exposure to ionising radiation and the risk of brain tumours: Interphone study group, Germany

Abstract Background The role of exposure to low doses of ionising radiation in the aetiology of brain tumours has yet to be clarified. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between medically or occupationally related exposure to ionising radiation and brain tumours. Methods We used self-reported medical and occupational data collected during the German part of a multinational case–control study on mobile phone use and the risk of brain tumours (Interphone study) for the analyses. Results For any exposure to medical ionising radiation we found odds ratios (ORs) of 0.63 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.48–0.83), 1.08 (95% CI = 0.80–1.45) and 0.97 (95% CI = 0.54–1.75)…

Cellular Phones, Cordless Phones, and the Risks of Glioma and Meningioma (Interphone Study Group, Germany)

The widespread use of cellular telephones has generated concern about possible adverse health effects, particularly brain tumors. In this population-based case-control study carried out in three regions of Germany, all incident cases of glioma and meningioma among patients aged 30–69 years were ascertained during 2000–2003. Controls matched on age, gender, and region were randomly drawn from population registries. In total, 366 glioma cases, 381 meningioma cases, and 1,494 controls were interviewed. Overall use of a cellular phone was not associated with brain tumor risk; the respective odds ratios were 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74, 1.29) for glioma and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.13)…

Occupation and risk of glioma, meningioma and acoustic neuroma: results from a German case-control study (interphone study group, Germany)

Background: Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between occupation and brain tumour risk, but results have been inconclusive. We investigated the association between six occupational categories defined a priori: chemical, metal, agricultural, construction, electrical/electronic and transport, and the risk of glioma, meningioma and acoustic neuroma. Methods: In a population-based case-control study involving a total of 844 cases and 1688 controls conducted from 2000 to 2003, detailed information on life-long job histories was collected during personal interviews and used to create job calendars for each participant. Job title, job activity, job number, and the s…

Klinisches Neugeborenenscreening zur Erfassung angeborener Fehlbildungen

Epidemiologische Daten eines klinischen Neugeborenenscreenings sind die Grundlage, zeitliche und regionale Trends von Fehlbildungspravalenzen zu erfassen, Risikofaktoren und damit Ansatzpunkte fur Praventionsmasnahmen zu ermitteln, Praventionsmasnahmen zu veranlassen bzw. zu uberprufen sowie Forschungsprojekte zu initiieren. Zur Erfassung valider Daten und zur Vermeidung von Beobachter-, Definitions- und Selektionsverzerrungen sollten aktive Erfassungssysteme verwendet werden. 34.211 Lebendgeborene, Totgeborene und Aborte der populationsbezogenen Geburtenkohorte des aktiven Mainzer Geburtenregisters wurden nach einem standardisierten Schema klinisch und sonographisch untersucht und anamnest…

0329 Occupational exposure to metals and welding fumes, and risk of glioma in the interocc study

Background Brain tumouraetiology is poorly understood. Based on their ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier, it has been hypothesised that exposure to metals may increase the risk of brain cancer. Results from the few epidemiological studies on this issue are inconsistent. Methods We investigated the relationship between glioma risk and occupational exposure to five metals - lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium and iron- as well as to welding fumes, using data from the seven-country INTEROCC study. A total of 1800 incident glioma cases and 5160 controls aged 30–69 years were included in the analysis. Lifetime occupational exposure to the agents was assessed using the INTEROCC JEM, a mo…

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted from base stations of DECT cordless phones and the risk of glioma and meningioma (Interphone Study Group, Germany)

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that exposure to continuous low-level radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) increases the risk of glioma and meningioma. Participants in a population-based case-control study in Germany on the risk of brain tumors in relation to cellular phone use were 747 incident brain tumor cases between the ages of 30 and 69 years and 1494 matched controls. The exposure measure of this analysis was the location of a base station of a DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) cordless phone close to the bed, which was used as a proxy for continuous low-level exposure to RF EMFs during the night. Estimated odds ratios were 0.82 (95…

Occupational solvent exposure and risk of glioma in the INTEROCC study

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of glioma remains largely unknown. Occupational solvent exposure has been suggested as a putative cause of glioma, but past studies have been inconsistent. We examined the association between a range of solvents and glioma risk within the INTEROCC project, a study of brain tumours and occupational exposures based on data from seven national case-control studies conducted in the framework of the INTERPHONE study. We also investigated associations according to tumour grade.METHODS: Data from the seven countries were standardised and then combined into one aggregate data set. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for adjusted models that included sex, age, country-r…

Environmental risk factors for sporadic acoustic neuroma (Interphone Study Group, Germany)

The only known risk factor for sporadic acoustic neuroma is high-dose ionising radiation. Environmental exposures, such as radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and noise are under discussion, as well as an association with allergic diseases. We performed a population-based case-control study in Germany investigating these risk factors in 97 cases with acoustic neuroma, aged 30 to 69 years, and in 194 matched controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in multiple logistic regression models. Increased risks were found for exposure to persistent noise (OR=2.31; 95% CI 1.15-4.66), and for hay fever (OR=2.20; 95% CI 1.09-4.45), but not for ionising radiation …