Cleft lip and palate experience in Trinidad and Tobago

The results of a preliminary survey to investigate the prevalence of the cleft lip and palate deformity in Trinidad and Tobago are presented. Sources and data collection are described, with recommendations for improving the overall clinical management of these unfortunate children. (AU)

Cleft lip/cleft palate in Belize - abstract

The condition of cleft lip/cleft palate is a serious congenital malformatioin of world-wide distribution, This paper reviews the work of a Cleft Lip/Palate Clinic run by a general surgeon and a visiting volunteer plastic surgeon in the Belize City Hospital during the period 1980-1985. Seventy-four patients attended the Clinic, of whom 63 underwent surgery. There were 40 males and 34 females. A high incidence was noted among the Mestizoes and Ketchi Indians and a low incidence among Creoles. A positive family history was recorded in 22 cases. The majority of patients came from the districts. The deformities were classified as group I (anterior palate) -19; group II (anterior and posterior palate)-47; group III (posterior palate) -5; and "rare" -3. Forty-eight previously unoperated patients underwent surgery: 27 had lip repair by the Millard rotation-advancement technique; five had palatal repairs by the Langenbeck operation; and 16 had repair of both lip and palate. Fifteen previously operated patients underwent surgery, nine had revision surgery to the lip; one had closure of palate alone and six had lip revision with palatal closure. Abbee flaps were used on thre occasions. There was one case of wound infection of the lip and two cases of dehiscence of the palate. The incidence of the condition is compared to that of various ethnic groups reported from other countries and it is suggested that the incidence in Belize is higher than that recorded elsewhere. It is felt that Belize has taken the first steps in coping with a difficult clinical problem (AU)

Pregnancy and progeny in rats treated with the pyrrolizidine alkaloid fulvine

The pyrrolizidine alkaloids are naturally-occurring plants toxins which are considered significant in the etiology of certain liver diseases, particularly in some tropical and sub-tropical regions. Fulvine, a hepatotoxic alkloid present in the medicinal herb Crotolaria fulva, was observed to be fetotoxic and highly teratogenic in rats. The occurrence of fetal resorptions showed a dose-effect relationship. The highest incidence of developmental defects was induced by fulvine at a dose-level of 80 mg/kg which in other studies produced significant chromosomal damage. Microscopic examination of fetal liver, following maternal exposure of fulvine, did not reveal hepatic lesions.(Summary)

The teratogenicity of barbital sodium in mice

The teratogenic activity of sodium barital in pregnant mice of the Rockfeller strain was investigated. A high incidence of foetal resorption and congenital malformations were observed following the i.p. administration of the barbiturate. (Summary)

Racial incidence of cleft lip and palate in Trinidad

In a multi racial population of 830,000, approximately 30,000 births occur yearly among whom there are some 35 cases of clefting. In Indians the incidence is about 1 in 500 births and in the other racial groups it is 1 in 1,600. Clefting was found to be higher in East Indians in low income grouping and resident in rural areas, indicating that exogenic influences - mainly nutritional - were responsible. The maternal age in the rural East Indian is generally lower than in other racial groups. A film demonstrating anatomical soft tissue repair of a unilateral cleft palate was shown (AU)