Down Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Down Syndrome, including details on education, symptoms, treatment, information.

Factors associated with malocclusions in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.

Oliveira AC, Paiva SM, Campos MR, Czeresnia D

National Public Health School, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. anacboliveira@yahoo.com.br

INTRODUCTION: Our aims in this study were to determine the prevalence of malocclusion stemming from vertical or transversal occlusal alterations in subjects with Down syndrome (DS) and the associations with individual, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 112 pairs of mothers and their children with DS between 3 and 18 years of age attending a genetics clinic at a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data were collected with a questionnaire given to the mothers and a clinical examination of the child or adolescent. Univariate, bivariate, and multiple logistic regression (backward stepwise) analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The results showed a prevalence of malocclusion in 74% of the sample. After the adjustment of the logistic regression model, these variables--age, nail or finger biting habit, mouth posture, and cold or sore-throat episodes in the previous 6 months--were associated with the prevalence of malocclusions in these subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The data demonstrate a high prevalence of malocclusions stemming from vertical or transversal occlusal alterations in children and adolescents with DS. Age, nail or finger biting, mouth posture, and upper airway infections were related to malocclusions in these patients.

Published 14 April 2008 in Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 133(4): 489.e1-8.
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Articles on Down Syndrome published 19 March 2008:

DSCR1/RCAN1 regulates vesicle exocytosis and fusion pore kinetics: implications for Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.   Hum Mol Genet, 17(7): 1020-30.

Genes located on chromosome 21, over-expressed in Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and which regulate vesicle trafficking, are strong candidates for involvement in AD neuropathology. Regulator of calcineurin activity 1 (RCAN1) is one such gene. We have generated mutant mice in which RCAN1 is either over-expressed (RCAN1(ox)) or ablated (Rcan1-/-) and examined whether exocytosis from chromaffin cells, a classic cellular model of neuronal exocytosis, is altered using carbon fibre ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Down Syndrome published 17 March 2008:

Weak hand preference in children with down syndrome is associated with language deficits.   Dev Psychobiol, 50(3): 242-50.

This study explores associations between language ability and hand preference in children with Down syndrome. Compared to typically developing children of the same age, children with Down syndrome showed weaker hand preference, were less consistent in the hand they used and also less willing to reach to extreme positions in contralateral space. Within the group of children with Down syndrome, those who showed a stronger or more consistent hand preference had better language and memory skills. ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Down Syndrome published 14 March 2008:

Supplementation with antioxidants and folinic acid for children with Down's syndrome: randomised controlled trial.   BMJ, 336(7644): 594-7.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether supplementation with antioxidants, folinic acid, or both improves the psychomotor and language development of children with Down's syndrome. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial with two by two factorial design. SETTING: Children living in the Midlands, Greater London, and the south west of England. PARTICIPANTS: 156 infants aged under 7 months with trisomy 21. INTERVENTION: Daily oral supplementation with antioxidants (selenium 10 mug, zinc 5 mg, vitamin A 0.9 mg, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Behavioural characteristics associated with dementia assessment referrals in adults with Down syndrome.   J Intellect Disabil Res, 52: 358-68.

BACKGROUND: Behavioural changes associated with dementia in Down syndrome are well documented, yet little is known about the effect of such behaviours on carers and referral. By comparing the behavioural and cognitive profiles of individuals referred for a dementia assessment with those of individuals not referred, some insight can be gained into behavioural characteristics that initiate referral for specialist support or interventions. METHOD: Forty-six adults with Down syndrome were divided ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Down Syndrome published 7 March 2008:

Cost-effectiveness analysis of triple test in second-trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome: an experience from Taiwan with decreasing birth rate but increasing population of old pregnant women.   J Eval Clin Pract, 14(2): 191-7.

OBJECTIVES: We intended to assess the cost-effectiveness of adding unconjugated oestriol (uE3) in maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome in Taiwan, where there is a decreasing birth rate but an increasing trend of old women having pregnancies. METHODS: We used logistic regressions to estimate the risk of Down's syndrome with maternal age and different combinations of biomarkers. Cost-effectiveness analysis was presented in terms of the average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Down Syndrome published 4 March 2008:

Infection-related atlantoaxial subluxation (Grisel syndrome) in an adult with Down syndrome.   Spine, 33(5): E156-60.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To report an adult case with Down syndrome, in whom infection-related atlantoaxial subluxation (Grisel syndrome) developed. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Atlantoaxial instability is a common complication in Down syndrome patients; however, there have been limited reports of adult-onset atlantoaxial subluxation with myelopathy. Grisel syndrome has been characterized as a nontraumatic atlantoaxial subluxation associated with pharyngeal infection. It usually ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Down Syndrome published 3 March 2008:

Altered expression of KIF17, a kinesin motor protein associated with NR2B trafficking, may mediate learning deficits in a Down syndrome mouse model.   Am J Obstet Gynecol, 198(3): 313.e1-4.

OBJECTIVE: Down syndrome (DS), a major cause of mental retardation, affects 1 of 800 newborns. Mouse models for Down syndrome have been studied and found to have developmental and learning deficits, including the Ts65Dn (DS) mouse model. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2B subunit enhances synaptic plasticity. The up-regulation of KIF17, a motor protein that transports NR2B to the synaptic region parallels up-regulation of synaptic NR2B. Down regulation of KIF17 reflects up-regulation of less ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Perceived risk of prenatal diagnostic procedure-related miscarriage and Down syndrome among pregnant women.   Am J Obstet Gynecol, 198(3): 333.e1-8.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify correlates of perceived risk of carrying a Down syndrome-affected fetus or experiencing a procedure-related miscarriage among a diverse group of pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1081 English-, Spanish-, or Chinese-speaking women receiving prenatal care in the San Francisco Bay area. Perceived risk of procedure-related miscarriage or carrying a Down syndrome-affected fetus was assessed using a linear ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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