Cleft Palate News and Research

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Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that affect the upper lip and roof of the mouth. They happen when the tissue that forms the roof of the mouth and upper lip don't join before birth. The problem can range from a small notch in the lip to a groove that runs into the roof of the mouth and nose. This can affect the way the child's face looks. It can also lead to problems with eating, talking and ear infections.

Guidelines for pediatric use of polysomnography for sleep-disordered breathing before tonsillectomy

A multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline, "Polysomnography for Sleep-Disordered Breathing Prior to Tonsillectomy in Children" will be published as a supplement to the July issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

15 Jun 2011

Early surgery, timely treatment and prenatal diagnosis can help prevent oral clefts

Affecting more than 7,000 U.S. babies each year, cleft lip and/or cleft palate are the second most common birth defect, the cause of which continues to mystify scientists despite growing evidence of a complex interplay of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.

22 Apr 2011

Researchers seek scientific evaluation for visual perception of adults with cleft lip, palate

The impact of physical attractiveness on social communication is a truth universally acknowledged. It is not surprising, therefore, that individuals with a cleft lip and palate have experienced social isolation and poor self-esteem.

16 Apr 2011

Ortho-McNeil Neurologics announces voluntary recall of TOPAMAX 100mg Tablets

Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced it is voluntarily recalling two lots of TOPAMAX® (topiramate) 100mg Tablets. These two lots were shipped between 10/19/2010 and 12/28/2010 and distributed in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

15 Apr 2011

Investigational drug effective for patients with obesity

An investigational combination of drugs already approved to treat obesity, migraine and epilepsy produced up to a 10 percent weight loss in obese individuals participating in a one-year clinical trial, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

11 Apr 2011

Study finds passive smoking increases risk of still birth by 23%

Pregnant non-smokers who breathe in the second-hand smoke of other people are at an increased risk of delivering stillborn babies or babies with defects, a study led by researchers at The University of Nottingham has found.

9 Mar 2011

Topamax medication during pregnancy can lead to increased risk of oral birth defects in babies

New data suggest that the drug Topamax and its generic versions increase the risk for the birth defects cleft lip and cleft palate in babies born to women who use the medication during pregnancy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today.

5 Mar 2011

Study examines two primary treatments for bilateral cleft lip and palate

It may look the same, but it doesn't chew the same. Different dental treatment options for bilateral cleft lip and palate may result in similar aesthetic appearance, but they produce definite differences in jaw function. People with clefts of the lip and palate often have dental anomalies as well. The number, shape, and position of teeth can be affected. In particular, the permanent lateral incisor is frequently absent or misshapen.

25 Nov 2010

Study reveals few advantages of prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate

Many expectant parents look forward to routine ultrasounds as their first opportunity to "see" their baby. But the ultrasound can reveal that the fetus has unexpected medical conditions, such as a diagnosis of cleft lip and palate. Despite the emotional distress the diagnosis can bring, it can also offer the opportunity to prepare for the child's future needs. However, a study has found little difference between mothers who were given a prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate and those who discovered the problem at birth.

24 Nov 2010

Mechanism behind gene mutation leading to development of cleft palate

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found a new mechanism that explains why a certain gene mutation causes craniofrontonasal syndrome (CFNS), a disorder that causes cleft palate and other malformations in the face, brain, and skeleton. Cleft palate affects one of every 1,000 newborns. The research is published in the September 15 issue of Genes & Development.

15 Sep 2010

Tufts University faculty debunks common dental myths

Brushing, flossing, and twice-yearly dental check-ups are standard for oral health care, but there are more health benefits to taking care of your pearly whites than most of us know. In a review article, a faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) debunks common dental myths and outlines how diet and nutrition affects oral health in children, teenagers, expectant mothers, adults and elders.

7 Aug 2010

VitaPath Genetics launches VitaTrack Folate Tracker

VitaPath Genetics, the Spina Bifida Association and the National Council on Folic Acid today announced the launch of the free iPhone application—the VitaTrack Folate Tracker— which allows women to track their daily intake of folate and folic acid. Maintaining an adequate level of folic acid prior to and during pregnancy can reduce the risk of serious birth defects like Spina Bifida by up to 70%. Studies show that folic acid may also help prevent congenital heart disease, pre-term labor, and cleft lip and palate.

30 Jul 2010

Subtle mutation affecting epigenome may lead to inherited form of mental retardation: Researchers

A subtle mutation affecting the epigenome –- a set of dynamic factors that influence gene activity -- may lead to an inherited form of mental retardation that affects boys, find researchers at Children's Hospital Boston. The disorder, which also involves cleft lip or cleft palate, appears to hinge on an enzyme working in a biological pathway that may offer several potential drug targets.

12 Jul 2010

Study shows gene-environment interaction in congenital heart disease

A pregnant mother's diet may be able to interact with the genes her unborn child inherits and influence the type or severity of birth defect according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation. The study, published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, suggests that mothers who eat a high fat diet before and through pregnancy could be inadvertently putting the health of their offspring at risk.

7 Jul 2010

Merck's DULERA Inhalation Aerosol for asthma receives FDA approval

Merck today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DULERA® (mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol, a new fixed-dose combination asthma treatment for patients 12 years of age and older. DULERA is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. DULERA combines an inhaled corticosteroid (mometasone furoate) with a long-acting beta2-agonist (formoterol fumarate).

24 Jun 2010

BioDigital, NYU Langone partner to create Right Upper Lobe Resection Cognitive Task Trainer

SensAble Technologies, a leader in haptic devices and 3D modeling solutions, announced that its customer, BioDigital, working in partnership with surgeons at NYU Langone Medical Center, has created the first medical simulation application for teaching residents the high-technology procedure for lung resection of the right upper lobe, most commonly performed to treat resectable lung cancers.

23 Jun 2010

Quality of life improves treatment of children with velocardiofacial syndrome: Research

Research about quality of life is improving the treatment of children with velocardiofacial syndrome, a chronic, genetic condition with a wide range of symptoms, including congenital heart disease, palatal abnormalities (e.g. cleft palate), and learning difficulties.

4 Jun 2010

Research sheds light on early embryogenesis, genetic disease

Chromosome 22q11 deletion syndrome (also known as DiGeorge syndrome) is the most common human chromosome deletion syndrome, having an estimated incidence of at least one in 4,000 live births.

15 May 2010

Research sheds light on prenatal heart formation, chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome

Researchers studying the common genetic disorder chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome have identified key proteins that act together to regulate early embryonic development. One protein is essential to life; in animal studies, embryos without the protein do not survive past the first few days of gestation.

13 May 2010

Researchers identify genes associated with cleft lip and/or cleft palate

An international consortium of scientists, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University has identified two genes that when altered are closely associated with cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the world's most common congenital malformations and occur in one in every 700 births. The finding is the result of the largest family-based, genome-wide study of cleft lip and/or cleft palate conducted to date. The results were published online by the journal Nature Genetics.

3 May 2010