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Morphometric analysis in ethnic neonates from multiple substance exposure
Kareem N Washington1, Zebalda D Bamji2, Qingqi Yue3
1Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, D.C. 20059, USA, kareem.washington@howard.edu.
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition)
|November 24, 2018
Summary
Prenatal exposure to alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs can affect newborns. Morphometric analysis revealed fewer facial dislocations in neonates with multiple substance exposures compared to single exposures.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Neonatal studies
- Teratology
Background:
- Approximately 10% of US newborns experience prenatal exposure to alcohol and/or illicit substances.
- Previous research has examined teratogenic effects of individual substances like nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin, but not their combined effects.
- Facial landmark dislocations have not been previously documented in relation to multiple prenatal substance exposures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if morphometric analysis can differentiate facial landmark dislocations in African descent neonates exposed prenatally to alcohol, nicotine, and/or illicit substances.
- To explore the compounding effects of multiple substance exposures as potential teratogens.
- To assess the potential of craniofacial feature analysis as a screening tool for prenatal substance exposure.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of craniofacial features from 493 African-American neonates (less than 48 hours old).
- Utilized Multivariate Hotelling's T² analysis on 99 facial landmark triangles.
- Compared facial landmark asymmetries across different prenatal exposure groups (single vs. multiple substances).
Main Results:
- Morphometric analysis successfully discriminated unique facial asymmetries associated with specific illicit substance exposures.
- Neonates with multiple prenatal substance exposures exhibited fewer facial landmark dislocations compared to those with single exposures.
- Identified potential for using deviations in facial features as a screening indicator for prenatal substance exposure.
Conclusions:
- Morphometric analysis is a viable method for detecting craniofacial differences in neonates with prenatal substance exposure.
- The pattern of facial landmark dislocations differs between single and multiple substance exposures.
- Facial feature analysis may serve as an early screening tool for prenatal exposure to substances like alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs.
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