I know, I know…Let them sleep on their backs…No wait, only on their stomachs…No wait, on their backs but no pillows…or blankets…No smoking…No pets…Never in bed with you…

Perhaps it’s no wonder why the Amercian Academy of Pediatrics is constantly revising guidelines [...]]]> Source:  U.S. National Institutes of Health; Journal of the American Medical Association, February 3, 2010

I know, I know…Let them sleep on their backs…No wait, only on their stomachs…No wait, on their backs but no pillows…or blankets…No smoking…No pets…Never in bed with you…

Perhaps it’s no wonder why the Amercian Academy of Pediatrics is constantly revising guidelines for infant sleep.  There is a wealth of information seemingly linking SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) with, well, everything.  The latest?  Serotonin. Huh?  Okay, back to biochemistry class we go.  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, don’t worry about what kind, it’s presence or absence in sufficient quantities is  broadly responsible for the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction, and some cognitive functions including memory and learning. Modulation of serotonin at synapses is thought to be a major action of several classes of pharmacological antidepressants.  As an interesting aside (well interesting to me anyway) certain foods, carbohydrates mostly -pasta, chips also seem to have a serotonin level response.

So why all the chemistry talk? Because researchers studying the brains of infants who have died from SIDS have found that they were producing low levels of serotonin. No, they weren’t depressed, well not emotionally anyway.  However, to the extent that serotonin may be responsible for breathing they may be onto something.  How much lower?  26% lower according to this study. Measures of an enzyme required to manufacture serotonin (tryptophan hydroxylase for those of you playing the home game) were also 22% lower in the brains of the SIDS death infants studied.

Yes, they are still currently recommending the whole back sleeping thing. For a complete list of sleeping guidelines see http://www.nicdh.nih.gov/sids/ or speak with your pediatrician or obstetrician.

~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire

“Prematurity” during pregnancy is between 20 and 37 weeks. 72% of premature deliveries are spontaneous with 30% [...]]]> Gene mapping continues to batter the nurture end of the nature-nurture argument. In this latest round, a study presented at the 57th Meeting of ACOG (the Ob/Gyn doctors) has linked premature rupture of membranes with a single gene, MMP3.

“Prematurity” during pregnancy is between 20 and 37 weeks. 72% of premature deliveries are spontaneous with 30% due to premature rupture of membranes. So what does this mean? And why should you care?

Last question first. If you are a pregnant woman (yes, as opposed to a pregnant man) then knowing whether or not you have the gene for premature rupture of membranes might result in your Ob/Gyn taking additional precautions during your pregnancy to ensure safe, and timely, delivery of your baby. What this means is that the risk of harm to infants and to mothers may be significantly decreased just by being aware of the increased risk of premature rupture. The usual caveats apply, still early, preliminary stages and all that. But still, promising.

posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esq.