| 1. |
- Jablonska, B, et al.
(author)
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Ethnicity, socio-economic status and self-harm in Swedish youth : a national cohort study.
- 2009
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In: Psychological Medicine. - 0033-2917 .- 1469-8978. ; 39:1, s. 87-94
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown an elevated risk for self-harm in adolescents from ethnic minorities. However, potential contributions to this risk from socio-economic factors have rarely been addressed. The main aim of this article was to investigate any such effects. METHOD: A national cohort of 1009 157 children born during 1973-1982 was followed prospectively from 1991 to 2002 in Swedish national registers. Multivariate Cox analyses of proportional hazards were used to estimate the relative risk of hospital admission for self-harm. Parental country/region of birth was used as proxy for ethnicity. RESULTS: Youth with two parents born outside Sweden (except those from Southern Europe) had higher age- and gender-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of self-harm than the majority population (HR 1.6-2.3). The HRs decreased for all immigrant groups when socio-economic factors were accounted for but remained significantly higher for immigrants from Finland and Western countries and for youth with one Swedish-born and one foreign-born parent. CONCLUSIONS: Socio-economic factors explain much of the variation by parental country of birth of hospital admissions for self-harm in youth in Sweden.
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| 2. |
- Dalen, Monica, et al.
(author)
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Educational attainment and cognitive competence in adopted men : A study of international and national adoptees, siblings and a general Swedish population
- 2008
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In: Children and youth services review. - : Elsevier BV. - 0190-7409 .- 1873-7765. ; 30:10, s. 1211-1219
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Internationally and nationally adopted young men were recently reported to have lower than average scores on intelligence tests at military conscription, compared with non-adopted conscripts in Sweden. In this study we used the Swedish national registers to analyse how this lower cognitive competence influences the educational attainment of adoptees. Intelligence test scores at conscription were analysed in relation to educational attainment at follow-up at 25-34 years in male international (n = 2.314) and national (n = 1.153) adoptees, compared with the general population in the same birth cohorts.Korean adoptees more often had obtained a post-secondary education compared with the general population while Non-Korean and national adoptees less often had such an education at follow-up. The international adoptees had a better chance than the general population to complete a post-secondary level and a lower risk to remain at a basic level when their cognitive competence, as measured by intelligence test scores, had been accounted for. This effect was quite similar in biological children in families of international adoptees who had the best test scores, in the Korean adoptees who had slightly better test scores than the general population, and in the Non-Korean adoptees who had considerably lower test scores. National adoptees had similar outcomes in these respects as the general population when test scores had been accounted for. Higher age at adoption was associated with a lower educational attainment in the Non-Korean but not in the Korean adoptees, an effect that was attenuated when test scores were accounted for.We conclude that a lower than average cognitive competence did influence the educational attainment of the Non-Korean international and the Swedish-born adoptees in this study. international but not national adoptees had attained a higher educational level than predicted from their scores on intelligence tests. This education promoting effect was similar in the Korean adoptees, who had high test scores in comparison with the general population, and the Non-Korean adoptees who had comparatively low test scores.
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| 3. |
- Drögemüller, Cord, et al.
(author)
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A missense mutation in the SERPINH1 gene in Dachshunds with osteogenesis imperfecta
- 2009
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In: PLoS genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7404. ; 5:7, s. e1000579-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a hereditary disease occurring in humans and dogs. It is characterized by extremely fragile bones and teeth. Most human and some canine OI cases are caused by mutations in the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes encoding the subunits of collagen I. Recently, mutations in the CRTAP and LEPRE1 genes were found to cause some rare forms of human OI. Many OI cases exist where the causative mutation has not yet been found. We investigated Dachshunds with an autosomal recessive form of OI. Genotyping only five affected dogs on the 50 k canine SNP chip allowed us to localize the causative mutation to a 5.82 Mb interval on chromosome 21 by homozygosity mapping. Haplotype analysis of five additional carriers narrowed the interval further down to 4.74 Mb. The SERPINH1 gene is located within this interval and encodes an essential chaperone involved in the correct folding of the collagen triple helix. Therefore, we considered SERPINH1 a positional and functional candidate gene and performed mutation analysis in affected and control Dachshunds. A missense mutation (c.977C>T, p.L326P) located in an evolutionary conserved domain was perfectly associated with the OI phenotype. We thus have identified a candidate causative mutation for OI in Dachshunds and identified a fifth OI gene.
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| 4. |
- Ekéus, Cecilia, et al.
(author)
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Short stature, smoking habits and birth outcome in international adoptees in Sweden.
- 2008
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In: Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. - : Wiley. - 1600-0412 .- 0001-6349. ; 87:12, s. 1309-14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Short stature, smoking habits and birth outcome in international adoptees in Sweden.Ekéus C, Lindblad F, Hjern A.Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Reproductive and Perinatal Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. cecilia.ekeus@ki.seOBJECTIVE: To investigate short stature and smoking habits as risk factors for birth outcome in international adoptees in comparison with non-adopted mothers. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Nationwide study in Sweden. POPULATION: Two study groups were identified from mothers who were born 1968-1979 and gave birth during 1982-2001-3,610 mother-child dyads with a mother adopted from a non-European country and 336,992 mother-child dyads with a mother born in Sweden. METHOD: Register study. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre-eclampsia, instrumental delivery, preterm delivery, small for gestational age (SGA), Apgar score, cephalhematoma and perinatal mortality and birth weight. RESULTS: Short stature and smoking were more common in international adoptees compared with non-adopted, odds ratios (ORs) 29.07 (95% C.I.: 25.29-33.42) and 1.39 (1.27-1.52), respectively. International adoptees had a slightly increased risk for instrumental delivery (OR: 1.42; 1.32-1.54) and preterm delivery (<37 weeks) (OR: 1.39; 1.24-1.56) and there was a slightly increased risk for SGA (OR: 1.24; 1.01-1.52) in their offspring. However, when we adjusted for maternal height, preterm delivery was the only outcome that remained statistically significant. Adjustment for smoking habits had marginal effects on all outcomes. CONCLUSION: The short stature of international adoptees increased their risk for delivery and birth complications in a predictable manner, but otherwise outcomes were very similar to the general population. No special obstetric monitoring is indicated by adoption status in itself.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Elmund, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Intercountry adoptees in out-of-home care : A national cohort study
- 2007
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In: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 96, s. 437-442
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To investigate risks of placements in out-of-home care for non-European adoptees. Methods: Intercountry adoptees born outside Europe 1973-1984 (n = 16 522) were compared with same age peers from the majority population (n = 1 026 523) using national demographic and child welfare registers. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression models, and odds ratios (OR) for different forms of out-of-home care placements were calculated. Results: After adjustments for socio-demographic background variables, the OR:s for placements of intercountry adoptees in residential care from age 10 were 5.1 (95% Cl 4.6-5.8) and 3.0 (95% Cl 2.6-3.6) for placements in foster care from age 10. For placements in all forms of out-of home care up to age 10, the odds were on par with the majority population. Higher child age at adoption, origin from Latin America, single parent adoption and maternal age above 35 at birth of the child were identified as significant predictors of out-of-home care from age 10. Conclusion: Intercountry adoptees emerge as a risk group for placements in out-of home care during adolescence, especially for entries into residential care (in Sweden usually triggered by persistent behaviour problems).
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| 7. |
- Hirvikoski, Tatja, et al.
(author)
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Cognitive functions in children at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia treated prenatally with dexamethasone
- 2007
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In: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 92:2, s. 542-548
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context and Objective: In Sweden, from 1985 through 1995, 40 fetuses at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) were treated with dexamethasone (DEX) to prevent virilization of affected females. We report long-term effects on neuropsychological functions and scholastic performance of this controversial treatment. Design and Patients: Prenatally treated children, 7 to 17 yr old, were assessed with standardized neuropsychological tests (A Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment and Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children) and child-completed questionnaires measuring self-perceived scholastic competence (Self-Perception Profile for Children). A parent-completed questionnaire (Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 School Scale) was used to evaluate whether the treatment had any impact on the children's school performance. In addition, a child-completed questionnaire measuring social anxiety (The Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised) was completed by the prenatally treated children aged 8 to 17 yr (n = 21) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 26). Results: Of 40 DEX-treated children, 26 (median age, 11 yr) participated in the study. Thirty-five sex- and age- matched healthy children were controls. There were no between-group differences concerning psychometric intelligence, measures of cerebral lateralization, memory encoding, and long-term memory. Short-term treated, CAH-unaffected children performed poorer than the control group on a test assessing verbal working memory (P = 0.003), and they rated lower on a questionnaire assessing self-perception of scholastic competence (P = 0.003). This group also showed increased self-rated social anxiety assessed by The Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised (P = 0.026). Prenatally treated, CAH-affected children performed poorer than controls on tests measuring verbal processing speed, although this difference disappeared when controlling for the child's full-scale IQ. Conclusions: This study indicates that prenatal DEX treatment is associated with previously not described long-term effects on verbal working memory and on certain aspects of self-perception that could be related to poorer verbal working memory. These findings may thus question future DEX treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Therefore, we encourage additional retrospective studies of larger cohorts to either confirm or challenge the present findings.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Hirvikoski, Tatja, et al.
(author)
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Long-term follow-up of prenatally treated children at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia : Does dexamethasone cause behavioural problems?
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Endocrinology. - 0804-4643 .- 1479-683X. ; 159:3, s. 309-316
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To investigate the long-term effects of prenatal treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) with emphasis on behavioural problems and temperament. Design: A population-based long-term follow-up study of Swedish children at risk for virilising CAH, who had received treatment prenatally with dexamethasone (DEX). The questionnaire-based follow-up was performed when the children had reached school age. Methods: Standardised parent-completed questionnaires were used to evaluate adaptive functioning, behavioural/emotional problems and psychopathology, social anxiety and temperament in DEX-exposed school-aged children (n=26) and matched controls (n=35). In addition, the association between parental questionnaires and children's self-ratings was investigated. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between DEX-exposed children and controls in measures of psychopathology, behavioural problems and adaptive functioning. In a questionnaire on temperamental traits, DEX-exposed children were described by their parents as being more sociable than controls (P=0.042). The correlation analysis showed only modest parent–child agreement on social anxiety, i.e. the increased social anxiety in children's self-ratings was not confirmed by their parents. Conclusions: DEX-treated children showed good overall adjustment. The parent–child agreement with respect to social anxiety was modest, highlighting the importance of multiple information sources and assessment methods. The clinical significance of the observed difference in sociability cannot be determined within the frameworks of this study. Additional studies of larger cohorts are essential to make more decisive conclusions on the safety of the treatment. Until then, it is important that parents are thoroughly informed about the benefits and potential risks and uncertainties of this controversial treatment.
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| 10. |
- Hirvikoski, Tatja, et al.
(author)
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Prenatal Dexametasone treatment of children at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia affects cognitive functions.
- 2007
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In: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. ; 92
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Sweden, during 1985-1995, 40 foetuses at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) were treated with dexamethasone (DEX) in order to prevent virilisation of affected females. We report long-term effects on neuropsychological functions and scholastic performance of this controversial treatment.Prenatally treated children, 7-17 years, were assessed with standardized neuropsychological tests (NEPSY and WISC-III) and child-completed questionnaires measuring self-perceived scholastic competence (SPPC). A parent-completed questionnaire (CBCL/4-18 School Scale) was used to evaluate whether the treatment had any impact on the children’s school performance.Of 40 DEX treated children, 26 (median age 11 years) participated in the study. Thirty-five sex- and age matched healthy children were controls. There were no between-group differences concerning psychometric intelligence, measures of cerebral lateralization, memory encoding, and long term memory. Short term treated, CAH unaffected children performed worse than the control group on a test assessing verbal working memory (p=0.003), and on self-perception of scholastic competence (p=0.003). Prenatally treated, CAH affected children performed poorer than controls on tests measuring verbal processing speed, although this difference disappeared when controlling for the child’s Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ).This study indicates that prenatal DEX treatment is associated with previously not described long-term effects on verbal working memory and certain aspects of self-perception that could be related to poorer verbal working memory. These findings may thus question future DEX treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Therefore, we encourage additional retrospective studies of larger cohorts to either confirm or challenge the present findings.
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