http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/sids.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-md-co-infant-mortality-20110404,0,117363.story http://tobacco.org/news/318218.html Women in the Baltimore area will soon hear radio ads urging prenatal care as local health officials continue efforts to stem high minority infant mortality rates. Black infants in the Baltimore area are nearly twice as likely to die as white babies . . . The new campaign will include commercials on radio stations 92Q (92.3 FM) and Magic 95 (95.9 FM) with pro-prenatal care and anti-smoking themes. Smoking is associated with low birth weight, premature deliveries and increased risks for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and asthma. The county offers smoking cessation classes. Baltimore Sun raven.hill@baltsun.com (Raven L. Hill, The Baltimore Sun) Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2011/04/06/tc.2010.041376.abstract?papetoc http://tobacco.org/news/318124.html Purpose This study utilises an ecological design to analyse the relation between concurrent temporal trends in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rates and prevalence of smoke-free households with infants in the USA, controlling for an important risk factor, infant supine sleep position. . . . Conclusions The uptake of voluntary restrictions on smoking inside the home may present a public health benefit for infants in their first year of life. In light of inherent ecological study design limitations, these results warrant further individual level research linking postnatal SHS exposure and SIDS. Tobacco Control Thu, 07 Apr 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110401/OPINIONS03/104010319/Secondhand-smoke-increases-SIDS?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7COpinions http://tobacco.org/news/317610.html A recent letter to the editor and a comment to that letter that mentioned the connection to SIDS deaths led me to write this letter. It is true that secondhand smoke does increase the risk of a baby dying of SIDS (or SUDI) by at least two times. The comment that passive smoking does not cause SIDS references a letter from the SIDS Foundation that was written Dec. 4, 1996 and is no longer accurate due to recent research and knowledge gained from that research. The two highest risks for babies in regard to these deaths are: 1) not laying the baby on its back to sleep, and 2) smoking in the household of anywhere around the baby When I look at the cases that happen in a 31 county area of southwestern and south central Missouri where I am the program coordinator for SIDS Resources, I see a high percentage of the deaths happening in families where someone in the household smokes. . . . Smoking around a baby not only increases the risk of SIDS SUDI, but it also increases the risk of the baby developing asthma and other breathing problems. . . . A vote for smoke free workplaces and public places in Springfield will definitely improve the health of children in the community. Springfield News-Leader Fri, 01 Apr 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.springerlink.com/content/w5rrkdftaha6xgl7/ http://tobacco.org/news/313405.html The evidence linking lower respiratory infections and bronchitis with passive smoking is strong, although it seems likely that the diet of the mother during pregnancy or breast feeding is equally important. Similarly, increased risks for asthma, otitis media and sudden infant death syndrome have been attributed to the effects of passive smoking, without adequate allowance for confounding by other socioeconomic factors. Conclusion: After consideration of the accumulated evidence, it seems improbable that the small exposure could produce all of the effects claimed. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Thu, 01 Nov 2001 05:00:00 GMT http://ekasearch01.eurekalert.org/e3/cs.html?url=http%3A//www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-11/mali-nrs110910.php&charset=iso-8859-1&qt=%2Bsmoking%2C+EurekAlert&col=ev3rel&n=5&la=en http://tobacco.org/news/310501.html The link between maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may relate to the negative effects of nicotine on the development of brain centers that regulate breathing, according to an article in the recent issue of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com). The article is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/ped SIDS is the leading cause of death during the first year of an infant's life. The link between maternal smoking and SIDS is clear. Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke puts infants at a 2- to 5-fold increased risk of SIDS and contributes to premature birth, another risk factor for SIDS. How exposure to the chemicals in cigarette smoke in utero increases the risk of SIDS has not been determined. In the article entitled, "The Effect of In Utero Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Development of Respiratory Control: A Review" Hemant Sawnani, Erik Olsen, and Narong Simakajornboon, from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (Ohio), summarize the evidence from both human and animal studies demonstrating that nicotine (in cigarette smoke) interferes with the development of the parts of the brain that control breathing. EurekAlert vcohn@liebertpub.com Tue, 09 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/ped.2010.0036 http://tobacco.org/news/310382.html Maternal cigarette smoking is the most modifiable risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome. Although the mechanism underlying the association between maternal smoking and sudden infant death syndrome is unknown, the effect of in utero cigarette smoke exposure on respiratory control development is speculated as the important causative mechanism. In human, several studies have linked maternal smoking and alterations in breathing pattern, ventilatory, and arousal responses in infants during the early postnatal age. Cigarette contains many compounds, but nicotine has been identified as the main culprit underlying changes in respiratory control. Further investigations in animal models have demonstrated that perinatal nicotine exposure results in alteration in baseline ventilation, ventilatory response to hypoxia, arousals, and autoresuscitation processes in developing animals. The mechanisms underlying the effect of nicotine exposure on respiratory control may be related to modulation of neurotransmitters and signal transductions mediating ventilatory control and arousal responses. Findings from these studies will help to understand how perinatal cigarette smoke exposure interferes with respiratory control development, and may lead to more effective preventive strategies and therapeutic intervention for this significant health problem. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers Tue, 09 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.liebertpub.com/prdetails.aspx?pr_id=837 http://tobacco.org/news/310381.html The link between maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may relate to the negative effects of nicotine on the development of brain centers that regulate breathing, according to an article in the recent issue of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com). The article is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/ped SIDS is the leading cause of death during the first year of an infant's life. The link between maternal smoking and SIDS is clear. Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke puts infants at a 2- to 5-fold increased risk of SIDS and contributes to premature birth, another risk factor for SIDS. How exposure to the chemicals in cigarette smoke In Utero increases the risk of SIDS has not been determined. In the article entitled, "The Effect of In Utero Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Development of Respiratory Control: A Review" Hemant Sawnani, Erik Olsen, and Narong Simakajornboon, from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (Ohio), summarize the evidence from both human and animal studies demonstrating that nicotine (in cigarette smoke) interferes with the development of the parts of the brain that control breathing. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers info@liebertpub.com Tue, 09 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/164/6/533 http://tobacco.org/news/302820.html Setting The National Child Development Study, a nationally representative study of births in Great Britain in 1958. . . . Conclusion Childhood hardships have an enduring impact on future pregnancy outcomes, in part through their association with smoking during pregnancy and adult socioeconomic position. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine UK Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/565362/?sc=rsmn http://tobacco.org/news/302789.html If more women quit smoking before they became pregnant, it would save infant lives, concludes a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite a decline over the past decade in the number of women who smoke during pregnancy, smoking is still a major cause of newborn deaths, early births and babies born with low birth weight. “We know about half of women quit when they find out that they are pregnant, but a lot of women are still smoking during pregnancy,” said Patricia Dietz, DrPh, lead study investigator. The study appears online and in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Dietz and co-investigators examined data from the US Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set, which included all 3.3 million births of single babies that occurred in the United States (with the exception of California) during 2002. About 11.5 percent of babies, or 386,000, had mothers who smoked during pregnancy. Newswise eAJPM@ucsd.edu UK Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.physorg.com/news195146984.html http://tobacco.org/news/302786.html Childhood hardships may be related to future pregnancy outcomes, in part through their association with smoking during pregnancy and adult socioeconomic position, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Hardships faced in childhood are often associated with health behaviors later in life, which can include smoking, depression, mood and sleep disturbances, and substance use and abuse, according to background information in the article. "Mounting research evidence suggests a relation between psychosocial stressors during pregnancy and poor pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation and preterm birth." Emily W. Harville, Ph.D., of Tulane University, New Orleans, and colleagues studied 4,865 women who experienced at least one hardship during childhood and had at least one live birth by age 41. physorg.com UK Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1760732?UserKey= http://tobacco.org/news/302412.html Dr Sally Winning, deputy chairman of BMAS said: "Around one in five women smoke during pregnancy and, although this is an improvement on previous years, it reflects the lack of knowledge among Scots about the health risks of smoking, not only to themselves, but to the health of their children. "Smoking while pregnant can have long term effects on the health of a baby. Maternal smoking in pregnancy is a cause of low birth weight in babies and has been linked to cot death." Dr Winning said partners and families can help pregnant women by quitting at the same time. She said: "They will be helping reduce exposure to second hand smoke, which is also a risk to pregnant women; it has been linked to low birth weight and premature birth." This is North Scotland UK-Scotland Mon, 31 May 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/aussie-experts-confirm-sids-breakthrough-20100204-ndrf.html http://tobacco.org/news/296398.html An Australian-led study has confirmed a lack of serotonin was a common factor with babies who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The breakthrough offers a "much clearer direction" in the search for a cure for the mysterious syndrome, which still claims one in 2,000 apparently healthy children. Researcher Dr Jhodie Duncan, of the Melbourne-based Florey Neuroscience Institutes, studied cases of infant deaths from confirmed SIDS and other causes. The SIDS babies were found to have lower levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which regulates the body's basic life-sustaining functions. "Things like heart rate, blood pressure, sleep cycles, respiration, serotonin plays a very important role in all these things that you need to stay alive," Dr Duncan told AAP. . . . The research also provides a new insight into another of SIDS known risk factors - women who smoke during pregnancy or smoking in a home with a newborn. Exposure to nicotine was also known to affect serotonin levels in the body, Dr Duncan said. AAP Australia Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8478690.stm http://tobacco.org/news/296397.html It's thought a third of cot deaths could be avoided by quitting smoking Smoke exposure during pregnancy damages a baby's blood pressure control, which may explain why such babies' risk of cot death is higher, say experts. Maternal smoking remains one of the biggest risk factors for cot death. A team at Sweden's Karolinksa Institute found smoke-exposed babies had abnormal surges in blood pressure, even when sleeping undisturbed in their cots. These surges put extra demand on the heart, making it pump faster and harder, the journal Hypertension says. The study suggests damage to the circulation may be a factor in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), although it set out to look at the effects of smoking on the newborn rather than cot death per se. BBC Online Sweden Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20100202/low-serotonin-levels-may-be-key-to-sids http://tobacco.org/news/296310.html Lower levels of the hormone serotonin may help explain why some infants succumb to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), according to a new study. In the U.S., SIDS deaths have declined by more than 50% since 1990. Experts say that's partly due to practices believed to minimize the risk, such as putting infants to sleep on their backs rather than their stomach and avoiding soft bedding, which could lead to asphyxiation. But SIDS is still the leading cause of death among infants age 1-12 months, accounting for about 2,750 U.S. deaths annually. It's defined as the death of an infant before his or her first birthday that can't be explained even after a complete autopsy, investigation of the death scene and circumstances, and a review of the medical history of the child and family. Now, the new research suggests that a deficiency of serotonin in the brain stem (which controls vital functions during sleep, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure) may help explain most of the deaths, says study researcher Hannah Kinney, MD, a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School and a neuropathologist at Children's Hospital Boston. "It is not going to explain all SIDS deaths," Kinney tells WebMD. However, she adds, "it will explain the majority." Her study is published in the Journal of the American Medical . . . "I think the message is there is something inherently wrong in some of these babies," he says. "On the other hand, in no way should that subtract from the public health message -- to avoid prone position, avoid fluffy bedding and pillows, avoid exposure to cigarette smoking, and don't overheat your baby." Association. WebMD Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/29/22/7137?lookupType=volpage&vol=29&fp=7137&view=short http://tobacco.org/news/285413.html Fetal nicotine exposure blunts hypoxia-induced catecholamine secretion from neonatal adrenomedullary chromaffin cells (AMCs), providing a link between maternal smoking, abnormal arousal responses, and risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Here, we show that the mechanism is attributable to upregulation of KATP channels via stimulation of {alpha}7 nicotinic ACh receptors (AChRs). These KATP channels open during hypoxia, thereby suppressing membrane excitability. After in utero exposure to chronic nicotine, neonatal AMCs show a blunted hypoxic sensitivity as determined by inhibition of outward K+ current, membrane depolarization, rise in cytosolic Ca2+, and catecholamine secretion. However, hypoxic sensitivity could be unmasked in nicotine-exposed AMCs when glibenclamide, a blocker of KATP channels, was present. Both KATP current density and KATP channel subunit (Kir 6.2) expression were significantly enhanced in nicotine-exposed cells relative to controls. Journal of Neuroscience Canada Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT