Subtopic Deep Dive
Gastroschisis Etiology and Epidemiology
Research Guide
What is Gastroschisis Etiology and Epidemiology?
Gastroschisis etiology and epidemiology studies environmental risk factors, genetic associations, and temporal-spatial trends in the incidence of this congenital abdominal wall defect using registry data and case-control studies.
Gastroschisis involves herniation of intestines through a paraumbilical abdominal wall defect, with rising prevalence among young mothers. Key studies identify maternal smoking (Hackshaw et al., 2011, 654 citations), opioid use (Broussard et al., 2011, 375 citations), and young maternal age as risks (Frolov et al., 2010, 148 citations). EUROCAT registries track European trends (Greenlees et al., 2011, 127 citations). Over 10 listed papers span 1999-2011 with 91-654 citations.
Why It Matters
Epidemiologic data from Rasmussen and Frías (2008, 125 citations) link non-genetic factors like genitourinary infections to gastroschisis, guiding maternal counseling. Maternal asthma medication risks (Lin et al., 2008, 92 citations) inform periconceptional care. Spatial trends in Hawaii (Forrester and Merz, 1999, 91 citations) and New York (Salihu et al., 2003, 97 citations) reveal rising incidence in young mothers, supporting public health interventions. Folic acid fortification effects (López-Camelo et al., 2010, 138 citations) assess preventability.
Key Research Challenges
Heterogeneous Risk Factor Data
Case-control studies show inconsistent maternal smoking associations (Hackshaw et al., 2011). Registry variations across EUROCAT members complicate comparisons (Greenlees et al., 2011). Frolov et al. (2010) note confounding by young maternal age.
Distinguishing Gastroschisis from Omphalocele
Epidemiologic trends differ between defects (Salihu et al., 2003; Forrester and Merz, 1999). Clinical risk reviews highlight diagnostic overlaps (Frolov et al., 2010). Rasmussen and Frías (2008) stress non-genetic etiology separation.
Rising Incidence Attribution
Temporal increases lack causal explanations (Salihu et al., 2003). Opioid and asthma medication links need verification (Broussard et al., 2011; Lin et al., 2008). Spatial clustering in young mothers requires multi-registry analysis (Greenlees et al., 2011).
Essential Papers
Maternal smoking in pregnancy and birth defects: a systematic review based on 173 687 malformed cases and 11.7 million controls
Allan Hackshaw, Charles H. Rodeck, Sadie Boniface · 2011 · Human Reproduction Update · 654 citations
BACKGROUND ; There is uncertainty over whether maternal smoking is associated with birth defects. We conducted the first ever comprehensive systematic review to establish which specific malformatio...
Maternal treatment with opioid analgesics and risk for birth defects
Cheryl S. Broussard, Sonja A. Rasmussen, Jennita Reefhuis et al. · 2011 · American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 375 citations
Clinical risk factors for gastroschisis and omphalocele in humans: a review of the literature
Polina Frolov, Jawdat Alali, Michael D. Klein · 2010 · Pediatric Surgery International · 148 citations
Folic acid flour fortification: Impact on the frequencies of 52 congenital anomaly types in three South American countries
Jorge S. López‐Camelo, Eduardo E. Castilla, Iêda M. Orioli · 2010 · American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A · 138 citations
Abstract The aim of the present investigation was to search for a reduction in birth prevalence estimates of 52 selected types of congenital anomalies, associated with folic acid fortification prog...
Paper 6: EUROCAT member registries: Organization and activities
Ruth Greenlees, Amanda J. Neville, Marie‐Claude Addor et al. · 2011 · Birth Defects Research Part A Clinical and Molecular Teratology · 127 citations
Abstract BACKGROUND EUROCAT is a network of population‐based congenital anomaly registries providing standardized epidemiologic information on congenital anomalies in Europe. There are three types ...
Non‐genetic risk factors for gastroschisis
Sonja A. Rasmussen, Jaime L. Frías · 2008 · American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C Seminars in Medical Genetics · 125 citations
Abstract Gastroschisis is an abdominal wall defect typically located to the right of the umbilical cord in which intestines and occasionally other abdominal contents herniate through the abdominal ...
Omphalocele and gastroschisis in the state of New York, 1992–1999
Hamisu M. Salihu, Bosny Pierre‐Louis, Charlotte M. Druschel et al. · 2003 · Birth Defects Research Part A Clinical and Molecular Teratology · 97 citations
Abstract BACKGROUND Variations in the temporal distribution and risk factors for omphalocele and gastroschisis have been suggested although results have not been conclusive. This study examines the...
Reading Guide
Foundational Papers
Start with Hackshaw et al. (2011, 654 citations) for smoking meta-analysis across defects; Rasmussen and Frías (2008, 125 citations) for gastroschisis-specific non-genetic risks; Frolov et al. (2010, 148 citations) for risk factor review.
Recent Advances
Greenlees et al. (2011, 127 citations) for EUROCAT registry methods; Broussard et al. (2011, 375 citations) for opioid risks; Lin et al. (2008, 92 citations) for asthma medication data.
Core Methods
Case-control odds ratios (NBDPS, Lin et al., 2008); population registry prevalence (EUROCAT, Greenlees et al., 2011; New York, Salihu et al., 2003); systematic reviews (Hackshaw et al., 2011).
How PapersFlow Helps You Research Gastroschisis Etiology and Epidemiology
Discover & Search
Research Agent uses searchPapers and exaSearch to find EUROCAT registry papers like Greenlees et al. (2011), then citationGraph reveals 127-cited connections to Rasmussen and Frías (2008) non-genetic risks. findSimilarPapers expands to regional trends like Salihu et al. (2003).
Analyze & Verify
Analysis Agent applies readPaperContent to Hackshaw et al. (2011) for smoking odds ratios, verifyResponse with CoVe checks consistency across Broussard et al. (2011) opioids, and runPythonAnalysis computes meta-analysis prevalence from Frolov et al. (2010) with GRADE grading for evidence strength.
Synthesize & Write
Synthesis Agent detects gaps in young mother trends from Forrester and Merz (1999), flags contradictions between Lin et al. (2008) asthma data. Writing Agent uses latexEditText, latexSyncCitations for Hackshaw et al. (2011), latexCompile epidemiology review, exportMermaid for risk factor diagrams.
Use Cases
"Run meta-analysis on maternal smoking and gastroschisis odds ratios from NBDPS data."
Research Agent → searchPapers('gastroschisis smoking') → Analysis Agent → readPaperContent(Hackshaw 2011) → runPythonAnalysis(pandas meta-analysis with forest plot) → matplotlib output of pooled OR=1.5 (95% CI).
"Write LaTeX review of gastroschisis trends in US registries 1992-2009."
Synthesis Agent → gap detection(Salihu 2003, Forrester 1999) → Writing Agent → latexEditText(intro) → latexSyncCitations(10 papers) → latexCompile → PDF with temporal trend figure.
"Find code for gastroschisis spatial epidemiology analysis."
Research Agent → paperExtractUrls(Forrester 1999) → Code Discovery → paperFindGithubRepo → githubRepoInspect(R Hawaiian registry script) → runPythonAnalysis(git clone, pandas geospatial plot).
Automated Workflows
Deep Research workflow synthesizes 50+ abdominal wall defect papers into structured report: searchPapers → citationGraph → GRADE all risks from Hackshaw et al. (2011). DeepScan 7-steps verifies opioid-gastroschisis link (Broussard et al., 2011) with CoVe checkpoints. Theorizer generates vascular disruption hypothesis from Rasmussen and Frías (2008) non-genetic factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines gastroschisis etiology studies?
Studies focus on non-genetic risks like maternal exposures and vascular disruption using case-control and registry data (Rasmussen and Frías, 2008).
What are main methods in gastroschisis epidemiology?
Population-based registries (EUROCAT, Greenlees et al., 2011) and case-control studies (National Birth Defects Prevention Study, Lin et al., 2008) track incidence and odds ratios.
What are key papers on gastroschisis risks?
Hackshaw et al. (2011, 654 citations) on smoking; Frolov et al. (2010, 148 citations) on clinical risks; Rasmussen and Frías (2008, 125 citations) on non-genetic factors.
What open problems exist?
Causal attribution of rising incidence in young mothers and inconsistent medication risks (Broussard et al., 2011; Forrester and Merz, 1999) need multi-registry longitudinal studies.
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