Jocelynn Cook

• University of Ottawa

Alcohol use during pregnancy is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes for the woman and fetus, including stillbirth, miscarriage, low birth weight, and risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Midwives are uniquely situated to routinely engage in conversations about alcohol use with women that are strength based, health promoting,...

As part of a larger project that provides unique insight into the profile of Canadians assessed for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) across various diagnostic clinics, the purpose of the current study was to highlight who presents for FASD assessment in Northeastern Ontario, and the related diagnostic outcomes between those who are diagnosed...

Background Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, but substantial interindividual heterogeneity complicates timely and accurate assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. The current study aimed to identify classes of children and adolescents with PAE assessed for...

Background: In February 2018, Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination during pregnancy to protect newborns against pertussis infection. We sought to describe pre- and postrecommendation trends in Tdap vaccination coverage among pregn...

Background and objective: Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) tend to be prescribed a high number of psychotropic medications to treat high rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders. A lack of guidance regarding best practices for prescribing psychotropic medications to individuals with FASD probably accounts for this reliance on...

Background and objective Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) tend to be prescribed a high number of psycho-tropic medications to treat high rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders. A lack of guidance regarding best practices for prescribing psychotropic medications to individuals with FASD probably accounts for this reliance on...

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a multifaceted disability, characterized not only by brain- and body-based challenges, but also high rates of environmental adversity, lifelong difficulties with daily living, and distinct sociocultural considerations. FASD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities in the Western world and a...

Objective Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of complex neurodevelopmental, psychological, and socioenvironmental vulnerabilities. There is growing evidence that suicidal ideation, attempts, and death by suicide are significant concerns within this population. In this study, we (1) determined the rate of suic...

Objective To identify sources of weight stigma in physical activity (PA)-related milieus reported by pregnant women living with obesity. We also report person-informed strategies to improve the delivery of PA promotions and prescriptions to prevent weight stigma and improve maternal PA. Design This is a qualitative descriptive study and semi-struc...

Introduction Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in North America. It is a complex disability, associated with challenges in cognitive, behavioural and socialemotional functioning, as well as an increased risk of physical and mental health comorbidities, and difficulties in daily living acro...

To improve uptake of influenza vaccine in pregnancy, it is important to understand the factors that predict prenatal vaccination. The aim of this study was to test the capability of the theory of planned behavior, augmented with information constructs, to predict and explain influenza vaccination uptake in a sample of 600 pregnant individuals in Ca...

Initiatives have been implemented to provide training to health care providers (HCPs) on the adverse health outcomes associated with alcohol use during pregnancy, including the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare two cross-sectional data sets of HCP perspectives over 15 years. In 2002...

Introduction: There is significant symptom overlap between fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which results from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is also limited research regarding the comorbidity of these disorders. Method: Thirty-nine individuals with ASD and PAE (ASD+PAE) aged 3 to 30 years were mat...

The prevalence of electronic nicotine delivery systems, such as vaping, is a growing public health concern, and there is limited information on the use of these devices during pregnancy. The objective of this rapid review was to summarize the available literature on human studies of the potential maternal or fetal health effects of vaping or women'...

Objectif: Établir des normes pancanadiennes fondées sur les meilleures données probantes actuelles sur le dépistage et les conseils en matière de consommation d'alcool et de troubles de consommation d'alcool chez les femmes enceintes ou en âge de procréer. PROFESSIONNELS CONCERNéS: Les fournisseurs de soins qui prodiguent des soins aux femmes ence...

Objective: To establish national standards of care for screening and counselling pregnant women and women of child-bearing age about alcohol consumption and possible alcohol use disorder based on current best evidence. Intended users: Health care providers who care for pregnant women and women of child-bearing age. Target population: Pregnant...

Introduction/Background Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a diagnostic term used to describe the range of physical and neurobehavioural effects that may result from prenatal exposure to alcohol. With school prevalence figures of approximately 4%, this may represent as many as 224,000 children across Canada. The pediatrician is key to identi...

A number of countries have implemented vaccination in pregnancy as a strategy to reduce the burden of influenza and pertussis. The aim of this study was to assess the involvement of Canadian maternity care providers in administration of vaccines to their pregnant patients. A cross-sectional web-based survey was sent to family physicians, obstetrici...

Health care providers (HCPs) have an important role in screening for alcohol use across the lifespan, particularly during the childbearing years, and providing brief intervention to yield optimal outcomes and prevent the potential teratogenic effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the current alcoh...

Aims. Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) frequently have challenges with regulating emotional arousal, or affect regulation (AR), and experience high rates of mental health disorders. This study examined children and adults with FASD to investigate the relationship between AR impairment and several mental health problems and di...

Objective: Influenza vaccine uptake among Canadian pregnant individuals is suboptimal. Failure to incorporate vaccination into routine prenatal care and a lack of recommendations from healthcare providers are recognized as barriers to vaccination. The aim of this study was to assess Canadian maternity care providers' knowledge, attitudes, and prac...

Objective: Individuals with FASD experience neurodevelopmental impairments and adverse outcomes, which can result in stress on the caregiver. However, there is little research on the needs of caregivers supporting individuals with FASD and whether they are associated with caregiver stress. Method: 125 caregivers of individuals with FASD complete...

Since Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Canadian Guidelines for Diagnosis was published as a supplement to the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2005, new evidence and recommendations have emerged necessitating an update and revision. A survey was sent to all diagnostic centres in Canada (between 2013-2014) to identify the strengths and...

Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term that describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual who was prenatally exposed to alcohol and includes an array of complex neurodevelopmental and physical findings. Objectives: To give primary healthcare providers (PHCP) evidence-based recommendations for supp...

Green, C., & Cook, J. (2014). “Doc, I didn’t know I was pregnant. Does my baby have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder?”. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 3 (1), 117-120. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v3i1.176 How much alcohol is “safe” during pregnancy? This is a question for which there is no conclusive answer. Although no mother wants to...

The demand for therapies to assist conception is growing in a number of countries including Canada. This study provides estimates of the number and characteristics of couples who sought medical help for conception and identifies the interventions and/or techniques they used. The data are from the Infertility Component of the 2009/2010 Canadian Comm...

Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant increase in the use of assisted reproductive technologies in Canada, however, little is known about the overall prevalence of infertility in the population. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of current infertility in Canada according to three definitions of the risk...

Assisted human reproduction has been associated with increased rates of multiple births. Data suggest that twins and higher order multiple pregnancies are at risk for pre- and postnatal health complications that contribute to stress on both the family and the Canadian health care system. No published Canadian data estimate the contribution of assis...

It has been well-documented that the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) increases the risk for multiple births, which are associated with sub-optimal outcomes for pregnant women and their offspring. The occurrence of multiple births due to infertility treatments has been recognized as a significant problem globally, and a number of count...

To introduce the key discussion points from the first International Forum on Cross-Border Reproductive Care (CBRC). International conference. A number of similar concerns were raised by the international panel of attendees at the International Forum on CBRC. The primary concerns of health care providers were the lack of reliable and complete inform...

To examine if physician knowledge and practices related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and its prevention vary based on the proportion of Native/Aboriginal patients served. A questionnaire was mailed to a national random sample of Canadian physicians between October 2001 and May 2002. The main outcome measure was responses regarding kno...

To determine the pre-conception practices among obstetrician-gynaecologists and family physicians in Canada. Between October 2001 and May 2002, a survey was mailed to a national random sample of obstetricians and gynaecologists (n = 539) and family physicians (n = 2378) who were current members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada or the S...

The diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is complex and guidelines are warranted. A subcommittee of the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Advisory Committee on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder reviewed, analysed and integrated current approaches to diagnosis to reach agreement on a standard in Canada. The purpose of this paper...

We explored a potential mechanism linking placental prostaglandins (PGs) with a fall in plasma progesterone and increased expression of uterine activation proteins in the mouse. PG endoperoxide H synthase 2 (PGHS-2) mRNA expression increased in placenta in late gestation in association with an 8-fold increase in PGF(2alpha) concentration, reaching...

We explored a potential mechanism linking placental prostaglandins (PGs) with a fall in plasma progesterone and increased expression of uterine activation proteins in the mouse. PG endoperoxide H synthase 2 (PGHS-2) mRNA expression increased in placenta in late gestation in association with an 8-fold increase in PGF2α concentration, reaching a peak...

The effect of alcohol on maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy is unknown. This study was designed to determine the effect of alcohol consumption on nitric oxide-mediated vascular function in mice during pregnancy. Female pregnant or nonpregnant C57BL/6J mice were fed a control diet or a liquid diet of 25% ethanol-derived calories for 13 days...

We determined the relative abundance of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase type 1 and type 2 messenger ribonucleic acid levels in the human fetus and newborn infant. We used ribonuclease protection assays and normalized values to messenger ribonucleic acid of cyclophilin. Tissues were obtained from all 3 trimesters and in the first 9 days of the...

Smoking during pregnancy is associated with a number of maternal and fetal complications. The mechanisms underlying the effects of nicotine on fetal growth and development are not known, but may involve decreases in umbilical–placental blood flow. Prostaglandins are vasoactive mediators that regulate umbilical–placental blood flow and there is evid...

Myometrial contractions of labor result from an increase in myometrial activation and stimulation. Activation develops through the expression of contraction associated proteins (CAPs), including oxytocin receptors (OTR), connexin-43 (Cx-43), and prostaglandin F2 alpha, receptors (FP). Stimulation involves increases in contractile agonists including...

Recently, an association between alcohol consumption during pregnancy and shortened gestational length has been reported, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Progesterone (P4) and prostaglandins have been shown to play important roles in parturition in both human and animal models. Recently, it has been suggested that prostaglandin H synt...

A C57BL/6J mouse model was used to examine the coteratology of alcohol and cocaine. Plugged female mice were assigned to one of four treatment groups: control, cocaine only, alcohol only, or alcohol-cocaine. Experimental animals were treated from gestation day (GD) 6-18 and were killed the morning of GD 19. Alcohol was administered in a liquid diet...

: Recently, an association between alcohol consumption during pregnancy and shortened gestational length has been reported, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Progesterone (P4) and prostaglandins have been shown to play important roles in parturition in both human and animal models. Recently, it has been suggested that prostaglandin H sy...

This review will focus largely on the prostaglandins (PGs) in relation to term and preterm birth and highlight some of the newer concepts in this field including the pathways of maternal and fetal PG synthesis, metabolism and receptors. Data from studies in women or from experiments utilizing human gestational tissues will be combined with knowledg...

Recent advances in investigative techniques have allowed us to undertake a re-exammation of the controlling steps in prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, metabolism and action for human birth. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzyme activity is present in two forms; cytosolic and secreted. Their molecular weight and biœhemical characteristics are quite different a...

Studies from our laboratory indicate that prostaglandins may be mediators of at least some of the teratogenic actions of ethanol in both mouse and human tissue model systems. The present studies were designed to evaluate the relationship between ethanol and prostaglandin E (PGE) production in isolated human placental cotyledons. Placentas were obta...

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Medical University of South Carolina, 1997. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-119).