Environmental factors linked to cleft lip

The cause for cleft lip and palate is multi-factorial. Based upon the patients I see, I would say that the most common cause of cleft is consanguineous marriage. Some cases may have a genetic basis.  Many international researches have suggested evidence of facial cleft defects due to deficiencies, like Vitamin C, zinc, folic acid etc. Presumably due to poor nutrition in the lower end of the economic scale, there appears to be a link between high incidence of facial clefts and low socio-economic status. 

Occasionally, even in the absence of genetic factors, environmental factors may lead to cleft, for example, women taking oral contraceptive pills unaware of their pregnancy. If there are viral or bacterial infections acquired in early stages of pregnancy e.g. measles, rubella, maternal exposure to smoking, alcohol or illicit drugs, even taking certain types of medications during pregnancy, like those for seizures, cancer, arthritis, may lead to cleft defects. 

What are the blocks that can be removed through angioplasty? How often can one undergo the procedure?  -  Amudhan V, Chrompet

Depending upon the location of the block, nature of block (hard or soft), length of block, number of blocks, size of blood vessel, presence of diabetes, percentage of block, presence of clot, several other factors are taken into consideration to decide whether such blocks can be removed by angioplasty.  Though most blocks can be removed by angioplasty, it is often important to access the patient and angio film carefully for angioplasty. There are no limits to the number of times one can undergo the procedure, provided the block is feasible.