Prenatal Research: Lack of folic acid enrichment in Europe causes mortality among fetuses ♦ Better maternal diet linked to lower risk of heart abnormalities in babies at birth

Some radiation okay for expectant mother and fetus During pregnancy, approximately 5 to 8 percent of women sustain traumatic injuries, including fractures and muscle tears. To help evaluate and manage these injuries, orthopaedic surgeons often recommend radiographs and other imaging studies. Most diagnostic studies are generally safe, and the radiation doses from these studies are well below thresholds considered risky.

Parents' preconception exposure to environmental stressors can disrupt early development Even before a child is conceived, the parents' exposure to environmental stressors can alter the way genes are expressed and ultimately harm the child's health when those genes are passed down to the next generation.

Better maternal diet linked to lower risk of heart abnormalities in babies at birth A relatively healthy diet before pregnancy is linked to a lower rate of certain heart abnormalities in babies at birth

Lack of folic acid enrichment in Europe causes mortality among fetuses A new international study shows that 5,000 fetuses in Europe annually are affected by spina bifida and other severe defects on the central nervous system. Seventy percent of these pregnancies are terminated, while increased mortality and serious diseases affect the children who are born. At least half of the cases can be avoided by adding folic acid to staple foods as is already being done in 70 non-European countries

6/18/14 Health News: Chinese food safety is worse than you think ♦ War Wound Infections ♦ Resveratrol, Causes Pancreatic Abnormalities in Fetuses ♦ Early Vaccines Save Lives in Flu Pandemic

Chinese food safety is worse than you think

In April, I began an email correspondence with an American I’ll call Susan (she prefers to remain anonymous), who has lived in China for 15 years while working in publishing. She currently resides in Beijing and also lived in a small town in Hubei province. Susan came across our Change.org petition (322,000+ signatures) asking Congress to “Keep Chinese Chicken Out of Our Schools …continue reading

Veterans to Benefit From Better Identification of War Wound Infections

War wounds that heal successfully frequently contain different microbial species from those that heal poorly, according to a paper published ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.These and other findings have important implications for improving wound healing, Continue Reading

'Healthy' Component of Red Wine, Resveratrol, Causes Pancreatic Abnormalities in Fetuses

New research suggests that although resveratrol improved blood flow through the placenta of macaque monkeys and protected against harmful aspects of obesity, resveratrol injured the fetal pancreas. Here's more evidence that pregnant women should be careful about what they eat and drink: This study has direct relevance to human health — resveratrol, found in red wine and frequently taken as a supplement, is widely used for its recognized health benefits, and is readily available over the counter. Continue Reading

Vaccination During 'Optimal Window' Is the Key to Saving Lives in Next Flu Pandemic

Early vaccination could reduce morbidity, mortality, and health care costs associated with pandemic flu, according to an article being published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Response to a 2009 H1N1 pandemic was not optimal, with large-scale vaccination not occurring until nine months after outbreak.. A delay of just four weeks leads to substantial increases in infection, deaths, and costs. Continue Reading