Women's Health: Antidepressant drug linked with increased risk of birth defects ♦ Infertility treatments do not contribute to developmental delays in children

Infertility treatments do not appear to contribute to developmental delays in children Children conceived via infertility treatments are no more likely to have a developmental delay than children conceived without such treatments, according to a study. The findings may help to allay longstanding concerns that conception after infertility treatment could affect the embryo at a sensitive stage and result in lifelong disability

What are the risks of giving birth inside, outside a hospital setting? The out-of-hospital birth setting in Oregon was associated with a higher risk of perinatal death, while the in-hospital birth setting was associated with a higher risk for cesarean delivery and other obstetric interventions (e.g., induction or augmentation of labor), according a new American study.

Antidepressant drug linked with increased risk of birth defects when taken in early pregnancy Using paroxetine -- a medication prescribed to treat conditions including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder -- during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase newborn's’ risk of congenital malformations and cardiac malformations. Up to one-fifth of women of childbearing age experience depressive symptoms that often lead to mild to moderate depression, and prescriptions for antidepressants during pregnancy have increased in recent years. The most common drugs for treating depression in pregnant women are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and up until 2005, one drug in that class -- paroxetine -- was considered to be safe for use during pregnancy.

Improving vaginal discomfort after menopause A new phase III trial with positive results is taking intravaginal DHEA a step closer to governmental approval. The formulation could provide women who cannot or do not wish to use intravaginal estrogen with an effective vaginal alternative for easing vaginal symptoms and pain with sex after menopause.

Children's Health: Children with specific birth defects at increased risk for abuse ♦ New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US schoolchildren

New technology may standardize sickle cell disease screening for infants Researchers offer promising findings related to new technology aimed at facilitating early detection of sickle cell disease for infants in developing countries. Over half of babies born with sickle cell disease (SCD) in countries with limited resources die before age five. Over 6 million people in West and Central Africa suffer from the disease, which causes pain crises, widespread organ damage and early mortality

New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US schoolchildren Twelve percent of US children and teens had a diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 2011, a number that has jumped by 43 percent since 2003.

Children with specific birth defects at increased risk for abuse Children born with cleft lip or palate and spina bifida are at an increased risk for abuse before the age of two, according to researchers. The researchers found that compared to children without birth defects the risk of maltreatment in children with cleft lip and/or palate was increased by 40 percent and for children with spina bifida, the risk was increased by 58 percent.

Parents have more influence than they might realize to prevent substance use Adolescence is a time when many children may consider experimenting with alcohol or drugs. New research shows parents can reduce that risk by maintaining a healthy and open relationship with their children.

Prenatal Research: Obesity drug has no effect on baby birth weights, ♦ High-fat maternal diet changes newborn heart 'tastebuds'♦ antidepressants may be associated with increased birth defect risk

Some SSRI antidepressants may be associated with increased birth defect risk

Some antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) taken during early pregnancy may indeed be associated with an increased risk of birth defects, finds a study.

Obesity drug has no effect on baby birth weights,

Treating obese pregnant women with a diabetes drug does not stop their babies from being born overweight, a study has found. Doctors had hoped that the treatment would help to reduce obesity rates and lower the number of difficult births.

Gene fuels age-related obesity and diabetes

Practically everyone gets fatter as they get older, but some people can blame their genes for the extra padding. Researchers have shown that two different mutations in a gene called ankyrin-B cause cells to suck up glucose faster than normal, fattening them up and eventually leading to the type of diabetes linked to obesity.

High-fat maternal diet changes newborn heart 'tastebuds'

Baby rats whose mothers were fed a high-fat diet had larger than normal hearts with fewer taste receptors for bitter flavours.

2/2/15 Health News: Synthetic Marijuana Contaminated Holiday Bread ♦ Effect of BPA and estradiol on sperm ♦ Breast cancer ♦ Prescription painkillers, widely double birth defects

Tests Show Synthetic Drug Contaminated Holiday Bread From CA Bakery

Independent lab tests of the holiday bread sold in early January by a Santa Ana, CA, bakery and linked to reports of dizziness, palpitations and other symptoms show that it was probably deliberately contaminated with synthetic cannabinoid, Continue Reading

Effect of BPA and estradiol on sperm development seen by researchers

A direct link between bisphenol A, or BPA, and disrupted sperm production has been discovered by researchers. They say the chemical disrupts the delicate DNA interactions needed to create sperm. This work may have unearthed the physiological mechanism that could account for decreased sperm counts seen in several human studies.Continue Reading

Breast cancer prevention drug benefit varies among at-risk women, study finds

The findings of study may help women and their doctors make decisions about who may get the most benefit out of a breast cancer prevention drug Continue Reading

Prescription painkillers, widely used by childbearing age women, double birth defects  

Women unaware that prescription opioid-based medications such as codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, or morphine, used to treat severe pain, may increase the risk for serious birth defects of the baby's brain, spine, and heart, as well as preterm Continue Reading

New links between obesity, cardiovascular disease found

Novel methods have been applied in a recent study to detect binding of fatty acids to CD36 and their effect on internalization of oxidized LDL. Continue Reading