Prenatal Research: New molecule found to prevent preterm birth ♦ Scan may identify best candidates for fetal spina bifida surgery ♦ Iron supplementation during pregnancy and risk of malaria in malaria

Iron supplementation during pregnancy and risk of malaria in malaria-endemic region Among women in a malaria-endemic region in Kenya, daily iron supplementation during pregnancy did not result in an increased risk of malaria, according to a study. Iron supplementation did result in increased birth weight, gestational duration, neonatal length, and a decreased risk of low birth weight and prematurity.

New molecule found to prevent preterm birth Premature births are intimately linked with inflammation of the uterine tissue, a biological response which induces contractions and preterm labor. In their search for a mean to prevent this phenomenon and complications related to deliveries occurring before 37 weeks of gestation, researchers have discovered an agent that shows efficacy in inhibiting inflammation and preventing or delaying uterine contractions and premature delivery in murine models – without adversely affecting the fetus or the mother. This discovery is a giant step towards preventing prematurity, which is the world's leading cause of infant death and the origin of potentially severe, long-lasting physical, intellectual or psychological impairment for the 10% of infants born preterm world-wide.

Research reveals the placenta's oxygen tanks for early embryos A new role for the placenta has been revealed by researchers who have identified sites which store, and gradually release, oxygen for newly formed embryos in the weeks after the baby's heart is developed.

Scan may identify best candidates for fetal spina bifida surgery Fetuses with enlarged ventricles -- the fluid-filled cavities inside the brain -- may be less likely than their counterparts to benefit from surgery in the womb to treat spina bifida.

Food Research: Genetically modified crops to fight spina bifida ♦ How the Government allows chemicals in ‘organic’ food ♦ Three secrets to healthier eating

Genetically modified crops to fight spina bifida Genetically modified crops are usually designed to have herbicide tolerance and insect resistance, but there are other applications of such engineered plants, such as the incorporation of genes for specific nutrients. Research suggests that the biofortification of rice with a gene to produce more folate (vitamin B9) could significantly reduce the risk of birth defects, such as spina bifida and other neural tube defects

How the Government allows chemicals in ‘organic’ food You might think the USDA "organic" label is reserved for foods produced without any man-made chemicals. But under government rules, "organic" food may be grown or processed with the aid of scores of synthetic substances, as long as those chemicals have been deemed essential. Exactly which chemicals should be allowed? This week, in a process that is largely

Three secrets to healthier eating A new study analyzed 112 studies that collected information about healthy eating behaviors and found that most healthy eaters did so because a restaurant, grocery store, school cafeteria, or spouse made foods like fruits and vegetables visible and easy to reach (convenient), enticingly displayed (attractive), and appear like an obvious choice (normal).

Can cheap wine taste great? Brain imaging and marketing placebo effects When consumers taste cheap wine and rate it highly because they believe it is expensive, is it because prejudice has blinded them to the actual taste, or has prejudice actually changed their brain function, causing them to experience the cheap wine in the same physical way as the expensive wine? Research has shown that preconceived beliefs may create a placebo effect so strong that the actual chemistry of the brain changes.

Opioid Prescription Claims Among Women of Reproductive Age

Opioid medications are widely used among women of reproductive age in the United States, regardless of insurance type. Women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant should not stop or start taking any medications that they need without first talking with a healthcare provider.

More than a third (39 percent) of reproductive-aged women enrolled in Medicaid, and more than one fourth (28 percent) of those with private insurance, filled a prescription for an opioid pain medication each year during 2008-2012.Taking these medications early in pregnancy, often before women know they are pregnant, can increase the risk for some birth defects (such as spina bifida) and other poor pregnancy outcomes (such as preterm birth or low birth weight). Healthcare providers should discuss the potential risks and benefits of opioid medication use with women of reproductive age, prior to prescribing.

England and Wales: One in 46 Babies has a Birth Defect

England and Wales also has higher rates of neural tube defects such as spina bifida than many other European countries. The report, from the British Isles Network of Congenital Anomaly Registers (Binocar), is the most comprehensive of its kind, covering six regions of England and Wales.

One in 46 babies has a birth defect - although the figure could be as high as one in 40, according to new research.

The authors of the report estimate there were 15,966 babies suffering defects in 2011, or 2.2% of babies. The most common anomalies are congenital heart defects, which affect at least six in every 1,000 babies. Those suffering heart problems can require major surgery, and around 6% of babies with a heart defect die before their first birthday.

Neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, affect one in 1,000 babies, according to the report.

The authors estimated that overall in 2011 4,461 babies suffered heart defects, 1,739 had defects of the nervous system, 1,223 had problems with the digestive system and there were 1,143 cases of cleft lip or palate, alone or alongside other defects.

Some 1,973 babies had Down's syndrome - a rate of 25.7 per 10,000 births - with older mothers at higher risk of having a baby with the condition. The south east and London had the highest rates of Down's, reflecting the fact more mothers over 35 live in these areas. In London, the rate for Down's syndrome was 31 per 10,000 births.

Joan Morris, professor of medical statistics at Queen Mary, University of London, said the 2011 figures did not suggest an overall increase in the number of babies suffering defects compared to previous years.

"It's stayed pretty much the same," she said. "One in 46 babies were thought to have a defect in 2011, although we know this is an underestimate and it's likely to be closer to one in 40. Overall, our impression is that we're pretty similar to Europe although we have higher rates of abdominal defects, particularly among younger mothers.

"People feel this is lifestyle related. Evidence suggests that risks are increased, particularly in lower body mass index mums - the thinner teenage pregnancies - but we can't say that's definitely the cause. We also have higher rates of neural tube defects than other countries but it's not exactly clear why."