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.

Women's Health: Maintaining healthy DNA delays menopause ♦ MRI technique could reduce need for breast biopsies ♦ Microchip used to visualize human breast cancer proteins

Maintaining healthy DNA delays menopause An international study of nearly 70,000 women has identified more than 40 regions of the human genome involved in governing at what age a woman goes through menopause. The study found that two-thirds of those regions contain genes that act to keep DNA healthy. It also found the first genetic evidence of a link between the timing of menopause and breast cancer, corroborating previous conclusions from observational evidence.

Scientists use microchip approach to visualize human breast cancer proteins Scientists present a new molecular toolkit to investigate protein assemblies natively formed in the context of human disease. BRCA1 gene regulatory complexes from cancer cells were visualized for the first time.

How more women with earlier Cesarean sections can give birth vaginally next time In many countries, caesarean section is routinely used if the woman previously gave birth by caesarean section. Doctors and midwives in countries with a high rate of vaginal births after caesarean sections have for the first time been asked in a study to give their views on how to increase the percentage of vaginal births.

Biomarkers in maternal blood can identify pregnant women with lupus at low risk for adverse outcomes Pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus, are at higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, placental insufficiency, fetal death, miscarriages, and other complications. A consortium of top researchers reports that monitoring specific angiogenic biomarkers in maternal blood during early pregnancy can successfully predict patients who will likely have normal pregnancies.This will enable physicians to identify, counsel, and manage high risk patients at an early stage of pregnancy.

MRI technique could reduce need for breast biopsies A magnetic resonance breast imaging technique that uses no ionizing radiation or contrast agent could reduce unnecessary biopsies by providing additional information about suspicious findings on X-ray screening mammography

Prenatal Birth: Molecular mechanisms within fetal lungs that initiate labor ♦ Folate bio markers determined ♦ Maternal stress alters offspring gut, brain through vaginal microbiome

Maternal stress alters offspring gut, brain through vaginal microbiome The neonate is exposed to the maternal vaginal microbiota during birth, providing the primary source for normal gut colonization, host immune maturation, and metabolism. These early interactions between the host and microbiota occur during a critical window of neurodevelopment, suggesting early life as an important period of cross talk between the developing gut and brain. Changes in the vaginal microbiome are associated with effects on offspring gut microbiota and on the developing brain.

Prenatal DDT exposure tied to nearly four-fold increase in breast cancer risk Women who were exposed to higher levels of the pesticide DDT in utero were nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer as adults than women who were exposed to lower levels before birth.

Researchers find molecular mechanisms within fetal lungs that initiate labor Researchers have identified two proteins in a fetus’ lungs responsible for initiating the labor process, providing potential new targets for preventing preterm birth. They discovered that the proteins SRC-1 and SRC-2 activate genes inside the fetus' lungs near full term, leading to an inflammatory response in the mother's uterus that initiates labor

Folate bio markers determined An international paper on folate bio markers is part of an initiative to provide evidence-based guidance for the global nutrition and public health community. The comprehensive study on folate, an essential B vitamin required for DNA synthesis and normal growth and development, represents a consensus of the top folate scientists globally. A major birth defect affecting the spinal cord -- spinabifida, for example -- and brain can be prevented by maternal consumption of sufficient folate prior to and during the very early stages of fetal development.