Conception News and Research

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Breast cancer genes modify age at menopause

Women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation begin menopause at a significantly younger median age than noncarriers, US researchers warn.

4 Feb 2013

Longer looks: Dr. Oz, deconstructed; Malpractice and apology

Oprah Winfrey first referred to Mehmet Oz as "America's doctor" in 2004, during one of his earliest appearances on her television show. The label stuck. Oz was a rare find: so eloquent and telegenic that people are often surprised to learn that he is a highly credentialled member of the medical establishment. ... "The Dr. Oz Show" frequently focusses on essential health issues: the proper ways to eat, relax, exercise, and sleep, and how to maintain a healthy heart. Much of the advice Oz offers is sensible, and is rooted solidly in scientific literature.

1 Feb 2013

Closer monitoring and regulation required for surrogacy arrangements

COUPLES seeking to build a family, and surrogate mothers overseas who help them, are in danger of emotional, physical and financial exploitation unless UK authorities monitor and regulate the field much more closely, according to a University of Huddersfield professor who has published the results of a detailed investigation.

22 Jan 2013

Study finds decline in spermatozoid concentration in young Spanish men

The first comparative study on the evolution of sperm quality in young Spanish men over ten years, headed by researchers at the University of Murcia, reveals that spermatozoid concentration in men between 18 and 23 years in the regions of Murcia and Almeria has dropped by an annual average of 2%.

19 Jan 2013

Miscarriage and molecular signals: an interview with Prof Brosens and Prof Quenby

Miscarriage is defined as the spontaneous loss of pregnancy before the baby reaches viability. Besides the physical trauma, miscarriage causes considerable anxiety, stress, and depression.

17 Jan 2013

March of Dimes book offers scientifically-based advice for pregnant women, tips for new parents

Taking a daily multivitamin containing the B vitamin folic acid is one of the best ways to prevent birth defects and an important step toward having a healthy baby, yet only about one-third of women know about it.

4 Jan 2013

Researchers analyze impact of 3 unexpected sex determination factors

So, is it a girl or a boy? This is the first question parents ask at the birth of an infant. Though the answer is obvious, the mechanism of sex determination is much less so. Researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) attempt to shed light on this complex process by identifying the crucial role played by insulin and IGF1 and IGF2 growth factors, a family of hormones known for its role in metabolism and growth.

3 Jan 2013

Infertility treatment may raise childhood asthma risk

Children born after infertility treatment are at increased risk for asthma, results of a large cohort study indicate.

28 Dec 2012

New evidence about benefits of marriage

There's new evidence about the benefits of marriage. Women who are married suffer less partner abuse, substance abuse or post-partum depression around the time of pregnancy than women who are cohabitating or do not have a partner, a new study has found.

14 Dec 2012

NAP and SAL injection during pregnancy improve memory, learning tasks in offsprings

Mice with a condition that serves as a laboratory model for Down syndrome perform better on memory and learning tasks as adults if they were treated before birth with neuroprotective peptides, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

30 Nov 2012

FDA approves HeartWare Ventricular Assist System to treat end-stage heart failure

HeartWare International, Inc., a leading innovator of less invasive, miniaturized circulatory support technologies that are revolutionizing the treatment of advanced heart failure, today announced that it has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the HeartWare Ventricular Assist System as a bridge to heart transplantation in patients with end-stage heart failure.

20 Nov 2012

Four transcription factor genes control processes related to heart and head muscle formation

A group of researchers in Israel, the United States and other nations have made important advances in the rapidly-expanding field of "regenerative medicine," outlining for the first time connections in genetic regulation that normally prevent birth defects in heart and facial muscles.

30 Oct 2012

Losing weight does not lead to improved fertility in women

Losing weight does not lead to improved fertility in women, but does improve sexual function, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

19 Oct 2012

Examining how issue of abortion portrayed in Kenyan Constitution

In an opinion piece in the Huffington Post's "Global Motherhood" blog, David Olson, a global health communications consultant who worked as a communications adviser to the Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance in Kenya earlier this year, describes how "abortion rights [in the country] have been liberalized in certain cases in a Constitution approved in a public referendum two years ago."

19 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: Two views of Romney/Ryan victory impact on abortion; Unmarried women gain electoral clout

It is no secret that Mitt Romney and his running-mate, Representative Paul Ryan, are opponents of abortion rights. ... They would depart slightly from the extremist Republican Party platform by allowing narrow exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the woman. Beyond that, they would move to take away a fundamental right that American women have had for nearly 40 years.

17 Oct 2012

Accumulation of small genetic variations could increase risk of ASD

An increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) could result from an accumulation of many small, common genetic variations rather than large-effect, rare changes in the genetic code, according to a multicenter team led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

16 Oct 2012

In VP debate, Biden and Ryan clash on health issues

In this face-off, the two candidates outlined very different sets of policies and perspectives on issues ranging from their respective Medicare plans to the uninsured and abortion.

15 Oct 2012

V.P. candidates face questions about abortion and faith

Both candidates explained how their Catholic background helped to shape their policy views, including on abortion. News outlets reported that, based on answers from Vice President Joe Biden and GOP vice presidential pick Paul Ryan, it was clear that both were aiming to the larger, much sought after audience of female voters.

15 Oct 2012

Common genetic polymorphisms can increase risk of autism spectrum disorders

The causes of autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are complex, and contain elements of both nature (genes) and the environment. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Molecular Autism shows that common genetic polymorphisms (genetic variation) can add up to an increased risk of ASD.

15 Oct 2012

Senate candidates spar over Medicare, health policies

Campaign debates in Virginia and Michigan focus on Medicare and health issues while the GOP candidate in Ohio says he has not yet signed on to Republican plan to revamp Medicare.

10 Oct 2012