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New study reveals certain prescription drugs can be harmful to fetus

More than six percent of expectant mothers in Quebec consume prescription drugs that are known to be harmful to their fetuses, according to a Universit- de Montr-al investigation published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

18 Nov 2009

Fetal exposure to phthalates has the potential to alter masculine brain development: Study

A study of 145 preschool children reports, for the first time, that when the concentrations of two common phthalates in mothers' prenatal urine are elevated their sons are less likely to play with male-typical toys and games, such as trucks and play fighting.

16 Nov 2009

Mercury pollution: World governments act

Today, world governments took the first significant steps towards a Legally Binding Treaty to control mercury pollution at a United Nations Environmental Program meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Their recommendations now provide countries with a basis to head into the International Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings starting in Stockholm, June 2010.

24 Oct 2009

Adult male monkeys exposed to cocaine while in the womb have poor impulse control

Adult male monkeys exposed to cocaine while in the womb have poor impulse control and may be more vulnerable to drug abuse than female monkeys, even a decade or more after the exposure, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. The findings could lead to a better understanding of human drug abuse.

23 Oct 2009

Potential hazards of H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu shot not disclosed, say protesters

As millions of Americans remain concerned about government-recommended flu shots, dozens of citizens dressed in full haz-mat suits will gather Wednesday, October 21, at the entrance to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) to greet arriving members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

20 Oct 2009

Women with increased levels of M-llerian inhibiting substance are at risk of breast cancer

Women with increased levels of M-llerian inhibiting substance (MIS), best known for regulating in utero sexual differentiation in boys, may be at a greater risk for breast cancer, according to a new study published online October 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

12 Oct 2009

Researchers reveal that H2 Blocker drugs pose no significant risks for the fetus

H2 Blocker drugs, such as Famotidine, Cimetidine and Ranitidine, approved in the U.S. for acid reflux (heartburn), pose no significant risks for the fetus according to a large collaborative cohort study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

8 Oct 2009

Fetal exposure to H1N1 flu can increase risk of heart disease

People exposed to a H1NI strain of influenza A while in utero were significantly more likely to have cardiovascular disease later in life, reveals a new study to be published in Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease on Oct. 1.

1 Oct 2009

New research shows link between maternal tobacco use and psychotic symptoms

Mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their children at greater risk of developing psychotic symptoms in their teenage years.

1 Oct 2009

Columbia University Medical Center performs the 100th ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis implant

ATS Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSI), manufacturer and marketer of state-of-the-art cardiac surgery products and services, today announced that Columbia University Medical Center has achieved 100 implants of the ATS 3f(R) Aortic Bioprosthesis. Based on the precept that 'Form Follows Function,' the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis is a revolutionary next generation stentless pericardial aortic tissue valve that is unlike any other valve.

21 Sep 2009

FDA approves clinical study of ATS 3f(R) Aortic Bioprosthesis with the younger aortic valve replacement population

ATS Medical, Inc. manufacturer and marketer of state-of-the-art cardiac surgery products and services, announced today that the FDA has approved a landmark clinical study in which cardiac surgeons will implant the ATS 3f(R) Aortic Bioprosthesis in a younger aortic valve replacement patient population that has not been previously studied in a controlled and scientific manner.

27 Aug 2009

Research reveals the life-long detrimental impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy

A new study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) has found that the life-long effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy may occur through specific changes in DNA patterns.

25 Aug 2009

Mother's immune system may block fetal treatments for blood diseases

Pediatric researchers have resolved an apparent contradiction in the field of prenatal cell transplantation - a medical approach that holds future promise in correcting sickle cell disease and other serious congenital blood disorders. In a new study in animals, the researchers showed that the mother's immune response interferes with the offspring's earlier ability to tolerate transplanted donor cells.

17 Aug 2009

Minimally invasive treatment of brain tumors on the horizon

Duke University engineers have taken a first step toward a minimally invasive treatment of brain tumors by combining chemotherapy with heat administered from the end of a catheter.

17 Jun 2009

Oxidative stress strongly evident in the in-utero environment of the fetus with Down syndrome

A paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University researchers reports that amniotic fluid surrounding Down syndrome fetuses shows oxidative stress, a condition that could harm fetal cells and play a role in affected individuals. The results demonstrate secondary adverse consequences of Down syndrome and suggest potential prenatal therapies.

2 Jun 2009

Genetics may help explain alcohol-related susceptibility and resistance

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to teratogenesis, the development of embryonic defects.

22 Apr 2009

Researchers show how PCBs may alter in utero, neonatal brain development

In three new studies - including one appearing online in the Public Library of Science - Biology (PLoS - Biology) - UC Davis researchers provide compelling evidence of how low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) alter the way brain cells develop.

13 Apr 2009

Discovery of possible trigger for onset of labor

The relationship between two different types of estrogen and a hormone produced in the placenta may serve as the mechanism for signaling labor, according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

1 Apr 2009

Male baby comes with more risks than females

Nurses in the maternity ward often say that a difficult labor is a sign of a baby boy.