Prenatal News and Research

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Appeals court blocks Ind. law barring Planned Parenthood funding

The state had sought to cut Medicaid funding because Planned Parenthood also provides abortion services.

25 Oct 2012

Maternal dietary acrylamide has negative effect on fetal growth

Pregnant women who consume a diet that is high in acrylamide, found in cooked starchy foods such as toast, chips, and crisps, are more likely to give birth to a small for gestational age baby than women who do not.

24 Oct 2012

Romney, Ryan would support U.S. cuts in international family planning aid

"If Republican presidential nominee Gov. Mitt Romney and his vice-presidential running mate, Representative Paul Ryan, were to win next month's election, the harm to women's reproductive rights would extend far beyond the borders of the United States," a New York Times editorial says.

23 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: LA Times endorses Obama; Romney, Ryan 'obfuscating their plans for Medicare, Medicaid;' Obama's health law polarizes the country

The outcome of the presidential election will determine which of two opposing paths the nation will follow on health care for all Americans. If voters re-elect President Obama, he will protect the health care reforms.

23 Oct 2012

Reprogrammed endothelial cells for treatment of vascular disorders

A research team at Weill Cornell Medical College has discovered a way to utilize diagnostic prenatal amniocentesis cells, reprogramming them into abundant and stable endothelial cells capable of regenerating damaged blood vessels and repairing injured organs.

19 Oct 2012

Maternal depression influences infant speech development

The early development of speech perception in infants is affected by both maternal depression and prenatal exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such that major milestones are either accelerated or delayed, say US and Canadian scientists.

17 Oct 2012

GENNET, BGI enter collaborative agreement for non-invasive fetal trisomy test

BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, and GENNET, a center for genetics, fetal medicine and assisted reproduction, jointly announced that they have entered a collaborative agreement on non-invasive fetal trisomy (NIFTY) test with the aim to significantly improve reproductive health in Czech and Slovak Republic. Th

17 Oct 2012

Longer looks: Mitt Romney's health care legacy; Closing of Philly hospitals brings 'grim consequences;' Young doctors and their apps

A journey into the places, people, and decisive moments that made the men who are competing for the presidency. ...As governor, Romney knew he needed what political pros called a "legacy issue" if he wanted to run for president one day. He devoted his energy towards reforming health care, an issue that Democrats had been grappling with and a problem that cost the state dearly as taxpayers bore the brunt of covering the uninsured.

11 Oct 2012

State roundup: Filling the health care void in NYC's Greenwich Village

The demise of St. Vincent's Hospital in Greenwich Village two years ago has led to a struggle for health care supremacy in some of New York's most distinctive neighborhoods, offering a glimpse, in the process, at what might be the future of urban medicine.

11 Oct 2012

Prenatal fish consumption may reduce risk of ADHD-related behaviors

A study of children in the New Bedford, Mass., area suggests that low-level prenatal mercury exposure may be associated with a greater risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behaviors and that fish consumption during pregnancy may be associated with a lower risk of these behaviors, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

9 Oct 2012

Major depression goes unnoticed in pregnant women

Healthcare professionals looking after pregnant women should maintain a high level of awareness for the possibility of major depressive disorder, say US researchers who found the condition frequently goes undetected.

5 Oct 2012

Study shows impact of obstetric unit closures on outcomes of mothers and babies

After a series of Philadelphia hospitals started closing their maternity units in 1997, infant mortality rates increased by nearly 50 percent over the next three years. The mortality rates subsequently leveled off to the same rate as before the closures, but pediatric researchers say their results underscore the need for careful oversight and planning by public health agencies in communities experiencing serious reductions in obstetric services.

5 Oct 2012

New spontaneous genetic mutations play a significant role in schizophrenia

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have identified dozens of new spontaneous genetic mutations that play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia, adding to the growing list of genetic variants that can contribute to the disease.

4 Oct 2012

Preterm births fell for the fifth straight year in 2011

Preterm births fell for the fifth straight year in 2011, and the improvement was across the board -- every racial and ethnic group benefited, and there were fewer preterm babies born at all stages of pregnancy, according to preliminary birth data released today by the National Center for Health Statistics.

4 Oct 2012

VOA News reports on Syria's health crisis in midst of civil war

"The United Nations estimates the civil war raging in Syria has left more than 2.5 million people in dire need of food, water, drugs and medical supplies," VOA News reports.

2 Oct 2012

Autism Speaks announces new round of research grants

Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today announced the awarding of new research grants totaling nearly $5 million. "Autism Speaks is committed to continuing our research which has tremendous potential to increase our understanding of autism and addressing the needs of individuals with autism," said Autism Speaks Co-founder Bob Wright, "and we are grateful to the donors who make this research possible."

29 Sep 2012

Medicaid: Ariz. expansion savings detailed; Kan. prepares for managed care approval

In Medicaid news, a report details how an expansion there would save Arizona money. And a Kansas official says a planned move of recipients to managed care is likely to be approved by federal authorities.

28 Sep 2012

Maternal obstetric problems linked to schizophrenia risk

Certain maternal pregnancy complications are associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia spectrum psychoses among individuals at high genetic risk for the condition, Finnish research shows.

25 Sep 2012

Comprehensive prenatal care can decrease rates of low birth weights

Comprehensive prenatal care can decrease the rate of low birth weights, according to a study led by Dr. Yasmin Neggers, a University of Alabama researcher and professor of human nutrition and hospitality management.

25 Sep 2012

State roundup: Anthem dumps Cedars-Sinai, UCLA docs

Two of the most prestigious names in Southern California health care -- Cedars-Sinai and UCLA -- are getting shut out of a major insurance plan for being too expensive. In a bold cost-cutting move, Anthem Blue Cross has eliminated doctors affiliated with the hospitals from a health plan offered to about 60,000 employees and dependents at the cash-strapped city of Los Angeles.

25 Sep 2012