birth defects

New Clues to Birth Defects Offers Embryology

harminka — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:40:10 -0500

Gregg Duester, Ph.D., professor of developmental biology at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham), along with Xianling Zhao, Ph.D., and colleagues, have clarified the role that retinoic acid plays in limb development.

Time of conception linked to birth defects in United States

harminka — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:03:56 -0500

A study published in the April 2009 issue of the medical journal Acta Pædiatrica is the first to report that birth defect rates in the United States were highest for women conceiving in the spring and summer. The researchers also found that this period of increase risk correlated with increased levels of pesticides in surface water across the United States.

Uncovering evolutionary keys to common birth disorders

harminka — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:57:55 -0600

The work of Forsyth scientist Peter Jezewski, DDS, Ph.D., has revealed that duplication and diversification of protein regions ('modules') within ancient master control genes is key to the understanding of certain birth disorders.

Successing through stem cell therapy in reversing brain birth defects

harminka — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:57:31 -0600

Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have succeeded in reversing brain birth defects in animal models, using stem cells to replace defective brain cells.

Cousin marriage laws outdated

harminka — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:57:50 -0600

Laws banning marriage between first cousins are based on outdated assumptions about a high degree of genetic risk for offspring and should be repealed, according to a population genetics expert.

First gene for clubfoot identified

harminka — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:57:28 -0500

Clubfoot, one of the most common birth defects, has long been thought to have a genetic component. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have found the first gene linked to clubfoot in humans.

Epilepsy drug may increase risk of birth defects

harminka — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:22:49 -0500

Taking the epilepsy drug topiramate alone or along with other epilepsy drugs during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, according to a study published in the July 22, 2008, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

No link between antidepressants and birth defects

harminka — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:11:26 -0500

Expectant mothers can safely use prescribed antidepressants during their first trimester, according to a new study from the Université de Montréal and Ste. Justine Hospital published in the May edition of the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Association between birth defects and preterm birth

harminka — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:54:50 -0500

Babies born preterm were more than twice as likely to have major birth defects as full-term infants, according to a new analysis of nearly 7 million U.S. live births published online this week in the Springer journal Maternal and Child Health Journal.

Thalidomide shows promise for treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer

harminka — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:12:43 -0600

Thalidomide, a drug blamed in the 1950s for causing birth defects, is now showing promise as a safe and effective treatment for women with recurrent ovarian cancer, according to a study led by a University of Minnesota Cancer Center researcher.

Immunosuppressant further linked to birth defects

harminka — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:29:39 -0600

A new study documents malformations seen in an infant born to a kidney transplant recipient who had taken mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a widely used immunosuppressant available commercially as Cellcept®.

Teenage fathers are likely to have babies affected by birth problems

harminka — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:11:00 -0600

Teenage fathers are at increased risk of having babies born with birth problems ranging from pre-term delivery or low birth weight, through to death in or near to the time of delivery, according to new research published today (Thursday 7 February).