Aurora magazine

A study at the University of Edinburgh revealed a possible link between the intake of anti-acids in pregnancy and asthma in the unborn child. According to the researchers, drugs against acid reflux that many mothers assume may have unclear consequences on the child's future health. But this is a preliminary study: you will need to do further studies, so as to identify any additional factors go unnoticed.

Many expectant mothers suffer from acidity and heartburn problems, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy. The main cause of the disorder are the placental hormones that relax the esophageal muscles and make it easier to go back gastric acids. Sometimes to solve the problem just a few changes to your lifestyle, and sometimes they are necessary specific drugs. More than one doctor, however, he has advanced some doubts on the assumption pregnancy of anti-acids. It is suspected that in fact increase the chances for the child to develop allergic diseases. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have therefore decided to investigate whether these concerns have a foundation.

The researchers analyzed the data in eight studies, involving a total of 1.3 million children. Among those exposed to anti-acids in the womb, the chances of having asthma problems during childhood would have been one-third higher. This makes it more likely a correlation between the intake of anti-acid drugs during pregnancy and asthma in the unborn child.

For the moment the data are partial. It is suspected that there is a connection between the two things, but more evidence of a true relationship of cause and effect. It is therefore good that expectant mothers continue to follow the existing guidelines. During the nine months, the mother takes care not only of itself, but also the unborn future. Prenatal screening tests such as fetal DNA tests are useful for didnt want so they can monitor the baby's development.

Source: pharmastar.it

A study from the Universities of Yale and Chicago reveals that progesterone may reduce the risk of miscarriages. The researchers analyzed 116 women who suffered from multiple miscarriages in the first trimester of pregnancy. From what has been observed, taking little progesterone after ovulation would help them to overcome the obstacle of the first three months.

Dr. Harvey J. Kliman, one of the study authors, has developed a test to check the health status of endometrium. The uterine endometrium is the layer that provides nourishment to the embryo until the eighth week. From the ninth week, the mother's blood continues to perform this function through the umbilical cord. At a time when the endometrium shows abnormalities, the embryo does not receive the necessary nourishment and the miscarriage occurs. The Kliman test serves to verify precisely whether the endometrium is able to fulfill its function, so as to predict a possible spontaneous abortion predisposition.

The study participants were all women with endometrial abnormalities, which caused multiple miscarriages in the first weeks. In all cases, the embryo could attach itself to the endometrium but did not receive enough nourishment. With the intake of progesterone, however, their endometrium began to produce more nutritious and has managed to sustain the pregnancy.

It will be necessary to conduct further tests. If you had other positive results, taking progesterone for the prevention of miscarriages could become the norm.

Source: eurekalert.org

They are known to all the negative health effects of secondhand smoke. A Duke Health study, however, focuses on the impact it has on pregnant women. Exposure to secondhand smoke affect the neurological development of the fetus, although it took place before conception.

The researchers exposed the mice to the effects of secondhand smoke, before and after you conceive. They extracted the chemical components of their tobacco smoke and have administered to mice. In this way, they eliminated the stress caused by breathing smoke, which could in turn influence brain development.
The research involved three groups of guinea pigs, divided according to the exhibition period: a first group to be displayed prior to mating; a second to be exhibited in the early stages of pregnancy; third to be exhibited in the latter stages. Then the researchers observed small groups of three to adulthood.

According to the study, the chemical components in tobacco smoke have influenced fetal development in all three groups. All the little fact show damage in the regions that control learning, memory and emotional responses, to varying degrees. The most serious consequences have emerged with exposure to secondhand smoke in the later stages of pregnancy. Nevertheless, even the previous exposure to conception would influence neuronal development in a negative way.
The discovery, if confirmed, could have important consequences for public health. It would be necessary to minimize the risk of exposure to secondhand smoke in all public places.

Source: medschool.duke.edu

They are imposing more and more methods for non-invasive prenatal screening. It speaks specifically of tests that start at a drop of blood of the mother, therefore completely safe for the fetus. For the moment the most common is for Down syndrome, but international research is developing new solutions.

The non-invasive prenatal screening test for Down's syndrome is available in over 60 countries worldwide, including the US and Australia. It is also becoming increasingly popular even in the British and Italian ones in hospitals. A team from the University of Hong Kong is working to create a similar test, it can also identify other monofactorial diseases, or caused by the anomaly of a single gene.

The test analyzes the DNA present in the mother's blood and look abnormal levels of mutations associated with particular diseases. A procedure which, if done in a traditional manner, would require around two weeks. The test developed by the University of China is able to detect the disease at most within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. This allows parents to take their time for decisions.

In the first trial, the new test has identified the monofactorial diseases of all 12 samples analyzed.

Source: newscientist.com