Aurora magazine

A team of researchers from UConn School of Medicine and Yale University has used pregnancy to study how metastases develop. In many mammals, the placenta invades the uterine walls; in others, the placenta is much less aggressive.

The researchers discovered a correlation between this phenomenon and the possibility of a tumor creating metastases. Principal author of the study, Dr. Kshitiz, observed endometrial cells of different species. In some animals, stromal cells are designed to resist any invasion, including that of the placenta. In contrast, the formation of the placenta in humans can be very invasive during pregnancy. Curiously, the former are much more resistant to metastasis than we are.

The study looks at the process of metastasis formation in a completely different way. At the center of the mechanism are the stromal cells, which make up the connective tissue between the organs. According to the researchers, the more cells resist the invasion of the placenta, the more they resist the invasion of metastases. In animals with resistant stromal cells, pregnancy is therefore much more controlled and it is more difficult for metastases to form in the case of cancer.

The researchers identified the genes that regulate the stroma, identifying the differences between us and the most resistant animals. This could open the door to a new type of anticancer therapy, aimed at blocking the spread of tumors.

Source: uconn.edu

Eating lots of dried fruit during pregnancy improves the neuropsychological development of children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend eating 50-80 grams of dried fruit per week, at least in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is enough to improve children's cognitive functions, memory and concentration.

Dried fruit is beneficial for health in many ways, even outside of pregnancy: it combats oxidative stress and reduces the risk of hypertension and diabetes. In old age, regular consumption also slows down the cognitive decline of aging.

The merit is of the polyunsaturated fatty acids and of the many beneficial substances contained in these foods, including omega-3. Omega-3s are essential for adult health, but they also play an essential role in fetal development. According to some studies, these fatty acids regulate the timing of gestation and the weight of newborns at birth. In addition, these substances accumulate in the frontal part of the fetus' brain, improving memory and cognitive functions even in the years to come.

Despite the many benefits of regular consumption of dried fruit during pregnancy, overdoing it could be harmful. There may be a correlation between peanut consumption in pregnancy and allergy in children. For this reason, it is important to consume dried fruit in the recommended quantities, without exaggerating either way.

Source: news-medical.net

Dr Kirsten Perret led a randomized trial on the effects of vaccines in pregnancy. The study involved 687 pregnant women from six countries, divided into two groups: the first took the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine; the second took a placebo. Once the babies were born, doctors checked the levels of antibodies in mothers and babies. Children of unvaccinated women produce a greater number of their own antibodies to pertussis.

Nonetheless, this slight "deficit" is in fact irrelevant in clinical terms. The study in question shows in fact how maternal antibodies transfer to the newborn, protecting it more than effectively. The effect of these antibodies far exceeds that of any antibodies produced by the infant himself, protecting him for months. Their effect wears off after the newborn has been vaccinated. Doctors also checked for any negative effects of vaccines, both on moms and babies.

The two groups showed no difference: neither the vaccinated women nor the infants showed side effects. This means that the vaccination did not harm any of the subjects involved, proving safe. The team conducted the study to verify the safety of current Australian guidelines.

Gynecologists advise all pregnant women to get vaccinated between the 20th and 32nd week of gestation. Infants should instead be vaccinated around 2 months of age. This is enough to guarantee total coverage for children, avoiding infection and hospitalization.

Source: medicalxpress.com

The risk of developing a tumor is linked to environmental and also genetic factors. A study published in the British Journal of Cancer Today focuses on the latter. According to the scientists, the genetic variants responsible for the disease may also be present in non-coding areas of the DNA.

The anomalies could in fact involve areas of DNA that control the expression of key genes for tumor development. The researchers analyzed 846 genetic variants within non-coding areas of DNA. All the abnormalities had already been linked to an increase in cancer risk, although it was unclear how. These variants are in fact much less studied than the classic ones, such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2. Still, they could be more common and contribute in part to tumor development.

The team analyzed the correlation between anomalies in non-coding DNA and the expression of genes. The researchers found that the variations affect the expression of genes, also influencing the chances of getting sick. The anomalies in the non-coding DNA are in fact in correspondence with regions that regulate the immune system, influencing the cellular processes that lead to the development of the tumor.

The discovery first surprised the researchers themselves, who now have a powerful predictive tool in their hands. The study shows in fact how many small variants put together can weigh as much more relevant variants. The goal is to use this new knowledge to improve current predictive tools, identifying the risk of cancer in time.

Source: cancerresearchuk.org