Aurora magazine

Doctors have always associated lithium in pregnancy with an increase in congenital cardiac malformations in the baby. A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) has shown that the influence of the drug is much less significant.

Pregnancy lithium consumption has been associated with a 400-fold greater risk for the child of Ebstein's abnormality, a congenital heart malformation. It was also linked to a risk of 5 times greater heart failure during childhood if taken early in pregnancy. Nevertheless, a new study resizes these numbers. According to the authors, the risk of heart defects would be 2 cases per 100 children, versus 1 case per 100 children of the standard.

The 1979 report included data for 225 children exposed to lithium in the mother's womb. Of these, 18 had developed congenital heart defects and 6 had Ebstein's abnormality. Considerations on the dangers of lithium in pregnancy have always been based on these data. This has led many women with bipolar disorder to avoid pregnancy, or to stop drug therapy.

Studies following 1979 have always been small and suspected of conflict of interest. Those few reliable, albeit low, have however failed to show a strong correlation between lithium and Ebstein's abnormality, heart disease and congenital malformations.

The new discovery suggests that lithium use during the first trimester is associated with a 2-fold greater risk of cardiac malformations. A significant number, but far less than the one reported in the 1979 report. In addition, the risk would largely depend on the dose. This reduces the relationship between treatment benefits and risk to the fetus.

The authors of the study analyzed over 1.3 million pregnancies between 2000 and 2010. They sought a possible association between infant heart malformations and maternal lithium intake during pregnancy. They compared the data of who was exposed to lithium during the first trimester, who was not exposed and those exposed to similar drugs.

Cardiac malformations were present in 16 children on 663 exposed to lithium and in 15,251 out of 1,322,955 unexposed. So there are 24 cases per 1,000 in the first group, against 11 every 1,000 in the second. Analysis of children exposed to similar drugs has given similar results.

Source: medicalxpress.com

On 8 April, the first child at high risk was born at the Child Jesus Hospital. The child suffered from congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a condition requiring specialized and immediate care. Today, the baby is well, thanks to the obstetricians of the San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Rome, to neonatologists and gynecologists.

At Baby Jesus is assisted with everything relating to pediatric medicine, prenatal diagnosis and gynecology. There is, however, a department for postpartum delivery and delivery. The Lazio Region has given the authorization to create a small department for high risk births. This prevents the transport of very delicate children. Immediate care is also available for immediate intervention, if necessary, even surgically.

In 2017, 30 high risk births are planned, of which 4 are in June. A special committee of obstetricians and surgeons selected the future mothers, depending on the severity of the child's condition. In this way, children will have immediate technical assistance at birth, crucial to their survival.

The children chosen suffer from congenital disorders, neck swelling, and cardiopathies that are potentially lethal at birth. The first born baby, Kevin, is today stable and well. In order to evaluate the condition of the second child it will be necessary to wait a little longer, but for now the prognosis is positive. The doctors still managed to act against the transposition of the large sealed jars. Pathology requires immediate intervention in 20-25% of cases, especially in order to avoid neurological consequences.

Source: observatoriomalattierare.it

According to a Belgian-Australian study, just too little alcohol in pregnancy to alter the somatic traits of the baby. The team has discovered that an exposure also has minimal impact on the development of nose, cheeks and eyes. This is a further test of how pregnant alcohol is completely avoided.

Research was conducted by Murdoch Children's Research Institute researchers on over 400 pregnant women. The researchers analyzed maternal habit and mapped somatic traits in children. Observations have continued even after the birth of children, for about 1 year.A US CDC study of 2015 showed that 1 woman out of 10 consumes alcohol during gestation. This despite knowing that excess alcohol in pregnancy can cause physical and psychic deficits in the baby. Some of these problems are.

A US CDC study of 2015 showed that 1 woman out of 10 consumes alcohol during gestation. This despite knowing that excess alcohol in pregnancy can cause physical and psychic deficits in the baby. Some of these problems are birth weight too low, problems in learning, hearing and vision problems.

Belgian-Australian research is part of the Aqua Study, which involved more than 1,600 women to understand the consequences of alcohol in pregnancy. The study analyzed how different levels of prenatal alcohol affect somatic traits. Scientists have provided mothers with questionnaires on alcohol consumption in the 3 months prior to conception and during the first trimester. One year after childbirth, they used a 3-D facial analysis technique to map the faces of 415 children.
Researchers labeled "low consumption" less than 20 grams of alcohol per hour and less than 70 per week. They considered "moderate consumption" 21-49 grams per turn and less than 70 per week. They are labeled as "high consumption" more than 50 grams each.

According to collected data, moderate consumption of alcohol is enough to influence the child's somatic traits. The most significant consequences are with consumption during the first quarter. The anomalies are invisible to the naked eye, but still present and measurable. They mainly focus around nose, lips and eyes.

Source: medicalnewstoday.com

Lynch syndrome is a genetic predisposition syndrome, also called Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC). Those who suffer from it have many more chances to develop colorectal cancer throughout their lives. The syndrome also predisposes to other types of cancer, such as endometrial, ovarian, pancreas and others.

Although Lynch's syndrome is termed "Non-Polyposis", colonoscopy cancer usually develops from adenomatous polyps. These become malignant and cause cancer. Nonetheless, the polyps in question are much less numerous and diffused than in other pathologies such as the Family Adenomatosis Polypose.
Colon cancer cases are about 10-15% of all cancers. Their development involves both genetic and environmental factors such as fat-rich diet, poor fiber consumption, poor physical activity and obesity. This means that on the one hand Lynch syndrome increases the risk of tumor greatly, up to about 40-85%. On the other hand, who knows their situation is able to react with a healthy lifestyle and constant screening.

In the event of a diagnosis of Lynch's syndrome, doctors recommend that you follow the prevention program prepared by the International Study Group on Syndrome. This involves periodic examinations to detect possible traces of colorectal cancer and other organs. In the absence of symptoms, it is advised to carry out a colonoscopy annually. On this occasion, it is also possible to remove any adenomatous polyps. For the subject's family, however, it is good to check the presence of the genetic abnormality with the appropriate diagnostic screening.

The symptoms of Lynch's syndrome are the same as colon cancer: blood in the stools, constipation alternating with diarrhea, weight loss, exhaustion. Nevertheless, in the case of cancer caused by syndrome, doctors recommend more invasive therapies for preventive purposes.