Aurora magazine

A study by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health shows a link between caffeine in pregnancy and overweight in the offspring. According to the lead author, Eleni Papadopoulou, the expectant mothers should eliminate the substance completely from the diet.

The guidelines of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health advise not to drink more than two cups of coffee a day during pregnancy. Nonetheless, the data show that 2 cups are enough to increase the risk of overweight by 30%. Above 3 cups, the risk rises to 66%. Caffeine could also increase the risk of spontaneous abortion and complication during pregnancy. For this reason, researchers recommend eliminating caffeine in its entirety during pregnancy.

The researchers analyzed data from 50,943 mothers with their children, collected between 2002 and 2008. All women have completed a questionnaire dedicated to their eating habits. After giving birth, scientists compared the daily amount of caffeine in pregnancy and the weight of the child.

Prenatal exposure of caffeine was associated with a high risk of overweight in the child. The more coffee the mother had drunk during pregnancy, the greater the risk. The body takes a long time to dispose of caffeine, which then has time to cross the placenta. According to the study, however, there may also be other reasons.

The connection between caffeine and the weight of the child could only be indirect. Women who consume more caffeine tend to be more adult, overweight and often even smokers. All of these factors could affect the health of the fetus far more than caffeine. In any case, it is good to cut all foods containing the substance, at least during gestation. These include coffee, tea and chocolate.

Source: bmjopen.bmj.com

A team of New Zealand scientists has identified neurological factors that underlie some cases of infertility. The key lies in a group of about 2000 neurons that controls the production of kisspeptin. The hormone stimulates the production of luteinizing hormone, one of the male and female fertility managers.

Professor Allan Herbison, lead author of the study, studied the effects of luteinizing hormone. Both low and high levels always make fertility collapse. This means that the levels must go up and down as needed. A change that is too rapid or absent will damage the delicate mechanisms that control human reproduction.

Professor Dave Grattan is studying another factor that influences luteinizing hormone levels. Placing himself in the wake of Herbison, Grattan analyzed the action of prolactin. It has been known for decades that too high levels of prolactin cause infertility, but the reason was unknown. According to Grattan, too much prolactin could influence the levels of the luteinizing hormone and unpack its delicate balance.

An analysis of the neurons detected by Herbison has proven the presence of prolactin receptors. These receptors are able to activate or deactivate neurons that stimulate the production of luteinizing hormone. In this way they adjust the levels according to need. When they do not work properly, this causes abnormalities even in hormone levels and in fertility.

The two discoveries have influenced each other, although they are different projects. Both could pave the way for possible infertility treatments caused by too high levels of prolactin.

Source: nzherald.co.nz

The European Commission is considering a partial ban on valproate sodium during pregnancy. The drug against epilepsy would in fact cause serious risks to the fetus. For this reason, BMJ researchers are discussing the relationship between risks and benefits of treatment.

Sodium valproate has been shown to be effective against epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraine. In some cases of epilepsy, it is even the only viable option. Unfortunately, it seems that prenatal exposure to the drug greatly increases the risk of malformations.

According to the data, the drug increases by 10% the risk of physical abnormalities and by 30-40% the risk of mental problems. Possible effects include autism spectrum disorders and behavioral deficits. In the United Kingdom alone, children suffering from sodium valproate were 20,000 from the 1970s. On the other hand, the ban of the drug during pregnancy is not an easy choice.

The European Medicines Agency has recommended the use of the drug in pregnancy only in the absence of other therapies. Furthermore, he decreed that it should not be prescribed to women of child-bearing age who do not use contraceptive methods. Unfortunately, not all women suffering from epilepsy know the risks of sodium valproate and not all have alternatives.

Neurologists Heather Angus-Leppan and Rebecca Liu recommend the use of the drug during pregnancy. At least in some cases. According to the two, in fact, an epileptic seizure is a big risk for both the woman and the fetus. If there were no alternative therapies, then it would still be better to deal with the disease. Rather, the real danger would be to continue the therapy without being followed by a specialist.

Source: medicalxpress.com

In in vitro fertilization (IVF) it is necessary that the implanted embryos are as healthy as possible. In this way there are more chances that the implant will be successful and that the child is healthy. Even so, the chances of success of the whole process are around 30%.

As maternal age progresses, the number of usable healthy embryos decreases. This leads to a lower rate of implants and a higher rate of spontaneous abortions. All of this causes less chance of success for IVF procedures. But we are sure that the embryos must be impeccable so that the plant is successful. The study in question examined the relationship between mosaicism and in vitro fertilization.

The study involved 77 women who accepted embryo implantation with mosaicism. In fact, the fertilization phase did not give rise to any euploid embryo, without 100% chromosome anomalies. 50% di cellule anormali). ">The researchers divided the embryos according to the degree of mosaicism: low (<50% of abnormal cells) or high (> 50% of abnormal cells).

On 78 implanted embryos, 37 took root. At the end of all, the children born were 24, with a rate of 30%. The positive results concerned embryos with a low level of mosaicism. In fact, we speak of 48.9% of installations against 24.2% of the second group. Also the live birth rate was very different: 42.2% of the first group against 15.2% of the second.

The study showed that in vitro fertilization can be successful even in the case of embryos with mosaicism. For safety, all study participants underwent prenatal screening tests. In the 24 successful cases, the children born were all healthy and free of chromosomal abnormalities.

Since there are few bases, it is possible that the abnormal cells have been eliminated during development. The mechanism will be explored and the researchers advise however to avoid the implantation of embryos with mosaicism, where possible.

Source: medscape.com