Aurora magazine

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic published a study on the relationship between hypothyroidism and pregnancy. Pregnancy because it produces important changes in hormone levels. Among them is the TSH, the hormone that is responsible for the stimulation of the thyroid and whose levels often decrease during pregnancy. Where, however, the hormone exceed 2.5 mIU / L, it has to do with the so-called subclinical hypothyroidism. According to the study, if untreated subclinical hypothyroidism increase the risk of miscarriage. The data shows that timely action would have a positive impact of about 15 pregnancies per 100.

The Dr. Maraka team analyzed 18 previous studies on subclinical hypothyroidism cases. The studies involved more than 5,400 pregnant women living with the disease. Of these, 843 had very high levels of TSH and had been treated with thyroid hormones. The other still had higher hormone levels than average, but who did not require specific treatment. By comparing the data of the two groups, the women subjected to the treatment had had 38% of miscarriages in less, albeit with pregnancies often finished before the deadline, and cases of gestational diabetes. This means that TSH levels slightly higher than average untreated are more dangerous to very high levels treated.

The researchers looked for possible side effects due to hormonal treatment. The intake of levothyroxine during pregnancy would result in an increased risk of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. To get a clearer picture of the situation, however, further studies will be needed. For now, doctors recommend to treat subclinical hypothyroidism starting from 2.5 mIU / L of TSH in the blood. During pregnancy the mother can preserve the health of babies via prenatal screening tests.

Source: mayoclinic.org

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a disease that falls in the spectrum of fetal alcohol disorders. This term also relates to diseases such as fetal partial alcohol syndrome, as well as some neurodevelopmental disorders which connect to alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The disease causes mental problems, behavioral and learning. They are also frequent some physical disabilities.

The negative effects of alcohol on intrauterine development are a recent discovery. The first research about it dates back to 1968 and opened the doors to the study of a wide range of fetal disorders. Yet studies show that the chances of damage to the fetus increases proportionally with the consumption of alcohol. The greatest risk occurs in the case of regular consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. however, it required only the alcohol sporadic consumption to impair the development, whatever the time of pregnancy.

The consequences of fetal alcohol syndrome ranging from physical disabilities to mental. Many have heart problems, bone and heard, while others have facial dismorfologie and growth deficits. They are often identified problems through prenatal screening techniques, which can be extremely debilitating during childhood and adult life. The exposure to alcohol in the womb but also causes cognitive and psychosocial limited, much more difficult to spot problems. For this reason, fetal alcohol syndrome in most cases is detected when the child is already of school age.

Consuming alcohol during pregnancy exposes to a risk of about 30% to give birth to a sick child. It is believed that they act different factors in conjunction with the consumption of alcohol, but do not yet know what. For the moment the only valid prevention method is simply avoid drinking during pregnancy.

With the increase in pregnancies over 35, also increases the number of women who opt for a non-invasive prenatal testing. It is a report in the report "NIPT: market growth, future prospects, competitive analysis 2016-2022" American Credence Research Institute. According to the document, the worldwide market for prenatal screening test is constantly growing and will reach 5.5 billion dollars in 2015. The merit of the accuracy of such tests: just a drop of maternal blood to detect a wide range of genetic abnormalities of the fetus.

The next-generation sequencing, the so-called "next generation sequencing", gave a strong boost to the field of non-invasive prenatal screening. These techniques enable an analysis of fetal DNA from a few drops of the mother's blood. In this way, doctors are able to detect trisomies, duplications, translocations. Without the modern technologies, we should still make use of much more invasive techniques such as amniocentesis.

The first test is only focused on chromosomes 21, 18 and 13. Abnormalities in these chromosomes are symptoms of Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome. Scientific research and the emergence of new technologies have made it possible to screen for 19 additional genetic abnormalities, ricollegabili especially rare genetic diseases.

The non-invasive prenatal testing has been proven safe and accurate. To date they have benefited more than 1 million women worldwide, of which 58% is in the United States. But the market is also growing in Europe and Asia. As women are approaching motherhood in later ages, it becomes increasingly more advisable to make use of antenatal screening.

The new tests are designed to detect in time any genetic anomalies, most likely in older mothers. also help to safeguard the health of so many healthy fetuses, which might be damaged by more invasive techniques.

Source: panorama.it

Researchers at Altravita clinic in Moscow have discovered the positive effects of techno music on in vitro fertilization. According to the study, prolonged listening to this kind of music would increase the chances of success of the procedure. Obviously, these benefits would not be the result of the intrinsic quality of the musical genre. The credit would be of vibrations from the bass tone and repetitive, typical precisely of techno music. If the discovery is confirmed, it would have a significant change in the playlist of fertility clinics and hospitals.

The team led by Alex Biryukov noted 700 egg cells throughout their course, before, during and after fertilization. Scholars have divided the cells into two groups and have left them in a room for 24 hours. In the first room they did playing techno music pieces, while the second remained without music. They then fertilized ova and have them implanted in the uterus.

The implant in utero phase is the most delicate in the complex of in vitro fertilization. It represents one of the chief barriers to the success of the procedure. According to the study, the eggs exposed to the techno music would best taken root and in greater numbers.

The vibrations would facilitate fertilization, recreating conditions similar to those occurring in the womb after conception. The music would act as a sort of massage for ova, facilitating the movement of nutrients and stimulating the expulsion of harmful substances.

Source: lastampa.it