Aurora magazine

Scientists of Prevention and Disease Control Centres have confirmed that, if contracted during the first months of pregnancy, by Zika virus infection increases the risk of microcephaly in the child. The article reported 476 cases of microcephaly in South America from January to November 2016, four times those recorded in the same period in 2015. Much of this is connected with two infections occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy, up early in the second.

The peak of microcephalic children in Colombia was in July 2016, with 94 cases. The event is linked to the peak of infections Zika came 24 weeks before the month concerned, then to January. The period corresponds more or less at the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second of the women involved, which suggests that the infection has taken place in that period.

The authors, however, point out that it based the study on cases of microcephaly at birth. They have in fact counted children who demonstrated microcephaly months after birth. According to a Brazilian study, it would be a serious oversight, since there would be several cases of congenital infection Zika become manifest only in the postnatal period and therefore not detectable by prenatal testing.

The Centers for Prevention and Disease Control reported an increase in cases of Zika, even outside of the epicenter in Brazil. On the other hand, there was a decrease of waterborne infections by mosquitoes, at least in Miami. The credit would also be of reduced travel to the areas affected by the phenomenon, as recommended in August by the authorities.

Source: medscape.com

The Shoukhrat Mitalipov Group, University of Oregon, has undergone a technical test of fertilization to three parents. The center of research on gene therapy has now published the results in the journal Nature. According to the article, the technique is not only safe, but it could prevent 99% of inherited diseases from the mother.

Some genetic diseases are transmitted only through the mother. The anomalies are in fact only in the DNA of the mitochondria of the ova, the energy units of cells. A much-discussed prevention technique involves the use of an ovum donated, devoid of nucleus. The scientists inserted the DNA into the nucleus of the mother and fertilize the whole. The result is a technically son embryo of three parents, given that presents the DNA of three persons: the one of the two parents and the mitochondrial donor. For the moment the technique is legal only in the UK and led to the birth of a baby, perfectly healthy.

Article University of Oregon is the case of a group of women with mitochondrial diseases. Three of these are carriers of Leigh syndrome and the Melas syndrome. Both are diseases that affect the quality and length of life, since the first is a progressive neurological disease and the second causes seizures. The researchers used the technique of fertilization to three parents and obtained embryos with 99% of healthy DNA.

The low percentage of mitochondrial DNA found in embryonic cells proof that the technique is safe. This should lessen the doubts about its applicability and open to the doors of other countries.

The DNA analysis then becomes more and more important both from fertilization, both prenatally. With fetal DNA testing you can indeed get important information about the baby's health before birth.

Source: ansa.it

According to one New Zealand study, sleep on your back during pregnancy could harm the fetus. According to the researchers, the location would put the fetus under stress and increase the risk of miscarriage.

The data are preliminary, however. According to Hannah Knight, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the data presented by the study are inconsistent and fail to connect maternal position and health of the fetus. So it is still early to give guidance on how to sleep to pregnant women.

Researchers at the University of Auckland have involved 29 women between week 35 and week 38 of pregnancy, all perfectly healthy. They have monitored their sleep belly up, belly down, on the left and on the right side by side. Women have held each position for 30 minutes. When women were sleeping on your back or on the right side, the fetus tended to fall into a state of drowsiness. In this condition, the fetus was using less oxygen, rather than when the women were sleeping on the left side.

According to the researchers, the position on the back would force the fetus to adapt to an oxygen decrease. This would increase the stress, and in the presence of additional stressors, it could in the long run hurt him. Also a similar study in 2011, conducted this time of 500 women, had estimated that 4 mothers who sleep on their backs in 1000 would incur in a miscarriage. An interesting, if comparison with the 2 women who sleep on the left side in 1000 who incur the same problem.

The study is still partial and preliminary. All women involved have terminated their pregnancy on time and without problems. For the moment, therefore, it is not to be concerned.

Source: livescience.com