http://www.medindia.net/healthnews/amniocentesis-news.asp Medindia largest health website in india. en-us Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:33:17 GMT http://www.medindia.net/news/stem-cells-from-amniotic-fluid-may-be-used-to-treat-intestinal-disease-among-newborns-116350-1.htm The results of a recent stem cell research indicate that stem cells from amniotic fluid could be used to treat a fatal intestinal disease, necrotising enterocolitis, among premature newborns. Dr Paolo De Coppi, from University College London's Institute of Child Health, and team, conducted animal trials. Rats with the intestinal disease were injected with amniotic stem cells. A week later, it was found that rats injected with the stems cells showed increased survival rate with reduced inflammation of the intestine....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/stem-cells-from-amniotic-fluid-may-be-used-to-treat-intestinal-disease-among-newborns-116350-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/chromosomal-microarray-versus-karyotyping-for-prenatal-diagnosis-113881-1.htm Every expectant parent hopes and prays for a healthy baby. Careful consideration is given towards the well being of the baby by the mother-to-be for the entire duration of 9 months. But there are times when you can't stop thinking about the possible health problems of the baby especially in a high-risk pregnancy. If you are worrying about this most of the time, you are not alone. Fortunately, these days, there are numerous tests for pregnant women which reassure them of the health of the baby throughout their pregnancy....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/chromosomal-microarray-versus-karyotyping-for-prenatal-diagnosis-113881-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-dna-test-shows-how-our-ancestors-looked-like-112957-1.htm A new study has found that a method of establishing hair and eye colour from modern forensic samples can also be used to identify details from ancient human remains. The HIrisPlex DNA analysis system was able to reconstruct hair and eye colour from teeth up to 800 years old, including the Polish General Wladyslaw Sikorski (1881 to 1943) confirming his blue eyes and blond hair. A team of researchers from Poland and the Netherlands, who recently developed the HIrisPlex system for forensic ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-dna-test-shows-how-our-ancestors-looked-like-112957-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/misdiagnosis-of-genetic-disorder-leads-to-unnecessary-removal-of-kidneys-112766-1.htm New research suggests that thousands of individuals have had kidneys removed unnecessarily because doctors misdiagnosed their disease. A new, international study published in iThe Lancet/i indicates that approximately one of every five individuals with kidney tumors common in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder, has had a kidney removed. Moreover, 40 percent had some kind of surgical procedure performed. Proper diagnosis could have led to treatment that ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/misdiagnosis-of-genetic-disorder-leads-to-unnecessary-removal-of-kidneys-112766-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/likely-basis-of-birth-defect-causing-premature-skull-closure-in-infants-discovered-110195-1.htm Two areas of the human genome linked with the most common form of non-syndromic craniosynostosis have been identified by a team of geneticists, pediatricians, surgeons and epidemiologists. Non-syndromic craniosynostosis is the premature closure of the bony plates of the skull. "We have discovered two genetic factors that are strongly associated with the most common form of premature closure of the skull," said Simeon Boyadjiev, professor of pediatrics and genetics, principal investigator ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/likely-basis-of-birth-defect-causing-premature-skull-closure-in-infants-discovered-110195-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-disorder-in-children-linked-to-poor-adaptive-behavior-109654-1.htm UC Davis researchers have found that for children with the genetic disorder known as chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome anxiety is linked to poorer adaptive behaviors. Self-care and communication skills are the poor adaptive behaviours that affect daily life. The developmental syndrome, which is associated with a constellation of physical, cognitive and psychiatric problems, usually is apparent at birth or early childhood, and leads to lifelong challenges. The study findings suggest that ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-disorder-in-children-linked-to-poor-adaptive-behavior-109654-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/vascular-diseases-can-be-treated-by-reprogrammed-amniotic-fluid-cells-108886-1.htm A way to utilize diagnostic prenatal amniocentesis cells has been discovered by a research team at Weill Cornell Medical College. The method involves reprogramming the cells into abundant and stable endothelial cells capable of regenerating damaged blood vessels and repairing injured organs. Their study, published online today in Cell, paints a picture of a future therapy where amniotic fluid collected from thousands of amniocentesis procedures yearly, during mid-pregnancy to examine fetal chromosomes, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/vascular-diseases-can-be-treated-by-reprogrammed-amniotic-fluid-cells-108886-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/rare-genetic-disorder-points-to-molecular-pathway-linked-to-schizophrenia-108293-1.htm Scientists studying a rare genetic disorder have discovered a molecular pathway that may play a role in schizophrenia, according to new research in the October 10 issue of iThe Journal of Neuroscience/i. Results of this new research could lead to new treatment options for people with schizophrenia - a devastating disease that affects approximately 1 percent of the world's population. Schizophrenia is characterized by a multitude of symptoms, including hallucinations, social withdrawal, and ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/rare-genetic-disorder-points-to-molecular-pathway-linked-to-schizophrenia-108293-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/exposure-to-common-herbicide-raises-birth-defect-risk-107789-1.htm Exposure to common herbicide, which is used in United States, increases the the risk of congenital abnormality of the nasal cavity known as choanal atresia. The study by Dr. Philip Lupo, assistant professor of pediatrics - hematology/oncology at BCM and Texas Children's Cancer Center, is scheduled for publication in The iJournal of Pediatrics/i. Choanal atresia is a disorder where the back of the nasal passage is blocked by tissue formed during fetal development. It is a rare condition ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/exposure-to-common-herbicide-raises-birth-defect-risk-107789-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-disorder-is-passed-on-to-five-children-by-the-sperm-donor-107518-1.htm After a screening test failed to catch that a Danish sperm donor had the disease,he has potentially passed a severe genetic disorder to five children. The donor transmitted the tumor-producing nerve disorder Neurofibromatosis type I, sometimes known as Von Recklinghausen's disease, to five babies he fathered, said the Copenhagen clinic where he gave sperm, Nordisk Cryobank. "In the case of these five, we know that the disorder came from the donor," even though the disorder is not always ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-disorder-is-passed-on-to-five-children-by-the-sperm-donor-107518-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/rare-genetic-disorder-can-be-studied-in-new-mouse-model-107491-1.htm Researchers can utilize new mouse models to study a rare genetic disorder known as SECISBP2 syndrome which can lead to abnormal thyroid hormone metabolism, delayed bone maturation, as well as other abnormal characteristics, a new study presented at the American Thyroid Association annual meet in Quebec City, Canada reveals. "SECISBP2 syndrome has confounded the scientific community. New approaches to study the biological underpinnings of SECISBP2 syndrome are thus critical to truly make progress ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/rare-genetic-disorder-can-be-studied-in-new-mouse-model-107491-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-mouse-model-may-provide-insights-into-severe-genetic-disorder-in-children-107308-1.htm New mouse models can help researchers study MCT8 deficiency - an inherited genetic disorder in children, says study. "MCT8 deficiency is a serious diagnosis. Children born with this inherited disorder experience profound psycho-motor delays and are often completely incapacitated," said Douglas Forrest, PhD, of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and Program Co-Chair of the ATA Annual Meeting. "New ways to study this disorder are greatly needed." MCT8 ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-mouse-model-may-provide-insights-into-severe-genetic-disorder-in-children-107308-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-dna-test-can-predict-mens-chances-of-going-bald-104143-1.htm Men can find out their chances of losing their hair by spending just 195 pounds. A DNA test, costing 195 pounds, will determine whether a gene is present that causes follicles to stop growing, the Daily Express reported. Similar to a paternity test, a swab is taken of the inside cheek. It is then analysed in the US and the results are returned in 10 days. Men testing positive have a 70 per cent chance of losing around 60 per cent of their hair by the age of 40. A negative result, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-dna-test-can-predict-mens-chances-of-going-bald-104143-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/stem-cells-in-amniotic-fluid-can-be-used-for-therapies-103680-1.htm Stem cells found in amniotic fluid can be transformed into a more versatile state similar to embryonic stem cells, according to a study published today in the journal iMolecular Therapy/i. Scientists from Imperial College London and the UCL Institute of Child Health succeeded in reprogramming amniotic fluid cells without having to introduce extra genes. The findings raise the possibility that stem cells derived from donated amniotic fluid could be stored in banks and used for therapies and in ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/stem-cells-in-amniotic-fluid-can-be-used-for-therapies-103680-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/scientists-identify-mutation-behind-rare-genetic-disorder-101454-1.htm The genetic cause of a birth defect known as Hamamy syndrome has been identified by scientists. The discovery made by scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), in collaboration with doctors and scientists in Jordan, Turkey, Switzerland and USA, gives new insights into common ailments such as heart disease, osteoporosis, blood disorders and possibly sterility. Hamamy syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, which is marked by abnormal facial features (Annex A) and defects in the heart, bone, blood and reproductive cells....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/scientists-identify-mutation-behind-rare-genetic-disorder-101454-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/rare-genetic-disorder-that-turns-organs-into-crystals-100036-1.htm A distressed couple in Leeds has revealed that both of their children are suffering from a rare genetic disorder that slowly turns their organs into crystals. Jessica Kemp revealed that her daughters, Emily, 3, and Poppy-Mae, 2, have been diagnosed with cystinosis, a rare genetic disorder that affects just one in 3.5 million. Cystinosis is an incurable condition with just 2,000 patients in the world and as it is a genetic disease, there is a one in four chance that Ms Kemp's children may suffer from the disease....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/rare-genetic-disorder-that-turns-organs-into-crystals-100036-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-cause-of-spinal-birth-defect-bypassed-by-fasudil-98573-1.htm Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disease caused by an inheritable defect in the gene SMN1 that is incurable and progressive. Depending on the severity of the mutation it can result in the loss of spinal cord motor neurons, muscle wasting (atrophy) and even death of an affected child. A new study published in Biomed Central's open access journal IBMC Medicine/I shows that Fasudil, a ROCK inhibitor, can improve both the size of muscle fibers and their connection to motor neurons. Fasudil also ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/genetic-cause-of-spinal-birth-defect-bypassed-by-fasudil-98573-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/cause-of-birth-defect-tracked-97566-1.htm The source of a genetic disorder that causes life-threatening birth defects has been identified by researchers. Babies born with the disorder, known as Loeys-Dietz syndrome or Marfan syndrome type II, have cleft palates and other facial characteristics similar to babies born with other diseases - but also happen to suffer potentially fatal heart defects, making it critical for them to receive an accurate diagnosis right away. Researchers from USC found an abnormally high amount of a ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/cause-of-birth-defect-tracked-97566-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/organ-injuring-in-inflammatory-genetic-disorder-arrested-by-rheumatoid-arthritis-drug-97424-1.htm Kineret (anakinra), an approved medication to treat rheumatoid arthritis, successfully bars progression of organ damage in people with neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), reveals a new study. This rare and debilitating genetic disorder causes persistent inflammation and ongoing tissue damage. NOMID affects numerous organs and body systems, including the skin, joints, eyes, and central nervous system. The first sign of the disease is often a rash that develops within the first weeks of life....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/organ-injuring-in-inflammatory-genetic-disorder-arrested-by-rheumatoid-arthritis-drug-97424-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/traces-to-common-birth-defect-in-gene-expression-data-noticed-by-massgeneral-jackson-researchers-97237-1.htm The 27 new candidate genes for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a usual and often deadly birth defect were revealed by researchers at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC), The Jackson Laboratory and other institutes. Their sophisticated data-filtering strategy, which uses gene expression during normal development as a starting point, offers a new, efficient and potentially game-changing approach to gene discovery. Babies born with CDH-representing one in every 3,000 live births-have ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/traces-to-common-birth-defect-in-gene-expression-data-noticed-by-massgeneral-jackson-researchers-97237-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Infant-Survival-Enhanced-Via-In-utero-Procedure-for-Birth-Defect-of-the-Diaphragm-94972-1.htm The journal iUltrasound in Obstetrics (and) Gynaecology /i publishes that the survival rate in severe cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is improved by foetal tracheal occlusion (FETO). CDH is a birth defect where there exists a severe malformation (hole) of the diaphragm and is a major cause of death in infants due to pulmonary hypoplasia, an incomplete development of the lungs. Researchers led by Rodrigo Ruano, MD, PhD, of the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Infant-Survival-Enhanced-Via-In-utero-Procedure-for-Birth-Defect-of-the-Diaphragm-94972-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Report-Finds-1-in-50-Babies-Has-Birth-Defect-and-Highlights-Worrying-Gaps-in-Regional-Monitoring-94857-1.htm The latest annual report by the British Isles Network of Congenital Anomaly Registers (BINOCAR) has said that more than one baby in every 50 is born with a birth defect. This number is significantly more common than previously reported estimates of around one in 80. The study* - led by researchers at Queen Mary, University of London and commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) - is the most up-to-date and comprehensive of its kind, bringing together existing data in England and Wales from 2005 to 2009....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Report-Finds-1-in-50-Babies-Has-Birth-Defect-and-Highlights-Worrying-Gaps-in-Regional-Monitoring-94857-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Fetal-Development-Monitor-Could-Be-Based-on-Genetic-Analysis-of-Amniotic-Fluid-88849-1.htm Researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of focused fetal gene expression analysis of target genes found in amniotic fluid using Standardized NanoArray PCR (SNAP) technology. This analysis could be used to monitor fetal development, enabling clinicians to determine very early in pregnancy whether fetal organ systems are developing normally. The study appears today in the September issue of The IJournal of Molecular Diagnostics/I. Using a previously developed SNAP gene panel as proof ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Fetal-Development-Monitor-Could-Be-Based-on-Genetic-Analysis-of-Amniotic-Fluid-88849-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/New-DNA-Test-Links-Low-Income-to-Shorter-Life-88370-1.htm Scientists have developed a new test of aging process based on DNA evidence. They have said it could provide faster feedback on public health measures. Glasgow Centre for Population Health work has confirmed the link between social factors and the rate at which people age. The scientists measured the length of telomeres, the tails on the ends of chromosomes, in sample groups in the Glasgow area. The Telomeres tend to become shorter over a person's lifetime, indicating the speed of the ageing process....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/New-DNA-Test-Links-Low-Income-to-Shorter-Life-88370-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Birth-Defect-Risk-High-For-Surviving-Baby-When-Twin-Dies-Early-In-Womb-87407-1.htm The risk of birth defects increases for the surviving baby when its twin dies early in the mother's womb, Associate Professor Michael Davies of the University of Adelaide has said. He is the co-director of the Research Centre for the Early Origins of Health and Disease at the university.The "vanishing twin" phenomenon could perhaps be linked to a nearly two-fold increased risk of congenital malformation in the surviving baby, and a threefold increase in multiple birth defects. The phenomenon occurs ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Birth-Defect-Risk-High-For-Surviving-Baby-When-Twin-Dies-Early-In-Womb-87407-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Parkinsons-Disease-Research-Advances-From-Rare-Genetic-Disorder-87018-1.htm Massachusetts General Hospital investigators appear to have found the mechanism behind a previously reported link between the rare genetic condition Gaucher disease and the common neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease. In a report to appear in the July 8 issue oIf Cell/I and receiving early online release, they describe how disruption of the molecular pathway that causes Gaucher disease leads to the toxic neuronal deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein ( (and) #945;-syn) found in Parkinson's and related disorders....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Parkinsons-Disease-Research-Advances-From-Rare-Genetic-Disorder-87018-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Progress-Made-on-DNA-Test-to-Detect-Early-Bowel-Cancer-81879-1.htm A new discovery means that a DNA test to detect the early signs of bowel cancer could be one step closer. Tests on two distinct genes were highly accurate in distinguishing between tumours and benign polyps - growths in the bowel that can become cancerous. While not all polyps in the bowel become cancerous it is thought almost all bowel cancers develop from polyps. The Cambridge study analysed 261 samples from patients with benign polyps or bowel cancer. In particular it looked at ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Progress-Made-on-DNA-Test-to-Detect-Early-Bowel-Cancer-81879-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Birth-Defect-in-Spine-Best-Repaired-by-Surgery-in-the-Womb-80672-1.htm Results of an eight-year US trial released Wednesday suggest surgery to repair a birth defect known as spina bifida is best done in the womb rather than after the baby is born. The method was so successful in boosting babies' health and mobility that the trial was halted early, said the findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Spina bifida is a disorder of the central nervous system that occurs when the spinal cord is partially exposed, protruding on the baby's back. Children ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Birth-Defect-in-Spine-Best-Repaired-by-Surgery-in-the-Womb-80672-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Model-To-Predict-Likelihood-of-Drug-Birth-Defect-In-Pregnancy-79099-1.htm Researchers have created a preclinical model for predicting a drug's tendency to cause fetal malformations during pregnancy based on characterizing the genes that it targets. The Children's Hospital Boston Informatics Program (CHIP) used bioinformatics and public databases to profile 619 drugs already assigned to a pregnancy risk class, and whose target genes or proteins are known. The researchers found that drugs targeting a large proportion of genes associated with fetal development tended to be in the higher risk classes....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Model-To-Predict-Likelihood-of-Drug-Birth-Defect-In-Pregnancy-79099-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Research-Supports-Newborn-Screening-and-Early-Treatment-for-Rare-Genetic-Disorder-77528-1.htm In a study that supports the need for newborn screening and early treatment for a rare genetic disorder, researchers at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) and Iowa State University found enzyme replacement therapy beginning at birth eliminated almost all of the symptoms associated with mucopolysaccharidosis type I, or MPS I, in animal models. The study, which was published today in the journal, IScience Translational Medicine,/I is the first ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Research-Supports-Newborn-Screening-and-Early-Treatment-for-Rare-Genetic-Disorder-77528-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Boffins-Identify-Gene-Linked-to-Common-Birth-Defect-Hypospadias-in-Male-Genitalia-77451-1.htm A research team has discovered a new gene associated with Hypospadias, the congenital malformation of the male genitalia. The study, conducted by King's College London, in collaboration with Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in The Netherlands, shows for the first time that a gene inherited from the mother is likely to be important in development of the condition. Hypospadias is a common congenital condition, which affects around 1 in 375 boys. In these infants the urethral opening ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Boffins-Identify-Gene-Linked-to-Common-Birth-Defect-Hypospadias-in-Male-Genitalia-77451-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Is-Your-Partner-Cheating-on-You-New-Online-DIY-DNA-Test-Available-to-Bare-Facts-72755-1.htm If you doubt the integrity of your partner, do yourself a favour and buy an online DIY paternity test to check if your partner is cheating on you. The company easyDNA.com.au claims its DNA profiling can be performed on chewing gum, licked stamps, razor shavings, toothbrushes, toothpicks, cigarette butts, tissues, handkerchiefs, trimmed finger or toenails, dental floss, hats, caps and bandannas. It says the test guarantees up to 99.9999 per cent probability if the man is the biological father and 100 per cent if he is excluded....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Is-Your-Partner-Cheating-on-You-New-Online-DIY-DNA-Test-Available-to-Bare-Facts-72755-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Preclinical-Inquiry-Uncovers-Secret-Behind-Addiction-and-a-Birth-Defect-72742-1.htm Symptoms of the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome arise, causing a gradual loss of brain function during early development, when one protein goes missing or is mutated. This fact led Duke University Medical Center researchers to test a theory that the protein might also contribute to nerve-cell connection (synapse) changes in a fully formed adult mouse brain when exposed to psychostimulant use. In two experiments with mice, Anne West, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of neurobiology, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Preclinical-Inquiry-Uncovers-Secret-Behind-Addiction-and-a-Birth-Defect-72742-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Genetic-Disorder-How-It-Causes-Skin-Cancers-70488-1.htm People with an inherited genetic disorder - xeroderma pigmentosum (XPV)which makes them very sensitive to sunlight, have an enzyme missing and this makes them more prone to get skin cancers. The findings by researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, paves way towards therapies that would help protect people with XPV from developing skin cancers. The research team determined that, in the general population, DNA polymerase eta, an enzyme able to overcome the barriers created by sun damage ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Genetic-Disorder-How-It-Causes-Skin-Cancers-70488-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Scientists-Find-Link-Between-Birth-Defect-Gastroschisis-and-the-Agricultural-Chemical-Atrazine-64707-1.htm A link between the birth defect gastroschisis and the agricultural chemical atrazine has been found in a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting , in Chicago. Gastroschisis is a type of inherited congenital abdominal wall defect in which the intestines, and sometimes other organs, develop outside the fetal abdomen through an opening in the abdominal wall. The incidence of gastroschisis is on the rise, increasing two to four times in the last 30 years....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Scientists-Find-Link-Between-Birth-Defect-Gastroschisis-and-the-Agricultural-Chemical-Atrazine-64707-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Female-Janitors-Scientists-More-Likely-to-Produce-Birth-Defect-Babies-62674-1.htm A new American study suggests that women working as biological and chemical scientists and pharmacists are more likely to give birth to babies with physical defects than other women. According to the research, these children could suffer from gastrointestinal, spinal and heart malformations. "Given those job titles, one would expect those women to work with different chemicals or something that could possibly be an exposure," the Globe and Mail quoted study' lead author Michele Herdt-Losavio ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Female-Janitors-Scientists-More-Likely-to-Produce-Birth-Defect-Babies-62674-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/More-About-Gastroschisis-Birth-Defect-60621-1.htm Washoe County experienced a cluster of a particular birth defect, gastroschisis, during the period April 2007 - April 2008, results of an investigation conducted by University of Nevada, Reno researchers, public health officials and area physicians published this week in the IArchives of Pediatrics (and) Adolescent Medicine,/I indicate. Subsequent review of medical records since the study's conclusion indicates that while the rate is still elevated, the cluster appears to have subsided. Gastroschisis ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/More-About-Gastroschisis-Birth-Defect-60621-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/New-Hope-for-Rare-Genetic-Disorder-Correction-in-Children-through-Stem-Cell-Transplantation-58200-1.htm Scripps Research Institute scientists have offered new hope for parents whose children suffer from the rare genetic disorder 'cystinosis' by showing through an experiment on mice that stem cell transplantation can successfully correct the defect. "After meeting the children who suffer from this disease, like an 18-year-old who has already had three kidney transplants, and the families who are desperately searching for help, our team is committed to moving toward ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/New-Hope-for-Rare-Genetic-Disorder-Correction-in-Children-through-Stem-Cell-Transplantation-58200-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Do-it-yourself-DNA-Test-Kits-Available-Generally-in-the-UK-56300-1.htm Anglia DNA Services has made available DIY DNA testing kits that will allow families to establish paternity without having to spend years in courts. This means that anyone aged over 16 can establish paternity without having to seek legal recourse. However critics are up in arms saying these kits will harm children who would receive potentially alarming news without being counseled. "These DIY kits, inevitably, will cause enormous effect on those involved. There is an urgent need for new regulation ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Do-it-yourself-DNA-Test-Kits-Available-Generally-in-the-UK-56300-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Gene-Critically-Involved-In-Common-Birth-Defect-Identified-56194-1.htm Gene that appears to be critically involved in a common birth defect has been identified by researchers from the University of Chicago and University of Alberta. The gene causes mental retardation, motor delays, and sometimes autism. The gene called FOXC1 is believed to contribute to Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM), a brain defect that occurs in 1 of every 5,000 births. However, the gene is never actually expressed in the brain itself. According to study co-author Dr Kathleen Millen, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Gene-Critically-Involved-In-Common-Birth-Defect-Identified-56194-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Summer-Heat-Could-Reduce-Amniotic-Fluid-Level-In-Pregnant-Women-55778-1.htm A new study reveals women who are pregnant have a higher incidence of insufficient amniotic fluid levels (oligohydramnios) in summer months due to dehydration. Amniotic fluid is the nourishing and protecting liquid contained by the amnion of a pregnant woman. It protects the developing baby by cushioning the mother's abdomen, promotes muscular and skeletal development, and helps to protect the fetus from heat loss. The study, conducted by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Summer-Heat-Could-Reduce-Amniotic-Fluid-Level-In-Pregnant-Women-55778-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Faster-and-More-Effective-DNA-Test-For-Crime-Scenes-Disease-Diagnosis-54412-1.htm Scientists in Japan are reporting development of a faster, less expensive version of the fabled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) a DNA test widely used in criminal investigations, disease diagnosis, biological research and other applications. The new method could lead to expanded use of PCR in medicine, the criminal justice system and elsewhere, the researchers say. Their study is scheduled for the July 15 issue of IAnalytical Chemistry/I, a semi-monthly journal. In the new study, Naohiro ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Faster-and-More-Effective-DNA-Test-For-Crime-Scenes-Disease-Diagnosis-54412-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Boffins-Uncover-Mechanism-To-Fight-Birth-Defects-52790-1.htm In what may offer clues to birth defects, scientists at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have shown that retinoic acid-a metabolite produced from vitamin A (retinol)-controls the development of forelimbs but not hindlimbs, and that it is not responsible for differentiation of the parts. Lead researcher Dr. Gregg Duester, a professor of Developmental Biology at Burnham, says that the research corrects longstanding misconceptions about limb development. The researcher revealed ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Boffins-Uncover-Mechanism-To-Fight-Birth-Defects-52790-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Digestive-Cancers-in-Multiple-Organs-can-be-Detected-by-DNA-Test-52368-1.htm A noninvasive screening test can detect not only colorectal cancer but also other common digestive cancers including pancreas, stomach, biliary and esophageal cancers, Mayo Clinic researchers have revealed. This is one of more than 100 Mayo Clinic studies being presented at Digestive Disease Week 2009 in Chicago, May 30 - June 4. Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers account for approximately one in four cancer deaths. While high cure rates can be achieved with early-stage detection for each type, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Digestive-Cancers-in-Multiple-Organs-can-be-Detected-by-DNA-Test-52368-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/DNA-Patterns-Of-Cancer-Genetic-Disorders-Made-Clearer-With-New-Tool-Than-With-Computers-51698-1.htm A new tool, developed at the North Carolina State University, will help researchers identify the minute changes in DNA patterns that lead to cancer, Huntington's disease and a host of other genetic disorders. The tool can translate DNA sequences into graphic images, which allows researchers to distinguish genetic patterns more quickly and efficiently than was historically possible using computers. David Cox, a Ph.D. student in computer science at NC State, devised the "symbolic scatter plot" ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/DNA-Patterns-Of-Cancer-Genetic-Disorders-Made-Clearer-With-New-Tool-Than-With-Computers-51698-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/The-Connection-Between-Thalidomide-and-Severe-Birth-Defects-51303-1.htm The question troubling scientists for 50 years regarding the connection between thalidomide and birth defects, experienced by many pregnant women of the fifties , seems to have found an answer in the findings of Scot researchers. Dr. Neil Vargesson, of Aberdeen University, accords the reason to a component of the drug that prevented the growth of new blood vessels, and subsequently caused limb defects in the developing embryo. "We have put to rest a 50-year puzzle, in finally deducing ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/The-Connection-Between-Thalidomide-and-Severe-Birth-Defects-51303-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/DNA-Test-to-Predict-Pregnancy-Risks-51206-1.htm Australian researchers are close to evolving a test to predict common pregnancy risks. Led by Associate Professor Claire Roberts, Senior Research Fellow in the University of Adelaide's new Robinson Institute, the researchers have identified subtle variations in specific genes within the mother, father or baby that indicate the mother is more likely to suffer from pregnancy complications. This advance will permit tailored, and sometimes potentially life-saving, antenatal care and constitutes a quantum ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/DNA-Test-to-Predict-Pregnancy-Risks-51206-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Immigrant-Mums-at-Higher-Risk-of-Producing-Birth-Defects-Babies-Study-50156-1.htm Immigrant mothers are less likely to take folic acid supplements before pregnancy to prevent birth defects, a new study has found. The study, led by a St. Michael's Hospital physician in collaboration with Statistics Canada, Health Canada and the University of Toronto, is important because such women may be at higher risk of having babies with birth defects. This study is the first to provide national estimates of pre-pregnancy folic acid use in Canada. "Our ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Immigrant-Mums-at-Higher-Risk-of-Producing-Birth-Defects-Babies-Study-50156-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Increased-Birth-Defects-Correlated-With-Elevated-Levels-Of-Pesticides-In-Surface-Water-In-US-49438-1.htm A study in the U.S. has linked the increased number of birth defects in kids of women who got pregnant in spring or summer to elevated levels of pesticides in surface water across the country. Studying all 30.1 million births, which occurred in the U.S. between 1996 and 2002, the researchers found that women whose last menstrual period occurred in April, May, June or July were at increased risk for delivering infants with birth defects. They also found that this period of increased risk ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Increased-Birth-Defects-Correlated-With-Elevated-Levels-Of-Pesticides-In-Surface-Water-In-US-49438-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/Teen-Dad-Alfie-Patten-Is-Not-The-Actual-Father-DNA-Tests-49165-1.htm DNA tests on Alfie Patten, the 13-year-old boy alleged to have become a father when he was just 12, show that he is not the baby girl's actual dad. The 300-pound test was conducted on him after half a dozen boys claimed to have slept with schoolgirl pal Chantelle Stedman, 15. Although Alfie was convinced he was the dad after a single night of unprotected sex with Chantelle, the DNA test proved the 4ft-tall pupil was not the father of her seven-week-old tot Maisie Roxanne. According ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/Teen-Dad-Alfie-Patten-Is-Not-The-Actual-Father-DNA-Tests-49165-1.htm