Genes linked to preterm birth risk identifiedFebruary 5th, 2010 WASHINGTON - Scientists have identified certain genetic variants in mothers and foetuses that appear to play a vital role in premature labour. The variants were found in genes involved in the regulation of inflammation and of the extracellular matrix, the mesh-like material that holds cells within tissues.
EPA to investigate cluster of birth defects near toxic-waste dump in central CaliforniaJanuary 27th, 2010 EPA to investigate birth defects near Calif. dumpKETTLEMAN CITY, Calif.
Painless plasma jets could replace dentist's dreaded drillJanuary 20th, 2010 LONDON - Plasma jets capable of destroying tooth decay-causing bacteria could be an effective and less painful alternative to the dentist's drill, says a new study. Firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin - the fibrous tooth structure underneath the enamel coating - was found to reduce the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000-fold.
Childhood adversities tied to increased lung cancer riskJanuary 19th, 2010 WASHINGTON - Adverse childhood experiences have been found to increase the risk of lung cancer, particularly premature death from lung cancer. The study suggests that children can be faced with a terrible burden of stressors.
Dental implants becoming popular method for replacing teethJanuary 17th, 2010 WASHINGTON - The method of using dental implants to replace teeth lost to an accident, gum diseases or tooth decay is becoming popular. Sreenivas Koka, chair of Mayo Clinic Department of Dental Specialties, discusses the advantages of dental implants and what's involved.
Added sugar in raisin bran cereals may promote tooth decayDecember 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has shown that added sugar in raisin bran cereals increases acid in dental plaque, leading to tooth decay. During the study, research team from University of Illinois at Chicago compared four food groups - raisins, bran flakes, commercially marketed raisin bran cereal, and a mix of bran flakes with raisins lacking any added sugar in children aged 7 to 11.
Over 12 million Delhiites have tooth ailments: SheilaDecember 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Delhiites are not smiling and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is worried. More than 80 percent of Delhi's population is suffering from various dental ailments, including periodontal (advanced gum disease), cavities, self-inflicted wear and traumatic injuries to teeth and most of them are preventable with early education, a worried Diskhit said at a dental health fair Tuesday.
Anxious people more likely to have dental problemsNovember 10th, 2009 SYDNEY - People with anxious personalities are more likely to have poor oral health, including decayed or missing teeth, says a new study. The recent study examined anxiety levels of 1,037 participants aged 15 to 32 in the long-running Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study.
Certain antibiotics may be safe to use during pregnancy: StudyNovember 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has revealed that penicillin and several other antibacterial medications commonly taken by pregnant women are not associated with many birth defects. However, the study also showed that other antibiotics, such as sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins, may be linked to several severe birth defects and require additional scrutiny.
Premature births most to blame for high US infant mortality rate, government saysNovember 3rd, 2009 more images
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Premature births worsen US infant death rate
ATLANTA — Premature births, often due to poor care of low-income pregnant women, are the main reason the U.S. infant mortality rate is higher than in most European countries, a government report said Tuesday.
White wine can rot your teethOctober 21st, 2009 LONDON - Too much white wine can rot your teeth, dental experts have warned. The experts claimed that wines like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling are more likely to wear away protective tooth enamel than reds like Rioja and Merlot.
1 million premature babies worldwide die every yearOctober 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Over one million infants who are born too early die each year, according to a new White Paper. Titled 'The Global and Regional Toll of Preterm Birth', it shows that in 2005, an estimated 13 million babies worldwide were born preterm - defined as birth at less than 37 full weeks of gestation - which was almost 10 percent of total births worldwide.
Childhood cancer survivors' children not at increased disease riskOctober 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - People who have survived cancer as a child can now have a sigh of relief, for two new studies have found fewer risks of their childhood disease on their babies. While it is believed that fertility can be compromised by cancer treatment, the studies led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center observed few risks to babies born to parents who underwent cancer treatment in childhood or adolescence.
Smaller thighs linked to heart disease risk, premature deathsSeptember 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Men and women whose thighs are less than 60 cm in circumference have a higher risk of premature death and heart disease, says a new study. Berit Heitmann, based at Copenhagen University Hospital, says his research may help doctors identify patients who are at an increased risk of early death and developing heart disease.
Molecular decay of enamel-specific gene in toothless mammals supports theory of evolutionSeptember 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Biologists at the University of California, Riverside have found molecular decay of enamel-specific gene in toothless mammals, which provides fresh support for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The researchers were able to correlate the progressive loss of enamel in the fossil record with a simultaneous molecular decay of a gene, called the enamelin gene, which is involved in enamel formation in mammals.
