| Molecules In Blood Foretell Development Of Preeclampsia
High levels of two proteins in the blood of pregnant women appear to indicate the subsequent development of preeclampsia, a life-threatening complication of pregnancy, report a team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The proteins, which interfere with the growth and function of blood vessels, also signal the development of high blood pressure during pregnancy.
The findings appear in the September 7 New England Journal of Medicine.
"This finding appears to be an important step in developing a cure for preeclampsia," said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health. "It may also provide the basis for predicting whether or not a woman will develop the disorder."
Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal death and often occurs without warning.
9/11's Grim Toll on Health Continues
MONDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, many of those at or near the World Trade Center site carry grim reminders of that day in their minds, hearts and even their lungs. Thousands of workers who toiled for months on the smoldering pile that was Ground Zero continue to complain of respiratory illness, including a chronic, soot-laden hacking known as "World Trade Center Cough." At the same time, researchers are keeping tabs on the development of hundreds of children, born early and underweight, to women living in Lower Manhattan. And psychologists worry that the anniversary day itself could reawaken mental woes for those once traumatized by the devastation. In short, the health problems that have emerged over the last five years will become a lasting legacy of 9/11, and one that will continue to grow, experts say.
Maternal vitamin E levels linked to asthma risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Levels of vitamin E in women during pregnancy are inversely associated with the risk of asthma in their children, according to a report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. However, in an interview with Reuters Health, lead author Dr. Graham Devereux emphasized that "the message for pregnant women isn't to go out and stock up on vitamin E." He explained that the use of vitamin E supplements during pregnancy is controversial with many studies suggesting no benefit and possibly even a harmful effect. As such, the current findings have no immediate implications for treatment, but hopefully will lead to studies that could provide definitive answers, Dr. Devereux, from the University of Aberdeen in the UK, noted. For now, "pregnant women should just be encouraged to eat a healthy diet." .
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