More than 90% of babies born with heart defects survive into adulthood. As a result, there are now more adults living with congenital heart disease than children. These adults have a chronic, lifelong condition and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has produced advice to give the best chance of a normal life. The guidelines… Read More »
Living near oil and gas wells may increase a woman’s risk of having a baby with a congenital heart defect. Researchers writing in Environment International reported on 3,324 infants born in Colorado from 2005 to 2011, comparing 536 babies with heart defects to 2,860 controls matched for sex, maternal smoking, race and ethnicity. They correlated… Read More »
Medications known as PARP inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapy for several forms of cancer fueled by a defect in the cells’ DNA repair machinery. Yet many people with cancers caused by the defect, known as HR deficiency, who stand to benefit from PARP inhibitors remain unidentified because standard genetic panels used in the… Read More »
The highest risk of birth defects is from Zika virus infection during the first and second trimester, USC researcher says USC researchers have identified biomarkers associated with severe birth defects in babies born to women infected with the Zika virus. The discovery could lead to screening tests and a better understanding about how the infection… Read More »
Because folate deficiency in pregnant women has been associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, including anencephaly and spina bifida, it is recommended that all women take folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required (since 1996) the addition of folic acid to many… Read More »