Birth Defects News and Research

RSS

Study: Quirky fruit fly gene can help develop new weapons against cancer

Loyola University Chicago researchers are taking advantage of a quirk in the evolution of fruit fly genes to help develop new weapons against cancer.

15 Jun 2012

UCSF's ACT program helps amputees reach their athletic goals

Carlos Gonzalez stands out from an athletic group gathered on a grassy field at the UCSF Mission Bay campus. The gregarious 32-year-old sports a stylish fauxhawk and walks with a confident yet understated swagger. He's training to become a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.

6 Jun 2012

Researchers identify two gene mutations that cause neuromuscular disorder

Research into how carbohydrates are converted into energy has led to a surprising discovery with implications for the treatment of a perplexing and potentially fatal neuromuscular disorder and possibly even cancer and heart disease.

25 May 2012

Children with craniofacial disorders face numerous medical challenges beyond appearance

Children born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial disorders face numerous medical challenges beyond appearance.

23 May 2012

Pregnant women should be encouraged to minimise weight gain through diet

Pregnant women, including those who are obese or overweight, should be encouraged to minimise weight gain through diet, according to major new research from Queen Mary, University of London.

19 May 2012

No significant differences in absorption between tablet and softgel capsule forms of folic acid

The bioavailability of folic acid does not significantly differ between delivery in standard tablet or softgel capsule forms, according to research published in this month's Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Folic Acid helps support a women's pregnancy and development of a healthy newborn.

17 May 2012

New clues in the pathogenesis of skull and skin birth defects associated with BSS

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York have found new clues in the pathogenesis of skull and skin birth defects associated with a rare genetic disorder, Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome.

16 May 2012

Human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts

Dr. Darja Marolt, an Investigator at The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Laboratory, is lead author on a study showing that human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts for use in research and potential therapeutic application. Dr. Marolt conducted this research as a post-doctoral NYSCF - Druckenmiller Fellow at Columbia University in the laboratory of Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic.

15 May 2012

High rates of birth defects associated with an artificial reproductive technology: Study

A new study has shown that one of the most popular forms of IVF could double the risk of birth defects.

8 May 2012

Study identifies risk of major birth defects linked with assisted reproductive technologies

A University of Adelaide study has identified the risk of major birth defects associated with different types of assisted reproductive technology.

5 May 2012

Center for the Promotion of Maternal Health and Infant Development opens

On May 3, 2012, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and the UC San Diego School of Medicine launched the Center for the Promotion of Maternal Health and Infant Development.

5 May 2012

PRDM16 transcription co-factor plays a critical role in development of embryonic palate

In the United States, a baby is born with a facial cleft every hour, of every day of the year! Such birth defects result from both gene mutations and environmental insults. PRDM16 is a transcription factor originally described as being aberrantly activated in specific types of leukemia's, and more recently as a master regulator of brown adipose tissue differentiation.

3 May 2012

U of U develops small implantable middle-ear microphone

Cochlear implants have restored basic hearing to some 220,000 deaf people, yet a microphone and related electronics must be worn outside the head, raising reliability issues, preventing patients from swimming and creating social stigma.

30 Apr 2012

Mitotic spindle may be more complex than previously thought

The mitotic spindle, an apparatus that segregates chromosomes during cell division, may be more complex than the standard textbook picture suggests, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

27 Apr 2012

AAA to gather for anatomy meeting in conjunction with Experimental Biology 2012

The American Association of Anatomists will gather this week for its annual meeting in conjunction with the Experimental Biology 2012 conference, which will draw more than 14,000 scientists from industry, government and academia. Below are some programming highlights for the anatomy meeting. All presentations will be made at the San Diego Convention Center.

26 Apr 2012

Researchers identify new components of genetic pathway that controls neural stem cells

Can one feel too attached? Does one need to let go to mature? Neural stem cells have this problem, too. As immature cells, neural stem cells must stick together in a protected environment called a niche in order to divide so they can make all of the cells that populate the nervous system. But when it's time to mature, or differentiate, the neural stem cells must stop dividing, detach from their neighbors and migrate to where they are needed to form the circuits necessary for humans to think, feel and interact with the world.

26 Apr 2012

Developing organisms can identify and repair head and facial abnormalities

Developmental biologists at Tufts University have identified a "self-correcting" mechanism by which developing organisms recognize and repair head and facial abnormalities. This is the first time that such a mechanism has been reported for the face and the first time that this kind of flexible, corrective process has been rigorously analyzed through mathematical modeling.

26 Apr 2012

Birth Defects News and Research

Study: Quirky fruit fly gene can help develop new weapons against cancer

UCSF's ACT program helps amputees reach their athletic goals

Researchers identify two gene mutations that cause neuromuscular disorder

Children with craniofacial disorders face numerous medical challenges beyond appearance

Pregnant women should be encouraged to minimise weight gain through diet

No significant differences in absorption between tablet and softgel capsule forms of folic acid

New clues in the pathogenesis of skull and skin birth defects associated with BSS

Human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts

High rates of birth defects associated with an artificial reproductive technology: Study

Study identifies risk of major birth defects linked with assisted reproductive technologies

Center for the Promotion of Maternal Health and Infant Development opens

PRDM16 transcription co-factor plays a critical role in development of embryonic palate

U of U develops small implantable middle-ear microphone

Mitotic spindle may be more complex than previously thought

AAA to gather for anatomy meeting in conjunction with Experimental Biology 2012

Researchers identify new components of genetic pathway that controls neural stem cells

Developing organisms can identify and repair head and facial abnormalities

Eating rice helps improve diet and manage weight

Gestational diabetes on the rise

Scientists identify which T. gondii strains are linked with severe illness in U.S. infants

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Latest News