According to a small study, a simple pap smear performed as early as five weeks into pregnancy could help detect genetic disorders in the developing fetus. Current methods of genetic testing are more invasive, carry some risks, and must be performed later in pregnancy—usually between the 9th and 12th weeks.

The Pap test involves taking a small scraping of cells from the cervix for examination. Study participants were healthy women between five and 19 weeks pregnant. Cells—including cells from the placenta, which contain DNA from the fetus—were extracted from the cervix and examined. Researchers were able to use this small sampling of cells to identify and analyze details of the fetus’ genetic profile.

There were no adverse effects associated with the procedure. Genetic testing currently involves a direct sampling of the placenta or the amniotic fluid and these tests carry a small risk of complications, including loss of the fetus. More research is needed, but safer genetic testing that can be performed earlier in pregnancy could lead to better outcomes for children with genetic disorders.

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Sourced from: Live Science

According to recent information published in BMJ Case Reports, a previously-healthy 50-year-old man developed acute hepatitis after consuming four or five energy drinks a day for three weeks. The liver damage occurred as a result of excessive vitamin B3 (niacin) levels.

The man, who developed the energy drink habit while work long hours in construction, first experienced malaise and appetite loss and then nausea and vomiting. He sought medical attention when he developed yellowed skin and dark-colored urine—classic signs of hepatitis. A medical exam and diagnostic tests revealed upper abdominal tenderness and elevated liver enzymes. Liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.

The man didn’t report any other changes in diet or alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use—suggesting the energy drinks as the cause for the liver inflammation. Each bottle of energy drink contained 40 milligrams of niacin—200 percent of the daily recommended value. Previous studies have also linked hepatitis to energy drinks. The man cited in this study is currently managing his symptoms and has been advised to avoid energy drinks and similar products that contain niacin.

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Sourced from: FOX News

Research shows that loneliness in older adults increases the risk for a number of health problems, including depression, heart disease, and cognitive decline. According to a new study, older adults who are lonely have higher levels of early Alzheimer’s disease markers in the brain.

In a 2010 survey by AARP, about 32 percent of people 60 to 69 and 25 percent of those over the age of 70 reported feeling lonely. This recent study included 79 older adults with normal cognitive function. The average age of the study participants was 76. Researchers asked questions about how often each participant felt left out, isolated from others, or lacking in companionship to assess loneliness. Then, they used brain imaging to measure amyloid proteins in the brain. Amyloid proteins that clump together and form plaques are the hallmark for Alzheimer’s.

Overall, study participants with high amyloid levels were 7.5 times more likely to be lonely than those with low levels of amyloids in the brain. According to researchers, loneliness is an early sign of Alzheimer’s and is associated with changes in the brain related to the disease. The hope is that this finding may help identify older adults at increased risk for Alzheimer’s earlier.

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Sourced from: MNT