Cell: The journal Trends in Molecular Medicine (TMM) reviews the latest advances in reproductive medicine
Fetal genetic disorders increasingly diagnosed with sample of mother's blood
The discovery that fetal DNA and RNA are present in
the plasma of pregnant women has ushered in a new era of non-invasive
prenatal testing for single-gene genetic disorders. Ada Wong and Dennis
Lo of The Chinese University of Hong Kong review the latest developments
of this technology, which can now identify more complex chromosomal
abnormalities. "With further advances and reduction in costs, it is
possible that fetal profiling might eventually become routine clinical
tests," the authors write. "It is likely these analyses will play an
increasingly important role in the future practice of prenatal
medicine."
Social influences continue to deter breastfeeding in Western nations
Amy Brown, an associate professor of public health and policy studies
at Swansea University, discusses the pressure that many Western nations
place on new mothers to use formula milk despite the well-established
benefits of breastfeeding. "The impact of this upon new mothers is both
direct and generalized," Brown writes. "More overtly, the reactions a
new mother faces from strangers and even family members when she
breastfeeds her infant can be demoralizing and threatening. Although
breastfeeding might be supported by health policy, and a woman
breastfeeding in public is protected by law, reactions to public
breastfeeding are a major barrier."
Exploring the link between advancing parental age and autism
Another influence of modern Western society on reproduction is that
of increasing parental age (of both the father and the mother,
separately and in combination), which has been causatively linked to the
rise of autism spectrum disorders. Brian Lee, an assistant professor in
the Drexel University School of Public Health, and John McGrath, a
professor of epidemiology and developmental neurobiology at the
Queensland Brain Institute, review the literature on this correlation
and conclude that a modest magnitude of risk does exist. However, the
authors note that, while different mechanisms underlie this risk for
older fathers and older mothers, the exact molecular details are still
to be determined.
Maternal habits and the long-term consequences on offspring's health
A review led by University of Nottingham developmental physiologist
Michael Symonds examines the long-term effects a mother's diet and
lifestyle during pregnancy has on her offspring, particularly its
influence on childhood obesity and metabolic disease. While many
intervention programs exist to help pregnant women cut out smoking, keep
weight down, and increase sleep--all factors that affect a child's
later-life risk of obesity and other illnesses--the lack of longer-term
data makes follow-up trials necessary to fully support or refute their
role on the developmental origins of health.