Common Drug Used To Prevent Miscarriage During Pregnancy May Double The Risk Of Cancer In Children

One of the worst fears of a pregnant woman is the danger of a miscarriage. This can happen because of some pregnancy complications or sometimes may happen for no apparent reasons also. But if a doctor suspects any complications that may cause a miscarriage, they often prescribe medicines to ensure a smooth pregnancy and delivery. But now, researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have found that one particular drug often used by doctors for this purpose may actually be harmful for the fetus and may even increase a child's risk of certain cancers. This was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

About the drug

The drug is called 17 -hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC). This is a synthetic progestogen, which was commonly prescribed during the 1950s and 1960s. Even today, many doctors prescribe this drug to prevent preterm birth. The main benefits of this drug are listed here -

• Progesterone boosts the growth of the womb during pregnancy.
• It prevents a woman from having early contractions that may lead to miscarriage.

Exposure in utero to progestogen and risk of cancer

According to the researchers of this study, the children born to women who received this drug during pregnancy had double the rate of cancer across their lifetime as compared to others born to women who did not take this drug. They noticed that colorectal cancer, pancreatic, thyroid cancer, and many others increased in people born in and after the 1960s. This occurrence piqued their interest and they delved further into the subject.

About the study

For the purpose of the study, the researchers analysed data from the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan on women who received prenatal care between June 1959 and June 1967, and the California Cancer Registry, which traced cancer in offspring through 2019. Here are their main findings -

• Out of more than 18,751 live births, there were 1,008 cancer diagnoses in offspring between the ages of 0 to 58 years.
• A total of 234 children were exposed in utero to 17-OHPC and their risk of cancer was more than twice as compared to those not exposed to the drug.
• In fact, 65 per cent of cancers were detected in adults younger than 50.

Why the FDA wants this drug withdrawn

According to researchers, this synthetic drug can disrupt early development of a fetus. This is what increases the risk of cancer decades later. Also, another randomized trial reveals that there is no benefit of taking this particular medication and it does not really reduce the risk of preterm birth.

 

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Landmark Vitamin Discovery Could Prevent Miscarriages And Birth Defects

A simple vitamin supplement could have the potential to prevent miscarriages and birth defects, according to a 12-year study by scientists.

Researchers have identified a deficiency in a developmental molecule called NAD that can keep a baby's organs from forming properly in the womb – but the shortfall could be addressed by pregnant women taking Vitamin B 3, which may prevent a range of birth defects.

It's the first time that NAD (aka nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide) has been linked to congenital abnormalities, identifying a previously unknown cause of birth defects – along with the supplement that might treat the problem.

"The ramifications are likely to be huge," says developmental geneticist.

"This has the potential to significantly reduce the number of miscarriages and birth defects around the world, and I do not use those words lightly."

The team began their research back in 2005, when they came across the case of a baby with major defects in the heart, backbone, and ribs.
A genomic analysis revealed that both parents carried a mutation in a gene involved in the production of NAD – a vital molecule that contributes to energy production, DNA repair, and cell communication.
Several years later, the researchers found a similar mutation affecting NAD production in the family of another baby born with congenital problems.

 That was our Eureka moment," the scientist told.

In all, the team examined genetic data from 14 families whose children bore congenital birth defects, and found the NAD mutations present in four of them.

To test possible treatment mechanisms, the team engineered mice with the same deficiency, using the  CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique.

When female mice with the mutation gave birth, many of their pups died or were born with significant defects – but counterparts fed diets including B3 supplements gave birth to healthier offspring.

Diets with small amounts of vitamin B3 produced baby mice with fewer abnormalities, and feed rich in the supplement fostered a healthy litter of animals.

As far as a proof of concept goes, we've only seen this result in animals – and the principal deficiency has only been studied in four human families – so we shouldn't get too carried away with the findings just yet.

But it's a very promising start down a new avenue in developmental research, and one with the potential to produce life-changing results for thousands of families.

"Arguably, it's the most important discovery for pregnant women since folate," the scientist told in reference to the research that showed folic acid could reduce the incidence of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is usually found in meats and green vegetables, along with condiment.

But while many pregnant women take dietary supplements, research has shown that up to third of women have low levels of vitamin B3 during their pregnancy.

The team behind the new study hope that's something their findings can turn around, although the research is at too early a stage for scientists to recommend any kind of specific dosage.

"At the moment, the recommendation is to take a standard multivitamin, but we're all different and that will not prevent all women from having babies with birth defects," 

"We need to identify those women at risk and identify a safe level of niacin for them to take to prevent miscarriages and birth defects."

To that end, the researchers say the next step will be developing a diagnostic test akin to a pregnancy test, sampling either urine or blood, which could easily show which women could be low in NAD.

Nobody knows when this kind of check-up will become available, but we can't wait to see where this research leads – because it's something that could have a huge impact on the health and happiness of too many lives to count.

The findings were reported in a medical journal.

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Implantable Micropacemaker could prevent miscarriage and premature birth in babies!

Researchers have developed an implantable micro-pacemaker which can be used in a fetus with a complete heart block.

The new invention can also prevent miscarriage and premature birth for babies, affected with  congenital complete heartblock.

The researchers have already done per-clinical testing and optimization and they anticipate the first human use of the device in the near future. According to the researchers, the micro-pacemaker is small enough to reside entirely in the fetus.

Congenital heartblock is a defect of the heart's electrical system that originates in the developing fetus, greatly slowing the rate of the heart and impacting its ability to pump blood.

 

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