Autism risk tied to mom's obesity during pregnancy

Autism is more likely to occur in children whose mothers were obese while pregnant, new research suggests.

The study, one of the first of its kind, involved about 1,000 California children, ages 2 to 5. Researchers affiliated with the UC Davis MIND Institute looked at their mothers' medical records and examined the association between obesity and autism. Women who were obese during pregnancy were about 67 percent more likely than normal-weight women to have autistic children, the study showed. Obese moms also faced double the risk of having children with other developmental delays.

Children born to obese women are more likely to be diagnosed with autism or related developmental delays than the children of slimmer mothers, according to a U.S. survey. 

The research, which appeared in Pediatrics, was looking for the impact on childrens' cognitive development from a variety of "metabolic conditions" in the mother, including high blood pressure or diabetes. The strongest links were found between obesity and autism-related disorders.

Although the study cannot prove that one condition causes the other, its authors caution that even the possibility is worrisome in the light of rising U.S. obesity rates.

Obesity isn't the only risk factor found for pregnant moms in the study. Researchers also looked at prevalence of gestational diabetes and found pregnant moms with diabetes had nearly 2 1/3 times the chance of having a child with developmental delays compared with healthy mothers. Although the proportion of diabetic mothers who had a child with autism was higher, the numbers did not reach statistical significance.

The study was published online in the April 9 issue of Pediatrics.

Among the children in the study with an autism spectrum disorder, 48 were born to mothers with Type 2 or gestational diabetes, 111 to mothers who were obese and 148 to mothers with any sort of metabolic condition, like high blood pressure.

For children with a developmental delay, 20 were born to mothers with Type 2 or gestational diabetes, 41 to mothers who were obese and 60 to a mother with any metabolic condition.

What explains the results? Researchers say the study does not indicate cause and effect - and further research must be done to confirm the results. But the authors theorize that obesity - generally about 35 pounds overweight - is linked with inflammation and sometimes elevated levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar and inflammation-related substances in a mother's blood may reach the fetus and damage the developing brain, study author Paula Krakowiak, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, said.

Of those children, 517 had an autism spectrum disorder and 172 had developmental delays. For Krakowiak's study, the children's diagnoses were confirmed by a re-evaluation at the UC Davis MIND Institute.

Milder versions of autism, such as Asperger's syndrome, form a "spectrum" of autism-related disorders. In addition, impairments in any one of the autism-related cognitive skill areas are considered developmental delays.

On average, women face a 1 in 88 chance of having a child with autism, according to recent CDC figures. The new research suggests that obesity during pregnancy would increase that to a 1 in 53 chance, the authors said.

"Over a third of U.S. women in their childbearing years are obese and nearly one-tenth have gestational or type 2 diabetes during pregnancy," Krakowiak said in a written statement. "Our finding that these maternal conditions may be linked with neurodevelopmental problems in children raises concerns and therefore may have serious public-health implications."

Previous research has linked obesity during pregnancy with stillbirths, preterm births and some birth defects.

"There is a lot that is unknown and studies like these really help us figure out the questions that need to be answered," Gardener said.

But she warned that researchers are far from understanding what might create a link between obesity and autism.

U.S. autism rates have increased along with obesity rates, says Dr. Daniel Coury, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He said the research suggests that may be more than a coincidence.

If mothers' obesity is truly related to autism, it would be only one of many contributing factors, said Coury, who was not involved in the study.

What other factors have been linked to autism? Genetics, mothers' illnesses and use of certain medicines during pregnancy are a few, according to the CDC.

Although the study looked at obesity in the mothers, it lacks information on women's diets and other habits during pregnancy that might have influenced fetal development.

The CDC has more on pregnancy complications, including obesity and gestational diabetes.

Vaccine Protect from Influenza (Flu)

Infants and children aged <5 years, but especially younger than 2 years old, are at increased risk for severe complications from influenza.

School-age children had a substantial illness burden caused by influenza that vaccine was safe and effective for children aged 6 months through 18 years, and that evidence suggested that vaccinating school-age children would provide benefits to both the vaccinated children and their unvaccinated household and community contacts.

The implementation of an annual recommendation for all school-age children would pose major challenges to parents, medical providers and health care systems. Alternative vaccination venues were needed, and of these school-located vaccination programs might offer the most promise as an alternative vaccination site for school-age children.

CONCLUSIONS Expansion of recommendations to include all school-age children will require additional development of an infrastructure to support implementation and methods to adequately evaluate impact.

An intranasal vaccine that includes four weakened strains of influenza could do a better job in protecting children from the flu than current vaccines, Saint Louis University research shows.

Vaccine Protect from Influenza of Children.

Before each influenza season, scientists predict which strains of flu will be circulating and make a trivalent vaccine that includes three strains of influenza -- two of influenza A and one of influenza B.

The ability to add another strain of influenza B without compromising the vaccine's ability to protect against the other three strains will allow scientists make a better vaccine, said Robert Belshe, M.D., professor of infectious diseases at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the corresponding author of the research article.

"The vaccine improves our ability to protect against flu and doesn't reduce the body's immune response to the other strains," said Belshe, who also directs Saint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development.

"It should bring us better protection because there's less guess work than in the standard trivalent vaccine."

Children are more susceptible than adults to influenza from one of the B strains, which change less often than A strain viruses. Some winters, influenza B viruses -- Victoria or Yamagata -- cause most of the flu in children and significant infection in adults, Belshe said.

Preventing flu in children is key to protecting the entire population. "We think the most important way for flu to spread is through school-aged children," Belshe said.

In the 1980s, influenza B split into the two circulating lineages of virus, which have evolved into viruses that are quite different. Some years both B viruses and the B strain that doesn't match the vaccine circulate, which means the vaccine doesn't protect people from getting the flu?

"There are these two very different strains of influenza B that don't cross protect. Vaccinating against one strain of influenza B does little to protect against the other," Belshe said.

"It has not been possible to predict which strain has circulated. In the last 10 years, we predicted right five times. So you can flip a coin and do as well."

Previously, manufacturers had not had the capacity to produce a vaccine that protects against four strains of flu, but that is no longer the case, Belshe said.

The researchers tested versions of the FluMist vaccine, which is sprayed in the nose and contains live flu viruses that have been attenuated or weakened so they don't cause infection. The intranasal vaccine is made by MedImmune.

The nasal spray vaccine was tested in about 2,300 children between 2 and 19 years of age. The children were randomized to receive one of three vaccines: a vaccine containing four strains of influenza -- two of influenza A and two of influenza B, or one of two vaccines that contained both influenza A strains and one of each of the influenza B strains. Researchers looked at the safety and antibody response to both influenza A and B viruses in children of different age groups who were vaccinated.

Those children who receive vaccine containing four strains of flu had as robust of an immune response as those who received the vaccine that contained three strains. In addition, Belshe noted no clinically significant difference the safety of the vaccines, which were well tolerated.

"We saw stuffy noses, which we know is associated with FluMist, and an occasional low grade fever, which is similar to other childhood vaccines," Belshe said.

Findings were published electronically ahead of print in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Belshe has been a member of a speaker's bureau and received research grants and consulting fees from MedImmune, which sponsored the study.

What is the best way to prevent influenza?

What does this year’s vaccine protect me from?

The best way to prevent influenza is with annual vaccination.

The 2011-2012 flu vaccine protects against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus. Seasonal flu vaccines have a very good safety track record. Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve or a tissue when you cough or sneeze—     throw the tissue away after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Eating red foods for healthy heart

Are you worried about your heart? Don't feel blue. Go red, and eat red foods for your heart.

This novel idea comes from the American Heart Association, which advocated that men and women eat red-colored foods to protect their hearts.

1. Red apples. Apples are rich in quercetins, a substance known to protect against Alzheimer's disease and many cancers. Studies show that people who eat an apple a day have lower chances of getting lung cancer and Alzheimer's disease when compared to non-fruit eaters. Even smokers who often eat apples can somehow minimize the risk of getting cancer. Apple skins contain pectin, which some studies show can lower bad cholesterol by as much as 16%. Apples may also prevent diabetes and childhood asthma. Eating the fiber-rich skin of the apple also has additional health benefits of having better skin, more regular bowel movement and lower risk for colon cancer.

2. Red watermelon. According to the US Department of Agriculture, watermelon may be beneficial for the heart and blood vessels. Researchers report that eating watermelons increases our body's argentine levels, an important amino acid Arginine is a component needed to produce nitric oxide, a substance that relaxes the blood vessels, improves blood flow and may protect us from a heart attack and stroke. 

3. Red grapes. Red grapes contain falconoid which increase good cholesterol levels in the body and prevents blockage of arteries.

4. Red wine. Red wine contains reservation which also increases good cholesterol levels and blocks fat in the body. But be sure to follow the recommended daily intake. Men can have up to 2 glasses per day while women can have 1 glass per day.

5. Tomatoes, Red tomato, catsup or tomato sauce.  Researchers have found that these are also healthy for the heart. Consume 10 spoons per week to avoid heart problems.

A terrific source of vitamin C with a touch of vitamin A, potassium and fiber thrown in for good measure, tomatoes don’t just taste great, they’re also good for you. (Hard to believe that at one time they were thought to be poisonous!) Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that fights skin aging and may be beneficial against cancer and heart disease.

6. Cherries: Rich in antioxidants, such as anthocyanin (believed to reduce pain and inflammation), cherries have been purported to fight myriad diseases, including diabetes, cancer, arthritis and gout. Cherries are also a good source of fiber, potassium and vitamin A.

7. Pomegranate: A near-icon of fertility in much of its native range (Iran to the Himalayas), the pomegranate also has come to represent good health. Studies have shown that the fruit may help to reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries and lower blood pressure. Other research hints that pomegranate juice may help manage prostate cancer, diabetes, arthritis and erectile dysfunction. Experts believe that pomegranate’s benefits come from its powerful punch of polyphenols—including anthocyanins (found in blue, purple and deep-red foods) and tannins (also found in wine and tea).

8. Beets: With an earthy flavor that gets super sweet when cooked, beets are very nutritious: 1/2 cup of cooked beets has just 29 calories but boasts 2 grams of fiber and provides 19 percent of the daily value for foliate, a B vitamin needed for the growth of healthy new cells. Plus their beautiful color comes from betanin, a photochemical that’s thought to bolster immunity. Roast them, pickle them or shred them raw and dress them with citrus for a refreshing salad in these 4 quick and easy beet recipes.

9. Chile Peppers: Capsaicin, an antioxidant in chilies, thwarts food spoilage and may protect blood vessels. It also makes peppers hot—in more ways than one (hence the spicy folklore that piquant peppers rev up sexual desires). Studies show that capsaicin increases the body’s metabolic rate and may stimulate brain chemicals that help us feel less hungry. In a 2005 study in the International Journal of Obesity, people ate 16 percent fewer calories at a meal if they sipped tomato juice spiked with hot-pepper extract (versus plain tomato juice) a half hour earlier.

What’s Stroke Causes, signs, Symptoms?

What is a stroke?
Every stroke is unique; A stroke is when a clogged or burst artery interrupts blood flow to the brain. This interruption of blood flow deprives the brain of needed oxygen and causes the affected brain cells to die. When brain cells die, function of the body parts they control is impaired or lost.
Brain cell function requires a constant delivery of oxygen and glucose from the bloodstream. A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. Blood flow can be compromised by a variety of mechanisms.
A stroke can cause paralysis or muscle weakness, loss of feeling, speech and language problems, memory and reasoning problems, swallowing difficulties, problems of vision and visual perception, coma, and even death.

What causes a stroke?
Blockage of blood vessels in the brain
Clots can travel from the blood vessels of the heart or neck and lodge in the brain.
Small vessels in the brain can become blocked, often due to high blood pressure or damage from diabetes.
Clots can form in the blood vessels of the brain due to arteriosclerosis.
Bleeding into or around the brain
Weak spots on brain arteries (aneurysms) burst, covering the brain with blood.
Blood vessels in the brain break because they have been weakened by damage due to high blood pressure, diabetes, or aging.
A stroke is a potentially fatal medical condition that results when the brain is deprived of a normal blood supply. Some strokes occur when the brain has insufficient blood, while others take place when there's too much blood in the skull. In both cases, however, prompt treatment often leads to reduced brain damage and fewer future complications.
Ischemic Stroke
According to the Mayo Foundation, 80 percent of all strokes are classified as ischemic strokes. This type of stroke is caused by ischemia, a condition in which blood flow to the brain is restricted as a result of blocked or narrowed arteries.
There are two kinds of ischemic stroke. A thrombotic stroke results when a thrombus (blood clot) develops in an artery that provides blood to the brain. Such clots often arise when plaques (fatty deposits) accumulate in arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis.
An embolic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain becomes clogged after a particle or thrombus develops in a blood vessel located in another area of the body, such as the heart, and then travels toward the brain through the bloodstream.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Hemorrhagic stroke results from a leaking or ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Frequent causes include aneurysms (weakened blood vessels) and high blood pressure.
The two categories of hemorrhagic stroke are intracerebral and subarachnoid. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain and causes cell damage by leaking blood into nearby tissue. High blood pressure is the most frequent cause.
Ruptured aneurysms are the most common source of subarachnoid hemorrhage, which occurs when an artery on the outer portion of the brain bursts and then leaks blood in the area separating the brain and the skull.
Transient Ischemic Attacks
Also called ministroke or TIA, transient ischemic attacks are very short periods during which victims experience symptoms that resemble those of a normal stroke. The causes are identical to an ischemic stroke, namely decreased blood flow to the brain due to a blockage in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the organ. In contrast, however, TIAs involve a much shorter period of blockage, and they produce no permanent damage.
Symptoms mainly -

Although many victims experience no symptoms beforehand, there are numerous signs that sometimes alert individuals when a stroke may be about to occur. Seek immediate medical attention if the victim develops difficulty seeing, speaking or walking; a headache characterized by acute pain, changed consciousness, stiffness in the neck or vomiting; or numbness or paralysis on only one side.
Stroke Symptoms and Signs
A stroke results from impaired oxygen delivery to brain cells via the bloodstream. According to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the five major signs of stroke are the sudden onset of:
1. Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. The loss of voluntary movement and/or sensation may be complete or partial. There may also be an associated tingling sensation in the affected area.
2. Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sometimes weakness in the muscles of the face can cause drooling.
3. Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
5. Severe headache with no known cause

Complications
The severity of complications from a stroke depends on the amount of time the brain experienced abnormal blood flow. Common issues after a stroke include cognitive impairment, loss of memory, numbness or pain in areas that the stroke affected, paralysis, problems swallowing or talking and reduced muscle function.
What physical and emotional problems occur after a stroke?
Common warning signs of a stroke include the following:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm and/or leg
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or loss of coordination.
Sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you or anyone you know experiences any of the above warning signs, call your doctor or go to an emergency room immediately.
Because of the organization of our nervous system, an injury to one side of the brain affects the opposite side of the body. Often the person loses movement and/or feeling in the arm and/or leg opposite the side of the brain affected by the stroke. So, if a person has a stroke on the left side of the brain, he or she may have weakness or paralysis in the right arm and leg. This makes it difficult for the person to perform activities of daily living. It is also common for survivors of stroke to tire easily.
How is a stroke diagnosed?
A stroke is diagnosed by medical professionals. Special tests that allow doctors to look at the person's brain (CT scan, MRI) are often used to determine where the stroke occurred and how severe it is.
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) Works with other rehabilitation and medical professionals and families to provide a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan for stroke survivors. The team may include:
Doctors
Nurses
Neurophysiologists
Occupational therapists
Physical therapists
Social workers
Employers/teachers

What’s Stroke Causes, signs, Symptoms?

What is a stroke?
Every stroke is unique; A stroke is when a clogged or burst artery interrupts blood flow to the brain. This interruption of blood flow deprives the brain of needed oxygen and causes the affected brain cells to die. When brain cells die, function of the body parts they control is impaired or lost.
Brain cell function requires a constant delivery of oxygen and glucose from the bloodstream. A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. Blood flow can be compromised by a variety of mechanisms.
A stroke can cause paralysis or muscle weakness, loss of feeling, speech and language problems, memory and reasoning problems, swallowing difficulties, problems of vision and visual perception, coma, and even death.

 

What causes a stroke?
Blockage of blood vessels in the brain
Clots can travel from the blood vessels of the heart or neck and lodge in the brain.
Small vessels in the brain can become blocked, often due to high blood pressure or damage from diabetes.
Clots can form in the blood vessels of the brain due to arteriosclerosis.
Bleeding into or around the brain
Weak spots on brain arteries (aneurysms) burst, covering the brain with blood.
Blood vessels in the brain break because they have been weakened by damage due to high blood pressure, diabetes, or aging.
A stroke is a potentially fatal medical condition that results when the brain is deprived of a normal blood supply. Some strokes occur when the brain has insufficient blood, while others take place when there's too much blood in the skull. In both cases, however, prompt treatment often leads to reduced brain damage and fewer future complications.
Ischemic Stroke
According to the Mayo Foundation, 80 percent of all strokes are classified as ischemic strokes. This type of stroke is caused by ischemia, a condition in which blood flow to the brain is restricted as a result of blocked or narrowed arteries.
There are two kinds of ischemic stroke. A thrombotic stroke results when a thrombus (blood clot) develops in an artery that provides blood to the brain. Such clots often arise when plaques (fatty deposits) accumulate in arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis.
An embolic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain becomes clogged after a particle or thrombus develops in a blood vessel located in another area of the body, such as the heart, and then travels toward the brain through the bloodstream.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Hemorrhagic stroke results from a leaking or ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Frequent causes include aneurysms (weakened blood vessels) and high blood pressure.
The two categories of hemorrhagic stroke are intracerebral and subarachnoid. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain and causes cell damage by leaking blood into nearby tissue. High blood pressure is the most frequent cause.
Ruptured aneurysms are the most common source of subarachnoid hemorrhage, which occurs when an artery on the outer portion of the brain bursts and then leaks blood in the area separating the brain and the skull.
Transient Ischemic Attacks
Also called ministroke or TIA, transient ischemic attacks are very short periods during which victims experience symptoms that resemble those of a normal stroke. The causes are identical to an ischemic stroke, namely decreased blood flow to the brain due to a blockage in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the organ. In contrast, however, TIAs involve a much shorter period of blockage, and they produce no permanent damage.
Symptoms mainly -
Although many victims experience no symptoms beforehand, there are numerous signs that sometimes alert individuals when a stroke may be about to occur. Seek immediate medical attention if the victim develops difficulty seeing, speaking or walking; a headache characterized by acute pain, changed consciousness, stiffness in the neck or vomiting; or numbness or paralysis on only one side.
Stroke Symptoms and Signs
A stroke results from impaired oxygen delivery to brain cells via the bloodstream. According to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the five major signs of stroke are the sudden onset of:
1. Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. The loss of voluntary movement and/or sensation may be complete or partial. There may also be an associated tingling sensation in the affected area.
2. Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sometimes weakness in the muscles of the face can cause drooling.
3. Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
5. Severe headache with no known cause

Complications
The severity of complications from a stroke depends on the amount of time the brain experienced abnormal blood flow. Common issues after a stroke include cognitive impairment, loss of memory, numbness or pain in areas that the stroke affected, paralysis, problems swallowing or talking and reduced muscle function.
What physical and emotional problems occur after a stroke?
Common warning signs of a stroke include the following:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm and/or leg
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or loss of coordination.
Sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you or anyone you know experiences any of the above warning signs, call your doctor or go to an emergency room immediately.
Because of the organization of our nervous system, an injury to one side of the brain affects the opposite side of the body. Often the person loses movement and/or feeling in the arm and/or leg opposite the side of the brain affected by the stroke. So, if a person has a stroke on the left side of the brain, he or she may have weakness or paralysis in the right arm and leg. This makes it difficult for the person to perform activities of daily living. It is also common for survivors of stroke to tire easily.
How is a stroke diagnosed?
A stroke is diagnosed by medical professionals. Special tests that allow doctors to look at the person's brain (CT scan, MRI) are often used to determine where the stroke occurred and how severe it is.
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) Works with other rehabilitation and medical professionals and families to provide a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan for stroke survivors. The team may include:
Doctors
Nurses
Neurophysiologists
Occupational therapists
Physical therapists
Social workers
Employers/teachers