Younger women who have had a child as a result of infertility treatment have a good chance of conceiving another without help from doctors, according to a Japanese study. It found there was a 37 per cent chance of spontaneous conception among such women aged under 27 - the average chance was only 18 per cent. Researchers have long been aware of the phenomenon of spontaneous conception, but this is the first study to highlight which group may benefit most. They are, however, unable to offer an explanation. (BBC)
Although most wearers of dentures take them out before they sleep, an Italian report suggests removing dentures may worsen breathing difficulties in some people with obstructive sleep apnea. In sleep apnea, the soft tissues of the upper airway collapse and sufferers experience a temporary interruption of breathing, causing them to wake, gasp for air and begin breathing again - sometimes hundreds of time a night. Researchers in the US have come up with an alternative, a "mandibular advancement device", a plastic cast worn at night which causes the lower jaw to jut forward and can reduce the incidence of sleep apnea.
(Reuters)Deficiency of vitamin A may affect the function of the brain, according to US research. A study of mice suggests the vitamin plays an important role in learning and memory but it is not yet known whether an increase in the vitamin could help people suffering from memory problems related to dementia. Nearly 190 million children around the world have vitamin A deficiency, which puts them at risk of stunted growth and blindness.
(Neuron)
Although heart disease is the leading cause of death of adults worldwide, the lifetime risk for developing coronary heart disease (CHD) has just been estimated for the first time. One in two men and one in three women aged 40 and under will develop such disease, according to the US study published in the Lancet. At age 70 the risk is still high: one in three men and one in four women will develop CHD. The lifetime risk of CHD in a woman over 50 is nearly three times that of her risk for breast cancer. These figures are averages - individuals may have higher risks if they smoke, or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
Researchers have discovered that a faulty gene may be responsible for many cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, the commonest form of leukaemia in older people. According to Malcolm Taylor, lead researcher: "The fact that we have been able to isolate the specific gene and show that it could run in families is certainly a major step forward. The discovery means we can start looking for new ways to repair the defective gene and ultimately prevent this type of blood cancer developing".
(British Medical Journal)