Potentially Deadly Infection Linked to Frequent Cow Exposure

A bacteria found in adults females that can be passed on to newborns and cause life threatening infections are now being linked to frequent contact with cows. Gbs is a bacteria that leads to infections and is found in the breast of cows and is now found in 36 percent of pregnant women in their digestive or genital tracts. The infection affects only 1 in every 2,000 babies and there is a prenatal test that can identify it early on. Researchers conducted a study on 68 families and their live stock, and one of the couples can back with the exact same Gbs strains as their cows.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100218141805.htm

Scientists identify maternal and fatel genes

Researchers have figured out that there are DNA variants in mothers and fetuses that seemed to have some kind of involvement in preterm labor and delivery. The inflammatory harmones may play a huge part in the labor process. When harmones are released by either the mother or the fetus they set in motion a cascade of events that can cause labor to begin. The evidence that was found explains why preterm labor happens in some pregnacies and not others. Reseachers hope that with there findings one day it will lead to ways to reduce the occurence of preterm birth.

Premature birth affects 13 million infants worldwide each year, roughly one half million occur in the United States. Infants who are born premature sometimes result in death or many other disabilities.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/02/04/nih_scientists_identify_maternal_and_fetal_genes_that_increase_preterm_birth_risk.html">NIH