MDNews - San Antonio

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THAT'SNEWS Diffi culty Getting Pregnant Linked to Gum Disease ACCORDING TO RESULTS of an Australian study presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, gum disease can contribute to impaired fertility. An estimated 10% of people suffer from gum disease as a result of poor oral hygiene. In women, gum disease — which has already been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth — can prolong the time it takes to get pregnant by two months. To conduct the study, researchers examined the pregnancy preplanning efforts and outcomes of 3,416 women who were enrolled in the SMILE study performed in Western Australia. Data outlining the time it took women to conceive was available for 1,956 of the 3,416 cases studied. It was discovered that patients with gum disease took an average of seven months to become pregnant, while women without gum disease only took fi ve months to conceive. Women of noncaucasian descent experienced the most signifi cant difference in conception time, as noncaucasian women who had gum disease had a 13.9% risk of impaired fertility versus a 6.2% risk of impaired infertility in women who did not have gum disease. n Back Pain Caused by Genetics? BACK PAIN IS the most common pain-related symptom seen by primary care physicians. A recent study conducted at Tel Aviv University's Department of Anatomy and Anthropology at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine shows that genetics may play a role in the development of back pain. To perform the study, researchers examined a twin popula- tion consisting of 2,500 individuals. The sample population consisted of both fraternal and identical twins who were also screened for factors such as smoking, obesity and a history of physical exertion, which can contribute to back pain. Researchers found that people were three times more likely to experience back pain if their fraternal twin suf- fered from it, and people were six times more likely to suffer from back pain if their identical twin did, as well. In a surprising twist, researchers also found that lower back pain and deteriora- tion of vertebral discs do not always overlap like once believed. In reality, both lower back pain and disc degeneration are caused by different genetic factors. n New Genetic Mutations Seen in Schizophrenic Patients ACCORDING TO THE World Health Organization, schizophrenia affects 24 million patients worldwide. Recent research has shed light on several genetic mutations that occur in patients with schizophrenia. In a study conducted by physicians at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre and published in the journal Nature Genetics, it was discovered that people with schizophrenia experience noninherited or de novo mutations more frequently than healthy patients. Researchers studied 20,000 genes in the exams of 14 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Fifteen de novo genes were identifi ed, and four of the 15 genes were nonsense mutations. Physicians are hopeful that the discovery of these de novo mutations will aid in the development of new treatments for schizophrenia. De novo mutations are also hypothesized to play a role in other disorders, such as autism. n ADVERTISERS' INDEX Amegy Bank of Texas ................................................................................ 15 Aztec Events & Tents ................................................................................. 21 Bjorn's .............................................................................Inside Front Cover Broadway Bank ........................................................................................... 17 Cambridge..................................................................................................... 19 First Consult....................................................................................................7 HCFD ............................................................................................................... 19 Methodist Stone Oak Hospital ..................................................................6 Paesanos 1604 .............................................................................................. 11 South Texas Radiology Imaging and Interventional Centers ...............................................Back Cover Strasburger Price Oppenheimer Blend ............................................... 21 The Broadway San Antonio ......................................Inside Back Cover 22 | San Antonio MD NEWS MDNEWS.COM

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