Pathogens Unveiled: Understanding Our Microscopic Foes

Pathogens Unveiled: Understanding Our Microscopic Foes

In the labyrinth of the human body, a multitude of microscopic life forms thrive, shaping our health, emotions, and overall wellbeing. Among these microorganisms, there exists a pantheon of villains, known as pathogens, poised to compromise our health at the slightest opportunity. Let’s venture into the world of these pathogens, examining their role in diseases like endometriosis, measles, and HIV, while also delving into how the body responds to their insidious invasions.

Child free women feel intense pressure to have kids

Child-free women feel intense pressure to have kids — but rarely stress over it — New study uncovers effects of social pressure to have children on different groups of US women – Women who choose to be permanently childfree perceive more social pressures to become mothers than other women, but feel less distress about not having kids than women who are childless from infertility or other reasons, a new national study shows.

A new type of male contraceptive possible now

Male fertility genes discovered — Gene study could pave way for non-hormonal male contraceptive – A new type of male contraceptive could be created thanks to the discovery of a key gene essential for sperm development. The finding could lead to alternatives to conventional male contraceptives that rely on disrupting the production of hormones, such as testosterone and can cause side-effects such as irritability, mood swings and acne.

Birth defects risk higher in assisted reproduction

Higher risk of birth defects from assisted reproduction – Researchers identified the risk of major birth defects associated with different types of assisted reproductive technology. They have compared the risk of major birth defects for each of the reproductive therapies commonly available internationally, such as: IVF (in vitro fertilization), ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and ovulation induction.

Family preferences influence decision making in very premature deliveries

Family preferences strongly influence decision making in very premature deliveries — Wide variation in practices and counseling reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology – When making decisions and counseling about risk and management options for deliveries between 22 and 26 weeks (periviable deliveries), obstetricians are heavily influenced by family preferences, particularly by the impression that parents consistently prefer to have everything possible done to prolong a pregnancy or “save the baby” through interventions such as cesarean section.

Unplanned babies are slower to develop

Children born after unplanned pregnancy are slower to develop – Pregnancy planning, fertility treatment and cognitive outcomes at age 3 and 5 – Children born after unplanned pregnancies tend to have a more limited vocabulary and poorer non-verbal and spatial abilities; however this is almost entirely explained by their disadvantaged circumstances, according to a new study. The same study reported no adverse effects of infertility treatment on the children.

Gene variation linked to infertility in women

Gene variation linked to infertility in women, study finds — Altered gene involved in both faulty cholesterol regulation and pregnancy hormone production – A variation in a gene involved in regulating cholesterol in the bloodstream also appears to affect progesterone production in women, making it a likely culprit in a substantial number of cases of their infertility, a new study from Johns Hopkins researchers suggests.