Obesity Linked to the Biological Age of Newborns

A recent study shows that a mothers' obesity may affect the biological age of her newborn child. This study, conducted at Hasselt University in Belgium, associates a shorter telomere length (located in the cells of the newborn) with the obesity of their mother. Researchers that conducted this study used a sample of 743 mothers, ranging from the age of 17 to 44, The researchers were able to use samples of umbilical cord blood obtained from each newborn, directly after their delivery.

Biological age is essentially the number of times a cell will be able to divide in its lifetime, which is typically determined by the length of the telomeres in the cells of our bodies. Telomeres are vital to have in a person's genome, given that they protect chromosomes from degrading; they are the structures at the ends of chromosomes. Given this benefit, cells then have a more likely chance of dividing throughout their lifetime depending on the length of the telomere that ends the chromosome in which it is attempting to divide.

After observing all of the data gathered throughout this study, it remained prevalent that newborns whose mothers were not considered obese had longer telomeres versus newborns who had mothers that were indeed considered obese. In fact, only a single point increase in a mother's body mass index, or ones' weight-to-height ratio, was linked with newborns whose telomeres were shortened by about fifty base pairs considered to the average newborn's telomere length. Although it is normal for telomeres to shorten as people age, the rate at which telomeres shorten does not remain consistent between individuals. The fifty base pair shortage in these newborns is actually equal to the amount of base pairs an adult would lose on average in only a bit over a year.

According to previously done studies, the length of telomeres in adults may be associated with some age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and increased mortality; however, studies on the impacts of telomere length in newborns and children still remains limited. This study also does not take into account the body mass index, or the obesity of the paternal figure, which also may play a part in the length of the telomeres. Several factors have been ruled out to lead to the length of the telomeres; however, this is being further looked into.

I am very curious to see how this study will continue, and what further findings these researchers may have. I think it would be extremely important to learn about the influence of telomere length in newborns and children, given the associated health risks in adults. I also am very curious to see what role the paternal BMI, or possible other factors, will play in the deciding of the length of the newborn's telomeres.

Microcephaly Cases Over Estimated...

Over-Reported Casesof Microcephaly in Brazil

Since October of last year, 4,783 cases of babies born with microcephaly have been reported by national hospitals in Brazil. Hospital numbers reporting cases of babies with microcephaly have increased ever since the Zika epidemic became known. In fact, before anyone had even heard about the virus, only 150 cases of babies with microcephaly were reported annually. Due to the impacting increase, Brazil’s government is now considering the guidelines they gave doctors, hospitals and health officials to report these type of cases. They intend to reduce the amount of false alarms and misdiagnosed cases. At this time, many cases remain under investigation to further deduce how many microcephaly cases were not really microcephaly victims.

Out of all of the reported cases and the ones that have been examined, only 404 have been official microcephaly suffering babies. However, of these only 17 of the tested positive for the Zika virus. In fact, 709 babies have been determined to not have microcephaly at all misguiding the epidemic numbers and increasing the alarm of society. Though the Zika virus is a very serious virus that can affect many newborn babies, it is important to make sure that health care officials or hospitals are really certain that a child has microcephaly before it is reported as another case. 

New DNA Technology for Screening Cystic Fibrosis in New Borns

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common fatal disease in the U.S. It causes mucus to build in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs,leading to frequent infections. CF is caused by a mutation on the CFTR gene which regulates the movement of water and salt out of the body's cells. The genetic disease affects about 3,900 babies each year. Every state screens for CF, California currently screens 40 of the most common mutations of the CFTR gene but there are more than 2,000 known mutations that can affect the gene. The current screening is a long process just for one newborn.

The screening involves several analyses, including a simple enzyme test, the current DNA test, and if positive in all aspects, there are additional tests to be sure of the disease. Though many times these tests can still result in a false reading. At Stanford University scientists say they've found a more accurate and comprehensive DNA test screening. They have claimed that the new test is more efficient and cost effective, and it may also improve screening for non-white babies in which it is more rare and harder to diagnose.

The new test uses "next generation" DNA sequencing that can quickly and more cheaply look at the entire CFTR gene instead of just looking for the specific mutations. The researchers say this advanced technology can help labs to look at many newborn samples at once rather than just a few. The lab is currently running a side by side comparison of the old test and the new one. The researchers are looking to meet with public state health officials within the year to discuss the next steps.

I think this is a great new technology that is much needed for all states. Because Cystic Fibrosis affects about 30,000 children and adults and about 10 million are carriers- meaning they can pass it on to their children-and it is so fatal, that there needs to be more of a accurate screening for when the children are born. So many cases are misdiagnosed or completely missed all together, this can help, especially with the minorities.

Superior Breakthrough in Genetic Testing for Newborns in the NICU

In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, more than half of the newborns there are born prematurely.  The remaining portion of the infants have problems that doctors have not diagnosed yet.  Scientists at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City have had a breakthrough in genetic screening technology that can screen a newborn's DNA in about 26 hours.  The scientists have stated that the new screening process resulted from advancements in sequencing technology and technique to understand the function of the genes.  Screening starts with the doctor logging into a database (Phenomizer) which contains over 6,000 genetic variants for different problems in the babies. The Phenomizer connects symptoms to genetic variants in the system.  So, a doctor can type in the symptoms the newborn is having, and the Phenomizer will give back a number of genes that may be causing the issue.  These genes are sequenced and tested from the newborn to see if there is a mutation within the gene that matched up for those specific symptoms.

Normally the sequencing process takes about 50-60 hours, but with this more rapid technology, this is cut down into less than half.  The 26 hour process was tested on infants who already went through the longer 50-hour sequencing process and were diagnosed. The 26-hour process resulted in 99% accuracy linking to the same mutations as the 50-60 hour process.  The cost of this test is $20,000.

I think that when it comes to determining the diagnosis of a newborn, time is critical to the newborns health.  Diagnosis is needed in a timely fashion in order to prevent the problem from progressing and causing further health problems.  By cutting the time of sequencing in half, genetic specialists can tie mutations to diagnoses more aggressively.  This new way of sequencing genes and finding possible mutations is so new and there are so few forms of sequencing and analyzing genes, that the cost of this testing is extremely high.  Once further testing is done within the program and more ways of sequencing genes are discovered, the cost should decrease.