Prevention Of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)

It is indeed difficult to deal with this topic. Not much is
known about the various causes, for operating on a pregnant
woman, in the first three months of pregnancy, during which
period, development of the heart in the foetus is expected to be
complete.

Under the above circumstances, the best thing would be that all
pregnant mothers must undergo a routine ultrasonography, and if
some abnormality is suspected, foetal echocardiography must be
undertaken for the precise detection of congenital defect in the
heart. However, the question of termination of pregnancy must be
taken especially in consultation with a heart specialist, or one
who is dealing with pediatric cardiac surgery. Many of the
congenital lesions of the heart can be satisfactorily treated,
though surgically. All aspects of the case must be studied like
the number of children, and if the previous offspring have any
congenital defect or not, or, if this pregnancy has occurred
after a long period of time.

Heredity may play some role in the causation of the disease. If
the mother has any congenital defect in her heart, the chances,
though minimal, of a defect in the heart of the expected baby
may increase. Genetic counselling may help in such cases before
the pregnancy is planned.

There are some conditions worth mentioning which must be
avoided by a pregnant mother, as there are some likely factors
which may disturb the development of the heart in the foetus.

If the mother is diabetic, it must be properly controlled.
Diabetes, and even prediabetes, is known to cause congenital
defects in the heart. Similarly, if the mother is suffering from
epilepsy, the teratogenic effect of antiepileptic drugs must be
kept in mind. Therefore, in such cases foetal echocardiography
is a must to assess the condition of the heart. Exposure to X
rays/radiation should also be avoided.

All pregnant mothers, especially in the first three months of
pregnancy, must be prevented from contracting any viral
infection, particularly infection caused by the virus of German
measles. A good diet is also essential during pregnancy, and in
case the individual is taking alcohol, it must be stopped
altogether. It may not only cause a congenital defect in the
heart, it may also affect the general development of the foetus,
especially the brain.

A drug like thalidomide, which is a known teratogenic, and one
used in psychiatry, i.e. lithium, should also be stopped.

However, in spite of taking best possible precautions, the
child may still be born with some congenital lesion in the
heart. Therefore, as stated earlier; a routine ultrasonography
and if need be, foetal echocardiography, is a must for all
pregnant mothers in their first trimester. This will help them
know the exact position of the heart of the foetus they are
carrying and whether the pregnancy should be terminated, or
continued, though there may be a little congenital lesion in the
heart which can be treated/taken care of after the child is
born.

It may be concluded that although prescribed precautions must
be taken bya pregnant mother, yet detection of a lesion in the
heart of the foetus during the period of pregnancy, or after the
child is born, or during childhood (if the case has remained
undetected earlier), as well as timely treatment/ surgery, will
help a lot in improving the overall healthy span of life in such
cases. And for all this, a mass consciousness is essentially
required for successful completion of this aim.

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How Do I Communicate With My Loved One Who Has Alzheimer's Disease?

Good communication can decrease or even prevent many behavior problems. The number one tip to remember is to treat your loved one as an adult. An individual with a disease, not a diseased individual. He has an entire history of life that stays with him throughout this journey. He will continue to have many of the same characteristics he had before. If he was laid back before, he may be more so now. If he had a high energy/anxiety, he may be really busy. Or, he may have a complete personality change.

All people need to have their feelings validated. A person with Alzheimer's disease is no different. In fact, because of memory loss and insecurity issues, he or she may need it even more. An example: your father who has Alzheimer's is angry with your husband most of the time. They have had a great relationship since you've been married, but now your father blames him for everything. As difficult as it is, keep in mind that the dementia is talking, not your father. You can say, "I don't blame you for being angry" and then move on. What he is feeling is real to him even if it is not accurate. You will probably have to coach your husband, also. Let him know that this action isn't against him personally, it is the nature of the illness and... "this too shall pass."

Individuals with Alzheimer's disease respond well to affirmation. When they do anything, no matter how insignificant to you it may be, praise them with "Good job, thank you." Be sincere, they are sensitive to the way they are treated.

When beginning a conversation, identify yourself. If your loved one says "I know who you are," laugh or say something humorous. Slow down when you speak and use short simple sentences. Ask one question at a time. Give adequate time for response. Yes/No questions are best. When speaking, maintain eye contact. Lower the tone of your voice; a high pitch may be interpreted as anger. Eliminate distracting noise. Turn off TV or radio, or go to another room to talk. Smile and be pleasant. Use touch to get attention, (hand on shoulder, hand on knee, hand on hand, holding their hand, etc.). When he or she is upset and you can't communicate, hug your loved one. This nonverbal gesture works. Soon anger will be forgotten and you can try again.

Be aware of body language. A sudden sit to stand change in position may indicate the need to go to the bathroom or some kind of discomfort. Be aware of your body language. Have fun and try not to appear tense. Don't argue. Don't order the person around. Don't be condescending. Don't ask a lot of questions. Don't talk about your loved one as if he isn't there. You never know just how aware he is.

William G. Hammond, J.D., is the author of "The Alzheimer's Legal Survival Guide." If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, you can get free real-world strategies for dealing with the devastating emotional, social, and financial consequences at http://www.alzheimersanswers.com

Avastin Receives Broad Label Extension In Europe For The Treatment Of Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Avastin Receives Broad Label Extension In Europe For The Treatment Of Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Roche announced that the European Commission (EC) has given its approval for the significantly wider use of its anti-angiogenic agent Avastin (bevacizumab) in patients suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer. This new broader label will now allow Avastin to be used in combination with any chemotherapy, including Roche's oral chemotherapy Xeloda (capecitabine)*, for 1st and later treatment lines in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Arius Completes Pre-IND Meeting With FDA For Lead CD44 Cancer Stem Cell Program
ARIUS Research Inc., (TSX: ARI), a biotechnology company discovering and developing the next wave of antibody therapeutics, announced it has completed its Pre-IND (Investigational New Drug) meeting with the FDA to discuss the upcoming IND submission for ARH460-16-2, its lead CD44 Cancer Stem Cell Program. ARH460-16-2 is an anti-cancer antibody targeting a novel epitope of CD44 found in hematological and solid cancers, including breast, colon and prostate.

Safe Removal Of Gliomas To Preserve Language Requires Less Extensive Brain Exposure Than Previously Thought
A more limited approach to craniotomy---the procedure through which a patient's skull is opened up to expose the brain---than has traditionally been used by neurosurgeons can maximize resection and minimize lasting side effects when tumours within or near language pathways are removed, according to the results of a prospective study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Study Shows Coronado Biosciences' Bcl-2 Inhibitor, Apogossypol, Is More Efficacious, Less Toxic Than Gossypol In Animal Models
Coronado Biosciences Inc. announced the publication of data demonstrating that the Bcl-2 inhibitor, Apogossypol, effectively killed a variety of cancer cells in vitro while demonstrating less toxicity than Gossypol in vivo in mice. Published online in Blood (Jan. 17, DOI 10.1182/blood-2007-09-113647) by the Burnham Institute's president and CEO, John Reed, M.D., Ph.D.

Race Against Time To Save Tasmanian Devils
A delegation of Tasmanian government officials traveled halfway around the world to visit Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), to lend their support and extend their gratitude for research aimed at understanding a unique transmissible and rapidly spreading cancer that threatens the very existence of Tasmanian devils.