Commonly used drug may prevent fetal alcohol syndrome

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is often called the number one preventable birth defect. Despite counselling of pregnant women to avoid alcohol, large numbers of babies are born with FAS. At present, no effective treatments exist that can prevent or reverse FAS after fetal exposure to alcohol. However, Alessandro Ieraci and Daniel Herrera now report encouraging results in mice that might one day change this situation. more  

Over-the-counter decongestant equals prescription drug in relieving hay fever symptoms

There is no significant difference between an over-the-counter decongestant and a prescription medication that costs almost four times as much in relieving hay fever symptoms, report researchers from the University of Chicago in the February issue of Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. more

A link is found between morphine addiction and the tendency to explore

A team of researchers from the UAB has found experimental evidence in rats showing a link between addiction to morphine and the tendency to explore perseveringly. This is the first time a direct relationship has been found without other psychological characteristics, such as anxiousness, that might affect results. Published in Behavioural Brain Research, the results of this study are useful for planning preventative strategies in the risk population. more  

Stressed-out women more likely to miscarry early

Women who exhibit signs of stress are three times more likely to miscarry during the first three weeks of the pregnancy, a recent study of a small population of women found. more

MRI offers new hope for severe epilepsy sufferers 

MRI offers new hope for severe epilepsy sufferers, suggests research in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. more

Gum-chewing may speed recovery after colon surgery  

A small study suggests that chewing gum after colon surgery may speed the return of normal bowel function and shorten patients' hospital stays, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. more

Corticosteroids associated with poor outcomes, death in the trauma intensive care unit

Patients in the trauma intensive care unit who receive corticosteroids may have more infections, longer stays in intensive care or on a ventilator and a higher death rate than those who do not, according to a study in the February issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. more