'Older Dads May Pass on Longevity to Kids, Study Finds

People whose fathers or grandfathers started having children at a later age may live longer, according to a new study. Researchers looked at telomere length in people in the Philippines. Telomeres are bits of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes from deterioration. Longer telomeres appear to be associated with slower aging, while shorter telomeres seem to be associated with health problems that occur with aging. Longer telomeres were found in people whose fathers and grandfathers began families later in life, according to the study. The findings are fascinating, said the investigators. If our recent ancestors waited until later in adulthood before they reproduced, perhaps for cultural reasons, it would make sense for our bodies to prepare for something similar by investing the extra resources necessary to maintain healthy functioning at more advanced ages, said the author. However, the researchers said their findings should not be interpreted to mean that men should intentionally have children at a later age. Previous research has shown that older fathers are more likely to pass along harmful genetic mutations to their children. The authors of the study also suggest that more research is needed. They want to see if the longer telomeres that offspring of older fathers and grandfathers inherit at birth have fewer health problems and ailments as they age. Based upon the findings, investigators predict that this will be the case, but this is a question to be addressed in future studies.

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Pregnancy-Related Deaths Fall Worldwide: Report

The number of women worldwide who died from pregnancy-related complications each year fell from 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010, according to a new report. It also found that child death rates in many African countries have dropped twice as fast in recent years as during the 1990s. The rate of decline was an average of 5 percent or more a year between 2000 and 2010, according to the report. Similar progress has occurred in reducing pregnancy-related deaths in certain developing countries. For example, maternal deaths fell by 75 percent in Equatorial Guinea, Nepal and Vietnam. Despite this good news, too many women and children are still dying, according to the report of an international group of academics and professionals. Every two minutes, a woman somewhere in the world dies from complications of pregnancy and her newborn's chances of survival are poor. For every woman who dies, another 20 to 30 women suffer major and sometimes lifelong problems due to pregnancy. Also every two minutes, nearly 30 young children die of disease and illness that could have been prevented or treated. The report also noted that many countries in Africa and South Asia are not making progress. Of the 75 countries with the highest rates of maternal and child deaths, 25 have made insufficient or no progress in reducing maternal deaths and 13 have made no progress in reducing child deaths. Global efforts to save the lives of women, newborn babies and young children are not moving fast enough, some countries are showing success looks like, but many other countries still have to learn the lessons of those successes.

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Real-time Gene Sequencing Used to Combat Superbug

Scientists have used genome sequencing technology to control an outbreak of the superbug MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) in a study that could point to faster and more efficient treatment of a range of diseases. Much of this is being driven by whole genome sequencing, which has enabled scientists to identify the genetic markers for a range of afflictions. MRSA is a drug-resistant bacterial infection or superbug and major public health problem. The bug kills an estimated 19,000 people in the United States alone each year and even when the infection is successfully treated it can double the average length of a hospital stay and thereby increase healthcare costs. Investigators used samples from a 2009 MRSA outbreak in a hospital neo-natal intensive care ward to recreate and respond to it, as if in real time. They found that genome sequencing produced results in roughly 24 hours, using the latest technology from Illumina, gave much more detailed information. The researchers were able to identify the particular strain of MRSA causing the outbreak and which strains were not quickly enough to feed back into treatment and nip the outbreak in the bud faster than current clinical testing methods. Until recently, genetic analysis was more often done after outbreaks of MRSA and other infections to draw lessons for the future, but advances in sequencing have made the process much faster. Quick action is essential to control a suspected outbreak, but it is of equal importance to identify unrelated strains to prevent unnecessary ward closures and other disruptive control measures, said the author. The researchers say this kind of fast genome sequencing could eventually form the basis for a regional or national infection surveillance program designed to head off MRSA outbreaks before they happen. It could also be used for outbreaks of food-borne infections like salmonella or E.coli. Genome sequencing was used in an E.coli outbreak in Europe in 2011 but only in the latter stages to help identify the source. But there are a number of hurdles before the new technique becomes a routine part of monitoring in hospitals. Nevertheless, senior researcher said, the results demonstrate how advances in whole genome sequencing can provide essential information to help combat hospital outbreaks in clinically relevant turnaround times.

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New Products of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

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