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In End Of Life Choices, Blacks More Likely To Opt For Life-Sustaining Measures
When faced with a terminal illness, African-American seniors were two times more likely than whites to say they would want life-prolonging treatments, according to a University of Pittsburgh study available online and published in the June issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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ANF Pleased With Aged Care Announcement, But Will It Keep Nurses In Aged Care?
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) welcomes the Federal Government"s announcement of funding to upgrade the skills of workers in aged care.
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LEAD-6 Study Shows Better Results With Liraglutide Than Exenatide In Controlling Blood Glucose In Type 2 Diabetes
The results of the LEAD-6 study are published in an article Online First and in a future edition of The Lancet. The findings are presented at the same time at the American Diabetes Association meeting in New Orleans, USA. They indicate that taking liraglutide once a day is more efficient in controlling blood glucose in type 2 diabetes than the presently marketed treatment - two doses a day of exenatide.
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Pregnancy Complications May Increase Autism Risk

Complications during pregnancy may increase the risk of having a child with autism, according to American researchers. The team reviewed 64 studies of prenatal risk factors for autism. It is the first time a meta-analysis of the relationship between pregnancy-related factors and risk of autism has been carried out. The analysis is published in the July issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. Over 50 prenatal factors were examined. The researchers found that the factors most strongly associated with an increased autism risk are: - Being born to an older mother or father. - Having a mother who was born abroad. - Having a mother who experienced bleeding during pregnancy. - Having a mother who experienced gestational diabetes. - Having a mother who used medication during pregnancy. - Being the first born - or later born in families where there are three or more children. The researchers put forward possible explanations for these risk factors. For example, increased maternal age may be associated with autism because of a higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities in eggs. Mothers who are born in another country may not have natural resistance to infections in the country where they give birth, which may increase the risk for autism. Moving to another country may also put women under stress, which could increase their chances of having a child who develops autism. Bleeding during pregnancy, gestational diabetes and medication use are also associated with increased autism risk. Bleeding can cause foetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain of an unborn child). Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy experience hormonal and metabolic changes, which may affect their baby"s health and development. Foetal development may also be affected by some medications which can cross the placenta during pregnancy. The association between birth order and autism risk is unclear. However, children with autism are more likely to be the first-born in families with only two children. In larger families with three or more children, they are more likely to be born later. It is possible that parents decide not to have more children after one has developed autism. The researchers said there was "insufficient evidence" to point to any one prenatal factor as being particularly significant. However, writing in theBritish Journal of Psychiatry, they said: "There is some evidence to suggest that exposure to pregnancy complications in general may increase the risk of autism." Reference: "Prenatal risk factors for autism: comprehensive meta-analysis" Gardener H, Spiegelman D and Buka SL (2009) British Journal of Psychiatry, 195: 7-14 Royal College of Psychiatrists


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