News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms January 20, 2008

In the news:

Caffeine may increase miscarriage risk
A new study in the the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology concluded that a daily habit of drinking 200 milligrams of caffeine — the amount usually found in two cups of coffee — significantly increases the risk of miscarriage. Reseachers also said the source of caffeine — whether from coffee, tea or sodas — didn't make a difference.

Biotech firm claims to have used human cloning to create unborn child
Scientists claimed they successfully cloned a human being, according to a report in the medical journal Stem Cells. Researchers claim to have taken the skin cells from two adult males and implanted the nuclei of those cells in human egg cells. The cloned embryos were destroyed.


Pre-menopausal miseries will ease over time
Research suggests that women who experience headaches, irritability and mood swings as menopause nears will likely see these symptoms diminish as menopause progresses. Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increase with menopause, and the study of women age 35-47 found that both mood swings and irritability fell as FSH levels rose.


Even short-term hormones raise cancer risk
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can raise the risk of an uncommon type of breast cancer according to U.S. researchers. They found women who took combined estrogen/progestin hormone-replacement therapy for three years or more had four times the usual risk of lobular breast cancer.


Chemical in formula packaging may harm baby
House Democrats are investigating whether a chemical used to package baby formulas poses a risk to infants, despite assurances by U.S. regulators that it is safe for kids and adults.