Genome of 18-week-old Foetus Deciphered

A blood sample from mum and saliva from dad have been used to sequence the genome of a foetus in the womb, by US researchers.

At the time, the mother was just 18 weeks into the pregnancy.

The doctors said the findings, reported in Science Translational Medicine, could eventually lead to foetuses being screened for thousands of genetic disorders in a single and safe test.

However, they also caution it would raise "many ethical questions".

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Stem Cell Therapy 'Damage' Seen in Kidney...

Stem Cell Therapy 'Damage' Seen in Kidney Disease Case

A new complication has been seen in a patient with kidney disease who received stem cell therapy, scientists have warned.

Stem cells were injected into the kidney, but the patient suffered tissue damage and died from an infection.

The Canadian and Thai researchers said the findings published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology showed caution was needed.

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SAUDI NEUROLOGISTS ARE HARD TO FIND

With an estimated population of 27.6 million, Saudi Arabia seems acutely suffering from a shortage in national neurologists. The number of Saudi neurologists has slowly increased over the last two decades. According to Prof. Zain Al-Abedeen B. Jamjoom, head of the neuro surgery department at King Saud University and head of the Saudi Association of Neurological Surgery (SANS), there are around
30 national neurologists.

Hail Medical Malpractice Claim Being Investigated

HAIL – The Health Affairs in Hail has begun an investigation into a medical malpractice complaint lodged by the husband of a 26-year-old woman who was given the wrong type of blood resulting in a miscarriage.

Saudi Arabia, Belgium to Sign MoU...

Saudi Arabia, Belgium to Sign MoU on E-health Partnership

Belgian Ambassador Marc Vinck said Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah is expected to leave for Belgium in September for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on e-health partnership with his Belgian counterpart Laurette Onkelinx.

"Dr. Al-Rabeeh was extended an invitation to visit Belgium when Crown Prince Philippe came to the Kingdom in October 2009 as part of a Belgian economic mission. He and Al-Rabeeah discussed ways of improving bilateral agreement in the health sector and it was decided that this could be done through an MoU," Vinck told Arab News in an interview over the weekend.

The Belgian envoy called on Al-Rabeeah recently and renewed the invitation for him to visit Belgium. "During the meeting, it was agreed that Al-Rabeeah will leave in autumn," he said.

Time Outside May Reduce Nearsightedness in Kids

Time Outside May Reduce Nearsightedness in Kids

Row Over Baby Mix-Up at Makkah Hospital

MAKKAH – Makkah Health Affairs Directorate has opened an investigation after two babies were switched in a public hospital, West Makkah. Both babies were later returned to their biological mothers.

One of the mother's was breastfeeding her baby in the hospital when nurses entered the room and informed her of the switch.

Fawaz Al-Sheikh, spokesman for Makkah Health Affairs, said the mistake happened because the wrong foot bracelet was put on the baby. "This happened due to the pressures of the maternity ward; employees are overstretched but the mistake was quickly corrected."

Living With Fibromyalgia

A diagnosis, a sense of humor, and family support help Dawn Conway cope with fibromyalgia.

NACC Refers Case Involving Former MOH Official...

NACC Refers Case Involving Former MOH Official to BIP

JEDDAH — The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) referred a case involving the purchase of substandard dialysis equipment by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution. Following a thorough investigation, the NACC concluded that there is a strong possibility that corruption played a role in the purchase.

New Drug for Diabetes-Related Vision Loss

Lucentis Approved to Treat Diabetic Macular Edema

The FDA has approved using the drug Lucentis to treat diabetic macular edema, a common, vision-threatening complication of diabetes.

Lucentis is given via a monthly injection from a health care professional.

In diabetic macular edema, fluid leaks into the macula (the middle of the retina), which is responsible for providing crisp, clear vision. The fluid swells the macula and blurs vision.

"Diabetes is a major public health issue in our country, and all patients with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic macular edema," Renata Albrecht, MD, of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, says in a news release.

Albrecht says the approval "represents a major development for the treatment of people whose vision is impaired by DME as a complication of their disease."