The Parents Zone

Observing some kids after a head injury may help doctors decide which ones need a head X-ray, according to a new study published in Pediatrics.

That’s important because researchers still aren’t sure whether too many of those X-rays, called computed tomography, or CT scans, might trigger cancer years later.

CT scans can help doctors recognize more serious head injuries that need treatment. But observation is probably a good strategy for kids who have some risk of a serious brain injury, but aren’t showing serious symptoms, said Dr.

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Many enigmatic cases of infertility could be explained by a newfound mutation that keeps sperm from reaching eggs, a new study suggests

These findings could improve screening and treatment of infertile couples, an international team of researchers said

Infertility affects 10 to 15 percent of the US population, with about half of those cases involving problems with male fertility One of the mysteries of infertility is that sperm quality and quantity seem to have little to do with whether or not a man is fertile

“In 70 percent of men, you cant predict their fertility on the basis of sperm count and routine assessment of quality,” said researcher Gary Cherr at the University of California at Davis

The new clues regarding infertility that Cherr and his colleagues discovered have to do with a gene called DEFB124 that encodes beta-defensin 126, which belongs to a germ-killing class of proteins A thick coat of this molecule is applied onto sperm in the coils of the epididymis, the structure where sperm are stored after they are generated in the testicles [5 Myths About the Male Body]

Beta-defensin 126 helps sperm swim through the mucus in the cervix, the neck of the womb As such, it acts kind of like a “Klingon cloaking device,” Cherr said, helping sperm sneak their way to an egg

Men with two mutant copies of DEFB124 lack beta-defensin 126 Their sperm look and swim normally when seen under a microscope; however, the scientists discovered the little swimmers are about 85 percent less able to make their way through an artificial gel resembling human cervical mucus, revealing how this genetic defect likely accounts for many hitherto unexplained cases of infertility

In an analysis of more than 500 newly married Chinese couples, the investigators found men who had two mutant copies of the gene had lowered fertility — their wives were 40 percent less likely to become pregnant than other couples This even proved true of men with the mutation who did not display other problems typically linked with infertility, such as low sperm count and reduced sperm motility

The mutation is not limited to China A survey of DNA samples from the United States, United Kingdom, China, Japan and Africa showed that about half of all men carry one defective copy of DEFB126 and about a quarter have two mutant copies

The upshot

These findings are surprising, as one might expect a mutation that dramatically affects fertility to be much less common, since carriers would have less offspring and thus make up less of the population It may be that men with one normal and one defective gene but normal fertility are advantaged in some way, speculated researcher Ted Tollner at the University of California at Davis

Another possibility is that because humans breed in long-term monogamous relationships, unlike most mammals, sperm quality does not matter as much, Cherr suggested Tollner noted that human sperm are typically slow swimmers with a high rate of defects when compared with that from monkeys and other mammals

However, some researchers do think that human fertility has been falling worldwide in recent decades That problem could be linked with the commonality of defects in this gene Cherr said the researchers next hope to work with a major US infertility program to explore the role of the mutation [5 Myths of Fertility Treatments]

Future research could lead to bothclinical and home infertility tests looking for this mutation Couples then could be treated with a procedure known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI, in which eggs are removed from a woman and injected directly with sperm, avoiding an expensive workup to exclude other causes, said male infertility specialist John Gould at the University of California at Davis

Another possible intervention for such couples might ultimately be synthetic forms of beta defensin 126 that can be added to sperm “You can concentrate it in a vaginally applied cream or gel, and sperm would pick up this defensin coat as they advanced into the cervix,” Cherr said

Ironically, although these findings hold the promise of fertility, they owe their origins to research into a novel type of contraceptive The scientists were investigating proteins coating sperm for potential targets of a vaccine — the immune systems of recipients of such a treatment would then go on to recognize and destroy sperm, Tollner told LiveScience

“We didnt investigate this for purposes in humans, but for purposes in canines — to help manage dog and cat populations,” Tollner explained There is research into such immunocontraceptive vaccines for humans, but he noted the resulting contraceptive effect appears only temporary

The scientists detailed their findings online July 20 in the journal Science Translational Medicine

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Having two babies at a time is associated with a longer life, according to a new study. But that’s not because doubling up on dirty diapers increases life span; instead, moms of twins are physically stronger in the first place.

One catch: The research, published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, focused on a “natural fertility” population of women in 1800s Utah, so the results may not apply in today’s in vitro fertilization (IVF) world.

However, the findings do suggest that rather than being a reproductive accident that drains mom of energy and nutrients, twins could be an evolutionary adaption in which healthy moms take the chance to pass on double their genes at once.

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Today, first lady Michelle Obama announced that several major retailers, foundations and small businesses have committed to bringing healthier food to neighborhoods where supermarkets are scarce.

But she knows it’s not going to be easy. If you have kids, you know that given the choice of Kit-Kats or kiwis, kids will pick usually pick the candy. But today’s target is the parents living in so-called “food deserts.”

“If a parent wants to pack a piece of fruit in a child’s lunch… they shouldn’t have to take three city buses,” Mrs.

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