Even moderate drinking in pregnancy may affect child's IQ

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Even moderate drinking in pregnancy may affect child's IQ

LONDON (Reuters) - Women who drink even moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant may risk lowering child's intelligence levels, according to a study by British scientists.

Advice to pregnant women about drinking is contradictory, with some guidelines recommending no alcohol at all and others suggesting the odd drink now and then is safe. World Hot Topics Blog

But in a study described as "hugely important" by one expert, researchers using genetic analysis of more than 4,000 mothers and children found that drinking between one and six units of alcohol a week during pregnancy can lead to lower Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores by the time a child is eight.

"Even at levels of alcohol consumption which are normally considered to be harmless, we can detect differences in childhood IQ which are dependent on the ability of the fetus to clear this alcohol," said Sarah Lewis of Bristol University, who led the study. "This is evidence that even at these moderate levels, alcohol is influencing fetal brain development." World Hot Topics Blog

This study used genetic data from women and children who were part of another study called the Children of the 90s study.

Since the individual genetic variations that people have in their DNA are not connected to lifestyle and social factors, this kind of study avoids potential complications.

Most previous studies have used observational evidence, but experts say this can be misleading because, for example, mothers who drink in moderation while pregnant are typically also well educated, have good diets and are unlikely to smoke - all factors linked to higher IQ in children and which could mask any negative effects of alcohol. World Hot Topics Blog

A U.S. study published in July found that older, educated women are more likely to drink while pregnant.

GENES AFFECT ALCOHOL METABOLISM
This study, published in the journal PLOS ONE on Wednesday, used a new technique analyzing the genetic variants which modify the effects of alcohol exposure levels.

When a person drinks alcohol, ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde by a group of enzymes, the researchers explained.

Variations in genes that 'encode' these enzymes lead to differences in a person's ability to metabolize ethanol, so in "slow metabolizes", alcohol levels may be higher for longer than in "fast metabolizes". Scientists think fast ethanol metabolism protects against abnormal brain development because less alcohol goes to the fetus.

The mothers were asked to record their alcohol consumption at various stages during pregnancy, and one drink was specified as one unit of alcohol.  World Hot Topics Blog

The results showed that four genetic variants in alcohol-metabolizing genes among the 4,167 children were strongly related to lower IQ at age eight. The child's IQ was on average almost two points lower per genetic variation they had.

The effect was only seen among children of women who were moderate drinkers and there was no effect evident in children of mothers who abstained during pregnancy. This strongly suggests it was exposure to alcohol in the womb that led to the difference in child IQ, the researchers said.

"This is a complex study but the message is simple: even moderate amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can have an effect on future child intelligence." said Ron Gray of Oxford University, who was part of Lewis's team.  World Hot Topics Blog

David Nutt, a professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London who was not involved in the research, said it was "a hugely important study from the best UK cohort that can study this question".

"Even though the IQ effects are small, if at all possible women should avoid ethanol in pregnancy as it's a known toxin," he said in an emailed comment.

This World Hot Topics Blog is Originally from here :

http:// news.yahoo.com/even-moderate-drinking-pregnancy-may-affect-childs-iq-220632636--sector.html

Shaping a security team, Obama's challenge deepens

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Shaping a security team, Obama's challenge deepens

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barely a week after winning re-election, President Barack Obama suddenly confronts a deepening challenge in assembling a new national security team, his task complicated by a scandal that has cost him a CIA chief and raised doubts about his Afghanistan war commander.

Hard questions from Congress, potentially bitter confirmation hearings and a scandal of infidelity and inappropriate emails are suddenly shaping the fight ahead. The White House portrayed a president focused on the economy and confident in his military and intelligence leadership, but clearly not thrilled.

When asked if the personnel troubles were an unwelcome distraction, presidential spokesman Jay Carney said: "I certainly wouldn't call it welcome." World Hot Topics Blog

Obama was already expecting to have to replace his chief diplomat, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and perhaps his defense secretary, Leon Panetta. Those two alone — plus Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who is also leaving — help shape Obama's thinking and represent him before the world.

Now Obama is without his CIA director, David Petraeus, the once acclaimed military general in Iraq and Afghanistan who resigned in disgrace last week over an extramarital affair.

The details of that scandal keep expanding Tuesday, including the revelation that the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, is under investigation by the Pentagon for potentially inappropriate communications with another woman in the case. That, in turn, has frozen Allen's nomination to be the next commander of U.S. European Command and the commander of NATO forces in Europe, which casts more doubt about a military leadership in which each move affects another.

"It's a hard moment for the administration," said Joshua Rovner, an associate professor of strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island. "It certainly wasn't expected, but if anything good comes out of it, they do have a chance to take a long, hard look at strategy."

He noted that Petraeus had taken on such revered status for his military career that he won confirmation as CIA chief with little scrutiny. World Hot Topics Blog
World Hot Topics Blog

Even beyond the surprise difficulties, Obama could have trouble with the rest of his high-stakes turnover.

When Clinton leaves, a favorite to replace her is Susan Rice, an Obama loyalist who serves as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She could face a bruising confirmation hearing given that she was the first face of the administration's maligned explanation of the fatal attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

"She's clearly going to have a little more difficult time than she would have if she hadn't gone out on all those talk shows," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., the second-ranking Senate Republican. Kyl is retiring at year's end and likely would not get a vote on Rice, but he said: "As of right now, I wouldn't support her."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Rice could have a difficult time winning confirmation, although he didn't take a position.

"I'm concerned about the fact that she went on Sunday shows and said it was the product of a spontaneous uprising as opposed to a terrorist attack. Why did they wait so long to publicly ...change their position on it? I think she'd have to answer questions about that, no doubt about it." World Hot Topics Blog

Some of Rice's key advocates predict Republican lawmakers would not have the inclination or the votes to try to block Obama from appointing the State Department chief he wants. Yet others expect her confirmation hearing to be contentious and are wary of picking that fight at the start of the second term.

The other top candidate for the State job is Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who is expected to be confirmed easily by his chamber colleagues. His departure from the Senate, though, could potentially cost Obama's party a seat by creating an opening for the man who just lost the other Senate seat, Scott Brown.
The idea of Kerry as defense secretary, which has also been floated, is not one that he has expressed an interest in, according to people close to him.

For Obama, the post-election period was intended to focus on starting to enact the economic agenda at the core of his re-election bid. He and Congress are in the hunt for elusive compromise before Jan. 1 if they are to avoid a huge package of tax increases and spending cuts that could derail the economic recovery.
Obama is, in fact, pursuing that course. But a story involving sex, resignations, national security and congressional oversight has a way of grabbing attention. World Hot Topics Blog

Carney, the president's spokesman, characterized the cases of Petraeus and Allen as individual matters that reflected no broader theme or challenge.

"I really would ask you to not extrapolate broadly," Carney told reporters. "The president has great confidence in the military, great confidence in his commanders, and will continue to have that confidence."
That expression of confidence extends to Allen, which is significant given the state of America's longest war. Allen is due soon to give Panetta a recommendation on the pace of U.S. troop withdrawals in 2013; about 68,000 U.S. troops are still serving in a war that is on pace to continue until the end of 2014.

How long Panetta himself will lead the defense agency is yet another unknown for Obama. The Pentagon chief Panetta recently has indicated a willingness to stay on for at least some of Obama's second-term.

When asked whether he would rule out staying for all of Obama's second term, Panetta said: "Who the hell knows?"

Associated Press writers Donna Cassata, Julie Pace and Bradley Klapper contributed to this story.

This World Hot Topics Blog is Originally from here :

http:// news.yahoo.com/shaping-security-team-obamas-challenge-deepens-223316772--politics.html

Man arrested after leading deputies on 100 mph chase

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Man arrested after leading deputies on 100 mph chase along U.S. 41

Sheriff’s deputies say a 39-year-old North Naples man led them on a chase at speeds of more than 100 mph along U.S. 41.

Timothy J. Varble, of the 3300 block of Bermuda Isle Circle, was arrested early Saturday and charged with high-speed reckless fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with its lights and sirens active.

A Collier County sheriff’s deputy said he pulled over a pickup Varble was driving after the man made an improper U-turn at U.S. 41 and Immokalee Road about 11 p.m. Friday, reports stated. The deputy said Varble exited the truck and began walking toward him, saying his mother was in the hospital and wanted to leave.World Hot Topics Blog

The deputy, who had asked Varble to return to his pickup, said he found arrest warrants sought Varble on charges of failing to pay child support and driving with a suspended license. When the deputy said he was placing Varble under arrest, Varble fled in the truck north on U.S. 41.

The deputy said he pursued Varble, who was driving at speeds of more than 100 mph along U.S. 41. Varble eventually turned left onto Bonita Beach Road, heading west at speeds approaching 100 mph. Varble crashed his truck just west of Barefoot Beach Road and was treated and released from a hospital for injuries before being booked into the Naples Jail Center.

This World Hot Topics Blog is Originally from here :

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/nov/11/report-man-arrested-after-leading-deputies-100-mph/?partner=popular

 

N.J. earthquake causes stir in midst of Sandy recovery

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N.J. earthquake causes stir in midst of Sandy recovery

N.J. earthquake update: Early Monday morning, an earthquake in New Jersey rocked residents in the small town of Ringwood. The temblor measured only 2.0 on the Richter scale, but in the wake of Hurricane "Superstorm" Sandy and widespread power outages, the rare shaking was unsettling.

Monday, the Christian Science Monitor reported that many residents of the town -- less than an hour's drive north from New York, heard a boom at the time of the N.J. earthquake.World Hot Topics Blog

The National Earthquake Information Center reported that shaking was felt in Wanaque, Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, Oakland, West Milford and Paterson. The good news is there are no reports of injuries.
The New Jersey earthquake Monday was the second since February of 2010. Again, this was a mild seismic event, measuring only 2.2 magnitude.

Hurricane "Superstorm" Sandy tore through the East Coast last week and left a path of destruction through several states, mainly in New York and New Jersey. NBCNews reports that as of Monday, 1,389,000 million people in the Mid-Atlantic are without power, down from two million from the day before.

With Election Day Tuesday, round-the-clock efforts are underway to get power restored to residents and businesses.

Did the N.J. earthquake affect your area? Share your shaking experiences.

This World Hot Topics Blog is Originally from here :

http:// www.examiner.com/article/n-j-earthquake-causes-stir-midst-of-sandy-recovery

Blizzard warning issued in West Virginia

World Hot Topics Blog

Blizzard warning issued in West Virginia

ELKINS, W.Va. (AP) — Wet snow and high winds spinning off the edge of superstorm Sandy spread blizzard conditions over parts of West Virginia and neighboring Appalachian states Tuesday, shutting one interstate as trucks and cars bogged down and knocking out power to many.

The National Weather Service said a foot and more of snow was reported in lower elevations of West Virginia, where most towns and roads are. High elevations in the mountains were getting more than two feet and a blizzard warning for more than a dozen counties was in effect until Wednesday afternoon.

At least 236,000 customers were without power in West Virginia early Tuesday. In Elkins, a city of about 7,000 people, power went out across town before dawn and the only lights were from passing snow plows as heavy, wet flakes piled up to about 8 inches.World Hot Topics Blog

The roofs of at least three homes collapsed under the weight of heavy snow, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said. No injuries were reported in the Tuesday accidents in Nicholas County. West Virginia National Guard troops helped the residents of the homes get to local shelters.

Tomblin says there's been no word of additional deaths or any serious injuries. Officials earlier reported a woman was killed Monday in a storm-related traffic accident in an area where about 5 inches of snow had fallen.

The governor is urging residents to stay off the roads. That will prevent mishaps and allow National Guard, Division of Highways and Division of Forestry crews to clear felled trees for utility repair workers.

Tomblin says forecasters estimate that the storm's brunt should clear the state by nightfall.

Authorities closed nearly 50 miles of Interstate 68 on either side of the West Virginia-Maryland state line for hours early Tuesday because of blizzard conditions and stuck vehicles.

More than 30 other highways and roads were closed in West Virginia by snow, ice, high water, and downed trees and power lines. Department of Transportation spokeswoman Leslie Fitzwater said. Schools were closed in at least 39 counties. Police rescued several stranded motorists on the interstate in West Virginia.

"It's a mess out there and people should stay home if they can until our first responders can get out there, clear the roads and get to those who need the most assistance," Fitzwater said. World Hot Topics Blog

On the Maryland side of I-68, a foot of snow triggered closures along a 40-mile stretch between LaVale and the West Virginia line.

Several westbound tractor-trailers jackknifed on Big Savage Mountain. Maryland State Police Sgt. Brian Broadwater said about 200 vehicles backed up behind the trucks. Travelers were turned around or detoured onto two-lane state highways that were also treacherous, prompting many to check into motels.

The depth of the early snow surprised some Appalachian residents in eastern Kentucky.

A tree heavy with snow fell on Claude Collier's truck Monday night in Jenkins, Ky. Collier, 50, says he has "never seen this much snow this early in the year." He said he and other residents lost power in the storm.

The storm also covered parts of the Virginia highlands, northeast Tennessee and northwest North Carolina.

At Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, park spokeswoman Dana Soehn reported 22 inches of snow at the highest elevations, with strong winds blowing drifts up to 4 feet deep. World Hot Topics Blog

Roads were closed throughout the park and a handful of hikers coming off sections of the Appalachian Trial on Tuesday morning reporting tangles of fallen trees and waist-deep drifts.

"We don't know exactly how many people are still up there, but we've not received any distress calls," Soehn said. "It's that heavy, wet snow, so it is difficult to plow."

Associated Press writer Bruce Schreiner in in Jenkins, Ky., contributed to this report.

This World Hot Topics Blog is Originally from here :

http:// news.yahoo.com/w-va-blizzard-warning-appalachia-storm-blows-123224169.html