Eating some foods rich in trans fats while pregnant or breastfeeding could lead to the birth of fatter babies. Trans fats, contained in biscuits, cakes, pies and crackers and things cooked in hydrogenated oils, are linked to heart disease. Experts at Brazil’s Sao Paulo Federal University found babies had a higher risk of being fat if their mother eats trans fats in pregnancy or while lactating. The nutritional conditions during pregnancy have a major role in the metabolic and hormonal interactions between the mother's body, placenta and foetus.

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A fever in a baby may not be a sign of teething

An old wives’tale says a feverish baby is not always a cause for concern. Put it down to teething, and go back to sleep, the saying goes. But experts suggest otherwise. While the emergence of new teeth in infants under 1 year old can sometimes cause a slight increase in body temperature, studies show it does not generally cause a high-grade fever. The symptoms can be a sign of a serious problem like a viral illness. A study published in Pediatrics found many symptoms in the 8-day period in which the teeth emerged like increased biting, drooling, gum rubbing, facial rash and decreased appetite. But no teething children had a high-grade fever, 104 degrees or above.

20 to 40

Small kidney changes linked to high blood pressure

Changes in kidney function appear to influence the occurrence of high blood pressure in individuals without overt kidney or cardiovascular disease, according to a report in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The results suggest that early-stage kidney damage plays an important role in the development of high blood pressure, report researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle. While the findings suggest that variation in kidney function influences the risk of hypertension, the reason is unclear. Some explanations are that these individuals are born with an abnormal number of nephrons, basic structure, or they were exposed early in life to heavy metals, such as lead, which both can cause kidney disease.

Above 40

Study finds home defibrillator is no help

Consumers are unlikely to benefit from buying household versions of emergency equipment meant to revive victims of sudden heart seizures, according to long-awaited results from a clinical trial announced recently. The equipment, automated external defibrillators, has been marketed to health-conscious consumers for its ability to provide life-saving jolts of electricity to people whose hearts have stopped beating, or are beating so chaotically and rapidly that they could die within minutes. The report in The New England Journal of Medicine noted that the devices clearly save lives in hospitals, emergency vehicles and in busy public settings like airports and casinos where trained employees are on duty but due to operational lacunae is not as useful in a domestic set up.