Mom's Meth Use May Affect Kids' Behavior

Women who use methamphetamine during pregnancy may be placing their unborn children at risk for behavioral problems during childhood, as researchers have found.  During the ages of 3 and 5, children who had been exposed to meth in the womb had greater emotional re-activity and higher levels of anxiety and depression than than their unexposed peers.  Also, at the age of 5, the exposure was associated with externalizing behavior problems, and not being able to pay attention. There has been an increase in concerns about the effect of prenatal exposure to meth, which also are associated with adverse effects on fetal growth, infant neurobehavior, and fine motor function.  The meth use during pregnancy was either reported by the mothers or confirmed by a meconium screen.

  

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/meth-pregnancy-affect-kids-behavior/story?id=15953718#.T2dcXsUgf-4

$1 Billion Deal with China's Online Video Sites

In Beijing Youku Inc. is China's leading online video site, reached an agreement with the smaller competitor, Tudou, in a stock deal between the two New York-listed companies worth more than $1 billion.  This deal was announced on Monday, this deal creates an unlikely partnership between two companies that have struggled to turn a profit in China's booming Internet space.  These two websites have long been rivals, fighting in court over alleged copyright infringement.  The new company name is Youku Tudou Inc.  This would command more than a third of the online video advertising market in China.  This has been challenging domestic online giants such as Baidu Inc.  and the Tencecnt Holdings Ltd. in a country where Youtube is blocked by censors.  This has also will evolve to challenge Chinese state television.

 

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-china-online-20120312,0,4073588.story 

Workouts Can Alter Your DNA

New studies in the March issue of cell metabolism shows that when people exercise for something as little as a 20 minute workout, it can alter their DNA almost immediately.  The main genetic code isn't change, for example you won't go from having blonde to brunette hair.  This means that the DNA molecules within your muscles are structurally changed at specific locations.  The research concluded that changed, known as "epigenetic modifications," seem to be the early precursor to the genetic reprogramming of muscle for strength, structure and the metabolic benefits of exercise.  The researchers also found out hat caffeine can change muscles in the similar ways.  The ones that had been exposed to caffeine showed fewer DNA chemical marks than they did before exercise.   As said my Zierath, a researcher, "Exercise is medicine."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57392391-10391704/20-minute-workout-can-alter-your-dna-for-the-better-study-says/