The impact of pot on pregnant women — and more

For Monday, July 22, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including:

More Coverage: WGN’s Medical Watch

Study: Cannabis risk to pregnancy

Although marijuana has been researched for health benefits, it remains risky for pregnant women.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals prenatal cannabis is associated with adverse maternal health outcomes in pregnancy.

The research involving more than 300,000 pregnant women showed those who used marijuana had an increased risk for pregnancy high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, excess weight gain, gestational diabetes, and placental abruption.

Prior research has examined how pot impacts a growing fetus.

This is among the first studies to look at maternal health from pregnancy cannabis exposure.

Alcohol’s effect on the heart

Alcohol has a negative impact on the heart, according to two new studies presented at the American Heart Association meeting.

The basic science research was done on mice and rats, but the study authors say the findings have implications for humans.

First, after repeated episodes of binge drinking, scientists saw abnormal heart rhythms and a spike in a stress protein in the heart.

Binge drinking amounts to five drinks in two hours for men and four for women.

Another study is potentially important for women on hormone replacement therapy: Rats that lacked estrogen to simulate menopause, who received estrogen replacement experienced negative changes in heart function.

Combined, researchers say this should give men and women pause about drinking alcohol.

3D printed organ on a chip

A new finding may spare animals in research while at the same time creating better medications for humans.

Researchers from Virginia Tech, with funding from the National Institutes of Health, have developed a brain on a chip.

The tiny 3D-printed synthetic models allow researchers to mimic part of the human brain to test and develop new therapeutic compounds.

The model allows scientists to observe how brain cells interact with drug compounds without first testing them on animals.

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