Red Bluff Daily News

November 23, 2016

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ByMikeStobbe The Associated Press NEWYORK Researcherssay a severe birth defect caused by Zika infection may not be apparent at birth but de- velop months afterward, further confirmation that the virus can cause unseen damage to developing ba- bies. The findings come from a study of 13 Brazilian babies whose heads all appeared normal at birth but then grew much more slowly than normal. Most people infected with Zika never develop symptoms, but infection during pregnancy can cause devastating birth de- fects, including microceph- aly, in which a baby's skull is much smaller than expected because the brain hasn't de- veloped properly. Microcephaly is diag- nosed based on a measure- ment of the baby's head cir- cumference. It can be done during pregnancy using ul- trasound, or after the baby is born. Doctors then com- pare the measurement to standard sizes of other kids, based on gender and age. The study focused on 13 babies born in Brazil late last year and earlier this year. All had head heads that were a little small at birth, but within the normal range. Over the next five to 12 months, doctors noted their heads weren't grow- ing at normal rates. Eleven were eventually diagnosed with microcephaly. Many of the children also developed other prob- lems that have been linked to Zika, including epilepsy, problems swallowing, mus- cle weakness and inflexible joints. Dr. Peter Salama, chief of emergencies at the World Health Organization, told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that understanding of the complications from Zika continues to evolve. "We are also learning lot every day," he said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention re- leased the findings Tuesday. The authors were a team of researchers from Brazil and the United States. "This is certainly the first detailed description of these kinds of cases," said Dr. Ga- neshwaran Mochida, a pedi- atric neurologist at Boston Children's Hospital. The study confirms that the absence of microcephaly at birth doesn't mean there are no abnormalities in the children of Zika-infected mothers, CDC officials said. The findings, while dis- couraging, are not a sur- prise to scientists. A study out of Brazil earlier this year suggested that one in five cases of microcephaly likely had head sizes in the normal range at birth. And microcephaly has also been diagnosed months after birth in cases caused by other germs. Still, it is likely to fur- ther worry potentially in- fected parents who may grow alarmed by signs that their newborn's head is a lit- tle small, said Dr. Thierry Huisman, a Johns Hopkins University professor of radi- ology who has studied Zika- affected children. The CDC now recom- mends monitoring ba- bies born to Zika-infected women after birth, but the agency is looking at whether additional imaging should be recommended, said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. Investigators are working to determine what propor- tion of Zika-infected women have babies with birth de- fects, and how the risk var- ies based on when during the pregnancy the infection occurred. Earlier research has suggested that 1 per- cent to 14 percent of Brazil- ian mothers infected in the first three months of preg- nancy had babies with mi- crocephaly and that the risk falls when infections hap- pens later in the pregnancy. WHO's Salama called the risk "small but significant, but it's definitely a moving target as well." DISEASE Zika-causedbirthdefectmaybecomeclearonlya erbirth FERNANDOANTONIO—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE A newborn baby with microcephaly rests at a maternity ward of the University Hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Researchers say the severe birth defect caused by Zika infection may not be apparent at birth but develop months a erward, further confirmation that the virus can cause unseen damage to developing babies. By Mary Clare Jalonick The Associated Press WASHINGTON Republi- cans are gleeful over Dem- ocratic-engineered rule changes that will make it easier for President-elect Donald Trump to get his Cabinet nominees through the Senate. Yet Democrats see a lasting upside from what they did: allowing President Barack Obama to shape the federal judiciary for years to come. Democrats in 2013 scaled back the power of the Sen- ate minority to throw road- blocks in front of a pres- ident's nominees. In the years that followed, the Sen- ate confirmed almost 100 federal judges nominated by Obama, bringing to 329 the number of judicial nominees confirmed during Obama's term in office. The impact of those life- time appointments will be especially felt on the federal appeals court in Washing- ton, often called the second most important court after the Supreme Court because it hears many cases on en- vironmental and other reg- ulations. Judges picked by Republican presidents had dominated the court, but now Democratic appoin- tees hold a 7-4 advantage. Obama has put four judges there, including three after the rules changes. Outgoing Senate Dem- ocratic leader Harry Reid engineered the changes, dubbed the "nuclear op- tion" because of the inten- sity they could add to par- tisanship, after Republicans blocked many of Obama's nominees. Even with a Re- publican majority in the Senate, the Nevada Dem- ocrat says he would do it again. "The nuclear option lets presidents show their true colors and guarantees a nominee a fair up-or-down vote," Reid said in a state- ment this week. "If Repub- licans want to go on record supporting radicals, that's their decision and they will have to live with it." Nan Aron, the presi- dent of the liberal judicial advocacy group Alliance for Justice, says that if the rules hadn't been changed, Trump would now be filling seats on the D.C. circuit and other courts. "They will undoubtedly hear challenges to Trump's regulatory agenda, chal- lenges to executive orders," Aron said. TRANSITION Se na te t ra de -o ff : Mo re Ob am a ju dg es , wh il e Tr um p ge ts n om in ee s PublishedthroughanEventCo-SposorshipagreementwithTheDailyNews It is the mission of the State Theatre for the Arts to develop the historic State Theatre as a vibrant community center for innovative cultural arts programming and popular events that foster the cultural enrichment and economic sustainability of the historic downtown Red Bluff. In keeping with our mission we have begun a seat campaign. The goal is to upgrade the flooring and replace the seating in the auditorium. To accomplish this vital step in the restoration of the theatre we will need to raise $365,000. The new seating will enhance the art deco theme of the auditorium and be more comfortable and quieter than the present seating. Sponsors, members and patrons of the State Theatre for the Arts are invited to be part of the effort. With your tax deductible donation of $500 per seat you will have a lasting legacy with an engraved recognition plate, bearing your name or the name of a person you wish to honor, affixed to each seat or block of seats you help to purchase. Our goal is to purchase the seats by February 1, 2017 and install them that summer. At this time we would like you to consider making a purchase or a pledge to help in this endeavor. If you have any questions please call (530) 529-2787. You will have the opportunity to pick an area or seat(s) with your purchase or pledge on a first come first serve basis. Please Take A Seat sponsors are not guaranteed seating in chairs bearing their engraved plate(s) when attending performances. State Theatre for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and donations are tax-deductible. State Theatre for the Arts 333 Oak Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080 Order Form Please Take A Seat sponsors are not guaranteed seating in chairs bearing their engraved plate(s) when attending performances. I would like to sponsor______ seats at $500 per seat. Total donated: ________ Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Payment is enclosed ❑ Payment: Check # ____________ (payable to State Theatre for the Arts) ❑ Please use the attached credit card information ❑ I would like to make a pledge at this time. I understand that I am able to make payments and the final payment will be made prior to February 1, 2017. 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