United News of Bangladesh

In a major scientific breakthrough, eight healthy babies have been born in the UK using a pioneering IVF technique that reduces the risk of mothers passing on mitochondrial DNA diseases. The successful births, announced Wednesday as part of a world-first trial, mark a new era in reproductive medicine. The babies—four girls and four boys, including a set of identical twins—were born to seven women who carried harmful mutations in their mitochondrial DNA, which can cause debilitating or fatal conditions such as impaired vision, diabetes, and muscle wasting. These disorders affect about one in every 5,000 births and currently have no cure. Developed by researchers at Newcastle University and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the method—known as pronuclear transfer—involves transplanting the nucleus of a fertilised egg with defective mitochondria into a donor egg with healthy mitochondria. This technique, dubbed “three-person IVF,” ensures the child inherits nuclear DNA from their biological parents and mitochondrial DNA from a donor. Daily walking can lower risk of chronic back pain: Study According to findings published in the New England Journal Of Medicine, none of the eight babies show signs of mitochondrial disease, and the mother's disease-causing mutations were either undetectable or present at levels too low to cause illness. “This is a landmark study on preventing mitochondrial disease,” said Dietrich Egli, a stem-cell scientist at Columbia University. Professor Sir Doug Turnbull of Newcastle University added, “Today’s news offers fresh hope to many more women at risk of passing on this condition.” Parents expressed deep gratitude. One mother said, “Mitochondrial donation IVF made that possible and we’re overwhelmed with gratitude.” Another said, “This breakthrough has lifted the heavy cloud of fear... and in its place is hope, joy, and deep gratitude.” The treatment is offered in the UK through the NHS Mitochondrial Reproductive Care Pathway under regulated research protocols. Source: NDTV

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to provide Tk 5 lakh within 15 days to the legal guardian of the baby who was born during a road accident in Mymensingh that left its parents and sister dead. The bench of Justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury and Md Zakir Hossain asked the Chairman of the Trusty Board formed under section 54 of the Road Transport Act to pay the money after hearing a writ petition. The HC also asked the secretary to the Social Welfare Ministry to form a committee for monitoring the health condition of the infant and continue her treatment. It asked the committee to submit a progress report within three months. On Monday,  Supreme Court lawyer Kaniz Fatema filed the writ petition seeking compensation for the baby. Women and Child Affairs Secretary, Social Welfare Secretary, Road Transport and Bridges Secretary and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority were made respondents to the writ. Read: Accused truck driver of tragic Mymensingh road crash held Advocate Syed Mahsib Hossain stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Protikar Chakma and assistant attorney general Rezaul Haque and Mohammad Abbas represented the state. The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the Trusty Board should not be directed to provide compensation to the legal guardian of the baby. Women and Child Affairs Secretary, Social Welfare Secretary, Road Transport and Bridges Secretary and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Trusty Board Chairman and truck owner were made respondents to the rule. A tragic road accident near court building area in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh left Jahangir Alam, 35, his pregnant wife Ratna Begum, 26, and their daughter Jannat Ara, 2, of Raymani village in the upazila, dead on the spot on July 16. Jahangir Alam went to Trishal upazila headquarter with his eight-month pregnant wife and daughter for conducting a medical test of his spouse. While crossing the highway a speeding Mymenshingh-bound truck knocked them down, leaving all three family members dead on the spot. Miraculously the baby girl was born moments before the mother died on the road and she was taken to upazila health complex by locals. The newborn was then given treatment at Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) and then at Community Based Medical College Hospital.