Articles tagged with Birth Defects
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A new study found mothers living near intense oil and gas development have a 40-70% higher chance of having children with congenital heart defects. The study analyzed 3,324 infants born in Colorado from 2005-2011, estimating monthly intensity of well activity to confirm positive associations between maternal exposure and CHDs.
Researchers studied polydactyly, a condition where people are born with extra fingers or toes. They found that the brain allocates dedicated areas to the extra digits, making them as useful as standard digits. This discovery could provide a blueprint for developing artificial limbs and digits.
Research suggests that maternal hyperglycemia is a primary teratogen in all forms of diabetes, causing birth defects through dysregulation of epigenetic processes and oxidative stress. The study highlights the importance of understanding the gene-environment interactions involved in fetal heart development.
A new special issue of Birth Defects Research explores the role of maternal contributions on fetal development, including organ formation and immune system regulation. Studies show that mother-to-baby transmission affects the risk of birth defects and diseases like food allergy and schizophrenia.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered a critical mechanism in skin development, shedding light on genetic roots of birth defects like cleft palate. The study sheds new light on how p63 regulates key signaling pathways involved in hair follicle and sweat gland formation.
Researchers found that thalidomide acts by promoting the degradation of transcription factors, including SALL4, leading to limb and fetal growth complications. The study's findings will help guide development of new anticancer drugs with a similar scaffold.
A special collection of papers published in PLOS Genetics explores the genetic basis of human facial formation, revealing advances in understanding facial development, birth defects, and normal facial variation. The research identifies numerous genes contributing to facial malformations and syndromes.
A new study published in Birth Defects Research found that frozen embryo transfer may be associated with an increased risk of large for gestational age babies. On the other hand, a review on congenital heart defects (CHD) suggests that only milder forms of CHD may be linked to assisted reproductive technologies.
Researchers found that relatives of Zika virus can damage developing fetuses in mice and replicate in human tissues, raising concerns about other emerging viruses causing birth defects. The study suggests that flavivirus infections might cause pregnancy complications more frequently than previously appreciated.
The Zika pandemic has infected millions of people across over 80 countries, leaving many babies with birth defects. Researchers are working toward treatments and a preventive vaccine, but experts warn that the virus may reemerge more aggressively.
A study published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that pregnant women with pre-gestational diabetes who take metformin are at a higher risk for major birth defects and pregnancy loss compared to the general population. The increased risk is not due to metformin, but rather the underlying diabetes.
A new special issue of Birth Defects Research: The Teenage Brain examines the potential risks of junk food and energy drinks on teen brain development. Research suggests that high consumption of these substances may negatively affect decision-making, reward-seeking behavior, and eating habits throughout adulthood.
Exposure to air pollution just prior to conception or during the first month of pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects, such as cleft lip or palate. The study found that fine particulate matter is a significant health hazard and public health efforts should minimize population-level exposure.
Two Northwestern University studies uncover how egg cells use innovative strategies to detect and prevent division errors, leading to birth defects and miscarriages. The research identifies essential proteins for cell division and a backup process that ensures the correct number of chromosomes is received by the embryo.
A new study by the University of Utah and CDC estimates that employer-sponsored health plans spent $6 billion on premature infants in 2013. Infants born prematurely are at increased risk for developing lifelong physical, cognitive, and social challenges, with birth defects accounting for a substantial portion of expenses.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia will lead a collaborative effort to discover causes of childhood cancer and structural birth defects using big data. A centralized database and discovery portal will be created to share well-curated clinical and genetic sequence data from dozens of cohorts, comprising thousands of patients.
A study analyzing 139,938 births in Quebec found links between clindamycin, doxycycline, and quinolones with organ-specific malformations. Physicians should consider alternative antibiotics for pregnant patients
A recent study analyzed data from California Birth Defects Monitoring Program and found that male infants had lower rates of birth defects after the 9/11 attacks. The researchers suggest that large population stressors like 9/11 may select against weaker male fetuses.
Researchers found that only 20.2% of major birth defects had a definite cause, highlighting the need for better research to prevent and care for these conditions. The study emphasizes the importance of population-based preventive interventions for known causes, such as smoking or diabetes.
Research identifies CRKL gene as crucial for normal genitourinary development, with gene dosage changes associated with developmental abnormalities. The study's findings have significant implications for initial patient diagnosis and potential treatments for individuals affected by DiGeorge syndrome.
A population-based study found associations between maternal smoking and severe mental illness in offspring, but weakened when considering family-related factors. The study analyzed nearly 1.7 million people born in Sweden, suggesting that environmental influences shared by siblings may be more important than causal teratogenic effects.
A team of USC researchers has identified the intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88) gene as a potential cause of human cleft lip and palate. The study found that three siblings born with the condition shared a common gene mutation, which was also present in mouse models.
A study of over 300,000 births found no significant link between Tdap vaccination during pregnancy and microcephaly or structural birth defects. The researchers concluded that the findings support routine Tdap administration during pregnancy.
Researchers found that babies born to women over 40 through assisted reproduction have fewer birth defects than those conceived naturally. The study suggests that IVF treatment may provide more favorable biological conditions for pregnancies in older women.
A study of 1.3 million pregnant women found that antipsychotic medication early in pregnancy was not associated with a meaningful increase in the risk of birth defects when other factors were considered. However, risperidone may have a potential safety signal due to its small increase in risk, requiring further research.
Researchers have discovered a link between cellular stress and multiple types of birth defects, including heart defects. A study led by Professor Sally Dunwoodie found that reduced oxygen levels triggered a stress response in embryonic cells, leading to heart development problems.
Researchers will study immune responses of 200 volunteers with diagnosed or symptomatic Zika, analyzing blood specimens to understand body's response. Understanding natural history and immune system could identify targets for treatments and vaccines.
New research detects Zika virus in brain and placental tissue of deceased babies and spontaneously aborted foetuses, providing early insight into the effect of Zika virus infection on foetuses. The study highlights a potential link between Zika virus infection during the first trimester of pregnancy and severe birth defects.
Saint Louis University is conducting a human clinical trial of a Zika virus vaccine to prevent microcephaly and brain damage in babies. The study aims to protect people from the emerging infectious disease, which can be transmitted through mosquito bites or sexual contact.
US research suggests that moms who don't use fertility treatment are more likely to have twins with birth defects. The study found associations between twinning and birth defects, particularly in mothers of identical twins and those using fertility treatment.
A study published in Neurology found that pregabalin, commonly used to treat pain and anxiety, is associated with a higher risk of major birth defects. Women taking pregabalin during pregnancy were three times more likely to have a child born with a major defect compared to those who did not take the drug.
Researchers have provided direct experimental proof that the Brazilian Zika virus strain can cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly and neurological diseases. The study used mouse models, human stem cells, and cerebral organoids to demonstrate the causal effect of the Brazilian virus on health.
Researchers have identified a group of proteins that form the base for functioning cilia, allowing cell-to-cell communication. Mutations in these genes result in ciliopathies, which affect various birth defects and can be lethal.
A new UCLA study finds no evidence to link the anti-nausea drug Zofran to an increased risk of birth defects. Women with extreme morning sickness who took Zofran reported fewer miscarriages and higher live birth rates compared to those without the medication.
A new study published in Neurology found that babies born to mothers taking the epilepsy drug lamotrigine may not be at an increased risk of birth defects such as cleft lip and clubfoot. The study, which analyzed over 10 million births, estimated the excess risk of these defects to be less than one in every 550 babies.
A recent study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark found that oral contraceptive use is not associated with an increased risk of birth defects, with a prevalence of major birth defects consistent across all pregnant women regardless of contraceptive use.
A large prospective observational study found no association between oral contraceptive use and major birth defects. The study included over 880,000 live-born infants and found no increased risk among women who became pregnant while using or after stopping the drug.
Researchers at the University of Florida have identified genes that are disrupted by abnormal hormone signaling, leading to male genital birth defects. The study found a narrow window of development when genetic malformations can occur, and pinpointed 22 genes expressed in embryonic genitalia.
Researchers identified genes disrupted by balanced chromosomal abnormalities (BCAs) in patients with congenital neurodevelopmental conditions. The study found that BCAs may account for a large portion of brain development and function-related birth defects.
A study published in The BMJ found an association between SSRI antidepressants and increased risk of birth defects in infants. Sertraline was the only SSRI not linked to higher risks, while fluoxetine and paroxetine were associated with heart wall defects and irregular skull shape, respectively
Researchers will investigate coronal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis, a common birth defect causing facial and cranial dysmorphology. The study aims to identify new genes and networks driving this condition and develop a predictive computational model of head growth.
Rudolf Jaenisch received the March of Dimes Developmental Biology Prize for establishing the basis of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. His research holds great promise in regenerative medicine, potentially treating human diseases such as sickle-cell anemia and Parkinson's disease.
A study found that an information sheet for women treated for severe acne improves understanding of contraceptive effectiveness and ways to avoid pregnancy and medication-induced birth defects. The study highlights the need to update programs like iPledge to ensure women receive effectiveness information about their contraceptive options.
A study published in JAMA Dermatology found that providing an information sheet on contraceptives significantly improved women's understanding of their effectiveness, leading to a safer use of isotretinoin. The study showed that even small investments of time can greatly enhance contraceptive knowledge and prevent pregnancies.
A new analysis found that opioid-based prescription painkillers increase the risk of serious birth defects and preterm birth. The CDC and March of Dimes recommend using safer alternatives during pregnancy to protect babies from exposure to opioids.
A new screening method using pulse oximetry has detected 13 babies with previously unknown congenital heart defects in New Jersey. The screenings were mandated in licensed birthing facilities and resulted in the detection of undiagnosed critical congenital heart defects, which may have prevented significant disability or death.
A study examining prenatal phthalate exposure found a significant association between DiNP metabolites and shorter anogenital distance in Swedish boys at age 21 months. This link raises concern about the safety of recent phthalate substitutions, particularly for male reproductive health.
Congenital heart disease specialists have developed a nonsurgical technique to repair patent ductus arteriosus, a common cardiac birth defect. The minimally invasive procedure employs fluoroscopy and echocardiography to guide closure without exposing fragile infants to open-heart surgery.
Researchers have ruled out the 'Production-Line Hypothesis', which suggested that faulty chromosomes are more common in eggs produced later in a woman's reproductive life. The study found no relationship between a woman's age and chromosome crossovers, suggesting other factors may be involved.
A new genetic cause has been identified for two common male reproductive birth defects: cryptorchidism and hypospadias. The VAMP7 gene duplication was found to be the underlying cause of these defects in nearly 1.35% of patients, with no similar association observed in control subjects.
A French study found a small link between HIV drug use during pregnancy and an increased risk of heart defects in children. However, the benefits of antiretroviral therapy in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV outweigh the risks.
A research team, including Anthony Wynshaw-Boris and Shinya Yamanaka, successfully used induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming to correct a defective ring chromosome with a normal one. This approach has potential to treat birth defects, mental disabilities, and growth limitations caused by chromosomal abnormalities.
A new hormone therapy has been shown to improve the integration of bone grafts used in head and facial reconstruction surgeries. The treatment, which uses parathyroid hormone, enhances bone formation around the grafts and prevents scar tissue from forming, leading to better outcomes for patients.
Gary M. Shaw receives Agnes Higgins Award for his research on human birth defects, highlighting the link between prenatal nutrition and increased risk of birth defects. The award recognizes Dr. Shaw's efforts to improve maternal nutrition and baby health.
Researchers at New York University identified a checkpoint that is necessary for a genome's viability and normal development during meiosis. Without this restraining mechanism, chromosomes can become irreversibly broken, leading to birth defects such as Down syndrome.
A multistate study found that children born with non-chromosomal birth defects have a twofold higher risk of cancer before age 15 compared to children without birth defects. Cancer risk varies by the specific type of birth defect, with increased risk observed in eye defects, cleft palate, heart and kidney defects, and microcephaly.
A recent study found that both cousin marriage and older mothers have a significantly increased risk of birth defects, with nearly 31% of birth defects in babies of Pakistani origin attributed to consanguineous marriages. The study also showed that maternal education can be protective against congenital anomalies.
Researchers found that being born to an older mother or parents who are blood relations increases the likelihood of a baby being born with a birth defect. Maternal education level also plays a significant role in reducing the risk of birth defects across all ethnic groups.
Dr. Eric N. Olson has discovered pivotal genes and regulatory pathways governing the development, disease, and regeneration of the heart and other muscles. His research offers hope for prevention and treatments for some of the most serious birth defects.
Researchers found higher stillbirth rates among Inuit and First Nations women in Quebec, particularly at term, with rates 2 times those of non-Aboriginal populations. The study suggests that reducing smoking and managing weight may help prevent stillbirths.