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Deadly decision: Where should baby sleep?

New research from Saint Louis University shows that babies under 8 months are at highest risk of death in adult beds due to lack of motor skills to escape safety threats. The study recommends cribs as the safest option for babies' sleep, and calls for a public awareness campaign to alert parents.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateOct 6, 2003

Prenatal exposure to nicotine increases risk of apnea in brains of newborn rats

A study found that prenatal exposure to nicotine increases the function and density of GABAa receptors in brain regions controlling breathing, leading to more frequent and prolonged episodes of apnea in newborn rats. This suggests a possible link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndro...

Higher SIDS risk found in infants placed in unaccustomed sleeping position

A study conducted in California found that infants sleeping on their sides are at an increased risk of SIDS, with a significant increase in risk when they turn onto their stomachs during sleep. The researchers recommend placing babies on their backs every time they go to sleep for consistent safety.

Most definitive study of its kind shows that sleeping on the stomach increases infant SIDS risk

A large study found that African American infants who slept on their stomachs were at more than twice the risk for SIDS compared to those sleeping in other positions. The research also highlighted disparities in healthcare recommendations and access to information about safe sleep practices among different racial groups.

Pediatric autopsies

A new study analyzing over 7,000 pediatric autopsies found that nearly 60 specimens suggested diagnoses of metabolic disorders as the underlying cause of infant and child deaths. The most commonly detected disorders were medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and glutaric acidemia type I and II deficiencies.

SourceAmerican Association for Clinical Chemistry·JournalClinical Chemistry·DateAug 19, 2002

Yale researchers report on brain activity believed related to sudden infant death syndrome

A Yale research team proposes that serotonin neurons play a crucial role in detecting carbon dioxide levels during sleep and triggering arousal. This response is absent in infants who die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), potentially leading to fatal consequences. The study's findings shed new light on the underlying causes of SIDS.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateApr 29, 2002

New insight into sudden infant death syndrome

A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation found an association between nitrate levels in groundwater and the incidence of SIDS. The researchers analyzed over 600 cases and discovered that deaths occurred more frequently during periods of high nitrate concentrations, particularly in areas with rapidly increasin...

SourceUppsala University·JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 20, 2001

American Thoracic Society Journal news tips for October (second issue)

Researchers found that future SIDS victims showed more frequent airway obstruction during sleep tests, with less decrease in obstructive sleep apnea as they aged. Additionally, siblings of smokers with COPD had a high probability of airflow obstruction. The study also confirmed the effectiveness of anti-IgE monoclonal antibody treatmen...

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateNov 8, 2001

Study Confirms Deficit In Brainstem Of SIDS Victims

Researchers found a significant decrease in kainate binding to receptors in the arcuate nucleus of SIDS infants, leading to faulty communication among nerve cells. This finding may contribute to the development of a screening test for identifying infants at risk or measuring kainate receptor binding for diagnosis.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalJournal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology·DateNov 24, 1997