Articles tagged with Infants
A Children's Hospital of Philadelphia-led study found that most US obstetric hospitals deliver fewer than 500 babies per year, with approximately 2.5 million infants born at low-volume hospitals between 2010 and 2018. Nearly a fifth of these low-volume hospitals are isolated from other obstetric hospitals, with over half located in rur...
A groundbreaking study will follow 7,500 pregnant women and their infants across the US to understand healthy brain development. The five-year study aims to provide a comprehensive picture of normal variability in brain development and identify factors that pose the greatest risk.
Researchers found that parental knowledge and beliefs differ across socioeconomic status, but these beliefs can be changed. Interventions aimed at shifting parental beliefs had measurable effects on child outcomes, particularly in more intensive home visiting programs.
A study of over 29,000 American women found that breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of postpartum depression. Women who breastfed for longer periods had lower rates of postpartum depression, with those breastfeeding for 6-12 months showing the greatest reduction.
Researchers found that infants spend most of their time playing with household objects, suggesting that everyday learning and development occur through spontaneous object interactions. This challenges traditional views of infant behavior as flighty and distractible.
A special issue of PLOS Medicine explores the social determinants of child and adolescent health, including poverty, pollution, and violence. The studies focus on the intersection of child health and challenging environments, highlighting urgent redirective strategies to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
A new study found that unusual visual inspection behavior in infants aged 9 months and older is predictive of a later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This behavior, characterized as an over-focus on objects, was most prominent and present earliest in infants who developed ASD.
A Johns Hopkins Medicine research team has provided a definitive view of the biological process leading to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a dangerous inflammatory disease that can destroy a premature infant's intestinal lining. The loss of enteric glia leads to intestinal dysmotility, which is a key factor in NEC's genesis.
A new study published in Current Biology reveals that visually impaired babies primarily use touch to respond to stimuli, while sighted babies rely more on auditory cues. The research suggests that both senses will be crucial in designing tools to aid their development.
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of developing preeclampsia. Women with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a 62% higher odds of developing preeclampsia than those without the infection.
A study found that touch and proximity contribute to the attunement of brain and heart rhythms between mother and baby. Mother-baby pairs showed mutual neural adjustment when they touched each other or played face-to-face, demonstrating the fundamental role of touch in early adaptation.
A parent-led therapy for early signs of autism has significantly reduced the likelihood of an autism diagnosis at age three. The iBASIS-VIPP program uses video-feedback to support social development and unique abilities, resulting in increased parental sensitivity and language development.
Researchers at McGill University found that smoking during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and birth defects. The study, which examined over nine million deliveries, also discovered that smoking mildly decreases the risk of preeclampsia.
A recent study by University of Missouri-Columbia professor Linda Bullock found that infants of mothers with only one abusive partner had worse cognitive outcomes compared to those with multiple male partners, including some who were abusive. This suggests that the absence of support from a father figure can hinder a child's development.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that children born with congenital Zika Virus-related microcephaly have varying levels of neurodevelopmental impairment. The researchers used a routine neurological assessment to track the children's development, revealing differences in cognitive and motor skills. The findings suggest that HINE ...
A study by New York University researchers found that infant formula websites predominantly discourage breastfeeding and instead tout the benefits of formula feeding. The analysis of five major formula brands' websites revealed that substantial messaging focused on challenges associated with breastfeeding, such as low milk supply or la...
A recent study found that breastfeeding mothers who received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines experienced temporary symptoms such as pain and swelling at the injection site, chills, muscle/body aches, fever, and vomiting. The study also reported no serious side effects in breastfed infants.
A study of 814 babies found that those born to physically inactive mothers had lower lung function compared to those born to active mothers. Regular physical activity during pregnancy may reduce the risk of impaired infant lung function, potentially improving respiratory health later in life.
Researchers identify biomarkers that indicate early brain injury in premature infants, highlighting the importance of gut microbiome and immune system balance. The study provides a starting point for developing therapies to prevent or mitigate brain damage.
A nationwide survey of US hospitals found a wide variety of approaches to newborn skincare, including the timing of the first bath. The researchers urge the formulation of more consistent guidelines built on hard evidence to improve care for babies born in US nurseries and mother-baby units.
A new USC study found that infants with histories of reported maltreatment are two to three times more likely to die from medical causes. Foster care placement was also found to reduce the risk of infant death due to medical causes by roughly half.
A new NIH grant will fund research on how beneficial microbes in infant gut use nitrogen from human milk to support pediatric nutrition and development. The study aims to understand the interactions between mother's diet, breast milk, and infant needs, as well as the role of probiotics and maternal lifestyle.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg generated a comprehensive transcriptional atlas of neonatal mouse meningeal leukocytes, showing that these cells play a crucial role in brain development and pathology. The study also identified novel immune cell subtypes involved in brain injury and provided new insights into the interaction...
A new study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia finds that bystander CPR using only chest compression has similar outcomes to not using CPR at all for infants experiencing cardiac arrest. In contrast, children who received CPR with rescue breathing had nearly 1.5 times better neurological outcomes.
Research published in JAMA Network Open found that preterm infants with higher exposure to their mother's breast milk had enhanced cardiac function at one year of age, approaching values seen in healthy full-term infants. Exclusive breast milk consumption was associated with normalization of heart traits and lower lung pressures.
A Mount Sinai study found significant inequalities among low-risk births, with Black and Hispanic infants experiencing higher rates of unexpected complications. Hospital quality was identified as a key contributor to these disparities, with lower-quality hospitals serving more Black and Hispanic women.
Research from the University of Florida found that COVID-19 vaccination significantly increases antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk, providing passive immunity to newborns. The study suggests that vaccinated mothers can help protect their babies from COVID-19 illness.
University of South Australia researchers create a computer vision system to detect premature babies' faces and vital signs from digital cameras, outperforming electrocardiogram machines. The technology has the potential to replace contact-based sensors, reducing skin tearing and infections.
A modelling study published in BMJ Open estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an additional 267,208 infant deaths in low- and middle-income countries, a 7% increase over expected numbers. The economic downturn caused by the pandemic exacerbated mortality among vulnerable groups.
Researchers discovered that human milk oligosaccharides can prevent GBS infections in cells and tissues, and in mouse models. The sugars may act as anti-adhesives and prebiotics to support good bacteria growth, making them a potential substitute for antibiotics.
Research suggests that healthcare musicians can help families cope with premature infants in intensive care by creating an intimate atmosphere and improving their relationship. Music practitioners work collaboratively with medical staff to provide emotional support and create a sense of calm during difficult times.
A new proposal aims to enable parents to participate in decision-making about life-saving treatment for premature infants. This balance is crucial as treatment can do great harm, while without it, the infant dies. Guidelines vary between countries, with some allowing treatment up to gestational week 23.
A Wayne State University researcher has been awarded a $1.93 million NIH grant to investigate the impact of maternal immunoglobulin D on infant immune protection against food allergies. The study aims to elucidate the mechanisms of placental IgD transfer and its potential as a prophylactic fetal immune education cue.
A new study reveals that metabolism peaks in infancy, followed by a gradual decline until age 60, with the biggest slowdown after 90. The research suggests that tissue metabolism is changing over time, contradicting previous assumptions about lifestyle and body composition.
A recent study found SARS-CoV-2 infection among maternal-infant pairs to be extremely rare in early infancy. The findings suggest that while transmission is uncommon, continued monitoring and vaccination efforts are necessary to protect newborns from COVID-19 and its variants.
Researchers review advancements in biosensing technologies for neonatal sepsis diagnosis, highlighting the need for faster and more accurate methods. Biosensors offer a promising solution, detecting multiple parameters simultaneously with high sensitivity and accuracy.
A new study published in Sleep Medicine has found that the COVID-19 pandemic brought about increased infant sleep duration and decreased daytime drowsiness in parents. However, it also introduced more screen time for babies and mild increases in depressive symptoms among parents.
A University of Otago study found that crawling experience significantly influences a baby's ability to avoid falling into water. The research, published in Infancy and Developmental Psychobiology, suggests that caregivers should promote crawling opportunities for their infants to develop safe perception and behavior.
Researchers investigated how to measure joint attention in young infants who cannot yet talk. The study revealed low agreement among raters in assigning looks from infants to their mothers, challenging the idea that quality of infant looks can be reliably distinguished as a marker of joint attention.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital report positive results with risplidam, a small-molecule drug that treats SMA by correcting the root cause: a mutated gene. Infants receiving risplidam showed improvements in motor function and lived longer than expected.
A recent warning from the Canadian Medical Association Journal cautions that relaxed COVID-19 measures could lead to a surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases among young children. RSV can cause serious illness and death, affecting approximately 2.7 million children worldwide each year.
Ingegerd Johansson, a senior professor at Umeå University Medical School, was awarded the William H. Bowen Research in Dental Caries Award for her pioneering work on nutrition and dental caries. She has published over 300 scientific papers and mentored numerous students.
A study published in The BMJ Paediatrics Open found that the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) can detect autism at 18-30 months, but not all children who will be diagnosed later. The Q-CHAT shows promise for early detection and diagnosis of autism.
A University of Alberta study found that infant boys with a high Bacteroidetes gut bacterial composition scored higher in cognition and language skills. The researchers believe this association may be due to the production of metabolites called sphingolipids, which are instrumental for neuron formation and structure.
A longitudinal study of infants found substantial microbial changes in the intestines months before celiac disease onset. The study's findings suggest that these preclinical alterations could inform novel strategies for diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease through microbiome manipulation.
A recent study suggests that newborns to three months old should be stimulated to hold and reach for objects. This stimulation helps their social, motor, and cognitive development. Researchers propose a novel approach to understanding imitation and manual activities, including exercises such as placing the baby's hands on different tex...
A decade's worth of data shows a significant decrease in mechanical ventilation use and an increase in non-invasive respiratory support, such as CPAP, for preterm infants. This shift is associated with improved health outcomes, including reduced lung injury and neurodevelopmental risks.
Researchers trained a blind individual to recognize objects using soundscapes, revealing novel topographic maps in the brain. This finding sheds light on the brain's ability for change and holds promise for helping people restore lost function after a stroke.
A new study found that COVID-19 infection rates among infants hospitalized for potential serious bacterial infections were higher during periods of high community transmission, but lower when transmission was low. The study also found a relatively low incidence of other respiratory viruses in this age group.
A first-of-its-kind study linked infant curiosity, measured by reactions to magic tricks, to later cognitive ability in toddlers. Researchers found that babies who showed interest in surprising events remained curious as preschoolers, suggesting a potential predictor of future learning and academic success.
A study of 65 infants reveals stable individual differences in their responses to impossible events, which predict explanation-based curiosity at 3 years of age. The research suggests that detecting prediction errors in infancy may be a crucial aspect of later cognitive development.
Infants younger than 7 months can perceive faces even when they are followed by a mask image, but this ability disappears in older infants. The study found that visual backward masking occurs due to interference with feedback processing, which develops in the second half of the first year of life.
Researchers estimated survival and outcomes of very preterm infants in China discharged from neonatal intensive care units compared to those receiving full treatment. Discharge against medical advice was associated with higher mortality rates among these vulnerable infants.
A new genetic cause, unrelated to OI, has been identified as causing infantile fractures in a child with EDS hypermobility type. The discovery may help prevent misdiagnosis of non-accidental trauma and improve treatment options for children with this condition.
A study published in Cell revealed that activated Bifidobacterium infantis EVC001 programs immune cells to control inflammation and autoimmune disease risk. Breastfed infants fed this strain experienced reduced systemic inflammation and improved immune system development.
A new study by Washington University School of Medicine identifies a protein called Interleukin-22 that may protect babies from necrotizing enterocolitis, a leading cause of death among premature infants. The findings suggest that low levels of IL-22 in the intestine lead to an exaggerated inflammatory response and tissue damage.
A study by University of Iowa researchers found that human infants exhibit increased twitching during quiet sleep, which is synchronized with brain oscillations called sleep spindles. This discovery suggests that babies are learning about their bodies through twitching during a previously thought to be inactive period.
Contrary to previous beliefs, researchers found no association between bed sharing and positive outcomes related to infant attachment and maternal bonding. Bed sharing was associated with ease of breastfeeding and dealing with night waking in infants.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital identified four biologically meaningful subtypes of RSV bronchiolitis, with one subtype linked to a 40% risk of developing asthma by age five. This study provides new insights into the complexity of bronchiolitis and may help improve care for affected children.
Researchers found that a mother's birth weight and litter size were associated with early neonatal death, but not adult maternal characteristics. The study suggests that current approaches to understanding perinatal mortality are incomplete and highlight the need for further research on structural and intergenerational factors.