Articles tagged with Infants
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.
A breakthrough study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry shows that individual brain networks develop within the first month of life, predicting unique infant temperament traits. Researchers found greater connectivity between frontal and parietal regions linked to improved behavioral regulation in infants.
A new study from Michigan State University found that infants' gut microbiomes are associated with their fear responses, which can be indicators of future mental health. The researchers discovered that specific features of the gut microbiome, such as uneven balances of bacteria, were linked to stronger fear reactions.
A new study by University of Rochester psychologists found that partners play a pivotal role in pregnant women's alcohol use and babies' development. Women who felt supported by their partners reported lower rates of depressive symptoms and were less likely to drink during pregnancy.
A study published in Evolution found that non-relatives can decipher facial expressions and be attuned to emotional states in infants across multiple primate species. Facial dexterity is positively correlated with the frequency of infant care by non-parents, suggesting a co-evolutionary relationship.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth significantly improves survival rates for pre-term babies with a very low birth weight. Continuous Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) reduced mortality by 25% and lowered the risk of low body temperature or bacterial blood poisoning.
The USPSTF recommends behavioral counseling interventions for promoting healthy weight gain and preventing excess gestational weight gain in pregnancy. Excess weight at the beginning of pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and infant health outcomes, including cesarean delivery or preterm birth.
Researchers at the University of Oxford discovered that infants aged 12-16 months exhibit a tendency to attribute social dominance to individuals with supernatural powers. In experiments, infants expected characters using counterintuitive methods to win rewards, suggesting they perceive these abilities as superior.
A NIH-funded study found that taking 1,000 mg of DHA daily in pregnancy was associated with a lower rate of early preterm birth. Women with low DHA levels at study entry showed the greatest reduction in early preterm birth rates.
A new brain imaging study reveals that infants use the hippocampus to recognize patterns, despite limited episodic memory, with the brain region doubling in size between 2-4 years old
Researchers found that infants aged 7 and 8 months could identify two faces when the temporal interval was 800ms, but overlooked the second face when separated by 200ms. This suggests that infants take less than a second to process visual information and have the same temporal limitation as adults.
Researchers and community members collaborate to develop a program promoting healthy eating habits in infants, addressing real barriers faced by families. The study aims to improve nutrition and behavior outcomes, with the goal of reducing obesity risk later in childhood and adulthood.
Research using electroencephalography found that exposure to maternal odors facilitates categorization of face-like objects in infants' brains. This study suggests that the right occipitotemporal cortex plays a key role in this process, potentially indicating an earlier emergence of hemisphere advantages for face recognition.
Researchers have found that the gut microbiome of babies is established during and after birth, not before. The study suggests a person's relationship with their own gut bacteria is most important in early life.
Researchers analyzed age-specific and sex-specific data to understand the life-expectancy gap between males and females. They found excess mortality among infant boys and men aged 60 years and older as primary causes of the gap.
The Dream Warmer, a low-cost, reusable non-electric infant warmer, reduces neonatal hypothermia rates by 11% and infant death rates by 70% in a new study. The warmer is effective, safe, and easy to use, making it a promising solution for optimizing the health of vulnerable infants in resource-limited settings.
The expert panel developed recommendations for mother's milk, donor human milk, and protein intake in very low birth weight infants. The existing literature is limited, and further investigation is needed to determine the optimal composition of preterm infant nutrition.
Researchers have created a new tool to evaluate infant brain health by assessing chemical markers in the brain. The tool uses standard values for several metabolites to provide a more reliable way to evaluate metabolite concentrations, allowing for early detection and intervention for potential brain development issues.
A new study has found that the composition of a baby's first poop is associated with whether or not they will develop allergies within their first year of life. Newborns with richer meconium have a lower risk of developing allergies, suggesting that early exposure to certain molecules in the womb may play a role in future health.