Articles tagged with Infants
Dr. Adebiyi's research investigates newborn kidney functions and their alterations in acute and long-term disease, with a focus on growth-restricted infants. The new $3 million grant will explore the cellular mechanisms underlying progressive kidney insufficiency in these babies.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that third-trimester ultrasound screening has limited effectiveness in predicting macrosomia and associated neonatal morbidity. The authors recommend caution before introducing universal third-trimester screening for macrosomia.
A NIH-funded mouse study reveals that parents have an innate capacity to respond to infant cries, which can adapt over time. The research found that experienced and novice babysitters showed improved responses to altered cries, suggesting a plastic mechanism in the auditory cortex.
A novel screening method could lead to earlier detection of life-threatening complications in babies born preterm and help reduce racial disparities in outcomes. The study identified a combination of six newborn characteristics and 19 metabolites that reliably predict preterm babies at increased risk for death and severe illness.
The US has seen a significant increase in catheter-associated bloodstream and urinary tract infections among critically ill infants and children. From 2013 to 2018, the rates of these infections rose sharply, highlighting a growing public health concern.
Researchers found caesarean section and prolonged labour influence infant gut microbiome, linked to childhood obesity and allergic sensitization. The study identified specific bacteria and metabolic pathways involved in these health outcomes.
Researchers found that babies as young as 10-20 months old exhibit a phenomenon where they prefer the unchosen option, indicating an unconscious bias. This bias disappears when the element of choice is removed, suggesting it may be linked to how adults make decisions.
Researchers found that postnatal fecal microbiota transplantation can restore normal gut microbiota development in C-section infants. The study showed that treatment had no negative effects and improved microbiota composition compared to untreated C-section born infants.
Researchers in Uganda have identified a new species of bacteria that may contribute to postinfectious hydrocephalus, a common cause of neurosurgery in children worldwide. The study found Paenibacillus frequently co-occurred with cytomegalovirus infections in affected infants.
A new software tool can accurately predict motor development disorders in preterm infants based on early MRI scan data. The tool quantifies diffuse white matter abnormality (DWMA) volume, which serves as a biomarker for brain developmental issues.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that introducing high doses of gluten from four months of age may prevent coeliac disease in children. The Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) Study showed no cases of coeliac disease among infants who introduced gluten early, but further studies are needed for confirmation.
A study published in Frontiers found that fathers who spend more time with their infants, have higher parenting self-efficacy, and provide greater material support experience lower rates of depressive symptoms. This early involvement is associated with increased feelings of competence and satisfaction as a parent.
According to a new study, infants born to mothers infected with COVID-19 generally do well six to eight weeks after birth. However, there was a higher rate of NICU admissions reported if the mothers had COVID-19 up to two weeks prior to delivery.
A 12-year study in Alabama found that rural counties with in-county obstetrical care had significantly better infant birth outcomes, including lower infant mortality rates and fewer underweight deliveries. The lack of access to obstetrical care was also associated with higher percentages of underrepresented minority residents.
A large Swedish-Norwegian study involving over two million pregnancies found no association between modafinil use and an increased risk of fetal malformations. The study, published in JAMA, compared exposure to modafinil during early pregnancy with non-exposure, finding a relative risk of 1.06, which was not statistically significant.
A new study published in Journal of Lipid Research reveals that the gut microbiomes of breastfed infants differ from those of formula-fed infants due to dietary sphinganine, a nutrient found in human milk. Researchers developed a technique to track specific nutrients as they interact with gut microbes, identifying two types of bacteria...
Infants exhibit increased brain activity and neural flexibility from birth, indicating early development of higher-level brain functions. This emerging flexibility is positively associated with reading ability, academic success, and creativity.
The discovery reveals alarmins play a crucial role in developing optimal intestinal bacteria diversity, protecting against diseases. Supplementing with these proteins could support newborns with low alarmin levels or limited breast milk exposure.
A new study found that infants from households with very low food security are more likely to have above-average body mass indices, higher fat levels, and other measures indicating greater obesity risk. This association suggests that household food insecurity may be especially hazardous for infants.
A study published in Pediatrics found that artificial intelligence models can accurately identify well-appearing infants with fever who are at low risk for a serious bacterial infection. This could lead to a significant reduction in unnecessary invasive procedures, antibiotics, and hospitalizations.
A new study found significant differences in how hospitals assess premature newborns' breathing safety in car seats, highlighting the need for clearer guidelines to ensure consistent safety practices. The research recommends improved education for parents and caregivers on proper car seat placement and post-discharge follow-up.
Research found toddlers with daily touchscreen use are faster to find targets during visual search, challenging concerns about negative impacts on development. High touchscreen users were quicker at finding red apples amongst varying numbers of blue apples.
Infants as young as 12 months old encode and remember objects differently depending on whether an object is named as a member of a category or as a unique individual. Research found that applying distinct names to each object enhances infants' encoding of distinctions among the individual objects, leading to better recognition memory.
A new study found that vitamin D supplementation is associated with a decrease in Megamonas bacteria and C. difficile colonization in infants, suggesting potential benefits for childhood health.
A study found that when Black physicians care for Black newborns, the mortality rate declines by 39-58%. This phenomenon suggests that Black physicians outperform their White colleagues in caring for Black newborns.
Researchers found that infants who heard different names for each animal successfully recognized most of the training animals. Infants who heard the same name for all animals had difficulty recognizing the training animals due to lack of individual differences recognition.
A study by University of California, Berkeley researchers found that past discriminatory housing practices may be impacting maternal and infant health today. Neighborhoods with worse HOLC ratings had significantly more adverse birth outcomes, including premature births and low birth weight babies.
Researchers adapted existing infrared technology to assess infant recognition memory and cognitive outcomes, finding that infants prefer novel stimuli and exhibit side preferences. The automated technique eliminated examiner bias and variation, enabling large-scale studies on infant development.
A new study found that infant mortality rates in California have increased among certain groups, including obese mothers, smokers, and African American women. The study analyzed data from over 4 million single births and found that children of African American women had nearly twice the risk of infant mortality compared to those of whi...
A home monitoring program improves infant survival rates and weight gain for babies with single ventricle heart defects. The program helps recognize potential complications early and provides caregiver training to improve outcomes.
Dr. Tomás Ryan has received a highly prestigious award from the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine to pursue research into infantile amnesia and its effects on learning. The prize will support his work on understanding the neurobiology of memory loss in early childhood.
Researchers developed a sensitive and specific early warning system for predicting NEC using stool microbiome features combined with clinical and demographic information. The pilot study showed optimal performance from a gated attention-based multiple instance learning approach.
A new study reveals that 10-month-old babies' brain responses can predict their preference for fast-paced TV shows six months later. The research team found that infants who are driven to explore their surroundings and engage with new sights or sounds tend to enjoy watching fast-paced TV shows.
A new vaccine against RSV could protect infants under six months old against severe illness and death. Infants born to mothers from low- and middle-income countries were particularly well-protected by the vaccine, with hospitalization rates 53% lower for RSV LRTI.
A new grant will help Dr. John Franchak explore the impact of motor development on everyday learning experiences for infants. Using miniature sensors and audio recorders, his team will track infants' activities throughout a typical day to understand how their motor skills influence language and spatial abilities.
Drs. Sallie Permar and Stephen Patrick have been awarded the fifth annual Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children's Health Research for their groundbreaking research on neonatal viral infections and opioid epidemic's impact on pregnant women and infants. Their work has informed national policy and offers hope to untold expectant mothers.
Breastfeeding is now considered safe after anaesthesia, according to new guidelines published by the Association of Anaesthetists in the journal Anaesthesia. The guidelines state that breast milk remains safe even if mother has had anaesthetic or painkiller drugs.
A new study from Edith Cowan University found that allowing toddlers to explore their world while parents observe can reduce parental stress levels and improve mental health. Parents who participated in a 6-week Respectful Approach program reported lower stress and increased confidence in their children's capabilities.
Clinical studies in Kenya suggest that iron deficiency during infancy may reduce the protection provided by vaccinations. In one study, researchers found that anaemic infants had more than twice the risk of lacking protective antibodies against diphtheria and other pathogens.
Researchers at UConn Health have developed a non-invasive biomarker panel for diagnosing and monitoring infant urinary tract obstruction. The panel of five proteins can detect UPJO in infants and toddlers, reducing the need for expensive and invasive tests.
A randomized trial found that IV indomethacin was more effective in successfully closing hemodynamically significant PDAs in very low birth weight infants. The study showed a success rate of 55% for IV indomethacin versus 6% for IV acetaminophen.
A new study from the University of California, Davis, shows that toddlers may experience and deal with uncertainty in decision making like older children and adults. Toddlers gather information before making decisions, taking extra time on difficult trials, and exhibiting behaviors that suggest they can respond to uncertain situations.
The range of commercial baby foods has grown rapidly in recent years, with 84% more brands and double the products compared to 2013. However, researchers found that many products are still high in sugar, with sweet snack foods showing a significant increase in sugar content.
Infants who are fed in the absence of hunger or beyond fullness may develop skewed perceptions of hunger and fullness, increasing their risk of obesity. Caregiver-infant interactions during feeding can shape infants' self-regulation of energy intake, with feeding responsiveness to cues being linked to obesity.
A recent Canadian study found that DHA supplements have no effect on bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants born before the 29th week of pregnancy. The study involved 461 breastfeeding mothers who received either a daily supplement or a placebo, and the results showed no improvement in respiratory conditions by 36 weeks.
A recent study reports evidence of intrauterine transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to infant, highlighting the importance of protecting pregnant women from COVID-19. The findings suggest that infection can occur during pregnancy, and researchers emphasize the need for further research into mechanisms and risk factors.
A new study found that living close to green space can mitigate changes in infant gut bacteria associated with formula feeding. Formula-fed babies living near natural environments had a gut microbiome more similar to breastfed babies, with increased presence of Proteobacteria.
A recent study found that breast feeding during infancy reduces lower limb fracture risk, while maternal smoking increases upper limb fracture risk in young adulthood. Exposures during fetal development and early life have lasting effects on bone health.
A study of 212 newborns found that higher proportions of Bacteroidetes bacteria in meconium were associated with later obesity. The infant's microbiome before birth may play a role in their weight status.
A new NIH study found that infants exposed to iodine in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at higher risk for developing congenital hypothyroidism. Infants with this condition often require thyroid hormone therapy within four weeks of birth, and permanent intellectual disability may result if treatment is delayed.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet found the Apgar score effective in assessing health of preterm infants, with lower scores associated with increased mortality risk. A higher Apgar score significantly increases the chance of survival for premature babies, highlighting its importance regardless of gestational age.
A new study from the University of Turku found that prenatal stress is associated with changes in infant gut microbiota composition, specifically with increased abundances of Proteobacteria and decreased abundances of Akkermansia. The study also discovered a link between low cortisol concentrations and increased Lactobacillus bacteria ...
Infants under 90 days old who tested positive for COVID-19 mostly experience mild symptoms, with fever being the primary symptom. High viral loads were found in young infants despite mild clinical illness. The decision to admit to hospital is based on age, need for preemptive treatment and clinical assessment.
According to a new Stanford-led study, California's most vulnerable premature babies are now healthier when they go home from the hospital. The proportion of infants who survived without major complications increased from 62% to 67%, while those with major complications had fewer of them.
Researchers found that individuals born small for gestational age have a lower IQ throughout development, but differences can narrow by adulthood. Additional factors like socioeconomic status and parent-infant relationship also influence cognitive performance.
The study found that siblings of infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly are at a 10-fold increased risk of suffering a similar death, with rates nearly 4 times higher than the general population. Modifiable risk factors for SUDI include smoking, mental health issues, unsafe sleeping, and child abuse/neglect.
A study published in Cognition found that 14-month-old infants expect to communicate with others who speak the same language, and that their environment influences these expectations. Infants from bilingual environments were more likely to predict successful communication across languages.
Researchers found that six-month-old infants could discriminate between major and minor musical tones with eye movements and visual stimuli. This capacity is similar to adults, with approximately 30% of infants able to distinguish the difference and 70% unable to.
A new study suggests that taking extra choline supplements during pregnancy may mitigate the negative impact of viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19, on fetal brain development. Higher prenatal choline levels have been shown to protect the fetus's developing brain from the effects of virus infection.
Six-month-old infants recognized when adults imitated them and responded with longer gazes and approaches. The babies engaged in imitation games and showed testing behavior even when the researcher's emotions were neutral.