Articles tagged with Infants
A review paper highlights the importance of choline and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for infant brain and eye development, with inadequate intakes linked to visual and neurocognitive deficits. The study suggests that supplementation, particularly for vulnerable populations, may improve maternal and infant health.
A long-running study on premature infants found that stress from birth can lead to cognitive limitations, social struggles, and increased risk of health issues. Researchers will continue the 30-year study to understand how to limit NICU stress and mitigate its impact throughout life.
Eleven-month-old infants can associate languages with ethnicities based on individual encounters, the study found. The researchers played Cantonese and English to infants of Caucasian ancestry, showing them faces of Asian and Caucasian individuals.
Researchers have identified specific bacterial species in the human infant gut that protect against food allergies. Administering these microbes as a therapeutic can prevent food allergies from happening and even reverse existing ones in mice, offering a new approach to treating this common condition.
A new study published in Pediatrics shows that a state-wide quality improvement initiative improved hospital-based breastfeeding support practices and first milk expression among mothers of very low birth weight infants. However, disparities in mother's milk provision persisted after three weeks of hospitalization.
Researchers found a 14-gene signature that predicts two-year transplant-free survival in children with biliary atresia. The antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine reduced liver injury and fibrosis, increasing survival times in mouse models.
Researchers discovered that an antibody in breastmilk, IgA, is necessary to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants. The study found that more bacteria bound to IgA reduced the likelihood of NEC in formula-fed babies compared to those fed breastmilk.
Researchers found that adult males were responsible for most infanticides in a Ugandan chimpanzee community, with victims often under one week old. The study suggests that the sexual selection hypothesis is the key driver behind this high rate of infant killings.
A new study by LSU Health New Orleans researchers reveals that mothers' pre-pregnancy weight status impacts the composition of their breast milk, affecting infant growth. Infants born to overweight or obese mothers exhibit less responsive growth to breast milk.
Researchers identified factors contributing to placental transfer of antibodies, including a preference for NK-activating antibodies that activate natural killer cells. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective maternal vaccines and deliver them during pregnancy to protect newborns from serious diseases like polio.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that using limited formula in the first days of life does not negatively impact breastfeeding at 6 months. However, it may alter maternal attitudes towards breastfeeding and lead to shorter breastfeeding duration. The study tracked 164 babies born at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals and P...
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine uses wearable motion-tracking devices to identify children with subtle motor impairments. The researchers found that typically developing children under age 3 use both arms equally, but in children with motor impairments, the ratio shifts significantly.
A new study found that child deaths fell by 5.2% and 3.4% after Brazil's 2014 comprehensive smoke-free legislation, reducing infant mortality rates and health inequalities. The research suggests strengthening smoke-free laws can help protect children's lives, particularly in middle-income countries.
Research in mice found that breastfeeding can transfer immunity beyond the period of breastfeeding, driven by immune cells rather than antibodies. This protection was transferred from mothers exposed to worm infections before pregnancy and provided lifelong benefits to their infants.
A multicenter research team will scan the brains of 250 infants in North America using MRI scans while they are sleeping, from 6 and 12 months old, to analyze brain structure and function. The goal is to identify differences in the brain that accurately predict which children are most likely to develop autism spectrum disorder.
A Rutgers-led study found that father-friendly cues in OBGYNS offices can boost men's involvement in prenatal care. Men who visited a waiting room with images of both men and babies reported higher expectations and confidence about parenting, leading to healthier behaviors and outcomes for women and infants.
A study published in PNAS finds that premature infants who listened to tailored music had improved brain network development and functional connectivity compared to those without music. The research suggests that music can be a valuable tool to support the development of fragile newborns.
Research using functional MRI found that music-based care plans enhanced brain circuit connectivity in preterm infants. This suggests music may improve future socio-cognitive function and prevent brain deficits.
A new study found that infants at high risk for autism were less able to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar speech patterns. The researchers suggest that interventions should begin during infancy for those at high risk.
A new study found that infants who are later diagnosed with autism react adequately when others initiate joint attention, but seldom actively seek to establish such episodes themselves. This suggests that children with autism have reduced social motivation already as infants.
A NEOMED researcher has designed a therapeutic intervention to help preterm infants suck, swallow and breathe. The study uses an animal model to measure feeding and breathing coordination in newborns, with the goal of developing a rehabilitation strategy for preterm infants.
The Bili-ruler is a novel, low-cost device for screening neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, which affects up to 80% of newborns. It uses six color strips arranged in a stepwise gradient of increasing yellow hue and has high diagnostic accuracy, validating its use in improving early recognition and care seeking in low-resource settings.
A new study reveals that over 60% of infant deaths in car seats occur due to misuse, with most happening at home. The safest place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat surface outside of these devices.
Researchers found that infants with bacterial pneumonia were more likely to require supplemental oxygen, bronchodilators, or steroids due to lingering breathing issues. The study suggests a potential long-term impact of bacterial pneumonia on lung health in vulnerable populations.
Researchers captured detailed images of infants' skulls and brains before and during delivery using 3D MRI, finding that fetal head molding occurs in all seven infants, with different parts of the skull overlapping. The study suggests that infants experience greater skull stresses during birth than previously thought, potentially under...
A new study published in Breastfeeding Medicine found that early term infants (born at 37-38 weeks) are less likely to breastfeed within the first hour and at one month after birth. This is due to their neurologic immaturity, which can make breastfeeding more difficult.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found a wide difference in language exposure among fetuses, ranging from five hours to two hours and 45 minutes. This study aims to inform best practices for NICU care and understand the impact on early brain development.
Researchers found that quiet time in NICUs was related to improved infant health, with healthier heart rates during quiet hours. The study recommends using quiet time protocols to help NICU patients and implementing architectural noise reduction strategies.
A new study by Ohio State University and Purdue University found that young children are better teachers when it comes to learning new words. The research suggests that toddlers learn more effectively from other children, rather than adults or family members.
A study at Boston Medical Center found that mothers of very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants who expressed first milk within 8 hours had a higher probability of successful lactation. The research suggests prioritizing early milk expression to support long-term lactation success.
A new framework, secure base provision, predicts infant attachment with greater accuracy than traditional sensitivity-based approaches. Caregivers need only respond correctly 50% of the time to have a positive impact on their baby's development.
A comprehensive analysis of 25 studies revealed that prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) was more strongly associated with risk of adverse outcomes than gestational weight gain. The study included nearly 197,000 women and suggests that optimal pre-pregnancy weight is crucial for a healthy pregnancy.
Newborns with Apgar scores of 7, 8, and 9 have a higher risk of infections, breathing problems, brain injury, low blood sugar levels, and death compared to those with a perfect score of 10. A small change in score from 10 to 9 at five or ten minutes after birth also increases the risk.
A new study found that nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) is superior to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preventing reintubation in preterm infants with neonatal ARDS. NHFOV reduced PCO2 levels and enabled infants to leave the hospital in fewer days.
Researchers found early ASD diagnoses remain stable and reliable in children aged 14-24 months, with 84% of initial diagnoses retained at final evaluation. The study suggests potential for earlier treatment with further research needed.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that autism diagnoses become stable starting at 14 months, with a mean age of diagnosis being significantly lower than previously reported. This suggests that accurate screening and earlier treatment can result in improved therapeutic benefits for children with ASD.
The Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative initiative improved the care of opioid-exposed infants by reducing pharmacological treatment duration and length of hospital stay. The project, which monitored 9,648 infants from 2014 to 2018, saw a decline in the proportion requiring treatment from 48% to 42%.
Researchers found that a panel of plasma biomarkers can help identify infants most in need of additional interventions after therapeutic cooling. Cytokines and Tau protein levels changed over time, with peak levels occurring within the first 24 hours and again during rewarmed stages. This study aims to develop a more accurate risk asse...
Research at Children's National Hospital found that early lipid intake significantly increases global brain volume and boosts regional brain activity in micro-preemies. This is particularly important for preterm infants who are vulnerable to growth failure and neurocognitive impairment after birth.
A new quality improvement tool called Eat, Sleep and Console (ESC) has been shown to improve care of opioid-exposed newborns in NICUs. The ESC approach uses non-pharmacologic interventions and reduces hospital stays and medication exposure.
The Children's National Hospital NICU implemented a quality-improvement project that reduced unintended extubations by 60% over 10 years through standardized taping methods, bedside review of events, and reducing chest X-rays. The project saved an estimated $1.5 million per year and improved patient safety.
Researchers found 18 babies with ambiguous genitalia among 14,177 newborns, a frequency higher than previous studies. Lower birth weight was also linked to the condition, with preeclampsia common in those pregnancies.
Researchers developed an AI-powered platform that rapidly diagnoses genetic diseases in critically ill infants, matching expert interpretation in 95 cases. The platform correctly diagnosed three of seven ICU patients with 100% sensitivity and precision, affecting treatment outcomes.
This observational study found that state Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act was associated with reduced rates of low birth weight and preterm births among black infants, but not Hispanic or white infants. The study used data from 15.6 million births between 2011-2016.
A new study reveals that soft bedding is responsible for almost 70% of sleep-related infant deaths. The most common causes of suffocation in babies under one year old are overlay, soft bedding, and wedging.
Infants with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1) have been cured of the disease using gene therapy developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The treatment produced functional immune cells, including T cells and B cells, in all but one patient.
A small clinical trial shows that gene therapy can safely correct the immune systems of infants with X-SCID, a rare life-threatening disorder. The treatment involves inserting a normal copy of the IL2RG gene into the patient's blood-forming stem cells.
Research suggests that mode of delivery influences the development of the gut microbiota in infants, with C-sections linked to delayed bacterial colonization and increased risk of respiratory infections. This may have implications for future respiratory health.
Research at Columbia University found that providing clear information on the sugar content and health risks of sugary drinks can help families make informed choices. The study's lead author recommends using visual aids and graphic warning labels to inform parents about healthy alternatives.
A study of 70 mothers and infants found that maternal stress impacts neurodevelopment at 2 months old. Higher maternal education acts as a protective factor against the stress effect.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles implemented child-parent psychotherapy in the NICU to support infant-parent relationships. The approach has been shown to reduce post-traumatic stress symptoms and promote resilience in families.
A recent study published in Nature Cell Biology suggests that light therapy could be an effective treatment for premature babies' vision problems. The research discovered a molecular pathway controlled by light exposure that regulates eye development and prevents conditions like retinopathy of prematurity and myopia.
A large multicenter trial found that standard intermittent positive pressure ventilation did not reduce the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death at 36 weeks postmenstrual age for extremely preterm infants. In contrast, sustained inflations did not appear beneficial in reducing BPD risk and mortality in this vulnerable popu...
Pediatric health researchers offer new insights for RSV vaccine development, highlighting the importance of type 1 interferons in infants' immune response. The study suggests strategies to enhance type 1 interferon responses and improve existing vaccines, offering hope for prevention of severe RSV disease in infants.
A recent study of child-feeding habits among Marshallese in Arkansas found high compliance with medical standards for breastfeeding infants, but also reliance on rice and processed foods. Researchers identified economic and cultural barriers to incorporating fruits and vegetables into the diet.
Researchers develop AI method to extract clinically important movement patterns from normal video recordings, enabling early CP detection and assessment of neurological development. The study shows promise for automated movement analyses in diverse applications, including out-of-hospital screening and therapeutic decision-making.
A major breakthrough in artificial womb technology has demonstrated its ability to support extremely preterm babies equivalent to a human fetus at 24 weeks of gestation. The study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology shows that the technology can maintain stable, growth-normal state for five days.
A recent University of Michigan-led study found that mothers of fussy babies are at a higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. The study explored whether a baby's level of prematurity in combination with infant fussiness influences the severity of maternal depressive symptoms.
The study found significant racial segregation and inequality in NICU care for very low-birth-weight and preterm infants. Researchers identified sociodemographic factors, hospital quality, access, and choice as key contributors to these disparities.
The I-ACQUIRE trial evaluates an intensive pediatric therapy to increase upper extremity skills, gross motor development, and cognition in infants with strokes under four weeks old. The study aims to transform clinical rehabilitation for thousands of newly diagnosed infant stroke victims annually.