Articles tagged with Infants
Research reveals Hispanic infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and d-transposition of the great arteries face poorer outcomes in their first year compared to non-Hispanic white counterparts. Maternal education and insurance status are significant factors contributing to these disparities.
Researchers found that adult-like functional brain connections for emotional regulation emerge during the first year of life, predicting anxiety and emotional regulation in 4-year-olds. The growth of these brain circuits during the second year of life also predicted IQ at 4 years old.
A new study found that growth rates of brain circuits in infancy can predict a child's IQ and emotional behavior at age four. Researchers used MRI scans on infants and followed their development to identify early signs of mental, behavioral, or developmental disorders.
Researchers at Kazan Federal University investigated the virulence factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae in neonates with sepsis and urinary tract infections. They found that rmpA gene-containing strains were associated with more severe diseases, revealing a higher prevalence of virulent K. pneumoniae strains than previously thought.
Research finds that infants' early speech production can predict their later literacy skills. Children with more complex babble as infants performed better in letter identification tests at age six.
A new report in the American Journal of Pathology demonstrates a link between prenatal inflammation and postnatal immune status and organ function in preterm pigs. Prenatal exposure to bacterial endotoxin induced acute fetal lung and gut immune responses, followed by systemic inflammation after birth.
For the first time, researchers have shown that young wild sparrows can learn to sing a new tune by listening to experimental vocal tutors. The birds then pass on these new songs to subsequent generations, confirming the ability of wild birds to learn and adapt their songs through exposure to adult birds.
A first-of-its-kind study found that fathers' hormone levels around the birth of their children relate to their parenting down the road. Dads whose cortisol levels were elevated while holding their newborns on the day of birth were more likely to be involved in indirect care and play with their infants in the first months of life.
A new clinical practice guideline emphasizes the importance of early identification and referral to physical therapy for infants with CMT. Early intervention can result in excellent outcomes, including full passive neck rotation and zero surgical interventions.
Researchers, led by Penn State's Steven Schiff, will develop innovative models to predict outbreaks of epidemic disease and provide real-time preventive treatment. Their approach aims to improve patient outcomes by incorporating historical microbiological surveillance data, geographic location, and environmental factors.
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered human milk oligosaccharides in amniotic fluid during pregnancy, which may influence early microbiome development and prevent preterm birth. HMOs' presence in amniotic fluid also suggests potential benefits for prenatal lung and brain development.
Researchers discover that newborns have a unique state of balance in haemostasis, making them more prone to thrombosis and bleeding. The study found significant differences between the haemostasis of adults and infants, particularly in preterm babies.
A new study from North Carolina State University investigated the decomposition of juvenile and infant remains to provide crucial information for criminal cases. The researchers found that the rate of decomposition is similar to adult remains, with smaller remains decomposing faster due to body size.
Researchers found that infants with higher levels of Bifidobacterium had reduced antimicrobial resistance genes and lower frequency of resistant bacteria. This suggests that colonization by the microbe can help guard the infant intestine.
Research suggests that breastfeeding can change gene activity in infants, making them less reactive to stress. The study found that breastfed babies had decreased DNA methylation and cortisol reactivity.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that infants' attention to fearful faces at seven months predicts altruistic behavior at 14 months. The analysis revealed that brain responses in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex measured through functional near-infrared spectroscopy also predicted altruistic behavior.
A new study found that mothers who intended to exclusively breastfeed but used formula had similar health outcomes to those who breastfed exclusively. The findings suggest that a mother's characteristics and access to healthcare information may be more important than breastfeeding itself in determining infant health outcomes.
Researchers at UNC will investigate the epidemiology of Zika virus in pregnancy and its effects on infant neurodevelopment. The team will follow infants exposed to Zika in Nicaragua and test new diagnostic protocols to understand the virus's impact.
A new study evaluates the Early Feeding Skills (EFS) checklist as a valid and reliable tool for assessing the emergence of feeding skills in preterm infants. The EFS provides a comprehensive assessment of oral feeding skills, including respiratory regulation, swallowing coordination, and staying engaged with feeding.
A study published in Advances in Neonatal Care reports that managing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) requires a cascade of care, emphasizing the need for improved coordination and resources. The researchers identified four essential areas to improve NAS care, including greater education and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
New research reveals infants can acquire object categories using just a few labeled examples, sparking the process of categorization. This 'semi-supervised learning' strategy efficiently integrates all subsequent objects into their evolving category representation.
A study found that premature baby boys' brains are affected more severely than girls', with significant sex differences in gray matter and white matter. The research used MRI scans to analyze the brains of 33 infants, showing that even at one year old, there are major sex differences.
New Zealand research found that infants on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are not at higher risk of pneumonia or lower respiratory tract infections. The study of over 21,000 infants dispensed PPIs between 2005 and 2012 revealed a relatively low number of serious lung infections among those using the medication.
A study found that infant walker-related injuries decreased dramatically between 1990 and 2014, largely due to improved safety standards. The number of injuries dropped by 90% during the study period, with falls down stairs being the leading cause.
Researchers found that hospitalized infants with both conditions were four times more likely to die than those with only congenital heart disease. Infants with central sleep apnea and a heart abnormality stayed twice as long and had double the hospital bills at discharge.
A Canadian study found that frequent use of household disinfectants alters the gut microbiota in infants, leading to higher body mass index scores and increased risk of childhood obesity. In contrast, eco-friendly cleaners may reduce this risk due to healthier maternal lifestyles and eating habits.
A study found that paracetamol use in infancy may increase the risk of asthma in adolescents, particularly those with certain genetic variations of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes. Children who took paracetamol more frequently had a higher risk of developing asthma, especially if they carried the GSTP1 Ile/Ile variant.
A study by Rush University Medical Center found that Chicago news media reported 59% of child traffic crash deaths and 38% of fire-related deaths, but not a single case of sudden unexpected infant death. This lack of reporting contributes to parents' unawareness of the risks involved, leading to unsafe sleep environments.
A US children's hospital implemented a first-of-its-kind project to eliminate or reduce pain from elective needle procedures, improving patient satisfaction and staff concerns. The 'Children's Comfort Promise' project introduced four research-proven strategies, which saved time and reduced staff turnover.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has received a grant to develop an innovative parent-assisted treatment program for infants as young as 6 months at risk for autism spectrum disorder. The project aims to identify biomarkers correlated with later autism diagnosis through electroencephalographic (EEG) technology.
Researchers identified a specific neural network that helps regulate babies' brain activity in response to pain, similar to adults. Greater functional connectivity within this network was found to lead to lower brain activity in response to painful stimuli.
Researchers found that toddlers aged 21-31 months prefer the high-status puppet in a conflict of interest scenario, but avoid the one that wins by force. This suggests that human nature is aware of social status and acknowledges it, unlike other primates.
A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that changes in calorie and protein intake were estimated during five transition phases from full intravenous nutrition to full enteral nutrition. The researchers recommend specific approaches to maximize calorie and protein intake during various transition phases.
Infants as young as 21 months old can distinguish between respectful leadership and bullying behavior. They expect protagonists to obey orders given by a leader, even when the leader is no longer present, but not when ordered by a bully.
A new study found that 21-month-old infants can recognize power differences between characters and expect those differences to endure over time. Infants understand that with leaders, they must obey even when the leader is not present, but with bullies, they only obey when the bully is around.
A recent study published in The Lancet found that armed conflicts across Africa may have resulted in the deaths of as many as 5 million children aged under 5 years between 1995 and 2015. Conflict increased mortality risk for infants and children, particularly those born near conflict zones or exposed to higher-intensity conflicts.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discovered that unconventional T cells play a crucial role in protecting infants from severe flu complications by promoting lung cell repair. This immune response differs from adults and may provide a new target for therapies to ease flu symptoms in infants.
The PLAY project aims to capture natural behavior of infants and mothers in their homes, providing a comprehensive dataset on infant development. The corpus will be shareable and searchable across domains, enabling researchers to address critical questions about behavioral cascades.
Researchers tested two commercially available baby monitors, finding that one detected low oxygen levels inconsistently while the other falsely displayed low pulse rates. These alarming results highlight the need for regulation of these products to prevent unnecessary anxiety and medical interventions in healthy infants.
Research by University of Notre Dame professors finds prenatal exposure to violence is associated with increased toddler aggression towards their mothers. The study also reveals that intervening early during pregnancy can significantly reduce the negative impact on children.
Research on false beliefs in young children reveals distinct patterns of understanding between infants and older children. Infants use social-cognitive abilities associated with great apes, whereas older children employ human social-cognitive abilities to coordinate mental states with cooperative partners.
A major new study shows that rotavirus vaccination reduces infant diarrhoea deaths by 34% in rural Malawi, adding weight to the World Health Organisation's recommendation for its inclusion in national immunisation programmes. The study also found a direct link between vaccine coverage and mortality reduction.
A quality-improvement project standardized feeding practices for micro preemies, leading to a significant increase in weight gain and improvements in nutritional status. The project also increased the frequency of lactation consultations by nearly fourfold.
A multicenter study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that inducing labor in healthy first-time mothers at 39 weeks reduced cesarean sections compared to waiting for labor naturally. Infants born to induced mothers did not experience more stillbirths or newborn deaths.
A responsive parenting intervention resulted in lower body mass indexes (BMIs) among toddlers when they were three years old. The program taught first-time moms how to respond appropriately to their babies' needs, leading to healthier weight development and reduced rates of overweight and obesity.
Researchers found that nine-month-old children who heard baby talk words such as 'bunny' and 'choo-choo' more frequently grasped new words faster between 9-21 months. This suggests that specific types of baby talk words, like those ending in 'y', can facilitate vocabulary development.
A study of serious case reviews of sudden unexpected infant deaths found that domestic violence, mental health problems, and substance misuse were common factors. Most cases occurred in hazardous sleep environments, with cosleeping and parental intoxication contributing to the risk.
A study on human brain tissue and preterm rabbits suggests that estrogen treatment can restore the balance of interneurons in the cerebral cortex, which is disrupted in premature birth. This finding implies that mimicking the in utero environment may have the potential to improve developmental outcomes for preterm infants.
Exposure to nicotine during pregnancy may impair a baby's cardiorespiratory responses, increasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Nicotine replacement therapies may not protect infants from SIDS, and their use is not considered safe during pregnancy.
A survey of 6,641 people found that nearly 40% had a fictional first memory, with middle-aged and older adults more likely to claim such memories. Researchers suggest these may be based on remembered fragments of early experience and facts about infancy.
A study of US children suggests that high levels of toddler self-regulation are associated with lower obesity rates in boys but higher rates in girls. The findings may indicate different strategies for preventing childhood obesity based on sex.
Researchers at CHOP developed a new method to determine which premature infants should be screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which leads to blindness in 400-600 US infants each year. The criteria were highly sensitive and accurate, reducing the number of premature infants who would require examinations by 30.3%.
Scientists have discovered a class of 'danger signals' that trigger an efficient immune response in newborns, potentially reducing vaccine administration age and booster injections. This breakthrough aims to improve pediatric vaccine efficacy and protect more infants and young children from infections.
A study by King's College London found that babies introduced to solid foods early slept longer and woke less frequently at night compared to those exclusively breastfed for six months. This research challenges current government advice, which states that starting solid foods won't make babies more likely to sleep through the night.
A randomized clinical trial found that early introduction of some solid foods, accompanied by continued breastfeeding, resulted in small but significant improvements in infant sleep. The study also showed that the timing of introducing solid foods may influence infant sleep patterns.
A new study by University of Washington researchers has found that infants as young as 2 months old display a well-formed body map with distinct neural signatures for different body parts, including the lips. The research uses infant brain imaging to gauge how the hand, foot, and lips are represented in the brains of 2-month-olds.
A study published in Microbiome found that maternal diet during pregnancy can influence the infant gut microbiome, with varying effects depending on delivery mode. Vaginal delivery was associated with a higher abundance of Bifidobacterium and Enterobactericeae, while caesarean section was linked to increased Streptococcus and Clostridium.
Researchers highlight tragic case of baby Noah's death due to vitamin D deficiency and advocate for simplified guidance, mandatory monitoring, and food fortification. Current UK recommendations are deemed outdated and overly complex, putting dark-skinned individuals at risk.
Researchers found that infants aged 4- to 8-months hold a primary cerebral representation of audiovisual integration in their right hemisphere, with the number of processed materials increasing with experience. This study sheds light on the trajectory of acquiring general knowledge about objects.
A study published in Acta Paediatrica found that non-dairy drinks can lead to malnutrition, height and weight impairment, anaemia, and other health problems in infants. The alternative beverages, commonly based on almonds, chestnuts, rice, and soya, were consumed by 34 children who suffered medical complications between 2005 and 2015.