Articles tagged with Infants
The COBRE for Reproductive Health aims to develop research infrastructure for a center supporting interdisciplinary research in women's reproductive health. Four investigators will focus on understanding mechanisms of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and prematurity using pre-clinical models and computational approaches.
A study found that breast milk feeding in premature infants (weighing less than 1,500 grams) improves white matter microstructural organization, which may predict better neurologic outcomes. This increase suggests more robust fiber tracts and microarchitecture of the developing white matter.
Reading to infants as early as six months can have a lasting impact on their language and literacy skills, with higher vocabulary and reading abilities recorded four years later. The study found that the quality and quantity of shared book-reading during infancy and toddlerhood are strongly tied to later emergent literacy skills.
Research presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting suggests that handheld screen time use is associated with increased risk of expressive language delay in infants. Children under 2 years old who spend more time playing with smartphones, tablets, and other handheld screens are more likely to begin talking later.
A new study reveals a previously unknown mode of communication between the hippocampus and red nucleus during REM sleep in infants. This synchronization is essential for motor control development and may contribute to motor problems in disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
A new study published in Diabetologia found that high levels of fish-derived fatty acids, particularly DHA and DPA, were associated with a lower risk of early autoimmunity in infants at high genetic risk for type 1 diabetes. Breastfeeding was also linked to higher serum levels of protective fatty acids.
A recent study by Queen's University Belfast found that 50% of baby rice food products contain illegal levels of inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen. The research highlights the vulnerability of babies to arsenic exposure and its potential long-term health consequences.
A new study examines 'small for gestational age' (SGA) across Europe and finds that birthweight has a strong impact on reference percentiles for very preterm infants. Country-specific references are recommended to effectively benchmark outcomes for SGA in each population.
Researchers propose a novel approach to treating newborns with opioid exposure based on their ability to eat, sleep, and be consoled. This alternative method significantly reduces the length of hospitalization without increasing readmission rates.
Researchers at Georgia State University are testing a new mobile phone application that combines two existing programs to decrease maternal depression and build parenting skills. The project aims to promote infant social-emotional health and development, with the potential to reach larger numbers of mothers than traditional programs.
A Canadian study found that women who used marijuana during pregnancy were almost three times more likely to have an infant with low birth weight. Maternal amphetamine use and smoking were also identified as risk factors for low birth weight.
Researchers at CHOP have developed a unique womb-like environment to support growth and organ maturation in extremely premature babies. The system, tested on fetal lambs, has shown promising results, with some animals remaining healthy after 28 days of operation.
Researchers discovered that higher maternal relationship happiness and general social support reduce infant colic rates. The study of over 3,000 women found stronger associations between relationship happiness and lower colic risks, even in postpartum depression cases.
A University at Buffalo study found that simulations of daily care and nightmare scenarios increased the confidence of parents of newborns in the NICU by nearly 30%. The Neonatal Home Environment Learning Program (HELP) used infant simulators to recreate real-life situations, allowing parents to rehearse and experience behaviors, conse...
New studies reveal that infants as young as six months old display racial bias, favoring their own race and rejecting others. Researchers believe this bias emerges without prior experience with other-race individuals, suggesting a potential starting point for preventing racial biases in later life.
A new blood test has been developed to detect acute intracranial hemorrhage due to abusive head trauma in infants, with a high sensitivity rate of 90%. The test uses a combination of biomarkers and hemoglobin levels to identify infants at risk.
A study reveals that Bifidobacterium longum has adapted to the infant gut by producing an enzyme called LnbX, which enables growth on a sugar abundant in human milk. This adaptation suggests a possible evolutionary route for the breast milk-driven symbiosis between gut microbes and humans.
Human infants demonstrate an innate ability to recognize heroic acts from early stages of development, drawn to figures protecting the weak. As they grow, their understanding of justice becomes more complex.
In a groundbreaking study, great apes showed they can distinguish between true and false beliefs in others, assisting individuals in obtaining an object by exploiting the person's false belief. This advanced social cognition ability is now confirmed for great apes, alongside humans.
A recent review of published research found that hearing their mother's voice can benefit the health of preterm infants. The study linked maternal voice exposure to physiological and behavioral stabilization, including fewer cardiorespiratory events.
A new study from Lehigh University found that infants born to mothers living as far as 20-30 miles away from a coal-fired power plant had a 6.5% greater risk of low birth weight and a 17.12% greater risk of very low birth weight.
A study published in JAMA found that early low-dose hydrocortisone treatment in very preterm infants did not result in adverse effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age. The researchers analyzed data from the PREMILOC trial and found no significant differences in patients with or without neurodevelopmental impairment.
A study published in Pediatrics found that maternal Tdap vaccination during pregnancy reduced pertussis risk for infants by an estimated 91% within the first two months, and 69% for the entire first year. This research supports current recommendations to administer Tdap vaccine to pregnant women during each pregnancy.
New research by the University of Warwick found that babies in the UK, Canada, and Italy cry more than those in other countries. On average, babies around the world cry for 2 hours per day in the first two weeks, peaking at 2 hours 15 minutes at six weeks.
A Tel Aviv University study found that infants fed thiamine-deficient formula suffered from severe motor function difficulties, with long-term consequences for their health. The researchers emphasize the critical role of vitamin B1 in child development and stress the need for regulatory control of breast milk substitutes.
Very premature babies benefit from corticosteroids given to mothers at risk of preterm delivery. Exposure to antenatal corticosteroids reduces mortality and morbidity rates, especially among infants born at the lowest gestations.
Research finds that mothers with a history of mental health disorders have decreased perceptions of their infant well-being and readiness for transition home. Enhanced transition services are needed to support this unmet need.
The article reviews workplace policies that affect breastfeeding and recommends key elements of a successful policy, including breaks for pumping, storage facilities, and education. Nurse practitioners play a crucial role in promoting continued breastfeeding after returning to work.
Researchers found that premature infants exhibited decreased responses to light touch compared to full-term infants when discharged from the NICU. However, providing more 'supportive touch' experiences, such as skin-to-skin care and breastfeeding, strengthened their brains' response to light touch.
Researchers found that treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia did not improve cognitive outcomes in children through five years. The findings support current ACOG recommendations against universal thyroid screening during pregnancy.
The study estimates that there were 69 perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among infants born in the US in 2013. Maternal and infant factors associated with infant HIV infection include late maternal diagnosis and lack of antiretroviral treatment and prophylaxis.
A recent study published in PNAS found that adult humans' subcortex can process numbers at the same level as infants and other lower-order species. The researchers used a stereoscope to present visual stimuli to one eye or both eyes and observed that numerical judgments were better when the quantities differed greatly.
Research by Jillian Trabulsi and Julie Mennella investigates the effects of infant formula on infant weight gain. The study found that babies fed cow's milk formula gained weight faster than those fed hydrolyzed protein formula or breastfed, highlighting the importance of choosing a suitable formula for infants.
Researchers found that preterm babies' brain responses to gentle touch are reduced compared to full-term infants. Positive touch experiences in the NICU enhance brain response to touch, while painful procedures can affect sensory development.
A study found that many toddlers diagnosed with autism at two years of age had a substantially greater amount of extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid at six and 12 months of age, before diagnosis was possible. The more CSF at six months, the more severe the autism symptoms were at two years of age.
Researchers found that state-level Medicaid payment reform led to a 14% reduction in early elective deliveries and improved gestational age and birthweight for infants. The impact was particularly significant for minority patients, with increased health disparities addressed through this policy change.
Researchers found that altered CSF distribution in high-risk infants can predict ASD, with 70% accuracy. Increased subarachnoid CSF at six months is associated with more severe autism symptoms.
Researchers propose that infant-directed song, lullabies and play songs for babies and toddlers, may have deep evolutionary roots as a way for parents to signal their children's needs while freeing up time for other tasks. The theory suggests that this type of music developed as an 'arms race' between parents and infants over attention.
A study by Norwegian researchers has found that young children in childcare exhibit increased stress hormone cortisol levels on childcare days, compared to days at home. The study also revealed a correlation between the length of childcare days and cortisol levels, with longer days linked to higher cortisol levels.
Zika virus exposure in utero may lead to a range of health issues, including abnormal reflexes, limb abnormalities, and brain defects such as microcephaly. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for Zika-affected children, involving both clinical treatment and research strategies.
A new study by Northeastern University psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett found that the neurotransmitter dopamine plays a crucial role in human bonding. The research, which used a novel technology to scan mothers' brains while interacting with their infants, showed that strong social relationships can improve outcomes for individuals w...
Research from UM Frost School of Music found that infant-directed singing fosters a strong bond between mothers and infants. Engaging infants through song stimulates their attention, while also benefiting the mother by providing a distraction from negative emotions and thoughts associated with postpartum depression.
A new study uses magnetic resonance imaging to identify infants at high risk for developing autism by age two, with over 90% accuracy. The research found that rapid growth of the brain's surface area is a key indicator of autism risk.
A study published in Nature used MRI scans to identify infants at high risk of developing autism as toddlers. The researchers found that brain overgrowth in the first year of life was linked to increased growth rate of overall brain volume in the second year, and this was associated with emerging autistic social deficits.
Researchers found that survival rates increased from 30% to 36% among over 4,000 extremely preterm infants born between 2000 and 2011. Additionally, the proportion of survivors without neurological impairment rose from 16% to 20%. The authors attribute these improvements to advances in prenatal care and antenatal steroids.
A new study led by Duke Health has found that babies born at 23-24 weeks of pregnancy are showing small but measurable improvements in survival rates and neurodevelopment. The study analyzed the records of over 4,200 infants and found a larger percentage developing into toddlers without cognitive or motor delays.
A study published in Nature found that brain imaging biomarkers at 6 and 12 months can accurately predict which infants will develop autism spectrum disorder by 24 months. The predictive power of the findings may inform the development of a diagnostic tool for ASD, potentially intervening earlier to improve outcomes.
A new study published in Childhood Obesity reveals a strong association between early antibiotic exposure and an increased risk of childhood obesity in Latino infants. The research found that antibiotic use before 6 months of age was linked to rapid weight gain and obesity at 2 years of age.
Researchers used MRI to identify differences in brain development among high-risk infants, finding that those with autism showed faster brain growth rates between 6-12 months. These early brain changes can help predict autism diagnosis at age 2 years.
A recent NICU study found that preemies are exposed to noise levels higher than recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, while also lacking essential language stimulation. The researchers recommend engaging parents in providing sensory exposures to promote healthy development.
A new study found that high-quality early education programs improve language and social skills in low-income infants and toddlers. Children who attended a comprehensive program called Educare showed better outcomes than those who did not attend.
A new study published in Genetics in Medicine found that non-invasive cell-free DNA prenatal testing can be effectively and appropriately offered to all pregnant women through primary obstetrical care providers. The test has been shown to be highly effective in screening for Down syndrome and similar chromosome abnormalities.
A recent study published in International Journal of Epidemiology found that immigration raids can have a negative impact on the health of Latino newborns. Infants born to US-born and immigrant Latina mothers had a 24% greater risk of low birth weight compared to the previous year.
A systematic review of 23 studies found associations between food insecurity and adverse childhood developmental-behavioral outcomes in infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and adolescents. Food insecurity is linked to impaired cognitive development, academic performance, mental health symptoms, and behavioral problems.
Research at Princeton University finds that premature babies don't use sensory-prediction brain process to shape their brains like full-term babies do. This lack of processing is linked to higher risks of developmental delays as they grow.
Research found that babies with more diarrhea as infants had shorter telomeres in adulthood, associated with a higher burden of disease. Telomere length may be an important determinant of susceptibility to diarrheal infections and overall health outcomes.
A new study by University of Utah researchers found that a state-wide screening program led to increased early identification of infants with hearing loss due to congenital CMV. The law also provided funds for educational campaigns, which is important given the virus's prevalence.
Babies with flat head syndrome are at heightened risk of motor, language, and cognitive delays. Early and prompt assessment and intervention are crucial to mitigate these delays.
Pediatric experts warn that consumer-use baby monitors may cause undue alarm to parents and have no evidence of medical benefits for healthy babies. The devices, marketed aggressively to parents, promise peace of mind about their child's cardiorespiratory health but have been shown to be inaccurate and potentially harmful.
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health finds that all NYC toddlers studied had flame retardants on their hands, with mothers having lower levels. The researchers detected a higher concentration of flame retardants in toddler hand wipes compared to their mothers.