Articles tagged with Infants
Research found that extremely preterm infants have abnormal lung function and are twice as likely to have asthma. Lung function impairment persists into middle childhood, especially those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Early monitoring and treatment can minimize long-term respiratory problems.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found a successful pilot program increasing HPV vaccination rates from 0 to 44% among post-partum women. The study suggests that OB/GYN clinics can play a key role in vaccinating eligible adults, particularly pregnant and post-partum women.
Experts recommend including interventions that reduce weight gain in mothers-to-be and increase breastfeeding time to create a comprehensive anti-obesity program. This approach has the potential to alter the course of the childhood obesity epidemic, particularly among low-income children and ethnic minorities.
A study found that DNA analysis of dried blood samples from newborns did not effectively identify an infection causing congenital CMV, leading to sensorineural hearing loss. Current methods for screening newborns for this infection have low sensitivity and specificity.
Researchers confirm that early treatment for selected infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) improves their vision through 6 years of age. Doctors can identify high-risk infants by examining certain eye characteristics, such as blood vessel appearance and location.
Researchers at Queen's University found that toddlers as young as 21 months can be selective in their helping and reward good intentions. In three experiments with infants and two actresses, 75% of toddlers helped the actress who made an effort to help, even if they didn't receive a toy.
Researchers found that 16% of 6-month-olds were obese, highlighting the need for early detection and prevention strategies. Exclusive breastfeeding and adequate fiber intake can help prevent obesity in infants.
Researchers found that words significantly impacted 3-month-old infants' cognitive performance in a categorization task. Infants who heard words showed evidence of forming the fish category, while those who heard tones did not.
Research found that 18-month-old gesturing in brain-injured children can predict later vocabulary delays; the study suggests that gesture may be a diagnostic tool for identifying children who will experience persistent language delay. The findings have both therapeutic and diagnostic implications.
Researchers found that infants as young as 7 months old display sensitivity to human voice and emotional prosody in their brains, mirroring adult brain activity. The study suggests that critical neurodevelopmental processes underlying impaired voice processing in disorders like autism may occur before 7 months.
Researchers found that infants are more likely to help an actress who has previously shown good intentions, even if they were unable to provide a toy. This suggests that by 21 months, infants display selective helping behavior based on their previous interactions with others.
Researchers at University Clinic in Leuven, Belgium successfully treated premature infants with constricted aortas using bailout stenting. The procedure resulted in better surgical outcomes and improved hemodynamic stability for patients.
A recent study assessing nasal ventilation in newborns reveals that nearly 1 in 7 infants (12%) develop internal nasal complications while receiving oxygenation and ventilation support. The primary external complication found was columellar necrosis, which can lead to adverse cosmetic results if left untreated.
Infants as young as five months old show a strong response to music's beat, moving in sync with the rhythm. This innate ability may be linked to human evolution and music processing.
A study presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting found correlations between maternal and infant cobalt and chromium levels in patients with metal-on-metal hip implants. Elevated ion levels were detected in infants, suggesting the placenta modulates metal ion transfer to the fetus.
Janet Golden is researching how demographic factors and cultural expectations shape infant care practices in the US. She will analyze baby books and family papers to understand changes in American life over the past century.
A study published in Journal of Dental Research found that successful periodontal treatment significantly lowers the risk of preterm birth. Pregnant women with periodontal disease who received scaling and root planing had a lower rate of prematurity compared to those without periodontal disease.
Researchers at Charles Drew University and UC Irvine will develop a mobile app to collect daily observations on low-birth-weight babies and their parents. The system aims to improve healthcare outcomes by enabling earlier diagnoses and better quality of care.
Jennifer C. Hirsch, M.D., M.S., receives the Nina Starr Braunwald award for her work developing an assessment tool for infants' sensory and motor skills following congenital heart defects surgery. The award supports research and education for women in cardiac surgery.
Researchers found that higher-energy milk from heavier mothers with previous pregnancies led to more confident, active, and curious infants. In contrast, lower-energy milk was associated with less confident and less active infants when separated from their mother.
A Japanese team has developed an emotion detector for babies that can accurately classify their cries as 'normal' or in pain. The device uses a statistical analysis of audio spectra and achieved a 100% success rate in its validation tests.
A study by a University of Michigan researcher found that treadmill training can help infants at risk for neuromotor delays walk on the same trajectory as normal children. The intervention reduced toe-walking in affected infants and showed a critical window for improvement between 10-18 months.
Researchers found that daytime naps significantly aid infants' ability to generalize knowledge and recognize patterns in new information. The UA study revealed that napping within four hours after exposure to artificial language enhances abstract learning and sentence structure recognition in young children.
A Pitt-led study examining 348 burial urns reveals that around a fifth of the children were prenatal at death, contradicting claims of systematic infant sacrifice. The research suggests young Carthaginian children were cremated and interred in ceremonial urns regardless of cause of death.
A basic three-day newborn care training regimen reduced the rate of stillbirths by 23% to 15.9 per 1,000 deliveries, with improved outcomes among births attended by midwives and traditional birth attendants. The study, funded by NIH and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, tracked over 120,000 births in six developing countries.
A UAB-led study found that training birth attendants in essential newborn-care techniques reduced stillbirths by over 30% globally. The train-the-trainer program improved perinatal mortality rates, particularly among low-cost interventions such as neonatal resuscitation and kangaroo care.
A systematic review found that neonatal and infant circumcision by trained staff rarely results in problems, with relatively minor adverse events being low among infants under one year old. However, complications are more common when performed by inexperienced providers or with subpar equipment.
Infants born to bilingual mothers show different language preferences than monolingual infants. Bilingual babies exhibit equal interest in both languages, suggesting prenatal bilingual exposure prepares them for multilingualism. Discrimination between languages helps prevent confusion, enabling young bilinguals to navigate two languages.
A recent study found that infants with positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) had lower scores than typical infants in observational tests of cognitive and motor development. This suggests that babies with flat head syndrome should be screened early for possible motor and cognitive delays.
A systematic review found that neonatal and infant circumcision is relatively safe, with minor adverse events common but severe complications rare. The risk of complications increases with inexperienced providers or inadequate equipment, highlighting the need for improved training and safety measures.
Researchers study how parents use feeding to soothe infant distress, exploring its relation to rapid weight gain in infancy and subsequent childhood obesity. The study examines the role of genetics and dopamine in the brain's reward system, potentially linking parent feeding practices to increased energy intake.
Babies as young as six months old can comprehend adults' intentions, according to a York University study. Infants detected and accepted when an experimenter was unable to share for reasons beyond her control, but became agitated when it was clear she simply wouldn't share.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are developing a heart assist device called PediaFlow to support infants and small children with congenital or acquired heart disease. The device has already shown promise in preclinical research, pulling oxygenated blood from the left ventricle through its innovative mag-lev technology.
The NHLBI is awarding $23.6 million to develop preclinical testing of devices for pediatric circulatory support, expanding life-saving options for infants and children born with congenital heart defects or those who develop heart failure.
Researchers have identified DNA variants in mothers and fetuses that increase the risk for preterm labor and delivery. The variants were found in genes involved in inflammation and extracellular matrix regulation, suggesting a link between immune response and preterm birth.
Researchers found serotonin levels were 26% lower in SIDS infants' brain tissue, suggesting reduced capacity to respond to breathing challenges. The findings provide important clues to the biological basis of SIDS and may lead to ways to identify high-risk infants.
A study published in JAMA found lower levels of serotonin in brain tissue associated with an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The research suggests that abnormalities in the serotonin system may play a role in SIDS, particularly in the brainstem region.
The Virtual USA project aims to create a nationwide capability for sharing and standardizing life-saving emergency data in real-time. The platform, developed by the US Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, enables seamless integration of disparate data sources, reducing communication barriers between age...
Researchers discovered that a commonly used antibiotic, kanamycin, protects mouse ears from noise-induced hearing loss when given in low doses. The finding has significant implications for the development of new treatments and could benefit groups such as premature babies, soldiers, and airline workers.
A study found that prenatal alcohol exposure can alter the brain's developing pain regulatory system, causing a blunted response to painful events in newborns. Infants exposed to heavy prenatal alcohol had decreased physiological responses and lower stress hormone cortisol levels compared to those with little or no exposure.
A study published by Dr. Stephanie Fuller at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons found that deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) does not impair language skills, attention, and other neurocognitive abilities in school-age children. The use of DHCA was not predictive of worse performance for any neurodevelopmental outcome.
Researchers found that infants as young as five months old engage in joint attention with adults, activating the left prefrontal cortex, a region involved in complex cognitive and social behaviors. This suggests that the human brain develops this important social skill surprisingly early in infancy.
The study found that Inuit-inhabited areas had a 2.7 times higher fetal and infant mortality rate, with higher rates of preterm birth and younger mothers, highlighting dire maternal and infant health situations.
A recent study found that fertility drugs contribute significantly to the growing problem of premature births in the US. The March of Dimes urges more research and leadership to develop specific guidelines for the proper use of these drugs.
The prevalence of high body mass index (BMI) among US children and teens has remained stable over the past decade, with no significant decline in obesity rates since 1999. High BMI is a public health concern, increasing the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
A nurse home visitation program has been shown to reduce the likelihood of girls entering the criminal justice system by age 19, according to a recent study. The program, which focuses on promoting maternal health and caregiving skills during pregnancy and infancy, was found to have long-term benefits for these young women.
A UT Southwestern study found that physician advice is a key motivator in placing infants on their backs to sleep, reducing the risk of SIDS. The rate of SIDS has plummeted since the "Back to Sleep" campaign was launched in 1994.
A Wisconsin statewide blood screening program successfully identified newborns with T-cell lymphopenia, a severe immune disorder. The test, which analyzes DNA from dried blood spots, detected the condition in eight infants and showed promise as a cost-effective method for early diagnosis.
The rate of babies placed on their backs to sleep has plateaued since 2001, despite the Back to Sleep campaign's dramatic decrease in SIDS rates. Racial disparities persist in infant sleeping positions, with African American infants having more than twice the SIDS rate as white infants.
A study has identified three key factors linked to the choice of infant sleep position: physician recommendations, fear of choking, and comfort concerns. Back sleeping remains the most effective means to reduce SIDS risk, with a significant decrease in rates since the Back to Sleep campaign began.
A new newborn exam, the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS), has been developed to identify infants at risk of developmental problems. The exam identified five distinct neurobehavioral profiles, with poor performance linked to behavior problems, school readiness issues, and low IQ.
A Yale study found that while the 'Back to Sleep' campaign reduced SIDS incidence, it has leveled off since guidelines were released. The study identified key factors linked to infant sleep position, including fear of choking and comfort concerns.
Researchers have developed a new protocol to improve the survival of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia, particularly in developing countries. The study found a significant improvement in early mortality and long-term outcomes, with high rates of complete remission.
Researchers identified partner genes that fuse with MLL, driving fatal leukemia in infants. Accurate predictions and treatments are expected based on this knowledge.
A recent study defines feeding milestones for premature infants, helping to improve their quality of life. Infants born before 28 weeks gestational age faced significant feeding delays and prolonged hospital stays.
Research suggests that pushing toddlers to develop self-control too early may hinder brain development. Toddlers rely on brute-force competition to learn social conventions like language acquisition. Their immature brains are better equipped for learning through trial and error, allowing them to pick up skills effortlessly.
A unified approach to caring for extremely premature infants in the first week of life resulted in improved patient outcomes, including a decrease in hospital stay duration. Infants treated using small baby guidelines showed higher survival rates without complications like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and severe intraventricular hemorrhage.
A comprehensive new study has found that early intervention programs for very young children with autism are effective in improving IQ, language ability, and social interaction. The Early Start Denver Model, a novel approach combining ABA teaching methods with relationship-based approaches, was tested on 48 diverse toddlers with autism.
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of vascular damage, with obese toddlers facing a four-fold higher risk compared to adolescents. The study found significant links between secondhand smoke exposure and markers of vascular injury in both toddler and adolescent populations.
Research highlights from NHLBI-supported studies presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions include new education strategies for controlling hypertension and findings on a possible link between short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution and increased risk of constricted blood vessels. Two surgical approac...