Newborn News and Research

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Indoprofen may lead to new treatments for spinal muscular atrophy

A drug withdrawn from pharmacy shelves over 20 years ago may point the way to a new treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, a muscle-wasting and often life-threatening childhood disease.

29 Nov 2004

Stem cells derived from umbilical cords are a viable and effective transplant source for thousands of leukemia patients

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirms that stem cells derived from the umbilical cords of newborn babies are a viable and effective transplant source for thousands of leukemia patients who have no other treatment option.

24 Nov 2004

Cord blood registry sees FDA regulation as good for consumers and industry

Beginning in May 2005, cord blood banks must meet new federal safety standards mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

24 Nov 2004

All newborn babies in South Australia are to get access to comprehensive hearing testing in the first few weeks of their lives

All newborn babies in South Australia are to get access to comprehensive hearing testing in the first few weeks of their lives.

8 Nov 2004

Immigrant mothers from Japan and South America knew less about child development than their European American counterparts

Groups of immigrant mothers from Japan and South America knew less about child development than did their European American counterparts, according to a study by researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

2 Nov 2004

More research and innovation on child pain and stress reduction is needed

Relief of pain and stress for children receiving emergency medical treatment is a vital, and readily available, component of care.

1 Nov 2004

Findings could lead to improvements in the next generation of implantable cardioverter defibrillators

For people who suffer from a rapid heartbeat condition called tachycardia, an implanted device can usually nudge the racing blood pump back into a normal rhythm by applying electrical pulses to the heart.

25 Oct 2004

No change in UK perinatal death rate from infections and prematurity in 20 years

Despite overall falls in UK rates of stillbirth and neonatal deaths over the past 20 years, deaths caused by infections and prematurity in multiple births have remained unchanged, reveals research in the Fetal and Neonatal Edition of the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

21 Oct 2004

Small delay after birth when cutting umbilical cord of a premature baby appears to lessen chances of bleeding

Waiting 30 seconds to two minutes after birth to cut the umbilical cord of a premature baby appears to lessen chances of bleeding in the newborn’s brain and reduce the need for transfusions, according to a new review of research.

18 Oct 2004

Anesthetics are effective in reducing the pain of circumcision in newborns

Anesthetics are effective in reducing the pain of circumcision in newborns, judging from the baby’s heart rate and time spent crying after the procedure, a new analysis finds.

18 Oct 2004

New research collaboration investigates disease in newborn and elderly

The University of Otago's Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences' 30 year expertise in free radical research will be a vital component of a new collaborative Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), recently backed by major Government funding.

13 Oct 2004

Greater risk for children of mothers over 40 to die in the womb or as a newborn

Women who give birth after 40 run a greater risk of experiencing pregnancy complications than younger women. Moreover, there is an increased risk of the child dying in the womb or in close connection with delivery.

13 Oct 2004

Repeated re-testing of women with a history of chlamydia is a cost-effective strategy for preserving reproductive health

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health assessed the cost-effectiveness and clinical benefits of currently existing guidelines and new, proposed guidelines for screening women for chlamydia.

8 Oct 2004

Air rather than 100% oxygen for babies requiring ventilation after delivery could reduce infant mortality

The finding is counter to the long-held belief that 100% oxygen is better than air for babies requiring ventilation in the first few minutes of life.

8 Oct 2004

Home nurse visits after childbirth reduce healthcare costs

Home nurse visits after childbirth reduce healthcare costs and greatly limit the number of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for infants, a Penn State Children's Hospital study suggests.

4 Oct 2004

Every minute of every day, at least one woman in developing countries dies in childbirth

Today, WHO and the Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health are intensifying support to countries around the world to ensure that a woman does not die while giving birth to her child.

29 Sep 2004

Master gene that controls the first breath a newborn infant

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified a master gene that controls the first breath a newborn infant takes. The findings could have implications for treating premature babies and children and adults with lung disease or lung injury.

28 Sep 2004

Outbreak of whooping cough in South Australia

South Australia's Department of Health is urging parents to make sure their children are immunised against whooping cough as an outbreak is beginning in SA.

28 Sep 2004

Pregnant women are at higher risk for restless legs syndrome

Pregnant women are at higher risk for the occurrence or worsening of restless legs syndrome (RLS), a movement disorder that affects up to 10 percent of the general population, according to a study reported in the September 28 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

27 Sep 2004

Streptococcus bacteria uses sword and shield to fight white blood cells

A single gene called cylE within the important bacterial pathogen Group B Streptococcus (GBS), controls two factors that act together as a “sword” and “shield” to protect the bacteria from the killing effects of the immune system’s white blood cells

21 Sep 2004