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Changes in vaginal bacteria associated with premature births

Changes to the communities of microbes living in the reproductive tract of pregnant women could help to spot those at risk of giving birth prematurely.

24 Jan 2018

Research shows how Zika virus damages placenta to cause malformations in babies

Though the Zika virus is widely known for a recent outbreak that caused children to be born with microencephaly, or having a small head, and other malformations, scientists have struggled to explain how the virus affects a baby as it grows in the womb.

19 Jan 2018

Research reveals how Zika virus infection spurs fetal demise

A powerful antiviral protein may act as a checkpoint for keeping or ending a pregnancy.

5 Jan 2018

UCLA study reveals positive effects of estrogen treatment in people with MS

A study by UCLA researchers reveals the cellular basis for how the hormone estrogen protects against damage to the central nervous system in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

28 Dec 2017

Folic acid supplementation during late pregnancy may increase risk of allergies in offspring

A new study suggests that taking folic acid in late pregnancy may increase the risk of allergies in offspring affected by intrauterine growth restriction.

21 Dec 2017

Having older brothers may increase the likelihood of being gay

Scientists have found a distinct pattern that having older brothers raise the chances of the younger sibling being gay. This effect has been termed the “fraternal birth order effect”. They explain the biological reason behind this propensity in their new study that was published this week in the journal PNAS.

11 Dec 2017

Anti-impotence drug found to be ineffective at improving outcomes for IUGR pregnancies

A University of Liverpool led international clinical trial has found an anti-impotence drug to be ineffective at improving outcomes for pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction.

8 Dec 2017

Placenta capsules offer little to no benefit for new mothers, study shows

A groundbreaking study by UNLV researchers shows that taking placenta capsules has little to no effect on postpartum mood, maternal bonding, or fatigue, when compared to a placebo.

1 Dec 2017

Scientists study behavior of Listeria monocytogenes during asymptomatic infection

Listeriosis is a disease caused by eating foods that have been contaminated by the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium.

1 Dec 2017

Invasive cells deploy a trick to squeeze through barriers

Invasive cells deploy a trick to break through tissues and spread to other parts of the body, researchers report.

28 Nov 2017

High levels of natural immune suppressor in leukemia patients linked to poor survival

Patients diagnosed with the most common form of leukemia who also have high levels of an enzyme known to suppress the immune system are most likely to die early, researchers say.

27 Nov 2017

Vaginal progesterone decreases the risk of premature birth in women with short cervix

A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled data published today indicates that vaginal progesterone reduces preterm birth and neonatal complications in women with a mid-trimester short cervix.

17 Nov 2017

AstraZeneca’s new precision biologic gets FDA approval to treat severe eosinophilic asthma

AstraZeneca and its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved FASENRA (benralizumab) for the add-on maintenance treatment of patients with severe asthma aged 12 years and older, and with an eosinophilic phenotype.

14 Nov 2017

Researchers find way to improve immunotherapy drugs’ impact while limiting side effects

By connecting highly effective cancer immunotherapy drugs such as anti-CTLA4 (ipilimumab) and anti-PD-L1 (atezolizumab) to peptides that bind to tissues in and around tumors, a research team based at the University of Chicago found a way to improve the drugs' impact while limiting treatment-related side effects.

9 Nov 2017

Exposure to BPA during pregnancy may lead to long-lasting health problems in offspring

A chemical called bisphenol A -- BPA -- used in plastic packaging and in the linings of food and beverage cans, may be passed from a mother to her offspring during pregnancy and cause changes in the gut bacteria of the offspring, according to an international team of researchers.

8 Nov 2017

Epidural pain relief with fentanyl during childbirth does not affect early breastfeeding success

Including the opioid fentanyl in the solution used to maintain an epidural during childbirth does not appear to affect the success of breastfeeding six weeks after delivery, according to a study published in Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Previous research has suggested fentanyl might be associated with early termination of breastfeeding.

8 Nov 2017

Molecular tests to detect Zika virus should be repeated more than once in pregnant women

Molecular tests to detect Zika virus, which enable identification of the pathogen's genetic material in body fluids, such as blood, urine, semen and saliva during the acute phase of infection, have been used routinely in prenatal checkups for pregnant women with symptoms of the disease.

1 Nov 2017

Study shows feasibility of home monitoring to detect heart arrhythmias in developing fetuses

As reported in the Journal of Perinatology, researchers from Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) recently confirmed that it is feasible for at-risk pregnant women to use commercially-available Doppler fetal heart rate monitors for home monitoring to detect heart arrhythmias in their developing fetuses.

25 Oct 2017

Research will explore biological mechanisms triggered by air pollution exposure during pregnancy

New research will seek to understand the biological mechanisms that are triggered by exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and lead to lower birth weight in newborns, placing them at greater risk for chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease and hypertension later in life.

10 Oct 2017

Change in epigenetic gene regulation by imprinting can trigger preeclampsia, study shows

Preeclampsia is the most dangerous form of hypertension during a pregnancy and can be fatal for both mother and child. Though it is known to originate in the placenta, the root causes remain largely a mystery.

6 Oct 2017