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Simple blood test could help predict emergence of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women

Pre-eclampsia is a serious illness associated with pregnancy, which develops after twenty weeks and is associated with defective ingrowing of the placenta within the mother. The dangerous illness is both the second most frequent cause of death in pregnant women, and the reason for severe complications for mother and child, especially during premature births.

25 Jan 2016

Depression in expectant parents during pregnancy increases risk of premature birth

Depression in both expectant mothers and fathers increases the risk of premature birth, finds a study published in BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).

20 Jan 2016

New mechanism of differentiation may offer novel therapeutic approaches to blood malignancies, solid tumors

In humans the differentiation of stem cells into hundreds of specialized cell types is vital. Differentiation drives development from fertilized egg to a newborn, and it underlies the continuous replacement of the 5 billion cells that die every hour in an adult. On the downside, mutations in differentiation pathways of different cell types can be drivers of cancers.

13 Jan 2016

New blood test could predict women at higher risk of preeclampsia

The causes of preeclampsia, a multi-system disorder that affects women in pregnancy, have not been fully elucidated. The condition, which is typically associated with high blood pressure and an increased amount of protein in the urine, affects 2 to 5 percent of pregnant women, and is one of the main reasons for complications during the second half of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is frequently diagnosed too late and, in the most severe cases, can be fatal for both mother and child.

11 Jan 2016

MiMedx Group agrees to buy Stability Biologics

MiMedx Group, Inc., the leading regenerative medicine company utilizing human amniotic tissue and patent-protected processes to develop and market advanced products and therapies for the Wound Care, Surgical, Orthopedic, Spine, Sports Medicine, Ophthalmic, and Dental sectors of healthcare, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Stability Inc., d/b/a Stability Biologics, a provider of human tissue products to surgeons, facilities and distributors serving the surgical, spine and orthopedics sectors of the healthcare industry.

11 Jan 2016

Commonly used diabetes drug may have potential to prevent, treat preeclampsia

An article published today in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports that a commonly-used drug for the treatment of diabetes, metformin, may have the potential to prevent and treat preeclampsia. Metformin has long been used to treat diabetes in both non-pregnant and pregnant patients, and is considered safe during pregnancy.

22 Dec 2015

Early life exposures to toxic chemicals reduce infants' response to TB vaccine

Early life exposures to toxic chemicals such as PCBs and DDT dampen an infant's response to the tuberculosis vaccine, according to a new study from the University of Rochester Environmental Health Sciences Center.

11 Dec 2015

Taking estriol along with conventional medications helps RRMS patients avoid relapses

Taking the pregnancy hormone estriol along with their conventional medications helped patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) avoid relapses, according to results of a Phase II randomized, placebo-controlled study led by UCLA researchers.

1 Dec 2015

Experts to gather at DOHaD congress to address challenges that impact health of children, adolescents

Over 600 experts from around the world will meet to address the many challenges that currently impact the health of mothers, babies in the womb, infants, children and adolescents at the Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease congress, which will be held in Africa for the first time.

5 Nov 2015

Yale physician scientist develops new app that aims to decrease pregnancy loss

One of the greatest joys for parents is the birth of their child -- and one of the greatest tragedies is the loss of that child. Now, Yale physician scientist Harvey J. Kliman, M.D., has developed an iPhone app that helps women contribute to research that aims to decrease the chance of pregnancy loss due to an undersized placenta, the fetal organ that provides nourishment to the fetus.

27 Oct 2015

UTMB researchers find mechanisms to determine when pregnant women go into labor

During the last few weeks of a woman's pregnancy, many keep an overnight bag ready to go at a moment's notice in case they begin to go into labor. They do this because there is no clear signal that labor is about to begin - before the body makes it abundantly clear that this process has started. Understanding the mechanisms that initiate this process is especially important when treating women at risk of going into labor early.

27 Oct 2015

DNA testing for Down's syndrome could potentially save lives of unborn babies

Offering pregnant women a DNA test for Down's syndrome on the NHS would reduce the dependency on invasive tests and potentially save the lives of unborn babies, a study shows.

27 Oct 2015

Eating a light meal during labor may benefit most healthy women

Most healthy women can skip the fasting and, in fact, would benefit from eating a light meal during labor, suggests research being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2015 annual meeting. Improvements in anesthesia care have made pain control during labor safer, reducing risks related to eating, researchers note.

26 Oct 2015

Incidences of preeclampsia dramatically increase in the U.S.

A study published recently in the American Journal of Perinatology reports a dramatic increase in the incidence of preeclampsia in the United States. Preeclampsia and early onset preeclampsia have grown 67 percent and 140 percent respectively over the past two decades.

26 Oct 2015

First primate model can help researchers to study mother-to-fetus CMV infections

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading infectious cause of birth defects worldwide, but scientists have been frustrated in their efforts to develop a vaccine to protect against infections.

20 Oct 2015

TGen researchers join international scientists in discovering how malaria protein could some day help stop cancer

Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute joined an international team of scientists in discovering how a protein from malaria could some day help stop cancer.

19 Oct 2015

Researchers successfully convert skin cells into fully functional placenta-generating cells

Regenerative medicine is a new and expanding area that aims to replace lost or damaged cells, tissues or organs in the human body through cellular transplantation. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent cells that are capable of long-term growth, self-renewal, and can give rise to every cell, tissue and organ in the fetus's body.

15 Oct 2015

Drug interactions in placenta may increase risk of birth defects or stunting fetal growth

To date, studies in pregnant women examining transport of drugs across the placenta are rare and inadequate, said Tomo Nabekura, PhD. Such knowledge could be vital to preserving fetal health. In a new laboratory study, Nabekura and colleagues have illuminated a piece of this puzzle, and the results hint that mothers taking new anti-hepatitis C and/or anti-HIV drugs along with anti-hypertensives or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) could be raising the risk of birth defects or stunting fetal growth, respectively.

15 Oct 2015

Malaria protein could one day help stop cancer

Scientists at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Cancer Agency have discovered a protein from malaria that could one day help stop cancer in its tracks.

13 Oct 2015

Danish researchers face possible breakthrough in fight against cancer

The hunt for a vaccine against malaria in pregnant women has provided an unexpected side benefit for Danish researchers, namely what appears to be an effective weapon against cancer. The scientists behind the vaccine aim for tests on humans within four years.

13 Oct 2015

Placenta News and Research

Simple blood test could help predict emergence of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women

Depression in expectant parents during pregnancy increases risk of premature birth

New mechanism of differentiation may offer novel therapeutic approaches to blood malignancies, solid tumors

New blood test could predict women at higher risk of preeclampsia

MiMedx Group agrees to buy Stability Biologics

Commonly used diabetes drug may have potential to prevent, treat preeclampsia

Early life exposures to toxic chemicals reduce infants' response to TB vaccine

Taking estriol along with conventional medications helps RRMS patients avoid relapses

Experts to gather at DOHaD congress to address challenges that impact health of children, adolescents

Yale physician scientist develops new app that aims to decrease pregnancy loss

UTMB researchers find mechanisms to determine when pregnant women go into labor

DNA testing for Down's syndrome could potentially save lives of unborn babies

Eating a light meal during labor may benefit most healthy women

Incidences of preeclampsia dramatically increase in the U.S.

First primate model can help researchers to study mother-to-fetus CMV infections

TGen researchers join international scientists in discovering how malaria protein could some day help stop cancer

Researchers successfully convert skin cells into fully functional placenta-generating cells

Drug interactions in placenta may increase risk of birth defects or stunting fetal growth

Malaria protein could one day help stop cancer

Danish researchers face possible breakthrough in fight against cancer

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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