Placenta News and Research

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Researchers discover new mechanism that enables cancer cells to move throughout the body

An international team of researchers has uncovered a new mechanism that enables cancer cells to move throughout the body, providing a potential new target to stop metastasis, which is responsible for 90 per cent of cancer deaths.

5 Dec 2022

Perinatal exposure to inorganic nanoparticles may make babies more vulnerable to food allergies

Nanotechnologies have revolutionized food technology with changes to food production, manufacture, and processing that are intended to make our food safer and healthier.

5 Dec 2022

Vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy and outstanding scientific questions

A recent paper published in Vaccines summarized the data presented and the discussions in the meeting regarding pertussis vaccination in pregnancy (ViP).

2 Dec 2022

Antibody responses engendered by maternal SARS-CoV-2 vaccination following initial and booster doses in maternal circulation and breastmilk

Researchers investigated passive immunization of the fetus and neonates by evaluating the antibody responses elicited by primary and booster doses of maternal SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

2 Dec 2022

Ultrapotent IgM antibodies isolated from a pregnant woman with Zika virus show promise as an immunotherapy

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a potentially teratogenic illness, causing up to one in seven infants born to infected mothers to suffer neurodevelopmental deficits. A new study published in the journal Cell shows that some mothers escape injury to their babies because they develop a highly potent neutralizing antibody.

22 Nov 2022

OSU researchers develop novel nanomedicine technique for diagnosing and ending ectopic pregnancies

Oregon State University scientists have produced a proof of concept for a new and better way of caring for women facing the life-threatening situation of ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the lining of the uterus.

22 Nov 2022

Researchers find an abundance of microplastics in placentas and meconium samples

The embryonic and fetal periods of life are vulnerable to impact by harmful chemicals in the environment. These include microplastics (MPs), which have been found in many living organisms and tissues, stemming from the environmental degradation of waste plastics. Using placental tissue and meconium samples, a new study examines the links between exposure to MPs in pregnancy and microbiomes.

21 Nov 2022

Hungary sees 116% growth in non-invasive prenatal testing

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From BGI Genomics 21 Nov 2022

Is placental antibody transfer after COVID-19 vaccination different from that after SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant individuals?

Researchers investigated the placental transfer ratios of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pregnant females.

11 Nov 2022

Mercury exposure during pregnancy could boost growth rates of fetus and infant

In a new study, researchers used a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to calculate the predicted concentration of MeHg in a given organ with time.

10 Nov 2022

Specific protein imbalance revealed in blood tests can help quantify preeclampsia risk

In a study of pregnant women in the United States, Cedars-Sinai investigators found that a specific imbalance of two placental proteins could predict which women were at risk of developing a severe form of preeclampsia, a life-threatening blood pressure disorder.

9 Nov 2022

Food supplement recommendations during pregnancy not always adhered to in practice

Although a majority of pregnant women believed that they were aware of the recommendations on food supplement use, the recommendations were not always adhered to in practice, shows a study conducted at the University of Turku, Finland.

8 Nov 2022

Is maternal caffeine consumption associated with child growth, and are such associations present in low-consumption groups?

A new paper published in JAMA Network Open discusses the relationship between caffeine consumption in pregnancy and the future growth of the offspring.

1 Nov 2022

Does maternal obesity impact fetal brain development?

In a new study, researchers assessed the impact of maternal obesity on brain development in the fetus.

31 Oct 2022

Ancient viral DNA in human genomes protects cells against present-day viruses

Viral DNA in human genomes, embedded there from ancient infections, serve as antivirals that protect human cells against certain present-day viruses, according to new research.

27 Oct 2022

What parents need to know about prenatal tests | BGI Perspectives

The birth of every new life is to be celebrated! Expecting parents often advised by doctors from the department of gynecology and obstetrics to consider noninvasive prenatal tests (NIPT).

From BGI Genomics 26 Oct 2022

In utero exposure to flame retardant results in altered brain development in newborn rats

A new study from North Carolina State University shows that exposure in utero to the flame retardant FireMaster 550 (FM 550), or to its individual brominated (BFR) or organophosphate ester (OPFR) components, resulted in altered brain development in newborn rats.

24 Oct 2022

Clinical-pathological links between SARS-CoV-2 placentitis, stillbirth and maternal COVID-19 vaccination

Drucilla J. Roberts, MD, from the Mass General Department of Pathology and colleagues recently published a literature review in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, titled SARS-CoV-2 Placentitis, Stillbirth and Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination: Clinical-Pathological Correlations.

21 Oct 2022

SARS-CoV-2 placentitis may cause placental destruction and stillbirth in women not vaccinated for COVID-19

As compared to healthy women, pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at a high risk of fatal clinical outcomes.

18 Oct 2022

Pregnant smokers reduce their smoking prior to pregnancy awareness, study finds

Pregnant smokers reduced their smoking by an average of one cigarette per day before becoming aware they were pregnant, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study of more than 400 pregnant people.

17 Oct 2022