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The womb is the small, hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis. This is the organ in which a baby grows. Also called uterus.

Fetal exposure to nicotine linked with SIDS and cardiac arrhythmias in newborns

Fetal exposure to tobacco smoke in utero is associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and cardiac arrhythmias in newborns. In a novel study in rabbits, investigators provide the first evidence linking fetal exposure to nicotine to long-term alterations of the cardiac sodium current.

29 Mar 2019

Artificial placenta-based life support technology breaks its 4 minute mile

A major advancement in pioneering technology based around the use of an artificial womb to save extremely premature babies is being hailed as a medical and biotechnological breakthrough.

27 Mar 2019

Common drug may lead to obesity in offspring

Metformin,a common drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, is often used during pregnancy where the mother suffersfrom polycystic ovary syndrome.

27 Mar 2019

Sitting for long durations linked to premature deaths

A new study has found that thousands of premature deaths are occurring in the UK due to the long hours people spend sitting down. The study results were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

26 Mar 2019

Immune system errors linked to development of childhood leukemia

Genetic mutations that drive the development of a common type of childhood leukemia can be traced back to errors by the immune system during the production of antibodies.

25 Mar 2019

Pollutants appear to weaken immune system and increase pathogen virulence

Many people view pollutants and pathogens as separate causes of illness. However, recent research indicates that the two can interact, changing how people and animals respond to infectious diseases.

21 Mar 2019

Study: Early-life exposure to microbiota inhibits colon cancer in adulthood

Exposure to microbiota, or microorganisms such as bacteria, in the early stages of life plays a crucial role in establishing optimal conditions in the intestine that inhibit the development of colon cancer in adulthood, according to a study led by Georgia State University.

14 Mar 2019

Fertility problems may raise risk of cancer in women

New research shows that women who have fertility problems are 18 percent more likely to develop ovarian and endometrial or womb cancers in later life.

13 Mar 2019

Prenatal exposure to forest fires causes stunted growth in children

Forest fires are more harmful than previously imagined, causing stunted growth in children who were exposed to smoke while in the womb, according to new research from Duke University and the National University of Singapore.

19 Feb 2019

Scanning children's teeth may predict future mental health issues

A new study has found that scanning children’s teeth could help to predict their risk of developing mental health problems later in life.

18 Feb 2019

Testosterone is not the only hormone needed for penis development

A new study has revealed that in addition to testosterone, the masculinization process involves a hormone called androsterone, which originates in other tissues.

15 Feb 2019

Understanding healing role for kidney-resident macrophages may help treat acute kidney injury

During development in the womb, immune cells called macrophages go to the kidneys, and they remain there for life. Understanding the possible healing role for these macrophages after kidney damage may be crucial to helping treat patients who suffer acute kidney injury.

25 Jan 2019

Cardiovascular disease risk begins even before birth

Heart disease is the greatest killer in the world today, and it is widely accepted that our genes interact with traditional lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking, obesity and/or a sedentary life to promote an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

23 Jan 2019

The connection between the Pope and contraceptive pills

Millions of women around the world use the combined hormonal oral contraceptive pill whcih has been around the past six decades. The usual method advised is a 21 day cycle of the pill followed by a 7 day break when the woman bleeds.

22 Jan 2019

Placenta adapts and compensates when pregnant mothers have poor diets or low oxygen

Cambridge researchers have discovered the placenta regulates how much oxygen and nutrients it transports to babies during challenging pregnancies in a study using mice to model conditions in the womb.

21 Jan 2019

Cellular protein that interacts with viruses appears to enable infection process of Zika virus

A cellular protein that interacts with invading viruses appears to help enable the infection process of the Zika virus, according to an international team of researchers who suggest this protein could be a key target in developing new therapies to prevent or treat Zika virus infection.

17 Jan 2019

Study highlights efforts to address widespread PFAS contamination in drinking water

A new analysis shows variation in the way state and federal regulators manage PFAS contaminants in drinking water, with some states adopting guideline levels that are more health protective than the non-enforceable levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

9 Jan 2019

Breastfed babies are more likely to be right handed

Babies who are breast fed for a longer duration are more likely to be right handed finds a new study. The study titled, 'Breastfeeding and handedness: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data', by Philippe P. Hujoel of the University of Washington is published in the journal Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition.

8 Jan 2019

Essential nutrient may hold promise in the war against Alzheimer's disease

In a new study, researchers at the Biodesign Institute explore a safe and simple treatment for one of the most devastating and perplexing afflictions: Alzheimer's disease.

8 Jan 2019

Standardizing feeding practices improves growth trends for micro-preemies

Standardizing feeding practices, including the timing for fortifying breast milk and formula with essential elements like zinc and protein, improves growth trends for the tiniest preterm infants, according to Children's research presented during the Institute for Healthcare Improvement 2018 Scientific Symposium.

11 Dec 2018