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Mice study reveals how natural killer cells in the placenta can cause miscarriages

Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital have identified how natural killer cells in the mouse placenta can cause a fetus to fail to grow in the womb or cause miscarriages.

9 Aug 2017

Tiny lab-grown structures that resemble amniotic sac may help in infertility research

The first few weeks after sperm meets egg still hold many mysteries. Among them: what causes the process to fail, leading to many cases of infertility.

8 Aug 2017

When wounds won’t heal, therapies spread — to the tune of $5 billion

Carol Emanuele beat cancer. But for the past two years, she has been fighting her toughest battle yet. She has an open wound on the bottom of her foot that leaves her unable to walk and prone to deadly infection.

3 Aug 2017

Researchers highlight role of micro-guests in pathologic processes

We host more microbiota than our own cells. These micro-guests produce metabolites that are only beginning to be appreciated as important factors in pathologic processes, from chronic inflammatory diseases to preterm birth.

1 Aug 2017

Proposed machine learning-based framework predicts FGR pregnancies with high accuracy

During the millions of pregnancies that occur in the United States every year, expectant moms learn oodles about their developing fetuses over months of gestation.

31 Jul 2017

Scientists find simple way to raise accuracy of diagnostic tests and common assays

Scientists at the University of Washington have discovered a simple way to raise the accuracy of diagnostic tests for medicine and common assays for laboratory research.

18 Jul 2017

Scientists reveal key role of TLK2 gene in placenta development, embryo viability in mice

The placenta, a transient organ that links the developing embryo to its mother, is responsible for nutrient, waste and gas exchange between the fetus and the mother.

17 Jul 2017

Infographic displays facts and information about stem cells, cord blood

Over 40,000 people have successfully stored stem cells with Smart Cells, however the industry is still relatively unknown and often subject to misinformation. In a bid to increase awareness and understanding of stem cell collection at birth, Smart Cells have created an informative infographic.

17 Jul 2017

Potential vaccines could protect developing fetus from Zika virus, UTMB study shows

Immunizing female mice with a Zika vaccine can protect their developing fetus from infection and birth defects during pregnancy, according to new research from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

13 Jul 2017

Malaria drug effectively blocks Zika virus transmission to the fetus

Devastating consequences of Zika virus infection are suffered in the womb, where the virus can cause brain damage and sometimes death.

10 Jul 2017

Novel vaccine approach appears to protect fetus from CMV infection, animal study shows

Long before the Zika virus became a global fear, cytomegalovirus, or CMV, was commonly infecting developing fetuses and causing many of the same brain and developmental impairments.

6 Jul 2017

Preserved placenta is associated with risk of infection

A recent case study published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted that capsules of dehydrated placenta prepared for human consumption can be a source of infectious agents.

30 Jun 2017

Scientists uncover vital clues in puzzle over pre-eclampsia and increased risk of heart disease

Scientists studying a mystery link between the dangerous pregnancy complication pre-eclampsia and an increased risk of heart disease in later life for both mother and child have uncovered important new clues.

21 Jun 2017

Cryopreservation of Embryos to Improve Assisted Reproductive Technology

If we were to compare the progression of cryopreservation technology during recent years, we would find that from 2004 to 2013 over a timeframe of a decade, there has been around a 2.5 times increase in the rate of frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) that were reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). While the rate of fresh embryo transfers (ET) that were completed was the same.

From Sofia Hospital of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine 19 Jun 2017

Study finds direct link between birth outcomes and placental oxygen transport

When a baby is born small, it's often attributed to genetic factors or maternal risk factors like poor nutrition or smoking.

16 Jun 2017

Researchers explore impact of hair products on breast cancer risk

Can use of hair products have an impact on breast cancer risk for women? That is a question explored by Rutgers University investigators – and colleagues from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center.

14 Jun 2017

Research may lead to more accurate and reliable diagnostic test for autoimmune disease

In autoimmune diseases, the immune system wrongly identifies its "enemy", and produces antibodies that attack the patient's own cells.

14 Jun 2017

Americord introduces Digital Birth Plan to help expectant parents make informed choices

Americord, the fastest growing cord blood bank in the country, and a leader in umbilical cord blood, cord tissue, and placental tissue banking announces the launch of its Digital Birth Plan.

2 Jun 2017

Long-term stress for the mother can influence growth of unborn child through amniotic fluid

The feeling of constantly being on edge, always having to take care of everything, not being able to find a balance: If an expectant mother is strongly stressed over a longer period of time, the risk of the unborn child developing a mental or physical illness later in life - such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or cardiovascular disease - increases.

30 May 2017

Physical stress to mother during pregnancy can influence growth of unborn child

If the mother is stressed over a longer period of time during pregnancy, the concentration of stress hormones in amniotic fluid rises, as proven by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Zurich. Short-term stress situations, however, do not seem to have an unfavorable effect on the development of the fetus.

29 May 2017