Placenta News and Research

RSS

Galectin-3 found to drive crucial cell fusion in early placental development

During the first weeks of pregnancy, the developing placenta in a mother's womb undergoes a dramatic change.

5 Nov 2025

Researchers reveal how maternal stress reshapes fetal growth and brain development

Maternal stress, encompassing physical, emotional, and psychological distress, remains a widespread yet underestimated risk during pregnancy.

24 Oct 2025

Study: Common test to assess viability of IVF embryos may be flawed

A test deployed in many fertility clinics to assess the viability of embryos for use in IVF is likely to overestimate the number of embryos with abnormalities, suggests a study published today.

23 Oct 2025

Rozanolixizumab prevents congenital heart block in high-risk pregnancy

Congenital heart block, sometimes referred to as cardiac neonatal lupus, is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that affects babies born to mothers with specific autoantibodies - called anti-SSA/Ro antibodies - which can attack the fetal heart via its electrical conduction system, leading to a slower heart rate.

22 Oct 2025

Using placental growth factor to predict preeclampsia risk in pregnant women with sickle cell disease

In pregnant women with sickle cell disease, the risk of developing early-onset preeclampsia can be determined by measuring levels of a protein associated with placental function and development.

21 Oct 2025

New mechanism explains life-threatening pre-eclampsia at the molecular level

Pre-eclampsia is one of the most serious complications in pregnancy, affecting millions of women and newborns worldwide and potentially life-threatening. Despite intensive research, it has remained unclear what processes in the placenta lead to the disease.

21 Oct 2025

Prenatal air pollution exposure may slow newborn brain development

The study shows prenatal air pollution exposure correlates with slower brain myelination in infants, emphasizing the need for improved air quality policies.

20 Oct 2025

Maternal exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy linked to lower myelination in newborns' brains

A study published in Environment International concludes that air pollution during pregnancy is associated with slower brain maturation in newborns.

16 Oct 2025

Lab-grown embryo models mimic natural formation of blood and heart cells

University of Cambridge scientists have used human stem cells to create three-dimensional embryo-like structures that replicate certain aspects of very early human development - including the production of blood stem cells.

13 Oct 2025

Maternal PFAS levels can predict children's brain structural and functional outcomes

Researchers from the University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland, and örebro University, Sweden, have discovered that the levels of PFAS in mothers' blood during pregnancy is associated with their children's brain structure and function.

13 Oct 2025

Understanding the impact of chikungunya on children

Chikungunya is a vector-borne disease that affects both adults and children. While global efforts are ongoing to tackle chikungunya in adults, progress in addressing pediatric chikungunya remains inadequate.

10 Oct 2025

'Good' gut microbe found to support fetal growth and reduce pregnancy risks

Research led by the University of Cambridge has found the first clear evidence that the 'good' gut bacteria Bifidobacterium breve in pregnant mothers regulates the placenta's production of hormones critical for a healthy pregnancy.

6 Oct 2025

Zika virus exposure during pregnancy permanently shapes offspring's frontline immune cells

A Wayne State University study published in the Oct. 3, 2025, issue of Nature Communications revealed that Zika virus exposure during pregnancy causes long-term, sex-specific changes to a baby's immune system, particularly affecting the frontline immune cells that fight infection.

6 Oct 2025

Off-label drug helps one boy with autism speak, parents say. But experts want more data.

Caroline Connor's concerns about her son's development began around his 1st birthday, when she noticed he wasn't talking or using any words. Their pediatrician didn't seem worried, but the speech delay persisted. At 2½, Mason was diagnosed with autism.

26 Sep 2025

Influenza infection in pregnant mice linked to fetal brain exposure

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows, for the first time, that severe flu infection in pregnant mice leads to a breakdown in placental and brain barriers, leading to the accumulation of potentially harmful molecules in the fetal brain.

24 Sep 2025

Microplastics pose potential risks to bone health

The production and use of over 400 million tons of plastic each year has polluted beaches, rivers, and even the deepest parts of the ocean, reaching depths of up to 11,000 meters.

18 Sep 2025

Uterine corpus malignancies with pregnancy-like features lead to poor survival outcomes

A new review was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on September 4, 2025, titled "Prognostic significance of trophoblastic differentiation and β-hCG secretion in somatic malignancies of uterine corpus: A systematic review with survival analysis."

16 Sep 2025

New research positions the placenta at the center of human neurodevelopment and evolution

In a Genomic Press Interview published today in Brain Medicine, Dr. Alex Tsompanidis highlights an exciting new idea that positions the placenta at the center of human neurodevelopment and evolution, challenging conventional wisdom about the origins of autism and human cognition.

16 Sep 2025

Children show high exposure to PFAS despite regulatory restrictions

These chemical compounds are highly stable and linger in the environment. Thanks to their water-, oil- and stain-repellent properties, they are widely found in everyday items, such as non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, food containers and fire-fighting foams.

15 Sep 2025

Experts warn tiny plastics in arteries may raise heart attack risk

Experts caution that nanoplastics and microplastics may constitute an emerging cardiovascular risk factor, with particles identified in arterial plaques associated with a 4.5-fold increase in major adverse cardiovascular events. Experimental evidence points to inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular injury as key mechanisms.

10 Sep 2025