In Utero News and Research

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Baby boys more likely to achieve HIV cure or remission after in-utero infection

Baby girls are more likely to acquire HIV from their mothers during pregnancy or childbirth than infant boys, who are conversely more likely to achieve cure or remission, researchers say in a new study that sheds light on the gender differences in immune systems.

5 Jul 2024

Study reveals the adverse effects of prenatal exposure to ethylene oxide on fetal development

A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, provides new evidence on the adverse effects of prenatal exposure to ethylene oxide (EO) on foetal development.

27 Jun 2024

Mouse studies suggest gestational CBD exposure alters offspring behavior and brain function

Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the active ingredients in cannabis, is thought to be safe as it does not cause a "high".

24 Jun 2024

Eating cheese during pregnancy linked to better neurodevelopmental outcomes in children

Researchers found that higher maternal intake of yogurt and cheese during pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of neurodevelopmental delays in children at age 3.

24 Jun 2024

The hidden genetic switches influencing human height and bone health

In mammals, only 3% of the genome consists of coding genes which, when transcribed into proteins, ensure the biological functions of the organism and the in-utero development of future individuals. But genes do not function alone.

14 Jun 2024

Itgb1 gene found to be crucial in preventing spongy heart disease

Having explored how the heart is formed in utero, a University of Houston pharmacology researcher is reporting how cells and molecules act during that early formation and what might cause the heart disease called left ventricular non-compaction.

10 Jun 2024

In utero brain overgrowth linked to severity of autism

Some children with autism experience profound, lifelong difficulties like developmental delay, social struggles and even the inability to speak.

5 Jun 2024

Progesterone therapy shows mixed results for neurodevelopment in infants with heart defects

A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open found no significant overall benefit of maternal progesterone therapy on neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with congenital heart defects, but observed improvements in female children and specific heart conditions.

2 Jun 2024

UN agencies warn of critical malnutrition crisis for children and mothers in war-torn Sudan

Three United Nations agencies today issued a stark warning that all indications point to a significant deterioration of the nutrition situation for children and mothers in war-torn Sudan.

30 May 2024

Researchers develop novel method to 'grow your own' donor skin

Skin grafting is an essential procedure used to treat severe skin wounds. In the case of extensive wounds, however, it can be challenging to harvest enough donor skin, and generating artificial skin substitutes that include hair follicles and sweat glands and can engraft on deep wounds has not been successful.

29 May 2024

UMSOM receives $3.96 million grant for maternal vaccine against neonatal sepsis

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) have been awarded $3.96 million to develop a maternal vaccine that prevents sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in newborns and infants.

23 May 2024

Maternal cannabis use disorder linked to higher autism risk in children, study finds

A study in Psychiatry Research reveals that maternal cannabis use disorder significantly increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. The risk is 3.5 times higher for children exposed to cannabis during the prenatal period.

23 May 2024

Study links early-life tobacco exposure to accelerated aging, urging preventive action

A recent study in Science Advances found that early-life tobacco exposure, including in-utero and early smoking initiation, accelerates biological aging, emphasizing the importance of reducing exposure to improve health outcomes.

6 May 2024

Understanding the role of genetic variants in male infertility

Approximately one in seven couples face difficulties conceiving a child naturally. Half of these cases are due to male infertility – either caused by the complete absence or low number of mature sperm.

13 Apr 2024

Maternal influences on food allergy prevention: A closer look at diet and environment

Review assesses how maternal diet and environmental factors during pregnancy influence the prevention of food allergies in offspring, underlining the importance of a balanced diet and questioning the efficacy of allergen avoidance.

9 Apr 2024

Study explores how cannabis use affects breast milk and lactation

Study reviews the impact of cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation, highlighting potential changes in breast milk composition and lactation due to cannabinoid effects.

3 Apr 2024

Punitive prenatal drug laws lead to negative health outcomes

Contrary to some claims, laws that criminalize or otherwise punish drug use during pregnancy are more likely to worsen rather than improve health outcomes, according to a paper by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

18 Mar 2024

Dietary intake post-birth triggers hepatocyte specialization

In mammals, the liver detects the body's energy demand at any given moment and mobilizes nutrient reserves to meet it.

18 Mar 2024

UCSF scientists discover less invasive prenatal treatment for Angelman syndrome

In a discovery that opens the door to a less invasive way of treating some serious disorders before birth, UC San Francisco scientists have found that delivering medicine through amniotic fluid is as effective as delivering it to the fetal brain via cerebrospinal fluid.

4 Mar 2024

Oxygenation in the placenta predicts childhood brain growth

A new study shows oxygenation levels in the placenta, formed during the last three months of fetal development, are an important predictor of cortical growth (development of the outermost layer of the brain or cerebral cortex) and is likely a predictor of childhood cognition and behavior.

27 Feb 2024