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Promising new CMV vaccine shows stronger immune response

An experimental mRNA vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common virus that can infect babies during pregnancy, elicited some of the most promising immune responses to date of any CMV vaccine candidate, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

12 Feb 2024

COVID-19 may increase risk of pregnancy complications through placental DNA changes

DNA changes consistent with life-threatening pregnancy complications have been found in the placentas of pregnant women infected by COVID-19, according to University of Queensland researchers.

8 Feb 2024

Experimental mRNA vaccine against CMV elicits promising immune responses

7 Feb 2024

Study finds links between prenatal substance exposure and childhood mental health

An observational study found links between prenatal substance exposure and mental health in children 10–12, but also found that controlling for environment and genetics eliminated many associations.

31 Jan 2024

Neonates exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in utero at higher risk of respiratory distress, study finds

Researchers found that neonates born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection face an increased risk of respiratory distress, potentially due to an inflammatory response triggered by prenatal exposure.

29 Jan 2024

Study confirms safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy for infant neurodevelopment

A large cohort study in "JAMA Pediatrics" found no significant differences in neurodevelopmental rates between infants exposed to COVID-19 vaccines in-utero and those who were not, affirming the safety of maternal COVID-19 vaccination.

24 Jan 2024

Study finds three times the risk of respiratory distress in infants born to COVID-infected mothers

New UCLA-led research finds that infants born full term to mothers who were infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy had three times the risk of having respiratory distress compared with unexposed infants, even though they themselves were not infected with the virus.

24 Jan 2024

Researchers unravel the workings of Group B Strep infections in pregnant women

Researchers from Binghamton University, State University of New York are unraveling the workings of Group B Strep (GBS) infections in pregnant women, which could someday lead to a vaccine.

9 Jan 2024

In utero exposure to PFAS affects the unborn child, study suggests

PFAS are chemicals that may cause cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. Research from örebro University now suggests that these chemicals affect people as early as the fetal stage of development.

9 Jan 2024

YAP and TAZ proteins guide bone development in the womb

A pair of proteins, YAP and TAZ, has been identified as conductors of bone development in the womb and could provide insight into genetic diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta, known commonly as "brittle bone disease."

4 Jan 2024

How a malaria drug may hold the key to ending malnutrition's cycle of devastation

Wars, drought, displacement, and instability are causing a dramatic increase in the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women around the world who suffer from malnutrition.

20 Dec 2023

Maternal microbiome's pivotal role in shaping fetal and neonatal immune systems during pregnancy

Review in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology explores how the maternal microbiome during pregnancy influences the immune systems of the mother, fetus, and neonate, highlighting its impact on long-term health outcomes and the development of pregnancy complications.

18 Dec 2023

Fetal macrosomia may be linked to overweight and obesity in early childhood

A new study published in the Journal Reproductive and Developmental Medicine (RDM) has found a strong association between fetal macrosomia (high birth weight) and overweight and obesity in early childhood among the U.S.-born children aged 2-6 years.

15 Dec 2023

Is maternal cannabis exposure associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes related to placental function?

Researchers assessed the relationship between maternal cannabis use and adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to placental function.

13 Dec 2023

Placental microparticles and their potential to predict and prevent neurodevelopmental disorders

For 30 years, Cheryl Rosenfeld has studied how biological information gets transferred from mothers to babies during pregnancy.

5 Dec 2023

COVID-19 in pregnancy tied to higher preterm birth risk; early vaccine adoption shows protective effect

The impact of maternal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on infant health.

29 Nov 2023

Immunogenicity of insect-specific Zika virus-vectorized vaccine candidates

The immunogenicity, safety, and effectiveness of ARPV/ZIKV a chimeric insect-specific flavivirus (ISFV)-Zika vaccine.

17 Nov 2023

Maternal distress during pregnancy linked to mental health risk and behavior problems in children

Children whose mothers are highly stressed, anxious or depressed during pregnancy may be at higher risk for mental health and behavior issues during their childhood and teen years, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

16 Nov 2023

Maternal metabolic conditions linked to children's neurodevelopmental risks, study shows

Study investigates how maternal metabolic conditions like pregestational diabetes, gestational diabetes, and obesity mediate the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions in children. It highlights the significant role of obstetric and neonatal complications in this relationship, emphasizing the need for managing these complications to mitigate children's risk of developing conditions like ADHD and autism.

12 Nov 2023

Survival for babies born at 22 weeks remains low, but number receiving survival-focused care has increased

The number of very premature babies (22 weeks) given respiratory life support (survival-focused care) and/or admitted to neonatal units in England and Wales has increased 3-fold, following changes in 2019 to national guidance, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

10 Nov 2023