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New technology helps pregnant women with type 1 diabetes to better manage blood sugar levels

For pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, a technology giving insulin doses, as informed by a smartphone algorithm, helps them better manage their blood sugars compared with traditional insulin pumps or multiple daily injections, according to a new randomized trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in Hamburg (2-6 October).

5 Oct 2023

Study identifies potential new way to protect premature babies from deadly infection

Premature babies in neonatal care units are extremely vulnerable, and susceptible to life-threatening infections.

4 Oct 2023

Early metformin therapy falls short in curbing gestational diabetes woes

In a significant randomized clinical trial, early metformin therapy was tested for its potential to lessen insulin dependence and enhance glycemic control in gestational diabetes-afflicted pregnant women; however, it yielded no improvements in diabetes symptoms. While metformin reduced maternal weight gain, its effects on primary diabetes symptoms and other secondary outcomes like infant weight gain were mixed, indicating a need for further focused research to unravel these associations.

4 Oct 2023

Universal screening: A game-changer in early detection and management of type 1 diabetes

Dr. Emily K. Sims discusses the crucial role of universal type 1 diabetes (T1D) screening in early detection, especially in individuals without a family history, at the EASD Annual Meeting. This proactive approach, aligned with disease-modifying therapies, aims to prevent severe diabetic ketoacidosis episodes, marking a stride towards better management of T1D.

3 Oct 2023

Postpartum individuals more likely to have medical debt, study finds

For some families, the year after childbirth may not only mean loads of diapers but stacks of unpaid medical bills as well.

29 Sep 2023

Smoking during pregnancy more than doubles risk of premature birth, study finds

Cambridge researchers have found that women who smoke during pregnancy are 2.6 times more likely to give birth prematurely compared to non-smokers – more than double the previous estimate.

28 Sep 2023

Deviations from normal pattern of sleep and physical activity could predict preterm birth risk

A lack of sleep and reduced physical activity during pregnancy are linked to risk of preterm birth, according to new research led by the Stanford School of Medicine.

28 Sep 2023

Killer T cells in older adults resemble those found in newborns, but fall short in virus detection

A world-first discovery has revealed special immune cells called 'killer T cells' in older adults, directed against influenza viruses, closely resemble those found in newborns and children, but struggle to recognize infected cells – a finding that unlocks the potential for the development of better vaccines and therapies tailored to different age groups.

25 Sep 2023

New software uncovers that myelin develops much slower after birth

A single brain is unfathomably complex. So brain researchers, whether they're looking at datasets built from 300,000 neurons in 81 mice or from MRIs of 1,200 young adults, are now dealing with so much information that they must also come up with new methods to comprehend it.

22 Sep 2023

Study uncovers how a newborn's cry triggers breast milk release in mothers

Hearing the sound of a newborn's wail can trigger the release of oxytocin, a brain chemical that controls breast milk release in mothers, a new study in rodents shows.

20 Sep 2023

Newborn screening for neurodevelopmental disorders may cause more harm than good

Expanding newborn screening (NBS) to include identifying genes associated with an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) would cause more harm than good, according to an article published in Pediatrics.

20 Sep 2023

Can your baby's gut bacteria predict food allergies?

Researchers in Italy delve into how changes in gut microbiota during the first 1000 days of life can influence the onset of food allergies in children. The study sheds light on various factors such as birth methods, breastfeeding, and antibiotic use that impact gut health, highlighting the need for more research on effective interventions for allergy prevention.

18 Sep 2023

Anesthesiology physician-scientist pipeline trails other specialties, particularly among women

Anesthesiology researchers are responsible for some of medicine's most significant advances, from the Apgar score that tests a newborn's health to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

15 Sep 2023

Genetic sequencing shows promise as first-tier newborn screening test

Newborn screening (NBS) is routinely performed across the world using biochemical testing methods. Recent advancements in genetic sequencing are a potential game-changer for newborn screening, swiftly assessing a comprehensive range of monogenic disorders.

14 Sep 2023

Vegan diets and skin inflammatory disorders: whats the link?

Are skin disorders and inflammatory conditions associated with nutritional deficiencies in vegan diets?

12 Sep 2023

Urban living linked to increased risk of respiratory infections in young children

Young children growing up in towns and cities suffer from more respiratory infections than those who grow up in the countryside, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy.

11 Sep 2023

Parents' birthweight linked to risk of macrosomia in offspring

If either you or your partner was a "big" baby, you have an increased likelihood of giving birth to a large baby yourself, a new study by researchers from the University of Bergen, Norway, shows.

4 Sep 2023

First-time dads face steeper relationship hurdles than second-time fathers, study finds

Study reveals that first-time fathers experience a more significant decline in relationship satisfaction during the transition to parenthood compared to second-time dads. Echoing findings from prior research on mothers, the study suggests that couples should brace for relationship challenges when expecting their first child.

4 Sep 2023

New gene therapy offers hope for beta thalassemia patients

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland provides new therapy to first patient since FDA approval.

31 Aug 2023

An array of early psychological therapies in response to traumatic childbirth may buffer PTSD development

Researchers systematically reviewed and quantitatively assessed clinical trials on preventing Childbirth-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

30 Aug 2023