Umbilical Cord News and Research

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The umbilical cord is the structure that attaches the fetus to the placenta and acts as the medium through which nutrients, gases and waste products travel between the mother and the fetus.

Epigenetic changes detectable at birth linked to risk of obesity

These changes, known as epigenetic modifications, control the activity of our genes without changing the actual DNA sequence. One of the main epigenetic modifications is DNA methylation, which plays a key role in embryonic development and the formation of different cell types, regulating when and where genes are switched on.

26 Apr 2017

Eating soil could be detrimental to health of babies

Up to 80% of people in Africa, especially women, regularly eat clayey soil - this habit is known as geophagy. A previous study conducted at MedUni Vienna has already shown that it is a form of craving.

25 Apr 2017

“Young” blood revitalizes elderly mice’s learning and memory skills, say researchers

Researchers have found that infusing elderly mice with human umbilical cord blood boosts the animals’ learning and memory capabilities. The team, from Stanford University School of Medicine, also identified a single protein in the blood that seemed to be responsible for the improved cognitive performance.

20 Apr 2017

Maternal stress during pregnancy could lead to premature biological ageing in offspring

The stress that some mothers experience during their pregnancies could influence the genetic makeup their babies are born with and, eventually, lead to premature biological ageing and associated age-related diseases.

11 Apr 2017

One-shot vaccine passes key preclinical test in newborn monkey models

Newborns are highly vulnerable to infections and don't respond optimally to most vaccines because their young immune systems typically mount weak antibody responses.

24 Mar 2017

Researchers find new way to expand, preserve cord-blood cells as potential treatment for Type 1 diabetes

For parents, storing their newborn baby's umbilical cord blood is a way to preserve potentially lifesaving cells. Now, a group of University of Florida Health researchers has found a way to expand and preserve certain cord-blood cells as a potential treatment for Type 1 diabetes.

22 Mar 2017

Mayo Clinic researchers discover three new senolytic drugs

Mayo Clinic researchers have uncovered three new agents to add to the emerging repertoire of drugs that aim to delay the onset of aging by targeting senescent cells - cells that contribute to frailty and other age-related conditions.

9 Mar 2017

Factors contributing to childhood adiposity begin before birth, study shows

A new article, published in the journal BMC Medicine, reports the largest epigenome-wide association study to date that provides evidence that factors contributing to childhood adiposity (level of body fat) begin before birth and are influenced by mother’s lifestyle, and fetal genetic and epigenetic factors.

9 Mar 2017

Upstate opens new public cord blood bank in New York

Upstate Medical University opens the Upstate Cord Blood Bank, only the second public cord blood bank in New York and one of only 32 in the US.

20 Feb 2017

TSRI researchers uncover details behind Zika virus's unique ability to cause birth defects

The most frightening aspect of Zika virus has been its ability to produce severe fetal birth defects during pregnancy, especially microcephaly—a small head.

7 Feb 2017

Children exposed to complications before or during birth more likely to develop ASD, study finds

Children who were exposed to complications shortly before or during birth, including birth asphyxia and preeclampsia, were more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the American Journal of Perinatology.

31 Jan 2017

Researchers evaluate use of regenerative human umbilical cord for in-utero spina bifida repair

In a study to be presented Saturday, Jan. 28, in the oral concurrent session at 8:45 a.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers evaluated a possible regenerative patch by using human umbilical cord in two studies titled Cryopreserved Human Umbilical Cord (HUC) vs Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM) for In-Utero Spina Bifida Repair and the study Conventional vs cryopreserved human umbilical cord (HUC) patch based on repair for in-utero spina bifida in a sheep model.

23 Jan 2017

Delayed cord clamping prevents anaemia in infants up to six months of age

When clamping of the umbilical cord is delayed, iron deficiency up to six months of age can be prevented, according to a new study from Uppsala University, published in JAMA Pediatrics. The study was conducted in Nepal.

17 Jan 2017

Clinical study tests adult stem cell therapy for infants with congenital HLHS

In a first-in-children randomized clinical study, medical researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have begun testing to see whether adult stem cells derived from bone marrow benefit children with the congenital heart defect hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

21 Dec 2016

Novel approach can regenerate dental pulp-like tissues in animal model

When a tooth is damaged, either by severe decay or trauma, the living tissues that comprise the sensitive inner dental pulp become exposed and vulnerable to harmful bacteria.

19 Dec 2016

Scientists discover molecular link between rare childhood genetic disease and major cancer gene

A team of researchers led by a University of Rhode Island scientist has discovered an important molecular link between a rare childhood genetic disease, Fanconi anemia, and a major cancer gene called PTEN.

1 Dec 2016

Scientists create 3-D virtual reality models that may help better visualize unborn babies

Parents may soon be able to watch their unborn babies grow in realistic 3-D immersive visualizations, thanks to new technology that transforms MRI and ultrasound data into a 3-D virtual reality model of a fetus, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

21 Nov 2016

TELA Bio's OviTex RBSs implanted in 100 hernia repair procedures since FDA clearance in June 2016

TELA Bio, Inc., a surgical reconstruction company leading the development and commercialization of Reinforced BioScaffolds (RBSs) for soft tissue repair, today announced the company’s OviTex RBSs have been implanted in more than 100 hernia repair procedures since receiving U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance in June 2016.

3 Nov 2016

Neonate girls present greater antioxidant defense, less oxidative stress than boys

A study carried out by researchers from the University of Granada in collaboration with San Cecilio Clinic Hospital has scientifically proved that neonate girls present a greater antioxidant defense and less oxidative stress on their cell membranes than boys, in addition to higher antioxidant enzymatic activity.

27 Oct 2016

Children of mothers with high levels of vitamin D in umbilical blood have fewer symptoms of ADHD

Children of mothers who took vitamin D during pregnancy with resultant high levels of the vitamin in the umbilical blood have fewer symptoms of ADHD at the age of 2½ years.

7 Oct 2016