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UrduHopkins Med News Update
Tag: Pregnancy
Researchers identify markers that could detect pregnancy risks earlier than currently available tests
Researchers from Flinders University and the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide have identified distinctive biological markers that could improve the routine blood tests pregnant women already undergo and detect risks for pregnancy complications earlier than currently possible.
Many Mothers May Have Delayed or Abandoned Plans for Additional Children Because of COVID-19 Pandemic
Nearly half of New York City mothers who had been trying to become pregnant again before the coronavirus pandemic began stopped in the first few months of the outbreak, a new study shows.
Do a Mom’s Medications Affect Her Breast Milk and Baby? New Center Investigates
UC San Diego School of Medicine receives $6.1M to launch a new research center studying the effects of maternal antibiotic use on breast milk and infant health. The center is funded by National Institutes of Health, as part of their new Maternal and Pediatric Precision in Therapeutics (MPRINT) Hub.
Enzyme Could Be Major Driver of Preeclampsia
A new study by UT Southwestern scientists indicates that an enzyme called protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A) appears to be a major driver of preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication characterized by the development of high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine. The finding, published in Circulation Research, could lead to new treatments for preeclampsia other than premature delivery, which is often the only option.
‘Leaky’ Heart Valves in Pregnant Women Need More Attention Than Once Thought, Study Suggests
An analysis of more than 20,000 individual medical records suggests that a form of heart valve disease thought to be relatively benign during pregnancy may put women at risk for serious bleeding, high blood pressure, organ damage and other complications during childbirth, according to research from Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Alarming Number of Pregnant COVID-19 Patients Hospitalized in August
Vanderbilt University Hospital treated 39 pregnant patients hospitalized with active COVID-19 infections in August, 10 of whom were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Two UAlbany Studies Find Links Between Neighborhood Risk and Birth Outcomes, and Maternal Depression and Gestational Diabetes
Two new studies released by the University at Albany School of Public Health shed light on different factors impacting the health of mothers and newborns, with one study finding a link between neighborhood risk and birth outcomes, and a second indicating a relationship between maternal depression and gestational diabetes.
Hopkins Med News Update
News stories in this issue
Delivery for hospitalized pregnant women improves recovery outcome, study finds
Pregnant women hospitalized with COVID-19 had improved recovery outcomes after delivering their babies early, according to new research from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Maternal obesity during pregnancy linked to higher risk of colorectal cancer in adult offspring
Infants whose mothers were obese during pregnancy may have a heightened risk of developing colorectal cancer later in life, according to new research led by public health experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Pregnant women with COVID-19 face higher risk of pre-eclampsia, study shows
A review of the scientific literature published by Brazilian researchers shows that pregnant women infected by the novel coronavirus run a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by persistent high blood pressure, usually in the second half of pregnancy or shortly after delivery.
Fertility and COVID-19 Vaccination: Experts Weigh In
Fertility and pregnancy were often stressful topics even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, but now, many who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant have questions about how to protect themselves from the virus while keeping their reproductive goals in mind.
Online, Video-Based Exercise Program Can Help with Postpartum Abdominal Bulge and Back Pain
A study at HSS finds that an online, video-based core exercise program can help with a condition many women experience after childbirth. Diastasis recti causes the abdominal bulge that often occurs after giving birth and may be associated with low back pain and urinary incontinence.
Teens who use cannabis frequently more likely to have premature baby, study suggests
Teenagers who use cannabis frequently may be more likely to have children born preterm, when they become parents up to twenty years later, finds a new University of Bristol-led study. The research, published in Scientific Reports, repeatedly assessed 665 participants in a general population cohort on their tobacco and cannabis use between ages 14 to 29 years, before pregnancy.
What Pregnant Women Need to Know About Getting Vaccinated Against COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reinforcing its recommendation that pregnant women get the COVID-19 vaccine following new data underscoring its safety and effectiveness throughout pregnancy. This recommendation comes at a time when doctors across the country are…
NIH award to tackle early infant morbidity due to increasing incidences of food allergies
A Wayne State University School of Medicine researcher has been awarded a $1.93 million, five-year grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health to study the impact of maternal immunoglobulin D (IgD) transferred to the fetus during pregnancy and its impact on protecting against food allergies.
UIC researchers awarded $9.9M for Black midwives program
A new health care program developed by University of Illinois Chicago researchers and Melanated Group Midwifery Care, or MGMC, that aims to combat disparities that affect maternal and infant outcomes for Black pregnant people has received $9.9 million in funding. The five-year award was granted by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, or PCORI, an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010 to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with evidence-based information needed to make better-informed health care decisions.
The CDC recommended that pregnant people be vaccinated against COVID-19. Learn more from BIDMC’s Dr. Ai-ris Collier, who has led research evaluating the immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
Ai-ris Collier, MD, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is available for expert comment regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that pregnant people be vaccinated against COVID-19. Dr. Collier has led research published…
Rat Model of Preeclampsia Gives new Insight into Immunological Changes during Pregnancy
Article title: Immunological comparison of pregnant Dahl salt-sensitive and Sprague-Dawley rats commonly used to model characteristics of preeclampsia Authors: Erin B. Taylor, Eric M. George, Michael J. Ryan, Michael R. Garrett, Jennifer M. Sasser From the authors: “The current study…
Wisconsin bioethics project chronicles pregnancy, substance use disorder and the law
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is embarking on a massive research project to shed light on early child development, including the health and developmental implications of opioid use during pregnancy. The very first task is to ensure the study — the HEALthy Brain and Child Development study (HBCD) — is on solid legal and ethical ground.
Co-locating Contraceptive Services & Opioid Treatment Programs May Help Prevent Unintended Pregnancy
More than 75% of women with Opioid Use Disorder report having had an unintended pregnancy, but they are less likely to use effective contraception compared to women who do not use drugs. Results from a multi-year trial found that a two-part intervention featuring co-located contraceptive services in opioid treatment programs and financial incentives could offer an effective solution.
Women who Vape are More Likely to Have Low Birthweight Babies, Study Shows
Women who use electronic cigarettes during pregnancy are 33% more likely than those who don’t to give birth to low-birthweight infants, according to a new study by a team of researchers from UCLA and other institutions.
New Chair Named for Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
After a nationwide search, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, has been named chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health.
Higher Selenium and Manganese Levels During Pregnancy May Protect Babies From Future High Blood Pressure
Children who were exposed to higher levels of trace minerals manganese and selenium during their mothers’ pregnancy had a lower risk of high blood pressure in childhood, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Center Brings Doctors, Scientists Together to Improve Health of Mother and Child
The Center for Perinatal Discovery at UC San Diego brings doctors and researchers together for clinical, translational and basic research to better understand maternal health, environmental exposures, fertility, pregnancy and the health of children.
Mood matters: New app empowers mums to manage mental wellbeing
Recognising the symptoms of maternal anxiety and depression can be difficult, but with the help of a new app – developed by the University of South Australia and parent support group Village Foundation – thousands of women will be empowered to monitor their mental health, both during pregnancy and after birth.
The Latest Science on Staying Healthy During Pregnancy
Healthy habits are particularly important during pregnancy. Four new studies being presented at NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE look at how supplements, eating habits and physical activity can affect various aspects of health during pregnancy.
Secret Shopper Study Sheds Light on Barriers to Opioid Treatment for Women
After a 2020 Vanderbilt University Medical Center study showed women have a difficult time accessing treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), investigators analyzed comments received from the study’s participants to further shed light on barriers to care, which included everything from long on-hold times to difficult interactions with clinic receptionists during phone calls seeking appointments.
Cannabis Legalization Could Lead to Health Disparities in Women of Reproductive Age
A Rutgers expert discusses how the legalization of cannabis could widen gaps in health and social equity for pregnant women, new mothers and their children.
Coenzyme Q10 May Protect against Possible Blindness from Mom’s Pregnancy Diet
New research in rats suggests a common antioxidant supplement may protect the next generation from a leading cause of blindness stemming from a high-sugar diet during pregnancy. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism.
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines are Immunogenic in Pregnant and Lactating Women, Including Against Viral Variants
In a new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center researchers evaluated the immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in pregnant and lactating women who received either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. They found that both vaccines triggered immune responses in pregnant and lactating women.
Pregnant Women Hospitalized for Covid-19 Infection Do Not Face Increased Risk of Death
Pregnant women who develop severe COVID-19 infections that require hospitalization for pneumonia and other complications may not be more likely to die from these infections than non-pregnant women. In fact, they may have significantly lower death rates than their non-pregnant counterparts.
New study suggests pregnant women hospitalized for COVID-19 do not face increased risk of death
Pregnant women who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and viral pneumonia are less likely than non-pregnant women to die from these infections, according to a new study by researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).
Six facts women need to know about giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic
Giving birth is stressful enough. Adding a pandemic to the mix has only increased anxiety among today’s moms-to-be.
Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
NEWS STORIES IN THIS ISSUE:
PREGNANT AFTER THE FIRST DOSE OF COVID-19 VACCINE — NOW WHAT?
STUDY SHOWS VACCINES MAY PROTECT AGAINST NEW COVID-19 STRAINS … AND MAYBE THE COMMON COLD
EXPANDED DASHBOARD TOOL RANKS ACCESSIBILITY OF STATE VACCINE WEBSITES
How PCOS Can Frustrate Pregnancy Plans: National Infertility Awareness Week:
For the approximately 10% of women who live with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), giving birth often represents the end of an emotional and physical roller coaster marked by anxiety, uncertainty and dashed hopes.
CUR Psychology Division Announces 2021 Psychology Research Awardees
The Psychology Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research announces the 2021 recipients of its Psychology Research Awards. The recipients are undergraduate students conducting original psychological research, who receive awards of up to $500 per project.
A dad’s-eye view of pregnancy during the pandemic
Becoming a parent is a major life transition at any time but in a pandemic it takes on a whole other experience as expectant mums and dads navigate the current health and social restrictions to protect the safety of their unborn child.
Childhood Brain Tumors Linked to Mother’s Exposure to Pesticides
A UCLA-led study published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research suggests that exposure during pregnancy to a wide variety of pesticides may lead to the development of central nervous system tumors during childhood.
Placental Stem Cells Show Promise for Treating Preemies’ Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Article title: Human placental-derived stem cell therapy ameliorates experimental necrotizing enterocolitis Authors: Victoria G. Weis, Anna C. Deal, Gehad Mekky, Cara Clouse, Michaela Gaffley, Emily Whitaker, Cole B. Peeler, Jared A. Weis, Marshall Z. Schwartz, Anthony Atala From the authors:…
COVID vaccination earlier in pregnancy leads to better antibody transfer to baby
Women who were vaccinated for COVID-19 earlier in their third trimester had a higher likelihood of passing protective antibodies to their newborn babies than women who received their vaccination closer to delivery, a new study from Northwestern Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has found.
Exposure to harmful chemicals in plastic may contribute to postpartum depression
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may influence hormonal shifts during pregnancy as well as contribute to postpartum depression, according to a small study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Kids’ metabolic health can be improved with exercise during pregnancy: here’s why
BOSTON – (March 25, 2021) – A mechanism has been identified that explains how physical exercise in pregnancy confers metabolic health benefits in offspring. According to researchers, the key lies with a protein called SOD3, vitamin D and adequate exercise, with the outcomes possibly forming the first steps to designing rational diet and exercise programs to use during pregnancy and particularly when mothers may also be overweight or obese.
Propylparaben exposure during pregnancy, breastfeeding may reduce protection against breast cancer
Low doses of propylparaben—an estrogen-like chemical used as a preservative in personal care products and foods—can alter pregnancy-related changes in the breast in ways that may reduce the normal protection against breast cancer that pregnancy hormones convey, according to a new study being published in the Endocrine Society’s journal Endocrinology.
Majority of women can still give birth naturally if their water breaks early
About 11% of women who carry to term will experience prelabor rupture of membrane—a condition where the amniotic sac breaks open early, but labor doesn’t begin.
March Special Issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology Focuses on Women’s Health in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
The March issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology features new clinical research involving sex and gender, including effects of GI and liver conditions on pregnancy, gender disparities in diet and nutrition, Barrett’s esophagus incidence in women with scleroderma, factors influencing whether women pursue advanced endoscopy careers, endoscopy-related musculoskeletal injuries, sex hormone association with increased prevalence of certain types of cancer, and more.
Type 2 diabetes: an unknown danger for women with gestational diabetes
While it’s an unfair reality that women who develop gestational diabetes are ten times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life, only a third of these women realise that they’re at high risk, according to new research by the University of South Australia.
There is no data indicating that the COVID-19 is unsafe for pregnant women.
Pregnant women are at increased risk of severe COVID-19. Also, many women of childbearing age have increased COVID-19 exposure risks, including healthcare providers and other workers providing essential services.
Pregnancy, stress, sleep issues, physiology among women’s unique cardiovascular concerns
Women face many female-specific risks for heart disease and stroke, including pregnancy, physical and emotional stress, sleep patterns and many physiological factors, according to multiple studies highlighted in this year’s Go Red for Women® special issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association, published online today.