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UrduAn experimental study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania links a specific procedure – embryo culture – that is part of the assisted reproduction process (ART) to placental abnormalities, risk for preeclampsia, and abnormal fetal growth. The team, led by Marisa Bartolemei, PhD, a professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, published their findings today in Development.
Tag: Pregnancy
RNA Molecules in Maternal Blood May Predict Pregnancies at Risk for Preeclampsia
UC San Diego researchers have identified small molecules in the blood of asymptomatic pregnant women that may predict risk for preeclampsia, responsible for a significant proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths, low birth weight and is a primary cause of premature birth.
SURVEY: HALF OF AMERICANS CONCERNED ABOUT NEW MOMS AND BABIES BEING IN PUBLIC PLACES
There are a lot of health concerns that come with pregnancy, and the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional fears about risks for both mom and baby.
A new national survey conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center confirms these fears, finding that nearly 80% of respondents would be concerned about themselves or an expectant mother in their life in the midst of the current COVID-19 outbreak, with almost half expressing fear of going to a scheduled prenatal appointment.
COVID-19 and Pregnancy
BIDMC’s Blair Wylie, MD, MPH, Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Chloe Zera, MD, MPH, Director of Obstetric Population Health, provide some information and advice for expecting parents.
Human pregnancy is weird. A new study adds to the mystery
University at Buffalo and University of Chicago scientists set out to investigate the evolution of a gene that helps women stay pregnant: the progesterone receptor gene. The results come from an analysis of the DNA of 115 mammalian species.
Why Do So Many Pregnancies and In Vitro Fertilization Attempts Fail?
Scientists have created a mathematical model that can help explain why so many pregnancies and in vitro fertilization attempts fail. The Rutgers-led study, which may help to improve fertility, is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
National Registry Quickly Set Up to Help Doctors Understand Risks COVID-19 Poses to Pregnant Women and Newborns
A new national registry has been launched by specialists in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UCLA Health and the University of California, San Francisco, to determine COVID-19’s possible effects on pregnant women and newborns.
E-Cigarette Use during Pregnancy Not Safe for Mothers and Babies
E-cigarette use during pregnancy could be harmful to the respiratory systems of both mothers and fetuses, according to a new study in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.
Evaluating Embryo Quality with Ultrasensitive Protein Detection
Infertility is estimated to affect 9% of reproductive-aged couples globally, and many couples turn to assisted reproductive technology. Selecting embryos with maximum development potential plays a pivotal role in obtaining the highest rate of success in ART treatment.
Researchers can evaluate the quality of an embryo by detecting the content of proteins secreted. In Biomicrofluidics, a method to detect trace proteins secreted by embryos using microfluidic droplets and multicolor fluorescence holds promise to select embryos for ART.
Vaping during Pregnancy May Change Structure of Baby’s Lungs through Altered Gene Signaling
Article title: In utero exposures to electronic-cigarette aerosols impair the Wnt signaling during mouse lung development Authors: Alexandra Noel, Shannon Hansen, Anusha Zaman, Zakia Perveen, Rakeysha Pinkston, Ekhtear Hossain, Rui Xiao, Arthur Penn From the authors: “Our data indicate that maternal vaping…
Pregnant women’s PFAS exposure linked to granddaughters’ obesity risk
The first human study to link blood levels of “forever” chemicals known as PFAS in pregnant women with the risk of obesity in their granddaughters is described in an ENDO 2020 abstract that will be published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
How Coronavirus Could Affect Pregnancy
As the novel coronavirus spreads globally, pregnant women are concerned about how COVID-19 could affect them and their unborn children.
Justin Brandt, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Medical School, discusses common questions regarding pregnancy and the coronavirus.
Recommendations for Pregnant Women During COVID-19
Pregnant women should stay in touch with physicians via telemedicine as needed, and keep precautionary distancing measures.
PLOS ONE: Online Program More Than Doubled Pregnancy Rate for Women With Infertility
A PLOS ONE study showed that an online version of Harvard’s Mind/Body Program for Fertility achieved results similar to the in-person counseling program, more than doubling pregnancy rates for women with infertility. Because many women can’t access in-person therapy, the online program fills a gap.
Stress during Pregnancy May Negatively Affect Baby’s Muscles
Research in sheep suggests that high levels of a stress hormone during pregnancy may alter gene expression in multiple muscle groups of offspring. These shifts may affect heart, breathing and skeletal muscle function, and could potentially increase risks of inflammation and infection. The study is published ahead of print in Physiological Genomics.
Improving detection of prenatal alcohol exposure using complementary tools
Drinking while pregnant can harm the developing fetus, leading to physical, cognitive, and neurobehavioral effects that may persist into adulthood. No safe level of alcohol in pregnancy has been identified, and many guidelines now recommend total abstinence. However, prenatal drinking remains common, particularly early on before women are aware of their pregnancy.
Ion Pump in Kidneys Controls Blood Volume, Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
Article title: H,K-ATPase type 2 regulates gestational extracellular compartment expansion and blood pressure in mice Authors: Christine Walter, Chloé Rafael, Samia Lasaad, Stéphanie Baron, Amel Salhi, Gilles Crambert From the authors:”In this study, we observed that the H,K-ATPase type 2…
ACR Releases First Guideline to Address Reproductive Health for Patients with Rheumatic Diseases
This is the first, evidence-based guideline related to the management of reproductive health issues for all patients with rheumatic diseases. With 131 recommendations, the guideline offers general precepts that provide a foundation for its recommendations and good practice statements.
Mental health challenges four times higher in young mothers
The study, recently published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, says identifying and treating mental health issues in young mothers is especially important as their health also affects the wellbeing of their children. The research recommends “further efforts should be directed at engaging and treating this high-risk group.”
Physician-scientist wins esteemed award to study whether maternal gut health impacts stroke risk for offspring
Louise D. McCullough, MD, PhD, a physician-scientist at UTHealth is a recipient of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) prestigious $1 million Merit Award to investigate whether the maternal microbiome influences stroke risk in offspring.
Research reverses the reproductive clock in mice
Researchers have lifted fertility rates in older female mice with small doses of a metabolic compound that reverses the ageing process in eggs, offering hope for some women struggling to conceive.
Understanding How Laws Affect Public Health: An Update on Legal Epidemiology
Laws can have important effects on public health risks and outcomes, while research can provide key evidence to inform effective health-related laws and policies. An introduction to the increasingly influential field of legal epidemiology is presented in a special supplement to the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (JPHMP). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Drug to Improve Fetal Growth May Impair Baby’s Postnatal Blood Pressure, Sugar Levels
Research suggests that a drug recently assessed as a potential treatment for fetal growth restriction may cause high blood pressure and raise blood sugar levels in offspring. The study urges practitioners to consider both short- and long-term effects when treating people with this pregnancy complication.
Pregnant Women with Very High Blood Pressure Face Greater Heart Disease Risk
Women with preeclampsia are four times more likely to suffer a heart attack or cardiovascular death, Rutgers study finds
Ensuring a Heart-Healthy Pregnancy
Loryn Feinberg, MD, Director of Women’s Cardiovascular Health at BIDMC, discusses how a highly specialized treatment approach is important for women with underlying cardiovascular issues who want to become pregnant as well as for women who develop cardiac problems during pregnancy.
Low-protein Diet in Pregnancy May Lead to Mom’s Liver Damage
A study in rats examines a pathway through which protein deficiency during pregnancy leads to fat accumulation in the liver and increased risk of liver damage. The first-of-its-kind study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Texas Abortion Patients’ Attempts to End Their Pregnancy on Their Own is Higher than the National Rate, New Study Finds
Seven percent of Texas abortion patients in the study reported trying to self-manage abortion before coming to a clinic for services.
Women cited cost and long distance to clinics as reasons for choosing to self-manage abortion.
Weizmann Scientists Devise New Algorithm that Predicts Gestational Diabetes
Using machine learning to analyze data on nearly 600,000 pregnancies, researchers devised an algorithm that identified nine parameters – out of more than 2,000 analyzed – that can predict which women are at risk of gestational diabetes. The parameters can identify risk early in – even before – pregnancy, enabling early intervention.
Pregnancy disorder subject of Tulane study
Researchers hope to develop new imaging methods to improve the treatment of preeclampsia.
Ultrasound Techniques Give Warning Signs of Preterm Births
Ultrasound can be used to examine cervix tissue and improve diagnostics, which is essential for predicting preterm births, and ultrasound data is used to compare two techniques for evaluating changes in cervical tissue throughout pregnancy. Researchers are looking at ultrasonic attenuation coefficients that can help scientists characterize cervical changes throughout pregnancy and in preparation for birth before other symptoms, such as contractions or dilation, occur. They will discuss their work at the 178th ASA Meeting.
Nanotechnology could provide the breakthrough for pre-eclampsia which kills 500,000 babies each year
University of South Australia biomedical engineer Dr Marnie Winter has been awarded US$100,000 from the world’s largest private foundation to help better understand and tackle a condition which kills 76,000 women and 500,000 babies each year.
Early Diagnosis of Pregnancy-Associated Heart Disease Linked to Significantly Better Outcomes
Women who are diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) during late pregnancy or within a month following delivery are more likely to experience restored cardiac function and improved outcomes compared to those who are diagnosed later in the postpartum period.
Stress, Plastic Additives in Late Pregnancy Raise Risk of Premature Birth
Women exposed simultaneously to stress and plastic additives late in pregnancy are at increased risk for premature birth, according to a study by Rutgers and other institutions.
Fertilization discovery reveals new role for the egg, could lead to new male contraceptive
An unexpected discovery about fertilization reveals new insights on how sperm and egg fuse and could have major implications for couples battling infertility – and may lead to a future male contraceptive.
CBD, THC Use During Early Pregnancy Can Disrupt Fetal Development
A new study published in Scientific Reports, a Nature Research journal, shows how a one-time exposure during early pregnancy to cannabinoids (CBs) – both synthetic and natural – can cause growth issues in a developing embryo. This is the first research to show such a connection in mammals.
Medical Minute: Providers help women cope with pain of infant loss
For women who suffer the devastation of an infant loss during pregnancy, emotions can run the gamut. They may feel guilty, angry or even relieved. No matter the feeling, expressing those emotions plays a big role in adapting to life after such a tragic event.
Researchers Discover Potential Therapy to Treat Detrimental Effects of Marijuana in Pre-Adolescent Individuals Exposed to THC in Womb
A University of Maryland School of Medicine study using a preclinical animal model suggests that prenatal exposure to THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, makes the brain’s dopamine neurons (an integral component of the reward system) hyperactive and increases sensitivity to the behavioral effects of THC during pre-adolescence.
Study Seeks to Guide Maternal Weight Gain in Twin Pregnancies
New research led by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and published today in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology is beginning to establish evidence-based guidelines for maternal weight gain while pregnant with twins.
10 Things Women Should Know About Preeclampsia
10 Things Women Should Know About Preeclampsia
Pregnant women of color experience disempowerment by health care providers
A new study finds that women of color perceive their interactions with doctors, nurses and midwives as being misleading, with information being “packaged” in such a way as to disempower them by limiting maternity healthcare choices for themselves and their children.
Moderate to Heavy Drinking During Pregnancy Alters Genes in Newborns, Mothers
Mothers who drink moderate to high levels of alcohol during pregnancy may be changing their babies’ DNA, according to a Rutgers-led study.
Pregnant Transgender Men at Risk for Depression and Lack of Care, Rutgers Study Finds
Transgender men who become pregnant are at increased risk for depression and difficulty getting medical care due to a lack of knowledge among health care providers, a Rutgers study reports.
The study, published in the journal Maturitas, examined health care research on transgender men who become pregnant at or after age 35 to determine their medical and mental health needs.