Birth Weight News and Research

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Study Offers New Insight into Genetic Factors Behind Premature Delivery and Gestational Duration

New knowledge of the genetic factors behind premature delivery and gestational duration has now emerged.

4 Apr 2023

Study identifies a novel rare mutation in gene linked to Harlequin Ichthyosis

Harlequin ichthyosis (HI) is a severe genetic skin disorder characterized by thick white, brown, or dark brown patches on the skin covering a newborn's entire body. HI has a low incidence of 1 per 300,000 live births but comes with the highest mortality rate among skin conditions. It is caused by a mutation in the ABCA12 gene, which codes for a protein involved in transporting lipids necessary for the formation of the skin barrier. Such protein shortage leads to a weaker epidermal barrier.

9 Mar 2023

A new outlook on sow breeding using dietary nucleotides

The primary fetal organ systems’ growth and development are strongly influenced by the nutrition status of the mother. Late gestation is when fetal growth is rapidly accelerated, and the nutritional needs of sows rise dramatically as a result of the fetus’ rapid growth and the placenta’s quick expansion.

26 Oct 2022

The exchange of nutrients between the mother and fetus mirrored by ‘placenta-on-a-chip’

Plasmodium falciparum infections can result in placental malaria, which can have serious consequences for both mother and child. Nearly 200,000 newborn fatalities annually from placental malaria, primarily as a result of low birth weight, as well as 10,000 maternal deaths.

27 Sep 2022

Placenta plays an active role in the delivery of maternal vitamin D to the fetus

Scientists have shed new light on the role of the placenta in managing the relationships between maternal vitamin D and fetal development, according to a study published today in eLife.

9 Mar 2022

Symposium highlights the science gaps for risk assessment of PFAS in food

Developing ways to measure and study exposures to a class of synthetic chemicals is critical to addressing potential health risks stemming from a long history of consumer uses in food wrappers, popcorn bags and paperboard.

12 Oct 2021

Multiple micronutrient supplements included in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines

The New York Academy of Sciences today announced that multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) have now been included in the World Health Organization's (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines (known as EML), as an antenatal supplement for pregnant women.

6 Oct 2021

Research finds an increase in prenatal cannabis usage

Kaiser Permanente analyzed more than 100,000 pregnancies and identified that there was a 25% increase in the rate of cannabis use early in pregnancy.

1 Oct 2021

Genetic and epigenetic origin of pediatric liver cancer uncovered

Researchers at Hiroshima University have analyzed the molecular findings of almost 160 pediatric liver cancer cases and discovered molecular markers that should help to understand and treat the considerable variation in prognoses.

22 Sep 2021

Researchers analyze the effects of using tetrahydrocannabinol during pregnancy

A group of scientists combined their mastery to obtain a thorough understanding of the risks linked with cannabis exposure at the time of pregnancy.

3 Sep 2021

Researchers find large quantities of previously undetected PFAS

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) found large quantities of previously undetectable compounds from the family of chemicals known as PFAS in six watersheds on Cape Cod using a new method to quantify and identify PFAS compounds.

8 Mar 2021

Combined antenatal therapy improves outcomes in extremely preterm babies

Tiny infants known as extremely preterm children have very low birth weights, underdeveloped organs, and risks of long-term problems or disabilities.

14 Jul 2020