Women suffering from the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis temporarily get much better when pregnant. Researchers have now identified the beneficial changes naturally occurring in the immune system during pregnancy.
In a global perspective, depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability. More than 264 million people are affected and at least 25 per cent of all women and 15 per cent of all men experience a depression that requires treatment at some point during their life.
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A first-of-its-kind prognostic test approved by the FDA can now help doctors in the United States predict whether a woman will develop severe preeclampsia during pregnancy.
Increased alcohol use among pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with autonomic nervous system dysregulation, known to negatively affect resilience to change and further exacerbate the risk of stress-related mental health disorders and substance use, a new study suggests. The findings, although preliminary, underline the potential for a new clinical biomarker and novel personalized mobile health apps in facilitating treatment interventions. Previous research linked the pandemic to increased stress levels and drinking, including in pregnant and postpartum women. Alcohol use, and stress-related conditions such as depression and anxiety, are associated with dysregulation in the feedback loop between the body and the brain. This process involves the peripheral autonomic nervous system, which regulates the heartbeat. Healthy, resilient people tend to have higher heart rate variability than people with stress and substance use disorders. Heart rate variab
Amidst military conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, this study provides new insight into how military blasts injure unborn babies. The findings could help doctors to better assess fetal injuries and inform the development of future safety devices.
For decades, people struggling with infertility had to add social stigma to problems. A Penn State Health doctor discusses the causes and treatments of infertility and how attitudes have shifted.
The Endocrine Society selected Dalal S. Ali, M.D., as the recipient of its 2023 C. Wayne Bardin, MD, International Travel Award for her outstanding ENDO abstract and research contributions related to bone disease, calcium and endocrine disorders in pregnancy.
The University of Chicago Medicine opened its first women’s health clinic in Chicago’s northern suburbs as the Hyde Park-based academic health system continues to expand its primary and specialty care offerings closer to patients’ homes.
An international research team from Tanzania and Japan created a smartphone app and conducted a pilot study of how the app might be used to improve midwives’ knowledge and skills in Tanzania. Their study focused on the app’s potential effects on the learning outcomes of midwives and birth preparedness of pregnant women in Tanzania.
University of Maryland Medical Center, located in the healthcare hub city of Baltimore, receives national recognition for its academic maternal care units.
Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology found that early exposure to an environmental chemical called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, made it more difficult for mice to recover from sound-related trauma sustained later in life.
John Wood, MD, PhD, Director of Cardiovascular MRI at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, co-authored a breakthrough research finding: the first real-time, diagnostic quality MRI images of fetal heart disease.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated folic acid fortification of all enriched cereal grains in 1996, and this regulation resulted in a reduction of neural tube defect (NTD)–affected pregnancies for the population in the United States.
A new study from the University of Bergen reveals that including offspring birthweight information from women’s subsequent births, is helpful in identifying a woman's long-term risk of dying from cardiovascular causes.
Sudden infant death syndrome is a case where the death of an apparently healthy infant before their first birthday remains unexplained even after thorough investigation.
Medicaid must be part of any solution to address the current maternal mortality crisis and racial inequities in the United States, according to a new analysis by researchers at the George Washington University.
Depression is considered the most common complication of childbirth, and new mothers shouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed about seeking mental health care and treatments including therapy and medication, advised experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
A cleft lip or palate arises from the combined effects of genes and inflammatory risk factors experienced during pregnancy, such as smoking or infections, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.
Investigators from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai found that women who experience an adverse pregnancy outcome—such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia or preterm birth—have a higher risk of developing stroke in their lifetime, and at a younger age.
HealthPartners Institute researchers have published new data in JAMA Network Open that shows monovalent COVID-19 booster vaccinations administered in early pregnancy (before 20 weeks’ gestation) were not associated with miscarriage. The research adds to the growing understanding about the safety of COVID-19 booster vaccinations among people who are pregnant.
Every year, more than 40,000 women die of ovarian cancer in Europe. Ovarian cancer is a genetically very heterogeneous disease, which makes it exceptionally difficult to study and treat.
In this case-control surveillance study of more than 100,000 pregnancies, COVID-19 booster vaccination in pregnancy was not associated with spontaneous abortion. These findings support the safety of recommendations for COVID-19 booster vaccination, including in pregnant populations.
A new study suggests that increasing rates of induction of labour (IOL) of pregnant women and people in the UK, without considering the accompanying, real-world impact on staffing workloads and patient care, may have unintended consequences.
Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital scientists and clinicians will present new research at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), June 2nd to June 6th at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. This year’s scientific program will feature more than 2,900 abstracts, covering all major diseases and research areas, including breast, lung, head and neck, gynecological, prostate, and gastric cancers.
A gene regulating the F-Box and WD Repeat Domain Containing 7 (FBXW7) protein is frequently mutated or deleted in various types of human cancer, including gynecological cancers.
In a new study published in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, researchers at Washington State University found that conveying simple, scientific facts about how THC can harm a fetus was associated with reduced intentions to use cannabis while pregnant.
Giving people at high risk of PFAS exposure the opportunity to easily self-test could improve access to testing for these “forever chemicals” and lead to the early detection of detrimental health conditions, according to a new Michigan State University study. The study tested an improved approach for people to collect their own blood samples to test for PFAS without being part of an academic research study.
As more people use cannabis for recreational purposes, attitudes towards the drug have changed. For example, research has shown that dispensaries often recommend cannabis – also referred to as marijuana – to pregnant women to ease pregnancy symptoms, especially morning sickness.
Women with early-stage cervical cancer had significantly higher chances of developing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) after radical hysterectomies if they were smokers or used a catheter for more than seven days post-surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found in a study.
Seemingly healthy people whose blood contained antibodies associated with a condition called antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) were significantly more likely to experience a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke than those without, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists shows
Dr. Sarah Prager looks at the impacts of recent federal court rulings on Washington state and nearby states, as well as the impact of rulings on miscarriage care.
Even though they reported overall satisfaction with their care, the 10 who received care in a clinic facility portrayed their consultations as lengthy, chaotic and lacking comfort, the published paper said.
More than 100 genes linked to the risk of schizophrenia seem to cause illness because of their role in the placenta rather than in the developing brain, according to a new study led by the Lieber Institute for Brain Development.
Researchers at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center found mailing human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection tests and offering assistance to book in-clinic screening appointments to under-screened, low-income women improved cervical cancer screening nearly two-fold compared to scheduling assistance alone.
It’s often adorable, beautiful and touches your soul. It’s also essential for childhood development. A Penn State Health expert talks about why the first moments between mother and child are so important.
Martin is now 4 ½ and thriving.At birth, Martin went precious minutes without oxygen. A specialized team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles raced to save his life—and his brain.
Elevated maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the structure, texture and other qualities of the placenta in pregnant mothers – a critical connection between mothers and their unborn babies – according to new research from the Developing Brain Institute at Children’s National Hospital.