infants

Sex ratio at birth, Spain, 1900–1930. Credit: Cliometrica (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11698-023-00267-y "Missing Girls in Historical Europe" is a major research project at NTNU in which researchers have looked into numbers of girls and boys in European countries over a 250-year period. They found that the number of male children was higher in several countries during periods of poverty and poor living conditions.…

February 12, 20242min readVery young children’s developing immune systems respond to the COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 very differently than do those of adultsBy Simon Makin Many infectious diseases are deadly for both the very old and the very young. But thankfully, the COVID-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus rarely triggers serious illness in infants. Scientists have several theories as to why. For example, some evidence suggests babies' immature immune systems—which lack the more targeted (or “adaptive”) responses that…

A UCLA-led study finds that full-term infants born to mothers infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy are at a higher risk of respiratory distress, a condition significantly mitigated by maternal vaccination before infection. Credit: SciTechDaily.comInfants born to COVID-19 infected mothers face triple the risk of respiratory distress, according to UCLA research. Vaccinating mothers prior to infection significantly reduced the risk for full-term infants developing a breathing disorder that most often strikes premature…

A study of more than 360,000 mothers and infants shows a significant risk of low birth weight and NICU admissions for babies exposed to cannabis in utero. The research underscores the increasing risks associated with the frequency of cannabis use during pregnancy. Credit: SciTechDaily.comLarge Kaiser Permanente study adds to evidence about low birthweight, preterm birth, admission to neonatal intensive care.A large study of more than 360,000 mothers and infants found increased risk of low birth weight and admission to the…

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The Cambridge BabyRhythm project also explored the role of rhythmic action in language development. Credit: Centre for Neuroscience in Education, University of Cambridge Babies don’t begin to process phonetic information reliably until seven months old – which researchers say is too late to form the foundation of language. Phonetic information – the smallest sound elements of speech – may not be the basis of language learning in babies as previously thought Babies don’t begin to process phonetic information reliably…

Credit: AUT University New research led by AUT academics shows how to enhance early childhood education for Samoan pepe meamea (infants and toddlers)—the majority of whom are taught in English-medium centers. The research points to ways of weaving key Samoan knowledge into mainstream centers to improve the well-being and sense of…

Researchers have developed a biodegradable patch engineered from human cells that could one day be used to correct infant congenital heart defects, limiting the need for multiple invasive surgeries and outlasting current non-living, non-degradable patches.Globally, congenital heart defects (CHD) affect around nine in every 1,000 babies born. CHD refers to a group of defects present at birth that are caused by the heart not developing properly during pregnancy. While simple defects often don’t need treatment, some complex…

Baby wearing EEG cap for the study. Pictured with parent. The study found that infants from four months old can perceive their bodies in space, linking visual and tactile experiences. Credit: University of BirminghamResearch from the University of Birmingham shows that babies as young as four months can understand their body’s interaction with space. This study, involving a tactile and visual experiment, indicates that infants’ brains are capable of linking sight and touch, contributing to their spatial awareness. Further…

Streptococcus agalactiae bacteria, responsible for vaginal and urinary tract infections and newborn infections including meningitis and septicemia. Optical microscopy view.Cavallini James | BSIP | Universal Images Group | Getty ImagesPfizer on Wednesday said its experimental vaccine targeting the potentially deadly bacterial disease Group B Streptococcus returned strong mid-stage clinical trial results, a promising step as the drug inches toward potential approval.Pfizer is among several drugmakers racing to develop the…