preterm birth

Milk fortifiers of human origin show no evident advantage in the development of the gut microbiota of premature infants over fortifiers derived from cows, while the intake of the mother’s own milk does, two studies suggest.

Evidence thus far shows that pregnant people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at higher risk for severe disease and death, as well as complications in their pregnancies.

Genes associated with preterm birth and protecting the fetus from the mother’s immune system appear to be regulated by HAND2.

The authors of a new study find no evidence for bacteria in the placenta, but others in the field question their interpretation of the data.

A small study based on circulating RNA in the blood of moms-to-be describes a technique that could be used to help predict who’s most at risk of preterm labor.

Immune cells targeting maternal antigens are abundant in the blood of premature infants, suggesting fetal intolerance of mom may instigate early labor.  

Researchers suggest that the receptors can control early labor contractions.

A new study uses blood samples from pregnant women to track changes in the immune system leading up to birth, and predicts gestational age from the mothers’ immune signatures.

Medication to prevent prematurity in humans harms cognitive flexibility in rats.

Government auditors absolve the National Institutes of Health of wrongdoing in the case of its involvement in an ethics investigation of a study involving premature babies.

The pace at which bacterial groups take root in the gastrointestinal tracts of premature infants is more tied to developmental age than time since birth.

The stressors a female rat experiences during pregnancy can have repercussions for her granddaughters, a study shows. 

A watchdog group claims that the federal agency improperly influenced the investigation of a study involving the treatment of preterm infants.

The overly simplistic notion of a Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiome is giving way to an appreciation of diverse and dynamic bacterial communities.

Two organizations team up in an effort to predict risk of premature birth using big data and genomics.

Babies conceived in May have an elevated risk of being born early.

US watchdog suspends plans to discipline researchers who failed to disclose the full risks of an experimental trial conducted with premature infants.

A look at some of biology’s communication networks

Researchers are using modern experimental tools to probe the mysterious molecular pathways that lead to premature labor and birth.