A large international study has confirmed the findings of a previous U.S. study that linked COVID-19 vaccination with an average increase in menstrual cycle length of less than one day. The increase was not associated with any change in the number of days of menses (days of bleeding). Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the new study included data from nearly 20,000 people from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world who received any of nine different vaccines. For most study participants, the increase resolved in the cycle following vaccination.
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Steroid treatment before birth appears to improve survival and reduce complications among extremely preterm infants, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Antenatal steroid therapy, given to women at risk of preterm delivery, causes the fetal lungs to mature and has been shown to improve survival and reduce complications among infants born from 24 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. However, previous studies of the treatment for infants born between the 22nd and 23rd week—those at greatest risk for death and disability—were inconclusive.
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The experimental drug TEMPOL prevents viral replication and reduces disease severity in a hamster model of COVID-19, according to a new study led by NICHD. Though more research is needed, findings suggest a potential new antiviral treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection and related viruses, including MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
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The National Institutes of Health is offering up to $8 million in cash prizes to accelerate development of technologies to improve maternal health outcomes for those who live in areas lacking access to maternity care. The Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Technology (RADx® Tech) for Maternal Health Challenge prioritizes home-based or point-of-care diagnostic devices, wearables, and other remote sensing technologies to improve postpartum healthcare in these regions. The postpartum period is defined as the first year after giving birth or the end of a pregnancy, and it accounts for a large proportion of maternal deaths in the United States.
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The National Institutes of Health will award prizes totaling $15,000 to youth aged 16 to 25 years for original artwork depicting ways that communities navigate challenges and promote positive health outcomes despite barriers to healthy living.
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U.S. rates of pregnancy-associated homicide—deaths that occur among women who are pregnant or had been pregnant within one year—rose in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent NICHD-funded study. In 2020, the risk of homicide was 35% higher for pregnant or postpartum women, compared to women of reproductive age who were not pregnant or postpartum. Homicide rates were highest among adolescents and Black women, with most incidents involving firearms. The findings suggest that violence prevention programs and policies in the United States should address these risks in pregnancy and after birth.
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Eight years ago, NIH announced a collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to develop solutions for a variety of global health challenges. One priority is the study of brain development in children around the world, particularly those who live in low- and middle-income countries who are exposed to a variety of risk factors, such as inadequate nutrition and lack of access to education. Experts from NIH and BMGF participate in joint maternal and child health working groups to tackle these issues.
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Psychological distress before COVID-19 infection—feeling stressed, depressed, anxious, worried, or lonely—may raise the risk for long COVID, suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Long COVID includes such symptoms as fatigue, brain fog, breathing difficulties, and other symptoms that may persist for months after a COVID-19 infection.
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NICHD researchers conducting a clinical study of patients with a rare, fatal neurological disorder, called Batten disease, have partnered with basic scientists to find better ways to understand the disease, monitor its progression, and ultimately find treatments.
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For the past year, Howard University student Jayden Bryant has been training with a research mentor, Christopher Wassif, M.Sc., Ph.D., a staff scientist in NICHD’s Section on Molecular Dysmorphology, as part of the Honors Biology curriculum. Students in the Honors Biology program can be matched with mentors on campus or elsewhere, including at NIH, and are required to complete a thesis.
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A group of experts led by the National Institutes of Health has proposed a new anatomic model of the ovary and recommended standardized nomenclature to describe its major features. The group’s ongoing efforts to more precisely define ovarian anatomy promise to advance reproductive health research and ultimately enhance clinical care.
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