|
Premenopausal females who were vaccinated for COVID-19 were no more likely to report irregular menstrual cycles, heavier bleeds, or menstrual pain than a similar group of unvaccinated women, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. However, consistent with several previous studies, participants reported a small increase in cycle length of roughly one day following vaccination. |
|
|
Self-reported depression from six weeks gestation through the end of pregnancy may increase the risk of heart and blood vessel disease up to two years after birth, suggests an analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health. Information on cardiovascular disease occurring after prenatal depression could help inform screening and prevention efforts for the condition. |
|
|
Recent DIR scientific advances include understanding how neural circuits process sensory information, optimizing fertility preservation for girls with childhood cancer, exploring the potential link between maternal fibroid tumors and infant birth weight, and understanding the association between adverse childhood experiences and adult health. |
|
|
A new guide developed by NICHD and its partners promises to standardize the exchange of clinical data on maternal and infant health. The guide is an important step toward establishing a common framework to help clinicians and scientists better understand the root causes and high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. |
|
|
NIH has announced the next round of winners of its Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge—a $3 million prize competition to encourage community-based and advocacy organizations in the United States to develop the infrastructure and capabilities needed to conduct maternal health research. |
|
|
Delivery of the gene for neurotrophic factor-α1 directly into the hippocampus of the brain prevents neurodegeneration and memory loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. These preclinical findings on a potential therapeutic are among the first to show prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in an animal model. |
|
|
An NIH-supported study suggests that umbilical cord milking, a technique that moves blood from the umbilical cord into a newborn’s body increases blood flow to the lungs and brain, reducing the need for heart and respiratory support among infants classified as non-vigorous—limp, pale, and with minimal breathing. The study adds to previous research suggesting that cord milking leads to better outcomes, compared to the standard intervention of immediate cord clamping and cutting. |
|
|
Tranilast, a drug used to treat allergies and certain types of scars, reduced the size of human fibroid tumors implanted in mice, according to an NIH-funded study. The authors said the results warranted additional studies in animals and perhaps in later human trials to evaluate this potential treatment for these non-cancerous gynecologic tumors that can cause bleeding and pain and sometimes affect fertility. |
|
