The initiative seeks to improve treatment and care of infants and children who were exposed to opioids in the womb.
News
NICHD issues News Releases and Media Advisories to the news media. Spotlight and Research Feature articles explain NICHD research findings and public health issues to the general public. An Item of Interest is a short announcement of relevant information, such as a notable staff change.
Release: Low-income, rural kids at higher risk for second- or third-hand smoke exposure
Infants and toddlers in low-income, rural areas may be at higher risk for second- and third-hand smoke than previously reported, according to an NIH-supported study.
Media Advisory: Experimental treatment for preeclampsia effective in animals, NIH-funded researchers show
In studies of mice and nonhuman primates, researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have used a technique known as RNA interference to reduce high levels of a protein that can cause preeclampsia, a potentially fatal high blood pressure disorder of pregnancy.
Science Update: NIH-funded researchers produce uterine cells from adult stem cells
Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have produced human uterine endometrial cells from adult stem cells. The findings could lead to a way to produce new uterine cells from a patient’s own tissues, which could then be used to treat uterine disorders such as endometriosis, uterine factor infertility, and early-stage endometrial cancer.
Science Update: Short interval between pregnancies may increase health risks for mothers and infants
Compared to younger mothers, mothers over 35 are at higher risk of death and serious illness if they conceive 6 months or less after the birth of a previous child, according to a study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health. For mothers of all ages, such short intervals between pregnancies were associated with higher risk for preterm birth and for having infants small for their gestation age.
Science Update: Nearly a third of children with concussion experience symptoms for a year, NICHD-funded study finds
Nearly a third of children experiencing a concussion had symptoms, including headache, irritability, and fatigue, up to a year after their injury, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Release: Myo-inositol unlikely to reduce risk of eye complication in preterm infants
Contrary to results from earlier studies, the vitamin-like substance myo-inositol does not appear to prevent a potentially blinding complication of preterm birth and may even reduce rates of survival among preterm infants, suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Spotlight: Highlighting Research on Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
NICHD’s mission includes understanding child development and behavior. Check out these scientific advances related to Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Release: Delayed pushing appears to have no effect on chances for spontaneous vaginal delivery
Delaying pushing during the second stage of labor—when the cervix is fully dilated at 10 centimeters—is a common practice at many U.S. hospitals, but it may have no effect on whether pregnant women deliver spontaneously (without a cesarean section or other intervention), according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Release: NIH funds specialized centers for child maltreatment research
Three national centers to develop best practices for prevention, intervention and treatment.
Release: NIH funds study to prevent, treat HIV among adolescents in poor countries
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $7.5 million for an international research program to prevent and treat HIV infection among adolescents and young adults in seven African countries and Brazil.
Item of Interest: Federal report on health, well-being of America’s children and youth now available
The latest report features statistics from U.S. government agencies on the status of at-risk children and youth.
Science Update: NICHD-supported study explores inherited and environmental influences on gene activity
Findings from a study on twins may help explain factors that activate or silence genes.
Release: Induced labor at 39 weeks may reduce likelihood of C-section, NIH study suggests
Healthy first-time mothers whose labor was induced in the 39th week of pregnancy were less likely to deliver by cesarean section, compared to those who waited for labor to begin naturally, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Item of Interest: NIH extends study on HIV drug, dolutegravir, to evaluate potential safety concerns for pregnant women
The study seeks to determine if exposure poses a risk for neural tube defects.
Media Advisory: Pregnancy Loss Occurs in 26 Percent of Zika-Infected Monkeys
New findings raise the concern that Zika virus-associated pregnancy loss in people may be more common than currently thought.
Item of Interest: NICHD enhances partnership with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity to promote safe infant sleep
As part of NICHD’s continued partnership with the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity®, Inc., the NICHD-led Safe to Sleep® campaign recently launched a mini-grant program to support fraternity members in conducting safe infant sleep outreach. The mini-grants will enable Kappa members to lead and host activities in their communities, where they can share safe infant sleep messages in culturally sensitive ways.
Science Update: Siblings with close relationships more likely to achieve similar levels of education, NICHD study suggests
Siblings who feel close to each other in childhood are more likely to achieve similar levels of education, according to an analysis of a study funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Release: NIH launches INCLUDE Project
New trans-NIH INCLUDE Project will focus on improving the health and well-being of people with Down syndrome, while also studying risk and resilience factors for common diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
Media Advisory: NIH study finds no significant link between brain injury and IV fluid treatment of pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
Research supported by the National Institutes of Health finds that giving children intravenous (IV) fluids to treat diabetic ketoacidosis—an emergency complication of untreated diabetes—does not appear to worsen the brain swelling that may accompany the condition.