How do neonatal factors influence tooth eruption timing? Research suggests that breastfeeding and growth metrics can speed up tooth eruption in preterm infants. #PretermBirth #ToothEruption

In this interview, Dr. Kathryn A. Patras discusses how maternal immune responses to UTIs may trigger preterm birth and how cytokine biomarkers could help predict risk.

YouTube video by HealthDay

Desai et al. conduct untargeted high-resolution metabolomics profiling to identify metabolites and pathways linking PBDE exposure and preterm birth in a cohort of pregnant African American women in Atlanta. Lipid, amino acid, and thiamine-dependent pathways may play a role via disruptions in oxidative stress, inflammation, and energy pathways.

A study led by Monash University found that metformin, a low-cost diabetes medication, may reduce the risk of preterm births in women at high metabolic risk. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine Evidence, the research analyzed data from seven randomized trials involving 2,297 pregnancies. While metformin did not prevent gestational diabetes overall, it was linked to a 35% lower odds of giving birth prematurely (before 37 weeks) and halved the rate of births before 34 weeks. The study showed that women taking metformin had 2.2% of preterm births compared to 4.4% in the placebo group, with an average prolongation of pregnancy by 11 days for those on metformin. Gestational diabetes affects one in five pregnant women in Australia and can lead to severe complications. Researchers emphasized that while these findings are promising, further trials are needed to confirm metformin’s effects and determine optimal treatment timing. The study is part of the Metformin in Pregnancy Study (MiPS), a global collaboration examining metformin use during pregnancy. Key factors like age, BMI, blood glucose levels, and treatment start times were considered to provide a comprehensive analysis of metformin’s impact on maternal and fetal health.

A new study published in Science Translational Medicine shows that the...

Researchers at Imperial College London have launched a clinical trial investigating whether a microbiome-based therapy can help prevent preterm birth...

Pediatric Research - Environmental and genetic risk factors for preterm birth: interplays with stressful events during pregnancy

A University of Washington-led study is raising new alarms over the health impacts of wildfire smoke on pregnancy.

Background In 2019, NHS England launched the second version of the Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle (SBLCBv2), recommendations that maternity providers are expected to fully implement, in an ongoing e...

To examine sex differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes and brain development from early life to 8 years in males and females born preterm.This was …

This cohort study identifies positive functioning profiles at 34 years in adults born very preterm and/or very low birth weight and term-born adults and investigates whether identified profiles based ...

Read more on how Early Birds hosted a certified training in Lviv, Ukraine, bringing together 50 healthcare professionals from 16 regions of Ukraine to advance early assessment and follow-up care for i...

(Beyond Pesticides, November 18, 2021) A study published by King George’s Medical University, India, finds exposure to xenobiotic substances like pesticides during pregnancy increases risks associated with preterm birth, including a rise in cesarean section (C-section) deliveries and a decrease in fetal body weight. Preterm births occur when a fetus is born early or before 37 weeks of complete gestation. Premature births can result in chronic (long-term) illnesses among infants from lack of proper organ development and even death. Birth and reproductive complications are increasingly common among individuals exposed to environmental toxicants, like pesticides. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports the preterm birth rate is increasing annually. Therefore, studies like this can help government and health officials safeguard human health by assessing adverse effects following prevalent chemical exposure. The study notes, “To the best of our knowledge, this was a pioneering study, and it may help to increase our knowledge with regard to xenobiotic exposure in biological systems and the need for stringent guidelines for agricultural use of pesticides.” The study examines the association between the transfer of xenobiotics (foreign synthetic substances like pesticides) from mother to fetus. Transferal of these toxic substances can result in biological and chemical changes (i.e., genotoxicity […]

(Beyond Pesticides, May 25, 2021) High levels of glyphosate in urine later in a pregnancy is significantly associated with preterm birth, according to recent research conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan. While awareness of the strong connection between glyphosate and certain cancers is growing among the public, the chemical’s link to adverse pregnancy outcomes is beginning to receive more attention. “Since most people are exposed to some level of glyphosate and may not even know it, if our results reflect true associations, then the public health implications could be enormous,” said senior author John Meeker, ScD, professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. This latest study is part of a cohort dubbed PROTECT (Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats), focused on investigating environmental exposures leading to preterm birth in Puerto Rico. Previous research indicates that Puerto Rico has some of the highest rates of preterm births in the United States, roughly matching Mississippi. With America’s abysmal track record for maternal care, preterm birth rates in these locations also represent the highest in the world. In order to determine the association between glyphosate use and preterm pregnancy, pregnant women between the ages of 18 to […]

That may sound far-fetched, but UK researchers found people born very preterm or with a very low birth weight are less likely to have children, mostly due to not making stable relationships as easily.