Birth Defects News and Research

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Findings offer potential new therapeutic target to boost strength of heart muscle contractions

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a previously unrecognized small protein in cells of the human heart that plays a key role in heart muscle contraction. The protein is made from an RNA that was previously believed to be a blank or non-coding RNA, suggesting there may be many other small 'non-coding' segments that play important biological roles.

18 Jan 2016

Using antidepressant drug during first trimester of pregnancy may increase risk of birth defects

Using paroxetine--a medication prescribed to treat conditions including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder--during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase newborns' risk of congenital malformations and cardiac malformations. That's the conclusion of a recent analysis published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

6 Jan 2016

UT Southwestern scientists use new gene-editing technique to prevent progression of DMD in young mice

Using a new gene-editing technique, a team of scientists from UT Southwestern Medical Center stopped progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in young mice.

4 Jan 2016

Researchers suggest microorganisms in the womb set stage for health problems later in life

Researchers review importance of microorganisms that exist in the gut, suggesting perturbation of the environment during pregnancy, delivery and early infancy could impact the developing baby's early microbiome and set the stage for health problems later in life. The term "microbiome" refers to the trillions of organisms we harbor, on our skin and within our respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

30 Dec 2015

Women suffering from blood clots can safely take hormone replacement therapy with anticoagulants

New research published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), is the first to demonstrate that women on blood thinners can take estrogen-containing contraception or hormone replacement therapy without an increased risk of blood clots or uterine bleeding.

23 Dec 2015

Using antidepressants during pregnancy greatly increases autism risk

Using antidepressants during pregnancy greatly increases the risk of autism, Professor Anick Bérard of the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine children's hospital revealed today. Prof. Bérard, an internationally renowned expert in the fields of pharmaceutical safety during pregnancy, came to her conclusions after reviewing data covering 145,456 pregnancies.

15 Dec 2015

Children with cleft lip or palate and spina bifida at increased risk for abuse

Children born with cleft lip or palate and spina bifida are at an increased risk for abuse before the age of 2, according to researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

11 Dec 2015

Study offers valuable insight into early identification of ASD

An increasing proportion of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are undergoing recommended evaluation in the preschool years--but population rates of ASD remain higher in eight-year-olds compared to four-year-olds, reports a study in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

11 Dec 2015

Study finds link between congenital heart disease and neurodevelopmental disorders

Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian, the Pediatric Cardiac Genetics Consortium, and the Pediatric Heart Network have found a number of genetic mutations that explain why many children with congenital heart disease also have other significant health challenges, including neurodevelopmental disorders and other congenital problems.

9 Dec 2015

Maternal smoking affects long-term health of male offspring

Mothers who smoke are putting more than their own health at risk, suggests a study published today in BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Young men whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had lower aerobic fitness compared to those whose mothers did not.

9 Dec 2015

Gene mutations that cause congenital heart disease also lead to neurodevelopmental delays

Some of the same gene mutations that cause heart defects in children also lead to neurodevelopmental delays, including learning disabilities. A large study of congenital heart disease (CHD) reveals overlapping genetic influences during early childhood development.

9 Dec 2015

Finding may lead to better understanding of male genital birth defects

University of Florida Health researchers have identified genes that are disrupted by abnormal hormone signaling at crucial points during development, a finding that may lead to a better understanding of how the most common male genital birth defects arise in humans.

24 Nov 2015

For people with epilepsy, the mental health treatments are not clearly understood

Mental health issues such as depression or anxiety are often neglected or misunderstood in people who also have co-morbidity with epilepsy.

18 Nov 2015

March of Dimes scientists help fine-tune experiments to uncover unknown causes of preterm birth

A new, integrated online database of genes and other information related to pregnancy has been developed by March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center investigators to help fine-tune questions, theories, and experiments to uncover the unknown causes of preterm birth.

12 Nov 2015

UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece to be honored with 2015 David E. Rogers Award

The Association of American Medical Colleges announced today that University of Maryland School of Medicine Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, will receive the 2015 David E. Rogers Award, which honors a medical school faculty member who has made major contributions to improving the health and health care of the American people. He will be presented the Award on November 8, 2015 at the AAMC's Annual Awards Event.

6 Nov 2015

March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card reveals racial, ethnic disparities within states

Portland, Oregon has the best preterm birth rate of the top 100 cities with the most births nationwide, while Shreveport, Louisiana has the worst, according to the 2015 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, which for the first time graded cities and counties around the nation and revealed persistent racial, ethnic and geographic disparities within states.

5 Nov 2015

Researchers find strong associations between hunger and poor health

It may come as a surprise that, even after the Great Recession ended in 2009, almost 50 million people in the United States are food insecure -- that is, they lack access to adequate food because of limited money or other resources. University of Illinois economist Craig Gundersen and University of Kentucky's James Ziliak examined recent research on food insecurity and its association with poor health and offer suggestions, including that doctors screen for hunger.

3 Nov 2015

Physicians leave severe acne patients on ineffective antibiotics for too long before prescribing more potent drug

A medical records analysis by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center concludes that physicians who treat severe acne leave too many patients on ineffective antibiotics for far too long before prescribing more potent needed therapy with the medication isotretinoin, sometimes known by its former brand name Accutane.

30 Oct 2015

Antibiotics have no adverse outcome on child's physical development, shows study

The four out of ten women who use antibiotics during pregnancy can breathe easy, as a comprehensive new study shows that the two most often prescribed drugs have no adverse outcome on the child's physical development.

30 Oct 2015

Prominent buildings and landmarks nationwide to light up purple to honor premature babies

To honor the 1 in 10 babies in the United States born prematurely each year, prominent buildings and landmarks nationwide, including the Empire State Building in New York City, will be shining in purple light in November to observe Prematurity Awareness Month.

29 Oct 2015

Birth Defects News and Research

Findings offer potential new therapeutic target to boost strength of heart muscle contractions

Using antidepressant drug during first trimester of pregnancy may increase risk of birth defects

UT Southwestern scientists use new gene-editing technique to prevent progression of DMD in young mice

Researchers suggest microorganisms in the womb set stage for health problems later in life

Women suffering from blood clots can safely take hormone replacement therapy with anticoagulants

Using antidepressants during pregnancy greatly increases autism risk

Children with cleft lip or palate and spina bifida at increased risk for abuse

Study offers valuable insight into early identification of ASD

Study finds link between congenital heart disease and neurodevelopmental disorders

Maternal smoking affects long-term health of male offspring

Gene mutations that cause congenital heart disease also lead to neurodevelopmental delays

Finding may lead to better understanding of male genital birth defects

For people with epilepsy, the mental health treatments are not clearly understood

March of Dimes scientists help fine-tune experiments to uncover unknown causes of preterm birth

UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece to be honored with 2015 David E. Rogers Award

March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card reveals racial, ethnic disparities within states

Researchers find strong associations between hunger and poor health

Physicians leave severe acne patients on ineffective antibiotics for too long before prescribing more potent drug

Antibiotics have no adverse outcome on child's physical development, shows study

Prominent buildings and landmarks nationwide to light up purple to honor premature babies

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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