The largest, most comprehensive analysis of its kind has found pregnant women infected with HIV can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to their infants by about 50 percent if they deliver by elective cesarean section--before they have gone into labor and before their membranes have ruptured, according to a study led by a researcher at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
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.
Gene Therapy Technique May Allow Researchers to Suppress Abnormal Protein in Bone Disorder
Researchers at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) have taken the first preliminary steps for gene therapy of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a diverse group of disorders caused by various defects in type I collagen, a major component of bone.
Study Questions Common Practice of Steroid Administration to Induce Lung Development in Premature Infants
A new study conducted by researchers in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network suggests that the steroid dexamethasone, which is commonly prescribed to help premature infants get off mechanical ventilators, may have serious side effects.
First Trimester Screening for Down Syndrome Possible, NICHD-Funded Study Finds
The first large scale study of its kind shows that effective screening for Down syndrome is possible before the 14th week of pregnancy--earlier than previous screening regimens have permitted, according to a study appearing in the April 2 New England Journal of Medicine.
New Panel to Assess Readiness of Reading Research For Use In Nation's Classrooms
A new panel unveiled today will study the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching children how to read and to report on the best ways to apply these findings in classrooms and at home.
NICHD-Funded Researchers Map Physical Basis of Dyslexia
A Yale research team funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has used sophisticated brain imaging technology to show that there is decreased functioning while performing reading tasks in certain brain regions of individuals with the most common form of dyslexia.
Researchers Discover How Melatonin Production is Switched Off
Researchers have long known that melatonin--a key hormone that regulates the body's circadian clock--rapidly disappears from the blood after exposure to bright light.
New Treatment for Lung Problems in Premature Infants Ineffective, NICHD Study Finds
A new study has demonstrated that a potential new therapy, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), given in combination with the steroid hormone glucocorticoid to mothers who were threatening to deliver a very preterm infant, was no more effective in improving their newborn infants' outcome than glucocorticoid treatment alone.
Vaccination May Control Cholera Outbreaks in African Refugee Camps
Vaccinating against cholera in African refugee camps can save lives, prevent disease, and possibly save costs, according to an economic analysis conducted by a team of researchers at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and other institutions.
Experimental Vaccine Against E. coli O157
Scientists at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) have developed an experimental vaccine against Escherichia coli O157, the pathogenic bacterium that causes severe food poisoning and that prompted the recall last year of millions of pounds of ground beef.
Ovarian Disorder Places Women At Risk for Bone Loss
Premature ovarian failure (formerly known as premature menopause), increases a woman's risk of bone loss, according to a study by researchers at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
NICHD-Sponsored Fertility Study Seeks Male Subjects
Fertile men are needed to participate in a large study of male fertility and infertility.
NICHD Winter Alert to Parents of Newborn Infants
The cold, fall weather is bringing out the heavy clothes and blankets -- and also a warning to parents of infants from Tipper Gore, national spokesperson for the "Back to Sleep" campaign, a public-private initiative to raise awareness that placing babies on their backs to sleep can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Response Statement JAMA article on the Adolescent Health Study
Initial results from the largest, most comprehensive survey of adolescents to date indicate that a feeling of personal connection to home, family, and school is crucial for protecting young people from a vast array of risky behaviors.
The Adolescent Health Study
The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) is a survey designed to measure the effects of family, peer group, school, neighborhood, religious institution, and community influences on behaviors that promote good health, such as seat belt use, exercise, and nutrition, as well as on health risks such as tobacco use, sexual activity, sun exposure, and drug and alcohol use.
The Adolescent Health Survey Questions & Answers
This sheet provides answers to common questions about the Adolescent Health Study and additional background about the study.
Clinton Administration Announces Expanded BTS Campaign
The Clinton Administration announced today that Tipper Gore will lead an expanded public education effort designed to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
NICHD-Funded Researchers Find Possible Mechanism of Preeclampsia Disorder of Pregnancy Attributed to Placenta Irregularity
A team of investigators has discovered that preeclampsia--a life threatening complication of pregnancy--results from a failure of the placenta to invade the wall of the uterus and to appropriately mimic the tissue which lines blood vessels. The finding has important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of this sudden, mysterious, and potentially fatal disorder of pregnancy.
Reduction in SIDS Deaths Helps Bring Low Infant Mortality
Saying that more than 50 percent of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) mortality may be preventable if babies are placed to sleep on their sides or backs, HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced that deaths due to SIDS fell 30 percent between 1992 and 1995. She said the reduction in SIDS deaths has contributed significantly to an historic low infant mortality rate in the United States.
Reduction in SIDS Rates Helps Bring Low Infant Mortality
Saying that more than 50 percent of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) mortality may be preventable if babies are placed to sleep on their sides or backs, HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced that deaths due to SIDS fell 30 percent between 1992 and 1995.