Latest news with #PediatricResearch
BusinessToday
28-05-2025
- Health
- BusinessToday
One Drop to Save a Life: Newborn Immune Profiling Goes Micro
(L to R) Dr Genevieve Llanora, Department of Neonatology, KKH; Dr Kerwin Kwek, Research Scientist, SMART CAMP and SMART AMR, holding BLIPI with Assistant Professor Yeo Kee Thai, Senior Consultant, Department of Neonatology, KKH; and Nicholas Ng, Research Engineer, SMART CAMP. A single drop of blood is now enough to provide crucial insights into a newborn's immune system, thanks to a breakthrough device developed by researchers from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) and KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH). The BiophysicaL Immune Profiling for Infants (BLIPI) delivers results in under 15 minutes, offering a step forward in the early detection of life-threatening conditions in vulnerable newborns. Premature infants are particularly at risk of serious illnesses such as sepsis and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Sepsis, a bloodstream infection, remains a leading cause of infant mortality worldwide, responsible for up to one million deaths each year. NEC, a severe intestinal disease, can be fatal in up to half of affected low birth weight infants. Diagnosis is often difficult, as symptoms are vague and can escalate quickly, making prompt intervention critical. Current diagnostic methods typically require blood samples of up to 1 ml — a significant volume for newborns, especially those born very prematurely with total blood volumes as low as 50 ml. These methods are slow and invasive, often taking hours or even days to yield results. This delay can hinder timely clinical decisions and increase the risk of complications such as anaemia from repeated blood draws. BLIPI addresses these challenges by requiring just 0.05 ml of blood — approximately 20 times less than traditional tests — and producing results at the point of care within 15 minutes. This enables faster, more targeted treatment while reducing the physical burden on fragile infants. (L to R): Assistant Professor Yeo Kee Thai, Senior Consultant, and Dr Genevieve Llanora from the Department of Neonatology at KKH, demonstrating how BLIPI works. In a study published in Pediatric Research, the team demonstrated how BLIPI uses microfluidic technology to detect changes in immune cell size and flexibility, key indicators of immune activity. Unlike conventional tests that focus on identifying pathogens, BLIPI provides direct information about how the immune system responds. Its results strongly align with established inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell counts, and neutrophil ratios. The study involved screening 19 infants — both full-term and preterm — at multiple time points. BLIPI detected differences in immune cell characteristics and successfully identified a significant immune response in a premature infant with a severe blood infection. The device's portable design allows it to be used directly in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), eliminating the need to send samples to a laboratory. This makes it especially valuable in rural or resource-limited healthcare settings. Requiring only a single drop of blood, BLIPI is less invasive and better suited for repeated use in ongoing monitoring. Dr Kerwin Kwek, Research Scientist at SMART CAMP and SMART AMR, explained that BLIPI was designed to meet the specific challenges of neonatal care by combining minimal blood requirements with high sensitivity and rapid turnaround. He noted that the device offers clinicians fast, actionable insights using a non-invasive method — a meaningful advance for critical care in newborns. Assistant Professor Yeo Kee Thai, Senior Consultant at the Department of Neonatology at KKH and senior author of the study, added: 'KKH cares for around two-thirds of all babies born weighing under 1,500 grams in Singapore. These infants have immature immune systems and are extremely vulnerable. With BLIPI, a simple heel or finger prick can quickly provide valuable immune data, enabling more precise and timely care.' Looking ahead, the team plans to conduct larger clinical trials to validate BLIPI's accuracy across a broader range of neonatal patients and refine the device for wider clinical use. There is also potential for the technology to support pharmaceutical research, allowing real-time monitoring of immune responses to neonatal treatments. (L to R) Nicholas Ng, Research Engineer, SMART CAMP; Assistant Professor Yeo Kee Thai, Senior Consultant, Department of Neonatology, KKH, holding BLIPI with Dr Kerwin Kwek, Research Scientist, SMART CAMP and SMART AMR; and Dr Genevieve Llanora, Department of Neonatology, KKH. Related
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Eating this high-fat millennial favorite while pregnant lowers your baby's chance of developing food allergies
Those creamy darlings beloved on brunch menus may be more than just a trendy topping. New research suggests that expecting mothers who indulge in this high-fat fruit could be giving their babies a head start in avoiding food allergies. A Finnish study that analyzed data from over 2,200 mother-child pairs found that infants born to mothers who consumed avocados during pregnancy had a 44% lower chance of developing food allergies by their first birthday compared to those whose mothers abstained. The findings — published in the journal Pediatric Research — assessed maternal diets through questionnaires during the first and third trimesters. Infant allergic outcomes were evaluated at 12 months, focusing on conditions like food allergies, eczema and wheezing. While the avocado connection was significant for food allergies, no notable associations were found for the other conditions. It's worth noting that mothers who consumed avocados tended to be older, non-smoking, have higher diet quality scores, lower BMIs and breastfed longer in the first trimester. Avocados are rich in nutrients beneficial for fetal development, including fiber, folate, lutein and healthy monounsaturated fats. These components are believed to support the developing immune system, potentially reducing the likelihood of allergic reactions in infancy. Food allergies now affect approximately 1 in 13 children in the US, representing an increase of 50% in the prevalence of food allergies between 1997 and 2011. Experts attribute the rise to several factors, including a shift to more refined diets, vitamin D deficiencies due to a lack of sun exposure and the 'hygiene hypothesis' — which posits that our cleaner contemporary environment exposes children to fewer microbes, causing their immune system to overreact to certain foods. A recent study performed in Sweden adds to a growing body of research that suggests one of the factors may be the delayed introduction of allergenic foods. Researchers analyzed the data of 2,060 babies and found that introducing them to a diverse diet — categorized as consisting of 13 or 14 different foods — at 9 months of age was associated with a 45% decrease in the risk of food allergies by the time the infant reached 18 months. However, the study suggests that the same protective effect does not seem to occur when implementing a diverse diet at an earlier age, such as 6 months. This association held strong even after adjusting for factors like family history of allergies, breastfeeding duration and the mother's education levels — although the researchers noted that 'children with a history of eczema may benefit the most from eating a diverse diet early in life for food allergy prevention.'
New York Post
18-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Eating this high-fat millennial favorite while pregnant lowers your baby's chance of developing food allergies
Those creamy darlings beloved on brunch menus may be more than just a trendy topping. New research suggests that expecting mothers who indulge in this high-fat fruit could be giving their babies a head start in avoiding food allergies. 3 New research suggests that expecting mothers who indulge in this high-fat fruit could be giving their babies a head start in avoiding food allergies. Getty Images/iStockphoto Advertisement A Finnish study that analyzed data from over 2,200 mother-child pairs found that infants born to mothers who consumed avocados during pregnancy had a 44% lower chance of developing food allergies by their first birthday compared to those whose mothers abstained. The findings — published in the journal Pediatric Research — assessed maternal diets through questionnaires during the first and third trimesters. Advertisement Infant allergic outcomes were evaluated at 12 months, focusing on conditions like food allergies, eczema and wheezing. While the avocado connection was significant for food allergies, no notable associations were found for the other conditions. It's worth noting that mothers who consumed avocados tended to be older, non-smoking, have higher diet quality scores, lower BMIs and breastfed longer in the first trimester. Avocados are rich in nutrients beneficial for fetal development, including fiber, folate, lutein and healthy monounsaturated fats. Advertisement These components are believed to support the developing immune system, potentially reducing the likelihood of allergic reactions in infancy. 3 A Finnish study that analyzed data from over 2,200 mother-child pairs found that infants born to mothers who consumed avocados during pregnancy had a 44% lower chance of developing food allergies by their first birthday compared to those whose mothers abstained. Getty Images/iStockphoto Food allergies now affect approximately 1 in 13 children in the US, representing an increase of 50% in the prevalence of food allergies between 1997 and 2011. Experts attribute the rise to several factors, including a shift to more refined diets, vitamin D deficiencies due to a lack of sun exposure and the 'hygiene hypothesis' — which posits that our cleaner contemporary environment exposes children to fewer microbes, causing their immune system to overreact to certain foods. Advertisement 3 A healthy snack, avocados are rich in nutrients beneficial for fetal development, including fiber, folate, lutein and healthy monounsaturated fats. Getty Images A recent study performed in Sweden adds to a growing body of research that suggests one of the factors may be the delayed introduction of allergenic foods. Researchers analyzed the data of 2,060 babies and found that introducing them to a diverse diet — categorized as consisting of 13 or 14 different foods — at 9 months of age was associated with a 45% decrease in the risk of food allergies by the time the infant reached 18 months. However, the study suggests that the same protective effect does not seem to occur when implementing a diverse diet at an earlier age, such as 6 months. This association held strong even after adjusting for factors like family history of allergies, breastfeeding duration and the mother's education levels — although the researchers noted that 'children with a history of eczema may benefit the most from eating a diverse diet early in life for food allergy prevention.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Golden Retriever Hilariously Passes Down ‘Stick Out Your Tongue' Trick to Newborn Baby
There are few things in the world that are sweeter than watching the relationship that your baby builds with your dog. In the early months of my daughter's life, when I was more sleep deprived than I'd ever been, it was witnessing those cute moments between her and my dog that really got me through the 3 a.m. feedings. Somehow, they instantly had a bond, and four years later, that bond has only gotten stronger. The baby and the Golden Retriever in the video below seem to have a similarly adorable bond. This little one might be new to the family, but their friendship with the dog is at a level that he's already beginning to impart his wisdom and tricks. Mom @adobitz shared this video of her baby and her pup hanging out together. The baby's laying on a blanket as the dog is looking down at him, and it's then that we can see this little guy is copying his Golden big brother! When the dog sticks his tongue out, the baby follows suit... and they go back and forth doing this too many times for it to be a coincidence. How cute are these two?! And according to other parents who have commented on the video, this phenomenon doesn't seem to be all that uncommon. "My dog taught my son how to bark. I had a dog and baby barking at me," one mom wrote. Fascinatingly, babies can learn from dogs — not only can we see it happening in this video, but science backs up that claim, too. A study conducted by Brigham Young University that was published in Science Daily discovered that babies as young as six months old can match an angry bark and a friendly bark to photos of dogs who look threatening vs. dogs who look welcoming, which shows that they can understand what dogs are trying to communicate with them — despite the fact that, at that age, they're still trying to figure out human language. "Emotion is one of the first things babies pick up on in their social world,' psychology professor and leader of the study Ross Flom said, adding, 'We chose dogs because they are highly communicative creatures both in their posture and the nature of their bark." It stands to reason that dogs can convey emotions and messages through body language to babies, even while they're still learning to talk... and yet another study that was published in the Pediatric Research journal determined that dogs can have a positive impact on toddlers' social-emotional development. If there was ever a good reason to add another dog to the fam, it's gotta be this one!🐶🐾🐾
