All articles tagged with #cord blood
A non-targeted screening of umbilical cord blood from 120 newborns (2003–2006) identified 42 PFAS compounds, revealing broader prenatal exposure than previously known. The researchers developed PFAS-omics burden scores to estimate total fetal PFAS burden and found no difference by maternal parity, underscoring the need for improved screening and more research on health effects tied to exposure.
Specific molecules found in maternal and cord blood samples have been linked to an increased risk of a child being later diagnosed with autism, according to a new study. The study analyzed levels of 1,208 different chemical compounds in plasma samples collected from 408 mothers at mid-gestation and in cord blood taken from 418 children at birth. The researchers found 12 chemical compounds in maternal mid-gestation samples of ASD girls, 3 compounds in maternal mid-gestation samples of ASD boys, 8 compounds in cord blood samples of ASD girls, and 12 compounds in cord blood samples of ASD boys to be linked to autism, including those that involve inflammation, disruption of membrane integrity, and impaired neurotransmission and neurotoxicity. Machine learning analyses suggested the potential utility of the compounds as biomarkers, especially those in cord blood, for early identification of children at risk for ASD.
Doctors have used a specialized form of stem cell transplant to likely cure a woman of HIV, making her the first known woman to have successfully undergone the procedure. The doctors used a novel technique that transplanted stem cells from a relative and a donor’s umbilical cord blood at the same time. Stem cell transplants are often used to treat leukemia, since they can restore a person’s immune system following treatment that tries to eradicate the cancer. Stem cell transplants are a risky procedure that can have serious, even life-threatening complications.