As per media reports, dated August 15, 2020, an international team has designed a new blood test for newborn babies, to identify a shortage of oxygen supply to the brain of the newborn and at risk of developing neurological disabilities later. As per Prof. C.N. Kamalarathnam from the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai, the piercing first cry of babies is not just a symbol of a new life but a desperate puff for air—lack of oxygen to the brain for whatever reason, which can cause a wide range of neurological disorders, even death. Such babies suffer while learning and hearing, from low IQ, and even develop cerebral palsy. The paper was published in the journal, Scientific Reports.
Findings of the Study
The team collected blood samples from 47 babies from Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram in India, who experienced this oxygen deprivation and studied their gene activity. The researchers identified 855 genes that were ‘switched on or off’ at the time of birth in the babies, who had neurological disability later, compared to those who did not and pointed out two genes, called RGS1 and SMC4, which were the most significant.
As per Dr. Paolo Montaldo from Imperial College, Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience, London, this is a preliminary study and tests on larger cohorts are essential. Such blood profiling may be a promising, rapid, and cheap tool in developing and underdeveloped countries.
This study formed a part of HELIX (Hypothermia for Encephalopathy in Low and middle-income countries), and is being carried out in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, where the scientists examine the use of whole-body cooling in oxygen-deprived babies.
As per Dr B.H. Prathik, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Bengaluru, lack of oxygen to the brain is the cause of neonatal mortality or death within 28 days of birth due to prematurity and infection in India. On the other hand, this therapeutic hypothermia or cooling is well documented and is even the standard care for such babies in Western countries. The body temperature of the newly born baby is usually at 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius. But in this treatment, they are wrapped in a small blanket of 33.5 degrees Celsius for 72 hours and gradually rewarmed. If this method works in India, mortality and neurological damage can be reduced.