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Lurie Children's Hospital administers first gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Illinois

On March 27, 2024, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago treated its first patient with ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl), the first gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy – a rare, genetic disease characterized by progressive muscle damage and weakness.

3 Apr 2024

New screening tools boost early detection of language delays in children

New screening tools in child health care are effective in identifying early language and communication difficulties in children.

2 Apr 2024

Rise in severe psychiatric cases among children during the pandemic

A new study found that during the pandemic pediatric emergency departments (EDs) saw more children and adolescents who needed a psychiatric admission, as well as an increase in severe conditions, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

2 Apr 2024

Rare variants in the YKT6 gene cause new neurological disorder, study finds

A recent collaborative study has discovered rare variants in the YKT6 gene as the cause of a new neurological disorder characterized by developmental delays along with severe progressive liver disease and a potential risk for liver cancer.

1 Apr 2024

Research reveals genetic factors in cerebral palsy development

A Canadian-led study has identified genes which may be partially responsible for the development of cerebral palsy.

29 Mar 2024

Study suggests revising pregnancy weight gain guidelines for obese women

The guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy in obese women have long been questioned. New research from Karolinska Institutet supports the idea of lowering or removing the current recommendation of a weight gain of at least 5 kg.

28 Mar 2024

Antibody discovery could explain mysteries about COVID-19 and long COVID

UVA Health researchers have discovered a potential explanation for some of the most perplexing mysteries of COVID-19 and long COVID.

28 Mar 2024

WHO and World Bank release alarming report on universal health coverage stagnation

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank have jointly published the 2023 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Global Monitoring Report, revealing an alarming stagnation in the progress towards providing people everywhere with quality, affordable, and accessible health care.

27 Mar 2024

Study identifies brain energy metabolism dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders

A global collaborative research group comprising 131 researchers from 105 laboratories across seven countries announces a groundbreaking research paper submitted to eLife.

26 Mar 2024

GPT-4 shows expert-level accuracy in annotating cell types

GPT-4 can accurately interpret types of cells important for the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing -- a sequencing process fundamental to interpreting cell types – with high consistency to that of time-consuming manual annotation by human experts of gene information, according to a study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

26 Mar 2024

Sedentary time in childhood associated with premature vascular damage

Increase in sedentary time from childhood is associated with worsening arterial stiffness, a surrogate for premature vascular damage, a new study shows.

26 Mar 2024

New method predicts sepsis and organ failure in children

University of Queensland researchers have developed a method to predict if a child is likely to develop sepsis and go into organ failure.

25 Mar 2024

UVA researchers develop online tool to combat childhood diarrheal diseases

University of Virginia researchers are developing a flexible online tool for navigating information used in the fight to save children from deadly diarrheal diseases by identifying transmission hotspots and accelerating the deployment of treatments and new vaccines.

25 Mar 2024

Link found between neighborhood poverty, food access, and birth outcomes

Living in neighborhoods where residents have lower incomes and limited food access during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of babies born small for gestational age or with lower birthweight, according to a new study from the NIH Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

22 Mar 2024

Study highlights global fertility decline and its implications for the future

The world is approaching a low-fertility future. Although by 2100 more than 97% of countries and territories will have fertility rates below what is necessary to sustain population size over time, comparatively high fertility rates in numerous low-income countries, predominantly in western and eastern sub-Saharan Africa, will continue to drive population increases in these locations throughout the century.

21 Mar 2024

Regular intake of sugary drinks, fruit juices tied to higher Type 2 diabetes risk in boys

A small, long-term study of almost 500 children in Massachusetts has found that regularly drinking sugary drinks and 100% fruit juices during childhood and adolescence may be linked to a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes among boys than girls, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention│Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Scientific Sessions 2024, March 18- 21, in Chicago.

20 Mar 2024

Punitive prenatal drug laws lead to negative health outcomes

Contrary to some claims, laws that criminalize or otherwise punish drug use during pregnancy are more likely to worsen rather than improve health outcomes, according to a paper by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

18 Mar 2024

Antipsychotic use during pregnancy not linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties

The use of antipsychotics during pregnancy isn't linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties, UNSW Sydney-led study shows – giving assurance to those concerned about continuing their medications during pregnancy.

18 Mar 2024

Study highlights growing burden of neurological disorders worldwide

Globally, the number of people living with, or dying from, neurological conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and meningitis has risen substantially over the past 30 years due to the growth and aging of the global population as well as increased exposure to environmental, metabolic, and lifestyle risk factors.

15 Mar 2024