Children News and Research

RSS

AANS injury prevention tips during winter holiday season

During the winter holiday season there are many warnings in the news about preventing house fires caused by Christmas trees and faulty electrical wiring. There are also warnings about too much merriment leading to alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. A lesser known fact is the risk of head injury related to hanging and taking down Christmas decorations.

4 Dec 2010

UNICEF spearheads polio immunization campaign across Abkhazia

UNICEF, the Abkhaz authorities and the European Union have left no stone unturned in their efforts to keep the region polio-free. In the first round of the polio immunization campaign that began here in November, 98 percent of all children up to 17 years of age were vaccinated.

4 Dec 2010

Closer to restoring vision loss due to optic nerve damage

Damage to the optic nerve, connecting the eye with the brain, is a major cause of blindness. The most common culprit is glaucoma, estimated to affect more than 4 million Americans. There is currently no way to restore the lost vision, because the optic nerve, like other nerves in the mature central nervous system (CNS), cannot regenerate. Now, scientists at Children's Hospital Boston report achieving the greatest regeneration to date in the mammalian optic nerve.

4 Dec 2010

Wide-scale study of flu vaccine's effectiveness in European children needed

A wide-scale study of the effectiveness of flu vaccine in children is needed in Europe to fully assess the benefits, not only in keeping the kids from getting sick, but limiting the spread of flu to adults.

4 Dec 2010

IOM releases new dietary recommendations for calcium, vitamin D intakes

The Institute of Medicine recently released new dietary recommendations for calcium and vitamin D intakes, known as Dietary Reference Intakes, used broadly by health professionals and policy makers to guide consumers' dietary patterns. Citing a strong body of new scientific evidence, the IOM based their recommendations on bone health outcomes, confirming the importance of vitamin D and calcium in promoting bone growth and maintenance through various stages of life.

4 Dec 2010

NFID supports CDC's National Influenza Vaccination Week

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week to communicate the importance and availability of influenza vaccination into the winter months and beyond. It is critical that physicians and patients, especially parents of pediatric patients, remain vigilant about flu protection this and every year.

4 Dec 2010

Health experts discuss how to prepare for future dengue immunization programs

AsiaOne examines how groups are working to prepare policy makers for the availability of a dengue vaccine in the future, following a three-day meeting on the virus held in Singapore this week (Chan, 12/3).

4 Dec 2010

Mitoxantrone increases survival for children with relapsed ALL, trial results show

A new treatment increases survival to almost 70 per cent for children whose acute lymphoblastic leukaemia returns, according to the results of a trial published online in the Lancet today (Saturday).

4 Dec 2010

Exposure to nicotine during pregnancy may cause learning disabilities in children: Research

Exposure to nicotine during pregnancy leads to a decrease in adult stem cells and a change in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of the offspring, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham presented at Neuroscience 2010, the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego in November.

4 Dec 2010

In New York, quiet Medicaid spending talks proceed while a Michigan insurer adds a range of new insurance products

Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo and the state's health-care union are in quiet talks over Medicaid spending in an effort to avoid a bitter showdown next year over the state budget (Gershman, 12/3).

4 Dec 2010

Alteration in gene causes male embryos to develop as females

Scientists have discovered that the alteration of a single gene could cause some male embryos to develop as females.

4 Dec 2010

Electronic cigarettes are potentially harmful, researchers say

Electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes), also called "electronic nicotine delivery systems," are increasingly used worldwide even though only sparse information is available on their health effects. In the United States, e-cigarettes are readily available in shopping malls in most states and on the Internet.

4 Dec 2010

Tips to keep kids 'jingle belling' with safe toys

The hustle and bustle of finding that perfect gift, crowded retail stores and backing cookies sometimes cloud the true celebration of the Holidays. The Pennsylvania Association for the Blind doesn't want you to forget "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and wants you to spend it safely with your family.

3 Dec 2010

Children with developmental disabilities face obstacles in intervention services

A new community-based study by UC Davis researchers has found that children with developmental disabilities in Southeast-Asian-American families face significant obstacles to receiving intervention services. Barriers include lack of accurate information, language difficulties, lack of trust and limited outreach.

3 Dec 2010

Relationship-strengthening class for expectant, first-time parents improves family life

Expectant parents who completed a brief relationship-strengthening class around the time their child was born showed lasting effects on each family member's well being and on the family's overall relationships, according to a recent Penn State study.

3 Dec 2010

Experts reach consensus on beneficial effects of Soy

According to the December 2010 Journal of Nutrition Supplement titled, "Soy Summit: Exploration of the Nutrition and Health Effects of Whole Soy," consensus has been reached among leading soy science experts surrounding three main areas of debate: soy and women's health, soy and heart health, and soy and overall nutrient adequacy. Leading soy experts agree that including soyfoods in a balanced diet will have beneficial effects and improve nutrient intake among the U.S. population.

3 Dec 2010

Appropriate approach to death is key to children's health and personality

People with a university degree fear death less than those at a lower literacy level. In addition, fear of death is most common among women than men, which affects their children's perception of death. In fact, 76% of children that report fear of death is due to their mothers avoiding the topic. Additionally, more of these children fear early death and adopt unsuitable approaches when it comes to deal with death.

3 Dec 2010

NSU receives $1.6 million federal grant to provide better care for homeless

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine recently received a $1.6 million federal grant to develop an academic program for medical students to provide better care for the homeless by understanding their needs.

3 Dec 2010

NSU offers free dental services to victims of domestic violence

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is offering free dental services to victims of domestic violence, who otherwise may not have access to such services.

3 Dec 2010

Mothers exposure to farm animals and cats during pregnancy lowers risk of atopic dermatitis in children

Children whose mothers are exposed to farm animals and cats are better protected against atopic dermatitis and are less likely to develop this painful inflammation of the skin in their first two years of life. A group of researchers from the University of Zurich and other universities have published evidence supporting this theory in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.

3 Dec 2010