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Cerebral palsy risk rises in post term babies: Study

Babies born past their due dates – at 42 weeks or later, are at increased risk for cerebral palsy compared to those born at 40 weeks, according to new research. That said, the actual risk of cerebral palsy remains low. According to the CDC one in 303 children have some type of cerebral palsy. Common symptoms may include movement problems, muscle stiffness, poor muscle tone, and spasticity. The symptoms are thought to result from injury to the brain as a fetus or early in infancy.

2 Sep 2010

Achievement of sufficient night sleep needed in obesity prevention and weight-management programs

A study in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that teens who slept less than eight hours per weeknight ate higher proportions of fatty foods and snacks than adolescents who slept eight hours or more. The results suggest that short sleep duration may increase obesity risk by causing small changes in eating patterns that cumulatively alter energy balance, especially in girls.

2 Sep 2010

King's College Hospital implements iMDsoft's MetaVision suite

iMDsoft® announces that King's College Hospital has gone live with iMDsoft's MetaVision® suite in its 16-bed critical care unit (PICU and HDU).

2 Sep 2010

Parents tend to underreport their children's weight, find researchers

As the U.S. launches its first-ever National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month today, scientists say the problem may be even more widespread than was thought. Researchers have found that parents tend to underreport their children's weight. Estimates of obesity and body mass index based on parent-supplied data may miss one in five obese children.

2 Sep 2010

Mindfulness training increases well-being in adolescents, reports new study

'Mindfulness', the process of learning to become more aware of our ongoing experiences, increases well-being in adolescent boys, a new study reports. Researchers from the University of Cambridge analyzed 155 boys from two independent UK schools, Tonbridge and Hampton, before and after a four-week crash course in mindfulness. After the trial period, the 14 and 15 year-old boys were found to have increased well-being, defined as the combination of feeling good (including positive emotions such as happiness, contentment, interest and affection) and functioning well.

2 Sep 2010

Dietary supplement combining zinc, phytase enhances effectiveness of BTX injections: Study

Taking a dietary supplement of organic zinc and the enzyme phytase four days before receiving botulinum toxin injections made the toxin more effective in 93 percent of patients tested in a recent study at The Methodist Hospital in Houston.

2 Sep 2010

Researchers dispute study findings that show greater incidence of surgery for children with CD

A new multi-center study of 854 children with Crohn's disease shows a 5-year cumulative risk of bowel surgery is significantly lower than reported in recent studies. The findings of the study, led by Hasbro Children's Hospital, also indicate that children diagnosed between ages 13 and 16 had an increased risk of bowel surgery, and that a common treatment that begins at diagnosis, immunomodulator therapy, did not alter the risk of surgery.

2 Sep 2010

Survey: 65% of parents look to schools to help reinforce importance of oral health

Two-thirds (65%) of parents are looking to schools to help reinforce the importance of oral health, saying it is extremely or very important for schools to teach children about taking care of their teeth, according to a new public opinion survey commissioned by Oral Health America.

2 Sep 2010

Centric Health Corporation acquires CAR Home Care company

Centric Health Corporation, Canada's leading diversified healthcare company, today announced that it has acquired the business of Community Advantage Rehabilitation Inc. ("CAR").

2 Sep 2010

Vision and eye health are key to students' classroom ability

Healthy eyes and vision are necessary for school success and an enjoyable life. Parents naturally want to help their children learn and succeed in school and enjoy life. Vision and eye health are key to students' ability to do well in the classroom, on the playground, in sports and when studying at home.

2 Sep 2010

HIV-infected children who receive HAART require revaccination: Researchers

HIV-infected children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy may require revaccination to maintain immunity against preventable diseases. There remains no standard or official recommendation on revaccination of children receiving HAART, an effective intervention in reducing morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected children.

2 Sep 2010

Increased physical activity can reduce cardiovascular risk in children from lower socio-educational background

A year-long study into the effects of increased physical activity at school has shown that children's fitness levels and body composition do improve with daily participation in sport - and particularly so for children from deprived backgrounds. Obesity among children and young people continues to rise across Europe and brings with it the very real risk of increased blood pressure, higher blood-fat values and impaired glucose tolerance.

2 Sep 2010

WFP, UNICEF heads appeal for more flood aid for Pakistan

After touring flood-hit areas in Pakistan on Tuesday, the executive directors of UNICEF and the World Food Program appealed for more flood relief aid, VOA News reports (Maroney, 8/31).

2 Sep 2010

Anxiety in school is seasonal and age dependent: Pediatric psychiatrists

With summer fading, anxiety is on the rise for some students anticipating the return of school. But it isn't just the first days of classes that can provoke angst -- anxiety in school is seasonal and age dependent, say pediatric psychiatrists.

2 Sep 2010

Prevalence of obesity, diabetes high in California: Study

A majority of adults in California are obese or overweight, and more than 2 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to a new study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

2 Sep 2010

Researchers find new fusion protein for E.coli bacterium vaccine development

South Dakota State University research is exploring a "fusion strategy" for making improved vaccines to protect pigs and humans against some strains of E. coli.

2 Sep 2010

U.N. Secretary-General, UNAIDS Executive Director highlight role NGOs can play in achieving MDGs

During the 63rd U.N. Department of Public Information/NGO Conference on Monday in Melbourne, Australia, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "call[ed] on delegates to do more to save the lives of mothers and babies," the Australian Associated Press/Sydney Morning Herald reports (Alexander/Rose, 8/30).

2 Sep 2010

'Social business fund' could address social problems in Haiti, including health, Nobel Laureate says

At a recent event in Miami, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank, outlined his idea of creating a "social business fund" in Haiti, which would invest money in businesses that aim to address social problems in the country, the Miami Herald reports.

2 Sep 2010

Postterm birth increases cerebral palsy risk: Study

While preterm birth is a known risk factor for cerebral palsy, an examination of data for infants born at term or later finds that compared with delivery at 40 weeks, birth at 37 or 38 weeks or at 42 weeks or later was associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy, according to a study in the September 1 issue of JAMA.

2 Sep 2010

USFDA grants Sun Pharma subsidiary approval for generic Strattera capsules ANDA

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced that USFDA has granted its subsidiary an approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market a generic version of Strattera ®, atomoxetine hydrochloride capsules.

2 Sep 2010