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Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can increase risk of AML in children

Although acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is relatively rare in children, drinking alcohol during pregnancy could increase the risk, according to a recent paper published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

6 May 2010

Early extension of health insurance for some young adults faces legal roadblocks

The Associated Press reports, in a Q & A, that the provision in the health reform law that requires insurers to allow dependents to stay on plans up to the age of 26 is being enacted early by many health insurance companies but not all in the same way. "These voluntary extensions come with a host of qualifications. Whether your child gets one also can depend on your employer."

6 May 2010

Varying portion size may encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables

Increasing the amount of vegetables in the first course of preschool lunch could be a smart way to get children to eat more vegetables, according to Penn State nutrition researchers.

6 May 2010

School playground equipment impacts physical activity levels

Schools looking to make children more active simply need to provide more balls, skipping ropes, racquets and hoola hoops, a new study has shown.

5 May 2010

Cadence Pharmaceuticals resubmits OFIRMEV NDA

Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has resubmitted its New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its investigational product candidate, OFIRMEV™ (acetaminophen) injection, for the treatment of pain and fever in adults and children.

5 May 2010

First Edition: May 5, 2010

Today's health policy news ranges from additional analysis of specific provisions of the health overhaul bill to Capitol Hill action and developments in the insurance market.

5 May 2010

High-altitude exposure helps detect early vascular dysfunction

High altitude medicine is a "natural research laboratory" for the study of cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology. As such, it can shed light on conditions and diseases that mimic the low oxygen content of the atmosphere at the top of mountains. Yves Allemann, MD, FESC, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital, Bern, and Urs Scherrer, MD, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, have assembled an international group of leading authorities to contribute to a special issue of Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.

5 May 2010

Six abstracts featuring FORE-SIGHT system presented at Pediatric Academic Societies meeting

CAS Medical Systems, Inc. today announced that six abstracts featuring the use of the FORE-SIGHT Absolute Oximeter were presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting May 1-4 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. This meeting includes more than 7,500 leaders in academic pediatrics and is dedicated to the advancement of pediatric research and the advanced care of acutely ill children.

5 May 2010

Parents shoulder burden of launching their children into adulthood: Study

Despite living in an age of iPads and hybrid cars, young Americans are more like the young adults of the early 1900s than the baby boom generation: They are living at home longer, are financially insecure and are making lower wages.

5 May 2010

Genetics researchers use new approach to detect causal gene variants

In findings that may speed the search for disease-causing genes, a new study challenges the prevailing view that common diseases are usually caused by common gene variants (mutations). Instead, say genetics researchers, the culprits may be numerous rare variants, located in DNA sequences farther away from the original "hot spots" than scientists have been accustomed to look.

5 May 2010

Special issue of Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases

5 May 2010

Castle Montessori Schools announce donation of $13,000 to JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes

Castle Montessori Schools, a leader in Montessori education, believes it is their responsibility to contribute to the health and wellness of the community through active participation in local events and donations to charitable organizations. The schools proudly announce a donation of $13,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation "Walk to Cure Diabetes."

5 May 2010

HbA1c can be deceptive in African American children with diabetes: Study

Researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and Children's Hospital of New Orleans have found that there is a major difference in the hemoglobin A1c response to blood glucose between African-American and Caucasian children with diabetes. HbA1c is the main test used to monitor diabetes and guide treatment decisions.

5 May 2010

Abbott announces opening of Asia-Pacific Nutrition R&D Center

Abbott, the global health care company, today announced the opening of the Abbott Asia-Pacific Nutrition Research & Development Center at Singapore's Biopolis Research Park. The center is Abbott's largest nutrition R&D facility outside of the U.S., and Singapore's first nutrition R&D site creating science-based nutritional products for infants, children and adults.

5 May 2010

Researchers analyze role of gender in treatment and outcome of patients with MMD

Moyamoya disease is an uncommon, progressive cerebrovascular disease in which the main arteries feeding the brain (the intracranial internal carotid arteries/ICA and Circle of Willis) are narrowed or occluded on both sides, reducing blood flow to the brain. This causes transient episodes of reversible stroke with loss of neurologic function in the form of weakness of a limb, sensory disturbances, epileptic seizures or headaches.

5 May 2010

Americans and their babies are gaining more body fat: Study

A new study has found for the first time that as Americans are gaining more body fat, so are their babies. The research, which reviewed data from more than 74,000 births, found that a key measure of body fat composition in newborns increased significantly over a 15-year period, mirroring similar increases among pregnant mothers. The findings were presented Sunday by researchers from Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting.

5 May 2010

WHO announces new guidelines for production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms

With snake bites killing at least 100 000 people a year and countries facing a shortage of appropriate antivenoms, access to and information about available antivenoms is increasingly important. The World Health Organization (WHO) is publishing new guidelines for the production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms and a website with details on where the venomous snakes are located, what they look like, which antivenoms are appropriate, and where they can be obtained.

5 May 2010

Lake sworn in as UNICEF executive director

Anthony Lake, who "has been a foreign policy advisor to several Democratic U.S. presidents and presidential candidates," has officially become the executive director of UNICEF, Agence France-Presse reports (5/2). Lake was sworn into office Monday by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the U.N. headquarters in New York, according to a UNICEF article (5/3).

5 May 2010

Anesthesiologist identifies two changes to standard of care to protect developing brains

Doctors at Children's National Medical Center have found that carbon monoxide levels in the blood of young children increase during routine general anesthesia. Anesthesiologists have found for the first time that, under certain circumstances, infants and children may be exposed to carbon monoxide during routine anesthesia resulting in a rise in the carbon monoxide levels in the child's blood.

5 May 2010

Azithromycin does not improve lung function in children with cystic fibrosis

Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis who received the antibiotic azithromycin did not experience improved lung function, compared to patients who received placebo, according to a study in the May 5 issue of JAMA.

5 May 2010