Children News and Research

RSS

Indoprofen may lead to new treatments for spinal muscular atrophy

A drug withdrawn from pharmacy shelves over 20 years ago may point the way to a new treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, a muscle-wasting and often life-threatening childhood disease.

29 Nov 2004

Fathers' genes play an equal part in the spread of eczema

Doctors have known for many years that eczema - also known as atopic dermatitis - runs in families. In the past, it was thought that if a baby suffered from eczema, it was more likely to have come from the mother's side.

29 Nov 2004

Tougher action needed to stop cigarette sales to children

Retailers should be licensed to sell cigarettes, and the licence revoked if they are caught selling tobacco to children, the Australian Medical Association (WA) said today.

29 Nov 2004

British parents admit responsibility lies with them to tackle childhood obesity

More than 80% of parents say that they intend to be more accountable for their child's weight and four in five believe that measures set out in the Government's White Paper last week would go a long way to help them combat obesity in their children.

29 Nov 2004

Drug combination of amodiaquine and sulfadoxinepyrimethamine might offer the optimal treatment for malaria

Results of a randomised trial from Uganda in this week’s issue of THE LANCET suggest that the drug combination of amodiaquine and sulfadoxinepyrimethamine might offer the optimal treatment for malaria in terms of efficacy and cost-effectiveness in this region.

29 Nov 2004

Parents are failing to recognise obesity

Researchers surveyed the parents of 277 children and found that only a quarter recognised when their offspring were overweight. Where children were obese, a third of mothers and 57% of fathers thought their sons and daughters were "about right".

29 Nov 2004

Stem cells derived from umbilical cords are a viable and effective transplant source for thousands of leukemia patients

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirms that stem cells derived from the umbilical cords of newborn babies are a viable and effective transplant source for thousands of leukemia patients who have no other treatment option.

24 Nov 2004

Parents are not happy about television food advertising directed at their children

Responses from parents of school aged children found that while parents were sceptical about claims made by food advertising, they considered it to exert a strong influence on their children.

24 Nov 2004

Weight gain beginning in childhood can lead to an enlarged heart

Weight gain beginning in childhood can lead to an enlarged heart by early adulthood, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

24 Nov 2004

Research looks at the relationship between fetal health during pregnancy and later development of the brain

A new Canada Research Chair (CRC) at The University of Western Ontario is studying the relationship between fetal health during pregnancy and later development of the brain.

24 Nov 2004

More muscle facilitates the ability to regulate blood pressure

People with more muscle than fat have increased ability to regulate their blood pressure in response to stress, according to a Medical College of Georgia study.

24 Nov 2004

Stress quadruples the risk of an asthma attack in children

Stress quadruples the risk of an asthma attack in children, and gives them a double bout of acute symptoms within 48 hours and around six weeks later, finds a small study in Thorax.

24 Nov 2004

Researchers recommend vaccinating adolescents against whooping cough

Experts are recommending that adolescents and some adults be vaccinated against whooping cough to help prevent infection and potential transmission to infants, according to the December 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.

23 Nov 2004

Parents are more likely to get a good night’s sleep if they take their babies out in the early afternoon

56 healthy, full-term babies were monitored for three consecutive days at six, nine and twelve weeks’ old. Parents were supplied with an environmental light monitor attached to a small teddy bear with Velcro fastenings, so that it could be attached to a pram handle or cot or placed near the baby.

23 Nov 2004

Covering up reduces exposure to cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation, according to a systematic review of evidence

Educating children in primary school and adults at the beach about the benefits of wearing sun-protective hats and clothing can effectively motivate them to cover up and reduce their exposure to cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation, according to a systematic review of evidence.

23 Nov 2004

Premature infants with lung disease may continue to require replacement substance to ease breathing

Physicians have known for decades that many premature babies suffer respiratory problems stemming from insufficiency of a lung substance called surfactant during their first few weeks of life.

20 Nov 2004

Where you live affects what you eat

People who live in poor, urban neighborhoods have less access to quality fruits and vegetables and to stores selling a larger variety of foods than those who live in higher-income neighborhoods, according to two studies being presented at the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO)'s Annual Scientific Meeting.

19 Nov 2004