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Drop in flu vaccination rates alarms health authorities

According to latest figures the number of young children vaccinated against the flu in WA this year has plummeted almost 80 per cent. This is concerning for health officials who believe that parents have been scared off by last year's spate of seizures after the jabs.

8 Jun 2011

New research on spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of death in children under 2, with no treatment other than supportive care. In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston show how loss or mutation of the SMA gene causes progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, and suggest a promising approach to treating the condition, sometimes referred to as a "Lou Gehrig's disease of babies."

8 Jun 2011

Closed-loop artificial pancreas could fight against Type 1 diabetes

Engineering researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are combining automation techniques from oil refining and other diverse areas to help create a closed-loop artificial pancreas. The device will automatically monitor blood sugar levels and administer insulin to patients with Type 1 diabetes, and aims to remove much of the guesswork for those living with the chronic disease.

8 Jun 2011

Maternal-child health disparities need to be addressed in the U.S., says expert

Despite billions of dollars spent on health care each year, the United States ranks 27th out of 33 developed countries for life expectancy at birth. Leading causes of infant mortality are complications related to pre-term birth or low birth weight-outcomes that have been linked with domestic violence.

8 Jun 2011

GAVI appeals for $3.7B ahead of pledging conference despite lower vaccine prices

The GAVI Alliance has appealed to donors for $3.7 billion to be pledged during an upcoming conference despite announcements by several major pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of their vaccines for childhood diseases, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.

8 Jun 2011

Lethal malaria parasite has biochemical weakness

Every year, 10,000 pregnant women and up to 200,000 newborn babies are killed by the malaria parasite. Doctors all around the globe have for years been looking in vain for a medical protection, and now researchers from the University of Copenhagen have found the biochemically weakness of the lethal malaria parasite, and will now start developing a vaccine to combat pregnancy related malaria.

8 Jun 2011

Women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy may have newborns with high body fat

Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy tend to have newborns with a high amount of body fat, regardless of the mother's weight before pregnancy, a new study finds. The results will be presented Tuesday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.

8 Jun 2011

APHON releases position paper on use of social media in workplace

APHON, the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses, has released a position paper on the use of social media in the workplace, providing guidelines to nurses working with pediatric patients in the hematology and oncology arenas.

8 Jun 2011

Keeping kids safe and hydrated in hazardous heat

The national weather service is predicting heat indexes to be well above 100 degrees. Add kids playing outside and outdoor summer activities in full swing to the dangerous heat and you've got a hazardous combination.

8 Jun 2011

Mother's blueberry consumption can improve mammary gland health in offspring

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded studies of mammary gland development in laboratory rats fed blueberries or other foods of interest may aid breast cancer research.

8 Jun 2011

The Endocrine Society releases clinical practice guideline on Vitamin D deficiency

Today, The Endocrine Society released "Evaluation, Treatment, and Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline." The clinical practice guideline (CPG) is published in the July 2011 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), a publication of The Endocrine Society.

7 Jun 2011

Survivors of childhood cancer at increased risk of developing subsequent primary neoplasms

In a study that included nearly 18,000 children who had cancer, with follow-up of about 25 years, the greatest excess risk associated with a subsequent primary neoplasm (a new tumor) at older than age 40 years was for digestive and genitourinary neoplasms (related to the genital or urinary tract organs), according to a study in the June 8 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on cancer.

7 Jun 2011

Moderate consumption of desserts with low glycemic index and glycemic load may help treat pediatric obesity

Overweight girls lose more weight and can better stay on a healthy diet if they eat sugar-free, low-fat desserts several times weekly, as opposed to any dessert once a week, a new study finds. The results will be reported Monday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.

7 Jun 2011

Several drug makers plan to lower prices of vaccines for GAVI purchase

Several pharmaceutical companies have pledged to lower the prices of vaccines against childhood illnesses ahead of the GAVI Alliance conference in London next week, the Guardian reports (Quinn, 6/6).

6 Jun 2011

Investigation finds 'disarray' in institutions for housing developmentally disabled

O. D. Heck is one of nine large institutions in New York that house the developmentally disabled, those with cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome and other conditions.

6 Jun 2011

Majority of Canadian parents concerned about sun protection for children, CDA survey

Almost all Canadian parents (92%) are concerned about sun protection for their children, a new survey for the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) shows.

6 Jun 2011

JDRF praises New Brunswick government for comprehensive diabetes strategy

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) applauds the New Brunswick government for its commitment to diabetes.

6 Jun 2011

Department of Health urges caregivers, parents to update students' immunizations

Parents and caregivers are urged to use the summer break to make sure all students' immunizations are up to date before new regulations take effect in August, the Department of Health said today.

4 Jun 2011

UCLA pediatric investigators earn top accolades at TTCF Faculty Presentation Awards

A new therapy for type 1 diabetes? A promising treatment for deadly viruses? Does a common treatment for children with severe infection actually cause more harm than good? These are important questions being investigated by pediatric researchers at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.

4 Jun 2011

New discoveries about role of blood vessels in early lung development

A research team at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles has made critical new discoveries about the role of blood vessels in guiding early lung development, especially in the essential, highly reproducible branching pattern of lung airways.

4 Jun 2011

Child Health News

Drop in flu vaccination rates alarms health authorities

New research on spinal muscular atrophy

Closed-loop artificial pancreas could fight against Type 1 diabetes

Maternal-child health disparities need to be addressed in the U.S., says expert

GAVI appeals for $3.7B ahead of pledging conference despite lower vaccine prices

Lethal malaria parasite has biochemical weakness

Women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy may have newborns with high body fat

APHON releases position paper on use of social media in workplace

Keeping kids safe and hydrated in hazardous heat

Mother's blueberry consumption can improve mammary gland health in offspring

The Endocrine Society releases clinical practice guideline on Vitamin D deficiency

Survivors of childhood cancer at increased risk of developing subsequent primary neoplasms

Moderate consumption of desserts with low glycemic index and glycemic load may help treat pediatric obesity

Several drug makers plan to lower prices of vaccines for GAVI purchase

Investigation finds 'disarray' in institutions for housing developmentally disabled

Majority of Canadian parents concerned about sun protection for children, CDA survey

JDRF praises New Brunswick government for comprehensive diabetes strategy

Department of Health urges caregivers, parents to update students' immunizations

UCLA pediatric investigators earn top accolades at TTCF Faculty Presentation Awards

New discoveries about role of blood vessels in early lung development

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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