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Children under the age of 3 with NLDO more likely to develop amblyopia

Amblyopia, sometimes referred to as "lazy eye," is a cause of poor vision in children. It occurs in about 1.6% to 3.6% of the general population. Early treatment is critical, as the first few years are the most important in the development of eyesight. If amblyopia is not treated in the first 6 to 10 years, poor vision becomes permanent and cannot be corrected.

13 Oct 2011

Folic acid in early pregnancy leads to an early talking toddler: Study

According to a new Norwegian study, women who took folic acid supplements in the first two months of pregnancy were less likely to have kids with severe language delays.

12 Oct 2011

UNAIDS delegation to Russian Federation visits specialized AIDS clinic, plays in charity soccer match

"On the first of a four-day mission to the Russian Federation, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador James Chau visited a specialized HIV clinic near Saint Petersburg that cares for children who have been orphaned by AIDS and pregnant women living with HIV," according to a UNAIDS feature story.

12 Oct 2011

Halloween health tips for parents of children with diabetes

Ghosts, ghouls and goblins are suiting up for the yearly pilgrimage through neighborhoods shouting "Trick or Treat!" and begging for sweet treats that are synonymous with Halloween.

12 Oct 2011

Chromosomal microarray can provide important information for patient treatment

Chromosomal microarray (CMA)—a powerful test for diagnosing the genetic abnormalities causing some types of developmental delay and birth defects—can be used in an evidence-based manner to provide important information for patient treatment, according to a pair of studies in the September issue of Genetics in Medicine, the official peer-reviewed journal of The American College of Medical Genetics.

12 Oct 2011

High street connectivity has opposite effect on children's physical activity

High intersection density and well-connected streets in towns and cities may discourage children from being active and exercising outdoors, according to a Queen's University study.

12 Oct 2011

CHOP, Albert Einstein College of Medicine to study genetics of conotruncal defects

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and collaborators at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) a five-year, $6.7 million grant to study the genetics of both rare and common congenital heart abnormalities known as conotruncal defects.

12 Oct 2011

Over 6,000 Australians joined ‘Weigh it Up Australia’

Weigh it Up Australia re-launched its FREE online healthy living program last Sunday with more than 6,000 Australians signing up to join the program within the first three days. Weigh it Up’s new website offers new and existing members access to more experts and 2 new ways to participate in its healthy living program.

11 Oct 2011

Secondhand tobacco smoke harms children in China

The more Chinese children are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke, the more they have symptoms like coughing at night, sneezing, phlegm without a cold, sneezing with itchy-watery eyes and impaired lung-function growth.

11 Oct 2011

Diethylstilbestrol in utero affects immune system of the fetus

A synthetic estrogen — diethylstilbestrol (DES), prescribed to women in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s to prevent miscarriages, had serious, untoward effects in daughters of these women, including the development of a rare type of cancer of the uterus.

11 Oct 2011

WHO facing shortage of funds as it works to scale up humanitarian response to Pakistan flooding

WHO representative Guido Sabatinelli has assured Pakistan health officials that the organization "will be scaling up its humanitarian response in all the flood-affected areas of Sindh to resolve health issues faced by the displaced people," News International reports.

11 Oct 2011

Brown signs Calif. measures to aid children with autism, ban kids younger than 18 from using tanning beds

In other state news, Wisconsin last month began scrutinizing health insurance rate increases, Los Angeles County steps in ahead of health law's mandated coverage expansions and a Georgia report notes the state's progress in providing services for people with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

11 Oct 2011

Genetics & IVF Institute now offers 24 Chromosome Microarray

The Genetics & IVF Institute is now offering 24 Chromosome Microarray, which is a new, comprehensive test used as part of an IVF cycle to evaluate the number of chromosomes present in an embryo before it is transferred to the mother.

11 Oct 2011

Simple test can save lives of infants with undiagnosed critical heart defects

The US Secretary of Health recently supported a recommendation that all babies born in the US are to be screened for critical heart defects, before leaving hospital. Behind this decision is a study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, and the West Götaland Region's maternity units in Sweden which shows that a simple test can save the lives of newborns with these heart defects.

11 Oct 2011

Villanova University establishes MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education

Obesity rates in the United States have reached epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese and 17 percent of children and teens (ages 2-19) are obese.

11 Oct 2011

Is American obesity rate on the decline? Survey reports encouraging

Latest findings showed that for the first time “normal” beat out “overweight.” The survey however found that 61.6% of Americans were in the categories of either “overweight” or “obese”. The survey found 35.8 percent of Americans to be overweight, compared with 36.0 percent a year ago, and 25.8 percent obese, down from 26.6 percent last year.

10 Oct 2011

AIM at Melanoma applauds bill banning children from using indoor tanning beds

AIM at Melanoma, the largest international foundation dedicated to melanoma research and patient advocacy, applauds Governor Jerry Brown's signing today of Senate Bill 746, which now bans children under 18 from using indoor tanning beds. Tanning beds have been linked to the rapid rise in melanoma rates among 15-39 year olds.

10 Oct 2011