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Novel parenting elective allows pediatric residents to spend more time with their babies

A novel, four-week parenting rotation designed for pediatric residents has dramatically increased the amount of time resident parents can spend at home with their babies, according to a study by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

19 Feb 2020

Autism in young boys linked to phthalate exposure before birth

A new study published in February 2020 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows that being exposed to phthalates during intrauterine life is associated with the occurrence of autistic traits in boys 3-4 years old, but not in girls. These include poor social interaction, repetitive behavior, and a narrow range of interests, stopping short of an actual diagnosis of autism.

19 Feb 2020

Study uses machine learning to identify personalized brain networks in kids

Machine learning is helping Penn Medicine researchers identify the size and shape of brain networks in individual children, which may be useful for understanding psychiatric disorders.

19 Feb 2020

Maternal obesity may increase a child's risk for ADHD, behavioral problems

Maternal obesity may increase a child's risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to an analysis by researchers from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health.

19 Feb 2020

UCLA study finds new way for tracking treatment of rare liver disease in children

UCLA researchers who previously found that intravenous administration of fish oil can treat a rare but potentially deadly form of liver disease in children have now monitored levels of a small molecule at the center of the disorder to track treatment results.

19 Feb 2020

Boys with inattention-hyperactivity have higher risk for TBIs later in life

McGill-led research shows that boys exhibiting inattention-hyperactivity at age 10 have a higher risk for traumatic brain injuries in adolescence and adulthood. Treatments to reduce these behaviors may decrease the risk for TBIs.

19 Feb 2020

Researchers uncover why Zika virus caused most harmful brain damage to Brazilian newborns

Due to Zika virus, more than 1,600 babies were born in Brazil with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, from September 2015 through April 2016.

18 Feb 2020

Glucose-lowering drug reduces obesity indices in children and adolescents, study shows

A new study has shown metformin - a glucose-lowering drug commonly used to treat diabetes - to be effective at lowering some measures of obesity in children and adolescents.

18 Feb 2020

Study reveals how overexposure to fluoride causes defects in tooth enamel

Exposing teeth to excessive fluoride alters calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in the cells forming tooth enamel- a novel explanation for how dental fluorosis, a condition caused by overexposure to fluoride during childhood, arises.

18 Feb 2020

Association between HMO concentrations and infant weight, body composition

Breastfeeding affects infant growth and, researchers have found, helps prevent obesity, both in childhood and later in life. However, the components of breast milk responsible for these beneficial effects remain mostly a mystery.

18 Feb 2020

Factors that may contribute to elevated risk of alcohol use disorder in adolescence

Alcohol misuse is common among adolescents, and increases the risk of developing a chronic alcohol use disorder in the future.

18 Feb 2020

Potential method for better treatment of premature babies

A new study published in the journal Immunology in February 2020 reports the discovery of a process that occurs in the body naturally, but which enhances the production of type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in the lung alveoli of premature babies. These are sentinel cells that keep the mucosal surfaces clean and healthy. They are crucial to building resistance to infection within the human body.

18 Feb 2020

Later school start times associated with drop in vehicle crashes involving teen drivers

A study published online as an accepted paper in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that later school start times were associated with a significant drop in vehicle accidents involving teen drivers.

18 Feb 2020

Cleaning products may raise the risk of childhood asthma finds study

According to a new study from researchers at Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Health Sciences (SFU), exposure to household cleaning products as babies could raise the risk of childhood asthma in children to the age of 3 years. The study titled, "Association of use of cleaning products with respiratory health in a Canadian birth cohort," was published in the latest issue of the journal CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

18 Feb 2020

Scientists may have a way to boost innate lung immunity in preterm babies

The continuing epidemic of pre-term birth includes this stark reality: tiny, fragile babies are born with underdeveloped lungs and prone to lifelong respiratory infections and related chronic illnesses.

18 Feb 2020

Social media users most misinformed about vaccines

With the advent of the coronavirus outbreak and other viral outbreaks that are taking the lives of many people worldwide, vaccination is more important today than ever. But, recently, immunization rates have drastically decreased due to information people receive through social media platforms.

18 Feb 2020

Salivary uric acid found to be a good predictor of body fat percentage in adolescents

In addition to helping us chew and swallow, keeping the mouth moist and protecting us against germs, saliva can also be used for early detection of the risk of developing diseases associated with surplus body fat.

18 Feb 2020

Natural sugars in breastmilk may influence early childhood growth

Human milk oligosaccharides found in breastmilk may influence a child's growth from infancy through early childhood, according to a study supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health.

18 Feb 2020

Measles re-emerging globally

Measles is a common childhood illness but can cause more than a passing fever with rash. It could turn out to be a complicated and severe illness, warn doctors in a new paper published in February 2020 in the journal BMJ Case Reports.

17 Feb 2020

Plant-based diets improve heart health via the gut microbiome

A new study published in February 2020 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports that a reduced intake of animal-based foods and a diet based on plants can result in a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by influencing the gut microbiome pattern to favor beneficial species.

17 Feb 2020