Pediatrics News and Research

Latest Pediatrics News and Research

Benefits outweigh risks in myeloablative therapy for children with high-risk neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is among the most common of childhood cancers and fortunately, some children will get better spontaneously. Yet for children with high-risk disease the outlook is poor: more than half will relapse despite chemotherapy.

12 May 2010

Most breastfeeding mothers do not follow proper diet, study reveals

The study conducted at the University of Granada revealed that 94% of nursing mothers did not follow a proper diet, as they did not consume the recommended diary intake of fat, vitamins A, E and iron, and the intake of proteins was too high. The results obtained will serve to enhance breastfeeding mothers' diet and increase nutritional supply to the newborn.

12 May 2010

One-quarter of young adults use waterpipes

As fewer people puff on cigarettes, a new smoking trend may be gaining popularity among North American youth. A study published in the journal Pediatrics has found that almost one-quarter of young adults in Montreal had used waterpipes (also known as shishas or hookahs) in the past year.

11 May 2010

UNC-CH awarded $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant for study of ultrasound as a contraceptive

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will support an innovative global health research project conducted by James Tsuruta, PhD, and Paul Dayton, PhD, titled "Ultrasound as a long-term, reversible contraceptive."

11 May 2010

Texas CHIP program faces budget uncertainties while Arizona Governor restores funds for health care programs for the poor

Seven years ago, state leaders working to close a $9.9 billion budget gap took a hatchet to government health insurance for children of the working poor. Thousands of children paid the price when officials tightened eligibility rules and whacked dental, vision and mental health benefits. Gradually, benefits were restored to the Children's Health Insurance Program and, this month, enrollment reached roughly the same level as in 2003.

7 May 2010

SAMHSA highlights importance of promoting children's mental health from birth

To highlight the importance of promoting children's mental health from birth, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and more than 80 public and private collaborating organizations and federal programs and agencies - including new supporters, such as the Office of Head Start at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Legion Auxiliary - today joined in a nationwide celebration of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (May 6).

7 May 2010

APA president highlights challenges faced in child healthcare

Whether you live in Haiti or in Harlem, the impact of poverty is the same. Children suffer from poor nutrition, environmental degradation, violence and poor development in the U.S. just as they do in less developed nations, and the consequences can be equally profound, according to Dr. Danielle Laraque, MD, president of the Academic Pediatric Association (APA).

7 May 2010

Obesity epidemic may be flattening out - still much to be done

The prevalence of childhood obesity might be stabilising in developed countries, but there is still much to be done to combat this major threat to health, according to a Seminar published on Online First and in an upcoming issue of The Lancet.

6 May 2010

Investigations on Tylenol recall from House Committee

Following the massive recall of children’s and infants’ fever medicine Tylenol and other over the counter drugs (like Motrin, Benadryl and Zyrtec) for children a congressional committee has urged an investigation into the problem.

6 May 2010

Study to assess therapy for feeding difficulties in kids

It is a common complaint of many mothers that their children refuse food. Now Australian scientists are looking for answers to this problem in order to reduce the increase in the number of malnourished children who need medical help because of their picky eating.

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

CAS Medical Systems reports revenues of $8.5 million for first-quarter 2010

CAS Medical Systems, Inc., today reported first quarter 2010 revenues of $8.5 million, an increase of $0.1 million, or 1%, compared to revenues of $8.4 million for the first quarter of 2009. The Company reported net income of $0.2 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $0.9 million, or ($0.08) per basic and diluted common share, reported for the first quarter of the prior year.

5 May 2010

New data on Surfaxin LS presented at 2010 PAS Annual Meeting

Discovery Laboratories, Inc., announced that new data regarding Surfaxin LS (its novel, lyophilized KL4 surfactant dosage form) were presented at the 2010 Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting. The two studies presented demonstrate that Surfaxin LS improves lung function and oxygenation while attenuating lung inflammation in the preterm lamb model of respiratory distress syndrome.

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

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

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

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

Physically active lifestyle during adolescence can reduce effect of mutation in FTO gene: Study

The FTO gene is obesity's main ally. Several studies are now attempting to reveal the factors that play a key role in fighting against it. A new study led by Spanish researchers shows that a physically active lifestyle during adolescence can reduce the effect of a mutation in this gene which predisposes someone to becoming overweight or obese.

5 May 2010

Children with hearing loss in one ear have poorer oral language scores: Study

By the time they reach school age, one in 20 children have hearing loss in one ear. That can raise significant hurdles for these children, say the results of a new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, because loss of hearing in one ear hurts their ability to comprehend and use language.

5 May 2010

Widespread support for a full flu vaccine side effects enquiry

After nearly 250 children suffered from serious side effects of the seasonal flu shots including one death the Western Australian Government’s step to suspend further vaccinations and investigate the issue has received widespread support. The enquiry will look into the Health Department's handling of the flu vaccination program as well.

4 May 2010