Pediatrics News and Research

Latest Pediatrics News and Research

Survey highlights need for continued education to reverse skin cancer epidemic in the U.S.

Results released today from a landmark national survey of dermatologists and consumers unveiled that there is a major gap between what dermatologists recommend and what Americans actually do when it comes to sun-safe behavior. This gap further highlights the need for continued education to reverse the skin cancer epidemic in the United States.

27 Apr 2010

Two new studies highlight benefits of drinking 100% fruit juice

Consumption of 100 percent fruit juice is closely linked to improved nutrient intake and overall diet quality in children and teens, according to new research presented yesterday at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting.

27 Apr 2010

97% of new mums have sleep problems, says study

A new sleep research has found what we have suspected for a long time – one fourth of the new mums are sleep deprived. And 97% mothers of less than two year olds have sleep problems.

27 Apr 2010

Court of Appeals denies McNeil Pediatrics' CONCERTA patent appeal

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has denied an appeal by McNeil Pediatrics, a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to overturn a 2009 decision by the U.S. District Court of Delaware that the patent for CONCERTA (methylphenidate HCl) Extended-Release Tablets CII is invalid and not infringed by Andrx Corporation.

27 Apr 2010

Fever in kids underestimated by Doctors: new study

In a new study researchers have found that some physicians may be missing the seriousness of an infection in a child presenting with fever. The study published in the British Medical Journal involved 16,000 children from 2004 to 2006 with fever and found that doctors could not diagnose up to one third of the potentially life-threatening illnesses in these children.

27 Apr 2010

Factors of hormone metabolism may make African-Americans more susceptible: Study

High blood pressure also called hypertension is a major health problem that when left untreated can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure and develop it earlier in life than Caucasians. But the reasons for the heightened risk in African Americans still remained largely unknown, although new evidence may provide some insight.

26 Apr 2010

Middle-school children restricted to R-rated movies less likely to start drinking: Study

Middle-school children whose parents restrict access to R-rated movies are substantially less likely to start drinking than their peers who are allowed to see such films, a new study suggests.

26 Apr 2010

Toddler dies after seasonal flu shot – health authorities on alert

Last Friday, Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Jim Bishop had announced his decision to suspend free seasonal flu vaccinations after more than 20 under-five kids mainly in Western Australia developed reactions to the shots. They developed fever, vomiting and convulsions. One of the children was reported to be severely ill.

25 Apr 2010

Novel clinical research approaches for rapidly identifying and preventing congenital cardiovascular defects

Structural and functional congenital cardiovascular abnormalities present at birth are the leading source of all congenital defects encountered in live births. Nearly half a million children in the United States have structural heart problems ranging in severity from relatively simple issues, such as small holes between chambers of the heart, to very severe malformations, including complete absence of one or more chambers or valves.

24 Apr 2010

NREF announces fellowship funding for 2010-2011

The Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF), which reached an agreement with Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. (Codman) in December 2009 to provide funding to the NREF in support of the Foundation's new post-residency, clinical fellowship grant program, is pleased to announce that the following programs have been awarded fellowship funding for 2010-2011: Baylor College of Medicine (pediatric neurosurgery), Brigham & Women's Hospital (general neurosurgery),

23 Apr 2010

GUMC to co-host Caribbean Nights to benefit people living with diabetes

Kenneth Beatrice and David Nelson, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at GUMC, will co-host "Caribbean Nights," an evening filled with drinks, dinner, dancing and a 'live' auction to benefit one of Washington's most important causes—diabetes—on April 24th at the Georgetown University Conference Center.

23 Apr 2010

21% of Americans want no changes to health care legislation: CHPPR survey

Less than a quarter of Americans want no changes to the health care legislation signed into law by the president last month but there may be more common ground with other Americans than many think, according to the latest national survey by researchers from Indiana University's Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research.

23 Apr 2010

Study describes relationship between gene expression and intelligence in WS patients

Although genetics is the most significant known determinant of human intelligence, how specific genes affect intelligence remains largely unknown. A multi-institution team led by a University of Utah USTAR researcher has found that the brain gene STX1A plays a significant role in the level of intelligence displayed by patients with Williams Syndrome.

23 Apr 2010

Hospital for Special Care launches ALS Clinical Trials Unit at Neuromuscular Center

Hospital for Special Care announced today the launch of the region's first Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinical Trials Unit at its Neuromuscular Center. The new unit will be headed by Jinsy A. Andrews, M.D., a physician researcher recruited from Columbia University. Dr. Andrews, Director of Research & Clinical Trials Unit, Hospital for Special Care, specializes in neuromuscular research and will facilitate the hospital's first clinical trial for ALS upon her arrival.

23 Apr 2010

Researchers to measure children with Down syndrome to develop new growth charts

Parents and doctors have known for a long time that children with Down syndrome tend to grow more slowly and are considerably shorter than most other children. But pediatricians needing to record growth milestones at regular office visits have an outdated set of growth charts based on data collected more than 25 years ago.

23 Apr 2010

CSL Biotherapies comments on influenza vaccine paediatric adverse events

CSL Biotherapies is aware of reports of a number of adverse events following influenza vaccination of children. CSL is one of several suppliers of influenza vaccine in Australia.

23 Apr 2010

BUSM professor receives Individual Biomedical Research Award

Richard Goldstein, PhD, a professor of pediatrics, division of pediatric infectious diseases, at Boston University School of Medicine, has been awarded an Individual Biomedical Research Award by The Hartwell Foundation and will receive $300,000 over three years as a Hartwell Investigator for his project titled, "A Vaccine Against Streptococcus Pneumoniae Based on Bacterial Surface Proteins Phylogenically Certified as Highly Conserved."

23 Apr 2010

Gelesis presents Attiva data at AACE 19th Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress

Boston-based medical technology firm Gelesis, Inc. unveiled its capsulated device Attiva™, and presented data showing that Attiva™ significantly increased the post-meal feeling of satiety and reduced hunger between meals in obese patients. This data was presented today at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 19th Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress.

23 Apr 2010

Seasonal flu vaccine causing serious side effects in under-fives: Ban on flu vaccination program

The seasonal flu vaccine has caused serious side effects in dozens of children in Western Australia (WA) and following this the Health Department has suspended further free flu vaccinations for under-fives. There has been as rise in admissions to Princess Margaret Hospital. The side effects to the flu vaccine include fever, vomiting and often seizures related to high fever, also known as febrile convulsions. One of the children is seriously ill at present.

22 Apr 2010

Understanding genetic causes of mental retardation

This remarkable publication focuses on the importance of genetics in mental retardation, investigating the extent to which molecular diagnostic capability and the understanding of genetic causes have improved over recent years. As a result, clinical evaluation and diagnostic laboratory practice are now undergoing an unprecedented period of change.

22 Apr 2010