Adolescents exposed to higher levels of fine-particle air pollutants have heightened autonomic nervous system reactions to social stress, reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, the official journal of the American Psychosomatic Society. The journal is published in the Lippincott Portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. Teens with anxiety and depression appear to be
Children
Opioid-related deaths continue to take the lives of thousands in the U.S. each year, with non-fatal opioid overdoses as a significant risk factor for a subsequent fatal overdose. Post-overdose interventions are emerging in affected communities, using what support systems are available to assist in the program design. Survivors often do not seek treatment or overdose
Large amounts of a certain type of bacteria, most likely from outdoors, may reduce the child’s risk of developing asthma. This was shown by Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s (THL) new study that analyzed the microbiota in over 400 Finnish homes. However, the study was unable to identify individual bacterial taxa that provide protection
A powerful superbug, a hypervirulent form of the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae, is a very difficult to curb infection. It causes a variety of infections including rare but life-threatening liver, respiratory tract, bloodstream and other infections. Bacteria colonies culture on MacConkey agar media (Klebsiella pneumoniae) contains small light grains. Image Credit: Sirirat / Shutterstock Antibiotic resistance
Multiple-birth infants had a significantly higher risk of wrong-patient order errors compared with singletons in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The higher error rate was due to misidentification between siblings within sets of twins, triplets, or
Survivors of childhood cancer have a higher risk of developing a range of heart disease due to cancer therapy, according to new research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation. Most studies of this survivor group have focused on heart failure related to anthracyclines, a class of chemotherapy medications used to treat many types
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the cells that produce mucus, digestive fluids, and sweat. People with cystic fibrosis (CF) usually receive a diagnosis in early childhood. More than 30,000 children and young adults in the United States are currently living with the condition. CF can cause various complications, including chronic lung infections,
Despite international commitments made by nearly all of the 193 United Nations (UN) member states, dozens of countries lack important legal protections against children doing work that could be harmful or interfere with their education, a study by the WORLD Policy Analysis Center (WORLD) at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health has found. Published
As 5G wireless technology is slowly making its way across the globe, many government agencies and organizations advise that there is no reason to be alarmed about the effects of radiofrequency waves on our health. But some experts strongly disagree. Why do some people believe that 5G technology may harm our health? The term 5G
A new Canadian study suggests that individuals who take anti-depressants and/or anti-psychotics and participate in a weight management program can lose weight whether or not they take psychiatric medications, according to a report published online today in Obesity, the flagship journal of The Obesity Society. The study is the first to examine weight loss outcomes
New research examines the link between maternal consumption of fluoridated water and lower IQs in their children. New research explores the possible developmental effects of fluoridated tap water. According to recent estimates, 66% of all United States residents receive fluoridated water through their taps. Adding fluoride to drinking water has been a public health practice
Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common movement disorders in children. A growing number of caregivers worldwide are caring for children, adolescents and adults with child-onset CP. In this collection of articles in the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, experts from different disciplines share their experience and summarize new research directed at maintaining
In cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a much-feared pathogen. The bacterium easily colonizes the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis, leading to chronic infections that are almost impossible to eradicate and are ultimately fatal. Why does P. aeruginosa, but not other common bacteria, thrive in cystic fibrosis lungs? A new study from researchers at Columbia
New research finds differences in the gut microbiome of children who are at high genetic risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The findings suggest that certain species of bacteria may have a protective effect in autoimmune conditions. New research examines the gut flora of children and their genetic risk of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is
The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) has developed an evidence-based guideline for the treatment of patients with myelomeningocele. Executive summaries of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines for Pediatric Myelomeningocele were published today in Neurosurgery. Full text of the guidelines can also be found on cns.org. The burden of disease is
A new study suggests that fluoride consumption at higher levels in pregnancy could be linked to a decline in IQ by a few points in the children. Experts disagree on the acceptability of this finding, which has stirred up questions about fluoridation of public drinking water supplies. Fluoride is a mineral found in nature, and
After medical marijuana became legal in Massachusetts, cannabis-related poison control calls involving the commonwealth’s children and teenagers doubled, according to a public health investigation led by University of Massachusetts Amherst injury prevention researcher Jennifer Whitehill. The increase in calls to the Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention at Boston Children’s Hospital occurred despite legislative
A paper published today in Pediatrics suggests that children and youth who do not sleep enough and use screens more than recommended are more likely to act impulsively and make poorer decisions. The findings come from the globally recognized Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO) at the CHEO Research Institute in Ottawa. Impulsive
A new Pharmacology Research & Perspectives study found no harm to newborns from opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) during pregnancy compared with no treatment. Because little is known about the safety of treatment with methadone and buprenorphine as part of OMT in pregnant women with opioid use disorders, researchers compared prenatally OMT-exposed newborns with two other
Chickenpox, or varicella, is a common and highly contagious virus. Chickenpox is most common during childhood, but it is also possible for adults to get chickenpox. The chickenpox infection generally clears up within a couple weeks, and the body will then create an immunity to the virus. However, the symptoms of chickenpox can be extremely
For children and teens with migraine, the pain and symptoms that accompany migraine attacks can be debilitating, resulting in missed school days, absence from social or sporting events, and affected home activities. Now the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Headache Society have developed two guidelines that include recommendations for preventing and treating
The incredible growth of social media over the last decade has fueled many debates on whether it’s actually good or bad. Now, a new study sheds light on the effects of social media on the health and wellbeing in young people. A team of researchers at the Imperial College London and the Great Ormond Street
Aug 13 2019 Physicians have long suspected that red blood cell transfusions given to premature infants with anemia may put them in danger of developing necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, a potentially lethal inflammatory disease of the intestines. However, solid evidence for the connection has been difficult to obtain in part because of the lack of
Glioblastoma, a cancer that arises in the brain’s supporting glial cells, is one of the worst diagnoses a child can receive. The grade IV, highly malignant tumor aggressively infiltrates healthy brain tissue, and most children die of the disease within one to two years of diagnosis, similar to adults. The current approach is surgical removal,
Today, researchers from MSK Kids at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) published results that examine elevated levels of a protein called prohibitin in the urine and tumors of children with Wilms’ tumors. Their findings could help doctors identify children who are at risk for disease recurrence and precisely tailor treatment to overcome drug resistance.
Female adolescents are experiencing relationship abuse at alarming rates, according to a new Michigan State University study that specifically researched reproductive coercion – a form of abuse in which a woman is pressured to become pregnant against her wishes. Heather McCauley, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, and co-researchers found nearly one in
Periumbilical pain is a painful sensation around the belly button. It is a common complaint, and because many conditions can cause it, it may be challenging for doctors to diagnose. In this article, we explore the causes and treatment of periumbilical pain. Also, we will review when a person should seek emergency medical attention. What
Each year, approximately 750 patients are diagnosed with neuroblastoma in North America, the most common form of cancer in infants less than one year old. Neuroblastoma is a disease that originates in immature nerve tissue in the adrenal gland or the sympathetic ganglia located near the spinal cord. The majority of children with neuroblastoma are