Children's Health: Children with specific birth defects at increased risk for abuse ♦ New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US schoolchildren

New technology may standardize sickle cell disease screening for infants Researchers offer promising findings related to new technology aimed at facilitating early detection of sickle cell disease for infants in developing countries. Over half of babies born with sickle cell disease (SCD) in countries with limited resources die before age five. Over 6 million people in West and Central Africa suffer from the disease, which causes pain crises, widespread organ damage and early mortality

New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US schoolchildren Twelve percent of US children and teens had a diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 2011, a number that has jumped by 43 percent since 2003.

Children with specific birth defects at increased risk for abuse Children born with cleft lip or palate and spina bifida are at an increased risk for abuse before the age of two, according to researchers. The researchers found that compared to children without birth defects the risk of maltreatment in children with cleft lip and/or palate was increased by 40 percent and for children with spina bifida, the risk was increased by 58 percent.

Parents have more influence than they might realize to prevent substance use Adolescence is a time when many children may consider experimenting with alcohol or drugs. New research shows parents can reduce that risk by maintaining a healthy and open relationship with their children.

Health Research: Traditional dating abuse increases chances of cyber dating abuse ♦ Diaphragms grown from stem cells offer hope of a cure for common birth defect,

New diaphragms grown from stem cells offer hope of a cure for common birth defect, possibly future repairs of the heart New diaphragm tissue in rats has been successfully created in the lab using a mixture of stem cells and a 3D scaffold. When transplanted, it has regrown with the same complex mechanical properties of diaphragm muscle. The study offers hope of a cure for a common birth defect and possible future heart muscle repairs.

Involvement in traditional dating abuse increases chances of cyber dating abuse in teens Teens who are involved in dating abuse -- as either the perpetrator or the victim -- are more likely to also be involved in cyber dating abuse, research concludes. Further, teens who commit cyber dating violence against their partners are more likely to later be victimized by it and cyberviolence victims are more likely to later perpetrate this act

Oxytocin has different effects on stress in male and female mice Clinical trials are testing whether oxytocin, sometimes called the 'love hormone' for its role in intimacy and social bonding, has potential as a treatment for anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. New research by behavioral neuroscientists suggests oxytocin may have different effects in men and women -- and in certain circumstances the hormone may actually trigger anxiety

Mitochondria affect stress responses Mitochondria, the tiny structures inside our cells that generate energy, may also play a previously unrecognized role in mind-body interactions. This insight may have broad implications for human psychology and for the biology of psychiatric and neurological diseases

Children's Health:Do American adolescents approve of marijuana? ♦ Having no garden access for young children linked to childhood obesity ♦ Adolescent painkiller abuse

Study examines role of vegetable food pairings in school plate waste School meals paired with popular vegetables are less likely to wind up in garbage bins, research has shown. A research team measured food waste in three elementary schools in Bryan and Dallas

Do American adolescents approve of marijuana? Groundbreaking research suggests that adolescents have become less likely to approve of and use marijuana over the last decade when compared to young adults. This is coming during a time where a majority of Americans support the full legalization of marijuana.

Having no garden access for young children linked to childhood obesity later in childhood, A study of 6,467 children from England shows that having no access to a garden at age 3-5 years is linked to an increased risk developing obesity by age 7 years.

Adolescent painkiller abuse a big problem for small towns, rural areas Adolescents who live in rural areas and small towns and cities are more likely to abuse prescription painkillers than adolescents who live in large urban areas.

Health Research:Robot controlled remotely with thoughts ♦ Medical marijuana 'edibles' mostly mislabeled ♦ Many doctors misunderstand key facets of opioid abuse,

Many doctors misunderstand key facets of opioid abuse, Many primary care physicians -- the top prescribers of prescription pain pills in the United States -- don't understand basic facts about how people may abuse the drugs or how addictive different formulations of the medications can be.

Trial could impact older myelodysplastic syndrome population's access to bone marrow transplants An America-wide clinical trial analyzes outcomes after two common treatments: bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. The results could lead to wider access to transplants.

Medical marijuana 'edibles' mostly mislabeled: Many too weak, some surprisingly strong The vast majority of edible cannabis products sold in a small sample of medical marijuana dispensaries carried labels that overstated or understated the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a proof-of-concept study shows. Though the scope of the study was small, the researchers say, the results of the study suggest some medical cannabis patients could be unintentionally overdosing or are being cheated by mislabeled products.

Mixed findings regarding quality of evidence supporting benefit of medical marijuana In an analysis of the findings of nearly 80 randomized trials that included about 6,500 participants, there was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids (chemical compounds that are the active principles in cannabis or marijuana) for the treatment of chronic pain and lower-quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, sleep disorders, and Tourette syndrome.

Robot controlled remotely with thoughts For someone suffering from paralysis or limited mobility, visiting with other people is extremely difficult. Scientists have been working on a revolutionary brain-machine approach in order to restore a sense of independence to the disabled. The idea is to remotely control a robot from home with one's thoughts. The research, involving numerous subjects located in different countries, produced excellent results in both human and technical terms.