Health Research: Dengue Fever cases in Hawaii spiked over the holiday ♦ Food safety myths busted ♦ Childhood asthma may increase risks of shingles

Dengue Fever cases in Hawaii spiked over the holiday. The Hawaii Department of Health reported that as of December 24 the number of Dengue fever cases in the island State reached 180. Authorities believe that the outbreak could last months and urged residents and tourists to use repellant and seek medical attention if they feel ill.

Food safety myths busted This time of year,  most fridges are stocked up with food and drinks to share with family and friends. Let’s not make ourselves and our guests sick by getting things wrong when preparing and serving food. As the weather warms up, so does the environment for microorganisms in foods, potentially allowing them to multiply faster to hazardous levels. So, put the drinks on ice and

Being anxious could be good for you in a crisis New findings could help explain the apparent 'sixth sense' we have for danger in social situations, with the direction of a person's gaze being a crucial cue. People with non-clinical anxiety are particularly well poised for action

Childhood asthma may increase risks of shingles Nearly 1 million incidents of herpes zoster, which is also known as shingles, occur every year in the US, with an estimated one-third of all adults affected by age 80. Despite its prevalence, particularly between ages 50 and 59, it is still unclear why some individuals will develop shingles, and others will not

Children's Health: Early childhood bronchiolitis increases asthma risk in adulthood ♦ Out of school and into debt? Calls for teens to better understand on money matters

Early childhood bronchiolitis increases asthma risk in adulthood People who have had bronchiolitis in early childhood have an increased risk of asthma at the age of 28-31 and a weaker health-related quality of life than their peers. In lung function tests, they also demonstrate changes indicative of irreversible airway obstruction, according to a new study. Bronchiolitis and pneumonia are common lower respiratory tract infections in early childhood.

Out of school and into debt? Calls for teens to better understand on money matters A new study has found school leavers and first-year university students don't know how to manage a car loan, repay credit cards or figure out mobile phone deals.

Hiding tobacco products at convenience stores reduces teens' risk of future tobacco use A one-of-a-kind laboratory replica of a convenience store is the first to use a realistic setting to examine whether limiting displays of cigarettes and other tobacco products in retail outlets can reduce the intention of young people to begin smoking. Researchers found an 11 percent reduction in cigarette smoking susceptibility when the tobacco 'powerwall' was hidden.

Marked decline in retailer compliance after enactment of NYC's Tobacco 21 law In a study examining compliance with NYC's law increasing legal age for purchasing cigarettes from 18 to 21, researchers found retailer compliance with ID checks significantly decreased since the law became effective. Prior to this change, 29 percent of retailers sampled were noncompliant; afterward, 38 percent of retailers sampled failed to ask for ID when selling cigarettes to young people.

Health Research: Vitamin D does not reduce colds in asthma patients ♦ Myths about surrogacy ♦ Inflammation linked to weakened reward circuits in depression

Majority of car-pedestrian deaths happen to those in wheelchairs, often at intersections An investigation into how often wheelchair users are killed in car-pedestrian crashes finds they are a third more likely to die than non-wheelchair users; more than half of those deaths occur at intersections

Inflammation linked to weakened reward circuits in depression Persistent inflammation affects the brain in ways that are connected with stubborn symptoms of depression, such as anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure. The findings bolster the case that the high-inflammation form of depression is distinct, and are guiding researchers' plans to test treatments tailored for it.

Vitamin D does not reduce colds in asthma a patients Vitamin D supplements do not reduce the number or severity of colds in asthma patients, according to a new study. The findings surprised the researchers who had previously published research showing a 40 percent reduction in asthma exacerbations in patients with a vitamin D deficiency who achieved normal levels of the vitamin with supplements. Because colds often trigger exacerbations, they hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation would reduce colds and cold severity.

Landmark report exposes myths about surrogacy in the United Kingdom It is a myth that a high proportion of potential parents from the UK go overseas if they need to use surrogacy, a new report concludes. The landmark report is the first of its kind, and provides an unprecedented insight into how surrogacy is practised in the UK, dispelling a number of pervasive myths that have informed recent debate on the issue.

Reducing obesity-related inflammation

Study sheds light on preventing or reversing certain obesity-associated diseases.

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have identified a potential molecular target for reducing obesity-related inflammation. Researchers have known that overeating (that is, excess calorie consumption) by individuals with obesity often triggers inflammation, which has been linked to such diseases as asthma and Type 2 diabetes. In their study, published recently in The Journal of Clinical Investigation (Nov. 3, 2015, online version(link is external)), the investigators found that a protein called SIRT3 provides resistance to this inflammatory response and could potentially prevent or reverse obesity-associated diseases of inflammation.

Lead researcher Michael N. Sack, M.D., Ph.D., a senior investigator at NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, explained that he and his team identified the role of SIRT3 through an investigation involving 19 healthy volunteers who fasted for a 24-hour period.

“Previous research has shown that intermittent fasting or intermittent calorie restriction — by way of eating fewer calories for a few days a month — reduces inflammation,” said Dr. Sack. “We found through our study that this effect is mediated, in part, on a molecular level when SIRT3 blocks the activity of another molecule known as the NLRP3 inflammasome.” He explained that NLRP3 inflammasomes are components of an intracelluar immune response triggered when mitochondria undergo stress, such as from excess calorie intake.

By using cultured cells from a group of eight volunteers who did not fast, Dr. Sack and his team found evidence suggesting that SIRT3 can be activated not only through fasting, but also through the use of nicotinamide riboside, a vitamin B derivative. “Taken together, these early results point to a potential mechanism for addressing obesity-related inflammation, and thus diseases linked to this type of inflammation, such as asthma, Type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis — conditions associated with a reduced quality of life and/or premature death,” Dr. Sack said.

Obesity remains a substantial health problem for the nation, affecting more than a third of adults and 17 percent of children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Efforts to manage weight, however, can be hindered by the effects of obesity-related diseases. “It is a vicious cycle,” said Dr. Sack. “Take asthma for example. An increase in obesity incidence has been associated with an increase in asthma incidence, but asthma makes it difficult for some to be physically active enough to lose weight.”

Pulmonary Research: Treating pulmonary diseases using Alaska pollock gelatin ♦ White blood cells guards against tumor lung metastasis ♦ New study explores how anxiety can aggravate asthma

A subpopulation of white blood cells guards against tumor lung metastasis Among foot soldiers on the immune front line is a subpopulation of white blood cells called “patrolling monocytes,” whose job is to cruise the bloodstream, cart off cellular debris, and block invasion of a less benign population of inflammatory cells. Now, a study illustrates that patrolling monocytes may also play an anti-cancer role, particularly in the lung.
Lung cancer surgery can be beneficial for high-risk patients with early stage disease

Surgical lung resection, in which part of a lung is removed, can be a safe and effective treatment option for high-risk patients with early stage lung cancer,

New study explores how anxiety can aggravate asthma A new study involved mimicking asthma symptoms to see how anxiety sensitivity affected asthma sufferers. The researchers recruited 101 college undergraduates who reported having asthma. The experiment aimed to mimic asthma symptoms by having study participants breathe in-and-out through a narrow straw, about the width of a coffee-stirrer straw.
Treating pulmonary diseases using Alaska pollock gelatin In recent years, patients with pulmonary emphysema have been increasing mainly among middle-aged and elderly males due to aging and excessive smoking. Emphysema makes brittle lungs, and in severe cases, holes develop in the lung tissue, causing air leakage. Researchers have developed a new sealant to close holes developed in lungs and blood vessels using Alaska pollock gelatin, and have reported that the sealant is about 12 times stronger than conventional sealants.

Children's Health: Early contact with dogs linked to lower risk of asthma ♦ Pertussis infection in children associated with small increased risk of epilepsy

Early contact with dogs linked to lower risk of asthma Scientists have used national register information in more than one million children to study the association of early life contact with dogs and subsequent development of asthma. This question has been studied extensively previously, but conclusive findings have been lacking. The new study showed that children who grew up with dogs had about 15 percent less asthma than children without dogs.

Around a fifth of unvaccinated ethnic school girls in UK think they don't need Human Papilloma Virus because they feel they don't need to have it.

Kicking substance addiction in teens: Tobacco dependence should be treated with same urgency as other drugs, study says Substance abuse treatments that target main issues such as serious drug and alcohol addiction are not frequently being used to also wean adolescents from tobacco.

Pertussis infection in children associated with small increased risk of epilepsy Although the absolute risk was low, researchers found an increased risk of childhood-onset epilepsy among children in Denmark who had a hospital-diagnosed pertussis infection, compared with the general population.

Pulmonary Research:Artificial lung demonstrates how aerosols move and behave in deepest part of lungs♦ Taking less asthma medicine can be done safely with guidance

Just 30 minutes a day: Regular exercise relieves asthma symptoms Millions of people suffer from asthma. Many report having poor control of their symptoms. Fortunately, new research shows there is a simple antidote: 30 minutes of exercise a day, year-round

Artificial lung demonstrates how aerosols move and behave in deepest part of lungs A life-sized artificial human lung is the first diagnostic tool for understanding in real time how tiny particles behave in the deepest part of the human lungs. It could shed light on airborne pollution risks, and be used for the evaluation/design respiratory system drugs.

Carbohydrate-binding proteins mitigate parasitic infection in heart tissue Chagas disease is the main cause of infectious heart disease in Latin America. Researchers have explored the effect of glycan binding protein interactions between the human host and Typanosoma cruzi parasite. They found that a glycan binding protein expressed in humans modified the infection in cells of the heart muscle, showing the importance of galectins in the response to parasite infection.

Taking less asthma medicine can be done safely with guidance Stepping down asthma medicines can be done safely and at less cost for patients says a new study. The team studied more than 4,000 patients (adults and children) who were taking daily asthma medicines and focused their analysis on two groups: patients who had stable asthma for at least one year who stayed on their same daily asthma medicine and patients who had stable asthma for at least one year who stepped down their daily asthma medicine.

Children's Health: Does living in the United States promote teenage risk taking? ♦ Preeclampsia associated with increased risk of heart defects in infant

Invasive staphylococcus aureus infections in hospitalized infants Invasive methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection (MSSA) caused more infections and more deaths in hospitalized infants than invasive methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection (MRSA), which suggests measures to prevent S. aureus infections should include MSSA in addition to MRSA.

Test catches asthma in children before symptoms appear Nearly 7 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma and thousands more are living undiagnosed, struggling to breathe each day. Now, researchers have found that a commonly used pulmonary lung function test can provide early detection of asthma before a child shows any symptoms of breathing problems. This early diagnosis could reduce the number of people who have serious complications of the disease later in life

Does living in the United States promote teenage risk taking? Teenagers are known for taking unnecessary risks, from reckless driving to smoking marijuana, but some seek out risky experiences more than others. A new study of sensation-seeking behavior shows that children growing up in the United States versus Puerto Rico were more likely to seek out new and risky behaviors. Results of the study are the first to look at sensation-seeking patterns in young children and teenagers.

Preeclampsia associated with increased risk of heart defects in infants An analysis of more than 1.9 million mother and infant pairs finds that preeclampsia was significantly associated with noncritical heart defects in offspring, and preeclampsia with onset before 34 weeks was associated with critical heart defects; however, the absolute risk of congenital heart defects was low.

Pulmonary Research: Nanoparticulate carbon black particles start emphysema ♦ ,Regeneration in adult lungs ♦ Air pollution, traffic linked to deaths, organ rejection in lung transplant patients

Five genetic regions implicated in cystic fibrosis severity If you have two faulty copies of the CFTR gene, you will have cystic fibrosis. But the severity of your disease will depend partly on many other genes. Five regions of the human genome are home to the genetic variations that play major roles in disease severity.

Air pollution, traffic linked to deaths, organ rejection in lung transplant patients Research shows that lung transplant patients in Europe who live on or near busy roads with high levels of air pollution are more likely to die or to experience chronic organ rejection, than those living in less polluted areas.

First classification of severe asthma Severe asthma can have a devastating effect on sufferers, affecting their ability to work or go to school and to lead normal lives. It is difficult to treat because it is not a single disease entity. Now, for the first time, a group of researchers has succeeded in defining three distinct types of severe asthma by analyzing sputum samples from a group of patients.

Pinpointing gene that regulates repair, regeneration in adult lungs The whimsically named sonic hedgehog gene, best known for controlling embryonic development, also maintains the normal physiological state and repair process of an adult healthy lung, if damaged.

Nanoparticulate carbon black particles tiny culprits that start emphysema When pathologists perform autopsies on smokers who died with severe emphysema, they find that lungs are black in appearance. Until recently, researchers and physicians could only guess at the composition of the material that gave the black color to the lungs of smokers. In two papers, researchers identify that black material as mostly insoluble nanoparticulate carbon black, tiny specks that result from the incomplete combustion of organic material, such as tobacco

Children's Health: Do mothers react to more info about chemical risks? ♦ Pain often overlooked in premature infants ♦ Hope against disease targeting children

Kids with asthma that are exposed to secondhand smoke have twice as many hospitalizations The risk for hospitalization doubles for kids with asthma who are exposed to secondhand smoke, according to a study. The study strengthens the association that previous studies have shown which links secondhand smoke exposure with increased asthma prevalence, poorer asthma control and increased symptoms.

Pain often overlooked in premature infants Premature infants receiving intensive care are exposed to a great deal of pain, and this pain causes damage to the child. Despite this half of the infants admitted to neonatal intensive units will not receive any pain relief.

Hope against disease targeting children A research team has uncovered molecular changes that explain, at least in part, why motor neurons rather than others are affected by the illness. Unlike ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, which tend to manifest later in life, SMA strikes infants. Unlike ALS, SMA is a genetic disorder that causes a range of outcomes, with the milder form leaving some children confined to wheelchairs, and the more severe form causing paralysis and death before the second birthday

Weight loss surgery offers new hope to children, adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome Obesity is a leading cause of complications and death in children suffering from Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), yet there are few effective treatment options for these patients. In a new study, researchers found that bariatric surgery, specifically laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), resulted in substantial weight loss with no apparent adverse effect on growth in a small group of severely overweight patients with PWS. PWS is a rare genetic condition that causes a wide range of problems including a constant desire to consume food, which is driven by a permanent feeling of hunger.

Do mothers react to more info about chemical risks? Mothers who are pregnant or have young children would be expected to be more concerned about protecting their offspring from environmental risks that are reported most in the news, but a new study raises doubts about that conventional wisdom.

Pulmonary Research: Nicotine-chomping bacteria ♦ Sulfur dioxide air pollutant still a concern for asthmatics ♦ Missed diagnostic testing found among lung cancer patients

Emissions have declined, but sulfur dioxide air pollutant still a concern for asthmatics Emissions of the air pollutant sulfur dioxide have been dramatically decreased during the past 30 years but for some people even a little inhaled sulfur dioxide may still be too much.

Delay in treatment, missed diagnostic testing found among lung cancer patients Patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer may wait too long to receive treatment, and too many patients skip vital diagnostic steps that are needed to help determine the best possible treatment, researchers report.

On-chip processor the first step in point-of-care asthma and tuberculosis diagnostics A device to mix liquids utilizing ultrasonics is the first and most difficult component in a miniaturized system for low-cost analysis of sputum from patients with pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis and asthma

Nicotine-chomping bacteria may hold key to anti-smoking therapy A new study explores a bacterial enzyme that might be used as a drug candidate to help people quit smoking. The research shows that this enzyme can be recreated in lab settings and possesses a number of promising characteristics for drug development.

Women's Health: Relationship between asthma, cortisol, and complications in pregnancy ♦ Home births lead to higher infant mortality,♦ Socially integrated women have lower suicide risk

Blood markers identify women at risk for postpartum depression The hormone oxytocin, sometimes called 'the love hormone,' may be a factor in postpartum depression, when a mother has a lower than normal level. A blood marker now may help identify the risk.

Home births lead to higher infant mortality, at least for mothers living in poorer areas Home births lead to higher infant mortality than hospital births, at least for mothers living in poorer areas. This is the conclusion of a new study that examines 356,412 low-risk Dutch women who delivered between 2000 and 2008 and who were allowed to choose between a home and a hospital birth.

Hair samples may offer new insights into the relationship between asthma, cortisol, and complications in pregnancy Hair samples can be used to measure the effects of asthma on the cortisol levels of women during pregnancy, according to new research. This research also shows that levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, tend to be lower among pregnant women with asthma than among pregnant women without the chronic, inflammatory lung disease

Socially integrated women have lower suicide risk Women who were socially well integrated had a lower risk for suicide in a new analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study, according to an article. Suicide is among the top 10 leading causes of death among middle-age women in the United States.

Pulmonary Research: Stress-fighting proteins could be key to new treatments for asthma ♦ Next anti-tuberculosis drug ♦ Telomeres linked to origins of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Telomeres linked to origins of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Researchers have now discovered that telomeres, the structures that protect the chromosomes, are at the origin of pulmonary fibrosis. This is the first time that telomere damage has been identified as a cause of the disease.

.First trial of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis to show beneficial effect on lung function  For the first time gene therapy for cystic fibrosis has shown a significant benefit in lung function compared with placebo, in a phase 2 randomized trial. The technique replaces the defective gene response for cystic fibrosis by using inhaled molecules of DNA to deliver a normal working copy of the gene to lung cells

Stress-fighting proteins could be key to new treatments for asthma Investigators have discovered the precise molecular steps that enable immune cells implicated in certain forms of asthma and allergy to develop and survive in the body. The findings reveal a new pathway that scientists could use to develop more effective treatments and therapies for the chronic lung disorder

The next anti-tuberculosis drug may already be in your local pharmacy Testing thousands of approved drugs, scientists have identified an unlikely anti-tuberculosis drug: the over-the-counter antacid lansoprazole (Prevacid). Tuberculosis continues to be a global pandemic, second only to AIDS as the greatest single-agent killer in the world. In 2013 alone, the TB bug Mycobacterium tuberculosis caused 1.5 million deaths and almost nine million new infections.

Children's Health: Solutions to fight pediatric asthma ♦ Children with asthma likely born in area with high air pollution ♦ Daily bathing of pediatric patients with antiseptic cuts bloodstream infection

New strategies, solutions to fight pediatric asthma Low flu vaccination rates, medication compliance and limited access to primary care providers have contributed to the high pediatric asthma rates in California. This new study details several issues affecting asthma care and offers a number of public policy strategies that could help remedy these shortcomings.

Children with asthma likely born in area with high air pollution Children who develop asthma in Toronto are more likely to have been born in a neighborhood that has a high level of traffic-related air pollution.

Daily bathing of pediatric patients with antiseptic cuts bloodstream infections by 59 percent Daily bathing of pediatric patients with disposable cloths containing 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections by 59 percent and saved approximately $300,000 in one hospital over a six-month period, according to a new study

Pet care can help improve adolescents' Type 1 diabetes management, Pediatric diabetes researchers found that incorporating routine pet care into a child's diabetes self-care plan can significantly improve monitoring of the disease, resulting in lower blood glucose levels

Children's Health:Childhood vaccination reduces leukemia risk ♦ Teen sleep patterns linked to alcohol or marijuana use ♦ Smoking marijuana stunts growth in boys

Smoking marijuana may cause early puberty and stunts growth in boys Boys who smoke marijuana go through puberty earlier but grow more slowly than those who have never smoked the drug according to a new study.

New school-based program helps reduce absentee rate for urban minority children with asthma Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children, and it can only be managed, not cured.It is the most common disease-related reason for children missing school. This can have a negative effect on their academic achievement.

Association between teen sleep patterns, alcohol or marijuana use Studying adolescents in Southern California, researchers found that the link between sleep and alcohol/marijuana use was consistent even after controlling for other known risk factors, such as depression. For every 10 minutes later that teens went to bed, there was a 6 percent increased risk of alcohol or marijuana use in the previous month. In addition, teens who reported significant trouble sleeping were 55 percent more likely to have used alcohol in the past month

44 percent of parents struggle to limit cell phone use at playgrounds Cell phone use at playgrounds is a significant source of parental guilt, research shows. The study also noted that caregivers absorbed in their phones ignored children's requests for attention more than half the time.

How early childhood vaccination reduces leukemia risk A team of researchers has discovered how a commonly administered vaccine protects against acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL), the most common type of childhood cancer. The Haemophilus influenzae Type b vaccine not only prevents ear infections and meningitis caused by the Hib bacterium, but also protects against ALL, which accounts for approximately 25 percent of cancer diagnoses among children younger than 15 years.

Children's Health: Omega-3: Intervention for childhood behavioral problems ♦ High salt intake may delay puberty ♦ Need for renal protective care in pediatric lung transplant patients

Omega-3: Intervention for childhood behavioral problems? Omega-3, a fatty acid commonly found in fish oil, may have long-term neurodevelopmental effects that ultimately reduce antisocial and aggressive behavior problems in children, a new study suggests.

Many children with asthma have reaction to peanuts, but do not know it In recent years and months, peanut allergies in children have been in the news frequently, as scientists reveal new insights into why more and more children are developing them and what can be done to avoid them. However, until now, few have studied the connection between peanut allergy and childhood asthma.

High salt intake may delay puberty High salt diets may delay puberty. As the salt content of Western diets continues to increase these findings could have significant consequences for the reproductive health of future generations.

Study suggests need for renal protective care in pediatric lung transplant patients Caucasian and Hispanic children who undergo lung transplantation appear to be at greater risk for developing chronic kidney disease, or CKD, than other children, according to a small retrospective study.

Health Research: Genetic variance explains poor response asthma medications ♦ mmune cells help 'good bacteria' triumph over 'bad bacteria' ♦ Type 2 diabetes: Understanding regulation of sugar levels

Battle in the gut: Immune cells help 'good bacteria' triumph over 'bad bacteria' The body's immune system may be the keeper of a healthy gut microbiota, report scientists. They found that a binding protein on white blood cells could affect whether or not mice produced a balanced gut microbiota. Without the protein, harmful bacteria were more easily able to infect. Why this happens is unclear, but it may be that the immune system has a way to sense the presence of invading intestinal bacteria.

Type 2 diabetes: Understanding regulation of sugar levels for better treatment A new mechanism that controls glucagon secretion in humans has been described by researchers, making it possible to elucidate this phenomenon and suggesting a modification of this new type of treatment.

How to approach your boss about a treadmill desk People walking on treadmill desks perform cognitive tasks nearly as well as those at sitting desks, new research finds. An exercise science professor and a neuroscientist report their findings after putting treadmill desks to the test. The duo compared the cognitive performance of healthy adults sitting at a desk to those using treadmill desks while carrying out the same tasks

Genetic variance explains poor response to common asthma medications  Researchers have identified a biological basis for asthmatic children who do not respond well to corticosteroid treatment -- currently the most effective treatment for chronic asthma and acute asthma attack. The study also identifies a genetic pathway that could open the possibility of new therapies for difficult-to-treat patients

Childrens Health: Kids and robots learn to write together ♦ Pregnant women with asthma need to curb antibiotics ♦ ADHD + childhood trauma heightens risk for self-harm ♦Plus More

Kids and robots learn to write together  Who is the teacher: the student or the machine? By showing a robot how to write letters, children improve their writing skills and gain self-confidence. Continue Reading

Pregnant women with asthma need to curb urge to ask for antibiotics  Twice as many children born to mothers who took antibiotics during pregnancy were diagnosed with asthma by age 3 than children born to mothers who didn’t take prenatal antibiotics, a new study has shown.Continue Reading

Examination of prior authorization policies for antipsychotic prescribing to children  With a concern about inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medications to children, 31 states in the U.S. have implemented prior authorization policies for atypical antipsychotic prescribing.  Continue Reading

ADHD plus childhood trauma heightens risk for self-harm, suicide  Young women with ADHD who have been exposed to abuse, neglect or other traumas in childhood and adolescence are at greater risk for self-injury, eating disorders and suicide than those with ADHD who were not mistreated in early youth, according to new research. Continue Reading

Preventing metabolic disease may start in the womb; of your grandmother  No one wants to have child who is born underweight, but for numerous reasons, this may be unavoidable. An intriguing research report involving rats suggests that helping fetuses achieve optimal weight before birth is of even greater importance than currently believed. Continue Reading

Childrens Health News:Concussion prevention in youth sports ♦ Teen girls from rural areas have undiagnosed asthma and be depressed ♦ Do genes play a role in peanut allergies?

Better concussion prevention in youth sports needed With mandated provisions in youth sports concussion laws high among Rhode Island Interscholastic League high schools, compliance with recommended concussion protocols was very limited, researchers have found. The study suggests that more concussion related standards should be written into law in order to raise compliance Continue Reading

Teen girls from rural areas have more undiagnosed asthma and be depressed  Teen girls who live in rural areas are more likely than their male counterparts to have undiagnosed asthma, and they often are at a higher risk of depression, "There's a lot of speculation about why females are more likely to be undiagnosed," says the lead researcher. "Maybe it's because boys are more likely to get a sports physical for athletics and they catch it then. Or maybe it's because girls attribute asthma symptoms to something else, like anxiety "Continue Reading

Unique emotion recognition treatment leads to improvement in children with high-functioning autism  A unique emotion recognition treatment has been found highly effective for children with high-functioning autism. Children in the treatment group demonstrated significantly improved emotion-recognition skills and lower parent ratings of autism symptoms.Continue Reading

Do genes play a role in peanut allergies? Researchers have pinpointed a region in the human genome associated with peanut allergy in U.S. children, offering strong evidence that genes can play a role in the development of food allergies.Continue Reading

When it comes to the digital playground we need to stop crying wolf  Kids are leading the transition to digital media today. But, while too much time online could cause developmental problems, media consumption habits may not be making our children less bright or sociable, after all. Continue Reading

Childrens Health:Shy babies need secure parent bond -- identify children who need appendectomy--Delaying children's schooling linked to poor academic performance--Protein linked to asthma

Shy babies need secure parent bond to help prevent potential teen anxiety  Shy babies need to have a strong bond with their parents to avoid developing anxiety disorders in their teens. Attachment is especially vital, the researchers found, when a baby shows behavioral inhibition or shyness to new situations or people  Continue Reading

Lab tests, ultrasounds identify children who need surgical treatment for appendicitis Data from two standard diagnostic tests commonly obtained in children evaluated for abdominal pain -- when combined -- can improve the ability of emergency department physicians and pediatric surgeons to identify those patients who should be sent to the operating room for prompt removal of an inflamed appendix.Continue Reading.

Delaying children's school entry linked to poor academic performance Delaying school entry for children could cause poorer academic performance, according to new research. Many parents are keen to hold their children back a year if they were born prematurely or in the summer months. Continue Reading

Protein linked to development of asthma  Researchers have linked a specific protein to the development of post-viral infection asthma, which is the first step in generating a novel type of asthma therapy designed to prevent development of post-viral asthma in young children Continue Reading