Children's Health: Helping kids hear better ♦ Children's ability to think linked to weight and activity ♦ Northern climates make a difference with growth hormone treatmen

Northern climates make a difference with growth hormone treatment The rate of growth in children varies with the season while higher latitude and greater summer daylight exposure makes a significant difference in results for children treated with growth hormone.

Singing calms baby longer than talking In a new study, infants remained calm twice as long when listening to a song, which they didn't even know, as they did when listening to speech.

Helping kids hear better A first-of-its-kind study discovered that many hard-of-hearing children who receive optimal, early services are able to 'catch up or significantly close the gaps with their hearing peers,'

New growth charts developed for US children with Down syndrome Pediatric researchers have developed the first set of growth charts for US children with Down syndrome since 1988. These new charts provide an important tool for pediatricians to evaluate growth milestones for children and adolescents with this condition. With these new charts, pediatricians will be able to compare each patient's growth patterns with peers of the same age and sex who have Down syndrome.

When it comes to children's ability to think, weight and activity level both matter Weight and physical activity levels are both factors in a child's ability to acquire and use knowledge, a new study finds. Children who were lean and active scored better on cognitive tests than either their lean, inactive peers or overweight, inactive children, according to the study, which provides some of the first evidence that weight, independent of physical activity, is a factor

, Alzheimer's Research: Major breakthrough in understanding Alzheimer's disease ♦ Tracing the triggers of late-onset Alzheimer's ♦ Patterns in the progression towards Alzheimer's disease

Some evidence of link between stress, Alzheimer's disease discovered More evidence of a link between the brain's stress response and a protein related to Alzheimer's disease has been uncovered by a team of researchers. The research, conducted on a mouse model and in human cells, found that a stress-coping hormone released by the brain boosts the production of protein fragments.

Major breakthrough in understanding Alzheimer's disease Researchers believe that periodic clearance of a specific protein across the blood brain barrier could hold tremendous potential for new therapies.

Identifying typical patterns in the progression towards Alzheimer's disease  How the brain progresses from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's-type dementia has been an enigma for the scientific community. However, a recent study has shed light on this progression by showing the typical patterns of the brain's progression to dementia.

Tracing the triggers of late-onset Alzheimer's In a sprawling review of more than 200 articles examining the suggested link between infections of the mouth and Alzheimer's disease (AD), two researchers -- one, an original mapper of the oral microbiome; the other, a scientist who has worked considerably on the connection between oral infection and AD -- have surveyed the current body of research, and point to potential oral microbial culprits.

Down syndrome research untangles therapeutic possibilities for Alzheimer's More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Of them, 400,000 also have Down syndrome. Both groups have similar looking brains with higher levels of the protein beta amyloid. In fact, patients with Down syndrome develop the abnormal protein at twice the rate. Results of a pilot study confirms the pathogenic role of beta amyloid in dementia as seen in both AD and Down syndrome.

Senior Health: Alzheimer's disease works differently in patients with Down Syndrome ♦ Omega-3 supplements help with preclinical Alzheimer's disease ♦ Age-related cognitive decline tied to immune-system molecule

SSRI antidepressants taken for menopausal symptoms may boost bone fracture risk The class of antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), taken to curb menopausal symptoms, may boost bone fracture risk.

Alzheimer's disease works differently in patients with and without Down Syndrome A study revealed differences in the way brain inflammation -- considered a key component of AD-- is expressed in different subsets of patients, in particular people with Down syndrome (DS) and AD.

Omega-3 supplements, antioxidants may help with preclinical Alzheimer's disease Here's more evidence that fish oil supplementation and antioxidants might be beneficial for at least some people facing Alzheimer's disease: A new report describes the findings of a very small study in which people with mild clinical impairment, such as those in the very early stages of the disease, saw clearance of the hallmark amyloid-beta protein and reduced inflammation in neurological tissues.

Older patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries less likely to get surgery Older patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries are less likely to receive surgery compared with younger patients and they experience a significant lag between injury and surgery.

Age-related cognitive decline tied to immune-system molecule A blood-borne molecule that increases in abundance as we age blocks regeneration of brain cells and promotes cognitive decline. The molecule in question, known as beta-2 microglobulin, or B2M, is a component of a larger molecule called MHC I, which plays a major role in the adaptive immune system. A growing body of research indicates that the B2M-MHC I complex, which is present in all cells in the body except red blood cells and plasma cells, can act in the brain in ways not obviously related to immunity--guiding brain development, shaping nerve cell communication, and even affecting behavior

Health News: MRSA in pork:♦ Patients give high marks to prepping for surgery online ♦ Patients give high marks to prepping for surgery online

MRSA in pork: farming leaders join calls for clampdown on illegal antibiotic use

Britain’s farming leaders are urging the government to clamp down on the illegal use of powerful antibiotics following a Guardian investigation that found evidence that the superbug MRSA – linked to the overuse of antibiotics in livestock – has entered the UK’s food chain.

Thick cortex could be key in Down syndrome The thickness of the brain's cerebral cortex could be a key to unlocking answers about intellectual development in youth with Down syndrome. It could also provide new insights to why individuals with this genetic neurodevelopmental disorder are highly susceptible to early onset Alzheimer's disease.

Zebrafish provide a novel model to study short bowel syndrome Investigators are providing new hope for babies with short bowel syndrome (SBS) by developing a novel model of SBS in zebrafish,

'Real world' link between type 2 diabetes, low blood sugar risk Hypoglycaemia is an issue amongst people with type 2 diabetes, particularly for those on insulin, yet is still fairly common for other treatment regimens. Now the hypoglycaemic events in the ‘real world’ type 2 diabetes population have been examined in a first-of-its-kind review. The study highlights the need for patient education to raise awareness of hypoglycaemia and for healthcare professionals to consider a patient’s hypoglycaemia risk when prescribing diabetes treatments.

Patients give high marks to prepping for surgery online First-time surgery can be concerning to any patient. Knee surgery -- even arthroscopic surgery to treat a torn meniscus -- can require significant preparation and rehabilitation. According to a new study, a web-based tutorial can not only increase a patient's understanding of the surgery but also provide a better experience.

Children's Health: Anesthesia in young children linked to effects on IQ, brain structure ♦ Psychotropic medication use in children,with Down syndrome ♦ Ultrasound, algorithms to diagnose bacterial meningitis in babies

Children with TBI have poorer sleep quality, more daytime sleepiness Children with traumatic brain injuries have poorer sleep and more daytime sleepiness in comparison to healthy children. The children with TBI also had impaired emotional, physical and social functioning.

Study examines psychotropic medication use in children, teens with Down syndrome A new study gives insight into the mental health of children and teens with Down syndrome and the behavioral medications that medical caregivers sometimes prescribe for them.

Data scientists find connections between birth month and health Scientists have developed a computational method to investigate the relationship between birth month and disease risk. The researchers used this algorithm to examine New York City medical databases and found 55 diseases that correlated with the season of birth. Overall, the study indicated people born in May had the lowest disease risk, and those born in October the highest.

Ultrasound, algorithms to diagnose bacterial meningitis in babies Currently the only test to diagnose bacterial meningitis in babies is through a lumbar puncture, a painful and difficult procedure to perform. For this reason, a group of biomedical engineers decided to search for an alternative and developed a portable device that can detect this illness with a simple ultrasound scan of the fontanelle. The high-resolution image obtained is then analyzed with algorithms and within seconds indicates if there is cellularity in the cerebrospinal fluid that is sign of infection.

Surgical anesthesia in young children linked to effects on IQ, brain structure Children who received general anesthesia for surgery before age 4 had diminished language comprehension, lower IQ and decreased gray matter density in posterior regions of their brain. The authors of the study recommend additional studies to determine anesthesia precise molecular effects on the brain and contribution to diminished brain function and compositio

Health News: $200 million settlement in 2012 meningitis outbreak ♦ MS Scientists identify cause of movement, balance problems ♦ Redesigned' antibodies may control HIV

Judge approves $200 million settlement in 2012 meningitis outbreak A Federal bankruptcy judge approved a $200 million settlement with the now-closed New England Compounding Center pharmacy following a 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people and sickened more than 750 others across 20 states as a result of tainted drugs produced by the pharmacy. The settlement will be distributed among the victims and 14 former employees of the compounding center

Multiple sclerosis: Scientists identify cause of movement, balance problems New research into the causes of the excessive inflammation that drives multiple sclerosis has identified a faulty 'brake' within immune cells, a brake that should be controlling the inflammation. This points to a potential target for developing new therapies to treat multiple sclerosis.

Cancer drugs may hold key to treating Down syndrome and other brain disorders A class of FDA-approved cancer drugs may be able to prevent problems with brain cell development associated with disorders including Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome.

'Redesigned' antibodies may control HIV With the help of a computer program called “Rosetta,” researchers have “redesigned” an antibody that has increased potency and can neutralize more strains of the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than can any known natural antibody.

Potential new drug target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis A novel drug target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been identified, which focuses on the cells that are directly responsible for the cartilage damage in affected joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that leads to stiff, deformed joints and often crippling pain. The immune system's attack on the body's own tissue leads to chronic, painful inflammation in the affected joints.

Health News: Trading away our food safety ♦ Bacteria the newest tool in detecting environmental damage ♦ Cause of regression in individuals with down syndrome identified Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in America, can be complicated b

Trading away our food safety Although there is heated debate about the fate of fast track—or Trade Promotion Authority—and the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a little-discussed aspect is how trade pacts affect the food we eat, and the food we feed our children. That’s why many concerned citizens and government leaders such as Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) are calling for more transparency

Scientists regenerate bone tissue using only proteins secreted by stem cells Scientists have discovered a way to regrow bone tissue using the protein signals produced by stem cells. This technology could help treat victims who have experienced major trauma to a limb, like soldiers wounded in combat or casualties of a natural disaster. The new method improves on older therapies by providing a sustainable source for fresh tissue and reducing the risk of tumor formation that can arise with stem cell transplants.

New device provides chikungunya test results in an hour Health workers now have a quick way to detect the presence of the chikungunya (CHIKV) virus within an hour, rather than waiting for results of laboratory tests that take days, or even weeks, scientists report.

Bacteria the newest tool in detecting environmental damage A method of using bacteria to help test for the presence of a wide array of pollutants has been developed. The scientists say that their method may potentially be used for everything from well water testing to seaside construction purposes

Cause of regression in individuals with down syndrome identified Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in America, can be complicated by significant deterioration in movement, speech and functioning in some adolescents and young adults. Physicians previously attributed this regression to depression or early-onset Alzheimer's, and it has not responded to treatments. Now, a researcher has found that Catatonia may cause regression in patients with Down syndrome. Individuals with regressive Down syndrome who were treated for Catatonia showed improvement