Children's health
07 Aug 2007
27mg Concerta tablets listed on PBS
A new 27mg form of the long-acting stimulant medication Concerta (methylphenidate hydrochloride) has recently been placed on the PBS, available with authority. It is hoped that this will allow for greater flexibility in treatment and better outcomes with fewer side effects. ADHD affects between 3-5% of primary school aged children,…
Children's health
07 Aug 2007
27mg Concerta gives flexibility to treatment of ADHD
ADHD is a condition that affects up to 3-5% of primary school aged children, and can have a dramatic impact on their quality of life – as well as those of their parents. One form of medication shown to be particularly useful in reducing the symptoms of ADHD are stimulants,…
Cancer
07 Aug 2007
Genetically Modified Skin Cells Help Fight Neuroblastoma
A new paper confirms that using the immune system to treat neuroblastoma may be a fruitful approach and describes a new way of delivering the treatment for such tumours, that would involve using a patients own genetically modified skin cells. (British Journal of Cancer, published online.) Neuroblastoma is the single…
Bowel
06 Aug 2007
Increase of Allergies in Western Society
Since the 1960s there has been a progressive increase in the incidence of allergic disease in Western countries. Even though the processes involved with allergic…
Children's Health
06 Aug 2007
Advice About Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise for as little as 30 minutes a day improves health and life expectancy. Having a daily workout routine, including stretching, can help.
Children's health
03 Aug 2007
A Marker for Cardiovascular Disease May Also Indicate Severity of Cognitive Disability among Children with OSA
C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that is often used to detect cardiovascular disease, may also indicate cognitive impairment in children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to a new study of children ages 5 to 7. “Children with OSA have increased levels of hsCRP [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein] and also…
Children's health
03 Aug 2007
Study Finds COPD Patients Taking Inhaled Steroids are at Greater Risk for Severe Pneumonia
Patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are increasingly being prescribed inhaled corticosteroids to control exacerbations of the disease, but a new study finds that the anti-inflammatory drugs increase the chances that these patients will be hospitalized for pneumonia. “In a large cohort of patients with COPD, we found that…
Children's health
03 Aug 2007
Exposure to Cats Increases Bronchial Responsiveness in People Without Specific Cat Allergy
Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that increased exposure to cat allergen is associated with greater bronchial responsiveness (BR) in people with certain common allergies, even if they are not specifically allergic to cats. This suggests that reduced exposure to cats may be beneficial for allergic individuals, regardless of…
Cancer
03 Aug 2007
Paediatric Cancer Stem Cell Identified
Zebrafish aid in understanding the origins of rhabdomyosarcoma. Researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified the cancer stem cell for rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood. They report their findings in the June 1 issue of Genes and Development. Cancer stem cells make…
