Children's health
27 Nov 2007
Brain needs Perfection in Synapse Number
Like Goldilocks, the brain seeks proportions that are “just right.” The proper number of synapses or communication between nerve cells, determined early in life, is crucial to having a healthy brain that can learn and retain information. Now, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston have determined that the…
Children's health
27 Nov 2007
The Family that Eats Together stays Healthy Together
In this fast-paced world, it can be a challenge for families to find time to share a meal. But a nutritionist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences says sitting down to eat as a family is worth juggling your schedule. “Research tells us that taking time for family meals…
Children's health
27 Nov 2007
Obese Pregnant Women Should Limit Weight Gain
Severely obese women should lose weight during pregnancy, while obese women who are pregnant should gain less weight than currently recommended, a Saint Louis University study finds. The research is the largest population-based study to look at the effect of weight gain during pregnancy by obese expectant mothers, says Raul…
Blood
27 Nov 2007
Ozone Shuts Down Early Immune Response in Lungs and Body
As policy makers debate what levels of ozone in the air are safe for humans to breathe, studies in mice are revealing that the inhaled pollutant impairs the body’s first line of defence, making it more susceptible to subsequent foreign invaders, such as bacteria. While it has long been known…
Children's health
27 Nov 2007
Combination Therapy Offers Greatest Benefit to Depressed Adolescents
A combination of antidepressant drugs and cognitive behaviour therapy is the most effective approach when treating teens suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD), according to a long-term study led by a Duke University Medical Center psychiatrist. The findings of the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS), published in the…
Children's health
26 Nov 2007
Holiday Safety Tips
The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Trees When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.” When purchasing a live tree, check for…
Blood
26 Nov 2007
Unique Role for Blood Formation Gene Identified
All blood cell production in adults depends on the steady work of a vital gene that, if lost, results in early bone marrow failure, Dartmouth Medical School cancer geneticists have found. Their research reveals an unexpected role for the gene in sustaining the adult blood-forming system, and opens novel strategies…
Bone
26 Nov 2007
Best Methods for Removing Injured Players from the Field
The 15 minutes it took to remove Buffalo Bills player Kevin Everett off the field after he suffered a spinal cord injury may seem like a long time for someone needing acute medical care, but in fact, those minutes underscore how critical it is to carefully move a player with…
Anatomy
26 Nov 2007
Vision and the eye’s anatomy
The eye is the organ that allows us to see. The optical components of the eye focus light, and the neural components send visual information…
