Children's health
01 Mar 2013
Probiotic-derived treatment new hope for preemies
“Good” bacteria that live in our intestines have been linked with a variety of health benefits, from fighting disease to preventing obesity. In a new study, Kriston Ganguli of Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School and her colleagues have discovered another advantage to these friendly microscopic tenants:…
Cancer
01 Mar 2013
Reducing tumour growth and spread of advanced neuroblastoma
In a world-first discovery, researchers at Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA) have found a potential new way to reduce neuroblastoma tumour growth and metastasis. The findings, which have been published in Oncogene, may lead to the development of more targeted treatments for neuroblastoma and potentially save the lives of more…
Children's health
25 Feb 2013
Can breakfast make kids smarter?
New research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing has found that children who regularly have breakfast on a near-daily basis had significantly higher full scale, verbal, and performance IQ test scores. In one of the first studies to examine IQ and breakfast consumption, researchers examined data from 1,269…
Bone
22 Feb 2013
Childhood ACL injuries need special care to avoid future problems
Until a child’s bones have fully matured (in girls, typically by age 14; in boys, age 16), an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)—the primary, stabilizing ligament of the knee joint—requires special consideration, treatment and care to ensure appropriate healing and to prevent long-term complications. According to a review…
Uncategorized
18 Feb 2013
Headache Australia
Headache Australia is the only Australian charity that aims to support the more than 5 million Australians affected by headache and migraine. Headache Australia is…
Blood
12 Feb 2013
Do non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cause kidney failure in children?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are commonly used to treat pain and reduce fever in children. However, the use of NSAIDs has been shown to cause acute kidney injury (AKI) in some children. A new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics reports the…
Children's health
12 Feb 2013
Avoid unneeded abdominal CT scans in children
A study of more than 12,000 children from emergency departments throughout the country in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) has identified seven factors that can help physicians determine the need for a computed tomography (CT) scan following blunt trauma to the abdomen. Because CT scans pose radiation…
Children's health
12 Feb 2013
ADHD medication can slow growth in teenage boys
Adolescent boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to be shorter and slimmer than their same-age peers, according to a new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia. Dr Alison Poulton from the University of Sydney and her coauthors investigated the influence of stimulant medication on…
Children's health
07 Feb 2013
Kids being hospitalised for arthritis
Hospitalisation rates for juvenile arthritis are increasing, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report, A snapshot of juvenile arthritis, examines the prevalence, treatment and experience of arthritis in children aged 0 to 15 years old. ‘Juvenile arthritis is estimated to affect…
