Children's health
06 Nov 2012
World-first procedure on unique paediatric patient
Melbourne researchers have performed innovative world-first kidney surgery to cure a unique combination of medical conditions in a 10-year-old boy. Young patient Matthew Gaythorpe is thought to be the only person in the world born with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis (ARPKD/CHF) and Narcolepsy. The rare combination…
Children's health
01 Nov 2012
New guidelines to address trauma of childhood abuse
A new set of guidelines launched today aim to help mental health and social service providers better understand the complex effects of trauma on adult survivors of childhood abuse. The guidelines, funded by the Federal Government and developed by Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA), were launched today in Canberra by…
Children's health
31 Oct 2012
Inhaled anaesthesia may affect children's brains more
Stony Brook University School of Medicine researchers have found that children’s brains are more affected by an inhaled aesthetic than an intravenous aesthetic with increased levels of brain lactate. Lactate increases brain activation and may lead to metabolic changes associated with anxiety and delirium. Reported in the November issue of…
Children's health
31 Oct 2012
Autism early intervention found to normalise brain activity
An intensive early intervention therapy that is effective for improving cognition and language skills among very young children with autism also normalises their brain activity, decreases their autism symptoms and improves their social skills, a nationwide study has found. The researchers said the study is the first to demonstrate that…
Children's health
30 Oct 2012
New guidelines to address trauma of childhood abuse
A new set of guidelines have been launched which aim to help mental health and social service providers better understand the complex effects of trauma on adult survivors of childhood abuse. The guidelines, funded by the Federal Government and developed by Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA), were launched in Canberra by Minister…
Children's health
18 Oct 2012
Kids’ screen time needs to be curbed to prevent developmental problems
Curbs on children’s daily screen time and delaying the age at which they start “the world’s favourite pastime” are urgently needed to stave off the risk of serious health and developmental problems, argues a leading psychologist and child health expert in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. In the face…
Children's health
18 Oct 2012
Bigger play areas for kids cut obesity risk
The global fight against obesity could be helped by providing support for child’s play, a researcher from The University of Western Australia has found. Research leader Dr Karen Martin studied school environments and their association with physical activity during school recess. The study found children who attended schools with more…
Children's health
17 Oct 2012
Whole genome sequencing for rapid diagnosis of genetic diseases in children
Today investigators at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City reported the first use of whole genome information for diagnosing critically ill infants. As reported in Science Translational Medicine, the team describes STAT-Seq®, a whole genome sequencing approach – from blood sample to returning results to a physician –…
Children's health
11 Oct 2012
Moderate iPad use won’t keep teens up at night
Teenagers who use an iPad for an hour before bed are still likely to get a good night’s sleep, new research from Flinders University shows.The study, led by sleep psychologist Dr Michael Gradisar, has found that moderate iPad use immediately before bed will not affect a teenager’s sleep, contrary to…
