Blood
03 Mar 2008
Faster chemo technique increases survival in children with neuroblastoma
Chemotherapy given with shorter intervals between treatments than conventional chemotherapy increases survival rates by two thirds in children with high-risk neuroblastoma, according to a study published in the Lancet Oncology. The ten year trial co-ordinated in six countries by scientists from the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG), funded by…
Children's health
03 Mar 2008
Urine protein may be present before hypertension diagnosis in at-risk adolescents
A protein that is an early indicator of kidney dysfunction in adults may predict hypertension in black adolescents, Medical College of Georgia researchers have found. “Microalbuminuria, excessive amounts of albumin in the urine, is a common problem among diabetics,” says Dr. Gregory Harshfield, director of the Medical College of Georgia’s…
Bone
01 Mar 2008
Facial asymmetry persists despite surgery to correct congenital deformity
Adults and teens that underwent surgery as infants to correct a congenital condition that causes the forehead and face to appear uneven still have a degree of facial asymmetry years later, according to new research led by a Hasbro Children’s Hospital surgeon. The study, published in the February issue of…
Children's health
22 Feb 2008
Genetic and environmental hormonal response to stress in children depends on family context
A study conducted on 346 19-month-old twins by an international team led by Universite Laval professor of psychology Michel Boivin reveals that the genetic and environmental bases of hormonal response to stress depend on the context in which a child grows up. This is the first time such an effect…
Children's health
22 Feb 2008
Children who do not get enough sleep sustain more injuries
Lack of adequate sleep can lead to increased injuries among preschool children, new research shows. This study published in Public Health Nursing shows that the average number of injuries during the preschool years is two times higher for children who don’t get enough sleep each day as described by their…
Children's health
22 Feb 2008
Antibiotics do not appear helpful in preventing fluid buildup in children with ear infections
When prescribed to children with middle ear infections, antibiotics are not associated with a significant reduction in fluid build-up in the ear, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies in the February issue of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Ear infections are among…
Children's health
22 Feb 2008
Fast food and no exercise damages the liver
Too much fast food and too little exercise can harm the liver, reveals a small study published ahead of print in the journal Gut. The findings are based on 18 slim, healthy people (12 men and six women) who took a "fast food challenge" for four weeks, and a…
Bone
22 Feb 2008
Craniosynostosis minimally invasive surgery holds more promise than old procedure
Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of the skull, is estimated to affect one out of every 2,000 babies. For the past several years, physicians have used two procedures to correct the problems. One procedure was to make an incision from ear to ear, strip back the scalp of the infant and…
Children's health
20 Feb 2008
Spotlight on youth mental health
In Sydney late last year, paediatricians, psychologists and psychiatrists gathered to discuss the continuities and discontinuities of youth mental health. The forum, a first of its kind, provided an invaluable opportunity to hear the latest research on this important field of study. Its interactive nature enabled participants to give their…
