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…
Bone
30 Jul 2007
New Era for Prostheses for Amputees
The first powered ankle-foot prosthesis, which propels users forward for walking, was demonstrated this morning at the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Garth Stewart, an Iraq War veteran and amputee, showed off the invention created by MIT Media Lab Professor Hugh Herr and his team as part of a collaborative…
Children's health
30 Jul 2007
Gene Identified for Crohn’s Disease in Children
Paediatrics researchers have identified a gene variant that raises a child’s risk of Crohn’s disease, a chronic and painful condition attributed to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The research reinforces previous results by German researchers, who found the same gene variant associated with the adult form of Crohn’s disease. Researchers…
Children's health
30 Jul 2007
System To Enhance Management of Life-Threatening Allergic Emergencies
“Be S.A.F.E.,” a system to enhance management of and education about anaphylaxis and other severe allergic reactions, was published by an expert panel of allergists and emergency physicians in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The article, “SAFE: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Anaphylaxis Education in the Emergency Department,” includes…
Children's health
30 Jul 2007
Safety Concern: Good Drugs Can Go Bad
Whether over the counter or prescribed by a doctor, all medicines must be handled with care when their shelf life runs its course. “If pills are thrown in the trash, they’re accessible to curious individuals who may not know what the drug is for,” said Dr. Addison Taylor, professor of…
Bone
18 Jul 2007
New research: milk helps cyclists across the line
Milk could be the key to claiming the Tour de France’s coveted yellow jersey. A new study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, has found milk outscored plain water and a commercial sports drink for re-hydrating cyclists after a bout of exercise . UK researcher Dr Susan Shirreffs found…
