Researchers developed a comprehensive care model, PEGASUS, to treat pediatric patients with severe head trauma. The protocol showed improved outcomes, including reduced disability and death, by adhering to key performance indicators such as maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure and early initiation of nutrition.
Researchers at Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago have discovered a promising direction towards understanding and preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. Blocking NF-κB activity prevented recruitment of white blood cells into the intestine, leading to decreased development of NEC.
Researchers found that prior dengue exposure protects children from symptomatic Zika disease in the Americas. Children with a prior dengue infection were 38% less likely to develop symptomatic Zika than those without prior exposure. This suggests an immunological interaction between dengue and Zika viruses.
Reactive attachment disorder is a social functioning disorder characterized by ambivalence towards comfort and emotional withdrawal. A study of 614 children with RAD found that parents' psychiatric diagnoses increased the child's risk by nine-fold for mothers and six-fold for fathers.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists identify 23 subtypes of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), including eight new subtypes, with distinct genomic and clinical features. The study's findings may lead to the development of precision medicines and customized treatments for high-risk patients.
A new scale measures connectedness to nature in young children, revealing a link between outdoor environment and improved well-being. Parents who encouraged nature play had less distressed children, while those who took responsibility towards nature saw fewer peer difficulties.
A recent study published in BMC Public Health found that maternal stress during the first year of life is a significant risk factor for developing overweight in infancy. The study, which analyzed data from 498 mother-child pairs, shows a high correlation between stressed mothers and their daughters' weight development up to age five.
A study suggests that a PAC1R mutation may be associated with more severe social problems and disrupted brain connectivity in individuals with autism. The research found high levels of PAC1R expression in key brain regions, particularly in male brains during fetal development and female brains during childhood.
A study of over 40,000 adults found that one in 10 has a confirmed food allergy, while nearly half develop an allergy as an adult. Nearly 1 in 5 adults believe they have a food allergy despite inconsistent symptoms.
A new study by the BabySeq project explores the effects of genetic testing on newborns, revealing unexpected risks for childhood diseases. The research also found potential links to adult-onset cancers, highlighting the importance of long-term follow-up to assess the test's efficacy.
Researchers found that children's health is less negatively affected when parents have control over their work lives. Autonomous parents are better able to regulate themselves and their parenting, leading to healthier outcomes for their children. This suggests that workplaces can play a role in promoting job autonomy to support families.
A new special issue of Birth Defects Research explores the role of maternal contributions on fetal development, including organ formation and immune system regulation. Studies show that mother-to-baby transmission affects the risk of birth defects and diseases like food allergy and schizophrenia.
A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that openness-related traits like curiosity and confidence are linked to better performance in math and reading. Executive functioning was also strongly associated with academic skills, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet analyzed 3.8 million live-born children and found that approximately 1 out of 105 children with severe growth restriction died before age 18, compared to 1 in 202 for moderate growth restriction and 1 in 289 for normal development.
Researchers found that boys with better motor skills had higher cognitive scores over a two-year follow-up period. In contrast, aerobic fitness was not associated with cognitive function in either boys or girls.
A study of over 2,400 low-income women found that stress and poverty can lead to chronic diseases in mothers and children. Breastfeeding was shown to provide some protection from the negative health effects of stress.
Researchers found lower overall brain volumes and altered connectivity associated with callous traits in children. The study provides a neural profile of callousness in children, highlighting its potential as an early risk factor for negative behaviors and health outcomes later in life.
A new study found that concussion rates among youth football players ages 5-14 were higher than previously reported, with 5% of players sustaining a football-related concussion each season. The study also identified factors that increase the risk of concussion, such as prior injury and depression.
A new study reveals that many UK parents opt for overseas surrogacy to access better legal frameworks, but face significant challenges upon return, including delayed recognition of parenthood. The research highlights the need for clearer and more secure laws to support families undergoing surrogacy.
Researchers identified distinct molecular signatures in children with cystic fibrosis, which may help predict disease severity and treatment response. The findings pave the way for precision medicine, allowing for therapies tailored to each patient's unique biology.
A new study from Cornell University suggests that graphic warning labels on cigarette ads have a significant anti-smoking effect on children and young adults. The research found that these warnings can cancel out the appeal of smoking as cool and fun, reducing the influence of social cues in advertising.
A new study from iPSYCH shows that childhood infections increase the risk of mental disorders, with high temperatures and hospital admissions being particularly associated. The study found an 84% increased risk of mental disorders in children who were hospitalized for infections.
A new study links maternal stress levels at conception to children's cortisol responses at age 11, with different associations for boys and girls. The researchers measured cortisol levels from mothers-to-be and their children over several years.
Researchers found that girls who gained weight rapidly between ages 5 and 15 were more likely to be obese at 24. A follow-up study of 182 participants found a 93% rate of overweight or obesity in those with accelerated weight gain, compared to 20-37% in other groups.
A new study published in Preventive Medicine suggests that up to 17% of UK children may have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) symptoms, affecting learning and behavior. The research found that nearly 79% of children were exposed to alcohol in pregnancy, highlighting the need for increased awareness and diagnosis of FASD.
Babies who are less active tend to get less sleep overall, according to new Michigan State University research. Infants who slept more at night had better weight-for-length scores and were less active during the day. Parents can promote tummy time and physical activity to help their baby get more sleep.
A study analyzing health data for over 500,000 children in the US suggests that obesity is a likely cause of approximately one-fourth of asthma cases in children who are obese. The research found that nearly 1 million cases of childhood asthma may be preventable by maintaining a healthy weight.
A new study from the University of Washington shows that parents who learn to speak parentese can improve their infants' language skills. Parents in the intervention group increased their use of parentese and directed more speech to their child, resulting in babies babbling more and producing more words by 14 months.
Research from King's College London and UCL found that parents' feeding practices are shaped by their child's natural body weight, which is influenced by genes. Parents of children with a higher genetic predisposition to weight tend to be more restrictive, while those of children with a lower predisposition are more pressuring.
According to the latest national food allergy prevalence survey, nearly 8% of US children (about 5.6 million) have food allergies, with 42% reporting at least one lifetime ED visit for a life-threatening reaction. However, only 40% of these children have a current prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector.
A Penn State study suggests that children's executive functions in kindergarten can predict their mathematics, reading, and science achievement, as well as classroom behavior, in second grade. Deficits in working-memory, a key component of executive functions, are strongly linked to repeated academic difficulties across elementary school.
Research found that measuring very preterm and full-term babies' head circumference from an early age can identify potential neurocognitive risks later in life. Head growth is a proxy measure of brain volume growth, and slow head growth was linked to lower intelligence scores.
A large percentage of healthy babies don't sleep through the night by six months of age, but researchers found no correlation with developmental problems. Infants who didn't sleep for six or eight consecutive hours had a significantly higher rate of breastfeeding, which offers many benefits.
Ralph DeBerardinis' work has changed the understanding of how tumors reprogram metabolic pathways to maximize energy production and growth. His discoveries have opened new avenues for therapies and imaging techniques, targeting cancer cells' diverse metabolic preferences.
A SDSU-led research team is working on ways to better detect language problems in children prior to age 3, when intervention might be more effective. The team has developed an instrument to assess stable concepts in children's vocabulary at age 2, which predicts their readiness for kindergarten at age 4.
A three-year study found that children with autism improved in various skills, including social interaction and vocal skills, when taught alongside typically developing peers. The results suggest that mainstream pre-schools can provide suitable environments for supporting children with autism.
A new study published in Neurology found that the antidepressant fluoxetine showed no benefit in treating acute flaccid myelitis, a rare condition causing paralysis in children. Researchers analyzed data from 56 children with the illness and found no improvement in muscle strength among those who received fluoxetine.
Most cystic fibrosis patients do not achieve high enough antibiotic concentrations in their blood to effectively fight bacteria responsible for pulmonary exacerbations. Real-time monitoring of serum antibiotic concentrations could help improve clinical outcomes and reduce worsening pulmonary function.
A new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that screen time has a negligible effect on children's sleep. The study analyzed data from over 10,000 children and found that each hour of screen time resulted in only 3-8 fewer minutes of sleep per night.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that children's recovery from concussion improves over time but at different rates depending on age and sex. The research examined 2,716 pediatric concussion cases and discovered significant sex differences in recovery, with girls recovering more slowly than boys.
A new study found that health professionals are struggling to prepare and support children when a parent is dying due to lack of relevant skills and fear of causing distress. The researchers called for more guidance and training in this area, as well as patient records to flag up the presence of young children in the immediate family.
A new study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics conference found that microwavable instant soups and noodles are responsible for over 9,500 scald burns in children between 4-12 years old annually. The most common age group affected is 7-year-olds, with the torso being the most frequently injured area.
A two-part study by University of Oregon psychologist Marjorie Taylor found that 17% of children aged 8-12 create complex imaginary worlds, reflecting positive creativity, strong storytelling skills, and social connections. These 'paracosms' were often shared with friends, suggesting a social aspect to this childhood phenomenon.
A recent study published in Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that only 3.2% of Year Five children (aged nine or ten) met the recommended daily physical activity target of 60 minutes, with even lower levels among girls. This suggests that previous studies may have overestimated the prevalence of children meeting the recomme...
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found a 43% increase in pedestrian deaths on Halloween compared to control days. The risk of fatal crashes is 10 times higher for children between 4-8 years old, highlighting the need for improved pedestrian safety measures.
A study found that smoke alarms using the mother's voice are more effective in waking children than traditional high-pitch tone alarms, waking 86-91% of kids compared to 53%. Including a child's name in the alarm message does not improve effectiveness.
Scientists have discovered new genetic pathways associated with severe lung disease in premature infants, including those related to gonadotropin releasing hormone and heart development. These findings offer promise for earlier risk detection and the development of more precise treatments for this life-threatening condition.
Researchers at Emory University have proposed a novel framework to explain schadenfreude, finding that it comprises three subforms: aggression, rivalry, and justice. These subforms are interrelated and rooted in concerns of self-evaluation, social identity, and justice.
A new study reveals children as young as 7 experience negative impacts of discrimination, with a strong sense of ethnic-racial identity acting as a protective factor. The research suggests that promoting understanding and belonging to one's ethnic group in early development can help mitigate these effects.
Researchers found that maltreated teen girls are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts due to poor mother-daughter relationships and high levels of conflict. The study, published in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, highlights the importance of relationship-based interventions for vulnerable youths.
A new genetic cause for a severe childhood epilepsy syndrome has been discovered, with spontaneous mutations in the CACNA1E gene disrupting calcium flow in brain cells. The study found potential medical treatments, including anti-seizure medications that target the affected channel.
A new study found that infants who viewed instruction with a peer showed better neural response and improved phonemic learning compared to those who watched alone. The researchers suggest that social interaction increases arousal, which in turn boosts learning, and provide motivation for acquiring new skills.
Researchers identified a genetic susceptibility locus on chromosome 5 that predisposes African-American children to migraines. The study suggests that genes involved in neurotransmitter release may be targeted for future migraine treatments.
Children with arthrogryposis have lower brain cortex power than healthy children, despite similar neurodynamics. This decrease is likely due to reduced motor activity, which affects their reaction speed and cognitive functions.
University of Toronto researchers found that higher levels of urinary fluoride during pregnancy are linked to more ADHD-like symptoms in school-age children. The study analyzed data from over 200 mother-child pairs and found a strong association between prenatal fluoride exposure and inattentive behaviors.
Researchers at Iowa State University investigate how childhood emotional connections with physical activity influence adult attitudes and behaviors. They suspect the prefrontal cortex plays a significant role in regulating emotions during exercise. The study, using children aged 7-9, aims to measure brain activity, exertion, and pleasu...
Children in low-resource countries are suffering from unnoticed infections that are stunting their growth and mental development, with lifelong consequences. Up to 30% of these children are carrying harmful infections that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
Scientists have identified the cause of Saul-Wilson syndrome, a rare type of dwarfism characterized by short stature and developmental delays. A single spontaneous gene change alters protein packaging in the cell's Golgi complex, affecting protein function and stability.
A recent study published in BMC Public Health found that about two-thirds of Canadian children aged 8-12 have not reached an acceptable level of physical literacy. The Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group's Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy tool was used to assess over 10,000 children across the country, revealing lo...
A new neuroimaging study from the University at Buffalo found that the brain's reading network integrates specialized areas during a child's development, predicting their reading proficiency. The study suggests changes in neural pathways within the reading network are associated with improved reading skills.