Research programs focused on child health and development. Covers pediatric research standards, infant nutrition and sleep, rare disorders, and childhood diabetes.
A Penn State researcher suggests that the black-white test score gap can be reduced by increasing verbal interaction between parents and children. Research shows that professional parents who spoke more words to their children had better vocabulary knowledge and higher reading performance. Interventions like Early Head Start have shown...
A recent study found that boys are at least twice as likely to have dyslexia and reading difficulties as girls. The research suggests that early identification and intervention are crucial for providing effective treatment, and highlights the need for educational programmes to address boys' emerging disabilities.
Research found that couples who don't follow traditional labor division are less likely to have another child. Modern families with women performing less than 54% of housework have an 81% chance of having a second child within five years.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center report successful treatment of six HIV-positive children using customized medication regimens created through genotype analysis and a web-based algorithm tool. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of a salvage therapy approach in managing drug-resistant HIV infection.
A recent study published in Pediatrics found that breastfeeding for at least 28 days is associated with a 20% lower risk of dying between 28 days and one year of age. Longer breastfeeding duration also showed a similar benefit, indicating that even moderate breastfeeding can have a positive impact on infant mortality rates.
A new study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has identified a strain of E. coli as the cause of diarrhea in young children. The research, which used genetic technology, found that nearly 10% of children treated for gastroenteritis tested positive for enteroaggregative E. coli.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have detected high levels of adiponectin in human milk, a protein that may help regulate body fat and reduce the risk of obesity. The study suggests that early exposure to this protein through breast milk could influence metabolic health later in life.
A study by Dr. Jonathan Strober found creatine supplementation to be safe in children with neuromuscular disorders, but failed to improve muscle mass or motor function. The treatment had varying effects on range of motion in patients with different conditions.
Researchers found that 83% of pediatric MS patients had evidence of a past Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, compared to 42% of healthy control group members. The study suggests that the genetic code of EBV may play an important role in the development of multiple sclerosis.
An imaging study found that teaching matters and good instruction can change the brain's functioning in children, improving reading ability. The study showed significant gains in reading skills among children who received intensive phonemic awareness and phonics-based instruction.
Researchers found that acute stress symptoms were common among injured children, but only a small percentage met criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study suggests that more research is needed to develop better predictors of PTSD in children.
A recent study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that children with sickle cell disease are now living up to 18 years longer than comparable statistics from 30 years ago. Modern treatments, including prophylactic penicillin and hydroxyurea, have significantly improved survival rates.
A new form of the MECP2 protein has been discovered to be associated with Rett syndrome, a devastating neurological disorder affecting approximately 3,000 girls in the US. This breakthrough finding promises to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of Rett syndrome and other developmental disabilities.
A national study found that health care access for poor children has improved, with a decrease in emergency room visits and hospitalizations. However, the gap in care for uninsured children remains, with those without coverage experiencing worsening access to care.
Research reveals that prenatal alcohol exposure can cause slower processing speeds and arousal-regulation problems as early as infancy. Infants of mothers who consumed large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy showed higher levels of behavioral arousal but responded more slowly to stimuli.
Researchers found evidence of human herpesvirus 6 in tissues of 25 out of 35 children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare condition affecting bones and multiple organ systems. The study suggests the virus interacts with an underlying predisposition to the disease, potentially leading to new treatments and diagnostic tests.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have established a pediatric pharmacology research center to study drug therapies in infants and children. The center aims to address the challenges of conducting pharmacological studies in pediatric patients, who process drugs differently than adults.
Scientists at Boston Children's Hospital discovered that Sir2 regulates a group of proteins known as FOXO transcription factors, which confer stress resistance by detoxifying free radicals. This interaction may help reverse age-related disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer.
Researchers at the University of Washington developed an instructional intervention that helps dyslexic children use the same brain areas as normal readers, leading to better reading ability. The study found improvements in both sound and visual form coding skills, as well as cross-language coding.
Researchers found a 21% higher risk of death from stroke among children under 20 in stroke belt states compared to non-stroke belt states. The study highlights the need to consider environmental and cultural factors in understanding childhood stroke.
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit difficulty controlling muscles due to brain damage, rendering everyday tasks challenging. An innovative therapy approach has yielded significant benefits in enhancing motor function and overall quality of life for treated children.
A study of 78 children aged three found low levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior significantly lower than recommended. Experts call for urgent public health interventions to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviors in early childhood.
A study of children in Peru found that inadequate water and sanitation led to significant growth stunting, with children having poor conditions being 1 cm shorter. The research highlights the importance of adequate sewage disposal and access to safe water for reducing childhood malnutrition and diarrhea.
A study of 327 infants found chorioamnionitis increases CP risk by 4 times, with maternal black ethnicity and older age also associated. Chorioamnionitis was present in 14% of cases and controls.
Children who experience bullying are at increased risk of developing depression and antisocial behavior. Research suggests that some children learn to cope with repeated victimization, while others do not. The study found that boys who experienced growing harassment were more likely to demonstrate antisocial and depressive behaviors.
Researchers found that young children growing up in musical households exhibit an enhanced brain response to music, similar to those two years older. One year of formal music training has no effect on this response.
Researchers found that children carrying the APOE2 gene variant were more likely to have worse cognitive and motor skills outcomes after heart surgery. The study, published in the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, also discovered no association between APOE4 and neurodevelopmental problems in infants.
Children with significant behavior problems are nearly three times as likely to be overweight and five times more likely to become overweight later. The study highlights the need for parents, teachers, and physicians to consider both physical health and mental/behavioral health linked in a child's growth and development.
A recent study reveals that African American and Hispanic children are disproportionately represented in clinical trials, with 26% of participants being African American. Despite lower representation among the overall U.S. population, these groups are overrepresented in potentially stigmatizing research studies.
Case Western Reserve University researchers will continue their study on children prenatally exposed to cocaine, now in their 14th year of funding, due to a new $4.9 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The ongoing research has found associations between prenatal cocaine exposure and cognitive skills development.
Researchers found that 12-month-old infants looked longer at the ball approaching a helpful square, indicating they differentiated between the movies. This suggests that infants have ideas about what type of action would be more likely for the ball given its previous interactions.
Researchers found that infants as young as four months old learn object concepts through visual observation, not manual exploration. The study used eye-tracking experiments to show that babies quickly grasp fundamental concepts by watching objects in motion.
A meta-analysis of nine community-based studies found that health workers can effectively manage pneumonia in the community, leading to a significant reduction in child mortality. The intervention resulted in a 24-36% decrease in total and pneumonia-specific child mortality rates, with a notable impact on neonates.
Researchers at UCSD School of Medicine and Children's Hospital found rapid brain growth in infants with autism, linked to early diagnosis and improved outcomes. The study identified a window of abnormal brain development, predicting the severity of autism, and suggests earlier interventions could improve treatment.
A study published in Pediatrics found that children with migraines experience significant impairment in school functioning and emotional well-being. The researchers surveyed 572 children and adolescents, revealing that quality of life is negatively affected across all areas of functioning compared to healthy peers.
Children who consumed more than 12 ounces of sweetened drinks gained significantly more weight than those who drank less, due to increased caloric intake. The study also found that sweetened drinks displaced milk consumption, leading to lower calcium and zinc intake.
A recent study by Arizona State University researchers contradicts the assumption that a child's best interest is served when the custodial parent moves. The study found that students whose parents had moved experienced higher negative impacts on general health, financial support, and emotional well-being.
Research breakthrough identifies 291 genes associated with asthma, opening up new avenues for treatment and diagnostic development. The study focused on the arginase pathway, which regulates critical processes involved in allergic reactions.
A recent study found that nearly 20% of North Carolina children experience un-diagnosed asthma symptoms, leading to missed school days and limited activities. The condition affects not only physical health but also sleep patterns, cognitive function, and learning ability.
A study published in Pediatrics found that hospitalized children experience high rates of adverse events, including birth trauma and post-operative infections. Children are vulnerable due to unique circumstances such as universal hospitalization for birth and inability to provide consent, leading to delayed treatment.
A new study by USC researchers found that exposure to cockroaches, weed killers, pesticides, and other environmental pollutants in the first year of life are linked to an increased risk of early asthma. Daycare attendance before 4 months also contributed to this risk.
A new study confirmed Dr. Samuel Orton's hypothesis that children 'turn off' the right hemisphere of their brain as they become accomplished readers. The research also found that different phonological skills relate to activity in different parts of the brain when children read.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded grants to support six new autism research centers. The centers, led by renowned experts in the field, will focus on understanding brain abnormalities, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, and treatment of individuals with autism. This major network of centers aims to reduce the bur...
Studies found that residential injuries accounted for nearly 15% of emergency department visits and 39% of unintentional injury visits between 1993 and 1999. Fatalities due to fires, submersions, or falls were common among young children, with African-American children facing disproportionately higher risks.
Researchers at Brenner Children's Hospital have developed a new gene therapy technology that uses highly efficient protein delivery to correct mitochondrial defects. This approach has the potential to prevent or treat genetic diseases like SIDS and TFP deficiency in infants, as well as heart and brain diseases later in life.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania have successfully delivered RNA payloads to immune cells called CD40-activated B cells, which stimulated the production of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This finding could form the basis for a cancer vaccine that stimulates the body's existing immune system.
A Wake Forest researcher has identified a syndrome that causes brain malformations, leading to death in premature infants. The malformations were found using ultrasound and MRI scans during autopsies of premature infants who died soon after birth.
A study by Cornell University scientists found that children suffer intellectual impairment at blood-lead concentrations as low as 10 mcg/dl, even below the current CDC acceptable limit of 25 mcg/dl. The amount of impairment was most pronounced at lower levels, with a decline in IQ scores of up to 7 points.
Research suggests that clitoral surgery can lead to non-sensuality and difficulty achieving orgasm in individuals with intersex conditions. The study highlights the need for informed consent and further research on this topic.
A study at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that IVF births are associated with a higher incidence of exstrophy-epispadias complex, a rare birth defect affecting the bladder, pelvic bones, and genitals. Researchers estimate the risk is up to 7.3 times more common in IVF children compared to the general population.
Research suggests that children who spend more time studying and reading are more likely to develop myopia. However, the study found no link between screen time and the development of myopia. The study of 366 eighth-grade children highlights the importance of hereditary factors in the development of myopia.
Researchers found that genistein exposure during pregnancy and lactation can lead to smaller testes and larger prostates in male offspring, as well as lower testosterone levels and decreased fertility. The study suggests potential long-term detrimental effects on male reproductive development, warranting further investigation.
A Rutgers researcher has made a groundbreaking discovery that the brains of dyslexic children can be rewired to improve reading skills through intensive training. Dyslexia, affecting 5-10% of Americans, is characterized by difficulties in processing language.
A yearlong study of 932 children found that emotional distress can lead to negative views of oneself and the world, ultimately decreasing perceptions of competence. Children tend to blame themselves for failures and uncertainty in meeting performance standards, further exacerbating this issue.
A new study by King's College, London, found that children living with their biological fathers who have low levels of antisocial behavior may experience more behavioral problems. In contrast, highly antisocial fathers can contribute to the development of conduct problems when they live with their children.
Researchers studied Romanian and Russian children adopted by families in the US, finding they had normal intelligence but struggled with attention and sensory-motor skills. The study suggests that early childhood experiences can alter brain development and have lasting effects on physical and behavioral problems.
A recent study found that neglect during infancy can have lasting effects on children's social and emotional development. Internationally adopted children who spent time in institutions exhibit difficulties with forming close bonds with parents and displaying wary behavior towards strangers.
At 2-6 months old, infants learn to connect visible bits and pieces of the world to form mental representations. By 4 months, they can accurately perceive occlusions in object trajectories, laying the foundation for lifelong visual perception.
A study by Ohio State University found that children living in owned homes outperform those in rental units, with higher math and reading achievement scores. The researchers attribute this difference to the better home environment, including safety, maintenance, and educational materials.
The Six3 gene plays a vital role in brain development by halting Wnt1 activity, preventing abnormal forebrain extension. In mutant mice and zebrafish, genetic material from the mouse Six3 gene restores normal forebrain development.