Gene Discovered for Most Common Form of Epilepsy
Researchers have linked a genetic variation to a common form of epilepsy in children, potentially paving the way toward greater insight into the disorder. “It’s the first step toward developing a diagnostic test, which can help provide a more precise diagnosis and information about which particular drug or treatment may be effective,” said study senior author Dr. Deb Pal, a pediatric... Read more
Weight affects white, Hispanic kids’ mental health
A new study adds to evidence that overweight teenagers are more prone to depression and anxiety, but suggests the effects vary by race and ethnicity. Researchers found that among more than 35,000 U.S. teenagers in a national health survey, white and Hispanic teens who were overweight were more likely to have symptoms of depression or anxiety than their thinner counterparts. However, this was not true... Read more
Intensive Insulin Therapy Reduces Mortality in Sick Kids
Intensive insulin therapy may reduce the risk of death, infection and the length of intensive care stays for seriously ill children, a European study suggests. Abnormally high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) often occurs in critically ill infants and children, and increases their risk of secondary infections and death. This study included 700 critically ill patients — 317 infants under 1 and 383... Read more
Ovary Removal May Not Be Needed in Endometrial Cancer
Younger women with early-stage endometrial cancer need not lose their ovaries when undergoing treatment for the cancer, a new study contends. The largest study to date has found no difference in five-year survival rates among women who kept their ovaries and those who did not. Removal of the ovaries, called an oophorectomy, has long been a standard part of therapy for endometrial cancer. However, “it... Read more
Hallucinations Are Rare Side Effects of ADHD Medications
Children who take medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may rarely experience some disturbing side effects, such as hallucinations. U.S. government experts reviewed clinical trials and post-marketing reports of side effects from the commonly prescribed ADHD stimulant medications, such as Concerta, Ritalin and Strattera. They found that out of every 100 “person-years”... Read more
Obesity Caught Like Common Cold
Yet another claim that a common and contagious virus is linked to some cases of obesity is in the news today. Studies on humans show that 33 per cent of obese adults had contracted an adenovirus called AD-36 at some point in their lives, according to an article in the UK’s Daily Express, whereas only 11 per cent of lean men and women have had the virus. The research, to be presented in a BBC... Read more
Sports safe for most kids with disabilities
A new study suggests that most disabled teenagers who take part in school sports programs have a low rate of injury, though some may be at relatively higher risk. Many special education programs in the U.S. offer competitive and non- competitive sports for students with mental and physical impairments. Whether these children are at particular risk for sprains, concussions and other injuries has not... Read more
Recess Makes for Better Students
As a pediatric resident in a hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dr. Romina M. Barros sat in on a regular first-grade class at a local elementary school. Classes started at 8:30 in the morning, lasting till noon, with one 10-minute break during which children were not allowed to talk or move from their chairs. “It was winter, and I thought maybe they didn’t go outside because of the weather,”... Read more
Why Cancer in One Breast May Affect the Other
Researchers say they have found a way to better calculate the risk a woman with cancer in one breast has of developing tumors in the other breast. The chances of developing cancer in a second breast, known as contralateral breast cancer, increases once a tumor has been found in one breast. And certain factors, such as a family history of breast cancer, further increase this risk, prompting some women... Read more
Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Protect Against Disabilities
Healthy people 50 and older who drink alcohol moderately are less likely to suffer physical disabilities that cause so many seniors to lose their independence, a new study says. The study authors said their research showed that healthy older adults who were light-to-moderate drinkers had 25 percent lower odds of being unable to carry out daily activities such as walking, dressing, eating, running errands... Read more