While calcium is widely-known for its role in building healthy bones, the mineral magnesium may also play a key role. Researchers have found that the quantity of magnesium absorbed by the body correlates with the mineral density of children’s bones. Parents are advised to make sure their children drink milk and eat other calcium-rich foods… [Continue Reading]
Cutting Calories Changes the Way the Brain Makes Food Choices
May 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Many individuals trying to lose weight take the approach of simply cutting calories, but new research shows that fasting, skipping meals, and strongly restricting calories changes the way we view food. These kinds of behaviors could therefore be counterproductive for the goal of shedding pounds, scientists say. The story is a familiar one: most people… [Continue Reading]
Management of Genetic Kidney Disease Can Be Improved by New Treatment Algorithm
April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A new protocol for managing patients with heritable kidney disease can improve treatment, researchers say. A new report describes the algorithms for care, and proposes that certain patients can benefit from dual liver-kidney transplants. A collaborative team of physician-scientists at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Research Institute has developed… [Continue Reading]
Signs of Autism Detectable in the Placenta At Birth
April 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
In a study of families at risk of having children with autism, researchers have discovered abnormalities in the placenta that strongly correlate with the disease. The finding could allow for early screening and intervention for affected kids. Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have figured out how to measure an infant’s risk of developing… [Continue Reading]
Health Initiatives Discussed to Reduce Obesity in Preschoolers
April 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The rise of childhood obesity continues to alarm professionals, as rates rise even in the youngest children. An upcoming conference on children’s health and development will have a special session on the topic, discussing key research questions and ways to try and reverse the trends. More than 12 percent of preschoolers are obese, which means… [Continue Reading]
Genetic Cause of Heart Defects Linked to Stillbirth
April 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The death of a fetus during pregnancy is extremely difficult for women, and occurs in about one million American pregnancies each year. A new study has found that a specific genetic problem that causes heart defects may explain some of these cases. In a molecular genetic evaluation involving 91 cases of intrauterine fetal death, mutations… [Continue Reading]
Marital Conflicts Affect the Physiology of Children
March 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Witnessing their parents arguing is a significant source of stress for kids, which has a biological effect on their bodies. New research has found that children who see marital conflict at home have significant differences in the systems that respond to stress. Marital conflict is a significant source of environmental stress for children, and witnessing… [Continue Reading]
Personalized Treatments Based on Gene Sequencing Could Improve Treatment of Brain Tumors in Children
March 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Mutations of a single protein can have drastically different effects on the body, depending on the exact change. Researchers are better understanding how this phenomenon impacts the development of brain tumors, and how chemotherapy could be tailored to the mutations found in a patient’s genome. Pediatric researchers, investigating the biology of brain tumors in children,… [Continue Reading]
Aggressive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia May Be Successfully Treated With T-cell Therapy
March 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
New treatments may be able to stop a deadly form of leukemia that affects children, researchers have reported. In two cases of the disease, doctors were able to halt the growth of cancer cells, also the time the kids were in remission varied significantly. Two children with an aggressive form of childhood leukemia had a… [Continue Reading]
Family Dinners Correlate With Mental Well-Being in Teens
March 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Each family dinner correlates with mental well-being in teenagers, a new study shows. Whether families were more or less well-off, for boys and girls of all ages, there were positive effects. Regular family suppers contribute to good mental health in adolescents, according to a study co-authored by McGill professor Frank Elgar, Institute for Health and… [Continue Reading]