Month: May 2022

Prematurity affects about 10% of pregnancies worldwide each year. In about 20% of very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants, punctate white matter lesions (PWML) can be diagnosed at MRI at term equivalent age. PWML is accompanied by mild impairment in the development of white matter tracts, that can affect both long-term motor and cognitive

The global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has claimed more than 6.26 million lives. Households represent a high-risk exposure setting for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and the role of children in spreading the virus is not known. A new study published in the

A wireless, bioelectronic pacifier could eliminate the need for invasive, twice-daily blood draws to monitor babies’ electrolytes in Newborn Intensive Care Units or NICUs. This smart pacifier can also provide more continuous monitoring of sodium and potassium ion levels. These electrolytes help alert caregivers if babies are dehydrated, a danger for infants, especially those born

Hospitalized children covered by Medicaid who reside in the poorest neighborhoods are at increased risk of being admitted to the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and of dying while there, according to research published at the ATS 2022 international conference. The researchers also found higher mortality rates among Black children treated in PICUs. “We

In a study published in Addiction that analyzed 2015–2018 information from 47 countries, approximately 1 in 12, or 8.6%, of adolescents reported vaping in the past 30 days. Countries with higher tobacco taxes tended to have higher adolescent vaping. The prevalence of frequent vaping was much lower: only 1 in 60, or 1.7%, had vaped

Breastfeeding infants continuously for six months during the rainy season, without including any other foods, may help prevent a disease linked to micronutrient deficiencies, a study suggests. The disease, called environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), is common among children in low-income settings and is linked to poor sanitation, micronutrient deficiencies and low height in children, the

Half of the global cases of childhood cancers could occur in Africa by 2050, with 56.3 cases per million people currently having the disease in the region, says a new report. The findings of the report published last week (10 May) in The Lancet Oncology showed several factors including the absence of paediatric oncologists as

Different types of brain damage caused by a concussion may lead to similar symptoms in children, according to research led by McGill University. A new way of studying concussions could help develop future treatments. While most children fully recover after a concussion, some will have lasting symptoms. The findings published in eLife help explain the

Supply chain issues, recalls and inflation are making it nearly impossible for families to find infant formula on store shelves, with some states reporting more than 50% of products sold out. Kate Bauer, associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, discusses the impact of the shortage on families.

Thought LeadersAmy BrinCEOChild Neurology Foundation In this interview, we speak to Amy Brin, MSN, MA, PCNS-BC, CEO of the Child Neurology Foundation, about the current landscape of neurological diagnosis in children and the importance of helping patients and their families through the diagnosis and treatment process. Please could you introduce yourself and tell us about

During the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of children and adolescents from low-income families with overweight or obesity increased markedly, according to new research being presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Maastricht, Netherlands (4-7 May). The study is by Ihuoma Eneli, MD, MS, FAAP, Director of the

Cameron Wright, 16, has always seen himself as a “dude.” As a young child, Cameron didn’t have the words to explain the disconnect between how he saw himself and how the world saw him. But he knew that despite being born in a girl’s body, he was meant to be a boy. After taking reversible

Access to newer supermarkets that offer fresh foods in some of New York City’s poorest neighborhoods was linked to a 1 percent decline in obesity rates among public school students living nearby, a new study shows. The modernized markets were also tied to reductions of between 4 percent and 10 percent in the average student

The Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease held the 28th annual Alzheimer Day on May 5, returning to campus for the first time in three years. M. Marsel Mesulam, MD, chief of Behavioral Neurology, the Ruth Dunbar Davee Professor of Neuroscience and director of the Mesulam Center, welcomed attendees to the event, highlighted

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) have been collaborating on an extensive heart registry that includes student-athletes in the Big Ten athletic conference, to learn more about cardiac issues in those who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection. The goal is to get a detailed look at the infection’s impact on

Since 1989, Feinberg has offered arts and humanities seminars as an integral component of its MD curriculum, allowing students to approach the world of medicine and healthcare from different perspectives and with new skills. Today, every medical student at Feinberg takes two seminars during their medical school career — one in the winter quarter of

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have reduced long-term survival rates compared to their peers without cancer. The study also found inferior long-term mortality outcomes persist as far out as three

The past decade has seen a worrisome increase in mental health crises among adolescents. A new study led by Patricia Ibeziako, MD, associate chief of clinical services in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services at Boston Children’s Hospital, shows that the situation worsened with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings appear in Hospital

NYU Long Island School of Medicine today celebrates its first graduating class of physicians, marking three years since the medical school opened its doors, launching the nation’s first accelerated MD program devoted exclusively to training primary care physicians. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States is expected to be short of