Children

Research in 4 continents links outdoor air pollution to differences in children’s brains

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Research in 4 continents links outdoor air pollution to differences in children’s brains

Outdoor air pollution from power plants, fires and cars continues to degrade human, animal and environmental health around the globe. New research shows that even pollution levels that are below government air-quality standards are associated with differences in children’s brains. A University of California, Davis, research team systematically analyzed 40 empirical studies, the majority of … Read more

Hospital clowns bring joy to young Ukrainian cancer patients who survived Russian missile attack

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Hospital clowns bring joy to young Ukrainian cancer patients who survived Russian missile attack

KYIV, Ukraine — Their costumes are put on with surgical precision: Floppy hats, foam noses, bright clothes, and a ukulele with multicolored nylon strings. Moments later, in a beige hospital ward normally filled with the beeping sounds of medical machinery, there are bursts of giggles and silly singing. As Ukraine’s medical facilities come under pressure … Read more

‘I love you but I hate you.’ What to do when you can’t stand your long-term partner

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‘I love you but I hate you.’ What to do when you can’t stand your long-term partner

It’s often said there is a thin line between love and hate, but is it OK to sometimes hate your long-term partner? If you ask actress Jamie Lee Curtis, it’s practically necessary. Asked about the secret to her 40-year marriage to actor Christopher Guest, she recently said the key includes patience, perseverance and “a really … Read more

The Gut Might Hold the Key to Treating Long Covid in Kids

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The Gut Might Hold the Key to Treating Long Covid in Kids

Yonker and her colleagues will administer larazotide to 32 patients between the ages of 7 and 21, who will take the drug for eight weeks; a further 16 patients will receive a placebo. To qualify for the trial, patients must have a detectable presence of the Covid-19 spike protein in their blood. The intention is … Read more

Fluoride in drinking water poses enough risk to merit new EPA action, judge says

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Fluoride in drinking water poses enough risk to merit new EPA action, judge says

NEW YORK — A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it’s not certain that the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing lower … Read more

Sepsis and malnutrition stalk the new mothers and babies of South Darfur

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Sepsis and malnutrition stalk the new mothers and babies of South Darfur

CAIRO — Mothers and children in the Sudanese region of South Darfur are experiencing one of the “worst” health emergencies in the world, humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders said Tuesday, one of the consequences of the violence that has engulfed the country since April 2023. Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, said in its … Read more

How colorful, personalized patches bring joy to young cancer patients

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How colorful, personalized patches bring joy to young cancer patients

MIAMI — When Oliver Burkhardt underwent leukemia treatment at age 9, he’d enter the hospital wearing his patch-covered denim jacket. Pokemon. Superman. NASA. Police, fire, military. Classic rock bands. About 50 patches sewn on by his parents, selected from thousands sent by well-wishers worldwide after his dad made a social media request. The jacket became … Read more

Food fussiness a largely genetic trait from toddlerhood to adolescence

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Research in 4 continents links outdoor air pollution to differences in children’s brains

Fussy eating is mainly influenced by genes and is a stable trait lasting from toddlerhood to early adolescence, finds a new study led by researchers from UCL (University College London), King’s College London and the University of Leeds. The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry and funded by the UK mental … Read more

Health warning to parents to check if your kids need more sleep

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Health warning to parents to check if your kids need more sleep

Parents are grappling with the challenge of re-establishing bedtime routines for their children after the summer holidays. With longer evenings and changing schedules, a staggering 84% of British parents have reportedly complained of difficulties in getting their little ones to sleep, while 76% find the nightly struggle particularly stressful. Experts say that this lack of … Read more

A gold mining town in Congo has become an mpox hot spot as a new strain spreads

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A gold mining town in Congo has become an mpox hot spot as a new strain spreads

KAMITUGA, Congo — Slumped on the ground over a mound of dirt, Divine Wisoba pulled weeds from her daughter’s grave. The 1-month-old died from mpox in eastern Congo in August, but Wisoba, 21, was too traumatized to attend the funeral. In her first visit to the cemetery, she wept into her shirt for the child … Read more