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Nematode hormone discovery may aid fight against parasitic disease

New research at UT Southwestern Medical Center shows that on a biochemical level, hormone-like molecules in tiny worms called nematodes work similarly to the way in which certain hormones work in humans - findings that one day may help eradicate worm infections that afflict a third of the world's population.

9 Mar 2006

Maternal depressive symptoms at 2 to 4 months post partum and early parenting practices

When mothers experience symptoms of depression after the birth of their children they are less likely to breastfeed, play with, read to or perform other interactive parenting tasks with their newborns

9 Mar 2006

Effects of prenatal exposure to pesticides

Children in Ecuador whose mothers were exposed to pesticides while pregnant had increased blood pressure and diminished ability to copy geometric figures as compared to a control group, according to an epidemiological study in the March issue of Pediatrics.

9 Mar 2006

Child's fatness at age five is not related to being breastfed

Does breastfeeding or the age at which other foods are introduced to infants affect the risk of obesity in early childhood? Research on this question has produced mixed results

9 Mar 2006

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be strongly considered in the management of infants infected with HIV

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for infants born with HIV infection may be most effective when given in their first five months of life, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

9 Mar 2006

Antibiotic not sufficient for treating trachoma in populations with high disease prevalence

Treating trachoma, an eye infection that can lead to blindness, with a single mass antibiotic distribution in Ethiopian communities with high prevalence of infection is not effective in eliminating the disease

9 Mar 2006

Depression and anxiety during childhood linked to higher BMI into adulthood for women but not men

The increasing prevalence of obesity among children and adults is becoming a public health crisis, according to background information in the article.

9 Mar 2006

Test for LDH enzyme may help determine risk factors in sickle cell disease

Researchers have found that a simple test for an enzyme called LDH may have significant importance for determining major risk factors in adults with sickle cell disease.

9 Mar 2006

Pregnancy diet has lifelong effects for baby

University of Nottingham researchers are targeting Europe's biggest killer diseases - by focusing on the diet of unborn babies.

8 Mar 2006

Scientists fight leukaemia with 'natural killer' cells

Scientists at the University of the West of England and the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the Bristol Children's Hospital have just won funding for a two-year project aimed at improving the outcome of bone marrow stem-cell transplants in young leukaemia patients.

8 Mar 2006

Primary vesicoureteral reflux detected in neonates with a history of fetal renal pelvis dilatation

Fetal renal pelvis dilatation is a common abnormality, observed in 4.5% of pregnancies but surrounded by controversy regarding its significance. Working up renal pelvis dilation has become a standard of care regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) being one of the primary concerns.

8 Mar 2006

Bottle-fed babies more likely to be obese children

The objective of the research, which was based on the detailed feeding history of almost 900 mothers and babies in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, was to find out whether different feeding patterns and energy intakes provided to infants, affected body weight and BMI later in childhood.

8 Mar 2006

Dogs bite babes and toddlers more often

According to a new study, dog bites in children occur frequently and the breed of dog, behaviour of dog owners, children, and parents are all influencing factors.

8 Mar 2006

Pre-eclampsia kidney disease link

Pre-eclampsia is a complication in pregnancy occurring in approximately eight percent of all pregnancies. It is characterised by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine. It generally develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

7 Mar 2006

Hostile women more likely to have atherosclerosis

Hardening of the coronary arteries is more likely in wives when they and their husbands express hostility during marital disagreements, and more common in husbands when either they or their wives act in a controlling manner.

7 Mar 2006

Essential information - how to deal with a serious allergic reaction

Hundreds of Americans die each year from anaphylaxis which is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death.

7 Mar 2006

Cutting out the sodas equals weight loss for teens

Researchers from the Children's Hospital Boston say that the surge in children's consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks such as sodas, sports drinks, "juice drinks," iced teas, lemonades and punches matches the rise in childhood obesity.

7 Mar 2006

TV and attention deficit disorders - is there a connection?

According to new research which in many respects runs contrary to currently held beliefs it does not appear that children who watch a lot of television necessarily have behavior problems in school.

7 Mar 2006

A regulatory role for the C5a anaphylatoxin in type 2 immunity in asthma

Asthma rates are rapidly increasing, particularly in children. Although asthma is mediated in part by activation of special immune cells called Th2 cells, the precise causes are unclear.

7 Mar 2006

As children transform into adults some of the genes involved in controlling their blood pressure change as well

The study of black and white identical and fraternal twins showed that changes in gene expression between ages 14 and 18 accounted for up to one third of the blood pressure variation that occurred by age 18, says Dr. Harold Snieder, genetic epidemiologist at the Medical College of Georgia.

7 Mar 2006