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The impact of an abortion ban on socio-economic outcomes of children

In his bestselling book Freakonomics, Steven Levitt argues convincingly that the legalization of abortion in the United States contributed to a subsequent decline in crime rates.

1 Jun 2006

Inappropriate TV exposure increases the risk of sleeping difficulties in children

TV-viewing, and particularly exposure to adult-targeted programs, such as current affairs programs, TV series and police series and movies, markedly increases the risk of sleeping difficulties in 5-6 year old children

1 Jun 2006

Better education needed on physical dangers of falling TV sets to children

Adults need to be better educated about television's potential harm - not content or programming, but the physical danger of falling sets, according to a recent UT Southwestern Medical Center study.

1 Jun 2006

Even small amounts of alcohol in pregnancy can affect a child's IQ

It is common knowledge that heavy drinking during pregnancy can affect the intelligence of children, but little is known about the effects of light-to-moderate drinking during pregnancy on a child's IQ.

29 May 2006

Just one puff enough to start a habit later on

New research in the UK suggests that it takes just one cigarette as a child to create the adult habit which so many find hard to kick.

25 May 2006

Genetic testing can improve newborn screening tests for hearing defects

Researchers have identified several changes that could be made to existing newborn screening tests for hearing defects that could advance the standard of care in detecting deaf infants, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.

17 May 2006

Too many teens abusing the family medicine cabinet to get high

According to new research teenagers in the U.S. are using the family medicine cabinets in their search for drugs to get high on.

16 May 2006

Renal cell carcinoma in the pediatric population

While the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rising, it remains a relatively uncommon malignancy in the pediatric population, where it represents only 2-6% of solid renal malignancies.

16 May 2006

Parents of junior athletes can adversely affect their child's development

"A significant number" of parents of junior athletes have a negative impact on their child's development, suggests research published ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

16 May 2006

WHO child growth standards spot on

New World Health Organisation (WHO) charts for child growth and development can be turned into a powerful tool to address weight issues for children, Australian Medical Association President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said recently.

11 May 2006

Boys more vulnerable and emotionally engaged in romantic relationships than previously thought

Teenage boys have feelings, too, and when it comes to matters of the heart, they may not be so fleeting after all. Not far beneath the bravado often on display is an unsure adolescent who finds it hard to express emotions that, while new, are nonetheless often sincerely felt.

10 May 2006

Inhaled corticosteroids can reduce breathing problems in children at high risk for asthma

Studies in older children and adults show that the most effective long-term control medicine for persistent asthma (symptoms more than two days a week or more than twice a month at night) is inhaled corticosteroids, which reduce airway swelling and help prevent asthma symptoms (e.g., asthma attacks).

10 May 2006

Don't kid yourself - puppyfat won't just go away

According to the latest research the notion that 'puppy fat' in children disappears as they progress to adolescence is a myth, and possibly puts the future health of children at risk.

10 May 2006

300,000 U.S. schoolchildren diagnosed with autism

According to researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, the first-ever national estimate of the prevalence of autism in the United States has found that the disorder affects up to one in every 175 school-age children.

9 May 2006