Children who experience chronic lack of sleep from infancy may be at increased risk of developing psychosis in early adulthood, new research shows. Researchers at the University of Birmingham examined information on nighttime sleep duration from a large cohort study of children aged between 6 months and 7 years old. They found that children who persistently slept fewer hours, throughout this time period, were more than twice as likely to develop a psychotic disorder in early adulthood, and nearly four times as likely to have a psychotic episode. While previous research has highlighted links b ..read more

China: A recent study published in BMC Pediatrics has unveiled crucial insights into the relationship between changes in peak expiratory flow (PEF) and asthma exacerbations in pediatric patients. Conducted with a focus on asthmatic children, the research underscores the significance of PEF monitoring as a valuable tool in predicting and preventing asthma exacerbations. Researchers uncovered a crucial early warning sign for pediatric asthma exacerbations: children with asthma exhibited a decline in PEF approximately 1.34 days before the onset of symptoms. Upper respiratory tract infections em ..read more

Greater adiposity measures during childhood linked to increased risk of PCOS suggests a study published in the Pediatrics. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is common among females, with significant metabolic and reproductive comorbidities. We describe PCOS development in a pediatric population. They assessed cardiometabolic biomarkers and adiposity at the mid-childhood (mean 7.9 y), early teen (mean 13.1 y), and midteen (mean 17.8 y) visits among 417 females in the prospective Project Viva cohort. We defined PCOS via self-reported diagnosis or ovulatory dysfunction with hyperandrogenism in m ..read more

New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) suggested that the source of sugar is more important than the amount of sugar when it comes to the development of obesity in children. High consumption of sugary foods is recognised as a risk factor for childhood overweight and obesity, prompting recommendations for reduced intake of sugar-rich foods like cakes, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Instead, children are encouraged to consume more fruit and unsweetened dairy products such as milk and yoghurt. However, despite being perceived as healthy choices, these foods conta ..read more

Recently published research paper investigates the efficacy of using intracuff lignocaine in preventing postextubation cough in pediatric patients undergoing elective surgeries. The study, conducted in India, involved 120 pediatric patients randomized into two groups: one with intracuff air and the other with intracuff 2% lignocaine. The incidence of postextubation cough was significantly lower in the group with intracuff lignocaine compared to the group with intracuff air. The study also found a significant increase in heart rate in patients with intracuff air compared to those with intracuf ..read more

According to research presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology, the higher the blood sugar level in pregnant women when first diagnosed with diabetes, the higher the risk of complications around and after birth. Gestational diabetes — a condition in which women have elevated blood sugar, or glucose, levels during pregnancy — affects around 20 million pregnancies worldwide and poses increased health risks for both mothers and their babies. For example, mothers are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and to give birth to especially large babies who face a high risk of birth ..read more

New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) suggests that the source of sugar is more important than the amount of sugar when it comes to the development of obesity in children. The study found that the total amount of sugar consumed when very young was not associated with weight at age 10 or 11. However, children who got a higher proportion of their sugar from unsweetened liquid dairy products (milk and buttermilk) were less likely to go on to live with overweight or obesity. Similarly, getting more sugar from fruit was associated with ..read more

A recent study conducted at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University in Shenyang found that breast milk enemas may significantly improve the health outcomes of preterm infants by speeding up meconium evacuation and the initiation of full enteral feeding. The key findings of the study were published in the Journal of American Medical Association. This study was conducted from September 1, 2019 to September 30, 2022 and included a total of 286 premature infants born between 23 and 30 weeks of gestation. The randomized, open-label clinical trial compared the effects of administering br ..read more

France: In recent years, the use of medically assisted reproduction (MAR) techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), has become increasingly common among couples facing fertility challenges. However, there have been concerns about the potential long-term health effects on children conceived through these methods, particularly regarding the risk of cancer. A new cohort study published in JAMA Network Open provides reassuring findings on this front, suggesting that offspring of MAR procedures are not at a significantly higher risk of developing cancer ..read more

According to research presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology, individuals exposed to moderate and repeated stress during adolescence may have reduced fertility in adulthood. The study sheds light on the harmful effects that early-life stress has on health and could help to uncover future prevention strategies for children and adolescents. During adolescence, stress triggers the release of hormones like cortisol, which can disrupt reproductive processes. Prolonged exposure to stress hormones can impair the development and function of reproductive organs, affecting fertility ..read more