Preventive Wellness During Childhood
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Alaska summers are unlike summers anywhere else. The days are long enough that children will beg to stay outside past 10 p.m., the rivers and trails fill with families making the most of a brief and beautiful season, and the pace of life shifts in ways that can loosen normal routines around sleep, eating, and supervision. All of that is part of what makes an Alaska summer memorable. It also creates a distinct set of child health considerations that parents are wise to think through before the season hits full stride.
Urgent care for children in Alaska sees a reliable seasonal pattern every summer: more injuries, more sun-related illness, more waterborne exposure, and more cases where a small problem became a bigger one because a family did not know where to turn.
The good news is that most summer health issues affecting children are preventable, recognizable, and treatable when addressed promptly. Knowing what to watch for and where to go if something goes wrong is the best preparation any Alaska parent can do before the summer gets underway.
Dr. Rambo[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Anna J. Rambo, MD
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville
Please note: Cannabis laws and regulations vary by state and locality. Cannabis use may have significant health risks, particularly for adolescents, pregnant individuals, and those with a history of mental health conditions. Cannabis has not been approved by the FDA for most uses and may interact with medications. Do not use cannabis as a substitute for medical treatment. The information in this post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about cannabis use. Do not use cannabis products if pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Children should never be exposed to cannabis products.
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_73658" align="alignleft" width="130"]
Prof. Shu-Hong Zhu[/caption]
Shu-Hong Zhu, Ph.D.
Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health and
Director of the Center for Research and Intervention in Tobacco Control (CRITC)
University of California, San Diego
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Cannabis use in the U.S. has steadily increased over recent decades. As use rates increased, perceptions that cannabis use is harmful have trended in the opposite direction.
Declining harm perceptions in the broader population are concerning in part because of their influence on adolescents. Regular cannabis use during adolescents can negatively impact overall functioning, cognition, and educational achievement. It can lead to depression, psychosis, and suicidality. If young people don’t perceive cannabis as harmful, they are more likely to use it and suffer these effects.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which adolescents view the everyday and occasional use of cannabis as harmful, and to compare their perceptions of cannabis to their perceptions of alcohol, cigarettes, and nicotine vapes. It used data from over 160,000 students who took the 2019−2020 California Student Tobacco Survey and over 16,000 who took the 2024 California Youth Tobacco Survey.
Our findings suggest that cannabis prevention efforts should prioritize youth and adolescents, education campaigns should emphasize age-related risks, and policy...
Dr. McKenzie[/caption]
Lara McKenzie, PhD
Principal investigator, Center for Injury Research and Policy
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Columbus, OH
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Kids are curious and explore their environments by tasting, touching, and mimicking adults. Kids don’t read labels, nor do they understand hazardous or dangerous ingredients. Packaging is usually colorful and attractive to kids and they are able to operate dispensing systems that are not child-resistant easily. Plus, household cleaning products are ubiquitous in the home. Prior safety efforts rely on adults to lock or store products safely each and every use and we know that is not routinely or consistently done. The consistently high number of household cleaning product-related injuries sustained by the youngest children and new products that have entered the marketplace in the past decade highlights the need for stronger product packaging standards, with emphasis on ensuring that spray bottles and other commonly accessible containers meet child-resistant packaging requirements.
Photo by RDNE Stock project[/caption]
When parents think about speech therapy, they often imagine structured drills or repetitive exercises. While those approaches can have their place, research and experience show that play-based speech therapy is one of the most effective and engaging ways for children to build communication skills. For families seeking speech therapy in Brownsburg, this child-centered approach helps kids learn naturally—while having fun.
What Is Play-Based Speech Therapy?
Play-based speech therapy uses games, toys, movement, and everyday activities to support speech and language development. Instead of sitting at a table completing worksheets, children learn through interaction, imagination, and meaningful communication.
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) carefully designs play activities to target specific goals such as:
Dr. Gileles-Hillel[/caption]
Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel MD
Founder and director of Gileles Lab
Hadassah Medical Center
Along with Dr. Joel Reiter MD from the Faculty of Medicine
Hebrew University and Senior Pediatric Pulmonologists at the Hadassah Medical Center
with Dr. David Gozal MD, MBA, PhD from Marshall University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) experience increased morbidity, including cognitive difficulties, daytime dysfunction, and poorer academic performance, as well as a higher risk of future cardiometabolic disease such as hypertension and obesity. In addition, pediatric OSA has been shown to impair immune responses and alter immunologic function, although the clinical consequences of these changes remain incompletely understood.
Dr. Schaffner[/caption]
William Schaffner, MD
Professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy
Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN 37203
Dr. Schaffner discusses the recent increase in the incidence of measles infections.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The fundamental reason leading to the increase in measles cases in the US is that some parents are withholding their children from routine measles vaccination: Failure to vaccinate. As a result, there are neighborhoods, schools, and communities that now have vaccination rates substantially below the 92% to 95% needed to prevent outbreaks of infection. Measles is the most contagious virus we know, so it takes very high vaccination rates to prevent transmission and to avert outbreaks.
Vaccine hesitancy has many causes: Lack of knowledge of the severity of measles, concern over vaccine side-effects, low trust in public health, a desire to do things more “naturally” and it can also have political overtones, among others.
The measles vaccine is extraordinarily effective; the routine two-dose series confers 97% to 98% protection for life. The rare “breakthrough” infections that occur in vaccinated persons are generally milder, with fewer complications than in persons who are unvaccinated.
The US was certified as having eliminated measles in 2000 because of high vaccination rates across the country. Sadly, the US is likely to lose that designation because of sustained measles transmission, reverting us back to the bad old days. It is particularly sad for any of our children to have to endure measles and its consequences. All these cases could have been prevented by vaccination.
MedicalResearch.com: What roles do a decrease in US immunization rates and/or increased immigration from under-vaccinated area play in this increase?
Response: The substantial majority of unimmunized children in the US were born and raised in this country. They usually are members of middle- or upper-income families. The most frequent importers of measles into the US are our own unimmunized children who travel abroad, encounter measles virus and bring it back to their homes where the virus then spreads among the child’s schoolmates and playmates, creating an outbreak.[caption id="attachment_72073" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo by Kampus Production[/caption] Waiting for a clear sign often means waiting too long. A child's vision...
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Applied Behavior Analysis, commonly known as ABA therapy, is a widely recognized and evidence-based treatment designed to support individuals, especially children, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental challenges. ABA therapy focuses on understanding behavior, identifying its causes, and using structured techniques to teach positive skills while reducing behaviors that may interfere with learning or daily life.
So, what exactly is ABA therapy and how does it work? At its core, ABA therapy uses principles of behavioral science to shape and reinforce desired behaviors. Therapists begin by conducting a detailed assessment of the individual, identifying strengths, challenges, and specific behaviors that need attention. Based on this assessment, a customized plan is created that breaks down complex skills into smaller, achievable steps.
Samson Nivins PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, specializing in Perinatal and Pediatric Neurology
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Dr. Klingberg[/caption]
Torkel Klingberg, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Stockholm Brain Institute
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sweden
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: In the modern era, children’s use of digital media such as watching videos, playing video games, and using social media has increased substantially, often coinciding with a decline in outdoor activities. As many school-aged children now own personal devices, particularly smartphones, it has become easier for them to spend more time on screens than intended. For example, a German survey cited in an EU briefing reported that in 2020, 27% of 8-9-year-olds and 54% of 10-11-year-olds owned a smartphone. In the U.S., ~30% of children own a smartphone by age eight, with many receiving their first device between ages 10 and 11.
With growing concerns about screen time, numerous studies have examined its potential consequences and have reported associations between higher screen use and increased ADHD symptoms. However, most of this research has been cross-sectional and has tended to combine different types of digital media such as television, video games, and social media into a single composite measure. This approach may obscure important differences, as various forms of digital media may have distinct effects on ADHD symptoms. To date, relatively few studies have examined the impact of specific types of digital media use on ADHD in a longitudinal framework, and even fewer have accounted for the heritable nature of ADHD.
To address these gaps, this U.S. longitudinal study followed children from ages 9-10 to 13-14 years. The study collected repeated measures of daily time spent on specific digital activities, including television and videos, video games, and social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. ADHD symptoms specifically inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were assessed using parent reports, and analyses adjusted for genetic factors and socioeconomic status.
Dr. Dakwar-Kawar, PhD[/caption]
Dr. Ornella Dakwar-Kawar
Hebrew University with
Prof. Mor Nahum and Prof. Itai Berger
Hebrew University
in collaboration with Prof. Jyoti Mishra from the University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Prof. Roi Cohen Kadosh from the University of Surre,
Dr. Pragathi Priyadharsini and
Ashwin Amal from ITT Karpur, India and InnoSphere Ltd
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Children with ADHD often exhibit aberrant neural activity, specifically imbalances in excitation and inhibition levels alongside dysfunction in brain networks like the frontoparietal network. While our previous research showed that Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation or tRNS improves clinical symptoms, the specific neural modulation effects during cognitive tasks remained unclear. This study investigated these mechanisms by analyzing the aperiodic exponent, a marker of excitation inhibition balance, during an inhibitory control task to compare children with ADHD to healthy controls and assess changes following tRNS combined with cognitive training.
Dr. Zorrilla[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Julian Zorrilla, DO
Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist
Nemours Children’s Health
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Non-factor therapies are a novel treatment approach for people with hemophilia A and B with and without inhibitors.
Fitusiran is a first-of-its-kind “rebalancing” agent that provides effective hemostatic control from bleeds in people with hemophilia. This study describes the experience of people with hemophilia who are on fitusiran in regard to minor surgeries. This data shows minor surgeries can be effectively and safely performed for those patients who are on fitusiran for their prophylaxis. A subset of individuals on fitusiran did not require any other medications to help prevent surgical bleeding.
Freepix image[/caption]
Rhinoplasty, otherwise known as nose reshaping surgery, has always been one of the most intricate cosmetic procedures you can have.
One of the reasons for that is the fact that your nose sits at the center of the face, and heavily influences both your appearance and balance. For that reason, even subtle adjustments can make a dramatic difference.
When so much is at stake you will want to turn to someone like experienced nose job surgeon Dr Cengizhan, so that you can help enure that you will get the result you are looking for.
When you think about it, for years, patients had to rely on before-and-after photos or rough sketches to imagine potential results. But now, technology has changed all that, thanks to 3D imaging.
This powerful tool has proved transformational when it comes to rhinoplasty planning and consultation. Let’s look at the role 3D imaging plays.
Photo by RDNE Stock project [/caption]
Baby monitors have undergone significant development in the marketplace, and the question parents usually ask: Do baby monitors record? Due to their recording functions, baby monitors have been gaining acceptance in the market as they help ensure parents pay close attention to their babies.
In this article, you will explore the various types of recordings and the functions of baby monitors. It will also provide you with knowledge about the differences between local storage and cloud storage, as well as the treatment of privacy and security issues. Additionally, the matter can be considered in terms of legal and ethical recording practices.
Chris Church[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Chris Church MPT
Director, Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory
Nemours duPont Hospital for Children
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly describe the condition of clubfoot and arthrogryposis?
Response: Clubfoot is a congenital foot deformity in which the child is born with their foot (or feet) are stiff and in position with the foot pointing down (equinus) and in (inverted). Idiopathic clubfoot is a condition in which these children only have issues with their feet. Arthrogryposis is a condition in which children have contractures in multiple parts of their body. Children with Arthrogryposis often have clubfeet that are tighter and more difficult to treat than the more common idiopathic type.
Idiopathic clubfoot is effectively corrected with a conservative treatment known as the Ponseti method. Recent studies have shown successful short-term correction using Ponseti treatment in the stiffer clubfoot associated with arthrogryposis, but there are few studies analyzing long-term results. This study compares outcomes of the Ponseti method in 10-year-old children with idiopathic clubfoot and clubfoot associated with arthrogryposis.
MedicalResearch.com: Would you describe the Ponseti method? Does it require specialized or complicated training to implement treatment?
Response: Clubfoot was treated with surgery in the past. Now we use a more conservative treatment that is provided by pediatric orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists. The Ponseti method involved serial casting in infancy, Achillies tenotomies, and prolonged use of bracing during sleep until age 5 years.
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Clubfoot
Dr. Baccarelli[/caption]
Statement from Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD
Dean of the Faculty
Professor of Environmental Health
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Colleagues and I recently conducted a rigorous review, funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), of the potential risks of acetaminophen use during pregnancy. We reviewed 46 previously published human studies worldwide.
We found evidence of an association between exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy and increased incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. This association is strongest when acetaminophen is taken for four weeks or longer.
Dr. Casale[/caption]
Thomas B. Casale, M.D.
Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
Chief of Clinical and Translational Research
Division of Allergy and Immunology
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The data leading to FDA approval of neffy came from extensive pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies. As with previous epinephrine delivery devices, the FDA asked for data showing that after delivery of neffy the epinephrine blood levels and expected changes in pulse and blood pressure were similar to those achieved with injectable formulations of epinephrine. neffy performed as expected with blood levels of epinephrine bracketed by those achieved with EpiPen and a needle and syringe along with increases in pulse and blood pressure compatible with the epinephrine levels measured.
Additionally, clinicians are interested in whether neffy would perform similarly in real clinical situations. The data from the neffy experience program provides real-world assurance that neffy can effectively treat acute allergic reactions. Given the large number of patients and the similar findings to those achieved with injectable epinephrine in previous studies, the data should provide assurance that neffy can be an effective substitute for injectable epinephrine in patients that desire a needle-free option.
Dr. Thao Ly Phan[/caption]
Thao-Ly Phan, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Nemours Children's Health
Professor of Pediatrics
Thomas Jefferson University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been extensively studied in adults, but there has been limited exploration of its effects on children and adolescents. While several studies have described weight gain trends in children during the pandemic, less is known about how having a diagnosis of COVID-19 contributed to these trends. Our study drew on the NIH’s National Clinical Cohort Collaborative database, a real-world database of electronic health data from over 90 institutions across the country. We used this dataset’s unique features to compare a diverse group of more than 11,000 children diagnosed with COVID-19 to a matched cohort of children without a diagnosis of COVID-19.
Dr. Gwarzo[/caption]
Ibrahim Gwarzo, DrPH, MPH, MBBS
Research Scientist at Nemours Children’s Health
Delaware Valley, Delaware USA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain the condition of sickle cell disease and why young people frequently present to the ER with severe pain?
Response: Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. It is passed down as an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning a person must inherit the defective gene from both parents to have the disease. The condition primarily impacts hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells, which leads to changes in the shape and stability of these cells. The complications associated with the disease, including recurrent and severe pain episodes, are a direct result of these changes. These pain episodes are debilitating and unpredictable, resulting in frequent emergency department visits where they are typically treated with pain medications, including opioids. It is estimated that around 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease, with about 40,000 being children. The disease has a significant prevalence in the Afro-Latino population.
Dr. Dunbar[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Michael S. Dunbar, PhD
Senior Behavioral Scientist
RAND
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Cannabis products are way stronger, or more potent, today than they were 20 years ago. In the past few decades, average levels of THC (i.e., the main substance in cannabis that leads to feeling high) in cannabis products have risen dramatically.
With cannabis becoming increasingly accessible in places like the U.S., health officials have raised questions about how higher-potency products might be associated with problematic cannabis use and related harms, including cannabis use disorder. This is especially important for at-risk groups like young adults, who tend to use cannabis at higher rates than other age groups.
One perspective is that people may use high-potency products less frequently and/or in lower amounts (i.e., “titrate”), which could mitigate some potential risks. Alternatively, if people use higher-potency products more frequently or heavily, it may increase potential for harm. In this study, we looked at how use of higher-potency cannabis flower correlated with use behavior and symptoms of problematic cannabis use in a sample of young adults.
In recent years, growing concern has emerged among parents, scientists, and legal professionals over a troubling link: the potential connection between baby food and autism. While research is still ongoing, reports suggest that some mainstream baby food products may contain harmful levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium—substances that can seriously impact early brain development.
Cases of congenital syphilis are ten times higher now than they were a decade ago, making it incredibly important that...
Dr. Davis[/caption]
Esa M. Davis, M.D., M.P.H.
Vice chair, USPSTF
Professor of Family and Community Medicine
Senior Associate Dean of Population and Community Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Breastfeeding can improve the health of babies, including reducing their risk of infections and chronic diseases, and can have health benefits for nursing mothers too. To help those who choose to, and are able to, breastfeed, the Task Force continues to recommend that healthcare professionals provide interventions or referrals during pregnancy and after birth that support breastfeeding. These interventions can include education and direct guidance on how to breastfeed.
Photo by Helena Lopes[/caption]
Adolescents face increasing pressure in today’s fast-paced world, and for many, those pressures can evolve into serious emotional or behavioral health issues. When that happens, adolescent mental health treatment programs provide a structured path toward healing. These programs are designed specifically for teens, offering age-appropriate care that supports recovery without disrupting key areas of life like school and family.
Adolescent mental health treatment programs are available in various formats and levels of intensity, helping families find solutions that fit each teen’s needs. With therapeutic structure and individualized care, these programs guide young people through some of the most critical challenges of their development.
Dr. Topalian[/caption]
Alique Topalian, PhD, MPH
Research Scientist
Family & Community Medicine | College of Medicine
University of Cincinatti
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors are diagnosed between the ages of 18-39. We have seen increases in cancer diagnoses in this younger population of about 1-2% per year with an estimated total increase of 30% between 2019-2030. Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors experience early development of chronic medical conditions compared to healthy peers. Due to their young age at diagnosis and living decades beyond treatment, they are also at higher risk for second primary malignancies (SPM) and late effects than older adult-onset cancer survivors. Primary care providers are responsible for most long-term care of survivors and many are unfamiliar with the effects of cancer treatment in younger populations.
Allison Gertel-Rosenberg[/caption]
Allison Gertel-Rosenberg, M.S., VP
Chief Policy and Prevention Officer
Nemours Children's Health
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: This national online survey was conducted by Nemours Children’s Health to better understand the challenges educators face in supporting early literacy development among young learners. Nemours Children’s gathered insights from more than 300 certified K-3 teachers in the U.S.
The findings reveal an urgent need for stronger support for early literacy. The survey shows that K-3 teachers are acutely aware of the challenges related to child literacy and believe they need more effective resources and support to help struggling students meet grade-level literacy skills.
