Women who drink during pregnancy may be damaging the future fertility of their sons, research suggests.
In a study of almost 350 young men, sperm levels were a third lower in those whose mothers had drunk more than four drinks a week during pregnancy compared with teetotallers.
via BBC News
[A Study group is] calling for greater consensus among neonatologists about best practice for pre-term babies after uncovering a “lottery” in the way in which infants were treated.
Out of the 264 cases reviewed, there were delays in recognising the need for artificial feeding in a third of cases, and further delays in starting treatment once a decision has been taken.
In nearly 40% of cases, the first feeding provided was considered inadequate for the baby’s need. Complications, it found, were avoidable in a fifth of the babies treated.
via BBC News
Five years ago, the G8 leaders shook hands with superstars such as Bono and Bob Geldof as they pledged $50 billion in aid to developing countries. At the 2010 deadline, they came up $19.5 billion short. That’s the real scandal of the G8.
Maybe the security price-tag and the disruption to daily lives in Toronto would be worthwhile if the G8 and G20 actually delivered on commitments.
(Then again, maybe if the leaders followed through, the protests and security bill would be smaller.)
Unfortunately, it’s security that shows up on balance sheets -not broken promises. Lack of accountability means commitments are usually forgotten soon after the Summits close.
via Vancouver Sun
Novel approaches are increasingly employed to address the social determinants of health of children world-wide. Such approaches have included complex social programs involving multiple stakeholders from different sectors jointly working together (hereafter Child Health Partnerships).
…
There was evidence of success in several major areas from the formation of effective joint operations of partners in different partnership models to improvement in both child wellbeing and parenting. There is emerging evidence that Child Health Partnerships are cost-effective. Population characteristics and local contexts need to be taken into account in the introduction and implementation of these programs.
via Pubmed Central
In Tanzania, less than a third of HIV infected children estimated to be in need of antiretroviral therapy ART are receiving it. In this setting where other infections and malnutrition mimic signs and symptoms of AIDS, early diagnosis of HIV among HIV-exposed infants without specialized virologic testing can be a complex process. [The correspondents] aimed to introduce an Early Infant Diagnosis EID pilot program using HIV DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR testing with the intent of making EID nationally available based on lessons learned in the first 6 months of implementation.
via Biomed Central
Martin Bowerman has just got back to Australia after coming to our Celebration of DHA at the Royal Society of Medicine.
Here is is talking to ABC Queensland about the importance of seafood in the diet.
Breast-feeding seems to provide an immune system boost to infants, helping to prevent respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in babies, according to new research.
Babies who were breast-fed exclusively for four months, and then partially until they were six months old, had a reduced risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections compared to babies who had never been breast-fed, the Dutch team found.
via Health24
Studies have shown fathers who are active in their children’s upbringing can significantly benefit their children’s early development, academic achievement and well being. Now, a new study by University of South Florida researchers suggests that a father’s involvement before his child is born may play an important role in preventing death during the first year of life – particularly if the infant is black.
The two researchers found that the largest share of adverse reactions (42%) was reported for psychostimulants (such as Ritalin), followed by 31% for antidepressants (such as Prozac) and 24% for antipsychotics (such as Haldol) . A number of ADRs were reported for Danish children below 2 years, probably due to the mother’s intake of psychotropic medicine, primarily antidepressants and antipsychotics, during pregnancy. Serious ADRs such as ‘neonatal withdrawal syndrome’, ‘ventricular septal defects’ and ‘premature labour’ were reported. According to Aagaard, “Considering the higher number of birth defects being reported greater care has to be given while prescribing these drugs for pregnant women.”
via Medical News Today.
Pregnant women with thyroid function test results in the upper half of the normal range have an increased chance of miscarriage, even when they lack thyroid-harming antibodies, according to a new study. The results, which the authors say show the need to change screening practices for pregnant women, will be presented at The Endocrine Society’s 92nd Annual Meeting, ENDO 2010, in San Diego on June 22 by Alex Stagnaro-Green, M.D., senior author and senior associate dean for education at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
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