A new study shows many midwives receive little or no training on how to communicate to expectant parents the importance of maternal and childhood vaccines despite being the most trusted source of information on vaccines in the Australian public antenatal system. The research led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute found that while midwives support […]
New lead testing recommendations inconclusive, but do not mean screening
An NYU pediatrician and researcher writes in JAMA Pediatrics that new recommendations on testing children for lead are inconclusive, but do not mean that we should abandon screening children for elevated lead levels. The editorial—written by Michael Weitzman, MD, professor of pediatrics and environmental medicine at NYU School of Medicine and NYU College of Global […]
Eliminating routine but low-value preoperative tests for cataract surgery patients associated with cost savings
UCLA researchers found that eliminating routine but unnecessary procedures before people undergo cataract surgery has the potential to save costs and resources for hospitals serving lower-income patients. Forgoing routine chest x-rays, electrocardiograms and other preoperative procedures—which studies have found to have no clinical benefit prior to cataract surgery—was associated with a savings of $67,241 over […]
Leap to middle school is hard, but can be a fresh start for socially anxious children
For young people, the transition from elementary to middle school can be a time of stress, disruption and discomfort. For children who already have trouble interacting with their peers, the transition can be particularly fraught. In a study published online earlier this year in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Florida State University developmental psychologist […]
Getting teens to follow strict diets in the Fast Track trial is risky, but so is obesity itself
The Fast Track to Health study is a year-long dietary trial in adolescents with obesity. Since it started in Sydney and Melbourne at the end of 2018, it has been criticised for increasing the risk of eating disorders in people who may be especially vulnerable to these conditions. Sydney-based clinical psychologist Louise Adams started up […]
Meat consumption is changing but it’s not because of vegans
Meat consumption in North America is changing. Product developers and policy-makers need to understand the reasons for that change. It’s tempting to attribute the decrease in meat consumption to a rise in vegetarianism and veganism, but not all vegans are the same, and overall they play a relatively small role in consumption changes. How is […]
New mothers reduce their alcohol intake, but this change is short-lived
Most women dramatically reduce their alcohol intake on learning they are pregnant, but by the time their child is five they are back to their pre-pregnancy drinking levels, a new international study has found. The research, led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, reported little change in the drinking patterns of men on becoming fathers. […]
American women have better control of high blood pressure but are more obese than men
Credit: CC0 Public Domain “The good news is that, since the Millennium, there have been reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol levels and in rates of smoking across adults in the United States. However, these rates leave much room for improvement, and the average BMI has gone up, with the greatest rise for women,” said […]
High blood pressure: the age Is not a fault?
Previously, it was assumed that the age is a major risk factor for high blood pressure. The comparison of two peoples from the rain forest of Venezuela suggests, however, that the blood pressure is more influenced by lifestyle than by age.
FDA: Safe to Eat Romaine Lettuce Again, but Check Labels
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 — In a statement released late yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., announced that the agency was lifting its advisory against eating romaine lettuce, first put in place last Tuesday. At that point, the agency had not been able to narrow down the source of the […]