Use a Nebulizer Machine for Kids with Asthma

A nebulizer machine is an electrical or battery-powered device used to deliver liquid drugs to the lungs in the form of breathable mist. It has an in-built air compressor which converts the liquid into a mist which is breathed through a face mask attached to the nebulizer machine.

Nebulizer machines, like inhalers, are prescribed to patients suffering from asthma, allergies or other respiratory illnesses. It is easier for children to use a nebulizer during an asthma attack, as they don’t need to breathe deeply for the mist to enter the lungs. Drugs like albuterol, ipratoprium and budesonide are used singly or as combination drugs as per a patient’s requirement.

A nebulizer machine usually requires a stationary electric power supply and a placing platform to function but our team at Drugdu.com brings to you standard nebulizers along with small portable ones that are simple to travel with and which work on rechargeable/replaceable batteries. We also offer attractive pediatric nebulizer machines which are shaped like animals to make them kid-friendly and fun.

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Racial & Ethnic Inequalities in Childhood Cancer Survival Linked to Socioeconomic Status

Published online in CANCER, a new study explains how socioeconomic status exhibits racial and ethnic inequalities in childhood cancer survival. The study findings may pinpoint the areas that require maximum resources so as to narrow the racial and ethnic survival gap for all main childhood cancers.

Survival rates are lower in black and Hispanic patients contrasted with non-Hispanic white patients regarding most childhood cancers. Rebecca Kehm, Ph.D., and her colleagues at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the Masonic Cancer Center tried to find out if racial and ethnic inequalities in childhood cancer survival are related to primary disparities in socioeconomic status

The team evaluated population-based cancer survival data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database for black, white, and Hispanic children, between 0-19 years of age, diagnosed from 2000 to 2011. Amid the diagnosed 31,866 patients, whites significantly outpaced black and Hispanic children in survival for numerous childhood cancers.

A significant link was noted between socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity and survival for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, neuroblastoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. On the contrary, socioeconomic status did not notably add to racial and ethnic disparities in survival for other types of childhood cancer like central nervous system tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms tumor, and germ cell tumors.

"These findings provide insight for future intervention efforts aimed at closing the survival gap," said Dr. Kehm. "For cancers in which socioeconomic status is a key factor in explaining racial and ethnic survival disparities, behavioral and supportive interventions that address social and economic barriers to effective care are warranted; however, for cancers in which survival is less influenced by socioeconomic status, more research is needed on underlying differences in tumor biology and drug processing."

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System C Signs Contract to Offer Pooled Child Health Record in South West England

System C has signed a contract to develop a collective child health information system in the South West of England. 708,000 child health records from South Gloucester, Bristol, Somerset and North Somerset, Devon, Torbay, Plymouth and Cornwall will be put to use by its CarePlus software.

Data will be collected from 10 acute hospitals in the South West, five clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), 376 GP practices and nine local authorities by the system which is slated to be launched this September.

James Bolt, head of public health commissioning, NHS England South West, said: “Health professionals will be able to manage queries about the health status of an individual child and populations much more efficiently and effectively via a single system. The result will be safer and more joined-up care.”

CarePlus stores data with regard to immunizations and vaccinations taken right from birth to when the person is19 years old, enabling care providers to track children along their preschool and school years.

John Grayland, head of child health services at Health Intelligence, said: “We are very excited to have been chosen to provide the Child Health Information Service in the South West of England. We will be responsible for approx. 708,000 children and have chosen CarePlus as the best software to enable us to run an effective service.”

Markus Bolton, joint chief executive of System C, added: “We are very pleased to see multiple small child health systems replaced by these large footprint solutions in this way because they are safer and users can manage children’s records much more efficiently. We are looking forward to working with our partners in the South West.”

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Infancy ‘Obesity’ no Predictor for Obesity in Childhood

Researchers headed by Charlotte M. Wright, MBBS, MSc, MD, professor, Community Child Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, wrote in Pediatric Obesity,“‘Obesity’ in infancy is not, in fact, an important risk factor for obesity in childhood,”

On the contrary, the majority of youngsters with high BMI/obesity in mid-childhood were not very heavy infants, the researchers discovered.

Dr. Wright and colleagues pooled data on around 2,500 children from three longitudinal growth studies to explore whether high weight in infancy foretells obesity in childhood. After adjusting for age and sex, the weighed infants were categorized as “overweight” or “obese”.

They observed that infants with more weight were five times more likely to have BMI ≥ 2 SD at 8 years of age. But, 64% of infants with increases in weight (≥ 1 SD) had a normal BMI at 8 years. In children with a BMI ≥ 2 SD at 8 years old, 50% had a BMI ≥ 2 SD for the first time at that age. Only 22% of 8-year-olds had a history of raised weight as infants.

“In this study, raised weight in infancy (SD ≥ 1) was a significant risk factor for later overweight, and once a child had become overweight, this tended to persist, with three-quarters of those overweight at 8 years having been overweight earlier,” Dr. Wright and coauthors wrote. “However, we also found that over half the infants who were overweight had normal BMI by 8 years.”

Findings suggest that overweight infants usually stay overweight as children, however, infants with excessive BMIs seldom turn obese in childhood. “Thus, a high weight in infancy has a moderate positive predictive value for becoming overweight in mid-childhood, but not for becoming obese, and its sensitivity is very low,” the authors wrote.

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By Ddu

Segmented Plates with Images made Kids Eat More Veggies

A longitudinal study found that children in preschool consumed greater amounts of vegetables when their plates were divided and printed with pictures of fruits and vegetables.

Children took 13.82 grams more vegetables from printed plates per day than when they ate from plain white plates, and consumed 7.54 grams more, reported Emily Melnick, MPH, and Meng Li, PhD, both of the Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver.

"I think the approach of using nudge methods to change what people eat is really important and there has been a lot of research on it in the general population, but there is little on how that affects kids," Li said. "If you think about what people eat and their early habits, the exposure kids have to food is really impactful in their adult behavior long-term."

There were 3 school days observed in a 1-week duration at two separate time points, and involved 235 children from 18 classrooms in Arvada, Colorado. The children were equally grouped in boys and girls and were of an average age of 3.8 years.

Children used white plates in the base duration. The intervention was conducted after 4 weeks, wherein children used the segmented plates with images. During the intervention, researchers gave an introduction to the plate to explain to the kids that the images on their plates were fruits and vegetables. The lunch menus remained unchanged each day.

Before and after consumption, the children's plates were weighed, and an average was calculated for the quantity of food taken and consumed. The intervention group saw the maximum effect on the second day when the lunch menu was devoid of fruit and included cucumbers and carrots.

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NIH develops robotic exoskeleton to treat crouch gait in children

A robotic exoskeleton for the treatment of crouch (or flexed-knee) gait in children with cerebral palsy has been developed by US researchers from the Rehabilitation Medicine department of the NIH Clinical Centre.

Crouch gait is an excessive bending of the knees during walking and results in the progressive degeneration of the walking function. The new robotic exoskeleton device is intended to provide powered knee extension assistance at key points during the walking cycle.

The researchers tested the prototype of the exoskeleton in a study of seven children aged 5-19 years who were diagnosed with crouch gait from cerebral palsy and could walk a minimum of 30ft without the use of a walking aid.

Aimed at assessing the role of motorised knee extension assistance in safely and effectively minimising the disorder, the cohort study investigated the device’s effect on voluntary muscle activity during walking.

The study was also designed to quantify short-term alterations in lower limb gait biomechanics with the use of robotic knee extension assistance.

"The improvements in their walking, along with their preserved muscle activity, make us optimistic that our approach could train a new walking pattern in these children."

The results indicated that the exoskeleton was well-tolerated and all participants were able to walk independently without mobility aids or assistance from a therapist.

The study showed that six patients experienced knee extension improvements without a decrease in knee extensor muscle activity, with gains similar to or higher than average observed during invasive surgical interventions.

NIH Clinical Centre Rehabilitation Medicine department staff scientist Thomas Bulea said: “The improvements in their walking, along with their preserved muscle activity, make us optimistic that our approach could train a new walking pattern in these children if deployed over an extended time.

“This study paves the way for the exoskeleton's use outside the clinic setting, greatly increasing the amount and intensity of gait training, which we believe is key to successful long-term outcomes in this population."

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Novartis pivotal data show children and adolescents with relapsing MS had an 82% lower relapse rate with fingolimod vs. interferon beta-1a

Novartis announced results from the Phase III PARADIGMS study, investigating the safety and efficacy offingolimod vs. interferon beta-1a, in children and adolescents (ages 10 to <18) with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Treatment with oral fingolimod resulted in an 82% reduction in the rate of relapses (annualized relapse rate) in this patient population over a period of up to two years, compared to interferon beta-1a intramuscular injections (p <0.001)1. PARADIGMS is the first completed randomized, controlled clinical trial specifically designed for children and adolescents with relapsing MS. The results have been presented at the 7th Joint European and Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS) meeting on October 28, 2017 in Paris, France.

"There are currently no FDA-approved MS therapies for the pediatric population," said Dr. Tanuja Chitnis, Principal Investigator for PARADIGMS and Director of the Partners Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, US, and Scientist, Ann Romney Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, US. "We are encouraged by the reduction in the annualized relapse rate we've seen with fingolimod in this study. PARADIGMS was designed specifically for pediatric patients, who oftentimes have more frequent relapses than adults with early MS."

Additional data from the study demonstrated:

Secondary endpoints showed a significant reduction in the number of new / newly enlarging T2 lesions and Gd-T1 lesions in the brain in fingolimod-treated patients compared to those treated with interferon beta-1a, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)1.

The safety profile of fingolimod in this study was overall consistent with that seen in previous clinical trials in adults. In this study, while more adverse events (AEs) were reported in the interferon beta-1a group, severe AEs were reported at a higher frequency in fingolimod-treated patients3.

An exploratory analysis found individuals treated with fingolimod had significantly less brain volume loss (measured by MRI), compared to those treated with interferon beta-1a1.

"Gilenya has been shown to improve outcomes for adults with relapsing MS. We're proud of having completed this head-to-head trial in children and adolescents with relapsing MS and are encouraged by the findings," said Fabrice Chouraqui, President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. "The study reflects our ongoing commitment to the MS community."

Fingolimod, also known as Gilenya® in the US, is approved to treat relapsing forms of MS in adults. Gilenya is not currently approved for children and adolescents with relapsing MS. Novartis is working on submission with health authorities worldwide for pediatric patients.

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Do Children’s Antibiotics Lead to Type 1 Diabetes or Celiac Disease?

In a recent study, researchers investigated whether there is a link between children’s antibiotics and the rise of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.

The continued rise of autoimmune diseases (conditions in which the immune system attacks the body’s own cells) is believed to be caused in part by the increasing use of antibiotics, especially in early life.  There have also been studies suggesting the opposite, finding that use of children’s antibiotics actually decreases the risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) or celiac disease (CD). Clarifying the effect of antibiotic use on the development of autoimmune diseases could lead to an improved understanding of the risks and benefits associated with antibiotics and their appropriate use, enabling physicians and parents to make informed decisions about the treatment of younger patients.

In a recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers investigated whether the antibiotic use was linked to T1D or CD in children four years and under. Children born at hospitals in Finland, Germany, Sweden, and the United States between November 20, 2004, and July 8, 2010, were entered into the study at birth. Only children who were at risk for developing T1D or CD were eligible for the study. Children were considered at-risk if they possessed one of nine genetic patterns associated with T1D, or had a parent or sibling with the disease.

Blood samples were collected four times yearly between three months and four years of age and tested for antibodies (indicative of an autoimmune response) against structures important in T1D and CD. As low or absent insulin production is a hallmark of T1D, blood was screened for three types of antibodies against the insulin-producing Islets of Langerhans (anti-ILs). Blood was also screened for antibodies against an enzyme thought to protect against intestinal damage caused by certain wheat-based proteins, tissue transglutaminase. Anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTGA) is often found in individuals with celiac disease. The children’ parents recorded any physician-prescribed exposure to antibiotics over the first four years of life. Antibiotics were classified as β-lactams, amoxicillins, penicillins, cephalosporins, and macrolides.

By August 2014, there were 8,495 children included in the analysis. There were 38,152 exposures to antibiotics among the children over the ten year period, of which 42% involved amoxicillins. Before the age of four years, 70% of exposures were either β-lactams or macrolides. Penicillin prescriptions were more common in Sweden, while amoxicillin prescriptions were more common in Finland and the United States. By their first year, 72% of children had received two or fewer doses of any antibiotic. In contrast, by their fourth year, 35% had received two to three doses and 38% had received four or more doses.

 

At four years of age, 5.5% of children had anti-ILs in their blood and 12% had anti-tTGA. At least one anti-IL was usually discovered around 21 months and anti-tTGA around 31 months. No link was found between the presence of anti-ILs or anti-tTGA and antibiotic exposure within the first four years of life.  These results show that increased use of children’s antibiotics was not associated with an increased risk of either diabetes or celiac disease.

Overall, the study findings suggest there is no link between children’s antibiotics and type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Future research on the effect of antibiotic use on other autoimmune diseases may benefit from also obtaining information about antibiotic exposure from medical records, rather than from the reports of parents alone, in order to reduce reporting errors. The inclusion of children not at risk for T1D or CD for comparison may also give context to any findings.

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Novartis drug Tasigna® approved by FDA to treat children with rare form of leukemia

Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the indication forTasigna® (nilotinib) to include treatment of first- and second-line pediatric patients one year of age or older with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (Ph+ CML-CP).

In the United States, Tasigna is now indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients one year of age or older with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP. Tasigna is also indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients one year of age or older with Ph+ CML-CP resistant or intolerant to prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy, as well as adult patients with Ph+ CML in chronic phase and accelerated phase, resistant or intolerant to prior therapy that included imatinib.

This approval is the latest in a series of regulatory milestones that broadens the understanding and clinical use of Tasigna.

CML is a type of blood cancer where the body produces malignant white blood cells. Almost all patients with CML have an abnormality known as the "Philadelphia chromosome," which produces a protein called BCR-ABL. This protein aids the proliferation of malignant white blood cells in affected patients. Worldwide, CML accounts for approximately 3% of newly diagnosed childhood leukemia].

"Novartis' commitment to people living with CML is reinforced by today's FDA approval of Tasigna in children," said Liz Barrett, CEO, Novartis Oncology. "This expanded use, along with the other recent global regulatory Tasigna milestones, underscores our dedication to reimagining medicine and addressing the needs for people with CML, including children with this cancer."

The new indications, granted under the FDA's Priority Review designation, are based on two studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of nilotinib in pediatric patients (two years to less than 18 years of age) with Ph+ CML-CP. A total of 69 Ph+ CML-CP pediatric patients, either newly diagnosed (first-line) or who were resistant or intolerant to prior TKI therapy (second-line), received nilotinib[2]. In newly diagnosed pediatric patients, the major molecular response (MMR; BCR ABL/ABL <=0.1% International Scale [IS]) rate was 60.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 38.7, 78.9) at 12 cycles, with 15 patients achieving MMR[2]. The cumulative MMR rate among newly diagnosed pediatric patients was 64.0% by cycle 12, and the median time to first MMR was 5.6 months (range: 2.7 to 16.6). In pediatric patients with resistance or intolerance to prior TKI therapy, the MMR rate was 40.9% (95% CI: 26.3, 56.8) at 12 cycles, with 18 patients being in MMR. The cumulative MMR rate among pediatric patients with resistance or intolerance was 47.7% by cycle 12, and the median time to first MMR was 2.8 months (range: 0.0 to 11.3).

Adverse reactions observed in these pediatric studies were generally consistent with those observed in adults, except for laboratory abnormalities of hyperbilirubinemia (Grade 3/4: 13%)-a condition where there is too much bilirubin in the blood-and transaminase elevation (AST Grade 3/4: 1%, ALT Grade 3/4: 9%), which were reported at a higher frequency than in adult patients. One resistant or intolerant pediatric CML patient progressed to advance phase/blast crisis (AP/BC) after about 10 months on treatment.

Novartis Commitment to CML

Novartis' ongoing research in Ph+ CML has helped transform the disease from a fatal leukemia to a chronic condition in most patients. The company maintains an unwavering commitment to scientific innovation and access to care for patients worldwide. As an organization committed to patients, Novartis continues to reimagine CML by pursuing ambitious goals with courage, passion and commitment for the global CML community.

About Tasigna

Tasigna (nilotinib) is approved in more than 122 countries for the treatment of chronic phase and accelerated phase Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML) in adult patients resistant or intolerant to at least one prior therapy, including Glivec (imatinib)*, and in more than 110 countries for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML in chronic phase. Tasigna is approved in the United States (US) for the treatment of Ph+ CML in the chronic phase in pediatric patients one year of age or older with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy including imatinib and for the treatment of pediatric patients one year of age or older with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML in the chronic phase. Tasigna is also approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of Ph+ CML in the chronic phase in pediatric patients with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy including imatinib and for the treatment of pediatric patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML in the chronic phase.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for TASIGNA® (nilotinib) Capsules

Use with caution in patients with uncontrolled or significant cardiac disease and in patients who have or may develop prolongation of QTc. Low levels of potassium or magnesium must be corrected prior to Tasigna administration. Monitor closely for an effect on the QTc interval. Baseline ECG is recommended prior to initiating therapy and as clinically indicated. Cases of sudden death have been reported in clinical studies in patients with significant risk factors. Avoid use of concomitant drugs known to prolong the QT interval and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Avoid food 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking dose. Reactivation of hepatitis B can occur in patients who are chronic carriers of this virus after receiving TKI treatment.

Use with caution in patients with liver impairment, with a history of pancreatitis and with total gastrectomy. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not use Tasigna. Tasigna may cause fetal harm in pregnant women. If pregnancy is planned during the treatment-free remission phase, the patient must be informed of a potential need to re-initiate treatment with Tasigna during pregnancy. Women taking Tasigna should not breastfeed.

Cases of cardiovascular events included ischemic heart disease-related events, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and ischemic cerebrovascular events have been reported. Serious cases of hemorrhage from various sites including gastrointestinal were reported in patients receiving Tasigna. Grade 3 or 4 fluid retention including pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, ascites and pulmonary edema have been reported. Cases of tumor lysis syndrome have been reported in Tasigna-treated patients who were resistant or intolerant to prior CML therapy.

In pediatric patients the long-term effects of prolonged treatment with Tasigna is unknown.

Eligible patients who are confirmed to express the typical BCR-ABL transcripts, e13a2/b2a2 or e14a2/b3a2, can be considered for treatment discontinuation. Frequent monitoring of BCR-ABL transcript levels in patients eligible for treatment discontinuation must be performed with a quantitative diagnostic test validated to measure molecular response levels with a sensitivity of at least MR4.5 (BCR-ABL/ABL <=0.0032% IS). BCR-ABL transcript levels must be assessed prior to and during treatment discontinuation. Loss of major molecular response (MMR=BCR-ABL/ABL <=0.1% IS) or confirmed loss of MR4 (two consecutive measures separated by at least 4 weeks showing loss of MR4 (MR4=BCR-ABL/ABL <=0.01% IS) will trigger treatment re-initiation within 4 weeks of when loss of remission is known to have occurred. It is crucial to perform frequent monitoring of BCR-ABL transcript levels and complete blood count with differential in order to detect possible loss of remission. For patients who fail to achieve MMR after three months of treatment re-initiation, BCR-ABL kinase domain mutation testing should be performed.

The most frequent Grade 3 or 4 adverse events are hematological (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia) which are generally reversible and usually managed by withholding Tasigna temporarily or dose reduction. Chemistry panels, including electrolytes, lipid profile, liver enzymes, and glucose should be checked prior to therapy and periodically. Tasigna can cause increases in serum lipase. The most frequent non-hematologic adverse events were rash, pruritus, nausea, fatigue, headache, alopecia, myalgia, constipation and diarrhea.

Musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, pain in extremity, arthralgia, bone pain and spinal pain may occur upon discontinuing treatment with Tasigna within the framework of attempting treatment-free remission.

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GlaxoSmithKline’s Fluarix protects young children in large phase 3 test

GSK touted Phase 3 data of its quadrivalent flu vaccine Fluarix Tetra. As a severe flu season continues to unfold in the U.S., GlaxoSmithKline is touting phase 3 study data showing its Fluarix Tetra can protect young children who are among the most vulnerable to the virus.

In children six to 35 months of age, Glaxo's vaccine was 63.2% effective against moderate-to-severe flu, and 49.8% effective against any flu, the company reported Tuesday, meeting its primary endpoint.

Investigators completed the work between October 2011 and December 2014 in 13 countries across Europe, Central America and Asia. In total, more than 12,000 children received either the GSK shot or a control vaccine.

When the flu vaccine was correctly matched with circulating strains, efficacy was higher at 77.6% against moderate-to-severe flu and 60% against any flu, the drugmaker reported.

Along with the elderly, pregnant women and people with certain chronic diseases, young children are at a higher risk for flu and related complications, making them a priority for annual influenza vaccination.

Still, the new study is the first randomized clinical trial testing efficacy for a quadrivalent flu vaccine in the age group, Thomas Breuer, Glaxo's chief medical officer for vaccines, said in a statement.

Breuer added that the study "adds to the growing body of evidence to support universal vaccination including all children from six months of age to help prevent influenza in this age group, as well as the spread of influenza across the community.”

Aside from efficacy, investigators found that vaccination with the GSK shot reduced doctor visits, antibiotic use and work leave for parents.

The results come as a severe flu season continues to wreak havoc in the U.S. and elsewhere, due in part to poor vaccine performance this year. According to an interim CDC report, flu vaccines have been just 36% effective at staving off the illness. Some studies and officials have suggested the egg-based production process is one reason for the performance.

Meanwhile, companies and health officials are increasingly looking to universal flu shots and cell-based production to improve on the status quo. Just last week, the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases presented a plan to develop a universal flu shot.  

GSK is among the companies to work on newer flu vaccines, having teamed with Valneva to develop candidates with the biotech's EB66 cell line.

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Children of Type 1 Diabetes Patients at Risk of Obesity

Type 1 diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder observed among children. It is a well-known fact that children who have diabetic parents are at higher risk of developing the disease. Scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich revealed that children of Type 1 diabetic patients are at higher risk of showing insulin resistance and obesity. This work was published in the journal 'Diabetologia'.

Dr. Andreas Beyerlein from the Institute of Diabetes Research at Helmholtz Zentrum München said,"Moreover, there were also sporadic indications from previous studies that children of mothers with type 1 diabetes are also at increased risk of having metabolic syndrome, as the intermittent high blood glucose levels in the uterus appear to have long-term effects on the child's metabolism and body weight."

A Total of three large studies aimed at studying the mechanisms behind type 1 diabetes (TEENDIAB, BABYDIET and BABYDIAB) was the launching point of the study. The lead author Anitha Pitchika said, "In total, we studied data from nearly 2,800 children with a first-degree relative with type 1  diabetes; Their metabolic status and body weight were tracked up to the age of 18."  

Anette-Gabriele Ziegler added, "This analysis was possible only now with our dataset which contains such a large number of mothers with type 1 diabetes; A few decades ago, mothers with this condition were often advised not to get pregnant due to the high risk of complications at birth."

By checking glucose levels, insulin resistance and waist circumference, Andreas Beyerlein revealed,"Children in the TEENDIAB study were for instance almost twice as likely to become overweight." Dr. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler further stated, "We would therefore advise that pediatricians should bear this correlation in mind so that they can react on early warning signs in such children."

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5 Harmful Effects of Junk Food on Children

Burgers, chocolates, pizzas, colas – the list of fast food consumption seems endless. It is not an issue if consumed once in a while. But when it becomes a regular habit and is left unchecked, it can lead to varied harmful effects, especially in children. Moderation is the key factor and a healthy home-cooked diet is an ultimate ideal.

We have listed the top 5 most harmful effects of fast food on children:

1. Lower academic improvement: This is a major concern for parents across the globe. Research was conducted by Ohio state university covering around 12,000 students to find a link between fast food consumption frequency and academic achievements. Students who had fast food every day were slower at reading and solving math problems and science, compared to non-junk food eaters.

2. Obesity and other disorders: This is the most common disorder which occurs due to junk food packed with excessive sugar, carbohydrates, sodium and saturated fats. Obese children are susceptible to heart diseases, respiratory disorders, diabetes, and digestive problems.

3. Bone health: Recent research has shown that over-consumption of fast food leads to poor bone health in young children.

4. Poor skin: Numerous subjective reports and independent research by practitioners have revealed that when junk food is strictly eliminated, there is a significant improvement in skin related issues such as acne and rosacea.

5. Hyperactivity: Due to high sugar content, fast food has been linked to hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder in children. Hyperactivity occurs due to the artificial rush generated by sugar in the body. When it crashes, it leads to mood-related and concentration issues.

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Study Suggests Autistic Children could Communicate Better with Folinic Acid

Most autistic children struggle with communication and social skills. Though the causes are not completely understood there are indications of associations like women taking folate supplements during pre-conception and during gestation showed a lesser chance of having an offspring with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Such studies have encouraged new research in evaluating supplementing folate as a possible therapy for ASD.

For the body to absorb dietary folate, it must be converted to folinic acid. However, earlier studies found an increased amount of folate receptor autoantibodies in children with ASD. By itself, folinic acid should generate a response in children with ASD.

A team headed by Dr. Richard Frye from the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute, conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week clinical trial to find out whether folinic acid supplementation ameliorated symptoms of autism. 48 children aged 3-14 years were registered for the study. Weight was used as a measure to calculate the doses, the maximum dose being 50 mg per day. Every child was evaluated personally at the beginning of the study and after 12 weeks. Their parents had to answer questionnaires at both times. The results were published in Molecular Psychiatry.

 They observed that the day-to-day social and verbal communication skills improved considerably in children who had taken the folinic acid, without any marked adverse events. Moreover, they discovered that the patients’ response to the folinic acid treatment could be estimated with the presence of the folate receptor alpha autoantibody biomarker.

Since antipsychotic drugs are currently the only approved medication for autism, this study brings in new hope for children with autism. However, greater, multi-center trials are required to validate these initial findings and to establish the duration for which folinic supplementation is essential.

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Risk of Coronary Artery Compression in Children More Frequent than Thought

Renowned cardiologists feel that children fixed with epicardial pacemakers may incur coronary artery compression a little more frequently than earlier thought. A review of patient records at Boston Children's Hospital led to the suggestion of stringent scrutinizing to diagnose children in danger of developing complications. Their proposals were published in the journal HeartRhythm.

"Coronary artery compression is thought to be rare," explained lead investigator Douglas Y. Mah, MD, director of the Pacemaker and ICD Program in the Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, and assistant professor of paediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. "Its true incidence, however, may be higher than we believed due either to a lack of awareness or lack of reporting in the literature."

A child with an epicardial pacemaker suddenly died due to coronary artery compression. This incited doctors to augment scrutiny of all children having epicardial pacing or defibrillation systems. They reassessed the data of all patients visiting Boston Children's Hospital from 2000 - 2017 who had functioning or deserted epicardial wires via coronary imaging. Eight out of 145 patients presented with certain levels of coronary compression caused by the epicardial leads. Consequently, seven patients had their epicardial leads surgically removed or repositioned.

This study offers an agenda for supervising patients with epicardial pacemakers or defibrillators and spotting those who may require modification or exclusion of their epicardial wires.

"The use of pacemakers and defibrillators in children is growing," noted Dr. Mah. "As more epicardial devices are implanted, more children may be at risk for developing coronary compression from their leads. We hope to increase awareness among healthcare providers and patients of this important, possibly preventable, and potentially fatal complication and provide a useful screening algorithm to detect at-risk patients and ultimately prevent complications."

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