Lab-created heart valves that grow with the recipient could spare kids born with heart defects from the repeated valve-replacement surgeries they now endure. University of Minnesota researchers found that lab-created valves implanted in young lambs for a year were capable of growing within the recipient. “This is a huge step forward in pediatric heart research,”… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Pandemic Has Many Kids Struggling With Weight Issues
Kids and teens are already struggling to learn outside the classroom during the pandemic, but lockdowns and quarantines are also making it hard for them to control their weight, child health experts say. Lost routines, economic insecurity and grief are making things more challenging for children who struggle with their weight, whether it’s with obesity… read on > read on >
CDC Says 3 Feet of Social Distancing Now OK in Most Classrooms
In a move that should make reopening schools an easier task, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday lowered its social distancing recommendation for most classrooms to 3 feet. That should enable many schools to keep all students enrolled in a class within the same room. “[The] CDC is committed to leading… read on > read on >
Does Too Much ‘Screen Time’ Have Your Preschooler Acting Out?
Preschoolers who spend a lot of time watching movies and shows on TVs and other screens are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems by age 5, a Finnish study warns. But despite their reputation, video games did not appear to promote any emotional problems in youngsters, researchers concluded. “We found that high levels… read on > read on >
Virtual Learning Has Taken a Toll on Kids’ & Parents’ Mental Health
A new government report confirms what many moms and dads already know: Parents and kids are struggling mightily to cope with the stresses of distance learning. A survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of parents of children aged 5 to 12 found that parents of kids receiving in-person instruction were… read on > read on >
You’ve Had Your Vaccine, What Can You Safely Do Now?
The U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program is proceeding apace, with more than one-fifth of adult Americans having received at least one dose and eligibility opening up for everyone by May 1, under orders from President Joe Biden. That means the fully vaccinated now have one pressing question: What can I do now that I haven’t been… read on > read on >
Wuhan Study Supports Need for Vaccines to Stop COVID’s Spread
Fewer than 1 in 10 people in Wuhan carried COVID-19 antibodies in their bloodstream four months after the coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city that served as a harbinger of a global pandemic, a new study shows. Further, only about 40% of those people tested positive for the sort of neutralizing antibodies needed to stave… read on > read on >
Which Kids’ Sports Have Higher Odds for Head Injury?
Researchers outfitted high school athletes with head impact sensors to see which of four popular sports put them at the greatest risk of concussion. No. 1 for both boys and girls: Soccer, according to a study published online recently in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. Blame it on intentional headers, which accounted for 80%… read on > read on >
Pandemic Has Pregnant Women ‘Really Stressed,’ Survey Shows
The pandemic is turning what should be a joyful time for pregnant women into a stress-filled experience. Why? Fears that their infants might catch COVID-19 is one of the main reasons anxiety levels are soaring, a new survey finds. Researchers from Washington State University analyzed responses from more than 160 pregnant and postpartum women (those… read on > read on >
Surgical Patients Allergic to Penicillin Have Another Safe Alternative
The antibiotic cefazolin is a safe alternative to prevent infection in most surgical patients who are allergic to penicillin, according to a new study. Cefazolin is a type of antibiotic known as a cephalosporin. It’s the recommended antibiotic for most surgical procedures, but some doctors are reluctant to give it to patients with penicillin-allergies based… read on > read on >