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Servir a las comunidades de Chicago, de Gary, de Hammond y de Lake Station |
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Investigación en escrito
Research in Brief (Spring 2007)Folic Acid May Prevent Cleft Lip and
Palate Researchers at
the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) found that 0.4 milligrams
a day of folic acid reduced by one third the baby’s risk of isolated cleft lip
(with or without cleft palate). The
study, published online in the British
Medical Journal, included a total of 1,336 babies (with cleft lip only,
with cleft palate only, with cleft lip and cleft palate, and random control
group) born in Norway. Norway has one
of the highest rates of facial clefts in Europe and does not allow foods to be
fortified with folic acid. Sleep Less, Become Overweight? In a study published in the journal Child Development,
children who do not get enough sleep are more likely to be overweight than
those who get more. Researchers at
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois studied 2,281 children, ages 3 to
12 years, starting in 1997. Follow-up
data was then collected five years later.
The researchers found that children who got less sleep were more likely
to be overweight and have higher body mass index measures than those who got
more sleep, even when other factors (i.e., race, ethnicity, parents’ income,
parents’ educational level) were considered.
Sleep experts recommend that children ages 5 to 12 sleep 10 to 11 hours
per night and that adolescents sleep 8 to 9 hours per night. Child Care “A Mixed Blessing” A study published in the March/April 2007 issue of the
journal Child Development indicated that while children who spend time
in child care outside the home before kindergarten may have better vocabulary,
they may also be at risk for more behavior problems later. The government-funded study looked at 1,364
children tracked by researchers since birth.
However, researchers also indicated that the sample of children studied
is not considered a scientifically representative sample of children
nationwide. The research is considered
controversial because of the long-standing debate about working mothers vs.
stay-at-home mothers and which type of mother children benefit more from. More Cavities Seen in Baby Teeth Tooth decay in young children’s baby teeth is increasing,
according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination
survey. This may be an indication that
preschoolers are consuming too much sugar.
Another conclusion drawn from this study, in which thousands of
participants were interviewed and examined by dentists, is that tooth decay in young children may be
increasing because parents are giving their children more processed snack foods
than in the past, and more bottled water or other drinks instead of fluoridated
tap water. Simple Urine Test May Detect
Preeclampsia In the April 2007 issue of the American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers found that the presence of certain
kidney cells in the urine can help identify pregnant women with
preeclampsia. The researchers stated
that further studies were needed to determine exactly why greater numbers of
kidney cells are released into the urine of women with preeclampsia. No Link Between Abortion and Breast
Cancer A Harvard study, published in the April 23, 2007 issue of
the Archives of Internal Medicine, supported findings from a 2003 study
that indicated that having an abortion does not increase a woman’s risk of
getting breast cancer. Number of Gay, Bisexual Men with
Syphilis Increases In a May 4, 2007 statement released by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2000, the number of gay and bisexual
men infected with syphilis accounted for 7% of the total. In 2005 (most recent data available), these
men accounted for an estimated 60% of the total syphilis infections. Doctors expressed concern that this group of
men will also eventually have an increased rate of HIV infection. A Booster Shot for the Chickenpox
Vaccine? In the March 15, 2007 issue of the New England Journal
of Medicine, researchers confirmed the fact that children should receive
booster shots for varicella (chickenpox).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices recommends a booster shot be given to children
between the ages of four (4) and six (6).
Also, in the committee’s June 2006 report, it was recommended that
children, adolescents and adults be given boosters as well. Face Masks and Super-Flu On May 3, 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidelines on the use of surgical face masks during a flu pandemic. While the guidelines address the issue of using surgical masks as well individually fitted respirators, they also emphasize preventative measures such as avoiding contact with people who have respiratory infections and good hand-washing practices. The CDC warns, however, that the mask is not a magic bullet.
Research in Brief (Summer 2007)Testing Men for Chlamydia In a study published in the March 2007 issue of Archives
of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, researchers at the Yale School of Public
Health found that the re-infection rate for women with Chlamydia was
substantial (57% of the women who were infected and treated got at least one
other Chlamydia infection after an average period of only 5.2 months). Health care experts are now considering
whether there should be adjustments made to include screening recommendations
for asymptomatic men to prevent them from infecting (or in some cases
re-infecting) their partners. An
epidemiologist who serves on the American College Health Association STD
committee indicated that there is a lack of information for heterosexual
sexually active young men. Improving Birth Outcomes Researchers at numerous universities and hospitals in the
United States and Ireland studied the relationship between birth defects, low
birthweight and preterm birth. Their
findings, published in the August 2007 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
indicated the following: ¨ Compared with singleton liveborns with no birth
defects, those with a birth defect were 2.7 times more likely to be delivered
preterm at less than 37 weeks, 7.0 times more likely to be delivered preterm at
less than 34 weeks, and 11.5 times more likely to be delivered very preterm at
less than 32 weeks. ¨ Compared with singleton liveborns with no birth
defects, those with a birth defect were 3.6 times more likely to be low
birthweight at less than 2,500 grams and 11.3 times more likely to be very low
birthweight at less than 1,500 grams. These findings led the
authors to advocate for more emphasis on the importance of preconception care
and birth defect prevention as “shared mechanisms for improving birth
outcomes.” Weekend Heart Attacks In a study
published in the March 15, 2007 edition of the New England Journal of
Medicine, researchers at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School determined that
heart attack patients have a slightly higher risk of death if they go to the
hospital on the weekend. The study
determined that on weekends, many patients are more likely to miss or wait
longer for crucial treatments. The lead
researcher also determined that weekend patients were at least one-third less
likely to get angioplasty or bypass surgery promptly, compared with
weekdays. Number of Women in U.S. Dying in
Childbirth Has Increased According to statistics released in August 2007 by the
National Center for Health Statistics, the number of women in the United States
who die in childbirth has risen. The
U.S. maternal mortality rate rose to 13 deaths per 100,000 live births in
2004. in comparison, the rate was 12
per 100,000 live births in 2003.
Experts have indicated that increases in maternal obesity as well as the
increased number of Caesarean sections may be partly to blame. Another significant factor, however, is a
change in death certificate questions in California, Montana and Idaho. This may have resulted in more deaths being
linked to childbirth, according to a health scientist with the National Center
for Health Statistics. It should be
noted that, even with these findings, a woman’s death from childbirth remains
fairly rare in the U.S. No OTC Cold Medicines for Children
Under Age 2 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a
public health advisory that cited serious adverse effects linked to children
(age 2 and under) who have received too large of a dose of over-the-counter
medications for coughs and colds.
Parents should carefully follow directions for use that come with a
medication. Other recommendations in
the advisory include: ¨ Do not use cough and cold products in children under
2 unless given specific directions to do so by a health care provider. ¨ Use only products marked for use in babies, infants
or children (may be called “pediatric” use).
Do not use medicine made for adults. ¨ If you are unsure about what strength of cough and
cold medicine to use, ask a health care provider. ¨ If other medicines, whether over-the-counter or
prescription, are being given to a child, the child’s health care provider
should review and approve their combined use. ¨ Read all of the information in the “Drug Facts” box
on the package label to know the active ingredients and the warnings. ¨ For liquid products, parents should use the measuring
device that is packaged with each medicine formulation and is marked to deliver
the recommended dose. A kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon is not
an appropriate measuring device! A New Word for the Dictionary --
McBranding A study done by Stanford University researchers concluded
that the studied preschoolers preferred the taste of burgers and fries when
they came in McDonald’s wrappers over the same food in plain wrapping,
suggesting fast-food marketing reaches the very young. The results were the same even when the
children were offered products such as baby carrots or milk. |
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