Pediatric News articles from October 2006

Pediatric News archives from October 2006

Safe bets in pets keep kids healthy.(News)(dialogue with Sandra Lefebvre)(Interview)
October 1, 2006... With reports of rabies, salmonella, Clostridium difficile, Lyme disease, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and other infectious diseases being transmitted from animals to humans, what do you tell families with children who ask you...

Alarm sounded on rising obesity rate in infants, toddlers: 'Baby fat' is not likely to be outgrown.(News)
October 1, 2006... Efforts to prevent childhood obesity should begin in the womb and infancy to turn the tide on the startling increase in the number of overweight and obese children in this country, according to Dr. Matthew W. Gillman. In a study of more...

30% of upper respiratory infections linked to AOM.(News)(risk of acute otitis media)
October 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Nearly a third of infants and toddlers with upper respiratory infections also will develop acute otitis media, Dr. Krystal F. Z. Revai reported at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies. Dr. Revai and her...

Lifestyle changes improve NASH.(News)(nonalcoholic fatty liver disease )
October 1, 2006... Simple changes in diet and exercise significantly improve glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, liver enzymes, and liver steatosis in children who have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, reported Dr. Valerio Nobili of the Bambino Gesu...

No home run yet with cystic fibrosis therapies.(News)
October 1, 2006... MONTREAL -- A variety of new therapeutic approaches are being utilized to control airway inflammation in cystic fibrosis, but the optimal form of therapy remains to be defined, Dr. Felix Ratjen said at the Seventh International Congress on...

Pneumococcal immunization coverage has jumped to 80%.(News)
October 1, 2006... At least 80% of children aged 19-35 months received three or more of the four required doses of pneumococcal vaccine in 2005--a big jump from 40% coverage 3 years ago, according to results of the National Immunization Survey released in a...

100 million flu vaccine doses due this season.(News)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Manufacturers of influenza vaccine are on track to produce and distribute 100 million doses of the agent by early January--more than ever before and nearly 25% more than were shipped last year--with most to arrive in October and November,...

Restricting transfusions did not worsen PICU outcomes.(News)(pediatric intensive care units)
October 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Critically ill children fared no worse when red blood cell transfusions were restricted in an international randomized, controlled trial that compared conservative with liberal strategies for treating anemic patients in pediatric...

FDA eases community access to portable testing for lead in blood.(News)(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration has expanded access to portable lead testing devices, which will allow for rapid screening of children and adults at more than 115,000 community clinics, mobile health units, schools, and work sites across the...

NICU is ideal setting for parental flu vaccination.(Infectious Diseases)(neonatal intensive care unit)
October 1, 2006... OLD GREENWICH, CONN. -- The neonatal intensive care unit is an ideal setting for delivering the trivalent influenza vaccine to parents of high-risk infants, Dr. Shetal Shah said at a meeting of the Eastern Society for Pediatric Research ...

Influenza often missed as a clinical dx.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... In a prospective analysis of data from children who had laboratory-confirmed influenza, researchers found that most influenza cases were not recognized clinically, and the resulting symptoms were treated on an outpatient basis far more often...

Use fluoroquinolones judiciously.(ID Consult)
October 1, 2006... The American Academy of Pediatrics' new policy statement on fluoroquinolone use in children is a thoughtful, measured step in the right direction. As we await the availability of new agents in this class, as well as new pediatric indications...

Antibiotic prescribing patterns in U.S. vary by specialty.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... NICE FRANCE -- Family physicians prescribe penicillins most often, whereas surgeons prescribe fluoroquinolones more frequently than any other specialty. These are some of the findings from a 3-year study examining prescribing patterns of...

Amoxicillin and GAS pharyngitis.(Clinical Capsules)(group A streptococcal )(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Amoxicillin given once daily to treat group A streptococcal pharyngitis was no less effective than a twice-daily dose, based on data from 652 children seen in a private pediatric practice during a 2-year period. Although once-daily...

Pertussis booster may be needed.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Children may need a booster dose of the acellular pertussis vaccine between the ages of 5 and 7 years to ensure protection from illness, according to data from a 7-year population-based study. A total of 1,293 cases of culture-confirmed...

Infant flu vaccination rates are low.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Only 7.4% and 17.5% of children aged 6-23 months received at least one dose of the influenza vaccine during 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, respectively, based on a representative sample of 13,881 children from the 2003 and 2004 National Immunization...

Fluconazole reduces candidiasis in VLBW infants.(Infectious Diseases)(very low-birth-weight)
October 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Fluconazoleprophylaxis reduced fungal infections and mortality in very low-birth-weight infants at two neonatal intensive care units in retrospective studies that were presented during the annual meeting of the Pediatric...

Call for revision of national pandemic flu plan: there is considerable disparity among state plans for epidemic surveillance, pandemic containment, etc.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... A revision of the national pandemic influenza plan could help to remedy the current patchwork of state plans "that will not adequately detect and control" an influenza pandemic, according to a review by Scott D. Holmberg, Ph.D., and his...

Low-dose, whole-virion vaccine for avian flu looks promising.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... A whole-virion vaccine for the H5N1 avian influenza virus produces acceptable levels of immunity even at low doses, researchers found in a preliminary study. Developed at the Sinovac Biotech Co. in Beijing, the vaccine appears to be...

Missed chances for flu vaccine noted in children with asthma.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... The majority of children with asthma fail to get vaccinated for influenza even when they visit health care providers during the flu season. Addressing these missed opportunities for vaccination could significantly improve vaccination rates...

Watch for LCMV eye disease in little children: patients should not get hamsters for their 4-year-olds if they plan to have other children, an expert says.(Infectious Diseases)(lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus)
October 1, 2006... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Although only 49 cases of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus have been reported in the medical literature worldwide, Dr. Marilyn Baird Mets has a hunch that the prevalence could be much higher. Since 1997, she has seen...

New tickborne Ehrlichia species emerges, hits U.S.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Physicians who see patients presenting with extreme localized pain beginning a few days after a tick bite have a new reason to consider the possibility of ehrlichiosis, based on findings reported at a meeting of the Southwest...

Salmonella infections are traced to classroom snake's feed mice.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Salmonella infections that simultaneously occurred in four children at a Michigan elementary school were traced to mice that had been shipped to the school from a business in Texas as food for a classroom pet snake, according to...

Endemic dengue hemorrhagic fever surfaces.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- What is likely the first-ever case of dengue hemorrhagic fever to originate within Texas occurred last year among residents of the border area of South Texas, as did three endemic cases of classic dengue fever. Physicians...

Fusarium keratitis cases spur call for vigilance.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... The recent outbreak of fusarium keratitis that spread to 33 states carried "a high degree of morbidity," with corneal transplantation required or planned for 55 of the 164 affected patients identified, reported Dr. Douglas C. Chang of the...

Teens face unique risks for STDs--biological to behavioral.(Infectious Diseases)(Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
October 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Adolescents are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases due to biological, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral factors, as well as poor access to health care, Dr. Robin Recant said at a gynecology...

Adacel shortage should be resolved by 2007.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A temporary shortage in the supply of Adacel--the tetanus-diphtheriapertussis vaccine marketed by Sanofi-Pasteur--announced in September is expected to last until the end of the year. Boostrix, the Tdap booster vaccine manufactured by...

Azithromycin no use as pityriasis rosea therapy.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Azithromycin had no influence on the clinical course of pityriasis rosea, according to a small randomized controlled trial presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies. The etiologic agent for...

Teens tap doctors, parents, net for health info.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Teen vaccine educational material must be quick, accurate, understandable, and relevant, said Dr. Sharon Humiston at a meeting of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee. The bottom line is that no single information source...

Human plague cases total 13, most since 1994.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... So far this year, 13 cases of human plague have been reported in four states. This marks 2006 as the year with the largest number of reported cases in the United States since 1994. According to the Centers for Disease Control and...

When mental disorders suspected, tools abound.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
October 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- When mental health disorders or family problems are suspected, a number of tools can help pediatricians assess the situation, Dr. Barbara J. Howard said at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics. ...

AAP will offer developmental screening tool kit.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(American Academy of Pediatrics)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Physicians will soon have new tools for the early diagnosis of developmental problems in young children. Officials with the American Academy of Pediatrics are finalizing the details of the new edition of the Bright Futures: Guidelines for...

Near-term infants at risk for learning problems.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
October 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Healthy near-term infants are at increased risk of learning problems during their preschool and kindergarten years, according to findings of a poster presentation by Dr. Stephen B. Morse at the annual meeting of the Pediatric...

Expansion of anterior cingulated cortex tied to learning disability.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
October 1, 2006... MONTREAL -- Volumetric measurement of the brains of children with learning disabilities of unknown etiology has revealed subtle abnormalities in regions associated with the anterior thalamocortical tract that correlate with the severity of the...

Frequent contact with babies in 62% of partners of teen mothers.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
October 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- A study of adolescent mothers revealed that that over half of the fathers had frequent contact with the babies, Dr. Lee Ann Beers reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies. This was...

Drug abuse down in U.S. kids, federal study says.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Survey)
October 1, 2006... Abuse of illegal drugs by minors dropped between 2004 and 2005 in the United States, though it increased among young adults as well as those over age 50, according to survey data reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services...

Severe sleep apnea linked to CNS abnormalities: researchers say OSA 'could permanently alter the trajectory of a ... child's ultimate cognitive potential.'.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(central nervous system)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... Children with severe obstructive sleep apnea demonstrate decreased IQ and other neuropsychological deficits, and have metabolic brain abnormalities that can be seen on imaging, indicating possible neuronal injury, according to a new study. ...

Depression tied to sleep problems.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... Sleep problems in school-aged children appear to be associated with depression but not with anxiety, reported Alice M. Gregory, Ph.D., of King's College of London, and her colleagues. The investigators' study of sleep problems in twins...

Melatonin-sleep hygiene combo aids insomnia in ADHD patients.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Sleep hygiene combined with melatonin is safe and effective for initial insomnia in children aged 6-14 years with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder who take stimulants, reported Dr. Margaret D. Weiss of the Children's and Women's Health...

Preventive programs cut meth use in rural teens.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
October 1, 2006... Participating in a drug prevention program during middle school can reduce methamphetamine usage years later, reported Richard L. Spoth, Ph.D., and his associates at Iowa State University, Ames. In the first studies of their kind,...

Cerebral palsy patients cite positive quality of life.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
October 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Children and teens with cerebral palsy consider their quality of life to be similar to that of their typically developing peers, the results of a study suggest. A convenience sample of 81 youths with cerebral palsy (CP) and 30...

Parents of CP kids see more behavioral/ emotional woes.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(cerebral palsy)
October 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Children with cerebral palsy have a higher incidence of behavioral and emotional difficulties than their typically developing peers, results of a recent study suggest. These difficulties have a potentially deleterious effect on...

Underage binge drinking is mapped.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(national survey on binge drinking among youth in Unites States)(Survey)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The highest rates of underage binge drinking in the United States occurred in the northeast region of North Dakota in 2002-2004, with the lowest rates reported in the District of Columbia's Ward 7, according to a report from the Substance Abuse...

Seek context in explosive behavior.(Behavioral Consult)
October 1, 2006... During the first red-faced toddler rage or the very first time a teenager goes off on an explosive rant, parents are likely to be caught off guard and respond impulsively. They may yell back, or punish their child's out-of-the-blue,...

Stereotypy may arise early, persist into teens.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
October 1, 2006... BALTIMORE -- Motor stereotypies can affect otherwise normal children at an early age and persist at least through adolescence, but may be amenable to behavioral therapy and some medications, Dr. Harvey S. Singer said at a meeting on...

Body satisfaction low? Unhealthy behavior likely.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Adolescents who are unhappy with their bodies are more motivated to engage in health-compromising behavior than in health-promoting behavior, said Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and her colleagues....

What's your recipe?(Letters From Maine)(Recipe)
October 1, 2006... Practicing pediatrics is a lot like baking brownies. I've been to enough picnics and to enough potluck suppers to know that everyone likes brownies. And it is clear that every parent wants quality health care for their children. ...

Is it time for universal influenza immunization?(Point/Counterpoint)
October 1, 2006... Yes, it's time to move forward. Influenza is the only epidemic that occurs annually and that is preventable. Every year, influenza kills about 36,000 Americans. On top of that, more than 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized...

Identifying autism early on.(Special Needs: Realizing Potential)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... Autism is a complex brain disorder that involves disrupted social and communication development. There is evidence to suggest that the neurobiologic abnormalities in autism have their onset in the prenatal or neonatal period. Although autism...

Antihistamines do not help chronic cough.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... A review of three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of 162 children with nonspecific, chronic cough indicates that empirical treatment with antihistamines is not recommended in this setting, the authors concluded. ...

Age-specific cholesterol guidelines are proposed.(Clinical Rounds;)
October 1, 2006... Primary care providers now have another option for assessing abnormal lipoprotein levels in adolescents, one that attempts to take into account variations based on gender and natural fluctuations with age. Ian Janssen, Ph.D., and Courtney...

Many a murmur is innocent, but check carefully.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. -- Heart sounds and their location, along with patient age, can help office-based pediatricians distinguish innocent from pathological heart murmurs. "Learn what is normal--so you can say to the parents that the murmur...

Duration, syncope, male sex rate high as risk factors in long-QT syndrome.(Clinical Rounds)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... Factors that predict a high risk of life-threatening events in adolescents with the hereditary long-QT syndrome are duration of the QT interval, timing and frequency of recent syncope, and male sex, according to a new study by Dr. Jenny B....

Supplemental calcium seems no aid in fracture prevention.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Calcium supplementation has little effect on bone mineral density in children and is unlikely to prevent fractures in childhood or adulthood, according to a data analysis published. Metaanalysis of 19 randomized controlled trials (BMJ 2006...

Testicular torsion more common at puberty.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Consider acute scrotal pain to be testicular torsion until proved otherwise, Dr. Richard N. Schlussel said at a meeting on pediatric surgery that was sponsored by Columbia University. However, all scrotal swelling is not...

Keppra, children's claritin chewable tablets.(New & Approved)
October 1, 2006... Keppra (levetiracetam, UCB Inc.) The Food and Drug Administration approved a new indication for Keppra (levetiracetam) as an adjunctive treatment for myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents 12 years and older with juvenile myoclonic...

Early allergen sensitization affects later lung function.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... Sensitization to perennial allergens early in life in children with wheezing was associated with a loss of lung function at school age in a study of more than 1,300 children. Ninety percent of the children who had wheezing but no atopy lost...

Better communication means better asthma Tx: to adhere to regimens, families need to believe in the seriousness of asthma and the benefits of medicine.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Better communication is the key to better asthma management, said one expert in pediatric asthma, who offered a few tips on improving communication with patients and parents at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of...

Depression, anxiety worsen asthma in preteens and teens.(Clinical Rounds)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO Preteenagers and adolescents with asthma who were also depressed or anxious suffered from asthma symptoms on significantly more days and were more prone to individual symptoms, according to a study presented at the annual meeting...

Some diary not so dire in lactose-intolerant diet.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... It's usually unnecessary to eliminate dairy foods from the diets of lactose-in. tolerant children and adolescents, and doing so may compromise their long-term skeletal health. Most of these patients still can consume enough dairy every day...

Individualize counseling for cystic fibrosis coping.(Clinical Rounds)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. -- Pediatricians can assist patients and families coping with cystic fibrosis from initial diagnosis through the many challenges that occur as the child grows up, according to a presentation at a meeting on pediatrics for...

Consider stress and avoid steroids in treating habit cough.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... MONTREAL -- When treating habit cough, avoid steroids and consider potential psychological stressors, Dr. Louis Landau said at the Seventh International Congress on Pediatric Pulmonology. Habit cough is a rare diagnosis in adults, but...

Fiber predicts CV risk better than cholesterol, fat.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- The amount of plant food adolescents eat is a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than is their intake of cholesterol or saturated fat, according to a poster presentation by Dr. Karen A. Ortiz at the annual meeting of the...

Screen for sleep apnea in tonsillar hypertrophy cases.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Routine polysomnographic screening for obstructive sleep apnea may be warranted in children with tonsillar hypertrophy, Dr. Joseph E. Modrak reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep...

Doc groups see Plan B access hardship for teens.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration's approval of Plan B emergency contraception for over-the-counter sale to people aged 18 years and older and prescription-only sale for those younger has received a widely varying, but generally positive,...

Managing adolescent breast masses: image, treat with care.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- When evaluating a breast mass in an adolescent, keep in mind that breast cancer is rare in this population and imaging should be limited, Dr. Patricia Simmons advised physicians at a gynecology conference sponsored by Mount Sinai...

Overuse causes injuries in little league pitchers: the highly repetitive action of pitching can result in injuries of two joints, the elbow or the shoulder.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... MIAMI -- For serious young baseball players, adherence to recommended pitching limitations and proper management of overuse injuries can help ensure continued healthy pitching, Dr. Andrew Gregory explained at a meeting on pediatric sports...

Ill-fitted helmets leave school athletes at risk for concussion.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... For high school football players, the best defense against concussions is a good offense--and that means a well-fitted football helmet, according to Dr. Eugene Hong. Unfortunately, many high school athletes don't receive a proper helmet...

Young elite cross-country skiers found at risk for hyperkyphosis.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... Adolescent elite cross-country skiers show increased thoracic kyphosis over time, which contributes to their high incidence of low back pain and might put them at risk for hyperkyphosis. Noting numerous reports in the literature of a high...

Dyslipidemia poorly managed in type 1 diabetes.(Clinical Rounds)
October 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Lipid profiles of type 1 diabetic children and young adults in the United States and Europe appear to be less favorable overall than in their older counterparts, Dr. Robert H. Eckel said at a conference on the management of...

Walking the DKA tightrope.(Clinical Rounds)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis requires walking a tightrope between volume depletion and cerebral edema, the chief causes of morbidity and mortality, Dr. Jennifer M. Barker stressed at a conference on the management of...

Cerebral edema with DKA is a clinical Dx.(Clinical Rounds)(diabetic ketoacidosis )(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Diagnosis of cerebral edema in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis is a clinical one, not a radiologic diagnosis, Dr. Jennifer M. Barker stressed at a conference on the management of diabetes in youth. Catching cerebral...

Biannual dietary counseling improved insulin sensitivity.(Clinical Rounds)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... Giving families of infants and children individualized dietary counseling twice a year reduced the children's intake of fat and improved their insulin sensitivity by age 9 in a longterm randomized study. The ongoing Special Turku Coronary...

Type 2 diabetes is tough to treat in adolescents: the disease is believed to arise in teens who have gotten an earlier start on obesity and sedentary behavior.(Clinical Rounds)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Efforts directed at lifestyle modification without concomitant drug therapy in adolescents with type 2 diabetes are "a waste of time," Dr. Philip S. Zeitler said at a conference on the management of diabetes in youth. ...

Annual celiac disease screen urged in type 1 diabetes.(Clinical Rounds)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... COPENHAGEN -- Children who are newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes should be screened annually for celiac disease for at least 3 years, not just at diagnosis, according to Dr. Karin Larsson of Kristianstad (Sweden) Hospital. "The...

Hard sprint can put brakes on exercise-related hypoglycemia.(Clinical Rounds)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- A novel strategy to prevent exercise-related hypoglycemia in insulin-injecting type 1 diabetic patients involves having them finish a moderate-intensity workout with an all-out 10-second sprint, Dr. Rosanna Fiallo-Scharer...

Serving your community.(On the Learning Curve)
October 1, 2006... One of the main reasons I went into pediatrics--after considering a career in social work before applying to medical school--was the opportunity to practice preventive medicine at a very basic level by working in the community. Those...

Medicaid changes.(Health Policy: The Fine Line)
October 1, 2006... There is a lot of noise coming from Washington about reining in federal Medicaid spending. What changes are imminent, and how might these changes affect my pediatric patients? Let's first address some basic Medicaid tenets. Unlike...

Urban practices face challenges in ADHD care.(Practice Trends)(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
October 1, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- It's appropriate for primary care physicians to evaluate and treat children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but in many cases it isn't feasible, according to a survey of such physicians. The survey results...

Progress lags on combating childhood obesity.(Practice Trends)
October 1, 2006... Despite some success stories, efforts to combat childhood obesity remain fragmented, and the policies and programs that are in place are not being evaluated, making it difficult to identify what works, according to a new report from the...

Mandating HPV vaccination.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Under a proposal gaining momentum in Michigan, vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) would be required for all girls entering the sixth grade beginning next school year. Two pieces of legislation introduced in the Michigan state senate...

Exclusivity data not reaching doctors.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Results from a huge number of trials undertaken specifically to investigate dosing, safety, or efficacy of pharmaceuticals in children are not reaching clinicians, researchers from the FDA and the Duke Clinical Research Institute reported. They...

Gaps in mental health knowledge.(Policy & Practice)(clinicians better informed on medications for children with mental illnesses)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Clinicians now have better information on the short-term efficacy of medications for children with mental illnesses and behavioral problems, but there is a need for more evidence on the long-term impact and safety of these therapies, according...

FDA brings on new ethicist.(Policy & Practice)(Robert M. Nelson is joining the agency full-time as an ethicist)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Dr. Robert M. Nelson, who has served as the chairman of the Food and Drug Administration's Pediatric Advisory Committee for the last 2 years, is joining the agency full-time as an ethicist in the Office of Pediatric Therapeutics. Dr. Nelson is...