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February 14, 2013

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News for pediatricians and other child health professionals

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Half of new sexually transmitted infections involve young people
Of the estimated 20 million new sexually transmitted infections reported in the U.S. annually, 50% involved 15- to 24-year-olds, according to CDC data released on Wednesday. Human papillomavirus accounts for about 14 million of the new cases each year, researchers said. CNN/The Chart blog (2/13)

Study looks at human metapneumovirus in hospitalized children
Hospital records from three U.S. counties from 2003 to 2009 showed that 6% of 3,490 hospitalized children had human metapneumovirus and 7% of 3,001 pediatric emergency department visits were linked to the virus. Children infected with the virus were more likely to have pneumonia or asthma, require oxygen treatment and have longer stays in intensive care units, researchers said. The findings appear in the New England Journal of Medicine. HealthDay News (2/13)

Other News

U.K. officials: Coronavirus may have spread between people
The Washington Post/The Associated Press (2/13)

Advancing pediatric oncology, improving outcomes
What are we doing to make pediatric cancer medications safer and more effective? Can we target leukemia cells and avoid damage to normal cells? Get these answers and more in the pediatric oncology SmartBrief sponsored by Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City.

Pediatric Health Care

Study looks at best ways to treat pediatric ACL injuries
Children and teens who injured their knee's anterior cruciate ligament should be treated by an orthopedic surgeon specializing in surgical treatment for such injuries, a review found. Researchers said that nonsurgical treatment should be considered for young patients suffering from partial ACL tears that are less than 50% of the diameter of the ligament. The findings appear in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News (2/13)

"Helicopter" parenting tied to depression in college students
College students with over-controlling parents were more likely to have depressive symptoms and lower levels of life satisfaction than their peers, according to a study in Springer's Journal of Child and Family Studies. So-called helicopter parenting may undermine students' need to feel autonomous and competent, lead author Holly Schiffrin said. Reuters (2/13)

Achieving friends can help boost grades in high school, study says
High-school students with friends who had higher grade point averages were more likely to do better in school and improve their own grades, according to a study in the journal PLoS One. Researchers also found that having friends with poor academic performance was linked to declining test scores over time. HealthDay News (2/13)

Children prefer their vegetables cooked just right
Children were more likely to prefer their vegetables being cooked for a medium amount of time rather than being cooked for shorter or longer periods, Australian researchers found. They noted that flavor and texture likely influenced children's taste preference. The study will be published in the journal Food Quality and Preference. MyHealthNewsDaily.com (2/13)

Trends & Technology

HHS encourages e-patients with new effort
HHS announced plans to create a broad shift to a less hierarchical health care system, giving patients and families a greater role in their own care. A new initiative aims to expand patients' access to EHRs, mobile health applications and devices, and secure electronic messaging between patients and providers, according to an article published in the journal Health Affairs. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (2/11)

Advocates go extra mile to support global vaccination
About 100 volunteers made the trip to Washington, D.C., to train and advocate for the Shot@Life campaign supported by the U.N. Foundation, which calls for funding for the vaccination of children worldwide against preventable diseases, KJ Dell'Antonia writes. Reductions to foreign aid under sequestration could take 805,200 vaccinations from children, she writes. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Motherlode blog (2/12)

Using AI models may boost patient outcomes, curb costs
The use of artificial intelligence algorithms in health care resulted in significantly better patient outcomes at a lower cost, researchers at Indiana University found. "The framework here easily outperforms the current treatment-as-usual, case-rate/fee-for-service models of health care," said researcher Casey C. Bennett. Computerworld (2/12)

Health Policy & Regulations

FDA should regulate soft-drink sweeteners, group argues
The FDA should limit the amount of high-fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners in soft drinks, the Center for Science in the Public Interest argues in a petition filed with the FDA. "In the past 10 years or so, researchers have done a variety of experiments and studies that connect soft drinks to obesity," says the group's executive director, Michael Jacobson. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (2/13), USA Today (2/13)

The Last Word - News from the AAP

Thrifty Thursday PediaLink Course -- 25% off all courses in the Pediatric Musculoskeletal Medicine Course series
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Practical Pediatrics CME Course – Paradise Island, Bahamas
Feb. 22 to 24
Does the thought of escaping the wintry weather sound enticing? Then plan to attend the AAP's Practical Pediatrics CME course in the Bahamas this month. Don’t miss the opportunity to combine continuing professional development with relaxation in paradise. Register now.

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This news roundup is provided as a timely update to AAP members and other health professionals about child health topics in the media. Links to articles are provided for the convenience of pediatricians who may find them of use in discussions with patients or colleagues.

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