Top Stories

• Switching to positive TV programs may improve child behavior
  Limiting preschool children's exposure to violent TV programs and increasing their time watching educational programs resulted in significant improvements in behavior after six months, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers noted that those who were encouraged to watch positive programs were less aggressive and showed healthier social behavior. USA Today (2/18)     

• Excessive TV viewing linked to antisocial behavior later in life
  New Zealand researchers tracked 1,037 children from birth to age 26 and found that those who watched more television between ages 5 and 15 were more likely to be convicted of a crime than those who viewed less television. They noted that greater TV viewing during childhood and adolescence also was linked to increased odds of aggressive behavior and diagnosis of antisocial personality behavior in adulthood. The findings appear in the journal Pediatrics. DailyRx.com (2/17)     

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Pediatric Health Care

• CDC: Flu activity continues downward trend
  CDC data from the week ending Feb. 9 showed that flu activity in many states continued to drop. Eleven states and New York City reported high levels of flu activity, and 10 states reported moderate activity. Adults aged 65 and older account for more than half of total flu-related hospitalizations, and 64 children have died so far this flu season, the CDC said. DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News (2/15)     

• Water-tubing injuries send more people to EDs
  More than 7,200 people in the U.S. were sent to emergency departments in 2009 for water-tubing injuries, up from fewer than 2,100 in 1991, according to a study in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health. Children and teens were more likely to have head injuries and be injured from contact with another individual, while adults were at greater risk for knee injuries, sprains or strains and to be injured due to water impact, researchers said. HealthDay News (2/15)     

• Poor stress response may increase obesity risk in children
  Children who had higher cortisol levels in response to stressors showed higher BMI and consumed more calories despite the absence of hunger compared with those who had only slightly elevated cortisol rates, a study found. The results in the journal Appetite suggest that children who have a poor response to stress may be at an increased risk of obesity. Yahoo/Asian News International (2/16)     

Trends & Technology

• Data warehousing helps system lessen early-term births
  The adoption of data warehousing and analytics has helped North Memorial Health Care in Minnesota decrease its rate of elective deliveries before 39 weeks' gestation by 75% in six months. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kevin J. Croston said the initiative has helped give physicians evidence-based information for more effective decision-making. Healthcare IT News (2/15)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by AAP SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Research supports screening for amblyopia before age 3 (DoctorsLounge.com)

• ADHD treatments don't reduce symptoms in most children (HealthDay News)

• CDC: Synthetic pot linked to 16 cases of kidney injury (Family Practice News)

• Prenatal intake of folic acid may reduce autism risk (Reuters)

• Half of new sexually transmitted infections involve young people (CNN/The Chart blog)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Health Policy & Regulations

• HHS offers grants to boost prenatal care
  HHS on Friday introduced an initiative, Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns, aimed at lowering the number of premature births under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Communities with high rates of premature birth will be given funding to improve prenatal care. The Hill/Healthwatch blog (2/15)     

• Senators push for autism coverage in Tenn.
  Tennessee state Sens. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, and Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, filed nearly identical bills calling for all insurance firms in the state to cover families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Currently, there are 34 states that require autism coverage. "If they can do it, we can do it," Kyle said. The Tennessean (Nashville) (tiered subscription model) (2/18)     

The Last Word - News from the AAP

• AAP national committee member vacancies
  Nominations are being solicited to fill 25 member vacancies on 15 AAP national committees for the 2013-2014 term. The deadline for receipt of all materials is Feb. 25. Visit the AAP website for more information, including nomination forms.     

• Call for abstracts for the 2013 AAP National Conference and Exhibition
  Interested in submitting an abstract to the AAP National Conference and Exhibition? Submissions by AAP members and nonmembers are welcome until April 12. Submit electronically by visiting the NCE website.     

SmartQuote

You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration." --James Allen, British author