Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is breathing failure that can occur in critically ill persons with underlying illnesses. It is not a specific disease. Instead, it is a life-threatening condition that occurs when there is severe fluid buildup in both lungs. The fluid buildup prevents the lungs from working properly—that is, allowing the transfer of oxygen from air into the body ...

The human nervous system develops from a small, specialized plate of cells along the back of an embryo. Early in development, the edges of this plate begin to curl up toward each other, creating the neural tube—a narrow sheath that closes to form the brain and spinal cord of the embryo. As development progresses, the top of the tube becomes the ...

Pheochromocytoma is a very long word, even for someone who speaks "medical language." If you happen to be a fan of TV dramas involving young confused doctors, you may have heard the word a few times. It is made up of four parts: pheo-chromo-cyt-oma. If you are one of the few people who have had a personal experience or know someone ...

Ponder this: if a cat is dropped upside down, it will land right side up on all four paws. If a newborn infant is tilted backward, its eyes will roll downward so that its gaze remains fixed on the same point. If, as you read this article, you shake your head rapidly from side to side, the print nonetheless will stand ...

Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Sometimes called "hypercortisolism," it is relatively rare and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50. An estimated 10 to 15 of every million people are affected each year.

Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is a childhood disorder. A major feature of LKS is the gradual or sudden loss of the ability to understand and use spoken language. All children with LKS have abnormal electrical brain waves that can be documented by an electroencephalogram (EEG), a recording of the electric activity of the brain. Approximately 80 percent of the children with LKS ...

Tylenol is currently the most popular painkiller in the United States. Americans take over 8 billion pills (tablets or capsules) of Tylenol each year. Acetaminophen is the general (generic) name for Tylenol, which is a brand name. Although acetaminophen is contained in over 200 medications, most of them do not have the name "Tylenol" on their labels. Moreover, just about every ...

If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile and physically able to become pregnant, she needs to ask herself, "Do I want to become pregnant now?" If her answer is "No," she must use some method of birth control (contraception). Terminology used to describe birth control methods include contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, and family planning. But no matter ...

Ablation is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms. It can be performed both surgically and non-surgically. Non-surgical ablation is performed in a special lab called the electrophysiology (EP) laboratory. During this non-surgical procedure a catheter is inserted into your heart and then a special machine is used to direct energy to the heart muscle. This energy either "disconnects" or "isolates" the ...

Infants following World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding appear to show a fall-off in weight and length in the first year of life compared with the existing WHO/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference,1 which is based on predominantly formula-fed infants. Previous studies are fairly consistent in showing a downward trajectory in z scores beginning at ...

Feeding newborns soy protein-based formulas may favourably boost the bone strength later in life, according to a new study with mice. Whether the effects are repeatable in humans is not currently known, but the study has potential implications for soy-based infant formula as a means of reducing osteoporosis later in life, a condition that affects half of all women over ...

The role of caffeine in the health of premature and low birth weight babies has come under scrutiny with two studies, one investigating the impact of mothers' intake during pregnancy and the other adding to existing evidence that caffeine can improve the symptoms of apnea in prematurity.

A BYU-Harvard-Stanford research team has identified a molecule that is key to mothers' ability to pass along immunity to intestinal infections to their babies through breast milk. The findings will be published in the Nov. 1 issue of the Journal of Immunology.  

ABSTRACT. to evaluate the evidence for the effect of breastfeeding on the risk of developing childhood leukemia. Objective. To conduct a systematic review Review Methods. regarding the association of breastfeeding and occurrence of childhood leukemia. Studies were identified by using Medline, US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, National Centre for ...

The USBC affirms the crucial role of breastfeeding and mother’s milk in infant feeding. In situations where a mother’s own milk is not available to meet her baby’s needs, pasteurized donor human milk is the ideal replacement. The use of donor human milk has saved infant lives and positively impacted the health outcomes of countless premature and sick infants through ...

In keeping with the deep concern about increases in childhood obesity in the United States, the United States Breastfeeding Committee wishes to emphasize that breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and extended breastfeeding into the toddler years, may exert a small but positive influence in reducing the risk for obesity in childhood and later in ...

Washington, DC—   When a baby is born premature, helping the baby survive is usually the first priority for new parents. The benefits of breastfeeding, including protection from many diseases, are especially critical for premature infants. As the country recognizes Prematurity Awareness Month, many are aware that more than a half million babies—one in every eight—are born prematurely each year ...

Washington, DC—   As the country recognizes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, one protective factor often goes unmentioned: the reduction in the risk of breast cancer shown in women who have breastfed their infants. Many Americans hear that breast cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed and second most deadly cancer among women. Similarly, when discussing breast self-exams with their ...

Breastfeeding is one of the most important activities in infancy and early childhood. More than a nutritional choice, breastfeeding is a parenting choice, with proven benefits for mothers, infants, children, and families. Eighty million babies are born each year—four million in the United States alone—and according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding and human milk are the best choice ...

We all hope a stay in the hospital is uneventful and goes smoothly. However, things don't always work that way. Trips to the emergency room, overnight stays and stints in long-term healthcare facilities are stressful for patients and their families. Who can you turn to when you have a problem in a hospital? A patient advocate is often the answer. While ...