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A report from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto emphasizes the importance of promoting and supporting breastfeeding as a public health intervention with numerous benefits for both infants and mothers. The research highlights that despite the known advantages, widespread adoption of breastfeeding recommendations remains poor in most settings, leading to health and social inequalities. The report calls on pediatricians to advocate for improving child health by promoting and supporting breastfeeding, both at an individual level and by influencing practice and policy. It suggests that pediatric training curricula should include a comprehensive understanding of breastfeeding to effectively support mothers and influence breastfeeding practice and policy at various levels. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital examined the impact of travel distance on outcomes and costs for patients undergoing complex aortic surgery. The study found that patients who traveled farther for surgery had higher procedural costs, postoperative imaging costs, and comprehensive first-year costs. However, there was no significant difference in the number of reinterventions and imaging studies postoperatively. The researchers suggest that these findings highlight the need for increased care coordination for patients traveling longer distances to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare system burden. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers from the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science have developed the Pediatric Psychosocial Preventative Health Model (PPPHM), a three-tier model used to guide intervention approaches in pediatric healthcare settings. The model aims to achieve equitable psychosocial care for children and families by screening all families to determine levels of risk. A scoping review of 43 papers found that the distribution of risk on the PPPHM was approximately 60% universal (low), 30% targeted (moderate), and 10% clinical (high). Implementing universal family psychosocial risk screening and delivering personalized care based on level of risk promotes health equity in pediatric healthcare settings. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted at the University Hospital Center Montreal in Canada has investigated the mechanisms and risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in spaceflight. The researchers conducted a literature review and identified several important themes, including altered venous hemodynamics, increased fibrinogen and coagulation markers, hypoalbuminemia, and immune dysfunction. They also found that women in space may have additional risk factors for VTE, such as the use of oral contraceptives. The study suggests that efforts should be made to optimize imaging markers and biomarkers for VTE detection in spaceflight. [Extracted from the article]

A critical review conducted by Donna Koller and colleagues examined how children's participation rights, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, are implemented by pediatric healthcare teams. The researchers analyzed 25 studies from around the world, with a majority of papers from the UK, using qualitative and mixed methods approaches. The review found limited language on children's rights in the literature, a lack of information on the composition and working methods of pediatric healthcare teams, and minimal references to theory or philosophical foundations that could guide practice. However, the literature suggests that children are able to identify desirable interactions with healthcare providers. [Extracted from the article]

New research conducted by the University of Victoria in Canada explores the potential benefits of aerobic exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation. The study found that aerobic exercise shows promise as a treatment for adolescent and adult TBI survivors, regardless of injury severity. However, there is a lack of research examining the benefits of post-injury aerobic exercise for children and older adults. This study highlights the need for further investigation in these populations. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discussed new findings in Huntington Disease (HD) in a recent study. The clinical diagnosis of HD typically relies on the presence of motor signs, but cognitive and behavioral dysfunction can precede these signs by up to 15 years. The researchers propose the use of non-motor diagnostic criteria for HD, and recommend that clinical neuropsychologists play a role in advising on their application. They also provide guidelines for medical treatment providers to screen and monitor non-motor signs of HD. A companion position paper with evidence-based guidelines for neuropsychological practice is forthcoming. [Extracted from the article]