More gaming leads to more impulsivity, attention difficulties in children (Psy Pop Media Culture 2012;1:62-70)

This study, done in Singapore, studied the behavior, attention, impulsiveness of the children over three years period by various psychological tests with specific recording of video game playing habits history. The result is an eye opener. Impulsive children with attention problems tend to play more video games, while children in general who spend lots of time video gaming may also develop impulsivity and attention difficulties. Although the findings indicated that playing violent video games also can be linked to impulsivity and attention problems, the overall amount of time spent playing any type of video game proved to be an important factor. This was the case regardless of a child’s gender, race or socioeconomic status. Understanding some of the environmental influences that video gaming may have on attention and impulsivity can help develop more effective solutions for children and parents.

Administer systemic corticosteroids early to reduce hospital admission rates in moderate and severe asthma exacerbation(10.1016/j.annemergmed.2011.12.027)

Prediction of primary vs secondary hypertension in children (JCH, doi: 10.1111/j.1751-76.2012.00603.x)

This retrospective study included children 5 to 19 years with primary and secondary hypertension as variability exists in the workup of hypertensive children due to physician preferences despite current guidelines. The study evaluated primary vs secondary hypertension diagnosis from investigations routinely performed in hypertensive children. The proportions of abnormal laboratory and imaging tests were compared between primary and secondary hypertension groups and risk factors for primary vs secondary hypertension were evaluated by logistic regression and likelihood function analysis. It was found that patients with secondary hypertension were younger (5–12 years) and had a higher proportion of abnormal creatinine, renal ultrasound, and echocardiogram findings. There was no significant difference in abnormal results of thyroid function, urine catecholamines, plasma renin, and aldosterone. We can easily identify children aged 5 to 12 years at higher risk for secondary hypertension that requires detailed evaluationwith abnormal renal ultrasound findings and high diastolic blood pressures.

Premedication: 0.2mg/kg or 0.3mg/kg midazolam intranasal spray(J Anesth DOI: 10.1007/s00540-012-1341-6)

Children’s academic success linked to how parents play with toddlers(Pediatrics, doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-1402d)

The ways in which parents engage with their children at age two predicts their children’s future academic outcomes, according to results from this 15 year study done in USA. There has been extensive research done on the importance of early parent-child interactions on future educational experiences, but most have focused on the relationship with the mother. This study looked at the combined long-term impacts of both maternal and paternal interactions in those critical stages of early development, and discovered that children not only benefit from the interactions they have with their mothers, but also their fathers.