NOTE — These summaries link to stories published online in the local and national press and other sources. Please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy or availability of links, as over time some links may expire or be made available only to registered users of the originating sites.
Could Giving Newborns Formula Help with Breast-Feeding? — A new study led by Dr. Valerie Flaherman, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, found that for babies who experience significant weight loss after birth, giving small amounts of formula in the first few days of life appears to increase breast-feeding rates three months later. Read more from the L.A. Times.
Medical Devices Fall Short for Children — The development of medical and surgical devices designed for children's bodies often fall behind the development of such devices for adults. Dr. Michael Harrison, director of the Pediatric Device Consortium at UCSF — a collaboration between doctors and engineers created to address this gap — spoke about the issue in the New York Times.
Bone Marrow Donor Meets Girl Whose Life He Saved — One year after her bone marrow transplant, 13-year-old Vicky Tran met her donor for the first time at UCSF Medical Center. See their meeting on NBC Bay Area.
Colic May Be Linked with Migraines, Research Says — Dr. Amy Gelfand, a pediatric neurologist at the UCSF Headache Center, spoke about a new study that strengthens findings from her own research, suggesting a possible link between having colic as an infant and suffering from migraines later in life. Read more from the Associated Press.
Study: Autism Has Strong Genetic Link in Mice — Recent research that appears to support a strong genetic component to autism was recently published by Dr. Elliott Sherr, a pediatric neurologist at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Read more in U.S. News & World Report.
Gettys Host Snuggly Soiree to Benefit Benioff Hospital — The annual "snuggly soiree" benefit for the Glogau Teddy Bear Rescue Fund, which provides support services for patients and their families at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, was covered in Haute Living.
How Hypothermia Is Saving Newborn Babies — A new hypothermic "cooling treatment" is being used at UCSF to treat newborns with suspected brain injuries. The treatment is thought to help prevent or minimize brain damage. Learn more from the The Wall Street Journal.
Robert Lustig on the Colbert Report — Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, spoke about his new book, Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease on The Colbert Report.
The Costs of Emergency Room Cost-Cutting — A UCSF study on emergency room usage contradicted popular opinion, finding that just 6 percent of emergency room visits could have been handled with a regular doctor visit. The study also found that patients who didn't wind up needing emergency care often arrived with similar symptoms to those that did. The results suggest that some new policies to cut health care costs may be misled. Read more in The New York Times Well blog.
Emergency Room Symptoms May Not Predict Health Care Needs — About 6 percent of emergency department (ED) visits could have been handled by a primary care doctor, according to a new study published by UCSF emergency medicine specialist Dr. Maria Raven and colleagues. However, the study found that this could not be predicted based on their initial symptoms, as nearly 90 percent of patients in the study arrived in the ED with similar complaints. The findings were covered by Reuters.
Compiled by UCSF Public Affairs