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Today, the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young people's Services (C4EO) published its first three scoping studies for its first theme, Early Years. The publication of the scoping studies is the first part of the process by which C4EO will create a knowledge bank of 'what works' evidence for each of its six themes. The scoping studies assess the nature and strength of the evidence base and to provide an initial overview of trends in the literature.

The Fitness Industry Association (FIA) programme go, which is aimed at girls aged 15-16, launched last Friday 7 November at Warrington's David Lloyd health and fitness club. Local Labour MP for Warrington South, Helen Southworth, visited the School to help launch the initiative, which is designed to offer more girls the opportunity to participate in non-traditional sporting activities as well as develop a new approach to a healthier lifestyle.

The use of insecticide-treated bed nets to protect children from malaria has risen six-fold in the past seven years, according to new research. Despite this success, however, 90 million children still do not have access to this simple protective tool, and remain at risk from the life-threatening disease.

Scientists have found a new gene associated with the brain disorder epilepsy. While the PRICKLE1 gene mutation was specific to a rare form of epilepsy, the study results could help lead to new ideas for overall epilepsy treatment.

Abstract: Parapneumonic or post-pneumonic empyema (PPE) is a severe complication of invasive pneumonia, which has become dramatically more common in children worldwide over the past decade. Although death is uncommon in children from western countries, there is often significant associated morbidity and loss of quality of life, especially if there are associated problems related to lung necrosis. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the principal pathogen causing PPE and a high proportion is due to serotype 1. However, the currently licensed conjugate pneumococcal vaccine does not confer protection against this serotype. To address these problems, a vaccine that includes serotype 1 is required, together with the establishment of ongoing surveillance of serotype distribution associated with invasive pneumococcal disease.

"During the decade 1995-2005, the District's preterm birth rate decreased by 14 percent; we continue to address this as within the past year, the Department of health has started implementation of an ambitious action plan to respond to ongoing maternal and child health needs of District residents. Our current data from 2006 shows an infant mortality rate of 11.3 per thousand live births, a slight decrease from the previous year (2005).

Early breast health education may be the key to lowering breast cancer mortality rates in Washington, D.C., which has the highest rates in the country, according to research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.

A small percentage of males born with cryptorchidism (failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum), the most frequent congenital birth defect in male children, are more likely to have genetic mutations, including for a syndrome that is a common genetic cause of infertility, according to new study.

A new study finds evidence that children who are obese or have high cholesterol show warning signs of heart disease.

Teens who have never done drugs, but engage in other risky behaviours such as drinking, smoking and being sexually active, are more likely to use crystal meth, medical researchers have concluded.