A study in the journal American Psychologist found that maternal affection during childhood is linked to the development of personality traits such as openness, conscientiousness and agreeableness by age 18. The research used data from 2,232 British twins, allowing scientists to isolate the impact of parenting from genetic and environmental factors.

The FDA has approved an expanded use of diazepam nasal spray for short-term treatment of seizure clusters to include children ages 2 and older. This expansion follows previous approval for patients ages 6 and older. A Phase 1/2a study found diazepam nasal spray was safe and effective in the younger patient population.

A measles outbreak in the US has led to more than 650 cases, but federal funding cuts may hinder the response. Billions of dollars in pandemic-era grants have been withdrawn, and the HHS announced layoffs, including 2,400 at the CDC, which has led to the cancellation of immunization clinics and staff reductions.

A study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that aromatase inhibitors, alone or with growth hormone, may increase adult height in boys with short predicted adult height because of idiopathic short stature or advanced bone age. The retrospective study involved 43 boys and showed significant height gains compared with control groups.

A study in the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics used a temperature sensor to measure the wear time of cranial remolding orthoses for infants with nonsynostotic deformational plagiocephaly, finding that longer average daily wear improves treatment outcomes; however, self-reported wear time was higher than measured wear time. The study suggests a more realistic wear schedule could improve adherence and outcomes.

A phase 3 trial involving 316 adolescents found that brexpiprazole significantly reduced schizophrenia symptoms over six weeks compared with a placebo. The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, noted that the medication had a tolerable safety profile, with headache, nausea and somnolence being the most common adverse events.

The prevalence of depression in the US increased from 8% in 2013-2014 to 13% in 2021-2023, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adolescents had the highest rates at 19%, while adults 60 and older had the lowest at 9%. Only 39% of people with depression had received counseling or therapy in the past year.

Emergency call centers in Morgan and Limestone counties in Alabama are experiencing a surge in accidental 9-1-1 calls, primarily due to children playing with smartphones and the fall detection feature on Apple Watches. Morgan 9-1-1 Operations Manager Joey Sivley notes that children often trigger emergency calls by repeatedly pressing the power button on phones, while the fall detection on smartwatches automatically dials 9-1-1. Limestone County 9-1-1 Director Brandon Wallace says accidental calls account for about 24% of all 9-1-1 calls.

The HHS has stopped funding GeoVax's COVID-19 vaccine, GEO-CM04S1, which was supported by Project NextGen. GeoVax will continue developing the vaccine, which has shown promise in trials as a primary and booster shot.

Pittsburgh Public Schools is making significant strides in procuring sustainable and nutritious food, with 15% of its $5.6 million food budget spent on local suppliers during the 2022-23 school year. However, recent federal cuts to USDA's Farm to School grants and potential changes to the Community Eligibility Provision could hinder progress, as the district relies heavily on these funds to provide free meals and support initiatives such as salad bars and school gardens.

Danielle Jones is a health care editor at SmartBrief where she edits content about pediatrics, biotechnology and nuclear medicine. She's been a medical editor and writer for 15 years now and has a background in clinical practices. You can contact her by email with feedback and ideas. If you find this newsletter helpful, please share it with a friend or colleague who might like to subscribe. It's free!