Great news! A breakthrough in personalized stem cell transplants is improving survival & reducing long-term side effects for children with blood cancers. The approach has raised pediatric relapse-free survival to ~90% & is now helping improve care for children nationwide. https://ucsfh.org/4fl2DYY

A child’s fracture can be more complex than it looks, and our experts are finding new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent complications. “There's something very special about caring for children with orthopedic injuries,” Dr. Ishaan Swarup says. “We love what we do.” https://ucsfh.org/4w8MHA8

Congratulations to Maya Merhige! 🎉 Her 21.4-mile swim from Ireland to Scotland wasn't just an athletic achievement: It was a tribute to everyone affected by cancer. "Whether it’s for a patient, a doctor, a family member, or a friend, I swim for them all," she says. https://ucsfh.org/4w7FXCO

If sunscreen turns into a battle because it stings, the formula, not the SPF, could be the culprit. “Not all sunscreens are formulated the same,” UCSF's Dr. Sungat Grewal says. “Two products with the same SPF can feel very different on the skin.” https://ucsfh.org/4pihat5

🗣️ New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social commentary in Journal of Adolescent Health! Our 8-week rotation model gives medical students exposure to adolescent health research and the chance to collaborate with interdisciplinary faculty, mentors, and peers across institutions. 🔗 tinyurl.com/AdolRes

Federal regulators cleared Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed as a lower-risk cigarette alternative. However, that doesn't mean the product is safe, Dr. Pamela Ling says: "Nicotine itself is highly addictive, and we still don’t have long-term data on these newer products." https://ucsfh.org/3SRrV9w

From music therapy to hospital TV shows, our creative arts program has a positive impact on even the youngest patients. "It's a positive way to engage in an environment (where) there's a lot of stress," music therapist Brianna Negrete tells @pbsnews.org. https://ucsfh.org/44lBHDs

How hospitals are using the arts to help patients recover

As the impact of art on better health outcomes is being studied more and more, some hospital systems are now focusing on even the youngest of patients. Special correspondent Mike Cerre took a look at ...

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Kids with sleep apnea may be misdiagnosed with behavioral or learning disorders, since poor sleep can mimic ADHD-like symptoms. If they normally follow directions & remain calm but suddenly lack emotional regulation, caregivers should inquire further, Dr. Kin Yuen says. https://ucsfh.org/3SFwqnA

When a Kid’s Bad Behavior Is Actually Hidden Sleep Disorder

In children, the effects of sleep problems may be even more pronounced than in adults because sleep is closely tied to growth, learning, and brain maturation.

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Acne is more than skin-deep; it can take a toll on mental health too. From the ages of 12 to 25, about 85% of people will experience acne, @ucsffresno.bsky.social's Dr. Greg Simpson says. He recommends treating breakouts early to prevent scarring and ease emotional impacts. https://ucsfh.org/4vFrj5q

Acne affects millions and mental health, experts say early treatment is key

June is Acne Awareness Month, shining a light on a common skin condition that experts say can have significant emotional and mental health impacts.

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Early life hardships may leave marks on the brain itself, a UCSF/@cmu.edu study finds. Social adversity like trauma, poverty and discrimination can physically reshape the brain in ways linked to schizophrenia risk. The findings could pave the way to earlier intervention. https://ucsfh.org/4uTxFwU

How Childhood Experiences Influence the Risk of Developing Schizophrenia

In a groundbreaking systematic review published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California, San Francisco have illuminated the complex interaction

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🗣️ New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in Academic Pediatrics! Cyberbullying trajectories → poorer academic outcomes in adolescents in @theabcdstudy.bsky.social 🔗 Read here: tinyurl.com/yc3pmw4x @ucsfhealth.bsky.social

As school routines disappear, screen time surges, often at the expense of sleep, exercise and real-world friendships, Dr. Jason Nagata says. To help combat overuse, he suggests introducing fun alternatives, a family media plan and modeling healthy screen use. https://ucsfh.org/4eA03hm

'Toy Story 5' gets at something very real: It's hard to keep kids off screens in summer

Kids' screen use goes way up in the summertime. And just as the movie Toy Story 5 portrays, that can be problematic for children. Here are tips for parents to help their kids manage screens and have f...

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What do cigarettes and Lunchables have in common? Researchers found that tobacco companies used "cigarette science" to help design the popular kids' meal, engineering brightly packaged “grab-’n-go” food to maximize its appeal. https://ucsfh.org/4aC6cZ2

🗣️New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in The American Journal of Psychiatry! 📱Longitudinal research shows that early-onset, rapid increasing social media use may be associated with future substance experimentation. 🔗 To learn more, visit: tinyurl.com/fdwwu9tm

When 17-year-old Andrew suffered a stroke during his senior year of high school, what began as a regular day turned into a fight for survival. Today he helps raise awareness for other kids facing the same challenge. “My experience at UCSF inspired me to give back,” he says. https://ucsfh.org/3S22DoI

A Stroke Left 17-Year-Old Andrew Hunched on the Floor in Pain

Two decades ago, children with stroke were falling into this gap between stroke providers who didn’t treat children and child neurologists who were uncomfortable with stroke. Today, UCSF is at the for...

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More than 1/2 of U.S. teens use their phones after midnight instead of sleeping, a study finds. Regular late-night phone use "can interfere with the sleep they need to learn and perform at their best at school the next day,” Dr. @jasonmnagata.bsky.social tells @people.com. https://ucsfh.org/4tWs1cC

More Than Half of U.S. Teens Are Losing Critical Sleep Due to Smartphone Use After Midnight

More than half of U.S. adolescents are losing crucial sleep to smartphone use between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., according to a new study. Participants in the study were most likely to use...

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Measles cases are rising again in the US, with lower vaccination rates and global travel fueling the virus’ spread. Vaccination remains the best defense, Dr. Charles Chiu says, but ~95% community immunity is needed to protect vulnerable groups, especially children under 5. https://ucsfh.org/4uVYjph

Why Measles Is Spreading Again and Who Faces the Highest Risk

UCSF expert Charles Chiu discusses rising measles cases, extreme contagiousness, and why 95% vaccination rates are vital for community safety.

ucsfh.org

🗣️ New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in Current Psychiatry Reports! 📱Among adolescent boys and young men, exposure to appearance-focused and manosphere content is linked to body dissatisfaction, risky behaviors, and harmful masculinity norms. 🔗 Read here: rdcu.be/fiCsc

Teen depression rates have risen sharply, with ~1 in 5 adolescents having a major episode in the past year. Scientists are now looking beyond traditional treatments to the gut-brain axis and exploring the gut microbiome's role in mood and mental health. https://ucsfh.org/4di6Ds9

New Study Asks, Can Probiotics Help Reduce Depression in Teens?

UCSF's Cherry Leung, associate professor of community health systems with the UC San Francisco School of Nursing, researches the gut-brain axis as a potential adjunct therapy for improving adolescent ...

ucsfh.org

Happy #NursesWeek to all the nurses who care for our pediatric patients with exceptional skill and compassion every day of the year!

A groundbreaking gene therapy has allowed kids like Miles, born with otoferlin deafness, to hear normally—without cochlear implants. “A lot of people are working on how to reprogram cells of the inner ear to rebuild themselves,” UCSF's Dr. Dylan Chan tells @nytimes.com https://ucsfh.org/3QNwLU6

New Gene Therapy Enables Children With a Rare Form of Deafness to Hear (Gift Article)

The treatment, the first of its kind, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. “Our baby was born deaf, and now he can hear,” said one parent.

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An SF infant’s measles case underscores the risk to babies too young to be fully vaccinated. Infants 6–11 months are especially vulnerable and may need an early vaccine dose before travel, Dr. Daniele Gusland says: “They are this uniquely at-risk group.” https://ucsfh.org/3QqRDAF

An S.F. infant got measles. Here’s why babies are especially vulnerable

Even parents following standard measles vaccination guidance, which recommends the first shot at 12 to 15 months, may find their infants exposed to the disease as it resurges globally, experts say.

ucsfh.org

Kids who move less & spend more time on screens at ages 11–12 are more likely to become overweight by their early teens, a study of 5,000+ adolescents finds. High screen time and low physical activity "should be addressed simultaneously," Dr. @jasonmnagata.bsky.social says. https://ucsfh.org/3QzR87g

New heart health guidelines reflect the reality of plaque formation, which "develops over time," Dr. Ramzi Dudum says in this @sfchronicle.com report. The takeaway? Earlier detection is key, with childhood screenings for LDL cholesterol starting at age 9 to 11. https://ucsfh.org/4vynIq3

Your ‘normal' cholesterol and blood pressure may not be normal anymore

Americans should start guarding against heart disease earlier -- and aim for lower cholesterol and blood pressure than ever before, according to new guidelines for heart health.

ucsfh.org

Once barely able to attend school due to near-constant seizures caused by Dravet syndrome, 10-year-old Oli and his family have new hope! Now more than 4 years into a UCSF trial, Oli’s seizures are more controlled. “It has been life-changing for us,” his mom Lindsay says. https://ucsfh.org/4cXHCn6

UCSF trial offers hope for children with Dravet syndrome, rare and severe childhood epilepsy | abc7news.com

A UCSF trial of a gene-targeting drug shows major seizure reduction in children with Dravet syndrome, offering families long-awaited hope.

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Diagnosed in the womb with a life-threatening condition, Mason survived thanks to a pioneering fetal procedure that helped his lungs develop. Now 18, Mason traveled from MI with his family to reunite with the doctor who performed his life-saving procedure: Dr. Hanmin Lee. https://ucsfh.org/4cpo0Ig

Teen reunites with UCSF surgeon who saved him as a fetus, 18 years later

It's a full circle moment for a patient and the doctor he met before anyone else. "I'm grateful that I'm here standing," said 18-year-old Mason Ellinger.

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👏 Happy #DoctorsDay to all the exceptional physicians who care for children every day of the year! ❤️

📣 New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in BMC Public Health! 📱Higher recreational screen time and lower daily step count associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk in early adolescence 🔗 Read here: tinyurl.com/n5w9hwc7 @ucsf-ihps.bsky.social @ucsfhealth.bsky.social

To help address the U.S.’s pediatrician shortage, our Peds-START program connects medical students with mentors, provides specialized training and creates a direct pathway into our pediatric residency program. https://ucsfh.org/3NfH9mh

Can a Pathway to Residency Cure the Pediatrician Shortage?

Peds-START (Pediatric Specialized Training and Admission to Residency Track) is one of the only programs of its kind in the country that provides medical students interested in pediatrics early mentorship, specialized pediatric training, and a direct p...

ucsf.edu

When it comes to test prep, long-term studying is more effective than cramming. That’s because when learning experiences happen too close together, the brain absorbs less information, a study finds. The takeaway? “Timing is everything,” UCSF’s Dennis Burke says. https://ucsfh.org/46iORCx

The Brain May Learn More from Rare Events than from Repetition

How we learn to predict an outcome isn’t determined by how many times a cue and reward happen together. Instead, how much time passes between rewards is also important. Understanding this process has ...

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