Things in the library 12 May

Things about baby brains...
This week ground-breaking scans of newborn babies’ brains were published which researchers from all over the world can download and use to study how the human brain develops. The images are beautiful too!
The images are part of the Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP), a collaboration between King’s College London, Imperial College London and the University of Oxford, which will uncover how the brain develops, including the wiring and function of the brain during pregnancy and how this changes after birth. The dHCP researchers are sharing their images and methods online so that other scientists from around the world can use the data in their own research. It is hoped that pioneer studies into normal and abnormal development, by studying well-phenotyped and genotyped groups of infants with specific genetic and environmental risks, could lead to explanations of conditions such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Cerebral Palsy.
Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, the team has developed new techniques which enable images of the brains of foetuses and babies to be captured.  Researchers have overcome problems caused by babies’ movement and small size, as well as the difficulties in keeping vulnerable infants safe in the MRI scanner, so that they can now produce highly detailed and rich information on brain development.

Things about paediatric nursing...
An article 'The History of Children’s Nursing and Its Direction Within the United Kingdom' was published in 'Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing' this month. This article presents an account of the “evolution of children’s nursing" and also considers the future direction of children’s nursing within the UK. Full text not available via NHS Open Athens account but SCH staff may contact the library if you would like us to obtain it for you. You can do this via this online form.



Things about poverty...
A report published this week from RCPCH and Child Poverty Action group 'Poverty and child health: Views from the frontline' .More than two-thirds of paediatricians surveyed said poverty and low income contribute "very much" to the ill health of children they work with.
They are calling on whoever forms the next Government to tackle poverty urgently through:

• the restoration of binding national targets to reduce child poverty, backed by a national child poverty strategy
• the adoption of a ‘child health in all policies’ approach to decision making and policy development, with Her Majesty’s Treasury disclosing information about the impact of the Chancellor’s annual budget statement on child poverty and inequality
• the reversal of public health cuts to ensure universal early years services, including health visiting and school nursing, are prioritised and supported financially, with additional targeted help for children and families experiencing poverty
• the reversal of cuts to universal credit which will leave the majority of families claiming this benefit worse off.

Things by our clinicians...

Some familiar names in this book 'Esophageal and Gastric Disorders in Infancy and Childhood' so we have purchased the e-book of this title so it is available to SCH staff via their NHS Athens login or by searching for it in our library catalogue. 

We also try to add all the SCH article publications we find to our Delicious site...if your recent publications are not there let us know!

Things about eating...

This study 'Infantile Anorexia and Co-parenting: A Pilot Study on Mother–Father–Child Triadic Interactions during Feeding and Play' is pilot research that investigates mother–father–child triadic interactions, during feeding and play, in families with children diagnosed with Infantile Anorexia , in comparison to families with normally developing children.

Things about monitoring heart rates... 

A systematic review of studies assessing novel methods of measuring HR in newborns and infants in the neonatal unit was published this week in Acta Paediatrica. 'A systematic review of novel technology for monitoring infant and newborn heart rate'.  Two investigators completed independent literature searches. Identified papers were independently evaluated, and relevant data were extracted and analysed. Conclusion: This systematic review identified seven new technologies, including camera-based photoplethysmography, reflectance pulse oximetry, laser Doppler methods, capacitive sensors, piezoelectric sensors, electromyography and a digital stethoscope. Clinicians should be aware of several of these, which may become available for clinical use in the near future.

Things about French bread...

(c) Clotilde Dusoulier

Apparently there is a competition each year in Paris to find the best baguette...the winning baker gets to be the official provider of baguettes for the Palais de l’Élysée,  where the president lives and works. This means that the Président de la République eats that baguette daily, but more important, it is the bread served for all the official meals with ambassadors and foreign dignitaries. More fascinating information about the baguette and the best places in Paris to buy them from one of my favourite food bloggers also a recipe to make your own sourdough baguette.