5 mins read

Is Botox a Gateway Drug?

Botox, or Botulinum Toxin, is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. (Wow- that’s a mouth full!) Despite the fact that it is the most toxic protein known, it is used world over in minute quantities to treat muscle spasms. Administered properly, it prevents a muscle from contracting …

4 mins read

Talking to Kids About Ebola

We need to talk to kids about the current Ebola outbreak for the exact same reason we talk to kids about sex: there is so much wildly inaccurate information available, it’s critical for children to have correct information from a reliable source, who in this case is you. Hysteria about Ebola is more contagious than…

4 mins read

Talking to Your Child about the HPV Vaccine

This guest post is by Dr. Celyna Delgado, Obstetrics & Gynecology at Institute for Women’s Health. Let’s face it-when thinking about your kid’s back-to-school vaccinations, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is probably not on the top of your mind, right? With over 12,000 U.S. women and 7,000 U.S. men developing an HPV-associated cancer annually, it…

3 mins read

Brain Synapses of Children with Autism

Children with autism have too many “junction boxes” in their brains, a studyhas found. The surplus synapses – places where neurons connect and communicate – are due to a lack of “pruning” that normally occurs early in life. In mice with autistic traits, scientists were able to restore synaptic pruning and reduce symptoms with a drug used to suppress the immune systems of transplant patients. The drug, rapamycin, has side effects that make it unsuitable as …