Household food security plays a critical role in determining the nutritional status of children, which in turn impacts their growth and development. This study assessed factors influencing household food security and childhood nutritional status and explored the relationship between these variables in Namutumba District. A total of 299 child-caregiver pairs participated in the study. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed, with multi-level mixed effects generalized linear models to examine factors associated with severe household food insecurity and children’s nutritional status. Multilinear regressions were used to evaluate the relationship between severe household food insecurity and child nutritional status. The results revealed that most households (60.2%) were severely food insecure. A double burden of malnutrition was observed, with 28.0% of children stunted and 2.8% overweight or obese. Factors positively associated with improved household food security included secondary-level education (p = 0.011), medium to high wealth percentile (p < 0.001), and the presence of at least one income-earning household member (p = 0.045). Conversely, lack of access to agricultural land, food stocks, and access to treated drinking water were significantly linked to severe food insecurity (p < 0.001). Severe food insecurity was positively associated with wasting (β = 0.81, p = 0.007) and negatively associated with stunting (β = −0.37, p = 0.039). In conclusion, multiple factors influence household food security, and the nutritional status of children aged 24–59 months. A comprehensive, food systems-based approach may be key to addressing malnutrition in Namutumba District.

Delayed reward discounting (DRD), the tendency to prefer smaller rewards available immediately relative to larger rewards available after a delay, is associated with numerous health outcomes across the lifespan. Emerging literature points to the central role of early environments, specifically factors reflecting harshness (including lack of resources) and unpredictability (exposure to instability and stressful events) in the development of DRD. Yet, existing research uses disparate indicators of environmental risk and often draws on small samples resulting in conflicting findings, making comparisons across studies challenging. The current systematic review examined environmental factors that may place youth at greatest risk for heightened DRD and subsequent negative health outcomes. Search results identified 28 articles reflecting 20 unique samples. Additionally, meta-analyses were conducted to examine overall effects for the two most commonly examined environmental predictors (family income and family history of substance use disorder). Results suggest small-to-medium associations of environmental risk with DRD, with smaller associations observed for more distal predictors of harshness (e.g., family income) and larger associations among more proximal indicators of environmental instability (e.g., harsh parenting and parental pathology). Findings highlight the role of environmental factors on DRD development and may inform future interventions.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a serious disease and increasingly prevalent in children. MASLD is associated with health consequences such as type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. While, vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that has been proposed to improve liver function and cardiometabolic health including liver markers, lipid profile, glycemic control, and anthropometric measurements. A comprehensive search was conducted up to March 2025. Data on anthropometric measures, liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)), glycemic indices (fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)), lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)), and serum vitamin E levels were extracted. Statistical analyses were performed using a random-effects model. Eleven RCTs involving 665 participants were included in this study. Vitamin E significantly reduced ALT (weighted mean difference (WMD)= -5.23 U/L;95% confidence interval (CI): -7.72, -2.75; P< 0.001) and AST (WMD= -3.00 U/L;95% CI: -4.59, -1.41; P< 0.001), reflecting improved liver function. It also decreased TC (WMD= -5.77 mg/dL;95% CI: -11.46, -0.09; P= 0.04) and HOMA-IR (WMD= -0.82;95% CI: -1.28, -0.37; P< 0.001), while significantly increasing serum vitamin E levels (WMD= 9.16 mg/L;95%CI: 3.29, 15.03; P=0.002). No significant changes were observed in the BMI, GGT, FBS, insulin, LDL, HDL, or TG levels. Vitamin E supplementation in pediatric MASLD appears to favorably influence key liver enzymes such as ALT, AST and certain metabolic factors including TC, and HOMA-IR levels, supporting its potential role as adjunctive therapy.

Grey-headed flying-foxes, frequently-spotted residents of the greater Sydney region, Australia, play a key role in native ecosystems. Knowledge of local wildlife may increase interest in conserving and protecting wildlife. We assessed baseline knowledge in a year 3 class regarding common features and habits of grey-headed flying-foxes, and feasibility and impact of a classmate-peer-developed educational intervention. Pre- and post-intervention paper questionnaires were administered to a single class in a single school. The focussed educational intervention comprised an interactive presentation with slide-show, developed by a classmate-peer with stakeholder consultation. Simple descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were applied.

The same 29 students participated in both pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. The intervention proved feasible in a classroom setting. The pre-intervention survey indicated suboptimal knowledge regarding grey-headed flying-foxes in relation to categorisation, appearance, habitat, activity, diet and travel patterns. Post-intervention knowledge had generally improved.

This pilot study indicated that a simple peer-developed educational intervention was feasible and improved knowledge gaps, at least in the short term. Future research might assess the potential for initiatives like this to improve young people’s knowledge at a wider level, and explore the relationship between improvements in knowledge and efforts to conserve vulnerable species such as the grey-headed flying-fox.

The 2023 Gaza War has severely affected children’s health and development. This field-based synthesis draws from humanitarian agency reports and public health data to document impacts across physical health, nutrition, mental well-being, and education. Key findings include severe malnutrition, psychological trauma, and collapse of health care and education systems. Humanitarian access remains limited due to embedded military infrastructure and active conflict zones. Recommendations call for protected corridors, mobile health units, targeted mental health support, and stronger international accountability.

Food insecurity is a global issue. The objective is to summarise the literature identifying the main outcomes related to out-of-school hours interventions that provide food for low-income families with school-aged children, how they impact school-aged children and their families, and to identify gaps in knowledge. This review covered the main types and dimensions proposed in the literature. One author independently selected the studies, and an independent reviewer randomly reviewed them. Any paper meeting the inclusion criteria was considered regardless of geographical location. Papers were predominantly from the US, UK and Australia, including school-aged children from low-income families. Ninety-four articles were included relating to holiday clubs (n = 38), breakfast clubs (n = 45) and after-school clubs (n = 11). Key outcomes were healthy eating, academic, social, physical activity, nutritional education and financial outcomes. Clubs were consistent regarding the positive social and financial outcomes. There was variation in the primary aim, either to improve healthy eating or to feed children, regardless of nutritional quality. None of the studies reported children’s health outcomes. This review identified the key outcomes of interventions for low-income families outside of school hours in the literature. It highlights the consistent positive social outcomes across the three intervention types and the discrepancy in the nutritional value of the food provided. Few studies examined the attainment impact of holiday clubs, with no evidence on how they could impact term-time attendance. This highlights the need to analyse secondary data to understand further the attainment and attendance impact on children attending these interventions over time.

We assessed whether higher caregiver depression is associated with increased likelihood of caregivers rating their children as screening positive for developmental disorders—autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, emotional behavioral disorder, and functional impairment (FI)—among Ugandan children perinatally exposed and unexposed to HIV. Children and their primary caregivers were followed for 12 months. Caregiver depression was measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 and categorized as low, moderate, or high based on terciles. Child developmental indices were derived from the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (third edition) at 0, 6, and 12 months. Multivariable linear regression estimated mean differences (MDs) in disorder indices with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by caregiver depression level. Compared with highly depressed caregivers, those with low depression reported consistently lower ASD risk scores (MD: −0.35 to −0.32; 95% CI: −0.60 to −0.08). Similar trends were observed for FI (MD: −0.56 to −0.31; 95% CI: −0.81 to −0.06). Moderate depression was associated with modestly lower FI risk at baseline and 6 months but not at 12 months. Overall, higher caregiver depressive symptoms were linked to greater perceived child disorder risk. Evaluating caregiver depression alongside child screening may improve interpretation of developmental risk assessments.

In 1915, a Denver murder case became a national story, not because of the identities of the perpetrator or victim but because of a reluctant trial witness: Judge Ben B. Lindsey. A pioneer of Progressive Era juvenile justice, Lindsey was charged with contempt of court for refusing to disclose the details that a twelve-year-old boy shared with him. His refusal led to a six-year-long battle over ideas of confidence and secrecy between a juvenile court judge and a minor. This article analyzes the murder trial and consequent contempt of court case as reflective of a clash over questions of law, justice, and public interest and highlights the role of ordinary people, including children, in debating these ideas. It argues that, as legal actors engaged in a conflict between legal formalism and socialized law, members of the public debated their own perceptions and vernacular understandings of law, justice, and the role of the juvenile court.

Balloon-expandable MyVal OCTACOR valves were evaluated in 3D-printed conduits under simulated flow. The 20 mm valve functioned from 16–24 mm, rupturing at 27 mm. The 29 mm expanded to 33 mm with mild insufficiency. Findings suggest OCTACOR valves may support repeated valve-in-valve procedures, with the 20 mm showing greater versatility for small-infant mitral replacements and as a potential alternative to Melody valves.