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

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

🗣️ 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

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

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

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

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

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

👏 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

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

For nearly 2/3 of girls & women with sickle cell disease, periods cause severe pain, a study finds. The results "open up a dialogue between patients, hematologists and reproductive health specialists about the serious pain these patients are facing," Dr. Neha Bhasin says. https://ucsfh.org/4qQYkIo

Trauma can impact young children right down to their biology. But new research offers hope: While early trauma speeds up biological aging, healing therapy with a caregiver can actually slow it down. https://ucsfh.org/4c3baQo

🗣️New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in the American Journal on Addictions! 📱Greater #socialmedia use associated with early adolescent #nicotine experimentation. Positive beliefs about smoking may influence this relationship. 🔗To learn more, visit: tinyurl.com/SMNicExp @ucsf-ihps.bsky.social

🗣️ New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social in @ajpmonline.bsky.social! 📱 Problematic #screen use in early adolescents is linked to #mental health and #behavioral health outcomes one year later 🔗To learn more, visit: tinyurl.com/PSUYouth @ucsfpsych.bsky.social @ucsf-ihps.bsky.social @ucsfhealth.bsky.social

Discontinuing the uveitis & arthritis drug adalimumab led to higher rates of recurrence in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis, a study finds. The good news? "Disease control can be regained after restarting treatment,” Dr. Nisha Acharya says. https://ucsfh.org/4qGioxZ

15% of 5-year-olds & 10% of 6-year-olds experience bed-wetting. While it often becomes less common as kids get older, caregivers should look into possible physical causes if wetness is ongoing or accompanied by UTIs. Learn more about diagnoses and treatment here: https://ucsfh.org/49RUGHO

While researchers don’t yet know whether chatbots cause, worsen or merely reflect psychosis, Dr. Karthik Sarma hopes chat log analysis can help identify risks of mental health crises and safeguards for kids and teens. https://ucsfh.org/3LP10I7

Please congratulate Nancy! She rang our end-of-treatment bell surrounded by her care team and family, after multiple rounds of chemo for acute myeloid leukemia. After four months in and out of our Oakland hospital receiving treatment, she’s heading home to Humboldt County!

Stress can worsen many conditions in kids, such as asthma and cognitive function. “We have tools that can help immediately and have a lasting impact," UCSF’s Nicki Bush says. "Let’s start providing every child & family with the resources to be as healthy as possible." https://ucsfh.org/4a494xX

Babies born with heart defects are vulnerable to developmental issues, but oxygen tests and brain scans can help doctors identify those most at risk, a study finds. “It’s really about early detection and early treatment," Dr. Shabnam Peyvandi tells @ktvufox2.bsky.social. https://ucsfh.org/45ixKQF

Kids spend ~70 minutes of the school day on their phones. But caregivers can help by modeling healthy screen time, Dr. @jasonmnagata.bsky.social says. Caregiver phone use is “one of the biggest predictors of adolescent phone use, or screen use in general,” he explains. https://ucsfh.org/49b2mGg

Jonah is doing great after three heart surgeries at our hospital — please congratulate his family! He'll need more heart and abdominal surgeries in the future, but for now, he is thriving. “He is so resilient and just has a smile that lights up the room,” his mom, Angel, says.

Kids are most at risk for thirdhand smoke, the toxic residue tobacco leaves behind on surfaces, a study from UCSF, @sandiegostate.bsky.social & @berkeleylab.lbl.gov finds. New CA smoke disclosure requirements for real estate deals started 1/1 and could help. https://ucsfh.org/4b4Rzi1

Happy holidays from everyone at our hospitals! ☃️🎁🎄

Thank you for visiting us and bringing joy to our patients, Santa Claus! 🎅❤️🎁

The percentage of healthcare costs for treating mental health, substance use & other behavioral care for U.S. kids has nearly doubled since 2011. “As a country, we need to make sure behavioral health care is accessible & affordable for every family," Dr. Ashley Foster says. https://ucsfh.org/45dNxA5

Tiny cell movements behind cleft lip and palate could help us make sense of health concerns in both kids and adults. "Understanding fundamentally what these genes do in development is extremely useful for understanding all human diseases," researcher Jeffrey Bush says. https://ucsfh.org/48x28sH

At just 13 mos. old, Penny was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. After 6 rounds of chemotherapy, tumor removal and 198 days in our Oakland hospital, she's now cancer-free! This Giving Tuesday, Penny's mom recalls her daughter's last scan on Christmas Eve. https://ucsfh.org/4apGEPA

Some babies born premature can develop apnea, which periodically stops breathing for more than 15 to 20 seconds at a time and sometimes is associated with slowing of the heart rate. Fortunately, apnea is treatable. Learn more here: https://ucsfh.org/3UTn4lQ

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving from all the little turkeys at our hospitals! 🦃

For some children, strong feelings show up on brain scans, a UCSF study finds. “If we know an individual child’s brain patterns and how that maps to emotion and behavior, we may be able to use this to personalize treatment,” co-senior author Dr. Pratik Mukherjee says. https://ucsfh.org/44vQifM

A simple oxygen test can identify which babies with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at higher risk for developmental abnormalities like ADHD, a study finds — potentially leading to early detection and life-changing treatments. https://ucsfh.org/43xour4

Kids who spent at least an hour on social media daily scored lower on reading, memory and vocabulary tests than kids who didn't use social media, a study finds. To help focus on enriching activities, Dr. Jason Nagata recommends families establish "screen-free zones." https://ucsfh.org/43QMHss

Twins Zazil and Alaia graduated from their baby helmets — please congratulate them! 🎉 🎓 They're among the first group of patients to graduate from our new pediatric orthotics and prosthetics clinic at Parnassus, and both toddlers are thrilled to go helmet-free!

📣 New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in @jama.com! Underage social media use linked to lower reading and memory scores - even low levels of social media exposure were linked to poorer cognitive performance 🔗 tinyurl.com/3vnpw4p3 @ucsf-ihps.bsky.social

Federal funding cuts are slowing research on treatments for pediatric cancer. “In the 1960s, essentially a pediatric cancer diagnosis was almost universally fatal,” Dr. William Temple tells KQED. "Nowadays, ~70% of those kids are now cured... because of clinical trials." https://ucsfh.org/4o3EQ2S

Preteens who use increasing amounts of social media perform poorer in reading, vocabulary & memory tests compared w/ those using none or very little, a study finds. Dr. Jason Nagata notes that even "low users had smaller differences in their cognitive scores." https://ucsfh.org/4mZCVeb

Did you know that even mild or partial hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to speak & understand language? Early detection allows parents, teachers & doctors to better assist with development and corrective options. Learn more about diagnosis & where to get treatment: https://ucsfh.org/46GokQ6

👏 U.S. News and World Report results for Best Children’s Hospitals are in! We’re proud to rank as the best children’s hospital in Northern California again, and Top 10 in the nation for cancer, neonatology and gastroenterology! 🎉 https://ucsfh.org/4o5ISXY

Using CRISPR to boost a healthy gene, scientists stopped seizures in mice with a type of brain disorder, offering new hope for children with the mutation. “A therapy like this in the clinic could improve their ability to talk and even live independently,” Kevin Bender says. https://ucsfh.org/46glgtM

In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I visited UCSF & @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social to see the world-class care and groundbreaking research leading the fight against pediatric cancer.

A new a toolkit will help families of childhood cancer survivors reduce exposure to harmful pollutants. “Medical providers receive little to no education... on the impacts of environmental pollutants... (and) need resources to better treat patients,” Dr. Mark Miller says. https://ucsfh.org/4mxdRLz

Multiple sclerosis is most commonly diagnosed in young adults, but kids can be affected, too. We offer early diagnosis and specialized care for pediatric MS, helping young patients manage symptoms like fatigue, vision issues and balance difficulties. Learn more: https://ucsfh.org/3JWlygK

With kids returning to the football field, Dr. Gil Rabinovici urges caution. He's conducting research on CTE/brain injuries in former players. “There is some data that suggests that starting football at a younger age puts people at higher risk,” Dr. Rabinovici says. https://ucsfh.org/41G1GEK

Back-to-school stress is causing more headaches in kids, but pediatric neurologist Dr. Hannah Shapiro is tackling migraines with innovative virtual therapy and IV treatments—no heavy meds needed! Learn more about how to help your child find relief. https://ucsfh.org/42jg45R