Scientists showed for the first time that mothers from disadvantaged backgrounds with high prenatal levels of the stress hormone cortisol tend to have children whose first teeth come out earlier. These results suggest that the early eruption of teeth may be an early warning sign of faster biological aging due to socioeconomic deprivation and prenatal stress.

A collaborative research team, led by scientists at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, has identified a targeted drug that could effectively treat an aggressive soft tissue cancer that occurs most often in pediatric and young adult patients. New findings—published in Nature Communications—suggest that blocking a specific genetic pathway could reverse a series of tumor-driving cellular interactions to restore DNA function and benefit patients with synovial sarcoma.

A new study published in AJPM Focus found that the risk of child firearm injuries was 45 percent higher during the 2-6 pm afterschool period on school days, compared to non-school days, among students at public schools in New York City. This risk nearly tripled in the immediate period at the end of the school day, typically about 2 pm. A second study, published in Prevention Science, examined the benefits of summer youth employment programs and found that these programs not only reduce youth involvement in crime and violence, but also improve youth educational outcomes, social connections, and community engagement.

The children of people who grew up with parental acceptance and lack of negativity tend to struggle less with their own parenting, a new analysis indicates.