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Long-Term Outcomes and Quality of Life for Kids Treated With Antegrade Continence Enemas
 Long-Term Outcomes and Quality of Life for Kids Treated With Antegrade Continence Enemas 1024 601 Pam Georgiana
By:

ACE treatment can lead to long-term clinical and quality-of-life improvement in children with defecation disorders.   For about 10-15% of the children who experience chronic constipation or other defecation disorders, the usual behavioral modification treatments and oral medications don’t help. These disorders can significantly…

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What Treatment is Best for Preventing Kidney Complications in STEC Infections?
 What Treatment is Best for Preventing Kidney Complications in STEC Infections? 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Nationwide Children’s Hospital is participating in a multicenter trial to determine the optimal way to treat children with high-risk STEC infections. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections can lead to systemic disease affecting multiple organ systems, including the kidneys. Up to 20% of children…

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Dr. Jayanthi standing in OR
Is Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid an Effective Bladder Neck Bulking Agent for Patients with Persistent Incontinence Following Bladder Neck Reconstruction?
 Is Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid an Effective Bladder Neck Bulking Agent for Patients with Persistent Incontinence Following Bladder Neck Reconstruction? 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By:

Urinary incontinence caused by bladder neck incompetence is common in children diagnosed with neurogenic bladder. Many patients undergo surgery to increase bladder outlet resistance to incontinence, but some still experience it even after surgery. Endoscopic injection of bulking agents has previously been utilized and…

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Modulator Therapy Improves Lives of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis With Severe Lung Disease
 Modulator Therapy Improves Lives of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis With Severe Lung Disease 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By:

Patients receiving ETI on a compassionate use basis experienced substantial clinical improvement. The development of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator drugs, most recently elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI), has transformed the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis. A new study from researchers at Nationwide Children’s…

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Outcomes After Surgical Interventions for Abusive Head Trauma
 Outcomes After Surgical Interventions for Abusive Head Trauma 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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Study suggests that most children can make clinically meaningful recoveries after neurosurgical intervention. Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a leading cause of injury and death in children under 5 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), yet the scientific literature…

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conceptual art of DNA
Expanding Access to Genomic Testing in Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Units
 Expanding Access to Genomic Testing in Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Units 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
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Recent study identifies variations in availability and highlights opportunities to improve access to genomic testing in the United States and Canada. In the Nationwide Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit, patients needing rapid genome sequencing can get it on demand without administrative approval. However,…

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Congenital Heart Disease and Extracardiac Phenotypes Associated With Novel Pathogenic Variant in GATA6
 Congenital Heart Disease and Extracardiac Phenotypes Associated With Novel Pathogenic Variant in GATA6 1024 575 Jessica Nye, PhD
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A study published in Pediatric Research describes a novel pathogenic variant in the gene GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6) associated with congenital heart disease (CHD), diabetes mellitus and necrotizing enterocolitis.   GATA is a family of transcription factors that encode zinc finger DNA binding…

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Enhancing Intestinal Rehabilitation Workflow with Disease-Specific Documentation Tools
 Enhancing Intestinal Rehabilitation Workflow with Disease-Specific Documentation Tools 150 150 Erin Gregory
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Structured data entry not only reduces the amount of time physicians are spending in the electronic health record but also opens the door for new research. A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics by Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Ethan Mezoff, MD, Jennifer Lee, MD, and…

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Treating Pediatric Melanoma: Ultrasound Surveillance vs. Completion Lymph Node Dissection for Sentinel Node Positive Patients
 Treating Pediatric Melanoma: Ultrasound Surveillance vs. Completion Lymph Node Dissection for Sentinel Node Positive Patients 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
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Treatments for pediatric melanoma are usually based on adult studies, but increasing recognition of the differences between pediatric and adult melanoma could change that. Pediatric melanoma is rare in the United States. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that about 400 children under 20 years…

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Novel Cause of Brain Mosaicism and Focal Epilepsy Identified
 Novel Cause of Brain Mosaicism and Focal Epilepsy Identified 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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In Nature Genetics, researchers report a novel mechanism for the origin of brain chromosomal mosaicism and link brain mosaic chromosome 1q gain to a distinct clinical phenotype.   In most people, every cell in their body contains the same genetic information. However, sometimes people…

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Probiotics Delivered in Biofilm State Protect the Intestines and Brain in NEC Model
 Probiotics Delivered in Biofilm State Protect the Intestines and Brain in NEC Model 898 504 Abbie Miller
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Biofilm formulation of Limosilactobacillus reuteri protects against necrotizing enterocolitis in piglet model.  Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a debilitating and deadly condition affecting infants born preterm. In NEC cases, intestinal tissues become inflamed, and in severe cases, there is ischemia and death of the involved…

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Increasing Same-Day Amoxicillin Graded Dose Challenges
 Increasing Same-Day Amoxicillin Graded Dose Challenges 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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A quality improvement initiative overcomes several barriers to de-labeling penicillin allergies. In a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, a research team led by Margaret Redmond, MD, a pediatric allergist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, reported on a quality…

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Building Hope, Recovery, and Life Beyond Substance Use Disorder
 Building Hope, Recovery, and Life Beyond Substance Use Disorder 1024 702 Abbie Miller
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Five years ago, Pediatrics Nationwide dedicated its fall issue to a comprehensive look at the effects of the opioid crisis on children and families. At that time, Sarah Parker was working hard to stay sober, recovering from the very crisis holding the nation’s attention.…

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Whole Child, Whole Family Care
 Whole Child, Whole Family Care 150 150 Abbie Miller and Jeb Phillips
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Meeting the needs of children and caregivers with evidence-based programming and intentional support for access. Parenting a young child can be tough in the best circumstances. But when you overlay poverty, inequity, and concerns about employment and education on top of it, parenting a…

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Tissue Engineered Trachea: State of the Research
 Tissue Engineered Trachea: State of the Research 150 150 Lauren Dembeck
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The promise of tissue-engineered trachea grafts is moving closer to the clinic, as recent preclinical studies have shown successful implantation and neovascularization. Breathing is an essential biological function that provides our bodies with the oxygen necessary for survival. However, most of us rarely think…

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Caring for Incarcerated Children
 Caring for Incarcerated Children 1024 537 Jeb Phillips
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Young people in juvenile detention centers need health care. In fact, decades of studies show they most often need it more urgently than their peers who are not involved in the justice system – nearly 70% of “confined youth” have an unmet health care…

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Preventing Accidental Ingestion of Marijuana
 Preventing Accidental Ingestion of Marijuana 1024 683 Abbie Miller
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If you are a child, and you find a bag of fruit snacks — you don’t eat just one piece. The THC/marijuana products on the market today have an average of 10-20 mg in one serving. That’s one square of a chocolate bar, one…

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User Experiences with Subcutaneous DMPA
 User Experiences with Subcutaneous DMPA 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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Survey reveals high satisfaction among adolescents and young adults using subcutaneous DMPA. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a progestin-only injectable contraceptive that is used as a birth control method and in the treatment of heavy or painful menstrual periods, endometriosis, and for menstrual suppression.…

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Should You Offer Fentanyl Test Strips in Your Office?
 Should You Offer Fentanyl Test Strips in Your Office? 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Harm reduction approaches support the use of fentanyl test strips for individuals who are taking illicit substances but want to avoid fentanyl. Nichole Michaels, PhD, a principal investigator in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s, is conducting two studies about…

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Combined Pediatric-Adult Anticoagulation Program Exceeds Goals
 Combined Pediatric-Adult Anticoagulation Program Exceeds Goals 1024 580 Mary Bates, PhD
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The program achieved excellent quality of anticoagulation therapy in children and adults. The goal of most anticoagulation programs is to improve the care of adult patients on warfarin therapy, specifically by treating and preventing thromboembolic events while minimizing bleeding risk. In a new study,…

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Growing Clinical Research at Nationwide Children’s With Cynthia Gerhardt, PhD
 Growing Clinical Research at Nationwide Children’s With Cynthia Gerhardt, PhD 1024 683 Cynthia Gerhardt, PhD and Natalie Wilson
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Dr. Gerhardt was appointed Chief Clinical Research Officer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in April 2023. With integrating clinical care and research at the heart of the hospital’s strategic plan, she has big plans for ensuring our clinical research infrastructure continues to grow and evolve…

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Literature Review: Coping Through Narrative Medicine
 Literature Review: Coping Through Narrative Medicine 1024 555 Natalie Wilson
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Engaging with others’ stories helps prevent burnout among pediatric residents. A recent publication in Annals of Medicine shows pediatric residents practicing narrative medicine reported sustained improvements in their perceived levels of stress, self-compassion, empathy, mindfulness, burnout and resilience. This marks the first study to…

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Associations Between Blood-Based and Biochemical Markers of Inflammation and Body Mass
 Associations Between Blood-Based and Biochemical Markers of Inflammation and Body Mass 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
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Blood-based markers of inflammation increased with increasing body mass in healthy adolescents. The chronic inflammatory disease atherosclerosis has its origins in childhood and adolescence; however, there are currently no simple methods to easily identify at-risk adolescents.  In a new study, researchers at Nationwide Children’s…

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Increasing Use of Pharmacologic Clot Prevention Among Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease
 Increasing Use of Pharmacologic Clot Prevention Among Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease 1024 580 Mary Bates, PhD
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Growing interest in preventing thrombosis and approval of direct oral anticoagulants may be driving a shift to pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital assessed the use of thromboprophylaxis in adolescent patients with sickle cell disease over the last decade.…

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Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapy Safe and Tolerable in Children With Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors
 Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapy Safe and Tolerable in Children With Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
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The overall survival rates for children with childhood cancers is now over 80%; however, for children with relapsed and refractory tumors, the survival rates remain low. “For example, children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma have a five-year survival of less than ten percent,” explains…

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Recognizing the Benefits of Music and Massage Co-therapy in Pediatric Palliative Care
 Recognizing the Benefits of Music and Massage Co-therapy in Pediatric Palliative Care 1024 680 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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For adolescent patients in home-based pediatric palliative care, co-treatment with music therapy and massage therapy benefits both the patients and their families. A case study recently published in Music & Medicine reported the benefits of co-treatment with music therapy and massage therapy for a…

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QI Initiative Reduces Emergency Room Visits for Functional Constipation
 QI Initiative Reduces Emergency Room Visits for Functional Constipation 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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Preliminary data from a large accountable care organization’s quality improvement efforts suggest advanced care visits dropped 27% in two years. Partners For Kids (PFK), the nation’s oldest and largest pediatric accountable care organization, launched a series of quality improvement (QI) projects targeting disease management…

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Racial Disparities in Healthcare Use Among Medicaid-Covered Children With Congenital Heart Disease
 Racial Disparities in Healthcare Use Among Medicaid-Covered Children With Congenital Heart Disease 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
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In the United States, congenital heart disease is the most common birth anomaly, with almost 40,000 newborns diagnosed each year. As these children grow, they are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Thus, ensuring they receive recommended cardiology care is essential to their…

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small baby with nose canula
Ensuring Vulnerable Babies Receive the Benefits of Human Milk
 Ensuring Vulnerable Babies Receive the Benefits of Human Milk 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
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A QI project increases human milk consumption among newborns hospitalized with congenital heart disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend human milk for infants because of its important health benefits. However, most newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) are…

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Bridging Language Barriers to Advance Health Care Equity in Developmental Screenings
 Bridging Language Barriers to Advance Health Care Equity in Developmental Screenings 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
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A QI project to utilize interpreters for screening questionnaires eliminated completion disparities between English speakers and people who prefer a language other than English.  In primary care pediatrics, there are several standard screenings for development delay in children younger than 30 months. Nationwide Children’s…

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5 Keys to Managing Iron Deficiency in Children Undergoing Intestinal Rehabilitation
 5 Keys to Managing Iron Deficiency in Children Undergoing Intestinal Rehabilitation 150 150 Erin Gregory
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A new position paper offers recommendations for the evaluation and management of iron deficiency in children undergoing intestinal rehabilitation. Iron deficiency is a prevalent concern among children with certain digestive problems, presenting various health challenges. A position paper from the NASPGHAN Intestinal Rehabilitation Special…

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Bridging Gaps in Cerebral Palsy Treatment
 Bridging Gaps in Cerebral Palsy Treatment 1024 575 Erin Gregory
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Researchers investigate disparities in selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) access and follow-up care. A surgical procedure called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) can help improve the lives of young patients living with cerebral palsy (CP) by reducing muscle stiffness in the lower limbs. A recent study…

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Developing Predictive Tools for CAKUT
 Developing Predictive Tools for CAKUT 1024 575 Leslie Feldman
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Pediatric nephrologists routinely see infants and children with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) — the most frequent cause of childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some of these anomalies are not clinically significant, while others result in varying degrees of kidney…

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Kidney Transplant Program and the Psychosocial Power Team: Expanding Care Through Collaboration
 Kidney Transplant Program and the Psychosocial Power Team: Expanding Care Through Collaboration 1024 683 Leslie Feldman
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In the United States, the availability of psychosocial services within pediatric nephrology centers varies widely – despite a well-documented necessity for the provision of holistic care. For the most part, the landscape of available psychosocial services within pediatric nephrology care is poorly characterized. However,…

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NIDDK Grant Awarded to Launch Integrated Islet Distribution Program Islet Isolation Center
 NIDDK Grant Awarded to Launch Integrated Islet Distribution Program Islet Isolation Center 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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A Nationwide Children’s Hospital research team has received federal funding to become a hub for the isolation and distribution of high-quality human islet cells for the diabetes research community. Since joining Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2022 as director of the Islet Cell Isolation Program,…

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Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida: Supporting A Bright Future Closer to Home
 Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida: Supporting A Bright Future Closer to Home 150 150 Alaina Doklovic
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During her 20-week ultrasound appointment, Brittany Badenhop learned her baby had spina bifida, a term used to describe many disorders that occur during the development of the central nervous system. Spina bifida occurs very early on in a pregnancy as the embryo forms. Brittany…

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Supporting Children With Interstitial and Rare Lung Disease
 Supporting Children With Interstitial and Rare Lung Disease 1024 687 Abbie Miller
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In pediatrics, some causes of lung dysfunction, while rare in their own right, are fairly common – such as cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and asthma. Interstitial and rare lung disease (IRLD) is an umbrella term for 30-50 diseases that affect children worldwide. IRLD may…

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New Fast, Reliable Model Tests Patient Response to Novel Treatments
 New Fast, Reliable Model Tests Patient Response to Novel Treatments 150 150 Madison Storm
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It’s well-known that treatments work for some patients and don’t for others, and this can be a real challenge when it comes to rare neurogenerative disorders. Dr. Kathrin Meyer and her lab established a faster, reliable in vitro model to investigate why. Recent research…

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Coexistence of Different Telomere Maintenance Mechanisms in Pediatric High-Grade Glioma Tumors
 Coexistence of Different Telomere Maintenance Mechanisms in Pediatric High-Grade Glioma Tumors 1024 504 Lauren Dembeck
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Due to within-tumor heterogeneity, telomere-based therapeutic interventions will likely need to target both known telomere maintenance mechanisms to prevent resistance and recurrence.   Normal differentiated somatic cells can divide only a limited number of times due to loss of the physical ends of their…

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A Decade of Evidence: The SIMPLE Program Shows Continued Success
 A Decade of Evidence: The SIMPLE Program Shows Continued Success 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
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In 2010, Nationwide Children’s Hospitals NICU leaders observed that infant feeding practices varied depending on the provider, resulting in significant variations in milestones and length of hospital stays (LOHS). They asked Sudarshan R. Jadcherla, MD, and Erika Osborn, NNP, to partner with stakeholders, including…

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Girl sitting on a bench with her phone smiling.
User Experiences With Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
 User Experiences With Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By:

Survey reveals high satisfaction among adolescents and young adults using subcutaneous DMPA Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a progestin-only injectable contraceptive that is used as birth control method and in the treatment of heavy or painful menstrual periods, endometriosis, and for menstrual suppression. DMPA…

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Exploring the Clinical Journey of Children With Primary Hyperoxaluria
 Exploring the Clinical Journey of Children With Primary Hyperoxaluria 150 150 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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Children with primary hyperoxaluria, a rare genetic disease, navigate a complicated clinical journey that includes a heavy reliance on health care services and usage of multidisciplinary care. Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a rare disease caused by genetic mutations of enzymes that regulate hepatic glyoxylate…

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Julie Samora, MD
Diagnosing and Treating Cubital Tunnel Syndrome in Adolescents
 Diagnosing and Treating Cubital Tunnel Syndrome in Adolescents 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
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Surgery leads to improved outcomes in pediatric patients with symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome, even when electrodiagnostic studies are negative. In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital demonstrate that pediatric patients who underwent surgical decompression for cubital tunnel syndrome achieved good resolution…

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Counseling Families of Patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
 Counseling Families of Patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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A new survey investigates how palliation strategies have changed in the last ten years. Approximately ten years ago, researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital surveyed pediatric cardiac providers regarding initial counseling for families of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Given the evolution of…

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Using Machine Learning to Classify Treatment Approaches for Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
 Using Machine Learning to Classify Treatment Approaches for Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
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We don’t yet know the best way to help infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) breathe using ventilators. Currently, doctors across the country and around the world use a variety of different approaches.  These variations depend on the severity of a patient’s medical condition,…

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Smiling baby with Down syndrome
Changing the Odds: Survival Trends in Children With Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects
 Changing the Odds: Survival Trends in Children With Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
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About half of the children born with Down syndrome also have congenital heart defects (CHD). As a transplant cardiologist, Lydia K Wright, MD, wanted to learn if CHD was still the most significant mortality risk for these patients before age five. [1] “Our aim…

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small baby with nose canula
Safe, Minimally Invasive Upper Urinary Tract Surgery for Infants
 Safe, Minimally Invasive Upper Urinary Tract Surgery for Infants 1024 575 Patti Doud
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Evidence supports robotic surgery as a safe approach to upper urinary tract procedures in infants 6 months or younger. While robotic surgery has risen in popularity and feasibility for procedures in both older children and adults alike, there has been little data to determine…

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Teen girl with backpack
Ask A Specialist: What Are the Recommendations for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Screening in Primary Care?
 Ask A Specialist: What Are the Recommendations for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Screening in Primary Care? 1024 575 Cynthia Holland-Hall, MD
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STI screening is recommended for all sexually active adolescents. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 1 in 4 teens have an STI. Safe sexual practices and routine screening can prevent these infections – that’s where health care providers come in. By offering…

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Color photo of Black father holding infant on shoulder in front of nursery background with clouds on the wall
Fertility Concerns in Boys and Men With Sickle Cell Disease
 Fertility Concerns in Boys and Men With Sickle Cell Disease 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
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Sickle cell disease and its treatments may impact fertility, but more research is needed to help counsel this population. Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects approximately 100,000 Americans, most of whom belong to underserved, minority populations. Advances in disease-modifying therapies, such as hydroxyurea, have led…

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Assessing Respiratory Stability in Infants Hospitalized with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
 Assessing Respiratory Stability in Infants Hospitalized with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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The Behavioral Signs of Respiratory Instability Scale is a valid, reliable measure of respiratory status and developmental ability. In a new study, researchers at Nationwide Children’s evaluated the Behavioral Signs of Respiratory Instability (BSRI) Scale, which was developed as an objective measure of developmental…

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Featured Researcher — Nilsa Ramirez, MD
 Featured Researcher — Nilsa Ramirez, MD 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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Nilsa Del Carmen Ramirez Milan, MD, director of the Biopathology Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, leads the biorepository team that receives about 1,000 new specimens each day. These must be processed and stored properly—together with the rest of the biobank’s > 6 million specimens.…

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Home Infusions of Infliximab for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
 Home Infusions of Infliximab for Inflammatory Bowel Disease 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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With a standardized care approach, home infusions may be an effective alternative to hospital-based infusions. Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often treated with infusions of infliximab in a hospital setting. However, these can be costly and present time and travel barriers to patients…

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Expanding Use of Trikafta for Cystic Fibrosis to Patients as Young as 2 Years Old
 Expanding Use of Trikafta for Cystic Fibrosis to Patients as Young as 2 Years Old 1024 683 Karen McCoy, MD
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When I first started my pulmonary training, the average life expectancy in the United States was about 70 years, and the average life expectancy for someone with cystic fibrosis (CF) was 14 years! Intense study and pursuit of consistent care across the country yielded…

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Implementation Science to Expand Contraception Access for Adolescents Hospitalized with Mental Health Issues
 Implementation Science to Expand Contraception Access for Adolescents Hospitalized with Mental Health Issues 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
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Research has documented that adolescents with mental health concerns have a higher need for contraceptive counseling and care because they are at a higher risk for unintended pregnancy.[i] [ii] Unintended pregnancies can make mental health symptoms worse, especially depressive symptoms. [iii] Counseling and use…

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Recent Trends in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety in US Children and Adolescents
 Recent Trends in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety in US Children and Adolescents 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
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In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Children’s Hospital Association joined together to declare a national state of emergency in children’s mental health. The declaration was motivated by steadily increasing rates of childhood mental health concerns…

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Pregnancy and Ebola: Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Ebola Survivors
 Pregnancy and Ebola: Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Ebola Survivors 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Ebola virus disease during pregnancy is known to cause fetal demise, and preliminary evidence suggested that pregnancies conceived shortly after recovery from Ebola were also at heightened risk of adverse outcomes. Additionally, the perception that health care providers could contract Ebola from survivors during…

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Featured Researcher — Katherine Bline, MD
 Featured Researcher — Katherine Bline, MD 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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Katherine Bline, MD, is a critical care medicine physician and principal investigator in the Center for Vaccines and Immunity at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Experience caring for some of the hospital’s sickest children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and mentors who pushed her…

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What Drives Nephrotic Syndrome Hypercoagulopathy?
 What Drives Nephrotic Syndrome Hypercoagulopathy? 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Antithrombin deficiency does not play a major mechanistic role in the increased clotting risk of nephrotic syndrome, according to a new study. Patients with nephrotic syndrome are at risk for life-threatening venous thromboembolism complications. This risk is thought to be driven by an acquired…

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Straightforward Stitch Technique Dramatically Reduces Post-Operative Anorectoplasty Complications
 Straightforward Stitch Technique Dramatically Reduces Post-Operative Anorectoplasty Complications 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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The novel para-U-stitch keeps post-operative wound dehiscence to a minimum, helping patients with anorectal malformations avoid readmission, reoperation and infection. After recognizing a pattern of wound dehiscence and postoperative complications in patients with anorectal malformations (ARMs) repaired without a colostomy bag — meaning they…

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Preemptive Stenting of the Left Pulmonary Artery During Surgery for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
 Preemptive Stenting of the Left Pulmonary Artery During Surgery for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome 150 150 Lauren Dembeck
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Perioperative stenting during the comprehensive stage 2 surgery does not negatively impact overall outcomes. However, Preemptive stenting has a survival advantage of babies relative to those who had reactionary stenting.   Each year, approximately 1,000 babies in the United States are born with one…

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yellow squiggly lines representing chromatin strands in the nucleus
Mapping the 3D Structure of Rhabdomyosarcoma Chromatin
 Mapping the 3D Structure of Rhabdomyosarcoma Chromatin 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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Researchers published the first comprehensive, 3D analysis of the complete rhabdomyosarcoma genome. In a paper published in Nucleic Acids Research Cancer (NAR Cancer), researchers from the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Nationwide Children’s and their collaborators report a comprehensive 3D chromatin structural analysis…

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Exploring Disordered Eating Beyond Binge Eating in Youth with Obesity
 Exploring Disordered Eating Beyond Binge Eating in Youth with Obesity 150 150 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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Youth with obesity can suffer from various disordered eating behaviors beyond binge eating. A holistic approach to caring for these youth can help improve their long-term physical and psychological health outcomes. A literature review recently published in Nutrients shed light on eating disorders beyond…

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Ask A Specialist: What Running Distances Are Safe for Children?
 Ask A Specialist: What Running Distances Are Safe for Children? 1024 895 Gabriella Gonzales, MD and James MacDonald, MD, MPH
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Sports Medicine experts offer advice for pediatricians about what age it is appropriate for children to run and train for races such as the 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon. Running is a great activity! It requires very little equipment and can be done…

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Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Prevents Neuroma and Phantom Limb Pain in Children After Amputation
 Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Prevents Neuroma and Phantom Limb Pain in Children After Amputation 1024 684 Lauren Dembeck
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In certain cases, such as limb traumas and sarcomas, amputation may be chosen to optimize patients’ physical function. Persistent postamputation residual limb or “stump” pain and phantom limb pain can be debilitating and has been associated with prosthetic abandonment in patients who have undergone…

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Is Growth Hormone Replacement Safe Following Central Nervous System Tumors?
 Is Growth Hormone Replacement Safe Following Central Nervous System Tumors? 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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Research suggests the benefits of growth hormone therapy outweigh the risks for pediatric cancer survivors. In a new review paper, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital evaluated the risks and benefits associated with administering growth hormone to pediatric patients after diagnosis of a central nervous…

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Does Etiology Impact Outcomes After Hemispherectomy?
 Does Etiology Impact Outcomes After Hemispherectomy? 1024 575 Jessica Nye, PhD
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Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) who have comorbid medically intractable epilepsy (MIE) had similar quantitative functional and seizure outcomes following functional hemispherotomy (FH) or anatomic hemispherectomy (AH), regardless of vascular or dysplastic MIE etiologies.   Early onset seizures are a common comorbidity in CP,…

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Baby in NICU
An Alternative Method for Diagnosing Central Adrenal Insufficiency in Newborns
 An Alternative Method for Diagnosing Central Adrenal Insufficiency in Newborns 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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Researchers evaluate the utility of random cortisol levels to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. In infants with central adrenal insufficiency, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) fails to signal to the adrenal gland, leading to decreased cortisol levels. It is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment.…

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conceptual art of DNA
Chaotic Genomes in Childhood Bone Tumors Are Not Always Unstable
 Chaotic Genomes in Childhood Bone Tumors Are Not Always Unstable 1024 575 Jessica Nye, PhD
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The structural genomic complexity that characterizes most osteosarcoma tumors in children was not evidence of an unstable genome and a driver of cell-to-cell variations in gene expression within each tumor. “We’ve been trying to understand how tumor cells change as they become resistant to…

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Creatine Supplements and the Youth Athlete
 Creatine Supplements and the Youth Athlete 945 825 Natalie Wilson
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Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found there is insufficient evidence that creatine supplementation is effective for consistently improving athletic performance in adolescents. They also identified a gap in knowledge of the long-term effects of creatine supplementation in this population. Creatine is naturally found in…

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Understanding and Implementing the Latest Recommendations for Asthma Management
 Understanding and Implementing the Latest Recommendations for Asthma Management 770 513 Emily Siebenmorgen
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New guidelines for the care and treatment of asthma in children were released in 2020, but implementation has been slowed by the pandemic and need for education. An estimated 8% of children had asthma in 2020, and it continues to have a significant impact…

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Featured Researcher — Jeff Bridge, PhD
 Featured Researcher — Jeff Bridge, PhD 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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Jeff Bridge, PhD, director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, has been actively working to prevent suicide among at-risk youth since he was 19. Although he started as a volunteer, his career…

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ADHD Diagnosis and Management: What Pediatric Providers Need to Know
 ADHD Diagnosis and Management: What Pediatric Providers Need to Know 150 150 Emily Siebenmorgen
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In a recent episode of PediaCast CME, host Mike Patrick, MD, reviews ADHD diagnosis and management. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), previously known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), is a relatively common neurodevelopmental disorder. While boys are at least two times more likely to…

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5 Questions with Adolfo Etchegaray, MD
 5 Questions with Adolfo Etchegaray, MD 1024 683 Emily Siebenmorgen
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Meet Adolfo Etchegaray, MD, chief of fetal medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Learn more about Dr. Etchegaray’s expertise and path to leadership at The Fetal Center, and what lies ahead for this global destination program. Q: What drew you to a career in fetal…

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Nurse caring for infant in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Kidney Support for Babies: Building a Comprehensive and Integrated Neonatal Kidney Support Therapy Program
 Kidney Support for Babies: Building a Comprehensive and Integrated Neonatal Kidney Support Therapy Program 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
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Kidney support therapy (KST), commonly referred to as dialysis, is a life-saving procedure used to manage complications associated with acute kidney injury and kidney failure, such as fluid overload and electrolyte imbalances, or to remove toxins, such as those in patients with inborn errors…

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Close up color photo of little boy holding hands on his belly
Evaluating Chronic Constipation and Abnormal Colonic Motility in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
 Evaluating Chronic Constipation and Abnormal Colonic Motility in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder 1024 680 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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In children with chronic constipation, rates of abnormal colonic motility are similar between children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For children with ASD, symptom duration and soiling due to fecal retention are risk factors for abnormal colonic motility.   Treating constipation in…

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abstract art of magnifying glass over DNA strand
1 Year In, the Molecular Characterization Initiative Has Analyzed Samples From Over 1,000 Patients
 1 Year In, the Molecular Characterization Initiative Has Analyzed Samples From Over 1,000 Patients 1024 614 Abbie Miller
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Data from the analysis helps clinicians confirm diagnoses and identify targeted treatments. The data also support new pediatric cancer research through the National Cancer Institute’s Childhood Cancer Data Initiative.   The CCDI Molecular Characterization Initiative (MCI) is a project that aims to collect, analyze…

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Fetus in utero receiving valvuloplasty
Tissue Engineering and Fetal Medicine: A New Frontier for Congenital Heart Disease
 Tissue Engineering and Fetal Medicine: A New Frontier for Congenital Heart Disease 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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Procedures that utilize cardiac catheterization to improve fetal heart development are often successful, but they are not without risk. And even if they can successfully prevent the development of single ventricle disease, there is always ongoing heart valve disease (HVD). HVD may not be…

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Susceptibility to and Use of E-cigarettes and Marijuana Is Common Among Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease
 Susceptibility to and Use of E-cigarettes and Marijuana Is Common Among Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
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Adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) are subject to disease-related stressors, such as attending medical appointments and undergoing medical procedures. They have elevated risk for cardiovascular and cognitive complications, which may be exacerbated by the use of e-cigarettes and marijuana. To inform prevention strategies…

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What Pediatricians Need to Know About Lymphedema in Pediatrics
 What Pediatricians Need to Know About Lymphedema in Pediatrics 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Lymphedema is chronic, progressive swelling caused by maldevelopment or disruption of the lymphatic system. Typically, patients present with an asymmetric swelling of an arm or leg that progressively worsens. Min-Jeong Cho, MD, a microsurgeon and assistant professor at The Ohio State University and Nationwide…

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Toddler playing with toys
Investigating Caregiver Disclosure of Pediatric Urologic Surgery
 Investigating Caregiver Disclosure of Pediatric Urologic Surgery 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
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A survey reveals most caregivers plan to disclose urologic surgery to their child but would like more guidance from providers. Some pediatric urologic surgeries are performed early in childhood and with short-term follow-up. When children have surgery before the age of memory formation, it…

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Evolution of the Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit
 Evolution of the Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit 1024 538 Mary Bates, PhD
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An alternative to inpatient hospitalization for youth experiencing a mental health crisis and their families sees success at Nationwide Children’s.   The Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit (YCSU) is an inpatient psychiatric setting at Nationwide Children’s for children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis.…

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Deep Brain Stimulation Ameliorates Symptoms of Genetic Movement Disorder
 Deep Brain Stimulation Ameliorates Symptoms of Genetic Movement Disorder 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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First report of DBS for management of tremor in a treatment-resistant AIFM1-related disorder.   In a new case series, researchers from Nationwide Children’s report using deep brain stimulation (DBS) to help manage tremor due to a genetic movement disorder in two brothers. The report,…

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Social Needs Associated with Postpartum Depression
 Social Needs Associated with Postpartum Depression 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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Screening for social needs at pediatric well-checks may help identify vulnerable mothers. In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s found a significant relationship between self-reported social needs and postpartum depression symptoms of mothers screened in pediatric primary care clinics. The findings suggest that…

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Comprehensive Care Model and Integrated Sickle Cell Disease-Pulmonary Clinic Improves Access and Outcomes
 Comprehensive Care Model and Integrated Sickle Cell Disease-Pulmonary Clinic Improves Access and Outcomes 1024 683 Jessica Nye, PhD
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A comprehensive care model which incorporates pulmonology services in the sickle cell disease (SCD) clinic aims to reduce access barriers and improve outcomes.   “Our sickle cell clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital used to see patients just for their comprehensive [sickle cell] care. One…

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Featured Researcher — Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi, DVM, PhD
 Featured Researcher — Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi, DVM, PhD 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi, DVM, PhD, director of the CRISPR/Gene Editing Core and principal investigator in the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Nationwide Children’s, has taken a winding, international road to his current role at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. From his native Iran to Italy,…

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Shorter Course of Antibiotics for Early Onset Sepsis as Safe as Longer Course
 Shorter Course of Antibiotics for Early Onset Sepsis as Safe as Longer Course 150 150 Jessica Nye, PhD
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Discontinuing empirical antibiotic therapy for early-onset sepsis (EOS) at 24 hours had a similar safety profile as the standard 48-hour treatment course. “In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), we have data to show that each additional day of unnecessary antibiotics leads to adverse…

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More Than a Building: Why Our Expanded Research Facilities Matter for Kids Everywhere
 More Than a Building: Why Our Expanded Research Facilities Matter for Kids Everywhere 1024 624 Dennis Durbin, MD, MSCE
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At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we proudly acknowledge the significant role research has in improving patient care and overall child heath. The integration of research and clinical care is at the heart of the hospital’s strategic plan — a $3.3 billion investment over the next…

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How Language-Processing Technology Could Transform Medical Practice, Research and Patient Participation
 How Language-Processing Technology Could Transform Medical Practice, Research and Patient Participation 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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Recent revolutions in researchers’ ability to process natural language sources, such as clinic visit notes, transcripts or medical diaries, could dramatically expand opportunities to improve health care and prevention health outreach.   Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a subfield of computer science and artificial…

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Advancing Genomics-Driven Precision Medicine in the NICU
 Advancing Genomics-Driven Precision Medicine in the NICU 1024 683 Natalie Wilson
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According to the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium, as many as half of newborns hospitalized in level IV neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) due to critical illness have an underlying genetic condition. Most don’t get their diagnosis for months or even years. However, clinical assays,…

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Beyond the Wow Factor: Artificial Intelligence in Pediatrics
 Beyond the Wow Factor: Artificial Intelligence in Pediatrics 1024 576 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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What promise do AI and machine learning hold for pediatrics, and how can their potential flourish while still safeguarding children’s health and privacy? Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have exploded across the worlds of marketing and commerce in recent years. Streaming services…

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Going Viral: The AAV Approach to Curing Cancer
 Going Viral: The AAV Approach to Curing Cancer 1024 256 Emily Siebenmorgen
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According to Timothy Cripe, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, it’s an incredible time to be working on cancer treatment – and now, targeted cancer prevention. “There’s so much going on in the cancer world these…

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Placing Value on a Pediatric Surgeon’s Academic Work
 Placing Value on a Pediatric Surgeon’s Academic Work 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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The addition of an academic RVU system to an existing work RVU-based incentivization plan boosted academic productivity in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. At many institutions, physicians and surgeons are compensated using a productivity formula based on work relative value…

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Role of Myeoloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Septic Shock Immunoparalysis
 Role of Myeoloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Septic Shock Immunoparalysis 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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New study is the first to describe increased myeloid-derived suppressors cells in children with septic shock. In children with septic shock, the immune system initiates a systemic inflammatory response and a nearly concurrent compensatory anti-inflammatory response. When severe, this anti-inflammatory response is termed “immunoparalysis”…

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FDA Conditionally Approves Micro-dystrophin: A Small Gene With Big Promise
 FDA Conditionally Approves Micro-dystrophin: A Small Gene With Big Promise 1024 632 Abbie Miller
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UPDATE: On June 22, 2023, the FDA announced accelerated approval for SRP-9001/ELEVIDYS for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) following decades of research in the Center for Gene Therapy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The FDA approved the treatment for pediatric patients 4-5 years old with DMD.…

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Implementation of a COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Program
 Implementation of a COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Program 150 150 Lauren Dembeck
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Researchers provide guidance on risk stratification and offer subspecialists and community practitioners a streamlined approach to treating patients at greater risk for severe COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the development of therapeutic approaches to combat the SAR-CoV-2 virus. In late 2020, monoclonal antibody therapies…

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Preterm Birth Increases Health Vulnerabilities of Babies With Down Syndrome
 Preterm Birth Increases Health Vulnerabilities of Babies With Down Syndrome 1024 624 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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Babies with Down syndrome who are born preterm have higher prenatal morbidity and mortality rates than those in babies with Down syndrome born at term, suggesting pediatricians can lower their risk threshold for certain screenings or interventions. Compared with age-matched neonates without Down syndrome,…

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