Micro-dystrophin: A Small Gene With Big Promise

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Beyond the Wow Factor: Artificial Intelligence in Pediatrics

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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 683 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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User Experiences With Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
 User Experiences With Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate 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 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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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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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
By:

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
By:

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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Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment of Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
 Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment of Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease 150 150 Lauren Dembeck
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Iron deficiency with and without anemia is under-recognized and under-treated in children with inflammatory bowel disease.   Anemia is the most common extr-aintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and iron deficiency is the…

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Intraoperative Evaluation of Penile Blood Flow During Bladder Exstrophy
 Intraoperative Evaluation of Penile Blood Flow During Bladder Exstrophy 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Laser angiography technology allows for real-time measurements of penile perfusion during exstrophy repair operations. In a new pilot study, researchers from the Pediatric Urology Midwest Alliance (PUMA) demonstrated that intraoperative laser angiography is a safe and easy method to evaluate penile perfusion during bladder…

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Ask a Specialist: When Should Primary Care Providers Refer Dental Injuries to the Emergency Department?
 Ask a Specialist: When Should Primary Care Providers Refer Dental Injuries to the Emergency Department? 150 150 Ehsan N. Azadani, DDS, MS
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An expert reveals the most common red flag dental injuries that should be referred to the ED and what precautions PCPs can take before sending the child.   The most time-sensitive dental injury is the avulsion of a permanent tooth; that is, when the…

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physicians in white coats looking at a tablet
Using Machine Learning in the Electronic Medical Record to Save Lives
 Using Machine Learning in the Electronic Medical Record to Save Lives 1024 683 Abbie Miller
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The deterioration risk index identifies patients at risk for deterioration and poor outcomes, triggering the care team to act before a crisis happens. In a report published in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, a team from Nationwide Children’s Hospital describes a machine learning tool for…

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Toddler playing with toys
Improving Outcomes for Infants and Children With Congenital Hypothyroidism
 Improving Outcomes for Infants and Children With Congenital Hypothyroidism 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
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A quality improvement project identifies high-risk patients and ensures they receive necessary care.   Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most common preventable causes of intellectual disability. In the United States and many other countries, newborns are tested a 24-72 hours after birth…

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conceptual art of DNA
High-Risk Genotype Impacts Kidney Disease Trajectory
 High-Risk Genotype Impacts Kidney Disease Trajectory 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By:

Patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis that possess two variations in the APOL1 gene experience more rapid progression of kidney disease. In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s and other institutions quantified the relationship between a high-risk genotype and kidney disease progression in patients…

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Youth Suicide and Attempted Suicide Reported to Poison Control Centers Increased During the COVID-19 Pandemic
 Youth Suicide and Attempted Suicide Reported to Poison Control Centers Increased During the COVID-19 Pandemic 150 150 Laura Dattner
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A recent study evaluated trends of suspected suicides and suicide attempts among children 6-19 years old reported to United States poison centers. A recent study published in Journal of Medical Toxicology from the Center for Injury Research and Policy and Central Ohio Poison Center…

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smiling baby being held up by an adult
Reducing Opioid Prescriptions for Common Pediatric Urologic Procedures
 Reducing Opioid Prescriptions for Common Pediatric Urologic Procedures 1024 682 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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To address the national opioid epidemic, clinician-scientists developed a quality improvement initiative to achieve significant, long-term reductions in opioid prescriptions after common pediatric urologic procedures.   Opioids are commonly prescribed for pediatric urologic procedures. However, studies have reported a troubling practice of overprescribing opioids…

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Nephrology Education Ripe With Opportunities to Improve Health Equity
 Nephrology Education Ripe With Opportunities to Improve Health Equity 1024 575 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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The Health Care Justice Committee of the American Society of Nephrology has released recommendations for incorporating anti-racism and social justice concepts into education and mentoring with the goal of improving health equity.   In 2020, leaders in the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) reached…

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Multidisciplinary Treatment for Is Effective for Patients With Rumination Syndrome
 Multidisciplinary Treatment for Is Effective for Patients With Rumination Syndrome 150 150 Jessica Nye, PhD
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Tiered, multidisciplinary behavioral treatment is effective at improving symptoms of rumination syndrome (RS) among children and adolescents, even in the outpatient setting.   Children with RS present with repeated, effortless regurgitation of undigested food. Although limited data about treatment are available, previous studies have…

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Featured Researcher — Eric Nelson, PhD
 Featured Researcher — Eric Nelson, PhD 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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Eric Nelson, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. His work centers around how the brain develops, particularly during adolescence, as well as how it changes (or doesn’t) during…

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Pediatric Obesity Can Be Treated Safely and Effectively
 Pediatric Obesity Can Be Treated Safely and Effectively 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasize evidence for safe, effective treatment of pediatric obesity for long-term benefit of children and adolescents.   More than 14.4 million U.S. children and adolescents have obesity, making it one of the most common chronic conditions…

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Addressing the Clinical Challenges of Caring for Children with Cystic Fibrosis and Autism Spectrum Disorder
 Addressing the Clinical Challenges of Caring for Children with Cystic Fibrosis and Autism Spectrum Disorder 150 150 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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A recent study sheds light on the unique clinical challenges faced by children with cystic fibrosis and autism spectrum disorder and offers potential solutions to these challenges.   Cystic fibrosis (CF) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pose significant clinical and emotional burdens to patients and…

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5 Things Neonatologists Should Know About Vitamin K Deficiency
 5 Things Neonatologists Should Know About Vitamin K Deficiency 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
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Vitamin K prophylaxis is safe and effective. Why are more parents refusing it, and what can be done? In a new perspective paper in the Journal of Perinatology, researchers from Nationwide Children’s say that vitamin K prophylaxis is an essential component of newborn care…

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Proteins as Antibiotic Alternatives for Urinary Tract Infections
 Proteins as Antibiotic Alternatives for Urinary Tract Infections 1024 682 Emily Siebenmorgen
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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have made treating common infections challenging. In a new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), researchers demonstrate a way to boost the body’s production of antimicrobial peptides, which may provide an alternative to antibiotic…

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Cancer-Causing Gene and Treatment Target for Ultra-Rare Rhabdomyosarcoma Confirmed Via Multiple Models
 Cancer-Causing Gene and Treatment Target for Ultra-Rare Rhabdomyosarcoma Confirmed Via Multiple Models 1024 764 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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An international team has validated a cancer-causing gene fusion — and therapeutic targets — for an unusual presentation of muscle cancer in infants. In 2016, researchers first identified a novel gene mutation and fusion in rare cases of infants with rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of…

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The Role of a Children’s Hospital in Central Ohio’s Biotech Boom
 The Role of a Children’s Hospital in Central Ohio’s Biotech Boom 480 346 Lauren Dembeck and Natalie Wilson
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Nationwide Children’s Hospital is at the front of the pack among top National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded children’s hospitals when it comes to developing novel gene therapies and commercializing intellectual property. Achieving this level of commercial activity is a testament to the organization’s…

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Re-evaluating GI Medication Regimens in People With Cystic Fibrosis
 Re-evaluating GI Medication Regimens in People With Cystic Fibrosis 1024 681 Emily Siebenmorgen
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After widespread adoption of highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT), a new study evaluated the GI medication regimens of people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The study, published in Pediatric Pulmonolgy, found patient-initiated decreases in dosing and withdrawal from common GI medications is already occurring, yet…

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Understanding the Cellular Mechanisms to Drive New Therapies for Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Regression, Abnormal Movements, Loss of Speech and Seizures (NEDAMSS)
 Understanding the Cellular Mechanisms to Drive New Therapies for Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Regression, Abnormal Movements, Loss of Speech and Seizures (NEDAMSS) 1024 577 Jessica Nye, PhD
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Derived cells from patients with NEDAMSS exhibit perturbed cellular respiration and poor neuronal survival, both of which can be improved with CuATSM treatment. NEDAMSS (neurodevelopmental disorder with regression, abnormal movements, loss of speech, and seizures) is a rare neurological disorder discovered in 2018 with…

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The PROMISE Program Reduces Cardiac Arrests in High-Risk Patients
 The PROMISE Program Reduces Cardiac Arrests in High-Risk Patients 600 400 Mary Bates, PhD
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This proactive quality improvement initiative improved outcomes for high-risk pediatric cardiology patients undergoing cardiac intervention. Faculty within The Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s recently initiated proactive risk mitigation strategies to reduce post-procedural cardiac arrests in high-risk congenital heart patients. In a new paper, the…

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Using 3D Motion Capture Technology to Improve Outcomes
 Using 3D Motion Capture Technology to Improve Outcomes 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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  Kirsten Tulchin-Francis, PhD Kirsten Tulchin-Francis, PhD, joined Nationwide Children’s in March 2022 as director of orthopedic research and director of the Honda Center for Gait Analysis and Mobility Enhancement. In a Q&A, she discusses how she uses motion capture technology to improve outcomes…

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Youth Suicide Rates in the U.S. Increased During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Especially Among Particular Subgroups
 Youth Suicide Rates in the U.S. Increased During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Especially Among Particular Subgroups 1024 691 Jessica Nye, PhD
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In the United States, youth suicides increased during COVID-19, with significantly more suicides than expected among males, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native and Black youth.   Suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 5-24 years in the United States, and a…

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Mason’s Story: A Less Invasive Solution for Achalasia
 Mason’s Story: A Less Invasive Solution for Achalasia 1024 683 Emily Siebenmorgen
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A 9-year-old boy with life-long difficulty eating and keeping down food underwent a new procedure being performed in children from Muhammad Khan, MD, MPH, FASGE, pediatric gastroenterologist and the director of interventional and diagnostic endoscopy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Achalasia is a progressive swallowing…

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Proof-of-Concept Study Shows Promise of Exon-Skipping Gene Therapy Approach in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
 Proof-of-Concept Study Shows Promise of Exon-Skipping Gene Therapy Approach in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating progressive muscle-wasting disease that leads to loss of motor and cardiorespiratory function. The disease is caused by mutations in the DMD gene that result in the loss of expression of the dystrophin protein, which plays a critical…

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Nurse caring for infant in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Substantial Variation in Fluid Balance Among Preterm Neonates
 Substantial Variation in Fluid Balance Among Preterm Neonates 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
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In neonates, approximately 75 to 90% of the body weight consists of body fluid. The amount varies with gestational age, with higher total body fluid percentages in extremely preterm infants, those born at 22 to 28 weeks of gestation. These extremely preterm infants have…

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Quality Improvement in Primary Care Improves Dental Utilization and Oral Health Outcomes in Children
 Quality Improvement in Primary Care Improves Dental Utilization and Oral Health Outcomes in Children 1024 680 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
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Quality improvement provides an effective, standardized approach to increasing pediatric dental utilization and improving oral health outcomes in primary care settings. According to a recent study by pediatric dentist David Danesh, DMD, MPH, MS, and his research team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, children receiving…

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Featured Researcher — Linda Baker, MD
 Featured Researcher — Linda Baker, MD 150 150 Natalie Wilson
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Linda Baker, MD, a renowned expert in prune belly syndrome (PBS), joined Nationwide Children’s as a research director and principal investigator in the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center and The Ohio State University as a clinical professor of Urology at the end of 2022.…

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Linda Baker, MD
5 Things to Know About Prune Belly Syndrome
 5 Things to Know About Prune Belly Syndrome 1024 683 Abbie Miller
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Linda Baker, MD, urologist, principal investigator, and one of the world’s foremost experts on prune belly syndrome, recently joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital as the co-director of the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center. She shares some important things to know about this rare disease. 1.…

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Adding Telehealth Solutions to the Autism Toolbox: What Really Works?
 Adding Telehealth Solutions to the Autism Toolbox: What Really Works? 1024 535 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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The COVID-19 pandemic forced autism diagnostics and follow-up care to digital, remote platforms. Now that telehealth is no longer required, what’s worth keeping as a digital service option?   It may be hard to imagine successfully observing a child over video — or even…

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Myopericarditis After COVID-19 Vaccination
 Myopericarditis After COVID-19 Vaccination 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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A meta-analysis of international studies offers more detailed insight into the severity and outcomes of vaccine-related myopericarditis in the adolescent and young adult population. Concerns over myopericarditis and other cardiovascular complications in teens and young adults have gained considerable media attention. While myopericarditis-related data…

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Young child with Cerebral Palsy
New Guidelines for Care of Children With Cerebral Palsy
 New Guidelines for Care of Children With Cerebral Palsy 1024 683 Abbie Miller
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Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine highlight advances in diagnosis, care and outcomes for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. In late 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy for…

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Virtual Support for Educating Parents of Newborns with Sickle Cell Trait
 Virtual Support for Educating Parents of Newborns with Sickle Cell Trait 1024 681 Mary Bates, PhD
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A supplementary videoconferencing program engages parents and reduces worry about sickle cell trait status. Nearly 3 million people in the U.S. have sickle cell trait (SCT), in which they inherit one sickle cell gene and one normal gene. Individuals with SCT are usually asymptomatic;…

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Fertility-Related Care for Girls With Turner Syndrome
 Fertility-Related Care for Girls With Turner Syndrome 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Recent survey of providers shows fertility counseling and referrals are delivered inconsistently in this population. Researchers from Nationwide Children’s recently assessed practices surrounding fertility-related care among clinical providers who treat girls with Turner syndrome. They found that fertility counseling and referral rates remain inconsistent…

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