Monthly Archives :

September 2020

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Cancer Research
Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Cancer Research 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck

Times of uncertainty offer an opportunity to reflect and reevaluate priorities. “This is a time that warrants resiliency and different approaches for dealing with difficulties, and pediatric cancer research is a field that reflects the resilient spirit of the kids that we are striving to find cures for,” says Jeffery Auletta, MD, director of the Blood…

Cardiomyopathy in Mothers of Boys With Muscular Dystrophy
Cardiomyopathy in Mothers of Boys With Muscular Dystrophy 1024 670 Mary Bates, PhD

Female carriers of the genetic defect that causes muscular dystrophy in boys show evidence of cardiac fibrosis. An interdisciplinary team from Nationwide Children’s Hospital reports about half of women who carry the genetic defect responsible for muscular dystrophy show evidence of cardiac fibrosis. The study, published in the International Journal of Cardiology, suggests that cardiac muscle,…

Finding the Best Treatment for Stable but Severe Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
Finding the Best Treatment for Stable but Severe Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis 1024 575 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

A novel comparison of the modified Dunn procedure for children with stable vs unstable SCFE has identified a new target to improve surgical outcomes. The modified Dunn procedure uses a surgical hip dislocation approach to realign the hip joint in adolescents with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) — a condition in which the ball of…

Krabbe Disease Successfully Treated With Gene Therapy in Preclinical Animal Model
Krabbe Disease Successfully Treated With Gene Therapy in Preclinical Animal Model 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck

Gene therapy shows promise for clinical benefit in demyelinating, neurodegenerative disease. Krabbe disease is an aggressive, incurable pediatric neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the galactosylceramidase (GALC) gene. Deficiency of the GALC protein activity leads to cytotoxic accumulation of a cellular metabolite called psychosine, which compromises normal turnover of myelin in the central and peripheral…

How Domestic Violence Affects Child Development
How Domestic Violence Affects Child Development 1024 575 Kristin Crichton, DO, MPH

Domestic violence in the home affects more than just the immediate victim. If children are present to see and/or hear it, it takes a toll on their healthy, natural development unless they receive support to help them cope and heal. Children exposed to violence may experience issues with attachment, school engagement, academic success, relationships and…

Managing Lymphatic Flow Disorders: Expanding Care Through Collaboration
Managing Lymphatic Flow Disorders: Expanding Care Through Collaboration 1024 683 Abbie Miller

Alteration in the Lymphatic System Leading to Flow Disorders The lymphatic system plays a critical role in circulating a clear to yellow-colored fluid called lymph, which contains proteins, immune factors and cells throughout the body. It is also responsible for collecting fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the gastrointestinal tract in cloudy-appearing chylous fluid. This fluid…

CMS Approves New Code for Adult Congenital Heart Disease Subspecialty
CMS Approves New Code for Adult Congenital Heart Disease Subspecialty 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

The official billing code will enable growth of the subspecialty and is expected to result in improved patient care. In March, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a unique code for subspecialists in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). The code will allow board-certified ACHD specialists to bill as such, rather than as…

Can a Kidney Failure Risk Equation Validated in Adults Predict Kidney Failure in Children?
Can a Kidney Failure Risk Equation Validated in Adults Predict Kidney Failure in Children? 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck

Novel disease-specific biomarkers are needed to improve prediction models in pediatric disease. Obstructive uropathy is a frequent cause of kidney injury in children, and it is estimated to cause approximately one-sixth of pediatric kidney failure cases in North America. However, risk equations to predict kidney disease progression have not yet been developed for children. To…

Improving Guidelines for Pediatric Hypertension Diagnosis
Improving Guidelines for Pediatric Hypertension Diagnosis 1024 683 Natalie Wilson

It is vital to accurately recognize and diagnose hypertension in children to avoid long term morbidity and allow for appropriate treatment. A recent pilot study highlights additional diagnostic criteria for clinicians to consider. Pediatric hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), has become increasingly common and now affects over 3% of children and adolescents. Untreated, hypertension…

Redo Surgery After Anorectal Malformation Repair Can Improve Functional Outcomes
Redo Surgery After Anorectal Malformation Repair Can Improve Functional Outcomes 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD

A reoperation can improve continence and quality of life in children still struggling with fecal incontinence following ARM repair. In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital show that redo surgeries are   safe and may be an effective option for patients with fecal incontinence after an anorectal malformation repair. For many patients, a reoperation…