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Mary Bates, PhD

Direct Breastfeeding of Mother’s Own Milk Benefits Preterm Infants
 Direct Breastfeeding of Mother’s Own Milk Benefits Preterm Infants 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Despite benefits, new study finds low rates of breastfeeding among preterm infants discharged from the NICU. Mother’s own milk (MOM) and direct breastfeeding (DBF) are associated with numerous health and development advantages, especially for preterm infants. However, the rates of MOM feeding and DBF among infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are low,…

Managing the Pain of Medical Procedures With Virtual Reality
 Managing the Pain of Medical Procedures With Virtual Reality 1024 572 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Clinicians across departments pilot a virtual reality game for pediatric pain management, moving virtual reality closer to clinical standard practice. A recent pilot study from researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital demonstrated the benefits of a virtual reality (VR) game during potentially painful procedures in different clinical settings. Providers and patients reported positive feedback to the…

Challenges in Clinical Decision-Making for Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
 Challenges in Clinical Decision-Making for Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

There are three approved genetic therapies for SMA, but little guidance in treatment selection. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was once a leading cause of inherited infant death in the United States. Today, there are three genetic therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat SMA — but no clinical trials directly comparing treatment…

Differentiating True Measles Cases From Vaccine Shedding
 Differentiating True Measles Cases From Vaccine Shedding 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Shedding of measles vaccine RNA can occur for up to four weeks post vaccination. Detection of measles vaccine RNA following vaccination is not uncommon and may occur up to four weeks post-vaccination, according to a new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “The frequency at which detection after MMR occurs in this patient population really highlights,…

Proteinuria Reduction in Nephrotic Syndrome Without Suppressing the Immune System
 Proteinuria Reduction in Nephrotic Syndrome Without Suppressing the Immune System 375 280 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Study suggests a distinct, non-immunosuppressive mechanism of action for drugs that ameliorate proteinuria in an NS model. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease in children and adults. NS is characterized by dysregulation of the kidneys’ glomerular filtering units, resulting in massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema. Glucocorticoids are the primary treatment…

Surgical Repair of Cloacal Malformation Does Not Worsen Bladder Function
 Surgical Repair of Cloacal Malformation Does Not Worsen Bladder Function 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

The complexity of the malformation, more than the surgical approach, determines post-operative urodynamics. Approximately 90% of girls with cloacal malformation exhibit some degree of bladder dysfunction. While associated conditions can impact bladder dynamics, the complex surgery required to repair cloacal malformation has also been hypothesized to cause bladder dysfunction. Strategies to repair cloacal malformation in…

Sacral Nerve Stimulation Improves Symptoms and Quality of Life in Children With Defecation Disorders
 Sacral Nerve Stimulation Improves Symptoms and Quality of Life in Children With Defecation Disorders 1024 656 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

A new study narrows down the patients who may benefit the most from the treatment. In a large prospective study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that sacral nerve stimulation can lead to significant and long-lasting improvements in fecal continence and quality of life in children with refractory defecation disorders. Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) involves…

Extended Reality Offers New Ways to View Congenital Heart Disease
 Extended Reality Offers New Ways to View Congenital Heart Disease 1024 577 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Researchers are evaluating the technology’s potential to improve clinical practice, trainee and family education, and patient outcomes. What if you could put on a headset and teleport inside a model of a patient’s beating heart? What if you could interact with that heart — touch it with your fingertips, zoom in or out or view…

Evaluating Caregiver Report of Developmental Delays in Young Children
 Evaluating Caregiver Report of Developmental Delays in Young Children 1024 681 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Caregiver-report measures of cognitive skills correlate with direct assessments by clinicians. Researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital report that a standardized caregiver interview can effectively identify children at risk for cognitive developmental delays. The findings suggest that caregiver-report measures may be useful in assessing young children, particularly when direct clinical assessment is not feasible. For children…

Children on Pancreatic Enzymes Experience Fewer Acute Pancreatitis Episodes
 Children on Pancreatic Enzymes Experience Fewer Acute Pancreatitis Episodes 1024 429 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Pancreatic enzyme therapy benefitted patients with pancreatic-sufficient acute recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis.  A new study shows that children with both acute recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis had significantly lower incidence of acute pancreatitis episodes per year after starting pancreatic enzyme therapy. The findings support the need for a clinical trial to determine the treatment’s…

Clinical Differences in Early-Onset and Adolescent-Onset Rumination Syndrome
 Clinical Differences in Early-Onset and Adolescent-Onset Rumination Syndrome 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Study suggests rumination syndrome in young children is less severe initially and improves over time.   Early-onset rumination syndrome is clinically distinct from adolescent-onset rumination syndrome, according to a new report out of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In this largest study of pediatric patients with rumination syndrome to date, researchers found differences in sex distribution, co-occurring…

Understanding How Youths With Autism Make the Move to Adult Health Care
 Understanding How Youths With Autism Make the Move to Adult Health Care 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Study finds overlap in the utilization of pediatric and adult health care is the norm. In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University teamed up to better understand how adolescents and young adults with autism navigate the transition from pediatric to adult health care. “We wanted to characterize the…

Surgical Repair of Traumatic Hip Dislocations With Acetabular “Fleck” Signs
 Surgical Repair of Traumatic Hip Dislocations With Acetabular “Fleck” Signs 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Kevin Klingele, MD

Surgical hip dislocation with open labral repair produced excellent clinical outcomes in pediatric patients. The acetabular “fleck” sign is a radiographic finding indicative of significant labral injury in young patients with traumatic hip dislocations. In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital show that treatment by surgical hip dislocation with open labral repair leads…

A Noncardiomyocyte Signaling Pathway in Early Heart Development
 A Noncardiomyocyte Signaling Pathway in Early Heart Development 1024 670 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Study demonstrates role for endocardial cells in myocardial trabeculation. A new study in Nature Communications from researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital provides novel insights into a signaling pathway that regulates the developing myocardium during early heart development. The findings have implications for understanding congenital heart disease and myocardial regeneration. This research was led by Deqiang…

Outcomes of Colonic Pull-Through for Patients With Cloacal Exstrophy: Is it Really Helping Kids?
 Outcomes of Colonic Pull-Through for Patients With Cloacal Exstrophy: Is it Really Helping Kids? 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Collaborative study reveals infrequent utilization of the procedure and identifies factors correlated with success. Cloacal exstrophy is a rare grouping of congenital anorectal malformations. Although once nearly uniformly fatal, survival has increased significantly, and with it, the focus on long-term outcomes. In the last 15 years, a reconstructive surgery known as colonic pull-through has been…

How Does Thickened Formula Affect Reflux in Infants?
 How Does Thickened Formula Affect Reflux in Infants? 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are often fed formula with added rice cereal or other thickeners, despite limited evidence of its efficacy or long-term consequences. Additionally, the consequences of thickened feeds are not well-studied, says Sudarshan Jadcherla, MD, a principal investigator at the Center for Perinatal Research…

Infliximab Biosimilars Improve Growth Outcomes in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
 Infliximab Biosimilars Improve Growth Outcomes in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Treatment with either the infliximab originator or a biosimilar improves clinical and growth outcomes. In a new study, researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital report that children with inflammatory bowel disease showed similar growth and clinical outcomes whether they were treated with the infliximab originator or a biosimilar agent. The results add to the growing literature…

What Features Make Virtual Reality Effective in Pain Management?
 What Features Make Virtual Reality Effective in Pain Management? 934 401 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Game realism, fun and engagement all impact pain perception during burn dressing changes. Researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital show that three key features of a virtual reality intervention (game realism, fun and engagement) influence self-reported pain scores during burn dressing changes. The findings provide insight into the potential mechanisms through which virtual reality affects pain…

Modulator Therapy Improves Chronic Sinus Disease in Individuals with Cystic Fibrosis
 Modulator Therapy Improves Chronic Sinus Disease in Individuals with Cystic Fibrosis 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Following 1 year of therapy, patients showed improved sinus CT metrics and clinical outcomes. Over the last decade, the development of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator drugs has revolutionized the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). The most widely used modulator is the triple combination elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ETI), which is approved for people with CF…

Higher Respiratory Severity Scores Associated with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension Risk
 Higher Respiratory Severity Scores Associated with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension Risk 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

The RSS score is noninvasive and may be clinically useful for risk stratification in extremely preterm infants. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s report that elevations in the respiratory severity score were correlated with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants. This study identifies a pragmatic clinical risk score that can be measured…

Implanted Hemodynamic Monitoring in Patients With Fontan Circulation
 Implanted Hemodynamic Monitoring in Patients With Fontan Circulation 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Pulmonary artery pressures obtained with the CardioMEMSTM system may be clinically useful. In a new study, researchers from The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital report on the use of invasive implanted hemodynamic monitoring (IHM) in patients with Fontan circulation. The findings suggest that IHM pressures in these patients are more closely associated with…

Researchers Create a Stem Cell Line to Study Alagille Syndrome
 Researchers Create a Stem Cell Line to Study Alagille Syndrome 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

The patient-derived iPSCs have a mutation affecting the Notch signaling pathway. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s have developed an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line derived from a patient with Alagille syndrome, a multisystem genetic disease. Like the majority of patients with Alagille syndrome, the stem cells have a pathogenic mutation in the JAG1 gene, part…

Rural-Urban Differences in Social and Emotional Protective Factors
 Rural-Urban Differences in Social and Emotional Protective Factors 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Efforts to improve child health and flourishing should consider communities’ unique sources of support. Children living in rural areas experience well-documented health and health care disparities compared to those living in urban areas. Protective factors, such as social connectedness and social engagement, also vary by geography, yet their contribution to differences in child health is…

What Other Screening Tests Should be Administered to Celiac Disease Patients?
 What Other Screening Tests Should be Administered to Celiac Disease Patients? 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Eliminating some labs may reduce costs without impacting quality of patient care. Researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that several screening laboratory tests currently recommended for pediatric patients newly diagnosed with celiac disease are infrequently abnormal. In a new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, they suggest a more streamlined approach to decrease the…

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
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 infected by high-risk STEC develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a devastating…

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: Mary Bates, PhD

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 Hospital shows that ETI therapy has the potential to change even…

Outcomes After Surgical Interventions for Abusive Head Trauma
 Outcomes After Surgical Interventions for Abusive Head Trauma 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 on neurosurgical intervention for this population is mixed. Given the range…

Combined Pediatric-Adult Anticoagulation Program Exceeds Goals
 Combined Pediatric-Adult Anticoagulation Program Exceeds Goals 1024 580 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital report excellent outcomes for a combined…

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
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 Hospital explored the relationships between blood-based and biochemical markers of inflammation…

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
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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. Sickle cell disease (SCD) increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).…

Ensuring Vulnerable Babies Receive the Benefits of Human Milk
 Ensuring Vulnerable Babies Receive the Benefits of Human Milk 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
small baby with nose canula

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 separated from their mothers shortly after birth and admitted to a…

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

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 can be injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously, with no difference in effectiveness…

Diagnosing and Treating Cubital Tunnel Syndrome in Adolescents
 Diagnosing and Treating Cubital Tunnel Syndrome in Adolescents 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Julie Samora, MD

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 of their symptoms, regardless of whether their electrodiagnostic findings were positive…

Counseling Families of Patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
 Counseling Families of Patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 options and outcomes since that time, the team recently queried providers…

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
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Color photo of Black father holding infant on shoulder in front of nursery background with clouds on the wall

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 to better clinical outcomes. However, as more individuals with SCD survive…

Assessing Respiratory Stability in Infants Hospitalized with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
 Assessing Respiratory Stability in Infants Hospitalized with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 capacity of infants with severe forms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The…

Home Infusions of Infliximab for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
 Home Infusions of Infliximab for Inflammatory Bowel Disease 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 and their families. Due to these considerations and recent insurance mandates,…

What Drives Nephrotic Syndrome Hypercoagulopathy?
 What Drives Nephrotic Syndrome Hypercoagulopathy? 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 hypercoagulopathy, or excessive blood clotting. Although the mechanisms underlying this hypercoagulopathy…

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
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 system tumor. The authors conclude that the therapy has many important…

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
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Baby in NICU

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. Diagnosing central adrenal insufficiency typically involves a low-dose synthetic ACTH (cosyntropin)…

Investigating Caregiver Disclosure of Pediatric Urologic Surgery
 Investigating Caregiver Disclosure of Pediatric Urologic Surgery 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Toddler playing with toys

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 is up to their caregiver to disclose this surgery to them.…

Evolution of the Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit
 Evolution of the Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit 1024 538 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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. Over the last 12 years, the YCSU has grown from a…

Deep Brain Stimulation Ameliorates Symptoms of Genetic Movement Disorder
 Deep Brain Stimulation Ameliorates Symptoms of Genetic Movement Disorder 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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, published in the journal Pediatric Neurology, suggests DBS may be useful…

Social Needs Associated with Postpartum Depression
 Social Needs Associated with Postpartum Depression 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 social needs could be targeted concurrently in future interventions addressing postpartum…

Placing Value on a Pediatric Surgeon’s Academic Work
 Placing Value on a Pediatric Surgeon’s Academic Work 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 units (wRVUs). wRVUs commonly quantify clinical work, practice expenses and professional…

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
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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” and is associated with increased risk of infections and death. Researchers…

Intraoperative Evaluation of Penile Blood Flow During Bladder Exstrophy
 Intraoperative Evaluation of Penile Blood Flow During Bladder Exstrophy 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 exstrophy closure. The optimal technique for repair of bladder exstrophy in…

Improving Outcomes for Infants and Children With Congenital Hypothyroidism
 Improving Outcomes for Infants and Children With Congenital Hypothyroidism 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Toddler playing with toys

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 for CH as part of standard screening tests. This condition must…

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

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 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The researchers leveraged data from the…

5 Things Neonatologists Should Know About Vitamin K Deficiency
 5 Things Neonatologists Should Know About Vitamin K Deficiency 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

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 and yet, parental refusal of the intervention is on the rise.…