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Clinical Updates

Testing for Alpha-gal Syndrome: Clinical Clarity for Primary Care
 Testing for Alpha-gal Syndrome: Clinical Clarity for Primary Care 1024 683 David Stukus, MD and William Long, MD
By: David Stukus, MD and William Long, MD
Photo of lone star tick on a leaf, the tick has a white dot on the center of its back

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) presents a unique diagnostic challenge for clinicians, often leading to unnecessary testing in patients with vague allergic symptoms or solely due to a history of a tick bite with no other symptoms. Understanding when — and when not — to order testing can prevent overdiagnosis, patient anxiety and unnecessary costs. AGS is…

Parent-Practitioner Collaboration Sparks New, Multidisciplinary Approach to Down Syndrome Care
 Parent-Practitioner Collaboration Sparks New, Multidisciplinary Approach to Down Syndrome Care 1024 661 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
A girl with Down syndrome smiling

An enhanced, family-focused clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital now offers appointments with multiple specialists in a single-location, single-day clinic. Even before birth, Down syndrome is a condition that demands the attention of multiple medical specialties. From geneticists and neonatologists to the cardiologists who often have to evaluate congenital heart defects in this special population, optimal…

The Kelly Procedure: A Groundbreaking Approach to Treating Bladder Exstrophy
 The Kelly Procedure: A Groundbreaking Approach to Treating Bladder Exstrophy 1024 683 Alaina Doklovic
By: Alaina Doklovic
Enironmental portrait of Rama Jayanthi, MD, and Peter Cuckow, MB, BS, FRCS

The Kelly Procedure, part of a revolutionary two-step approach to treat bladder exstrophy, provides continence quicker, improves outcomes and shortens recovery. Bladder exstrophy is a rare and complex condition that occurs in approximately one in 10,000 to 50,000 births. With this condition, the bladder develops outside the body, leaving children incontinent and requiring surgical intervention…

Beyond Modulators: Ensuring All Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Benefit From the Next Wave of Therapy
 Beyond Modulators: Ensuring All Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Benefit From the Next Wave of Therapy 1024 618 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Two smiling young children sit side by side indoors, facing the camera, with a colorful blurred artwork in the background.

Before CFTR modulators transformed care, cystic fibrosis (CF) was defined by relentless daily treatment and progressive lung disease. Children grew up with thick airway secretions, chronic cough, recurrent pulmonary infections, and frequent hospitalizations. Maintaining weight was a constant struggle, and lung function typically declined year after year despite aggressive airway clearance, antibiotics and nutritional support.…

New Health Challenges in the Post-CFTR Modulator Era
 New Health Challenges in the Post-CFTR Modulator Era 1024 576 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

The remarkable progress in CF care has also revealed new challenges. As individuals with CF live longer, clinicians are seeing higher frequencies of complications and other down- stream health concerns that rarely emerged in the past and are now focused on aging-related diseases and maintaining their overall health. Karen McCoy, MD, pediatric pulmonologist and renowned…

Precision Medicine Brings Clarity to Preterm Infant Reflux
 Precision Medicine Brings Clarity to Preterm Infant Reflux 1024 492 Alaina Doklovic
By: Alaina Doklovic
Newborn baby in an NICU bed with a nasogastric tube.

Sudarshan Jadcherla, MD, and team aim to distinguish normal reflux from GERD in preterm infants. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in preterm infants regardless of whether they are being fed formula or breast milk, often presenting as irritability, coughing or feeding difficulties. These symptoms often lead clinicians to suspect gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), prompting interventions…

Lowering Thrombin Levels Offers a Double Benefit in Glomerular Disease Model
 Lowering Thrombin Levels Offers a Double Benefit in Glomerular Disease Model 1024 410 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
microscopy image of podocytes, a type of cell found in the kidney, stained with blue and fluorescent yellow. small red dots mark the cell

Preclinical studies suggest that reducing levels of the clotting enzyme may simultaneously reduce kidney damage and lower risk of blood clots. Preclinical research in an in vivo model now confirms what Bryce Kerlin, MD, and his team first proposed in a publication 8 years ago: excess thrombin directly injures podocytes, and high levels in the…

Finding the Unexpected: Pulmonary Sclerosing Pneumocytoma in a Pediatric Patient
 Finding the Unexpected: Pulmonary Sclerosing Pneumocytoma in a Pediatric Patient 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A case study demonstrates the need for a structured evaluation and consideration of genetic risk factors in rare pediatric tumors. Primary lung tumors in children are rare and present diagnostic uncertainty. A recent case study published in Pediatric Pulmonology highlights the evaluation and management of an unusual benign lung nodule in a school-age child. This…

In Sight: Targeted Muscle Reinnervation
 In Sight: Targeted Muscle Reinnervation 150 150 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Amputation in pediatrics is often a result of traumatic injury or cancers, such as osteosarcoma. At Nationwide Children’s, Thomas Scharschmidt, MD, director of the Orthopedic Oncology Program, is a leader in limb salvage surgery and targeted muscle reinnervation.  Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is a surgical technique that reroutes severed peripheral nerves into nearby muscles, giving…

The Growing Use of Robotics in General Pediatric Surgical Procedures
 The Growing Use of Robotics in General Pediatric Surgical Procedures 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Pediatric surgeons are increasingly turning to robotic technology for the delivery of safe and enhanced minimally invasive surgical approaches for younger children. Over the past two decades, the use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques for both laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery have been widely adopted for the treatment of children requiring various surgical procedures. This…

Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts: A Breakthrough for Children With Heart Defects
 Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts: A Breakthrough for Children With Heart Defects 968 1024 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
Illustration of a heart showing the Fontan surgery

An innovation 30 years in the making is poised to change the way children with single ventricle disease experience life after a Fontan procedure. Children with single ventricle disease are often described as having “half a heart.” What this really means is that one of their ventricles (either the right or left lower chamber of…

One Gene, Big Impact: The Science Behind a New Therapy for Brain and Muscle Health
 One Gene, Big Impact: The Science Behind a New Therapy for Brain and Muscle Health 1024 683 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
Dr. Zarife Sahenk, MD, PhD

A promising new gene therapy developed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is offering hope for new patients with neurodegenerative and muscle disorders. Led by Zarife Sahenk, MD, PhD, a neurologist, principal investigator in the Jerry R. Mendell Center for Gene Therapy and director of Clinical and Experimental Neuromuscular Pathology at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, the…

Shorter Antibiotic Courses Appear Safe for Uncomplicated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in the NICU
 Shorter Antibiotic Courses Appear Safe for Uncomplicated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in the NICU 1024 602 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Newborn baby with nasal canula oxygen support receiving care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a hospital, resting while monitored by medical staff.

Neonatology and pediatric pharmacy partner to advance antibiotic stewardship. For years, Pablo J. Sánchez, MD, principal investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, observed that approximately 7 days of antibiotic therapy appeared sufficient for selected neonates with uncomplicated gram-negative bloodstream infections that does not involve…

Filling a Critical Gap in Relapsed Sarcoma Treatment
 Filling a Critical Gap in Relapsed Sarcoma Treatment 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Blood Sample in test tube

A first-in-sarcoma trial at Nationwide Children’s Hospital tests universal-donor NK cells with chemotherapy to address poor survival rates.   The five-year overall survival rate for children and young adults with relapsed bone or soft tissue sarcomas is between 17 and 26%. For Bhuvana A. Setty, MD, pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, that reality is not acceptable. …

Selective Steroid Use After Kasai Portoenterostomy Improves Outcomes in Biliary Atresia
 Selective Steroid Use After Kasai Portoenterostomy Improves Outcomes in Biliary Atresia 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Postoperative protocol is associated with improved bile drainage and higher native liver survival without increased short-term risk. A new study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition provides evidence that a selective, marker-guided approach to postoperative steroid use improves outcomes for infants with biliary atresia following Kasai portoenterostomy. Led by Jaimie D. Nathan,…

Study Shows Younger Children Experience Persistent Symptoms Following Concussion
 Study Shows Younger Children Experience Persistent Symptoms Following Concussion 1024 540 Abbie Miller and Katelyn Scott
By: Abbie Miller and Katelyn Scott

Nearly 30% of children younger than 6 years who had a concussion during the study had prolonged symptoms, which can affect learning and behavior later in childhood. When people typically think of concussion, the first type of patient that comes to mind is a youth athlete. However, concussion is also common in early childhood, due…

Behavioral Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Undergoing Epilepsy Evaluation: Increasing Phase 1 Monitoring Rates
 Behavioral Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Undergoing Epilepsy Evaluation: Increasing Phase 1 Monitoring Rates 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

A behavioral intervention program that started as a quality improvement project evolved to a new standard of care — increasing access and compliance with Phase 1 monitoring for children with intractable epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder. A recent study led by Mary Wojnaroski, PhD, a psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, reported a sustained, multi-year increase…

Cardiometabolic Screening Gaps in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease
 Cardiometabolic Screening Gaps in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Retrospective review reveals inconsistent HbA1c screening in eligible patients. Pediatric cardiology has achieved remarkable gains in survival for children with congenital heart disease. However, as more patients reach adolescence and adulthood, they are at risk for experiencing acquired cardiovascular and cardiometabolic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Little is known about how consistently clinicians identify…

Advancing Surgical Care for Pediatric Hip Dysplasia
 Advancing Surgical Care for Pediatric Hip Dysplasia 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A novel technique demonstrates safety, stability and reduced casting needs. For children with developmental dysplasia of the hip, open reduction surgery reliably restores the hip to the socket. However, recurrent instability, iatrogenic complications, residual dysplasia and prolonged casting can limit favorable outcomes. To improve these results, orthopedic surgeons at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have developed a…

Long-Term Kidney Complications Are Common Among Pediatric and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
 Long-Term Kidney Complications Are Common Among Pediatric and Young Adult Cancer Survivors 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Study reveals the need for improved surveillance and updated survivorship guidelines. As pediatric cancer survival rates continue to climb, focus is shifting to enhancing the long-term health of survivors. While treatments have become more precise, their delayed effects are not yet fully understood. A new study led by Diana Zepeda-Orozco, MD, principal investigator in the…

Watchful Waiting: The New Recommendation for Most Preterm Infants With PDA
 Watchful Waiting: The New Recommendation for Most Preterm Infants With PDA 1024 683 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

A study published in JAMA found that treating patent ductus arteriosus with medication did not help with disease management but was associated with higher mortality.   A new study from the Neonatal Research Network, published in JAMA, found that treating patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen at…

3 Things to Know About Glomerular Disease
 3 Things to Know About Glomerular Disease 1024 683 Gina Vitale, PTA
By: Gina Vitale, PTA

Gabriel Cara Fuentes, MD, PhD, offers insights for physicians regarding pediatric glomerular disease treatment and referral. Gabriel Cara Fuentes, MD, PhD, a pediatric nephrologist and principal investigator at the Kidney and Urinary Tract Research Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, is focused on a translational approach to improving pediatric care and outcomes. Since arriving at Nationwide…

Expanding the Evidence for Cannabidiol in Focal Epilepsy
 Expanding the Evidence for Cannabidiol in Focal Epilepsy 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Young boy turned sideways in front of a dark background, with dark lighting and an illustration of his brain appearing in front of the side of his head

A multicenter study led by Nationwide Children’s Hospital demonstrates long-term efficacy and safety of Epidiolex® for treatment-resistant seizures. As global use of cannabidiol for seizure management increases, most research has targeted generalized epilepsy. This leaves a major evidence gap for patients with focal seizures and epilepsy. Anup D. Patel, MD, FAAN, FAES, FCNS, neurologist and…

Bringing Behavioral Health Into the Medical Home
 Bringing Behavioral Health Into the Medical Home 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Scaling integrated care across community pediatrics increases access to and utilization of mental health care. When a teenage patient shared feelings of anxiety and depression during a routine wellness visit, the pediatrician immediately called in the behavioral health clinician down the hall. Within minutes, both providers met with the patient and family. They left with…

Rethinking Neonatal HSV Management: A Less Aggressive, Evidence-Informed Approach
 Rethinking Neonatal HSV Management: A Less Aggressive, Evidence-Informed Approach 1024 593 Alaina Doklovic
By: Alaina Doklovic

An alternative approach to neonatal HSV management helps keep mom and baby together during the nursery stay.  Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection (HSV) is a rare but often fatal disease when not treated correctly or in a timely manner. This makes diagnosis and preventive strategies extremely important when expectant mothers have active genital HSV infection when they deliver.   Neonatal HSV is a result of vertical transmission from mother to newborn and most…

Kids With GPA Often Show Lung Signs — But Few See Pulmonologists
 Kids With GPA Often Show Lung Signs — But Few See Pulmonologists 1024 683 Jessica Nye, PhD
By: Jessica Nye, PhD

Most patients with pediatric granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) have respiratory manifestations, but fewer than half are evaluated by a pulmonologist within 6 months of diagnosis, finds a study published in Pediatric Pulmonology.   “Pediatric GPA is a very rare autoimmune rheumatologic disorder that can have significant impact on the lungs. But nobody has really described the…

Rethinking Routine Kidney Ultrasounds in Children With Mild Anorectal Malformations
 Rethinking Routine Kidney Ultrasounds in Children With Mild Anorectal Malformations 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Molly Fuchs, MD

  Annual scans rarely identify new kidney concerns in symptom-free children. Children born with anorectal malformations (ARMs), a group of congenital conditions affecting the anus and rectum, are routinely screened for kidney abnormalities because of the association between ARM and urinary tract anomalies. The likelihood of urologic complications  increases with the complexity of the malformation.…

Challenges in Medication Titration in Children with Heart Failure
 Challenges in Medication Titration in Children with Heart Failure 1024 537 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Beyond the guidelines: implementing consensus-based care for complex patients. Pediatric heart failure is a complex clinical diagnosis, with a growing body of evidence to suggest there are critical differences between pediatric and adult heart failure. In a recent review published in JHLT Open, Jessie Yester, MD, PhD and Deipanjan Nandi, MD highlight the unique challenges…

Defining Urinary Tract Infection: Why Standardization Matters for Research and Care
 Defining Urinary Tract Infection: Why Standardization Matters for Research and Care 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide, affecting an estimated 150 million people annually and costing more than $5 billion in the United States alone. However, despite their prevalence, there is still no universally accepted definition of what constitutes a UTI. This lack of clarity complicates both research and…

What Clinicians Need to Know About RSV Prevention
 What Clinicians Need to Know About RSV Prevention 1024 609 Jason Newland, MD, MEd
By: Jason Newland, MD, MEd

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects the nose, throat and lungs, causing mild cold-like symptoms (upper respiratory infection) for most children and adults. However, in high-risk populations, including infants, children with chronic conditions, and older adults, it can be quite severe — ultimately leading to hospitalization or death. For infants, RSV is the primary cause of…

Food-Based Tube Feeding: Balancing Parental Demand With Pediatric Nutrition Science
 Food-Based Tube Feeding: Balancing Parental Demand With Pediatric Nutrition Science 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Color image of enteral complete liquid nutritional products of several brands

New research from Nationwide Children’s reveals significant differences in nutrient adequacy across commercial food-based formulas. In the last two decades, enteral nutrition has undergone a significant transformation. Fifteen to 20 years ago, pediatric patients requiring gastrostomy tube feeding had only one option: synthetic, cow milk-based formulas designed to meet caloric and macronutrient needs but containing…

Guiding the Treatment of Ballistic Fractures: A New Report Offers Education and Support for Orthopedic Surgeons
 Guiding the Treatment of Ballistic Fractures: A New Report Offers Education and Support for Orthopedic Surgeons 1024 657 Alaina Doklovic
By: Alaina Doklovic

Despite firearm injury incidence and severity in children, no guidelines for orthopedic surgeons existed – until now. Firearm-related injury is the leading cause of death in the United States among children and adolescents aged 1 to 19. Despite this alarming statistic, there were no current or up-to-date general guidelines for orthopedic surgeons on the management…

Parents’ Perceptions Highlight Gaps in Supporting Children with Epilepsy in School
 Parents’ Perceptions Highlight Gaps in Supporting Children with Epilepsy in School 1024 579 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Discussions with parents of children with epilepsy revealed concerning gaps in school-based seizure education and care, underscoring the need for better lines of communication between medical teams, school personnel, and the children’s families.   A qualitative study led by Mary Kay Irwin, EdD, and Anup Patel, MD, FAAN, FAES, FCNS, at Nationwide Children’s Hospital reported…

Closing the Treatment Gap: Opioid Use Disorder Medications in Adolescents and Young Adults
 Closing the Treatment Gap: Opioid Use Disorder Medications in Adolescents and Young Adults 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
silhouette girl portrait

Findings from the PROUD trial highlight the need for youth-centered prescription strategies in primary care. Adolescents and young adults are far less likely than older adults to receive evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), even though buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone are recommended treatments. Despite their effectiveness, these therapies remain consistently underutilized in youth. To…

Advances in the Care of Patients With Chest Wall Deformities
 Advances in the Care of Patients With Chest Wall Deformities 1024 683 Sara Mansfield, MD
By: Sara Mansfield, MD

Every year Nationwide Children’s Hospital sees several hundred children and adolescents with chest wall deformities. Common Chest Wall Conditions Two of the most common chest wall diagnoses are pectus excavatum (sunken chest) and pectus carinatum (pigeon chest).  These conditions can cause a variety of symptoms, and for many children the physical appearance can be a…

LaCrosse Virus: What You Need to Know
 LaCrosse Virus: What You Need to Know 1024 586 Christopher Ouellette, MD
By: Christopher Ouellette, MD

La Crosse virus (LACV) is a mosquito-borne illness primarily found in the upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and southeastern United States. This virus is spread mostly through the bite of the eastern treehole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus, and over the past 20+ years, more cases have been seen in Ohio compared to other regions of the United States.…

Enhanced IV Line Clamp: A New Spin on a Classic
 Enhanced IV Line Clamp: A New Spin on a Classic 1024 683 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
Close-up of newly designed IV line clamps that improve patient safety and usability in hospitals by providing secure, easy-to-adjust flow control for intravenous therapy.

Revolutionizing patient care through human-centered design The IV line clamp is a long-standing technology used to deliver intravenous medications and fluids. For over 90 years, the simplistic, gravity-based design has remained unchanged, despite the growing complexity of patient care and significant advancements in medical technology. Enter Jenna Merandi, PharmD, MS, CCPS, medication safety officer, and…

Assessing the Clinical Utility of a Fetal Echocardiogram When a Sibling Has Congenital Heart Disease
 Assessing the Clinical Utility of a Fetal Echocardiogram When a Sibling Has Congenital Heart Disease 1024 695 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
Pregnant woman smiling and holding her belly while awaiting a fetal echocardiogram to check her baby’s heart health during pregnancy.

A fetal echocardiogram when a sibling has congenital heart disease may not be clinically necessary if the fetus has a normal second-trimester level II ultrasound. A retrospective study led by Kacy Taylor, MSAH, RDCS, FASE, concluded that critical congenital heart disease (CHD) was not missed when a level two ultrasound (LII-US) was normal in a…

Real-Life Impact of ETI Therapy in Cystic Fibrosis: Insights From a Large Treatment Center
 Real-Life Impact of ETI Therapy in Cystic Fibrosis: Insights From a Large Treatment Center 706 470 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Greater clinical gains observed in patients with severe lung disease, regardless of genotype. A recent prospective observational study led by Shahid I. Sheikh, MD, pediatric pulmonologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, offers insights into the effectiveness of a new medication for adolescents and adults…

Streamlining Autism Diagnosis: How Electronic Health Record Tools Increased Early Identification and Referrals in a Primary Care Network
 Streamlining Autism Diagnosis: How Electronic Health Record Tools Increased Early Identification and Referrals in a Primary Care Network 1024 575 Erin Gregory
By: Erin Gregory
Photo of a toddler playing with toys

In their recent publication, Boosting Autism Screening and Referrals with EHR-Integrated Tools at Well-Child Visits, Elizabeth W. Barnhardt, DO, MAEd, developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and her team describe a quality improvement initiative designed to improve the early identification of autism spectrum disorder…

Assessing Sleep Disturbances Across the Lifespan in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
 Assessing Sleep Disturbances Across the Lifespan in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
physicians in white coats looking at a tablet

Pilot study supports the use of sleep questionnaires to identify underrecognized symptoms in children and adults with DM1. Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is a genetic, multisystemic neuromuscular disorder that affects skeletal muscle, cardiac function, the endocrine system and the central nervous system. In addition to myotonia (the inability to relax muscles) and progressive muscle…

How One Role is Improving Emergency Department Wait Times
 How One Role is Improving Emergency Department Wait Times 150 150 Alaina Doklovic
By: Alaina Doklovic

In any emergency department (ED), many people work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly so patients receive the care they need, when they need it. At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one behind-the-scenes position is making a big impact: the triage coordinator. “The role of triage coordinator and the way it works is unique here…

Cystic Fibrosis: Screening, Diagnosis and Therapy
 Cystic Fibrosis: Screening, Diagnosis and Therapy 150 150 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Since the implementation of universal newborn screening for cystic fibrosis in all states by 2010, the expectation has been that every child with cystic fibrosis would be identified early and benefit from life-extending treatments. The reality, however, is more complex. “Because of the complexities of the genetic causes of cystic fibrosis and significant variations in…

New Trial Aims to Boost Kids’ Immune Systems to Fight Neuroblastoma
 New Trial Aims to Boost Kids’ Immune Systems to Fight Neuroblastoma 1024 558 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

A new cellular therapy approach could improve outcomes and ease the treatment burden for patients and families. Neuroblastoma is rare, with only 700 to 800 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year, but it is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Neuroblastoma typically occurs in children younger than 5 years, with…

Relative Adrenal Insufficiency Observed Among Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma During Treatment
 Relative Adrenal Insufficiency Observed Among Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma During Treatment 1024 683 Jessica Nye, PhD
By: Jessica Nye, PhD

A subset of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (NBL) and primary adrenal tumors develop an adrenal insufficiency (AI)-like phenotype during treatment. “We noticed that some of the patients with neuroblastoma had less hypotension when we added hydrocortisone while they were getting dinutuximab therapy. So, we said, I wonder if that has anything to do with the…

A Simple Intervention With Great Potential
 A Simple Intervention With Great Potential 1024 585 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

If the CORD-CHD Study meets even a single endpoint, it will represent one of the simplest and most accessible improvements in congenital heart disease management in recent history. The concept is elegant in its simplicity: delay clamping the umbilical cord for a minute or two after birth to allow a gentle increase in the baby’s…

6 Key Insights for Understanding Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension
 6 Key Insights for Understanding Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Nationwide Children’s pulmonary hypertension expert offers insights into the condition. Sarah P. Cohen, MD, physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Sleep Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis at Nationwide Children’s and assistant professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, recently shared six essential insights for understanding pulmonary hypertension, a rare yet serious condition characterized by abnormally…

Evaluating the Mental Health Impact of a Promising New Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis
 Evaluating the Mental Health Impact of a Promising New Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis 706 470 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Insights from Nationwide Children’s study on how Trikafta affects children with cystic fibrosis. In response to the promising clinical benefits of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (Trikafta) in adults with cystic fibrosis, a team in Nationwide Children’s Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Clinic recently investigated the effects of the drug in pediatric patients. Kimberly Pasley, PsyD, mental health coordinator in the…

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…

After Concussion: Monitor Sleep and Limit Daytime Naps for Faster Recovery
 After Concussion: Monitor Sleep and Limit Daytime Naps for Faster Recovery 1024 540 Laura Dattner
By: Laura Dattner

A new study reinforces the importance of sleep for concussion recovery and supports recommendations for quality nighttime sleep with limited naps. Researchers have found that when it comes to concussion recovery, sleep matters. In a study published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that limiting daytime sleep and getting…