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In Brief

Post-concussion Screen Time: Amount and Type Matter for Recovery
 Post-concussion Screen Time: Amount and Type Matter for Recovery 1024 661 Laura Dattner
By: Laura Dattner

A new study found that moderate screen time may speed recovery in youth with concussion. In a study published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that about 141 minutes of screen time each day for the first three days following concussion was associated with quicker recovery. “These findings support that moderate screen time –…

Delays and Disparities in Uptake of Effective Antiseizure Medications
 Delays and Disparities in Uptake of Effective Antiseizure Medications 1024 562 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
Doctor in a white coat holding a clipboard pad and fill medical history list with silver pen.

National prescribing trends suggest many children may receive suboptimal epilepsy therapy. In the wake of landmark trials (SANAD II) firmly supporting the use of lamotrigine for focal and valproate for generalized epilepsy, neurologists at Nationwide Children’s expected these drugs would be increasingly prescribed. Instead, their analysis of nearly 150,000 children receiving their first antiseizure monotherapy…

Evaluating Adherence and Safety Outcomes for Neonatal UTI Diagnosis and Treatment
 Evaluating Adherence and Safety Outcomes for Neonatal UTI Diagnosis and Treatment 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
Newborn baby in an incubator at the NICU

Neonates are at increased risk for developing urinary tract infections, yet a knowledge gap exists regarding defining, diagnosing and treating them in the NICU. A study across seven Nationwide Children’s neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) reported 80% adherence to diagnostic criteria for urinary tract infection (UTI) and no safety concerns, with 90% of infants receiving…

Depression Medication Adherence Varies Among Medicaid Youth
 Depression Medication Adherence Varies Among Medicaid Youth 1024 270 Lynn Dosky
By: Lynn Dosky
Graphic is titled Prevalence of Depression in Youth. It shows 3 pie graphs depicting 3% School-aged Children, 20% Adolescents, and 18% Young Adults

Poor medication adherence increases risk of persistent depression, suicide and self-harm. A national study of nearly 200,000 Medicaid- enrolled youth ages 9 to 24 found major gaps in the quality of antidepressant treatment and adherence for a new major depressive episode. Researchers analyzed Medicaid claims from 2016 to 2019 to assess consistency with Healthcare Effectiveness…

Better Transitions From NG Tube to Oral Feeding
 Better Transitions From NG Tube to Oral Feeding 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Woman is spoon feeding a toddler

An intensive program helped 76% of children with nasogastric tubes transition to oral feeding, avoiding gastrostomy tube placement. Some children with pediatric feeding disorder who require prolonged nasogastric tube (NG tube) feeding may be able to avoid gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement through intensive multidisciplinary intervention, according to new research from Nationwide Children’s. Nationwide Children’s operates…

Evaluation of New-to-Market Coin-Cell Battery and Medical Management Recommendations
 Evaluation of New-to-Market Coin-Cell Battery and Medical Management Recommendations 1024 790 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
X-ray image showing a button battery lodged in a child's throat, with a callout showing a close up of the battery, highlighting the double ring around it

First peer-reviewed evaluation of a commercially available esophageal-protective lithium coin-cell battery demonstrates substantially reduced tissue injury, but researchers emphasize that current emergency medical management should remain unchanged. When a lithium coin-cell battery becomes lodged in a child’s esophagus, severe tissue injury can develop rapidly. According to the first peer-reviewed scientific evaluation of a commercially available…

New Classification System Links Wound Complications to Cancer Treatment Delays in Pediatric Bone Sarcomas
 New Classification System Links Wound Complications to Cancer Treatment Delays in Pediatric Bone Sarcomas 150 150 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Study identifies patients at highest risk and provides a framework for earlier multidisciplinary intervention. Children with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, the two most common pediatric bone sarcomas, typically start treatment before tumor resection, then promptly resume chemotherapy or their clinical trial protocol after surgery. Because these patients are often immunosuppressed, postoperative wound complications can delay…

Rumination Syndrome May Be Underrecognized in Children With Eosinophilic Esophagitis
 Rumination Syndrome May Be Underrecognized in Children With Eosinophilic Esophagitis 1024 683 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
physicians in white coats looking at a tablet

New research highlights the importance of considering co-diagnoses in children with persistent regurgitation. Regurgitation is a common symptom in both eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and rumination syndrome (RS), but new research suggests the overlap between the two conditions may be greater than previously recognized. The findings highlight a potential diagnostic challenge for pediatric gastroenterologists and underscore…

Robotic Pyeloplasty Is a Viable Option for Infants Younger Than 6 Months
 Robotic Pyeloplasty Is a Viable Option for Infants Younger Than 6 Months 1024 677 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Dr. DaJusta, urologist, standing in a hospital hallway smiling.

A Nationwide Children’s study found comparable outcomes with robotic and open pyeloplasty in infants younger than 6 months, suggesting patient size alone should not preclude a robotic approach.   Robotic pyeloplasty appears to be a viable alternative to open surgery even in infants younger than 6 months, with comparable surgical success and postoperative outcomes, according…

Early Vesicostomy May Help Predict Long-Term Urinary Outcomes in Girls With Cloacal Malformation
 Early Vesicostomy May Help Predict Long-Term Urinary Outcomes in Girls With Cloacal Malformation 1024 611 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Molly Fuchs, MD, chief of Urology at Nationwide Children's, wearing scrubs and a white coat standing in a hospital hallway.

The need for vesicostomy in infancy may help identify girls with cloacal malformation who are at greater risk for impaired bladder function, chronic kidney disease, and future reconstructive surgery.   Girls born with cloacal malformation who require a vesicostomy in infancy may be less likely to achieve independent voiding and more likely to experience long-term…

Supporting Brain Development While the Lungs Heal
 Supporting Brain Development While the Lungs Heal 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Baby with tracheostomy tube happily engaging with medical team who are holding a toy and wearing masks and gowns.

A new review presents a practical framework for incorporating neurodevelopmental care into the management of infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. For infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), months in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can coincide with a critical period of brain development. Although treating severe lung disease is essential, clinicians at Nationwide Children’s…

Brain Imaging Study Reveals Unexpected Glymphatic Pattern in Adolescent Psychosis
 Brain Imaging Study Reveals Unexpected Glymphatic Pattern in Adolescent Psychosis 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
MRI or magnetic resonance image of head and brain scan. Close up view, toned image

Higher glymphatic imaging markers in adolescents contrast with patterns reported in adult studies, highlighting the importance of developmental stage for biomarker interpretation. A new neuroimaging study from investigators at Nationwide Children’s Hospital suggests that adolescents with first-episode of psychosis (FEP) may have increased activity in the brain’s glymphatic (waste clearance) system as measured by an…

Insurance-Driven Switches to Adalimumab Biosimilars Maintain Disease Control in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
 Insurance-Driven Switches to Adalimumab Biosimilars Maintain Disease Control in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Woman in scrubs with a stethoscope talking with teen.

New pediatric data may help clinicians reassure patients and families about nonmedical treatment switches Since biosimilar versions of adalimumab became available in the United States in 2023, more insurers have required patients receiving the originator medication to switch to a biosimilar. Researchers have deemed biosimilars safe and effective alternatives in adults. However, there is limited…

Treating Cystic Fibrosis Before Birth May Prevent Some of Its Earliest Complications
 Treating Cystic Fibrosis Before Birth May Prevent Some of Its Earliest Complications 1024 575 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

At Nationwide Children’s, fetal medicine and pulmonary specialists are collaborating to offer an emerging prenatal treatment approach. For children with cystic fibrosis, disease-related injury can begin before birth. Now, clinicians at Nationwide Children’s are using a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulator — commonly called a CFTR modulator — during pregnancy with the goal of…

A New Era in Pediatric Obesity Treatment
 A New Era in Pediatric Obesity Treatment 1024 683 Joan Han, MD
By: Joan Han, MD
A hand adjusts the weight measurement on a doctor's scale in a healthcare setting.

For decades, pediatric obesity treatment options were limited. Clinicians relied primarily on lifestyle interventions, with few effective medications available for children and adolescents. Today, however, advances in obesity medicine are transforming care and creating new opportunities to improve long-term health outcomes for young patients. Obesity is increasingly recognized as a complex, chronic disease influenced by…

Integrated Crisis Care Continuum Expands Access for Youth and Families
 Integrated Crisis Care Continuum Expands Access for Youth and Families 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Nationwide Children’s comprehensive crisis care continuum connects youth and families with timely, individualized mental health support across hospital, outpatient and community settings.   As pediatric mental health needs continue to rise, Nationwide Children’s has developed an integrated crisis care continuum designed to connect children and families with timely services matched to their clinical needs while…

Could Missed Feeding Milestones Be Driving NICU Complications?
 Could Missed Feeding Milestones Be Driving NICU Complications? 1024 492 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
Newborn baby in an NICU bed with a nasogastric tube.

New research suggests delayed feeding progression may contribute to growth faltering, prolonged hospitalization and other complications in very preterm infants. For years, clinicians have largely assumed that preterm infants reach feeding milestones later because they are sicker. New research from Nationwide Children’s suggests the relationship may also work in the opposite direction. Investigators found that…

A New Tool Opens New Door to Personalized Genetic Risk Assessment
 A New Tool Opens New Door to Personalized Genetic Risk Assessment 1024 574 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
Science Inspired Abstract Art - An abstract composition inspired by scientific elements like beakers, test tubes, or molecular structures, chemistry, biology, physics

PGS Browser integrates thousands of polygenic scores and provides new tools and resources for their interpretation, helping to bridge the gap between genomic research and clinical application. A new study led by investigators from the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children’s is helping make genetic information more accessible through a public platform…

Novel Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction Technique May Improve Hip Development in Developmental Hip Dysplasia
 Novel Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction Technique May Improve Hip Development in Developmental Hip Dysplasia 1024 684 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Cute baby lies in a white round bed. Light nursery for young children. Toys for infant cot. Smiling child playing with mobile of felt and chewing his feet in sunny bedroom.

Children treated with a novel suture button technique experienced improved acetabular remodeling following open hip reduction. Achieving a stable reduction, in which the femoral head remains securely positioned within the hip socket, is the primary goal of treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Greater hip stability has shown to improve acetabular remodeling following…

Planning Starts During Pregnancy for the Fastest Genome Sequencing in the NICU
 Planning Starts During Pregnancy for the Fastest Genome Sequencing in the NICU 1024 683 Jessica Nye, PhD
By: Jessica Nye, PhD
Baby in a NICU bed with nasal canula. Swaddled in white blanket with health care worker's hand gently resting on the baby.

Genome sequencing (GS) has become standard for babies with congenital anomalies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Nationwide Children’s.   To ensure that clinicians have access to genomic results as soon as possible, GS coordination is moving to the gestational period for families who are anticipating NICU care after delivery. A commentary about…

International Framework Establishes Path Toward Risk-Adapted Osteosarcoma Treatment
 International Framework Establishes Path Toward Risk-Adapted Osteosarcoma Treatment 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
test tube of blood held in gloved hands

A new international framework prioritizes molecular classifiers that could enable risk-adapted, biologically informed treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults with osteosarcoma.   Despite substantial advances in understanding osteosarcoma biology, treatment has remained largely unchanged for more than four decades. An international working group has now developed a framework for translating emerging molecular classifiers into…

Study Supports Use of Flow-Diverting Stent for Complex Brain Aneurysms in Children
 Study Supports Use of Flow-Diverting Stent for Complex Brain Aneurysms in Children 1024 531 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
MRA Brain or Magnetic resonance angiography (MRI) of Vessel in the brain sagittal view for evaluate them stenosis

New research suggests that a minimally invasive flow-diversion device approved for adults may offer a safe and effective treatment option for children with complex brain aneurysms. Pediatric intracranial aneurysms are rare, but when they occur, they can be among the most challenging cerebrovascular conditions to treat. Many have complex morphologies and locations that may not…

Improving Neonatal X-Ray Quality Through Standardization
 Improving Neonatal X-Ray Quality Through Standardization 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Baby in a NICU bed with nasal canula. Swaddled in white blanket with health care worker's hand gently resting on the baby.

Pre-X-ray Safety CHECK reduces repeat imaging, radiation exposure and diagnostic variability in the NICU. Portable radiographs are necessary for diagnosing disease and evaluating position of medical devices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). However, repeat imaging due to poor-quality radiographs exposes vulnerable infants to additional radiation and unnecessary handling, disrupting their environment and potentially compromising…

Technology and Parent Engagement Reduce Risky Driving in Teens With Traffic Violations
 Technology and Parent Engagement Reduce Risky Driving in Teens With Traffic Violations 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Caucasian adolescent girl paying attention to the road and listening to her instructor. Teenage girl driving during her test to get a driver's license

Randomized clinical trial assesses whether driving feedback technology, parent communication training or a combination reduces risky driving in teenagers with traffic violations. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States. Teen drivers who receive traffic citations represent a particularly high-risk population, with elevated rates of repeat violations, crashes…

First AHA Scientific Statement Establishes Framework for Pediatric Acute Heart Failure Care
 First AHA Scientific Statement Establishes Framework for Pediatric Acute Heart Failure Care 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Antonio Cabrera, MD, wearing white coat and tie standing in hospital hallway

New guidance outlines a stepwise approach to early recognition, stabilization and long-term management.   A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association provides the first comprehensive framework for evaluating and managing children with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). ADHF is a high-risk condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The statement was chaired by…

Advancing Care for Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes, an Urgent and Evolving Public Health Issue
 Advancing Care for Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes, an Urgent and Evolving Public Health Issue 1024 589 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
Young adult using a finger-prick device to check blood sugar levels while holding a glucose meter, standing at a kitchen counter with a small medical kit nearby.

Type 2 diabetes was once considered an adult-only condition, but today, that paradigm has shifted dramatically. Pediatric endocrinologists are caring for a growing and increasingly complex population of young patients with type 2 diabetes, underscoring the urgency of effective care.  “Youth-onset type 2 diabetes is no longer rare – it’s an urgent and rapidly evolving…

Fast Brain MRI Demonstrates High Diagnostic Value for Pediatric Neurologic Emergencies
 Fast Brain MRI Demonstrates High Diagnostic Value for Pediatric Neurologic Emergencies 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Fast brain MRI is a radiation-sparing technique that has demonstrated value as a screening tool for generalized emergent neurologic conditions in the pediatric emergency setting.   A recent retrospective study led by Nathaniel Forman, MD, a former pediatric emergency medicine fellow at Nationwide Children’s and current pediatrician at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, reported that fast…

A Balancing Act: Early Versus Late Renal and Bladder Ultrasound After a First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection
 A Balancing Act: Early Versus Late Renal and Bladder Ultrasound After a First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection 1024 634 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
person in blue scrubs holding a baby, cropped so focus is on the baby

Performing a renal and bladder ultrasound less than 24 hours after a first febrile urinary tract infection increases the likelihood of detecting non-clinically relevant, transient inflammatory changes.   A retrospective study conducted at Nationwide Children’s and four other academic pediatric hospitals reported that a renal and bladder ultrasound (RBUS) performed less than 24 hours after…

The Future of Bipolar Disorder Management: Beyond the Clinic and Into the Community
 The Future of Bipolar Disorder Management: Beyond the Clinic and Into the Community 1024 683 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
Teen sitting curled up on a couch, looking out a bright window, appearing thoughtful or pensive.

A new, state-of-the-field publication lays out tools and evidence for building community-based systems of care for youth with bipolar. Individuals with bipolar disorders, a set of mental health conditions characterized by fluctuations in mood with periods of depression and mania, spend far more time dealing with the chronic burden of managing the disease than they…

New Mechanism Identified in Urinary Tract Infection Host Defense
 New Mechanism Identified in Urinary Tract Infection Host Defense 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Photo of Christina Ching, MD, wearing a white lab coat, smiling at the camera in a lab.

IL-6 promotes urothelial expulsion of intracellular bacteria, limiting recurrence risk. A recent study published in the Journal of Innate Immunity provides new insights into how the body actively defends against urinary tract infections (UTIs). Led by Christina B. Ching, MD, principal investigator of the Ching Lab in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute and director of…

Health Systems Face Growing Gap in Cell and Gene Therapy Implementation
 Health Systems Face Growing Gap in Cell and Gene Therapy Implementation 1024 768 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Close-up digital illustration of a DNA strand against a blue background.

New manuscript outlines practical strategies to address safety, operational and financial challenges. As cell and gene therapies (CGTs) are increasingly incorporated into standard clinical care, health systems face a widening operational gap. An invited manuscript published in Transfusion outlines the challenge and presents a practical framework, informed by the experience at Nationwide Children’s, to guide…

Why Immune Balance Matters in UTI Susceptibility
 Why Immune Balance Matters in UTI Susceptibility 1024 459 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Graphic illustration of kidneys and bladder organ visualization. Healthcare concept background with medical icons.

New research identifies PTEN as a main regulator of bladder immunity and suggests potential non-antibiotic prevention strategies. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain among the most common bacterial infections in clinical practice, contributing to significant morbidity and raising concerns about antibiotic resistance. While known risk factors, including lack of circumcision, kidney disease, diabetes and immunosuppression, help…

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…

Closing the Kindergarten Readiness Gap With Direct Literacy Screening in Primary Care
 Closing the Kindergarten Readiness Gap With Direct Literacy Screening in Primary Care 1024 683 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
A woman sitting on a couch reading a book with two young children, who smile and look at the pages together.

New research suggests direct literacy screening during pediatric well visits can complement traditional developmental surveillance and better support kindergarten readiness. Pediatricians have long relied on developmental screening tools during well-child visits to monitor whether children are meeting expected milestones prior to starting kindergarten. But new research suggests that these widely used tools may miss an…

How Diabetes Rewires the Heart’s Smallest Vessels
 How Diabetes Rewires the Heart’s Smallest Vessels 1024 597 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Microscopy image of a mouse heart sample colored with red and green fluorescent dye, and marked for single-cell sampling.

A landmark study uncovers how diabetes alters the heart at the cellular level. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in type 2 diabetes. While its effects on large arteries are well recognized, growing evidence suggests the earliest cardiovascular injury occurs in the heart’s smallest vessels. Coronary microvascular disease (CMD), marked by impaired endothelial…

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 London
By: Alaina London
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…

Effectiveness and Adoption of a Mental Health Crisis App
 Effectiveness and Adoption of a Mental Health Crisis App 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
Upset confused Black woman holding cellphone having problem with mobile phone, frustrated angry mixed race girl reading bad news in message looking at smartphone annoyed by spam or missed call

Youth who used a statewide mental health crisis app in Utah reported significant declines in the intensity of their presenting concerns and were generally satisfied with the app. Youth who used SafeUT, a statewide crisis app in Utah, reported experiencing significant decreases in the intensity of their presenting concerns, according to a study led by…

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…

Genetic Evaluation Practices for Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease
 Genetic Evaluation Practices for Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease 1024 614 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
abstract art of magnifying glass over DNA strand

Multi-institutional survey reveals wide variation in cardiac testing and care. Advances in genomic medicine have significantly improved the understanding of congenital heart disease etiology. However, the integration of genetic evaluation into neonatal cardiac critical care remains inconsistent. A recent multi-institutional study, led by Amee M. Bigelow, MD, and Vidu Garg, MD, both from Nationwide Children’s…

Early Temporization Linked to Better Early Development in Premature Infants With Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus
 Early Temporization Linked to Better Early Development in Premature Infants With Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus 864 576 Nationwide Children's
By: Nationwide Children's
Neurosurgeon Albert Isaacs posed in the operating room, looking at the camera.

A new HCRN study led by Nationwide Children’s links early temporary cerebral spinal fluid diversion and timely shunt conversion to better early development in preterm infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. A new Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) study, published in Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, suggests that starting with temporary cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion and converting to…

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…

Genome Database Analysis Suggests Cystic Fibrosis is More Globally Distributed Than Previously Believed
 Genome Database Analysis Suggests Cystic Fibrosis is More Globally Distributed Than Previously Believed 1024 768 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Despite lower CF incidence in non-European populations, total CF births in Asia, Africa and South America likely equal or surpass those in North America and Europe. Cystic fibrosis (CF) has long been viewed as a disease that primarily affects people of European descent. Even as genetic research expanded and highly effective modulator therapies (HEMT) became…

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…

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…

Norms, Needs and New Frontiers in Pediatric Mental Health
 Norms, Needs and New Frontiers in Pediatric Mental Health 1024 683 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
Eric Youngstrom, PhD

 An interview with Eric Youngstrom, PhD, director of the Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research (IMBHR) is driving discovery through improved assessments, effective treatments and digging deep to answer the ‘why’ behind…

Understanding the Rising Suicide Risk Among Black Youth
 Understanding the Rising Suicide Risk Among Black Youth 1024 576 Alaina London
By: Alaina London

A new large-scale Medicaid study sheds light on complex factors driving risk and the protective factors that may help save lives. Suicide rates among Black youth (children, adolescents and young adults) have risen sharply in recent years, surpassing those of other racial and ethnic groups. In 2023, it was the third leading cause of death…

Registry Data Provide Insight Into Ultra-Rare Pediatric Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumors
 Registry Data Provide Insight Into Ultra-Rare Pediatric Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumors 1024 473 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

At A Glance Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a rare condition that affects joints, mostly in adults but sometimes in children. New research using an international patient registry shows that children often wait more than a year for the correct diagnosis because symptoms such as pain and swelling can look like sports injuries or…

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,…