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In Brief

Determining Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction Surgical Success Using Biomarkers
 Determining Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction Surgical Success Using Biomarkers 1024 575 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Biomarkers initially found to differ among patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction and healthy controls may also objectively gauge post-surgical resolution of obstruction. A follow-up study of a trial that initially identified four biomarkers that differ between healthy controls and pediatric patients about to undergo surgery for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) has confirmed that two of…

Novel Use of Vedolizumab Resolves Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease in a Pediatric Transplant Recipient
 Novel Use of Vedolizumab Resolves Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease in a Pediatric Transplant Recipient 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Vedolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets α4β7 integrin present on gut homing T cells and is indicated for adult inflammatory bowel disease Physicians at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have successfully treated steroid-refractory gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease (SR GI aGVHD) with adjuvant vedolizumab therapy in a pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipient. The case was…

Collaborative Study Seeks to Understand Gene Expression Changes During Acute Events in Patients With SCD
 Collaborative Study Seeks to Understand Gene Expression Changes During Acute Events in Patients With SCD 150 150 Natalie Wilson
By: Natalie Wilson

Researchers explore gene responses among SCD patients hospitalized for acute complications to inform understandings of the under-studied disease. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic, genetic disorder characterized by structural changes in circulating red blood cells. According to the CDC, SCD affects approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States alone and accounts for 3,000 births…

Privacy for the Vulnerable: Confidentiality in Adolescent Care
 Privacy for the Vulnerable: Confidentiality in Adolescent Care 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Confidentiality plays a critical role in adolescent care, yet can be difficult for providers to implement because of legal complexities and other challenges. Confidentiality is a critical component of adolescent medical care. As adolescents transition into adulthood, the opportunity to spend time alone with a health care provider fosters independence in discussing health issues, making…

Exploring the Link Between Cystic Fibrosis and Celiac Disease
 Exploring the Link Between Cystic Fibrosis and Celiac Disease 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Overlapping symptoms can cause delayed diagnosis of celiac disease in patients with cystic fibrosis. Physician scientists at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have recently identified three cases of patients with cystic fibrosis, all of whom had the same genotype, were treated with the CFTR modulator, ivacaftor, and were diagnosed with celiac disease. This adds to a novel body…

Technical Aspects of Fetal Aortic Valvuloplasty Predict Success of the Procedure
 Technical Aspects of Fetal Aortic Valvuloplasty Predict Success of the Procedure 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Fetus in utero receiving valvuloplasty

The procedure is often successful but comes with significant risks to fetal health and life. Fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) is a procedure performed mid-gestation in a subset of fetuses with aortic stenosis who would likely develop hypoplastic left heart syndrome with no intervention. Although often successful, it is a high-risk procedure that is associated with…

Encouraging First Report of Systemic Delivery of Micro-dystrophin Gene Therapy in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
 Encouraging First Report of Systemic Delivery of Micro-dystrophin Gene Therapy in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 150 150 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

One-year data from the first four patients to receive a single dose of the rAAVrh74.MHCK7.micro-dystrophin gene therapy is published in JAMA Neurology. Researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital have published in JAMA Neurology results from the first four patients treated in the first clinical trial of systemic delivery of micro-dystrophin gene therapy in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy…

The Autism Treatment Network Reflects on a Decade of Work
 The Autism Treatment Network Reflects on a Decade of Work 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Members point to family involvement as key to the network’s success. The Autism Treatment Network (ATN) started in 2005 as a group of clinical investigators with the goal of improving understanding of the medical aspects of autism spectrum disorders. The network expanded in 2008 to become the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P).…

Using Metrics to Improve the Delivery of Optimal Diabetes Care for Children With Type 1 Diabetes
 Using Metrics to Improve the Delivery of Optimal Diabetes Care for Children With Type 1 Diabetes 1024 575 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

The Type 1 Diabetes Care Index is a new metric that tracks the delivery of diabetes care, with the goal to reach zero missed opportunities to deliver quality care. The complexity and chronicity of pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D) necessitate a coordinated, multidisciplinary effort to effectively deliver the optimal standards of diabetes care, as outlined…

Emotion Regulation and Family History: Examining the Intersection of Two Risk Factors for Suicidal Behavior
 Emotion Regulation and Family History: Examining the Intersection of Two Risk Factors for Suicidal Behavior 1024 575 Test Author
By: Test Author

First pilot study exclusively focused on early vulnerabilities in youth with maternal history of suicidal behavior sets the foundation for future research. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for persons ages 10-24. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), youth suicide rates have nearly tripled from 2007 to 2017.…

Eosinophilic Pneumonia Brought on by Vaping
 Eosinophilic Pneumonia Brought on by Vaping 1024 680 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

A case study emphasizes the importance of a detailed history in differentiating between eosinophilic and infectious pneumonia. Eosinophilic pneumonia is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. It is often seen in previously healthy individuals and can be difficult to distinguish from infectious pneumonia, leading to delays in the appropriate treatment. According to a new case…

Preventing and Ameliorating Acute and Chronic Kidney Damage After Chemotherapy
 Preventing and Ameliorating Acute and Chronic Kidney Damage After Chemotherapy 720 480 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Research looking at mitochondrial targets in kidney health holds promise for cisplatin-induced kidney injury. Recent work exploring the mitochrondrial metabolism in the kidneys following exposure to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy, has revealed a key role of superoxide (O2•-, an indicator of oxidative stress in renal cells associated with cell damage and death) in both acute…

Study of Children With COVID-19 Admitted to US and Canadian Pediatric Intensive Care Units
 Study of Children With COVID-19 Admitted to US and Canadian Pediatric Intensive Care Units 1024 683 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Publication examines the characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 who were admitted to North American PICUs. While two studies from Wuhan, China, have indicated that COVID-19 disease burden and severity seems to be lower in children, it remains to be seen how children around the world will fare as the pandemic progresses. In March…

How a Network of Hospitals Reduced Average Age at Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis to 9.5 Months
 How a Network of Hospitals Reduced Average Age at Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis to 9.5 Months 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

In just one year, hospital teams working as part of a network to implement international cerebral palsy diagnosis guidelines successfully reduced average age at diagnosis from 19.5 months to 9.5 months. More than 50% of all eventual cerebral palsy (CP) cases spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, making early CP evaluation a crucial…

Study Finds Rising Rate of Mental Health Visits Among Youth to Emergency Departments
 Study Finds Rising Rate of Mental Health Visits Among Youth to Emergency Departments 480 320 Kaitlin Hall
By: Kaitlin Hall

Highest jump was among 15- to 17-year-olds and more pronounced in girls; Dramatic increases in self-harm and substance use as reasons for ED visits. While the number of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits across the nation has remained stable over the last 10 years, visits for mental health disorders have risen 60% and the rate…

Optimized Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring Provides Real-Time Clinical and Diagnostic Benefits in Patients With Polyneuropathy
 Optimized Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring Provides Real-Time Clinical and Diagnostic Benefits in Patients With Polyneuropathy 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

New study reports that optimizing NIOM parameters can provide actionable, real-time data to protect the nervous system during surgery and facilitate diagnosis of previously unrecognized polyneuropathies. Neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring (NIOM) provides a multimodal approach to evaluating the nervous system’s functional integrity. Components of NIOM include sensory evoked potentials (SEP), which monitor the dorsal column sensory…

Systems Analyses Unravel Clinical Phenotypes in Infants with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
 Systems Analyses Unravel Clinical Phenotypes in Infants with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

RSV disease severity is influenced by innate immune responses, viral loads and patient age. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of hospitalization in children, although most cases result in mild disease. To develop effective antivirals and vaccines, a better understanding of the different clinical, immunologic and virologic factors present in infants with mild…

Reproductive Health Attitudes and Behaviors in Transgender/Nonbinary Adolescents
 Reproductive Health Attitudes and Behaviors in Transgender/Nonbinary Adolescents 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

A survey suggests providers may need unique strategies for counseling sometimes disinterested youth on important reproductive health issues. Transgender and nonbinary adolescents have unique issues when it comes to reproductive health. They are at high risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, hormonal or surgical interventions begun in adolescence can risk impairing future fertility. Researchers…

Study Supports Expanded Use of Ventricular Assist Devices in Children With Complex Congenital Heart Disease
 Study Supports Expanded Use of Ventricular Assist Devices in Children With Complex Congenital Heart Disease 150 150 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

New multicenter study shows that the HeartMate3 ventricular assist device is associated with low morbidity and adverse events in pediatric patients with complex CHD. Ventricular assist devices (VADs), such as the HeartMate3 (HM3) continuous-flow VAD, provide critical heart function support in patients with advanced heart failure. Although design improvements in VADs have reduced complication rates…

American Academy of Pediatrics Releases First Policy Statement on Organ Transplants for Children with Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities
 American Academy of Pediatrics Releases First Policy Statement on Organ Transplants for Children with Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities 1024 575 Katelyn Scott
By: Katelyn Scott

Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released its first policy statement addressing children with intellectual and developmental disabilities as organ transplantation recipients. The policy statement, published online today in Pediatrics, recommends that transplant teams consider both the cognitive and adaptive skills of a patient when determining if a transplant could be of benefit, and recognize that…

Open Reduction May Improve Acetabular Remodeling in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
 Open Reduction May Improve Acetabular Remodeling in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Study of children who had reductions for developmental hip dysplasia at age 2 years or younger highlights differences in outcomes for open and closed reductions. In children under 2 years of age with developmental dysplasia of the hip, open reduction with capsulorrhaphy appears to improve acetabular remodeling more than closed reduction, according to a study…

Using Genomics to Unlock Secrets of Recurrent Ear Infections
 Using Genomics to Unlock Secrets of Recurrent Ear Infections 1024 575 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
conceptual art of DNA

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is responsible for many acute and recurrent infections in children, such as otitis media. Otitis media – middle ear infection – is a common type of recurrent infection in children, with as many as 700 million acute cases and 300 million recurrent cases each year. One type of bacteria responsible for…

Searching for a Predictive Biomarker of Pulmonary Hypertension in Babies With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
 Searching for a Predictive Biomarker of Pulmonary Hypertension in Babies With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia 1024 575 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the lungs and is a comorbidity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is the chronic lung disease of premature babies. When pulmonary hypertension is present in the context of BPD, the risk of death is significantly increased. As neonatologists continue to define the phenotype of severe BPD, Jennifer Trittmann, MD, MPH,…

Helping Children With Sickle Cell Disease Adhere to Their Medication
 Helping Children With Sickle Cell Disease Adhere to Their Medication 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Mobile intervention increases medication adherence in the children who engage with it. A study published in JMIR mHealth uHealth shows that an electronically delivered intervention can improve medication adherence in children with sickle cell disease. Hydroxyurea is a life-changing medication for children with sickle cell disease (SCD). However, many patients may not consistently receive their hydroxyurea. To…

Keeping Kids in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
 Keeping Kids in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

A multifaceted quality improvement program increases patient retention in addiction treatment. Adolescents and young adults with opioid use disorder often struggle to stay in treatment that’s not designed for people at their developmental stage. The Medication-Assisted Treatment of Addiction (MATA) Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the only pediatric providers for adolescents with opioid use…

Study Sheds Light on Causes of Phenotype Variation in IQSEC2-Related Disease
 Study Sheds Light on Causes of Phenotype Variation in IQSEC2-Related Disease 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Variant type and inheritance pattern affect patient phenotypes in IQSEC2-related disease. Investigators from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine recently identified additional pathogenic variants within the IQSEC2 gene, which has previously been associated with X-linked intellectual disability, in five patients. They also demonstrated that different variant types correlate with the severity of…

Unlocking the Structure of Biofilms
 Unlocking the Structure of Biofilms 1024 575 Kevin Mayhood
By: Kevin Mayhood
Illustration showing the precise pattern of a biofilm - a perfect, 3D matrix

Researchers characterize a component that stabilizes biofilms, a step toward learning ways to disrupt protection of harmful bacteria. In the extracellular DNA lattice of bacterial biofilms, nature appears to reprise the functional equivalent of Holliday junction (HJ) intermediates — cross-shaped structures formed during the process of genetic recombination, researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital report in Proceedings…

Better Bone Healing by Reversing Current Techniques?
 Better Bone Healing by Reversing Current Techniques? 1024 575 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Bones may heal denser and stronger when given room for controlled micro-movement at first, followed by rigid stabilization — a complete flip-flop of the standard of care. A combination of biology and mechanical influence determines how well a bone heals, for better or worse. For half a century, physicians have believed that complete bone immobilization…

Health Care and Medication Use Among Adolescents with Opioid Use Disorder in Ohio
 Health Care and Medication Use Among Adolescents with Opioid Use Disorder in Ohio 1024 575 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

From Ohio – a state in the heart of the opioid crisis – a new study on the medications prescribed to teens with opioid use disorder. A new study from researchers in the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, recently published in Journal of Adolescent Health,…

Study Shows Promising Host-Targeted Approach for the Prevention and Cure of Gonorrhoea in Women
 Study Shows Promising Host-Targeted Approach for the Prevention and Cure of Gonorrhoea in Women 1024 683 Nationwide Children's
By: Nationwide Children's

In research published in mBio, researchers from the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics have discovered non-antibiotic (host-targeted) therapies for the effective treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections by repurposing existing drugs. Gonorrhoea is the second most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI). The Centers for Disease Control and…

A Natural History of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Boys 3 to 6 Years Old
 A Natural History of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Boys 3 to 6 Years Old 1024 575 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
boy with muscular dystrophy completing walk test

A prospective, multicenter study following 153 boys younger than 6 years old documents disease progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common inherited neuromuscular disorder that affects all races and ethnicities. It affects males, occurring in 1/3,600 live-born infant boys. While some affected newborns may have mild hypotonia, other symptoms are rarely…

New Celiac Care Index Improves Adherence to Care Guidelines
 New Celiac Care Index Improves Adherence to Care Guidelines 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

The recent implementation of a Celiac Care Index (CCI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital resulted in improved adherence to published care guidelines, reduced variability in baseline evaluations, and indicated potentially unnecessary baseline laboratory tests for further evaluation. The study, which was published in The Journal of Pediatrics, describes the quality improvement (QI) strategy implemented at the hospital.…

New Application of Nuclear Imaging in the Legs May Enable Early Detection of Cardiovascular Problems
 New Application of Nuclear Imaging in the Legs May Enable Early Detection of Cardiovascular Problems 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Researchers have used a non-invasive imaging modality to quantify perfusion reserve in specific muscles of the extremities — a novel approach with numerous potential clinical applications Researchers have shown for the first time that SPECT/CT imaging can be used to quantify perfusion reserve of specific muscle groups in the lower limbs, which they directly related…

Keeping Options Open in Complex Pediatric Nephrolithiasis
 Keeping Options Open in Complex Pediatric Nephrolithiasis 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Urologists in the Pediatric Urology Midwest Alliance recently looked at how endoscopic assisted robotic pyelolithotomy could reduce the number of procedures for children with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The Pediatric Urology Midwest Alliance (PUMA) recently published a new report demonstrating that endoscopic assisted robotic pyelolithotomy (EARP) is an acceptable treatment option for complex cases of pediatric…

Brain Characteristics Associated with Epilepsy and Internalizing Disorders
 Brain Characteristics Associated with Epilepsy and Internalizing Disorders 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Diffuse alterations in brain structure and function are seen in youth with epilepsy and symptoms of anxiety or depression. Internalizing disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are common in patients with epilepsy. Specific brain characteristics – structural changes in the hippocampus and amygdala as well as some differences in structure and function of more frontal…

Understanding Drug Interactions in Diffuse Midline Gliomas
 Understanding Drug Interactions in Diffuse Midline Gliomas 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

In a recent publication in Science Translational Medicine, researchers studied combinations of approved and investigational drugs to identify promising pairs, such as panobinostat and marizomib, for the treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and other diffuse midline gliomas (DMG). In recent years, studies have shown that diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) subtypes are driven…

Timing Steroids to Maximize Lung Benefit and Avoid Brain Harm in Premature Infants
 Timing Steroids to Maximize Lung Benefit and Avoid Brain Harm in Premature Infants 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Nurse caring for infant in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Treating infants early may decrease risk of lung disease with no added risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. Steroids are used to treat extremely premature babies with respiratory failure, yet they can be associated with delays in brain development. A recent study looked at the age of first steroid administration and the risks of lung disease and neurodevelopmental impairment…

How to Increase Continuous Glucose Monitoring Utilization in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
 How to Increase Continuous Glucose Monitoring Utilization in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

An innovative quality improvement project grew the use of CGM nearly six-fold in 2 years. A 2017 round-table meeting of the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange revealed that some diabetes clinics had a very small number of patients using continuous glucose monitors (CGM) — devices that allow patients to avoid repeated finger sticks to check glucose…

Botox Appears Safe for Treatment of Defecation Disorders
 Botox Appears Safe for Treatment of Defecation Disorders 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
By: Kevin Mayhood

Anal botulinum toxin injections (Botox) have increasingly been used in children with functional anorectal and colonic disorders during the past 15 years. A study at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, combined with a review of published literature, shows this off-label use of Botox is safe and complications are rare. Complications occurred in less than 0.7% of 1332…

Dentists Heeded FDA Warning on Codeine
 Dentists Heeded FDA Warning on Codeine 1024 683 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
open bottle of pills

An FDA black box warning directed at ENT doctors performing tonsil and adenoid surgeries also affected prescribing patterns by dentists. Codeine, an opioid analgesic, was popular in pediatrics because it was thought to be a safe alternative to morphine. However, in recent years, the drug has been found to have variability in therapeutic doses, with…

What is the Association Between Kidney Injury and Fluid Balance in Premature Newborns?
 What is the Association Between Kidney Injury and Fluid Balance in Premature Newborns? 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD
Nurse caring for infant in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

A positive fluid balance is associated with acute kidney injury and worse outcomes in a new study of premature infants. According to new research, there is an association between fluid balance and outcomes in preterm newborns, with a negative fluid balance during the first week of life emerging as a potential therapeutic target. Premature infants…

Kidney Biopsy Analysis Reveals High Risk for Disease in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
 Kidney Biopsy Analysis Reveals High Risk for Disease in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease 1024 732 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Patients with SCD are at high risk for significant kidney disease. A retrospective study of biopsy findings from the Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium shows just how high. Kidney damage is a progressive complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), sometimes eventually leading to kidney failure. As the life expectancy of individuals with SCD has improved, the…

Lung Transplant Index Enhances Identification of Preventable Harms in Adolescents and Young Adults
 Lung Transplant Index Enhances Identification of Preventable Harms in Adolescents and Young Adults 150 150 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

A recent Quality Improvement (QI) Initiative at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has reduced the percent of missed opportunities to address preventable harms in a population of adolescent and young adult patients who underwent lung transplant at the hospital. The study is published in Pediatric Quality and Safety. “We tried to focus on all issues, all body systems,…

Regional Anesthesia Dramatically Reduces Opioid Use After Limb Lengthening and Reconstructive Surgeries
 Regional Anesthesia Dramatically Reduces Opioid Use After Limb Lengthening and Reconstructive Surgeries 1024 584 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

The peripheral catheter approach to postoperative pain management may also shorten length of stay. When clinicians in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital first proposed the use of regional anesthesia for the patients of Christopher Iobst, MD, he was resistant to the idea. As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in limb lengthening and…

Could Restoring CD4+ T Cell Immunity Help Control Hepatitis C Infection?
 Could Restoring CD4+ T Cell Immunity Help Control Hepatitis C Infection? 1024 683 Kevin Mayhood
By: Kevin Mayhood

Following childbirth, some women with chronic infection experienced a recovery of HCV-specific CD4+ T cells and a reduction in viral replication. In chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infections, CD4+ T cells that recognize the virus have been so hard to detect, some researchers thought they may be completely depleted. But research led by investigators at Nationwide Children’s…

Asymptomatic Infants With Congenital Cytomegalovirus May Still Have Detectable, Significant Abnormalities
 Asymptomatic Infants With Congenital Cytomegalovirus May Still Have Detectable, Significant Abnormalities 1024 575 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
Color photo of Black father holding infant on shoulder in front of nursery background with clouds on the wall

More than half of high-risk CMV-positive newborns may have abnormalities not detected by a physical exam alone. A study in 34 infants with a normal physical exam despite a positive diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) — a viral infection that can lead to neurodevelopmental delays and permanent hearing loss — found that in more than…

Targeting Alternative RNA Splicing in Pediatric Cancers
 Targeting Alternative RNA Splicing in Pediatric Cancers 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Targeting alternative RNA splicing in tumor cells could lead to cancer therapies. RNA splicing, the enzymatic process of removing segments of premature RNA to produce mature RNA, is a key regulator of gene expression. Recent studies have identified variations in the transcriptomes of tumors due to alternative splicing changes, in addition to mutations in splicing…

Reducing Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits
 Reducing Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits 480 320 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Through serial interventions and teamwork, the initiative reduced asthma-related ED utilization rates by nearly 4% per year at a time when national rates were rising. Numerous studies have demonstrated that quality improvement (QI) methodologies improve asthma outcomes. However, moving that success from individual patients to a large population is challenging. In a recent study published…

For Some Fetuses With HLHS, One Follow-up Echocardiogram May Be Enough
 For Some Fetuses With HLHS, One Follow-up Echocardiogram May Be Enough 1024 575 Kevin Mayhood
By: Kevin Mayhood

“Not every patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, also known as HLHS, is the same: there appears to be a high-risk group that has significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation, atrial septal restriction or other concerns; and a low-risk group that, on their first scan, has none of these comorbidities of the heart,” says Bernadette Richards, FASE,…

What Are Long-Term Outcomes for a Child With Bladder Exstrophy?
 What Are Long-Term Outcomes for a Child With Bladder Exstrophy? 1024 575 Kevin Mayhood
By: Kevin Mayhood

A study from the Pediatric Urology Midwest Alliance (PUMA) suggests the condition requires lifelong management for most children with bladder exstrophy. Half of infants with classic bladder exstrophy (BE) undergo bladder augmentation or diversion by age 10 and the percentage increases with age, a 36-year retrospective study from five Midwestern children’s hospitals shows. Whether they…