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

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

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Spinal Anesthesia – an Alternative for Infants Undergoing Surgery
Spinal Anesthesia – an Alternative for Infants Undergoing Surgery 1024 683 Pam Georgiana

A new study highlights the safety and efficacy of more than 1,000 surgeries using spinal anesthesia. Nationwide Children’s Infant Spinal Anesthesia Program, headed by Grant J. Heydinger, MD, a pediatric attending anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, recently published the results…

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Quality Improvement Approach Reduces Pediatric Asthma Emergency Department Visits by 33%
Quality Improvement Approach Reduces Pediatric Asthma Emergency Department Visits by 33% 770 513 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

With institutional support, a primary care-based quality improvement initiative markedly reduced asthma-related emergency department visits for children with asthma. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital implemented a quality improvement (QI) project that reduced pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visits by 33% from 2010 to 2019.…

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Improving UTI Detection in Neonates: Antimicrobial Peptides and Cotton Balls
Improving UTI Detection in Neonates: Antimicrobial Peptides and Cotton Balls 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

New research sets the stage for less-invasive urinary tract infection identification in neonates 22-37 weeks gestational age. A team of researchers driving the revolution in urinary tract infection (UTI) identification using antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has now expanded their focus from adults and children to…

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Novel Immunotherapy Approach Enhances Immune Surveillance in Gliomas
Novel Immunotherapy Approach Enhances Immune Surveillance in Gliomas 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck

Genetically engineered myeloid cells release interleukin-2, which helps the immune system overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in gliomas.   Gliomas — tumors originating from the neuronal support (glial) cells of the central nervous system — are one of the leading causes of cancer-related death…

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

Following 1 year of therapy, patients showed improved sinus CT metrics and clinical outcomes. Over the last decade, the development of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator drugs has revolutionized the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). The most widely used modulator is the…

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What Pulmonologists Need to Know About Respiratory Insufficiency in Neuromuscular Disease
What Pulmonologists Need to Know About Respiratory Insufficiency in Neuromuscular Disease 600 400 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

The RIND Study Group has released new consensus criteria to proactively identify hypoventilation in children with neuromuscular diseases. Recently released consensus criteria from an expert panel of pediatric pulmonologists and sleep specialists define and provide diagnosis guidance surrounding respiratory insufficiency in neuromuscular disease (RIND).…

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Featured Researcher – Elaine Mardis, PhD
Featured Researcher – Elaine Mardis, PhD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Elaine Mardis, PhD is co-Executive Director of the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and holds the Rasmussen Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Genomic Medicine. She is also a Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University…

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At the Heart of a First R01 Grant
At the Heart of a First R01 Grant 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Allison Bradbury, MS, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Gene Therapy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. She recently received her first R01 grant to develop novel therapeutic strategies…

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Clinical Trial Shows Promising Results for AAV Gene Therapy for LGMD 2E/R4
Clinical Trial Shows Promising Results for AAV Gene Therapy for LGMD 2E/R4 1024 783 Abbie Miller

Recently published in Nature Medicine, interim results from a Phase 1/2 trial offer promising results.   Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) 2E/R4 is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the β-sarcoglycan (SGCB) gene. These mutations lead to SGCB protein deficiency, ultimately resulting…

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Dr. Jayanthi standing in OR
When Surgery Does Not Go as Planned
When Surgery Does Not Go as Planned 1024 575 V. Rama Jayanthi, MD

A surgeon’s reflections on complications, trust and moving forward together.   I have been thinking back on my career and the instances where a patient developed a complication, and the surgery did not go as planned. Having a family state their child was better…

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Magnetically Controlled Limb Lengthening Devices Safe for Patients With Programmable Implantable Devices, Study Shows
Magnetically Controlled Limb Lengthening Devices Safe for Patients With Programmable Implantable Devices, Study Shows 1024 575 Erin Gregory

Recent study evaluated the safety and efficacy of using magnetically controlled intramedullary nails in patients with programmable implantable devices, shedding light on a previously unexplored area of orthopedic surgery. In a pivotal study published in the Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction, led by…

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A girl with Down syndrome smiling
Addressing Gastrointestinal Disorders to Improve Quality of Life for Individuals With Down Syndrome
Addressing Gastrointestinal Disorders to Improve Quality of Life for Individuals With Down Syndrome 1024 661 Erin Gregory

Down syndrome (DS) affects approximately 1 in 700 children born in the United States, presenting with intellectual disability and distinct physical features. Alongside these challenges, individuals with DS often contend with various medical issues that impact their quality of life (QoL), including gastrointestinal (GI)…

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Stem Cell Study Opens Door to Understanding Development of Rare Form of Congenital Heart Disease
Stem Cell Study Opens Door to Understanding Development of Rare Form of Congenital Heart Disease 150 150 Pam Georgiana

Researchers use induced pluripotent stem cell technology and single-cell genomics to pinpoint abnormal cell development in hypoplastic right heart syndrome. A rare form of hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS), occurs when the structures on the right side…

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

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

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Adolescents With Concussion May Benefit from More Cognitive Activity as Early as the First Week After Injury
Adolescents With Concussion May Benefit from More Cognitive Activity as Early as the First Week After Injury 1024 575 Laura Dattner

A new study shows limiting screen time and returning to school early following a concussion may hasten recovery timelines. In a study published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers with the Center for Injury Research and Policy, Division of Sports Medicine, Center for Biobehavioral…

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Introducing Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Learning Library
Introducing Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Learning Library 1024 683 Pam Georgiana

Access the free educational resource for health care providers interested in evidence-based courses. Jennifer B. Reese, PsyD, is a clinical child psychologist at Nationwide Children’s and manages behavioral health and training at Big Lots Behavioral Health Services. She is concerned about the national shortage…

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Gene Therapy for the Masses?
Gene Therapy for the Masses? 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Long-lived financial and logistical hurdles make bringing new gene therapy products to market a major challenge. To help bring more of these medical miracles to fruition, experts across industry, regulatory review, science and medicine have begun to problem solve together.  With the approval of…

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Neurorehabilitation for Children With Batten Disease
Neurorehabilitation for Children With Batten Disease 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck

Therapy should be tailored to each child’s needs. Batten disease comprises a rare group of related genetic disorders characterized by progressive neurodegeneration. The disease primarily presents in childhood as seizures, vision loss, and developmental regression. Neurorehabilitation services, including physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT),…

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Hear Me Read: Novel Technology Approach to Reading Skills for Children with Impaired Hearing
Hear Me Read: Novel Technology Approach to Reading Skills for Children with Impaired Hearing 1024 683 Madison Storm

For children who are deaf or have impaired hearing, access to sound through tools like hearing aids, cochlear implants and/or intensive speech therapy is critical for developing speech and literacy. “The challenges faced are not the same as those an adult faces,” says Prashant…

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