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Colorful illustration of gene therapy in action
Can Gene Therapy Treat Dominantly Inherited Disorders?
 Can Gene Therapy Treat Dominantly Inherited Disorders? 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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Recent applications of adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene therapy have focused mainly on correcting recessively inherited diseases. But what about dominantly inherited disorders? It looks like AAV could be a delivery mechanism for treating those genetic disorders, too. Most applications of AAV-mediated gene therapy…

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Rajeswari Swaminathan smiling and posing for photo in front of windows
Accessing Genomic Data for Research and Clinical Diagnostics – Meeting the Challenge
 Accessing Genomic Data for Research and Clinical Diagnostics – Meeting the Challenge 1024 575 Rajeswari Swaminathan, MS
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What good is genomic data if it can’t be shared efficiently? The genesis of DNA sequencing technology in the 1970s was a turning point in science, giving birth to a modern era in biology. Further, with the unfolding of the relationship between nucleic acid…

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Colorful illustration of gene therapy in action
FDA APPROVAL: Gene Therapy Comes of Age
 FDA APPROVAL: Gene Therapy Comes of Age 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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UPDATED: May 2019 On May 24, 2019, the FDA approved Zolgensma (formerly AVXS-101), a first-of-its-kind gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. In the 13 months that have passed since this article first posted, the long-term outcomes of gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)…

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Is Whole Exome Sequencing the Future of Kidney Stone Management?
 Is Whole Exome Sequencing the Future of Kidney Stone Management? 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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The first use of whole exome sequencing for monogenic causes of kidney stone disease reveals the diagnostic tool is ripe for clinical application. In the first-ever study of whole exome sequencing for early-onset kidney stone disease, an international team of researchers led by clinician-scientists…

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Weaving an Antimicrobial Safety Net
 Weaving an Antimicrobial Safety Net 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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Stewards thread together monitoring programs and new protocols while trimming unwarranted tests and diagnostic speed. This story also appeared in the Spring/Summer 2018 print issue. Download a PDF of the print issue. Studies estimate that 30 to 50 percent of antimicrobials prescribed in hospitals and…

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Black and white photo of infant crying in hospital
Reevaluate the Evaluation of Febrile Infants?
 Reevaluate the Evaluation of Febrile Infants? 1024 575 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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For decades, complete blood cell counts have been the go-to way to identify babies at high risk for serious bacterial infections. But recent research shows the popular lab test isn’t as useful as everyone thought. The Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) has…

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A Heart in Three Dimensions
 A Heart in Three Dimensions 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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The 3D Printing Lab at Nationwide Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive patient-specific treatment planning and device development services from a pediatric perspective. The tiny heart pictured above is just one of the many 3D printed models created by the 3D Printing Team at Nationwide Children’s.…

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Can We Prevent Future Language Delays in the NICU?
 Can We Prevent Future Language Delays in the NICU? 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Researchers investigate the use of event related potentials to measure the effects of mother’s voice exposure on speech sound differentiation. Preterm infants are at high risk for neurosensory impairments and developmental delays, including hearing loss, which may have lasting consequences. Compared to babies born…

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The National Mortality Rate for the Comprehensive Stage 2 Procedure
 The National Mortality Rate for the Comprehensive Stage 2 Procedure 1024 575 Jeb Phillips
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A substantial overall U.S. rate, in contrast to the low rates reported by a few single centers such as Nationwide Children’s, shows room for improvement in handling the hybrid approach for left ventricular physiology. Most published outcomes data on the pediatric Comprehensive Stage 2…

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Photo of leukemia cells under microscope
What Happens When Cancer Remission Is in Question?
 What Happens When Cancer Remission Is in Question? 1024 575 Mary Bates, PhD
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A new study looks at outcomes for children with leukemia when two tests of remission disagree. In both clinical practice and clinical trials, remission in leukemia is determined by morphological assessment — a person counting cancer cells in a bone marrow sample under a…

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Quality Improvement Boosts Use of Enteral Therapy in Patients With Crohn’s Disease
 Quality Improvement Boosts Use of Enteral Therapy in Patients With Crohn’s Disease 1024 575 Kevin Mayhood
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Refined procedures, tools and support promote this proven alternative to steroids. A team of researchers found that employing quality-improvement methods increased use of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) to induce remission in children with Crohn’s disease at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. By increasing awareness of the…

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Solving the Puzzle of Transfusion-Related Immune Reactions
 Solving the Puzzle of Transfusion-Related Immune Reactions 576 367 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
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Now that physicians have the “how” of blood transfusions mastered, they are starting to explore the “what” — and they’re learning that the effects of sharing human blood may be even more far-reaching and complex than previously imagined. With the initial safety challenges addressed…

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Growing Tissue to Help Children With Short Bowel Syndrome
 Growing Tissue to Help Children With Short Bowel Syndrome 1024 575 Kevin Mayhood
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Research using a small animal model shows that it matters where in the body the cultured intestine is grown. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are hoping to use short bowel syndrome patients’ own cells to grow extra tissue needed for their small intestine to…

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Color close up image of young baby girl looking at hanging toys
Small Trial of Omega Fatty Acid Supplementation in Toddlers Born Preterm Points to Possible Therapeutic Intervention
 Small Trial of Omega Fatty Acid Supplementation in Toddlers Born Preterm Points to Possible Therapeutic Intervention 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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Researchers show that supplementation of omega fatty acids may improve symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder in toddlers who were born very preterm. Researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital have shown that omega fatty acid supplements may improve autism spectrum disorder symptoms in toddlers who were born…

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A Better Non-Invasive Method To Monitor Liver Disease in Short Bowel Syndrome?
 A Better Non-Invasive Method To Monitor Liver Disease in Short Bowel Syndrome? 150 150 Jeb Phillips
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A pilot study suggests that acoustic radiation force impulse elastography can help monitor liver disease in children with short bowel syndrome. Patients with intestinal failure (most frequently caused by short bowel syndrome) are at risk for developing liver disease due to multiple contributing factors,…

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Photo of equipment for premature infants
Somali-Born Women Have Lowest Preterm Birth Rate in Ohio
 Somali-Born Women Have Lowest Preterm Birth Rate in Ohio 1024 575 Kevin Mayhood
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Researchers hope the immigrants can teach them how to reduce the rates of prematurity in the general population. Year after year, studies have found that non-Hispanic white women have the lowest preterm birth rate in Ohio, but new research found a different trend. Somali…

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Four Reasons Hospitals Fail to Prioritize Drug Abuse in Communities Plagued by Opioids
 Four Reasons Hospitals Fail to Prioritize Drug Abuse in Communities Plagued by Opioids 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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Lack of money and expertise, risk and stigma appear to forestall community benefit programming. Communities in Appalachian Ohio are among the hardest hit in America’s opioid crisis, but a study of hospitals in the region shows that under half make substance abuse a priority…

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A Different Way of Measuring Undesired Events Can Better Clinical Performance
 A Different Way of Measuring Undesired Events Can Better Clinical Performance 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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Clinical care indexes allow departments to track failures and harm and continually upgrade processes for delivering optimal care. Three Nationwide Children’s Hospital departments that developed and applied their own clinical index to the care of patients with a certain illness or who underwent specific…

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The Challenge of Studying Supplementation: Omega Fatty Acids to Prevent Preterm Birth and Associated Complications
 The Challenge of Studying Supplementation: Omega Fatty Acids to Prevent Preterm Birth and Associated Complications 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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Dietary supplements: it seems that medical professionals either love them or hate them. And while much research shows that the average healthy adult with a good diet probably doesn’t need them, studies of specific supplements in specific patient populations may show efficacy. For example,…

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Tissue engineered vascular graft
A Key to Preventing Stenosis in Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts
 A Key to Preventing Stenosis in Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts 600 400 Kevin Mayhood
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Seeding a high number of bone marrow mononuclear cells on graft appears to prevent narrowing. Tissue-engineered vascular grafts hold promise for children with congenital heart disease because the grafts, which carry a patient’s own cells, have the potential to grow and regenerate just as…

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How Primary Care Providers Can Address Suicidal Youth and Self-Harming Behaviors
 How Primary Care Providers Can Address Suicidal Youth and Self-Harming Behaviors 150 150 John Hofmeister
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Pediatricians are in an optimal position to see early warning signs and recommend treatment. Pediatricians are often in an optimal position to see early warning signs of suicidal and self-harming behavior in their patients, to diagnose and recommend treatment, and to provide referrals depending…

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Illustration of NK Cells, T Cells, other immune cells floating across white background
Immune Cell Subtype Tied to Asthma in Mice Found in Humans With Viral Infections
 Immune Cell Subtype Tied to Asthma in Mice Found in Humans With Viral Infections 969 533 Kevin Mayhood
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If asthma development in people parallels mice, the cells’ mechanisms may provide a target for disease prevention. A subtype of neutrophil, labeled CD49d+ PMN, which is necessary to drive asthma and allergies in a mouse model, also accumulates in the nasal fluid of people with symptoms…

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After Bariatric Surgery, Adolescents Show Decreased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
 After Bariatric Surgery, Adolescents Show Decreased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease 150 150 Gina Bericchia
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Three years after surgery, only 5 percent of study participants had three or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, a significant reduction from 33 percent before surgery. Adolescents with severe obesity who had bariatric surgery showed significant improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors, according…

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Large-Scale Genomics Study Identifies Children With High-Risk Cancer
 Large-Scale Genomics Study Identifies Children With High-Risk Cancer 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Some subtypes of leukemia have a poor prognosis. Genomic studies are helping to identify these subtypes, leading to targeted therapies. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a malignancy of the white blood cells, is a common childhood cancer. Understanding the genomic changes underlying ALL has led…

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Conquering the Biological Politics of Cancer: Corruption, Coercion and Collusion
 Conquering the Biological Politics of Cancer: Corruption, Coercion and Collusion 150 150 Timothy Cripe, MD, PhD
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Understanding the “Three C’s” may provide the insights need to move the needle on the cancers with the bleakest prognoses. Broadly speaking, cancers fall into three categories: leukemias, brain tumors and other solid tumors. Since the dawn of chemotherapy in the 1940s, we’ve converted…

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To Test or Not to Test: The Inherited Thrombophilia Question
 To Test or Not to Test: The Inherited Thrombophilia Question 150 150 Abbie Miller
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When a result provides questionable or limited clinical utility, physicians and genetic counselors must educate patients and providers on the pros and cons of genetic testing. Between the increased ease of clinical genetic testing and the direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits now available, physicians and…

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Making Stem Cell Transplantation Work for Sickle Cell Disease
 Making Stem Cell Transplantation Work for Sickle Cell Disease 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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New regimen offers a promising approach for unrelated donor transplants. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a blood disorder affecting 1 in every 500 African-American newborns. It is characterized by extreme pain and decreased longevity. Currently, the only cure for SCD lies in hematopoietic stem…

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Can Spinal Replace General Anesthesia in Pediatric Urology Patients?
 Can Spinal Replace General Anesthesia in Pediatric Urology Patients? 150 150 Jeb Phillips
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Spinal anesthesia offers a viable low-risk alternative to general anesthesia for a wide range of pediatric procedures, particularly for urology patients. As research continues to illuminate the possibility of neurotoxic effects from general anesthesia in pediatric patients, surgeons and anesthesiologists at Nationwide Children’s Hospital…

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Cysteamine Appears to Help Clear Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria from Cells of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis
 Cysteamine Appears to Help Clear Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria from Cells of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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The drug could help eradicate members of the B. cepacia complex and other bacteria in CF. Physicians and researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital have found that the drug cysteamine protects cells of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) against a group of disease-causing and multi-drug…

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Building Heart Valves From Extracellular Matrix
 Building Heart Valves From Extracellular Matrix 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Physicians at Nationwide Children’s Hospital describe the use of an extracellular matrix cylindar valve in the mitral position. At The Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s, Patrick McConnell, MD, a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, is using an alternative to the traditional cadaveric, mechanical or biological replacement valve.…

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Considerations for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care
 Considerations for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care 150 150 Cody Hostutler, PhD
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As increasing numbers of pediatric patients require behavioral health care, primary care providers look to integrate behavioral health providers in their practice. You know the story. It’s the middle of a busy Friday afternoon, you just finished up an adolescent well-visit, your hand is…

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Care Bundles Can Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries
 Care Bundles Can Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries 150 150 Brianne Moore
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Reliable implementation of care bundles reduces the number of serious hospital-acquired pressure injuries Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (PI) are a significant cause of preventable harm that can increase hospitalization costs and length of stay. Up to 27 percent of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients…

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Two Classes of GGAA-Microsatellites in a Ewing Sarcoma Context
 Two Classes of GGAA-Microsatellites in a Ewing Sarcoma Context 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Characterization of GGAA-microsatellites provides insight in the role of noncoding DNA in cancer susceptibility and therapeutic development. In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers describe two types of GGAA-microsatellites and their roles in EWS/FLI binding and gene regulation in Ewing sarcoma. Ewing sarcoma is the…

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Phase 1 Study Shows Promise of Gene Replacement Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1
 Phase 1 Study Shows Promise of Gene Replacement Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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The phase 1 clinical study shows that gene therapy extends survival of patients and supports achievement of milestones previously unseen in the natural course of the disease. A one-time intravenous infusion of the high dose of gene therapy extended the survival of patients with…

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On the Road to Eliminating RSV
 On the Road to Eliminating RSV 150 150 Abbie Miller
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With the recent publication of two papers, researchers shed light on factors that influence disease severity and immune response to respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants and young children. “RSV is a very common infection in infants and young children – almost everyone will…

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8 Ways You Can Support Families in Need of Behavioral Health Services
 8 Ways You Can Support Families in Need of Behavioral Health Services 150 150 Nancy Cunningham, PsyD
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Long wait times and difficulties accessing behavioral health services cause stress for many patients and families. As awareness grows about the prevalence of behavioral health challenges for children and adolescents, more patients and families are seeking specialized care. However, due to a shortage of…

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How Genes and Environment Interact to Raise Risk of Congenital Heart Defects
 How Genes and Environment Interact to Raise Risk of Congenital Heart Defects 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Genetic susceptibility plus maternal hyperglycemia interact to contribute to heart defects during fetal development. Infants of mothers with diabetes have a three- to five-fold increased risk of congenital heart defects. Such developmental defects are likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.…

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Dopamine: A Rescue Therapy for Fontan Patients With Protein-Losing Enteropathy?
 Dopamine: A Rescue Therapy for Fontan Patients With Protein-Losing Enteropathy? 150 150 Jeb Phillips
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Patients with quickly worsening PLE saw serum albumin levels stabilize after dopamine treatment. Patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure for single ventricle congenital heart disease do not often develop protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) – but those who do are at substantial risk of mortality…

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Speedy Development of Support Programs for Second Victims Demands Collaboration
 Speedy Development of Support Programs for Second Victims Demands Collaboration 150 150 John Hofmeister
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Openly sharing research and resources results in rapid development and growth of peer program for health care workers experiencing second victim phenomena. A career in health care brings many rewards — but it also puts its practitioners at risk for depression, anxiety, shame or…

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The Evolution of Precision Medicine for Children With Aggressive Brain Tumors
 The Evolution of Precision Medicine for Children With Aggressive Brain Tumors 150 150 Jonathan Finlay, MB, ChB, FRCP
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The Head Start 4 clinical trial introduces risk stratification and builds on the success of bone marrow transplantation for young children with malignant embryonal tumors. Cancers in the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system, CNS) are now the most common cause of…

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A New Paradigm for Treating Transcription Factor-Driven Cancers
 A New Paradigm for Treating Transcription Factor-Driven Cancers 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Researchers describe how the association of the EWS/FLI transcription factor with GGAA-microsatellites drives Ewing sarcoma. In the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital describe a new paradigm for treating transcription factor-driven cancers. The study focuses on…

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Family Focus Restructures Single Ventricle Care
 Family Focus Restructures Single Ventricle Care 150 150 Brianne Moore
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Standardize, connected care in a multidisciplinary team environment aims to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients born with single ventricle heart anatomy. Children with single ventricle anatomy, one of the most harrowing of congenital heart defects, face unique challenges that require multiple…

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Could Nutritional Supplements Impact Autism Symptoms in Toddlers Born Preterm?
 Could Nutritional Supplements Impact Autism Symptoms in Toddlers Born Preterm? 150 150 Rachael Hardison
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Supplementing with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids impacts language development in preterm toddlers at risk for developing autism. Delay in language development is often an early indicator in children at risk for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet clinicians are still trying to understand…

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6 Strategies for Incorporating Behavioral Economics in Your Practice
 6 Strategies for Incorporating Behavioral Economics in Your Practice 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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Behavioral economics combines insights from psychology, economics and marketing to improve or direct decision-making. It can be used to “nudge” patients, their families and practitioners in the direction of better health if used by health care providers. While the use of behavioral economics strategies has…

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“Impatient” Therapy: Physicians Too Aggressive in Treatment of ITP
 “Impatient” Therapy: Physicians Too Aggressive in Treatment of ITP 150 150 Brianne Moore
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Despite guidelines that advocate watching and waiting, physicians are still treating most patients with immune thrombocytopenia. When a child presents with easy bruising or bleeding, red skin spots and fatigue – symptoms similar to those for leukemia – families seek evaluation immediately. However, more…

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How to Improve Apparent Cause Analyses and Reduce Error Recurrence
 How to Improve Apparent Cause Analyses and Reduce Error Recurrence 150 150 Brianne Moore
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A quality improvement team embarks on a project focused on the accuracy of future quality improvement initiatives. An apparent cause analysis (ACA) is a process used to investigate the cause or causes of a medium or low-risk safety event. Designed as a quality improvement…

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Bouncing Back: Overcoming Physician Burnout With Resilience
 Bouncing Back: Overcoming Physician Burnout With Resilience 1024 575 Suzanne Reed, MD and John Mahan, MD
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Physician burnout is becoming increasingly recognized as an extensive and debilitating reality. Present in specialties across the spectrum of medicine, most disciplines report burnout rates of 50 to 60 percent or more, and these rates have been increasing over the last several years. Pediatrics…

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Children With Autism and Abdominal Pain Have Distinctive Bacterial Profiles
 Children With Autism and Abdominal Pain Have Distinctive Bacterial Profiles 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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The microbiome may harbor causes of abdominal and behavioral issues and potential targets for relief. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and functional abdominal pain may have a distinct microbiome-neuroimmune profile compared to kids with gastrointestinal disorders (GI) and those with no GI illness.…

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Can Behavioral Economics Help People Adopt Better Health Habits?
 Can Behavioral Economics Help People Adopt Better Health Habits? 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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Simple incentives may nudge patients, caregivers and clinicians to make more healthful choices. Behavioral economics has helped electricity customers cut down on usage, new employees to start setting aside money for retirement from day one and, more recently, to change health care provider and…

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Combining Quality Measures to Improve Surgical Outcomes
 Combining Quality Measures to Improve Surgical Outcomes 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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Use a refined morbidity and mortality conference with a national database, a new study suggests. A pediatric surgery morbidity and mortality (M&M) conference that applies quality improvement practices borrowed from industry can be a significantly more effective tool for learning from mistakes and making…

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How to Reduce Unnecessary Antibiotic Use for UTI in Urgent Cares
 How to Reduce Unnecessary Antibiotic Use for UTI in Urgent Cares 150 150 Jeb Phillips
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A quality improvement project shows children with negative urine cultures take antibiotics they don’t need. Even before a urine culture confirms the diagnosis, urgent care physicians often prescribe antibiotics when children present with symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI). Early treatment is important for…

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Taking Innovation to Heart: Next Gen Interventions in Heart Valve Disease
 Taking Innovation to Heart: Next Gen Interventions in Heart Valve Disease 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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From bioengineers to interventional cardiologists, molecular biologists to cardiothoracic surgeons, experts with diverse backgrounds are focusing on the problem of heart valve disease in children. Heart valve disease affects more than 5 million Americans. And while acquired disease in the adult population certainly accounts…

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Creative Reality: Using a New Platform Technology to Improve Patient Experience
 Creative Reality: Using a New Platform Technology to Improve Patient Experience 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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Amy Dunn, MD, had a problem. Some of her patients in the hematology clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital receive hundreds of needle sticks each year. “Needle phobia is very real for these patients and their families,” says Dr. Dunn, director of Pediatric Hematology at Nationwide Children’s.…

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Emergency Departments Can Help Prevent Suicide
 Emergency Departments Can Help Prevent Suicide 150 150 Brianne Moore
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Secondary screenings, safety plans and phone follow-ups are key to reducing death by suicide. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and has increased in incidence 27 percent from 1999 to 2015. Interestingly, up to 40 percent of individuals…

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Mapping the Journey to Optimal Health for NICU Graduates
 Mapping the Journey to Optimal Health for NICU Graduates 1024 683 Jeb Phillips
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Babies born preterm need ongoing, specialized care to help them thrive after discharge from the hospital. Innovative programs are being designed to ensure that they get that care. In the early 1980s, only 10 percent of infants born before 28 weeks of gestational age…

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Integrating Research Into the “Journeys”
 Integrating Research Into the “Journeys” 1024 683 Jeb Phillips
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Along with their work to build an innovative follow-up program, Nationwide Children’s faculty and staff members are international leaders in NICU follow-up research. A number of foundation and National Institutes of Health-funded follow-up studies are housed entirely or in part at the hospital, and…

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Cannabidiol May Reduce Drug-Resistant Seizures by Half
 Cannabidiol May Reduce Drug-Resistant Seizures by Half 150 150 Brianne Moore
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Two studies demonstrate clinically significant response to oral liquid cannabidiol over placebo. Two recent studies – one published in The New England Journal of Medicine and one presented at the 2017 American Academy of Neurology annual meeting – indicate that a new plant-based, cannabis-derived treatment may…

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Specialists Collaborate to Improve Ovary Preservation
 Specialists Collaborate to Improve Ovary Preservation 150 150 Brianne Moore
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A weekend case inspires an investigation into how pediatric surgeons and gynecologists treat the same patient differently. When lesions persist on a patient’s ovary, there are two options for treatment: oophorectomy, which removes the entire ovary, and ovarian sparing surgery (OSS). Depending on referral…

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Mechanism for Expulsion of DNA from NTHI Described
 Mechanism for Expulsion of DNA from NTHI Described 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Researchers at Nationwide Children’s publish breakthrough discovery revealing how DNA and DNABII proteins are released into the biofilm matrix. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) bacteria, a common culprit in otitis media, are known for their ability to create dense biofilms. As the subject of much biofilm and…

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Meaningful Improvement of Child Health Requires Core Quality and Outcomes Measures
 Meaningful Improvement of Child Health Requires Core Quality and Outcomes Measures 150 150 Brianne Moore
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The seemingly infinite indicators large pediatric systems use to measure children’s health often fall short in determining patient outcomes and quality of care. In an editorial published in JAMA Pediatrics, Kelly Kelleher, MD, director of the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and co-author…

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Math Model Reveals Immune System Secrets
 Math Model Reveals Immune System Secrets 150 150 Brianne Moore
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Natural killer (NK) cells are a key part of the innate immune system, activating to destroy virally infected cells or tumor cells detected in the body. While the mechanism of detection of infected cells by NK cells is well understood, some aspects of how…

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Teen girl with backpack
Managing Depression, Anxiety and Other Behavioral Health Issues in Primary Care
 Managing Depression, Anxiety and Other Behavioral Health Issues in Primary Care 1024 575 Rachael Hardison
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An estimated 20 percent of children struggle with mental health illness. As awareness grows, the call for primary care physicians to play a leading role in care grows louder. One in five children will struggle with a mental health illness by the age of…

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How to Advocate for Patients with Legislators
 How to Advocate for Patients with Legislators 150 150 Steve Allen, MD
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Perhaps more this year than any other in recent memory, the health care community has come together against a proposed piece of federal legislation. While opposition to the American Health Care Act/Better Care Reconciliation Act has been particularly urgent, hospitals and medical associations regularly…

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Different Patterns of Executive Function Deficits in Different Pediatric Brain Disorders
 Different Patterns of Executive Function Deficits in Different Pediatric Brain Disorders 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Clinical implications include specialized testing for deficits in executive function as these may not be apparent at a routine exam. A large group of researchers, including many from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, recently looked at whether children with different brain disorders show diverse patterns of…

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Immune Profiling Leads to Implications for Immunotherapy for NF1-Associated Tumors
 Immune Profiling Leads to Implications for Immunotherapy for NF1-Associated Tumors 150 150 Abbie Miller
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Profiling reveals histologic subtype distinctions and heterogeneity of neurofibromatosis type 1-associated tumors. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) — an autosomal dominant disorder affecting approximately one in every 3,500 people — results in dysfunctional neurofibromin, a protein expressed throughout the body and involved in the RAS…

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Hepatitis E Persists and Self-Limits Due to Novel Mechanism, Study Finds
 Hepatitis E Persists and Self-Limits Due to Novel Mechanism, Study Finds 150 150 Brianne Moore
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A team of researchers finds that Hepatitis E behaves uniquely compared other hepatitis viruses and hopes to pave the way for future investigation. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of five known human hepatitis viruses and infects approximately 20 million people annually. HEV causes…

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Combining Immunotherapies Effective Against Mouse Model of Cancer
 Combining Immunotherapies Effective Against Mouse Model of Cancer 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Recent study results suggest that combining virotherapy and PD-1 blockades may be more effective than either approach alone. Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer made up of cells that normally develop into skeletal muscles, is the most common soft tissue cancer in children. If it is detected…

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Sweat Chloride Should Be the First-Line CF Test, but Often Isn’t
 Sweat Chloride Should Be the First-Line CF Test, but Often Isn’t 150 150 Jeb Phillips
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A study finds that CFTR mutation analysis is being ordered before (or without) sweat chloride in some cases, potentially leading to missed diagnoses, increased patient anxiety and unnecessary costs. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is clear in its diagnostic guidelines: sweat chloride needs to be…

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Close up, color image of someone extending a gloved hand with a small patch face up on their pointer finger that resembles a circular adhesive bandage that has a smaller, blue square patch on its center
Needle-free Immunization Prevents Experimental Otitis Media
 Needle-free Immunization Prevents Experimental Otitis Media 1024 575 Tiasha Letostak, PhD
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The first data to demonstrate the efficacy of a simple, needle-free vaccine delivery system for middle ear infections. Otitis media (OM), or middle ear infection, accounts for approximately 30 million doctor visits a year in the U.S. The pathogen nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) causes the majority…

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Inside the Good Manufacturing Production Facility
 Inside the Good Manufacturing Production Facility 1024 575 Tiasha Letostak, PhD
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By removing a barrier to access – production of pharmaceutical products for clinical trial – the team at the GMP facility is bringing more treatments to rare diseases. A newly designed, 7,500 square foot clean room suite with multi-use viral vector and cell therapy…

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Neurosurgery May Provide Lasting Relief From Spasticity
 Neurosurgery May Provide Lasting Relief From Spasticity 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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Selective dorsal rhizotomy can provide life-changing results, but patients work hard in physical and occupational therapy to get there. When Sushma Manjunatha watches her daughter sleep, she sees something new. Instead of being tightly curled up, with legs pulled in, her daughter’s legs are…

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Assessing Romantic Lives of Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer
 Assessing Romantic Lives of Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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In some ways, the group appears more resilient than survivors of adult-onset cancer or those with other childhood-onset diseases. Adult survivors of childhood cancer appear, on the whole, to have comparable romantic lives to others their age, new studies show. Surprisingly, the group doesn’t…

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When Talking About Birth Control, Don’t Leave Boys Out of the Conversation
 When Talking About Birth Control, Don’t Leave Boys Out of the Conversation 150 150 Sarah Saxbe, MS, MSW, LISW-S
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Sex education for boys should include information about all forms of birth control, even those for females. When a child arrives in his or her pediatrician’s office each year for their well visit, the nurse and provider often go over a long list of…

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The First Study of Oncolytic HSV-1 in Children and Young Adults With Cancer Indicates Safety and Tolerability
 The First Study of Oncolytic HSV-1 in Children and Young Adults With Cancer Indicates Safety and Tolerability 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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The phase 1 trial shows safety and tolerance of HSV1716 in the pediatric population; evidence of viral replication in the blood and acute inflammation on PET/CT scans suggest a phase 2 trial for dosage and efficacy is warranted. HSV1716 – an oncolytic herpes simplex…

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Secondary Findings: What Should Be Reported?
 Secondary Findings: What Should Be Reported? 150 150 Brianne Moore
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With the growing use of exome and genome sequencing in research and diagnosis, the ACMG has recently released a policy update on the reporting of secondary findings. Genomic sequencing is instrumental in identifying many diseases. It can also reveal disease causing variants in our…

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In Extremely Preterm Babies, SNAP-II Score Predicts Brain Impairments at Age 10
 In Extremely Preterm Babies, SNAP-II Score Predicts Brain Impairments at Age 10 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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Measures taken in first 12 hours of life are associated with a host of deficits. Children born extremely preterm are known to be at increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments, but not all babies born the same early date and weight are equal. Researchers have…

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The Maternal Microbiome: How Stress During Pregnancy Impacts Female Offspring in Adulthood
 The Maternal Microbiome: How Stress During Pregnancy Impacts Female Offspring in Adulthood 150 150 Tiasha Letostak, PhD
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A recent study suggests a critical window of pregnancy where stress is able to influence the microbiome and intrauterine environment, with lasting behavioral consequences. Previous research has demonstrated that stress during pregnancy changes the composition of the intestinal microbiota and is related to the…

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Balancing Immune Activation and Suppression After Cardiopulmonary Bypass
 Balancing Immune Activation and Suppression After Cardiopulmonary Bypass 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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Understanding how the immune system responds to CPB could dramatically impact postsurgical outcomes. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a relatively routine procedure, generally with favorable outcomes. However, among the risks posed to patients is the over- or under-activation of the immune system following the surgery.…

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Bracing for Buckle Fractures
 Bracing for Buckle Fractures 150 150 Jeb Phillips
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Shifting from casts to splints for distal radius buckle fractures has saved time and money for providers and families. The traditional treatment for distal radius buckle fractures involves immobilization in a short- or longarm cast. A 2015 multi-institutional study found that more than 70…

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Survey: Physical Barriers, Not Fear, Keep Homeless Youth From Receiving Care
 Survey: Physical Barriers, Not Fear, Keep Homeless Youth From Receiving Care 150 150 Brianne Moore
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Research survey investigates barriers to care in unstably-housed youth. Every year, an estimated 1.6 to 1.7 million youth in the United States are living on the streets, in shelters or in other temporary living situations. Earlier studies have suggested that homeless youth do not…

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In Sight: Three Procedures, One Surgery
 In Sight: Three Procedures, One Surgery 388 320 Jeb Phillips
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Colorectal Surgery, Urology and Gynecology coordinate to save tissue and time. A child with a complex colorectal and pelvic condition may require several surgeries over months or years before they are able to successfully manage their urine and stool. With advance planning and coordination…

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image of heart with fontan conduit highlighted
A Narrow Focus: Perfecting Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts
 A Narrow Focus: Perfecting Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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A pair of surgeon-researchers is perfecting tissue engineered vascular grafts through bench, clinical and computational modeling studies.

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Intervention for Medically Complex Children Improves Health, Saves Money
 Intervention for Medically Complex Children Improves Health, Saves Money 800 533 Kevin Mayhood
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The population-based program features coordinated care, education and feeding tube management. A population-based intervention for children with medical complexity in central and southeast Ohio led to fewer admissions, shorter hospital stays and a reduction of inpatient charges of nearly $11.8 million over 30 months,…

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The Equity Equation
 The Equity Equation 1024 575 Deena Chisolm, PhD
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Deena J. Chisolm, PhD, director of the Center for Population Health and Equity Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, applies a health equity approach to improving infant mortality outcomes. Health care quality and outcomes differ by race, ethnicity, wealth and place of residence. In fact,…

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Discovery to Drug Development: Expanding the Role of Academic Centers
 Discovery to Drug Development: Expanding the Role of Academic Centers 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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As more researchers at academic centers become involved in drug development, institutions are responding with support and guidance. Researchers at academic institutions regularly make discoveries about disease processes and potential therapeutic agents. Translational medicine is focused on moving these discoveries out of the laboratory…

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How to Solve Feeding Disorders Without a G-Tube
 How to Solve Feeding Disorders Without a G-Tube 1024 575 Jeb Phillips
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Babies in a neonatal intensive care unit must have a safe way of receiving nutrition in order to go home. Full oral feeding is ideal, of course. But for those patients with persistent difficulty feeding by mouth, there were two primary options before 2002…

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Best Practices in Severe BPD Treatment
 Best Practices in Severe BPD Treatment 150 150 Jeb Phillips
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To help standardize care, the Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Collaborative has published a comprehensive review of evidence-based approaches for treatment of patients with severe forms of the disease. Infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have high risks of late morbidities and mortality, but the best ways…

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help Children With Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms
 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help Children With Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms 150 150 Mary Bates, PhD
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A psychological intervention improves kids’ function and quality of life even years after a concussion. For most children and adolescents that experience concussions, symptoms resolve after a week or two. However, a small subset of kids has persistent symptoms lasting for months or even…

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How a QI Intervention Lowered Breast Milk Errors in a Busy NICU
 How a QI Intervention Lowered Breast Milk Errors in a Busy NICU 150 150 Kevin Mayhood
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Bedside barcode scanners and dedicated milk preparation technicians helped drive the decline. A quality improvement (QI) initiative in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been associated with a substantial reduction in errors administering mother’s milk to these vulnerable infants.…

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Human Trafficking: How many victims have you treated?
 Human Trafficking: How many victims have you treated? 1024 575 Abbie Miller
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Data shows that health care providers may be coming into contact with victims and those at risk with more frequency than expected. How many victims have you treated? The answer is probably higher than you think. According to a report published in the Annals of…

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U.S. Poison Control Centers Receive 32 Calls a Day About Pediatric Exposures to Prescription Opioids
 U.S. Poison Control Centers Receive 32 Calls a Day About Pediatric Exposures to Prescription Opioids 150 150 Tracy Mehan, MA
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Researchers call for changes to prescribing practices and increased education about safe storage at home. A new study published online today by Pediatrics and conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy and the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that there…

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Teens With Asthma: A High School Diploma Does Not Equal Readiness for Self-Management
 Teens With Asthma: A High School Diploma Does Not Equal Readiness for Self-Management 150 150 David Stukus, MD
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Poorly controlled asthma takes a toll on numerous aspects of health and life. Asthma is the leading pediatric chronic health condition, affecting approximately 10 percent of children and adolescents. Uncontrolled asthma can lead to acute exacerbations and need for emergency department visits or hospitalizations.…

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Changes to Medicaid: The Health of 30 Million Children at Risk
 Changes to Medicaid: The Health of 30 Million Children at Risk 150 150 Steve Allen, MD
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If we care about children in our city, in our state and in our country, we must care about what happens to Medicaid. Medicaid is critical to the health of our children. That is why those of us in pediatrics are so concerned about…

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Mechanism of Bacterial Adhesion to Platelets Revealed
 Mechanism of Bacterial Adhesion to Platelets Revealed 150 150 Tiasha Letostak, PhD
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Researchers investigate a key protein required to bind two distinct receptors on the bacteria Streptococcus oralis involved in infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection of the endocardium, usually of the valves, and is caused by infectious agents that are typically bacterial. Understanding…

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