Blog - Page 2 of 138 - Boston Children's Answers

Mending injured hearts: Lessons from newborns?

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: cardiac research, cardiology, cardiomyopathy, heart, heart center, newborn medicine, regeneration

When the heart is injured, as in a myocardial infarction, the damaged heart muscle cannot regenerate — instead, scar tissue forms. Cardiomyocytes, the heart muscle cells that generate contractile force, are lost for good. Yet, in mouse models, the hearts of newborns regenerate readily after injury. How are newborn hearts able to recover? What are ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac research, cardiology, cardiomyopathy, heart, heart center, newborn medicine, regeneration

Finding comfort and answers for twin-twin transfusion syndrome: Shannon’s story

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories

Tags: fetal medicine, MFCC

Shannon’s journey through a challenging pregnancy with TTTS (twin-twin transfusion syndrome) was, as she puts it, an emotional rollercoaster. In addition to the usual first-time parent jitters and the unexpected news of twins, Shannon and Mike navigated the emotional ups and downs of the rare pregnancy complication. TTTS put their twins at severe risk of ... Read More

Tagged: fetal medicine, MFCC

Medical care for youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities: A call for change

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical Care, Ethics/Policy

Tags: ADHD, autism, autism spectrum disorder, developmental medicine, health equity, intellectual disability, policy

According to national data, one in six children has a neurodevelopmental disability (NDD) such as autism, intellectual disability, or ADHD. Their medical care is often inadequate, sometimes leaving conditions untreated and neglecting preventive care — with poorer outcomes as the result. Clinicians may not take time to communicate with children, teens, and young adults with ... Read More

Tagged: ADHD, autism, autism spectrum disorder, developmental medicine, health equity, intellectual disability, policy

Questions to ask about your child’s orthopedic care

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Joanne Barker | Health and Parenting

Tags: orthopedics, sports medicine

Maybe your child has an orthopedic injury and needs surgery, or maybe they need to be treated with a different method. Either way, asking questions can help you understand their doctor’s recommendations and how to prepare for whatever comes next. “Families often find themselves unprepared for their child’s mobility limitations as they heal from surgery ... Read More

Tagged: orthopedics, sports medicine

Building better antibodies, curbing autoimmunity: New insights on B cells

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Nancy Fliesler | Research

Tags: cellular and molecular medicine, immunotherapy, infectious diseases

When we’re vaccinated or exposed to an infection, our B cells spring into action, churning out antibodies that are increasingly potent, specific, and protective. This happens through an iterative process known as affinity maturation. Two labs at Boston Children’s Hospital have come up with different ways to enhance affinity maturation and help B cells make ... Read More

Tagged: cellular and molecular medicine, immunotherapy, infectious diseases

A surgeon’s last-minute trip to Sri Lanka reduces children’s wait for needed heart repair

Posted on April 9, 2024 by Albert McKeon | Clinical Care, Specialty Care

Tags: biventricular repair, cardiac surgery, complex care, heart, heart center, single ventricle defects

Last year, Dr. Christopher Baird got an offer he couldn’t refuse — something that happens often as he travels the world to demonstrate the heart surgery techniques he has learned and developed at Boston Children’s Hospital. At a heart surgery symposium in India, Dr. Baird had just performed a complex type of aortic valve reconstruction ... Read More

Tagged: biventricular repair, cardiac surgery, complex care, heart, heart center, single ventricle defects

A journey through the intestine during colitis, cell by cell

Posted on April 5, 2024 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: crohn's disease, gastroenterology, genetics and genomics, inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing devastating abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, and rectal bleeding, is hard to control with current treatments. Children often experience malnutrition and impaired growth. To get a better handle on IBD, researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital decided to eavesdrop on happenings in the colon. In the first ... Read More

Tagged: crohn's disease, gastroenterology, genetics and genomics, inflammatory bowel disease

BRD7 research points to alternative insulin signaling pathway

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Albert McKeon | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: diabetes, endocrinology, obesity, research

Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) was initially identified as a tumor suppressor, but further research has shown it has a broader role in other cellular processes, including the remodeling of chromosomes and cell cycle progression. Now, Boston Children’s Division of Endocrinology researchers have discovered another purpose for BRD7: It seems to be involved in an alternative insulin signaling ... Read More

Tagged: diabetes, endocrinology, obesity, research

An act of kindness — Raul and Larry’s journey to a non-directed transplant donation

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Veronica Giarla | Patient Stories

Tags: liver disease, transplant

Acts of kindness can come in many forms, like volunteering or donating to a charity of choice. At 52, Larry loves giving back to his local community in Vermont, which is why he works in law enforcement. However, he has taken these thoughtful acts of kindness to another level — he’s donated one of his ... Read More

Tagged: liver disease, transplant

The people and advancements behind 75 years of Boston Children’s Cardiology

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Albert McKeon | Clinical Care

Tags: anesthesia, cardiac catheterization, cardiac surgery, cardiology, electrophysiology, fetal cardiology, heart, heart center, medical devices, medical training

Boston Children’s Department of Cardiology has more than 100 pediatric and adult cardiologists, over 40 clinical fellows learning the routines of heart care in a major hospital, 12 echocardiogram rooms dedicated to testing the function of a child’s heart, and five labs equipped to perform advanced catheterization procedures. Many other numbers could highlight the dedication that the ... Read More

Tagged: anesthesia, cardiac catheterization, cardiac surgery, cardiology, electrophysiology, fetal cardiology, heart, heart center, medical devices, medical training