Blog | Page 39 of 158 | Boston Children's Answers

Could we make blood anywhere in the body?

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: blood, blood disorder, hematology, stem cell transplant, stem cells

Our bodies make blood in a specialized niche — a “nursery” within our bone marrow that nurtures blood stem cells so they can replicate and make different kinds of blood cells. The lab of Leonard Zon, MD, has even shown how blood stem cells, once they settle in the niche, are “cuddled” by nearby cells. ... Read More

Tagged: blood, blood disorder, hematology, stem cell transplant, stem cells

A new cancer mechanism: Failed cellular housekeeping

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: cancer, cellular and molecular medicine, genetics and genomics, oncology

Cancer can stem from mutations in many different genes. New research from Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute pinpoints a gene that, when mutated, causes cancer through a mechanism not before seen: Inability of cells to dispose of their trash, namely defective strands of RNA. This mechanism appears to cut across many different malignancies, ... Read More

Tagged: cancer, cellular and molecular medicine, genetics and genomics, oncology

Rethinking cerebral arachnoid cysts through genomics

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical Care, Specialty Care

Tags: brain malformation, genetics and genomics, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry

Cerebral arachnoid cysts are the most common mass-occupying brain lesion in humans. Some cause no noticeable symptoms and may just be incidental findings. Others are quite severe, causing hydrocephalus and potentially nerve damage; these clearly require surgery to drain the cyst fluid and relieve pressure on the brain. But a middle ground sits between these ... Read More

Tagged: brain malformation, genetics and genomics, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry

An unexpected journey reveals a potent way to attack tumors

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: cancer, cellular and molecular medicine, immunology, immunotherapy, zika virus

Research on the effects of prenatal exposure to the Zika virus has yielded an unexpected dividend: a potentially promising way to trigger natural killer (NK) cells to fight cancer. NK cells are first-responder immune cells. When enough of their activating receptors are triggered, they mobilize to kill infected, stressed, or cancerous cells at an early ... Read More

Tagged: cancer, cellular and molecular medicine, immunology, immunotherapy, zika virus

Experience and innovation create a safer type of heart surgery

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Albert McKeon | Clinical, Research

Tags: biventricular repair, cardiac research, cardiac surgery, congenital heart defect, transposition of the great arteries

The Eureka moment came the day before heart surgery. Easton Schlein wasn’t an ideal candidate for a full-scale surgical repair of an underdeveloped left ventricle. But his cardiac surgeons weren’t satisfied that they instead had to use the Fontan procedure, the only other option for that condition, but one associated with long-term liver complications. Reviewing ... Read More

Tagged: biventricular repair, cardiac research, cardiac surgery, congenital heart defect, transposition of the great arteries

Deep plasma proteomics: Back to the future

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical, Research

Tags: biomarkers, blood, coronavirus, diagnostics, proteomics

Blood plasma is collected from people routinely during clinical care and for research. It is potentially a rich source of protein biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, for measuring response to treatment, and for revealing disease biology. Yet identifying such biomarkers in plasma with proteomics, our best available tool, has been a challenge: Ninety-nine percent ... Read More

Tagged: biomarkers, blood, coronavirus, diagnostics, proteomics

Conquering a rare metabolic condition: A family, a pediatrician, and two labs join forces

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: epilepsy, gene therapy, metabolism, neurology, neuroscience, rare disease, stem cells

As a newborn, Sam Hoffman never cried or made a sound. His mother, Carolyn, often had to wake him up to feed him. He missed many of his infant milestones. At one visit, his pediatrician tapped his leg and couldn’t get a reflex. A urine test found extremely high levels of 4-hydrobutyric acid or GHB ... Read More

Tagged: epilepsy, gene therapy, metabolism, neurology, neuroscience, rare disease, stem cells

Robotics, spinal fusion, and the quest for 100 percent accuracy

Posted on April 24, 2023 by Joanne Barker | Clinical, Research

Tags: orthopedics, robotics, scoliosis, spinal fusion surgery, spine division

In any spinal fusion surgery, accurate screw placement is a top priority, and for good reason. Incorrectly positioned screws are the number one cause of surgical complications and revision surgeries according to the Scoliosis Research Society. While the vast majority of malpositioned screws — between four and 15 percent of all screws placed — do not ... Read More

Tagged: orthopedics, robotics, scoliosis, spinal fusion surgery, spine division

Making ionocytes: A step toward cell or gene therapy for cystic fibrosis

Posted on April 21, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: cell therapy, cystic fibrosis, gene therapy, pulmonology, stem cells

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators were a breakthrough for cystic fibrosis, improving the movement of chloride and water and moistening mucus secretions. But these drugs are expensive, don’t work in all patients with cystic fibrosis, and have side effects and interactions with other drugs. People who do respond to CFTR modulators must take ... Read More

Tagged: cell therapy, cystic fibrosis, gene therapy, pulmonology, stem cells

Making history: Gene therapy for CCALD gives Conner a second chance

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: adrenoleukodystrophy, gene therapy

Like a lot of 6-year-olds, Conner Hess finds joy in simple acts: drawing pictures, cuddling his two cats, and playing video games with his father. When his fun times at home in New York are interrupted by trips to Boston Children’s Hospital, he knows it’s to help fix a “boo-boo” in his brain. What he ... Read More

Tagged: adrenoleukodystrophy, gene therapy