Blog | Page 70 of 158 | Boston Children's Answers

Rapid saliva test detects COVID-19 variants, at home or point of care

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Research, Therapeutics/Diagnostics/Devices

Tags: coronavirus, diagnostics, infectious diseases

COVID-19 tests are now widely available, including FDA-approved tests like BinaxNOW that people can do at home. But none of the home tests — or any hospital test — can distinguish between specific SARS-CoV-2 variants. Detecting and tracking variants, essential for public health efforts, requires complete nucleic acid sequencing of the virus. Currently, only specialized ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, diagnostics, infectious diseases

From frustration to confidence: Training helps parents replace their baby’s NG tube

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: aerodigestive, immersive design systems

When the parents of 10-month-old Miles Couture were first told he would need a nasogastric (NG) tube to receive his nutrition, “it was heartbreaking,” says his mom, Catherine. Miles, who was born at just 26 weeks, had struggled with being able to feed on his own. But he seemed to be taking more by mouth. ... Read More

Tagged: aerodigestive, immersive design systems

A legend for Zora: How genomic testing provides answers in the face of grief

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories

Tags: fetal medicine, genetics and genomics, nephrology, newborn medicine, nicu, pregnancy

So often after a perinatal loss, parents are left with uncertainty about what caused their baby’s death and the haunting question, “what if.” To help grieving families find answers to these questions, Dr. Monica Wojcik and her colleagues in the Division of Newborn Medicine are conducting genomic autopsies to learn if and what genetic factors ... Read More

Tagged: fetal medicine, genetics and genomics, nephrology, newborn medicine, nicu, pregnancy

Jada’s story: After cloacal exstrophy repair, an unexpected gift

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: anorectal malformation, colorectal and pelvic malformations, oeis, pregnancy

Koda Wilder Ladchuk was born slightly premature, healthy, and happy. But this isn’t just a story about 4-month-old Koda. It’s also a story about his mother, Jada, and an incredible outcome no one could have predicted — not even Jada herself. Jada, now 25, was born with cloacal exstrophy (also known as OEIS syndrome), a ... Read More

Tagged: anorectal malformation, colorectal and pelvic malformations, oeis, pregnancy

Surgery for Chiari malformation: “I was just happy to have an answer”

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: chiari malformation, concussion, headaches, neurosurgery, pain

Abby Buckley loves being active, whether that means hiking, cycling, or playing sports like javelin, shotput, and discus. But in eighth grade, a bad concussion sidelined her — and led to an unexpected diagnosis. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed that she didn’t just have a concussion. She also had a Chiari malformation, a ... Read More

Tagged: chiari malformation, concussion, headaches, neurosurgery, pain

How to help your child make and rekindle friendships at any age

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: mental health, primary care, primary care alliance

Childhood friendships are key for mental and physical health. But friends come and go as a child ages, as they keep some longstanding relationships, makes new ones, and lose some. No matter the age and circumstance, friendships help children develop social and emotional skills, feel a sense of belonging, and decrease stress. “Our earliest friendships ... Read More

Tagged: mental health, primary care, primary care alliance

RNA-modifying protein offers a possible lead for treating aggressive cancers

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: cancer, drug development, genetics and genomics

A protein that modifies RNAs, called METTL1, could be a target for treating some aggressive, difficult-to-treat cancers, suggests new research in Molecular Cell. The study provides evidence that blocking METTL1 curbs cancer cells’ ability to grow, selectively killing them, and the researchers believe it could be targeted with drugs. METTL1 and related proteins had previously ... Read More

Tagged: cancer, drug development, genetics and genomics

I tried the keto diet to help my epilepsy and it changed my life

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories, Specialty Care

Tags: epilepsy, nutrition

My name is Dennis. I’m 15 years old and live in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Two years ago, I started the keto diet to help my epilepsy and it changed my life. Here’s my story… I was 7 when I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I was too young to know what that really meant or ... Read More

Tagged: epilepsy, nutrition

Generations of excellence in lower extremity care: Dr. Kasser and Dr. May

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Joanne Barker | Clinical Care, Specialty Care

Tags: clubfoot, limb lengthening and reconstruction, lower extremity, orthopedics, surgery

As an orthopedic surgeon and professor of surgery, Dr. James Kasser has spent several decades sharing his expertise in limb reconstruction with students of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Collin May was one of his students and later joined the surgical team in the Lower Extremity Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has spent the past ... Read More

Tagged: clubfoot, limb lengthening and reconstruction, lower extremity, orthopedics, surgery

A taste of childhood: One family’s journey to an IV-free diet

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Katie Paradis | Health and Parenting, Patient Stories

Tags: intestinal rehabilitation, nutrition, short bowel syndrome

Children with short bowel syndrome often miss out on childhood’s simple and delicious pleasures, like birthday cake, pizza, and ice cream. But Dr. Lissette Jimenez and the team at the Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation (CAIR) at Boston Children’s Hospital are working to change that. Short bowel syndrome is caused by the loss or lack of function of the small intestine, ... Read More

Tagged: intestinal rehabilitation, nutrition, short bowel syndrome