Blog | Page 86 of 159 | Boston Children's Answers

The new COVID-19 virus variant: What you need to know

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Alice McCarthy | Health and Parenting

Tags: coronavirus, disease surveillance, research

You’ve probably seen news reports about B.1.1.7, a newly discovered version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Now found in several countries, including the U.S., B.1.1.7 is quickly spreading around the world. Although B.1.1.7 seems to be more contagious, it doesn’t appear to lead to more serious illness. What else do we know about ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, disease surveillance, research

Is it “good” or “bad” for your child? Removing morality from eating

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: primary care, primary care alliance

Teaching our children to eat well is not a simple task — but perhaps that’s because we are looking at it from the wrong angle. Often, we focus on statistics about obesity or eating disorders rather than fostering a positive relationship with food. However, it’s crucial that families understand the seriousness surrounding disordered eating so ... Read More

Tagged: primary care, primary care alliance

Charlee: Bouncing back after neuroblastoma treatment

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Austin Fontanella | Patient Stories

Tags: cancer, neuroblastoma, opsoclonus-myoclonus-syndrome

Call it mother’s intuition, but leading up to her daughter’s cancer diagnosis, Erica Jensen knew something wasn’t right. At just 10 months, Charlee had started walking, and since taking her first steps the excited toddler was constantly exploring the world around her. Then, at around 15 months, something changed. It wasn’t obvious at first — ... Read More

Tagged: cancer, neuroblastoma, opsoclonus-myoclonus-syndrome

Made-to-order therapies get a boost with new FDA guidelines

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical Care

Tags: batten disease, drug development, epilepsy, genetics and genomics, neurology, precision medicine, rare disease, research

Ed. note: Mila passed away in February, 2021, at age 10. The Mila’s Miracle Foundation continues to work to pave a pathway for personalized treatments. Science-based treatments for rare genetic diseases have burgeoned in the past decade. That includes diseases so rare they affect just a handful of patients — or in some cases, just ... Read More

Tagged: batten disease, drug development, epilepsy, genetics and genomics, neurology, precision medicine, rare disease, research

Hip reconstruction in complex patients: Predicting complications

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Jessica Cerretani | Research

Tags: cerebral palsy, hip reconstruction, orthopedics, research

Neuromuscular hip dysplasia and progressive spastic hip displacement are among the most common orthopedic concerns in non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP), leading to pain, decreased function, and impaired quality of life. While hip reconstruction surgery can improve quality of life in these children, it can be associated with acute post-operative pain, medical complications, and ... Read More

Tagged: cerebral palsy, hip reconstruction, orthopedics, research

COVID-19 vaccines: Do you know myth from fact?

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Alice McCarthy | Health and Parenting

Tags: coronavirus, research, vaccines

Two COVID-19 vaccines — from Pfizer/BioNTtech and Moderna — have received emergency use authorization in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many more are in various stages of development around the world. Several of these are in the final stage of clinical trials and could be submitted for formal authorization ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, research, vaccines

Low-carb diets for diabetes: Rediscovering centuries-old wisdom

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Alice McCarthy | Clinical Care, Specialty Care

Tags: diabetes, endocrinology, research

This year represents the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. While insulin medications have literally been life-savers for many kids and adults with diabetes, diets that help keep blood sugar levels steady are often overlooked for controlling diabetes. These diets, often ... Read More

Tagged: diabetes, endocrinology, research

Botulism breakthrough? Taming botulinum toxin to deliver therapeutics

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: biomaterials and drug delivery, drug development, neurology, toxins

While rare, botulism can cause paralysis and is potentially fatal. It is caused by nerve-damaging toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum — the most potent toxins known. These toxins often lurk in contaminated food (home canning being a major culprit). Infants can also develop botulism from ingesting C. botulinum spores in honey, soil, or dust; the ... Read More

Tagged: biomaterials and drug delivery, drug development, neurology, toxins

Harnessing the power of machine learning to improve urology care

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Jessica Cerretani | Research

Tags: artificial intelligence, urology

Urodynamics — a group of tests that evaluate how well the body collects, and then releases, urine — can be crucial for diagnosing urologic problems, particularly in children with spinal cord defects and other neurologic conditions. While urodynamics can provide clinicians with a rich set of data, the interpretation of these tests remains unstandardized. That ... Read More

Tagged: artificial intelligence, urology

Gearing up for sports? Call your child’s pediatrician

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: primary care, primary care alliance, sports injury, sports medicine

Every year, young athletes are required to get sports physicals, clearing them for participation in organized athletics. But, did you know that these physicals should be done by your child’s primary care provider (PCP)? Sports physical examinations give clearance for children to participate in the sports season safely and are a crucial part of pediatrics. ... Read More

Tagged: primary care, primary care alliance, sports injury, sports medicine