Blog | Page 91 of 159 | Boston Children's Answers

Chromatin regulation enables generation of diverse antibodies

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Alice McCarthy | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: cellular and molecular medicine, epigenetics, immunology

We need a variety of antibody types to help fight off invading foreign pathogens and our genome is exquisitely tuned to produce them to meet emerging needs. A new study finds that not just our DNA, but its configuration and packaging, help us generate diverse antibodies. Key takeaways Chromatin loop extrusion leads to creation of ... Read More

Tagged: cellular and molecular medicine, epigenetics, immunology

Preparing your kids for the holidays during COVID-19

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Ellen Greenlaw | Health and Parenting

Tags: coronavirus, culture

Like most things this year, the holiday season will be marked by the coronavirus pandemic. For you and your family, it may feel like one more disappointment at the end of a long, challenging year. So, how do you talk with your kids about the upcoming holidays? And what can you do to celebrate, even ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, culture

Study: Even strict gluten-free diets may not completely prevent gluten exposure

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Jessica Cerretani | Research

Tags: celiac disease, gastroenterology, research

Even a strict gluten-free (GF) diet may not help people with celiac disease completely avoid gluten. That’s the finding of a recent study by Jocelyn Silvester, MD, PhD, and her colleagues at the University of Manitoba, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the University of Seville. They sought to determine whether GF diets still contain ... Read More

Tagged: celiac disease, gastroenterology, research

PK deficiency clinical trial: Jim’s volleyball ace

Posted on October 30, 2020 by James Cesare IV | Patient Stories

Tags: blood, pyruvate kinase deficiency

Growing up with pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK deficiency) wasn’t always the easiest thing, but it was my reality. My visits to Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center helped give me perspective — although my condition was difficult to deal with, it certainly was not the worst condition I could have. It made me grateful ... Read More

Tagged: blood, pyruvate kinase deficiency

Let them play: Why free play is crucial for kids

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Ellen Greenlaw | Health and Parenting

Tags: child life, coronavirus

As the school season winds down, you may be wondering how to keep your kids busy if they’re home all day. Consider letting them play. What is free play? Free play is any type of unstructured play that is directed by the child. It helps children develop their imaginations while experiencing and exploring the world ... Read More

Tagged: child life, coronavirus

New strategies for restoring myelin on damaged nerve cells

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Alice McCarthy | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: multiple sclerosis, nerve injury, neurology, neuroscience, research

Key takeaways Myelin is an essential fatty substance coating surrounding nerve axons. After injury, regenerated nerve axons usually fail to remyelinate, inhibiting nerve cell communication. A combination treatment led to remyelination in about 60 percent of regenerated axons. This research may have implications in other diseases associated with myelin loss, like multiple sclerosis. Loss of ... Read More

Tagged: multiple sclerosis, nerve injury, neurology, neuroscience, research

COVID-19 virus levels in children: Differences between asymptomatic vs. symptomatic kids

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Alice McCarthy | Clinical, Research

Tags: coronavirus, research

A new study finds that most asymptomatic children who tested positive for COVID-19 had lower levels of the virus compared to symptomatic children. While it is the first large and comprehensive investigation of its kind in asymptomatic children, several important questions remain unanswered. Nira Pollock “Our study did show that asymptomatic children had lower viral ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, research

A COVID-19 DNA nanoswitch: A new kind of test for a new kind of virus

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Alice McCarthy | Research, Therapeutics/Diagnostics/Devices

Tags: coronavirus, diagnostics

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down research laboratories across the country, several labs at Boston Children’s Hospital geared up, including that of Wesley Wong, PhD. He and his team responded to the threat by developing a new, easy diagnostic test for COVID-19. Wesley Wong “Our technology, a DNA nanoswitch, is a new way of probing ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, diagnostics

Clubfoot bracing for an active boy: Finn’s story

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Joanne Barker | Patient Stories

Tags: clubfoot, lower extremity, orthopedics

When Finn Beaulieu learned how to say elephant, he ran around the house repeating the word at least 20 times. When asked to rate his activity level, his mother Carolyn says, “He’s 2½, I would say his activity level is high.” Finn’s joy of movement can make it challenging for his parents to put him ... Read More

Tagged: clubfoot, lower extremity, orthopedics

Dancer stays on toes during kidney cancer treatment

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Saul Wisnia | Patient Stories

Tags: cancer, wilms tumor

Carly Tobin loves dancing for the fun and freedom it provides. During treatment for a rare pediatric kidney cancer known as Wilms tumor, the pre-teen’s passion also proved a vital source of strength. Diagnosed in early June 2019, Carly — now 11 and cancer-free — underwent surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood ... Read More

Tagged: cancer, wilms tumor