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A diabetes drug with a potential side benefit: Reduced COVID-19 mortality

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical, Research

Tags: clinical trials, coronavirus, diabetes, drug development, infectious diseases

In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug sitagliptin to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Now, a multicenter observational study in Italy suggests the drug also cuts mortality in diabetic patients hospitalized with COVID-19 — by as much as half. Paolo Fiorina, MD, PhD, of Boston Children’s Hospital led the study, ... Read More

Tagged: clinical trials, coronavirus, diabetes, drug development, infectious diseases

Pain neurons activate immune cells, opening new treatment possibilities

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Alice McCarthy | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: immunology, neuroinflammation, pain

For a long time, pain and inflammation were thought to be two separate biological responses. But new research by Boston Children’s Hospital and international collaborators suggests that the same sensory neurons that produce pain also trigger inflammation. And they do so by activating cells of the immune system, a relationship never described before. This interaction ... Read More

Tagged: immunology, neuroinflammation, pain

Platelet profiles could enhance care for bleeding disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Nancy Fliesler | Research, Therapeutics/Diagnostics/Devices

Tags: biomarkers, blood, diagnostics, immune disorders, thrombosis

The trillion-odd platelets in our blood are best known for controlling bleeding, helping clots form when we sustain an injury. But platelets can also go rogue. They contribute to clotting in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, leading to strokes and heart attacks, and can be hijacked by cancers to help them spread. Key takeaways A new ... Read More

Tagged: biomarkers, blood, diagnostics, immune disorders, thrombosis

Global partnership leads to improved treatment for childhood diarrhea

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Alice McCarthy | Clinical, Research

Tags: clinical trials, gastroenterology, global health

Diarrheal diseases remain a major childhood health problem in many parts of the world. Each year, they lead to the deaths of more than 500,000 children under age 5 globally. A new large clinical trial based in Tanzania and India, led by investigators at Boston Children’s Hospital, local research universities, and the World Health Organization ... Read More

Tagged: clinical trials, gastroenterology, global health

Unraveling the mystery of Rylan’s respiratory problems

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: cardiac surgery, heart, heart center, heart patient, laryngeal cleft, total anomalous pulmonary venous return

Rylan is Destinee Davidson’s second child, but in some ways, he feels like her first. “Our older son, Bryce, has always been healthy,” she explains. “With Rylan, I feel like a first-time mom because everything is so new.” Rylan has been keeping Destinee and her husband, Bradford, on their toes since the day he was ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac surgery, heart, heart center, heart patient, laryngeal cleft, total anomalous pulmonary venous return

Tapping into the mind-body connection to reduce COVID-19 stress

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Lisa D. Ellis | Clinical Care

Tags: mental health

In a dimly lit living room, a staff member lies on a couch, eyes closed, as soft music floats through the air. From a nearby computer screen, the voice of Victoria Klumpp, RN, BSN, IBCLC, comes over a Zoom link as she talks the person through a Reiki session. Klumpp, who is clinical coordinator of the Family Wellness Program ... Read More

Tagged: mental health

Maythum finally finds answers for midaortic syndrome

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: hypertension, midaortic syndrome, nephrology, surgery

Maythum Mehdi was just 5 years old when he told his mother, Batul, that he was having trouble seeing: When he played on the computer, the screen appeared blurry. Right away, Batul — who was then training to be a cardiology nurse — sought medical attention. “I knew that wasn’t a good sign,” she says. ... Read More

Tagged: hypertension, midaortic syndrome, nephrology, surgery

CAR T-cell therapy helps young hockey fan ice pediatric leukemia

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Saul Wisnia | Patient Stories

Tags: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, cancer, car t-cell therapy

Due to COVID-19, Ava Girolimetti wasn’t sure if she would be starting middle school this year in a classroom, on a computer screen, or a combination of both. But thanks to CAR T-cell therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), she knew she would be there cancer-free. The rising sixth grader can make this claim as ... Read More

Tagged: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, cancer, car t-cell therapy

Back to school during COVID-19: Children with special needs

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Joanne Barker | Health and Parenting

Tags: autism, coronavirus, down syndrome

If this were a normal year, summer would be wrapping up and kids would be returning to the routines of another school year. But school will be different this fall. From staggered start times to classrooms set up for physical distance, kids are in for an unpredictable year. The many changes may be especially difficult ... Read More

Tagged: autism, coronavirus, down syndrome

COVID-19 and vaping: Do you know myth from fact?

Posted on September 11, 2020 by Ellen Greenlaw | Health and Parenting

Tags: coronavirus, nicotine, pulmonology

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, researchers continue to learn more about what puts people at risk for getting sick and who is most likely to have a severe form of the illness. One of the many questions has been about vaping and COVID-19 risk. For answers, we turned to Dr. Sharon Levy, director of the Adolescent ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, nicotine, pulmonology