Research
Chemical screening suggests a two-pronged treatment for pediatric Ewing sarcoma
For children with Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, a combination of two different classes of drugs may work synergistically to turn off the drivers fueling this disease, finds a new study. The combination appears to be more powerful than relying on either treatment alone. The study, published online last month in Clinical Cancer Research, is the latest in a ... Read More about Chemical screening suggests a two-pronged treatment for pediatric Ewing sarcoma
Patient Stories
Grace: Developing her inner ninja after brain surgery
The McGuigans were enjoying a family dinner at a favorite restaurant last October when their lives took an unexpected turn. In the middle of their meal, 4-year-old Grace suddenly developed a strange look on her face and started rhythmically moving her wrist. When she didn’t respond to her name, her parents, Christina and Nathan, knew ... Read More about Grace: Developing her inner ninja after brain surgery
Health and Parenting
The modified barium swallow study: What’s it like?
If your child has dysphagia or another swallowing problem, their physician may recommend a “swallow study.” Technically called a modified barium swallow study, this test can help clinicians determine whether a child is aspirating, which means that food or liquid is entering their lungs when they try to eat or drink. “This study is completely ... Read More about The modified barium swallow study: What’s it like?
Health and Parenting
Four things to know about your child’s kidneys
If you’re like most parents, you probably know that the kidneys filter waste from the body and produce urine. But fewer people understand the full extent of the role that these bean-shaped organs play in our health. “When we meet with families, we typically educate them on all the responsibilities that kidneys have in the ... Read More about Four things to know about your child’s kidneys
Our Community
Provider Spotlight: Meet Dr. David Mooney
David P. Mooney, MD, MPH, is director of the Trauma Center, an assistant in the Department of Surgery, and an associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. He’s been at Boston Children’s Hospital for 20 years. How did you become interested in pediatric surgery? I realized early on that I have a “surgical personality.” ... Read More about Provider Spotlight: Meet Dr. David Mooney
Our Community
Knowledge is empowerment: The 2019 Female Athlete Conference
School was out for the summer at Babson College, but on June 4, Sorenson Auditorium was filled with over 400 people as Dr. Kathryn Ackerman kicked off the fourth biennial Female Athlete Conference. The one-of-a-kind conference, hosted by the Female Athlete Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, drew attendees from as close as Boston and as ... Read More about Knowledge is empowerment: The 2019 Female Athlete Conference
Research
PET imaging shows if PD-1 cancer immunotherapy is working
PD-1 is a protein on our T cells that normally keeps these immune cells from running amok. A growing number of cancer drugs are designed to inhibit PD-1, enabling patients’ T-cells to attack and kill cancerous cells. PD-1 blockers such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda) have been helpful in treating several cancers including melanoma, non-small cell lung ... Read More about PET imaging shows if PD-1 cancer immunotherapy is working
Research
Existing anti-parasitic drug could offer a treatment for Ebola
Amid the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Congo, now threatening to spill into Rwanda, a new study suggests that an existing, FDA-approved drug called nitazoxanide could potentially help contain this deadly, highly contagious infection. In meticulous experiments in human cells, described today in iScience, the drug significantly amplified immune responses to the virus and inhibited ... Read More about Existing anti-parasitic drug could offer a treatment for Ebola
Patient Stories
Jack: My AVM story
Last spring, during my junior year of high school, I had a head collision during rugby practice. My coach recommended that I go to the emergency room for x-rays because I had a history of concussions. My parents took me to the hospital and the doctor there confirmed I had a concussion, and recommended that ... Read More about Jack: My AVM story
Research
A vaccine to prevent opioid overdose?
Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, who directs the Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program (ASAP) at Boston Children’s Hospital, was getting her youngest son ready for school, when her husband Ofer, an infectious disease physician at the same hospital, came to her with an offer. The NIH was soliciting proposals to develop an opioid vaccine. Would ... Read More about A vaccine to prevent opioid overdose?