Is your teen depressed? Seven tips for parents
Dr. Oscar Bukstein provides 7 tips to help parents recognize depression in teenagers and find them appropriate and successful treatment.
Common questions about childhood cancer, answered
Childhood cancer is rare, but when it happens, it usually brings up an endless stream of questions for parents. How did this happen? What will life be like for my child? In this episode of “Cancer Mythbusters” from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Allison O’Neill, clinical director of the Solid Tumor Program at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder ... Read More about Common questions about childhood cancer, answered
Overriding resistance to epigenetic inhibitors in neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma and other children’s cancers pose unique challenges. They’re not caused by the same kinds of genetic mutations that cause adult cancers, and only a minority of their mutations can be targeted with drugs. In a recent study, a team led by Kimberly Stegmaier, MD, at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center systematically deleted every gene ... Read More about Overriding resistance to epigenetic inhibitors in neuroblastoma
‘Huggable,’ a social robot for kids, eases hospital stress
Children confined to the hospital often feel lonely, bored, or scared, and must cope with pain and homesickness. They may not fully understand why they are there or what will happen next. Hours can feel like days. That’s where a robotic teddy bear called Huggable could come in, suggests a new study published today in ... Read More about ‘Huggable,’ a social robot for kids, eases hospital stress
First sharp images reveal structure of key inflammatory protein
After decades of attempts by the scientific community, researchers have now provided the first clear look at a protein implicated in a vast array of inflammatory conditions. The finding, published recently in Nature, lifts a blindfold that has hampered scientists’ ability to intervene when the immune system overreacts to perceived threats. The protein, known as ... Read More about First sharp images reveal structure of key inflammatory protein
‘Good’ bacteria may prevent – and reverse – food allergy
Food allergy is a large and growing public health problem. For reasons that remain a mystery, the number of Americans who suffer from the disease has risen sharply over the last decade to as many as 32 million, according to one recent estimate. Nearly 8 percent of children in the U.S. — about two in ... Read More about ‘Good’ bacteria may prevent – and reverse – food allergy
Guide to car seat safety
Proper use of car seats and seat belts reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than 50 percent. This guide to car seat safety illustrates proper car seat etiquette for children under 1 year old to children using booster seats.
How three extraordinary kids inspire their families, one mile at a time
For many people, running the Boston Marathon is a way to challenge themselves. But for three special Boston Children’s Hospital families, the marathon also provides an opportunity to celebrate the journeys of their extraordinary children who have overcome many obstacles to be able to cheer on their parents to the finish line. Meet Natalie, Brigid, ... Read More about How three extraordinary kids inspire their families, one mile at a time
Jasmine and the puffy tumor: A diagnosis in the nick of time
The Dominique family had just returned from a wonderful trip to Disney World in 2017 when 7-year-old Jasmine came down with a sinus infection. She was in a lot of pain, so her parents took her to their local urgent care center. “They prescribed antibiotics, but even after a week they didn’t seem to be ... Read More about Jasmine and the puffy tumor: A diagnosis in the nick of time
Rare recessive mutations pry open new windows on autism
Over the past decade, autism spectrum disorder has been linked to mutations in a variety of genes, explaining up to 30 percent of all cases to date. Most of these variants are de novo mutations, which are not inherited, affect just one copy of a gene, and are relatively easy to find. The lab of ... Read More about Rare recessive mutations pry open new windows on autism