Research
Failed cancer drug may extend life in children with progeria
Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, better known as progeria, is a highly rare genetic disease of premature aging. It takes a cruel toll: Children begin losing body fat and hair, develop the thin, tight skin typical of elderly people and suffer from hearing loss, bone problems, hardening of the arteries, stiff joints and failure to grow. They ... Read More about Failed cancer drug may extend life in children with progeria
Clinical Care
Families and data scientists build insights on Phelan-McDermid syndrome
This is the third year that Jacob Works has made the trip down to Boston Children’s Hospital from Maine. With research assistant Haley Medeiros, he looks at pictures, answers questions, manipulates blocks and mimes actions like knocking on a door. His father, Travis, and another research assistant look on through a window. “At first, we ... Read More about Families and data scientists build insights on Phelan-McDermid syndrome
Science Seen: New microscope reveals biological life as you’ve never seen it before
Astronomers developed a “guide star” adaptive optics technique to obtain the most crystal-clear and precise telescopic images of distant galaxies, stars and planets. Now a team of scientists, led by Nobel laureate Eric Betzig, PhD, are borrowing the very same trick. They’ve combined it with lattice light-sheet to create a new microscope that’s able to capture real-time, incredibly ... Read More about Science Seen: New microscope reveals biological life as you’ve never seen it before
Patient Stories
New hope for Caden’s leg after accident
By the time he was 12, Caden had spent almost half his life struggling to keep up with his peers. When he was 6, a lawnmower accident badly injured his leg. The injury disrupted his growth plate, and was having a significant effect on his growing limb, leading him to have knock-kneed alignment in his right leg. ... Read More about New hope for Caden’s leg after accident
Research
Study: Children with upper limb differences have better emotional health
A recent study found that while children with upper limb differences have lower upper limb function, some form better peer relationships and have more positive emotional states compared to population norms.
Research
The softer the nanoparticle, the better the drug delivery to tumors
For the first time, scientists have shown that the elasticity of nanoparticles can affect how cells take them up in ways that can significantly improve drug delivery to tumors. A team of Boston Children’s Hospital researchers led by Marsha A. Moses, PhD, who directs the Vascular Biology Program, created a novel nanolipogel-based drug delivery system that allowed ... Read More about The softer the nanoparticle, the better the drug delivery to tumors
Research
Could poop transplants treat peanut allergy? A clinical trial begins
Increasing evidence supports the idea that the bacteria living in our intestines early in life help shape our immune systems. Factors like cesarean birth, early antibiotics, having pets, number of siblings and formula feeding (rather than breastfeeding) may affect our microbial makeup, or microbiota, and may also affect our likelihood of developing allergies. Could giving ... Read More about Could poop transplants treat peanut allergy? A clinical trial begins
Clinical Care
What you should know about hip labral tears in young athletes
Labral tears are a common injury of the hip, particularly with young athletes who may have underlying hip anatomy issues, such as hip dysplasia or impingement. Treatments for labral tears range from rest and physical therapy to open surgery. Recovery (and time away from sports) can take days, weeks, or even months. It’s important that ... Read More about What you should know about hip labral tears in young athletes
Patient Stories
‘Going for it’ with a congenital hand difference
“People ask me if it’s harder to do certain things, and I always tell them, ‘I don’t know, this is all I’ve ever had.’” Despite being born with symbrachydactyly — a condition in which the middle three fingers of her left hand never fully developed — 12-year-old Ashley makes most things look easy. She runs ... Read More about ‘Going for it’ with a congenital hand difference
Clinical Care
How to prevent ACL injuries in female athletes
An ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear is a devastating injury that can end an athlete’s season and sometimes take up to a year to fully recover. Along with the pain and long rehab process, it also carries the consequences of a high rate of re-tear and increased risk for osteoarthritis. But what if you could ... Read More about How to prevent ACL injuries in female athletes