Archive for research
Avoiding a dangerous attraction to magnets: Lainey’s story
A few days before Valentine’s Day in 2013, 2-year-old Lainey Styles wasn’t feeling well. She had vomited, was lethargic, and had a fever. After visiting the pediatrician, her mother Jessica thought Lainey had a stomach virus. But the appearance of a softball size bruise around Lainey’s belly button a couple of days later prompted her ... Read More
Remdesivir: What to know about the first drug approved to treat COVID-19
In late October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially approved the antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury) for COVID-19. The approval has been controversial, with many scientists questioning the strength of the evidence and proposing that the drug undergo further clinical trials before receiving full FDA approval . What does this mean for children who ... Read More
Study: Even strict gluten-free diets may not completely prevent gluten exposure
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
New strategies for restoring myelin on damaged nerve cells
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
COVID-19 virus levels in children: Differences between asymptomatic vs. symptomatic kids
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
Language barriers linked with medical errors in hospitalized children
A new study finds that hospitalized children whose families have limited comfort with English are twice as likely to experience medical errors. The study, which did not include patient data from Boston Children’s Hospital, highlights the need for improving communication between these families and the health care providers they interact with to ensure the safety ... Read More
Coordinated care and research for genetic cardiovascular disorders
Genetic cardiovascular disease in children sometimes comes to light in a crisis — a sudden collapse, sudden breathing difficulty, a sudden death in the family. Or it may be part of a diverse collection of symptoms, mostly having nothing to do with the heart. Sometimes it is picked up incidentally. “From an incidental ECG finding ... Read More
Affordable Care Act eases health care costs for families with children, study finds
On November 10, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on a case challenging the Affordable Care Act. With the ACA’s future in question, a study from Boston Children’s Hospital provides a reminder that the law has substantially reduced health care expenses for many families with children — particularly low- and middle-income families. Key takeaway ... Read More
Social distancing: Benefits beyond COVID-19
During COVID-19, social distancing has largely kept children away from school, daycare, and other contact with friends. But even though social distancing may be difficult and annoying, new research from Boston Children’s Hospital shows it has proven benefits beyond preventing COVID-19; it also helps stop the spread of other common childhood infections, like flu. “Any ... Read More
COVID-19 tests: What families should know
As schools and businesses are looking to safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re hearing more about testing for COVID-19. But there isn’t just one “COVID-19 test.” All of the tests have one goal: to detect whether someone is or has been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. But they work in different ... Read More