A worksite-based program called Talking Parents, Healthy Teens teaches parents how to get past their inhibitions and fears when discussing sensitive topics. The program has significant and immediate effects on parents' behavior, leading to more conversations about sexual topics with their children.
Lodamin, a novel oral angiogenesis inhibitor, has shown promising anticancer results in mice, demonstrating its potential as a preventive therapy for patients at high risk of cancer. The drug selectively accumulates in tumor tissue, blocks angiogenesis, and inhibits primary tumor growth without apparent side effects.
A new group of stem cells in the epicardium can regenerate cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. This finding advances the hope of recapitulating developmental events to regenerate injured heart tissue, with potential applications for treating adults with heart failure.
Pediatric cardiac surgeons used stereoscopic glasses to visualize the heart in real-time during surgeries, resulting in improved accuracy and speed. The new technique showed a 44% reduction in time spent on anchor placement compared to traditional 3D ultrasound guidance.
Researchers found that stem cells differentiate through the collective behavior of multiple genes in a network, leading to just a few endpoints. The findings also suggest that cell populations maintain built-in variability that nature can harness for change under the right conditions.
A recent study analyzing data from 443 patients who received implants found that ICDs are life-saving, but also deliver more inappropriate shocks to children than adults. Inappropriate shocks can be unpleasant and may be caused by difficulties in differentiating normal increases in heart rate from abnormal rhythms.
Researchers discovered a genetic cause for a rare form of inherited iron deficiency anemia, which may provide insights into iron deficiency in the general population and suggest new treatment approaches. The study identified a gene mutation in the TMPRSS6 protein, leading to excessive hepcidin production and impaired iron absorption.
A study using MRI scans found that prenatal exposure to these substances can reduce cortical gray matter and total brain volumes. The effects were additive, with more substances leading to greater reductions in brain volume. Health care providers should offer comprehensive care to pregnant women to help reduce psychoactive substance use.
A study of 27 children with periodic fever, aphthous ulcers, pharyngitis and adenitis (PFAFA) found that tonsillectomy was nearly always effective in resolving symptoms. Despite no clear explanation for why the surgery works, doctors are optimistic about its potential to improve treatment outcomes.
A new study from Boston Children's Hospital found that digital music players like iPods do not affect pacemaker function. However, the devices can interfere with telemetry, requiring a minimum distance of six inches to avoid issues.
Researchers have developed a transparent zebrafish that allows direct observation of internal organs and processes like tumor metastasis and blood production. The study reveals cancer cells' ability to 'home' to specific locations, enabling scientists to better understand disease progression.
A mouse study reveals that erythropoietin keeps blood vessels alive and growing in the eye, but administering it at the wrong time may worsen diseases. The hormone's effects depend on timing, with early administration potentially slowing disease progression and late administration accelerating it.
Scientists at Boston Children's Hospital have created a new technology that uses magnetic fields to control cellular signaling, mimicking the binding of drugs or hormones. This innovation has the potential to lead to finely-tuned but noninvasive treatments for various diseases.
A retrospective analysis of sunitinib patients found a risk for heart failure, myocardial infarction, and hypertension. Patients with preexisting coronary artery disease were more likely to develop cardiac problems.
Researchers found that disorganized white matter in the brain, particularly circuitous connections and poor organization, may cause slow reading in individuals with dyslexia. The study suggests that white-matter integrity and organization play a crucial role in reading fluency.
A brain-imaging study found that sound training can correct the sound processing problem in dyslexic children, leading to improved reading. The study suggests new ways of treating dyslexia, such as musical training, and may help clinicians diagnose dyslexia even before reading begins.
Dendritic cells help trigger angiogenesis in a mouse model of endometriosis, promoting the growth of tumors and lesions. Targeting dendritic cells may prove to be a promising strategy for treating conditions dependent on angiogenesis.
Researchers discovered microRNAs linked to 10 major muscular disorders, opening doors to new treatments. The study found that targeting specific microRNAs may slow muscle loss by addressing the underlying biological processes.
Researchers found a common biochemical pathway disrupted in both premature lung disease and adult COPD, suggesting potential new treatments for BPD. The study's findings also validate the use of umbilical cord tissue as a proxy for studying fetal lung physiology.
A mouse study suggests that high-glycemic index diets can cause fatty liver disease, while low-glycemic index diets may prevent it. Researchers plan a clinical trial to confirm the findings and explore reversing the condition in overweight children.
Children’s Hospital Boston researchers have developed a solution to the repeat operations faced by infants and children receiving artificial heart-valve replacements. They created living, growing valves using tissue engineering techniques, which provide one-way blood flow from the heart’s right ventricle into the pulmonary artery.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute used genetic techniques to compare embryonic stem cells from different sources. They discovered that parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells have a distinct genetic signature reflecting their biological origins, setting the historical record straight for a now-d...
A new study finds that reducing insulin signaling in the brain can lead to a longer lifespan, with genetically engineered mice living up to 18% longer. This breakthrough suggests that diet and exercise may be key to preventing age-related diseases.
Researchers demonstrate in rats that a periostin patch can stimulate heart cell regeneration and improve cardiac pumping ability. The treated rats showed improved ventricular remodeling, decreased scarring, and increased cardiomyocyte proliferation.
A study published in Nature Medicine found that increasing omega-3 intake in mice reduced damaging vessel growth in the eye, a cause of retinopathy and blindness. Omega-3 supplementation is being tested in premature babies at risk for vision loss in a clinical trial.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have found a new way to increase stem cells in blood, suggesting a possible treatment to help patients recover their immune function more quickly. The discovery uses a small-molecule drug that enhances the blood-forming system.
A large-scale study reveals that healthy children outperform previously reported norms in cognitive function, with income affecting IQ and academic achievement. The study also found that age predicts performance on most tests, but adolescence sees a leveling off of cognitive development.
Researchers discover that genetic alterations in NRG1-erbB signaling contribute to psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. They find that blocking this signaling pathway leads to changes in brain structure and function, affecting the dopamine system and causing behavioral symptoms.
A study led by Children's Hospital Boston found that lesbian/gay adolescents were three to four times more likely to report having been bullied than heterosexuals. The study analyzed data from over 7,500 adolescents aged 14 to 22 and found nearly half of the lesbian and gay youth had been bullied in the past year.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital reviewed fetal cases of prenatal cardiac interventions, finding success rates of 79% and improvements in heart rate recovery after birth. Additionally, studies showed that most children with heart transplants regain sufficient heart function for exercise over time, with improved peak heart rate...
Researchers found that African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at an average age of 46, compared to 57 for white women. The study proposes that the excess mortality occurs partly because black women are more likely to develop breast cancer before menopause, when surgery may pose a higher risk of stimulating cancer growth.
Researchers discovered that New World arenaviruses enter cells through the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), a well-known protein involved in iron uptake. Inhibiting this receptor may help reduce infection severity and develop a treatment strategy.
Researchers developed a Bayesian network model to forecast the success of new drugs, reducing mean capitalized expenditures by an average of $283 million per successful new drug. More data sharing by the pharmaceutical industry could improve forecasting accuracy and benefit patients by eliminating unsafe investigational new drugs.
Recent analysis found that nutrition studies funded solely by industry were four to eight times more likely to have favorable conclusions than those with no industry funding. The study's findings suggest a pervasive bias in the field, which may have significant implications for public health and dietary guidelines.
Researchers have created mouse embryonic stem cells that can be transplanted without rejection due to genetic matching with the recipient's immune system. The cells were generated from unfertilized eggs through a series of chemical treatments and identified using genetic typing.
Researchers aim to reduce complications from bone marrow transplants by replenishing a natural host defense factor depleted during chemotherapy. A new multicenter study will test rBPI21, a manufactured form of BPI, in HSCT patients.
A new study suggests that targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may help prevent optic-nerve damage in glaucoma patients. Researchers found that blocking TNF-alpha's action with an antibody prevented loss of oligodendrocytes and retinal ganglion cells when intraocular pressure was raised.
A type of stem cell has been identified that gives rise to both myocardial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, challenging previous notions of how the heart develops. This discovery could lead to the development of new treatments for congenital heart defects and damage caused by heart attacks.
Researchers found abnormalities in nerve cells that make and use serotonin in the brainstem of babies who died from SIDS, linking the condition to defects in the brainstem serotonin system. The study provides strong evidence for a biological basis of SIDS and potential diagnostic tests and treatments.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital developed a two-drug treatment that rescues heart function after a heart attack by promoting blood vessel growth and cell division. The study shows improved heart function and reduced scarring in rats treated with the combination of agents.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have identified a novel pathway that influences the timing of nerve-cell production, favoring neuron over astrocyte formation. This discovery may provide insights into diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and autism.
Researchers found that nicotinamide can protect against nerve damage in the chronic progressive phase of MS, preventing disability. Nicotinamide increased levels of NAD, which reduced neurologic deficits and protected axons from further degradation.
A recent analysis suggests that limiting flights after 9/11 delayed the onset of the 2001-2002 U.S. flu season and slowed flu spread. By analyzing real data on influenza mortality and air travel volume, researchers found a strong correlation between reduced airline activity and delayed flu peaks.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital found that increasing nitric oxide production in the basal forebrain can induce sleep. Blocking this pathway with drugs or scavenging nitric oxide may help prolong wakefulness.
A survey of parents reveals that spiritual/religious support is essential when facing a child's death. The hospital should provide an environment hospitable to spirituality, offer multi-faith chapels, and encourage collaboration between clinicians and clergy.
Researchers have identified a genetic profile indicating chromosomal instability as predictive of clinical outcome in various cancer types. This signature was found to predict poor clinical outcome in 12 populations studied, making it a potential diagnostic tool for identifying aggressive cancers.
Puerto Rican children with asthma make more outpatient clinic visits but spend less time hospitalized compared to African-American children with similar disease severity. Cultural differences in perceptions of medical care may play a role in these disparities.
Researchers have found that gene-expression profiling can predict a lung cancer's prognosis, with tumors resembling early lung development having the worst prognosis. The study identifies key genes involved in biological pathways believed to be crucial in lung cancer development, offering potential targets for therapy.
Researchers have discovered that substituting Omegaven, an IV fat mixture made from fish oil, can prevent fat accumulation and liver injury in patients with parenteral nutrition. The study has shown promising results in treating liver disease in children and adults, with most patients experiencing complete resolution of the condition.
Researchers developed engineered tissue that can conduct electricity, potentially replacing pacemakers in children with heart block. The tissue was tested in rats and shown to integrate with surrounding heart tissue, establishing an electrical conduction pathway.