Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that family therapy significantly reduced post-traumatic stress symptoms in adolescent cancer survivors. The treatment combined cognitive-behavioral therapy with family therapy and showed strongest effects on adolescents and their fathers.
Researchers found that chronic exposure to morphine makes nerve cells more sensitive to stress, leading to increased anxiety and disrupted sleep patterns. The study suggests that this sensitivity may play a role in the cycle of addiction that causes drug abusers to continue seeking drugs.
Researchers have developed a variant of vanillin that can treat sickle cell disease, a condition that causes red blood cells to form the hazardous sickle shape. The compound, MX-1520, was tested in mice and found to inhibit the formation of rigid sickled cells, offering hope for safer and more effective treatment options.
A new study found the public spending gap between children and elders increased by 20%, with three times as many children living in poverty than elders. The major component of social welfare spending for children is education, while for elders it is Social Security.
A new study challenges the long-held view that high-dose steroids cause bone loss in children. Researchers found no signs of osteoporosis in 60 steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome patients, contradicting previous findings in other childhood diseases treated with steroids. Obesity may actually stimulate bone growth and increase bone mass.
A five-year-old girl with Ewing’s sarcoma had her leg turned into a 'knee' using rotationplasty to remove the diseased portion of bone. The procedure has improved limb-sparing surgery outcomes for children with cancer above the knee, with better function and durability.
A study of 872 Swiss children found that playing electronic games and watching TV were independently associated with obesity. The findings suggest that limiting electronic game use may help prevent childhood obesity.
A study of 190 children aged 8-14 found that female preteens were more likely to engage in retaliation for violence, leading to increased injuries from blunt objects. The researchers suggest that parents and caregivers can benefit from learning non-violent response techniques to prevent future incidents.
Researchers found that emergency department caregivers who received comprehensive home safety education and devices showed significant improvements in preventing poisoning and burns. The study suggests the ED as an ideal setting for teaching home injury prevention.
Researchers identified the NIPBL gene on chromosome 5 as the cause of Cornelia de Lange syndrome, a condition characterized by mental retardation, impaired growth, and heart defects. The discovery may lead to genetic tests for confirmation and comfort for families affected by the disease.
A study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that elastic nails allow children to regain mobility and resume normal daily activities more quickly, reducing treatment time by half. Children treated with elastic nails missed about half the amount of school compared to those in casts.
The study found that child safety restraint use rose from 49% in 1999 to 63% among children under 9 by the end of 2002. Optimal child restraint use increased for 3-year-olds, with a significant increase in optimal child restraint use rocketing to 93% in 2002.
Researchers found that unstable placements and episodic foster care increase mental health service use, with older children and those with high physical health care costs at greatest risk. The top 10% of mental health users account for 83% of $2.4 million in mental health costs.
A study by Dr. Terri H. Finkel and colleagues identifies a gene called HALP that plays a crucial role in protecting HIV-infected cells from apoptosis. The discovery may provide clues for new treatments, including ways to prevent latent infection.
Researchers found that acute stress symptoms were common among injured children, but only a small percentage met criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study suggests that more research is needed to develop better predictors of PTSD in children.
Researchers found evidence of human herpesvirus 6 in tissues of 25 out of 35 children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare condition affecting bones and multiple organ systems. The study suggests the virus interacts with an underlying predisposition to the disease, potentially leading to new treatments and diagnostic tests.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has received a federal grant to advance research on infant heart disease. The grant will support five projects aimed at developing new treatments for congenital heart defects, including gene-based diagnoses and improved biologically-based materials for heart surgery.
Dr. Offit reviews scientific evidence on vaccine safety, finding no link between vaccines and weakened immune systems, allergic or autoimmune diseases, or mercury injury. The Vaccine Education Center provides up-to-date science-based information on vaccines and preventable diseases.
Researchers found that children carrying the epsilon2 version of the apolipoprotein E gene had worse neurodevelopmental outcomes at age one compared to those without the gene. The study suggests a potential genetic link between the APOE ε2 gene variant and increased risk of neurologic injury in infants after heart surgery.
According to a new study, 32% of autistic children use complementary and alternative medicine, with Latino children more likely to do so. The researchers caution that some CAM treatments may alleviate associated problems but not core autism symptoms.
The meningococcal vaccine is safe and effective in preventing invasive meningococcal disease, which can cause severe illness or death. Despite its value, many parents and teens are not informed about the vaccine due to limited public resources and high costs.
The Duct Busters team repairs patent ductus arteriosus in premature newborns with high-quality surgical care, eliminating transport risks and allowing families to stay in familiar environments. The study found no significant differences in anesthesia-related complications or surgical outcomes between on-site and off-site procedures.
A review of scientific data found that gelatin proteins and egg proteins can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions in children with allergies. However, the quantities of other substances in vaccines are too small to demonstrate any documented reactions.
A study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that children with behavioral disorders, such as anxiety and depression, incur significant healthcare costs comparable to those with physical disorders. The study suggests that increased hospitalization expenditures are a major contributor to these costs.
Researchers found that early treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in high-risk infants can prevent severe vision loss. The ETROP study demonstrated that premature infants who receive therapy in the early stage of the disease retain better vision than those who wait until their condition is more advanced.
Researchers found that children carrying the APOE2 gene variant were more likely to have worse cognitive and motor skills outcomes after heart surgery. The study, published in the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, also discovered no association between APOE4 and neurodevelopmental problems in infants.
Researchers found that newborn screening for medium-chain acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) is cost-effective in detecting the condition. The study, which analyzed records of 32 patients with MCADD, showed that screening can help prevent severe outcomes and reduce medical costs over a lifetime.
Fetal surgery for spina bifida has been shown to improve leg function and reduce the need for shunts in infants. The study found that 24 of the 47 surviving infants had better neurologic leg function than predicted, while only 20 required a shunt.
A new screening tool called STEPP helps predict posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children after a traumatic injury. The tool assesses event-related factors, physiological reactions, and psychological responses to identify at-risk children, allowing for early referral and intervention.
A new study found that alcohol consumption increases the activity of a protein that causes the hepatitis C virus to replicate, leading to liver disease. The study also discovered that alcohol interferes with antiviral treatment, such as interferon-alpha, which is currently the only licensed treatment for the infection.
A study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that belt-positioning booster seats significantly reduce injuries in children under 7. The study analyzed data from over 4,200 children and showed that booster seat use can virtually eliminate injuries associated with seat belt syndrome.
A new study suggests that children with suspected high-risk child abuse injuries have a high incidence of occult head injuries, often missed by routine exams. Brain scans detected more head injuries in 37% of patients, highlighting the need for universal CT or MRI screening in young children.
A team approach combining medical tests, operative biopsies, and precise surgery successfully cured 31 of 34 newborns with focal congenital hyperinsulinism (HI). The procedure involves removing the diseased portion of the pancreas while preserving the rest of the organ.
A recent study establishes that rapid infant weight gain is associated with obesity in young adulthood, particularly among African Americans. The study found that subjects with rapid early infancy weight gain were more than twice as likely to be obese at age 20 compared to those without rapid weight gain.
A new multi-center study confirms the effectiveness and safety of infliximab in treating pediatric Crohn's disease, leading to significant short-term medical benefits and a reduced need for steroids. The study shows improved symptoms such as pain, growth rates, and bowel movements, with no adverse reactions at infusion sites.
Researchers found that children with behavioral disorders incur similar healthcare costs to those with physical disorders. Children with depression and anxiety had double the overall expenditures as those with disruptive disorders.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania have successfully delivered RNA payloads to immune cells called CD40-activated B cells, which stimulated the production of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This finding could form the basis for a cancer vaccine that stimulates the body's existing immune system.
Researchers found that black infants born in the summer and fall had lower birth weights than those born in the winter and spring. Additionally, early infancy weight gain was significantly lower for black and Puerto Rican infants born during the fall compared to those born in the spring and summer.
A new study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that intensive toilet training before 27 months may not provide clear benefits, but also takes longer and can be frustrating. The research suggests that parents should consider their child's individual readiness and family situation when deciding to initiate training.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has been awarded a federal grant to monitor the nation's blood supply for new infectious agents, particularly relevant for thalassemia patients who require frequent blood transfusions. The program will also expand its efforts to identify new patients with thalassemia and provide comprehensive ser...
Scientific studies have found no link between vaccines and chronic diseases such as asthma and food allergies. Reducing vaccination rates can lead to increased rates of preventable infectious diseases, according to the article co-authored by Dr. Paul Offit.
A new clinical trial found that a drug called milrinone strongly reduces the risk of heart failure in children after cardiac surgery. The study involved 238 patients and showed that high-dose milrinone is 55% less likely to cause low cardiac output syndrome compared to a placebo.
Researchers found that both groups of parents reported making active, informed decisions for their babies' heart surgery. Fathers in the prenatal diagnosis group had less anxiety and higher optimism than those with postnatal diagnoses. The study suggests that parental informed consent is related to the timing of the child's diagnosis.
Researchers found that desflurane improved neurologic outcomes in piglets undergoing low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass, reducing brain injury and abnormal heart rhythms. The study suggests desflurane may protect the brain and nervous system during heart surgery, improving quality of life for survivors.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia achieved immune tolerance in mice through prenatal stem cell transplants, enabling donor cells to multiply without toxic side effects. The technique could greatly broaden the use of cell and organ transplants for genetic diseases detected before birth.
Researchers found that minority children are over five times more likely to have their accidental injuries evaluated for child abuse compared to Caucasian children. However, when adjusted for likelihood of abuse, minority children were significantly more likely to receive a skeletal survey and be reported to child welfare authorities.
Children's Hospital researchers estimate national costs associated with bicycle handlebar-related injuries, which can result in lengthy hospital stays and long-term disability. The study recommends adopting safer designs and educating parents on choosing and maintaining bicycles to minimize the risk of such injuries.
Researchers have discovered a protein, alpha hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP), that binds to free alpha globin and prevents it from forming a precipitate that damages red blood cells. This discovery may lead to a new treatment for thalassemia by reducing the need for frequent blood transfusions.
Dr. Katherine High, a leading gene therapy researcher, has been chosen by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for her groundbreaking work on treating hemophilia B. Her research holds promise for delivering therapeutic genes directly into patients' cells to improve blood clotting and quality of life.
Researchers found that acute stress symptoms were common among injured children and their parents, with nearly four-fifths experiencing at least one significant symptom. Pediatricians should support distressed parents to help them cope with traumatic injuries.