Research at Cincinnati Children's

Scientists Identify Key Regulator of Male Fertility

Researchers led by Satoshi Namekawa, PhD, report in Genes & Development identifying the key molecular and genetic switch that activates production of healthy male sperm.

Discovery of genes linked to preterm birth in landmark study

Study based on data from more than 50,000 women, published in The New England Journal of Medicine and led by Drs. Muglia and Zhang, could lead to new ways to prevent leading cause of infant mortality.

Study Refutes Perceptions That Some Teens Just Don’t Need Much Sleep

A new study published in SLEEP supports calls for public health efforts to promote adolescent sleep, according to Dean Beebe, PhD, senior author of the study.

Study Hints at Experimental Therapy for Heart Fibrosis

Cincinnati Children’s researchers report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology encouraging preclinical results as they pursue elusive therapeutic strategies to repair scarred and poorly functioning heart tissues after cardiac injury.

Scientists Block Evolution’s Molecular Nerve Pruning in Rodents

Researchers led by Yutaka Yoshida, PhD, report in Science blocking molecular pruning of sophisticated brain-to-limb nerve connections in maturing mice.

Scientists Propose Novel Therapy to Lessen Risk of Obesity-Linked Disease

A multi-institutional scientific team led by Matthew Flick, PhD, uncovers a previously unknown molecular link in the body that drives obesity and inflammation. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Study Demonstrates Importance of Medication Adherence

A new study, led by Kevin Hommel, PhD, shows that patients who take their medication as prescribed have lower healthcare costs than those who do not. The study was published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, the journal of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Lab Grown Human Colons Change Study of GI Disease

Scientists, led by James Wells, PhD, use human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to generate human embryonic colons in a laboratory that function much like natural human tissues when transplanted into mice, according to research published in Cell Stem Cell.

Bioengineered Human Livers Mimic Natural Development

An international team of researchers led by Takanori Takebe, MD, and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, are bioengineering human liver tissues for their potential to study and treat liver disease. Results were reported in Nature.

One Gene Closer to Regenerative Therapy for Muscular Disorders

Reporting results in Nature Communications, Cincinnati Children's researchers seek ways to develop regenerative therapies for muscle disorders by getting stem cells to fuse and form functioning skeletal muscle tissues.

Storytime a ‘Turbocharger’ for a Child’s Brain

A new study, publish in the journal PLOS ONE and led by Cincinnati Children's researchers, shows that engaging with children while reading them books gives their brain a cognitive boost.

Experimental Therapy for Immune Diseases Hits Achilles Heel of Activated T Cells

Researchers led by Michael B. Jordan, MD, report they were able to selectively inhibit DNA damage repair in activated T cells as part of an experimental combination treatment for immune diseases in mouse models. The study was published in PNAS Early Edition.

Year-Round Flu Vaccinations Promote Healthier Infants in Subtropics

Vaccinating pregnant mothers year-round against flu in subtropical Nepal reduced infant flu virus infection rates by an average of 30 percent and increased birth weights by 15 percent. The study was published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Study Suggests Genetic Reason for Impaired Skilled Movements

Scientists led by Yutaka Yoshida, PhD, report in Neuron the lost function of two genes prevents infant laboratory mice from developing motor skills as they mature into adults.

HIPPO’s Molecular Balancing Act Helps Nerves Not Short Circuit

Scientists led by Q. Richard Lu, PhD, write in Nature Communications it may be possible to therapeutically fine tune a constantly shifting balance of molecular signals to ensure the body’s peripheral nerves are properly insulated and functioning normally.

Experimental Drug Targets Nucleus of Allergen-Sensitized Cells

Researchers, led by Vladimir Kalinichenko, MD, PhD, report in Science Signaling that treatment with a new experimental molecular compound called RCM-1 prevents excess inflammation and mucous in mouse models and human respiratory cells.

Kids’ Hands May Be a Source of Significant Nicotine Exposure

Children may carry significant levels of nicotine on their hands even when parents are not smoking around them, according to a new study. The study, co-authored by Melinda Mahabee-Gittens, MD, was published in Tobacco Control.

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MicroRNA Treatment Restores Nerve Insulation, Limb Function in Mice with MS

Researchers led by Q. Richard Lu, PhD, report in Developmental Cell microRNA treatment partially repaired damaged nerves and restored limb function in mice with MS.

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Scientists Find Possible Achilles Heel of Treatment Resistant Cancers

Reporting results in Nature Medicine, researchers led by Mohammad Azam, PhD, suggest that blocking two signaling proteins as part of combination therapy might cure several types of kinase-driven, treatment-resistant leukemia and solid tumor cancers.

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Study Identifies Molecular Clues for Age-Related Intestinal Issues

Intestinal stem cells rejuvenate daily so bowels will stay healthy and function normally, but a new study in Cell Reports suggests they also age along with people and lose their regenerative capacity.

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Study Describes Potential Clinical Test and Treatment for Preterm Birth

Scientists led by Senad Divanovic, PhD, identify a molecular driver of inflammation that may finally answer a key question about what causes mild systemic prenatal infections to trigger preterm birth. Findings were reported March 9 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight (JCI Insight).

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Scientists Wage Fight Against Aging Bone Marrow Stem Cell Niche

As people get older so do the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that form their blood, creating an increased risk for compromised immunity and certain blood cancers. Researchers led by Hartmut Geiger, PhD, report in the The EMBO Journal that the bone marrow niche where HSC’s form also ages, contributing to the problem.

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Nature Study Suggests New Therapy for Gaucher Disease

Scientists led by Cincinnati Children's Manoj Pandey, PhD, propose in Nature blocking a molecule that drives inflammation and organ damage in Gaucher and maybe other lysosomal storage diseases as a possible treatment with fewer risks and lower costs than current therapies.

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Doctors Treat Deadly Cancerous Disorders with Gene-Guided, Targeted Therapy

Genomic testing of biopsies from patients with deadly, treatment-resistant cancerous blood syndromes allowed doctors to identify genes fueling the ailments and use targeted molecular drugs to successfully treat them. Researchers, led by Ashish Kumar, MD, PhD, report their data in Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight.

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Studies Uncover Long-term Effects Of Traumatic Brain Injury

Cincinnati Children’s researchers uncover long-term effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) - an average of seven years after injury. Brad Kurowski, MD, MS, presented findings during the annual meeting of the Association of Academic Physiatrists.

Excessive Antibiotic Use in Newborns Can Permanently Damage Lungs’ Defenses

A new study published in Science Translational Medicine reveals that consequences of routine antibiotic use may be deeper and longer lasting than expected. “It is time to begin pushing back on practices that were established decades ago, when our level of understanding was different,” says lead author, Hitesh Deshmukh, MD, PhD.

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Scientists Tissue-Engineer Part of Human Stomach in Laboratory

Cincinnati Children’s scientists led by Jim Wells, PhD, report in Nature using pluripotent stem cells to generate human stomach tissues in a petri dish that produce acid and digestive enzymes.

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Possible Treatment Targets Found for Pre-Malignant Bone Marrow Disorders

Researchers led by Daniel Starczynowski, PhD, report in Nature Immunology a new mechanism that controls blood cell function and several possible molecular targets for treating myelodysplasia syndromes (MDS).

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Research Translates into Clinical Testing in NEJM Study

Years of laboratory research by the team of Cincinnati Children’s cancer biologist Nancy Ratner, PhD, has led to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine showing targeted molecular therapy for NF1 plexiform neurofibromas helps children with the genetic disorder.

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STEMCELL Technologies signs Agreement with Cincinnati Children’s for Stem Cell-derived Organoid Technology

STEMCELL Technologies Inc. has signed an exclusive license agreement with Cincinnati Children’s to commercialize its fundamental technology for generating gastrointestinal organoids from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs).

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“Marker Genes” Reveal Deadly Secrets of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Researchers have cracked the complete genetic code of individual cells in healthy and diseased human lung tissues to find potential new molecular targets for diagnosing and treating the lethal lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Results are published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insights (JCI Insights).

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New Commercialization Chair Appointed

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has appointed Andrew Wooten, MS, MBA, to the position of vice president of its Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC). Wooten will begin his position on Jan. 3, 2017.

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Scientists Tissue Engineer Human Intestines and Functioning Nerves

Researchers, led by Michael Helmrath, MD, and Jim Wells, PhD, report in Nature Medicine using human pluripotent stem cells to grow human intestinal tissues that have functioning nerves in a laboratory, and then using these to recreate and study a severe intestinal nerve disorder called Hirschsprung’s disease. 

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Multinational Study Finds High Rates of Acute Kidney Injury In Children Admitted to Intensive Care Units Worldwide

According to a study published online in The New England Journal of Medicine, one of every four children admitted to pediatric intensive care units around the world develops acute kidney injury (AKI). Moreover, the nearly 12 percent who develop more severe AKI have a further increased risk of death within 28 days, according to lead author Stuart L. Goldstein, MD, director of the Center for Acute Care Nephrology at Cincinnati Children's.  

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Good News for Kids Recovering from Complex Pneumonia

A new study published by Pediatrics suggests that children recovering from complex pneumonia should use oral antibiotics instead of intravenous antibiotics. The retrospective study, led by Samir Shah, MD, MSCE, and director of Hospital Medicine at Cincinnati Children's, included 2,123 children at 36 hospitals.

A Patient’s Words & Machine Learning Can Identify Suicidal Behavior

A new study shows that computer technology known as machine learning can be a reliable tool for classifying people as suicidal. These results provide strong evidence for using advanced technology as a decision-support tool to help clinicians and caregivers identify and prevent suicidal behavior, says John Pestian, PhD, professor in the divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Psychiatry at Cincinnati Children’s and the study’s lead author.

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Study Compares Effectiveness of Preventive Medicines for Pediatric Migraines

A recently published study in The New England Journal of Medicine shows no significant differences among amitriptyline, topiramate and placebo in reducing headache days or related disability. Researchers, including Andrew Hershey, MD, PhD, and Scott Powers, PhD, conducted the 24-week clinical trial that included 328 eligible patients.

New Grant Will Leverage Interoperability Standards to Integrate Clinical, Research Systems

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has awarded Keith Marsolo, PhD, a Standards Exploration Grant to study the cost efficiencies of integrating clinical research systems within a medical center’s electronic health record (EHR).

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Protein Network Linked to Cancer Is Critical to Male Fertility

A team of Cincinnati Children's researchers, led by Satoshi Namekawa, PhD, identified a network of proteins often linked to cancer as also important to male fertility and the birth of healthy offspring, according to a study in the Oct. 18 online issue of Cell Reports.

NIH Pioneer Award to Advance Immunology Research

Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD, Division of Infectious Diseases, is receiving the Pioneer Award from the National Institutes of Health. Part of NIH’s High Risk High Reward program, the Pioneer Award helps investigators pursue new research directions and develop groundbreaking, high-impact approaches to biomedical and behavioral science, according to NIH. The award totals $5.5 million over five years. The funding will help Way and his colleagues advance research into immunological mechanisms responsible for shifts in infection susceptibility in babies with the goal of more effective therapeutic and preventative strategies.

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Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD, wins HHMI Faculty Scholar Award

Groundbreaking research into how the immune system works in early newborn development has led to Cincinnati Children’s physician Sing Sing Way being named a Faculty Scholar by The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Simons Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Study Reveals Increased Self-Harm Rates for Transgender Youth

A recent study by Cincinnati Children’s researchers reveals increased self-injury and suicide attempt rates for transgender youth. “Our study provides further evidence for the at-risk nature of transgender youth and emphasizes that mental health providers and physicians working with this population need to be aware of these challenges,” says Claire Peterson, PhD, a psychologist at Cincinnati Children’s and lead author of the study. Findings are published in Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.

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Blood Cell Types Emerge in Unexpected Ways

Findings published in Nature reveal that before a blood cell’s specific type is defined, it is caught in a tug of war by competing genetic signals. “It’s a basic finding that helps us address a fundamental question of developmental biology – what are the nature of the intermediate states and the networks of regulatory genes that underlie cell-type specification,” said Harinder Singh, PhD, study co-author and Director of Immunobiology and the Center for Systems Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s.

Researchers Identify Risk Factors for School Violence

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center recently developed a way to assess middle and high school students’ risk of violent behavior at schools. The study included 25 students with behavioral changes from 15 schools in Ohio and Kentucky. The study results were published in July 2016 in Psychiatric Quarterly. The study, which was done over the course of one year, was a collaborative effort among Ohio and Kentucky schools, the Cincinnati Children’s forensic research team led by Drew H. Barzman, MD, and parents of the students.

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Study Quantifies Risk Factors for Preterm Birth

A new Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center study shows that as many as 25 percent of preterm births might be attributed to abnormalities in the interval between pregnancies, the mother’s body mass index prior to pregnancy, and the amount of weight gain in pregnancy. All of these risk factors may be modifiable to reduce the risk of premature births – those before 37 weeks of gestation. The study is published online in the Maternal and Child Health Journal. Emily DeFranco, DO, a physician-researcher at the Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth and her colleagues conducted the study from birth records in Ohio from 2006 to 2011.

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Researchers ID heart complication drivers in Sickle Cell Anemia

In study results published online in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), Cincinnati Children’s researchers report findings that open a path to earlier non-invasive diagnosis of heart complications in Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) patients. Scientists, including senior author Punam Malik, MD, also report development of new targeted therapies to help SCA patients live longer with better quality of life.

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Diabetes Drugs May Prevent Preterm Birth

Metformin, a medication commonly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, may also play an unexpected role in blocking a significant cause of preterm birth, according to findings published online in JCI: The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The early-stage study, based on results from mice bred to be prone to premature birth, was led by a team of scientists at Cincinnati Children’s, including senior author Sudhansu K. Dey, PhD, along with colleagues in France and Japan.

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Web-Based Technology Improves Pediatric ADHD Care & Patient Outcomes

According to a multi-institutional study published online July 26 in Pediatrics, a new web-based software program is helping reduce ADHD behavioral symptoms in children receiving care at community pediatric practices. The software aids in coordinating care and ensuring patients get the most effective ADHD medications. “Our data show the software not only helped improve the quality of medication care received by children treated at community based pediatric practices, but it also improved treatment outcomes for these children,” said principal investigator Jeffery Epstein, PhD.

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Those Born with Heart Disease Have Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk

According to a new study, children born with heart disease have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes after age 30 – particularly those born with a cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) condition. "Given the cardiovascular health burden of type 2 diabetes, attention to its development in CHD survivors is warranted,” says Nicolas Madsen, MD, a cardiologist at Cincinnati Children’s and lead author of the study, published online in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Study Compares Weight Gain Due to Second-Generation Antipsychotics Used to Treat Autism Spectrum Disorder

Some of the most effective treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are also well known for their risk of weight gain and subsequent health complications. For the first time, however, researchers, including Cincinnati Children’s Logan Wink, MD, have compared five of these second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) to determine which ones are the biggest culprits. Results are published online in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.

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Web-Based Data Tool Aims to Enhance Drug Safety

A new online open-access database has been developed to allow the clinical responses of more than 5 million patients to all FDA-approved drugs to be used to identify unexpected clinical harm, benefits and alternative treatment choices for individual patients, according to a study appearing July 8 in Nature Biotechnology. The database is the result of work by scientists in Cincinnati Children’s Division of Biomedical Informatics and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science Training.

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Nicotine Exposure During Pregnancy Higher than Reported

In collaboration with Cradle Cincinnati, a Cincinnati Children’s study finds that many more women may be smoking and exposed to nicotine than previously thought. “This is extremely important new information for us as we work to better understand risk factors for preterm birth,” said Jim Greenberg, MD, director of the Perinatal Institute at Cincinnati Children’s and senior author of the study. Results are published in the Journal of Perinatology.

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Emerging Research Highlights Promise of a Novel Device to Protect from Sports-Related Brain Injuries

Research led by Greg Myer, PhD, director of sports medicine research at Cincinnati Children’s, shows promise for a novel device designed to protect athletes from sports-related brain injuries. Findings have been recently published in Frontiers in Neurology | Neurotrauma and in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

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Study Finds Potential Treatment for NAFLD

Cincinnati Children’s researchers, report in the journal Cell Reports that a targeted molecular therapy dramatically reduces the initial development of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in laboratory mouse models. Nikolai Timchenko, PhD, is senior author and the head of Cincinnati Children’s Liver Tumor Biology Program.

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Gray Matter Changes Detected in Brains of Teenagers with Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s, including senior author Amy Sanghavi Shah, MD, from the Division of Endocrinology, have discovered that teenagers with type 2 diabetes have significant changes in total brain gray matter volume. Changes are also noted in regions of gray matter involved in seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decisions making, and self-control.

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Prediction Technology Could Lead to Changes in Treatment of Heart Defects

Researchers including Jeffery Molkentin, PhD from the Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology have developed an experimental model that uses genetics-guided biomechanics and patient-derived stem cells to predict what type of inherited heart defect a child will develop. Findings are published the journal Cell.

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Potential Marker of EOE Disease Activity Identified

Scientists have identified a potential marker of disease activity for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a severe and often painful food allergic disease. The marker could spare children with EoE the discomfort and risk of endoscopic procedures to assess whether their disease is active.

Findings are published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study was led by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Center for Eosinophilic Disorders (CCED), including Patricia Fulkerson, MD, PhD.

Experimental Therapy Halts Treatment-Resistant Brain Tumors

Based on laboratory tests on human cells and mouse models, researchers report an experimental therapy that stops aggressive, treatment-resistant brain cancers called glioblastoma and high-grade gliomas. A multi-institutional team led by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s published their results in Cancer Cell on May 9^th.

 “We find that elimination of dividing Olig2-expressing cells blocks initiation and progression of glioma in animal models and further show that Olig2 is the molecular arbiter of genetic adaptability that makes high-grade gliomas aggressive and treatment resistant,” says Lead investigator Qing Richard Lu, PhD, the scientific director of Cincinnati Children’s Brain Tumor Center.

Teaching Machines to Improve Clinical Trials’ Success

“Challenges with patient recruitment for clinical trials are a major barrier to timely and efficient translational research,” said Yizhao Ni, PhD, lead author and a researcher in Cincinnati Children’s Division of Biomedical Informatics. As reported in the Journal of the American Informatics Association, Yizhao and his colleagues are teaching computers to figure out why people accept or decline invitations to participate in clinical trials.

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New Treatment Proposed for Severe Lung Disease

Results published in Science Signaling report two Cincinnati Children’s laboratories are developing a pharmacologic compound to treat life-threatening lung damage and breathing problems in people with severe infections like pneumonia, those undergoing certain cancer treatments and premature infants with underdeveloped, injury prone lungs. Researchers led by Vladimir Kalinichenko, MD, PhD, and Tanya Kalin, MD, PhD, are following up their current study with further development of the targeted small molecule they recently discovered.

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New Treatment Proposed for Suppressed Immunity from Spine Injury

“Infection, a consequence of immune suppression, is the leading cause of death for people with spinal cord injuries,” said Yutaka Yoshida, PhD, co-lead author of a study published in Nature Neuroscience and a scientist in Cincinnati Children’s Division of Developmental Biology. The team of scientists from various institutions have identified an underlying cause of this dangerous immune suppression in people with high level spinal cord injuries and they propose a possible treatment.

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Unchecked Mitochondrial DNA Mutations a Problem for Stem Cell Therapies?

A study published April 14 in Cell Stem Cell reports that mutations accumulate in human mitochondrial DNA with age. The finding has implications for potential therapies using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. “People tend to look just at the nuclear genome,” says co-senior author Taosheng Huang, MD, PhD. “But if you want to use iPS cells in a human, you must check for mutations in the mitochondrial genome.” Huang directs Cincinnati Children’s Mitochondrial Disorders Program.

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Protein Linked to Damage Caused by Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s led by Marc E Rothenberg, MD, PhD, have identified a protein that may be the cause of tissue damage in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Researchers note that the findings suggest a valuable drug target for further research.

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Obesity Can Be Predicted as Early as 6 Months of Age, Says Study

Findings reported on April 1, 2016 at the Endocrine Society meeting in Boston suggest that pediatricians measure BMI during infant well-child visits. “BMI at 6, 12 or 18 months of age above the 85th percentile on the growth chart can accurately predict children at risk for early childhood obesity,” says Allison Smego, MD, a fellow in Cincinnati Children’s Division of Endocrinology and the study’s lead author. “These children have a high lifetime risk for persistent obesity and metabolic disease and should be monitored closely at a very young age," she said.

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Mouse Model Opens Door for AML Research

A novel mouse model of a highly lethal form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been developed at Cincinnati Children’s and offers scientists an important tool to better understand this disease and research new therapeutic targets. “This model is rapid, fully penetrant, and completely spontaneous. We hope that it will open the way for other researchers to join us in attacking this particularly lethal AML subtype,” says H. Leighton Grimes, PhD, senior author and professor in the Division of Immunobiology. Results are reported in Cancer Discovery.

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Study Hints at Regeneration of Nerve Insulation to Treat CHARGE Birth Defects

Research published online in Nature Neuroscience suggests the possibility of treating a group of genetic birth defects (CHARGE) with molecular therapy that would regenerate malformed nerve insulation in the central nervous system. “Our findings could provide a molecular framework for identifying signaling pathways and molecules as therapeutic targets to promote myelin regeneration in patients with CHARGE and other demyelinating diseases,” says senior author Richard Lu, PhD, scientific director of the Brain Tumor Center in the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology.

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Cincinnati Children’s Will Lead Multi-Center Heart Study, Funded by NIH

NIH’s Bench to Bassinet Program has selected Cincinnati Children’s to lead a $32.5 million, five-year study  to determine why children are born with heart problems and find effective treatments.

“As the coordinating center, we can make sure that research infrastructure and data are shared and integrated to accelerate discovery of the genetic and biological mechanisms of congenital heart defects,” said Eileen C. King, PhD, principal investigator of the project and associate professor in the Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. “This will ultimately lead to improvements in treating or even preventing these often devastating defects.”

Study Supports Fish Consumption During Pregnancy

A new study supports evidence that the beneficial effects of fish consumption during pregnancy outweigh the detrimental effects of low-level exposure to mercury. According to senior author Kim Yolton, PhD, the study “reflects the benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acid intake that also comes from fish and has been shown to benefit attention, memory, and other areas of development in children.” The study is published online in Neurotoxicology and Teratology.

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Diabetes During Pregnancy Effects Milk Supply

A Cincinnati Children’s study published in Breastfeeding Medicine finds that women with diabetes during pregnancy face a significantly increased risk of having low milk supply. “This study shows the importance of further research to determine how maternal glucose intolerance may impede lactation, so that targeted therapies may be developed to increase milk supply,” says Sarah Riddle, MD, the study’s lead author and a pediatrician in the Center for Breastfeeding Medicine.

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Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD, awarded E. Mead Johnson Award

Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD, the Pauline and Lawson Reed Chair in the Division of Infectious Diseases, has won the 2016 E. Mead Johnson Award for Pediatric Research for 2016, considered among the most prestigious honors in pediatric research. In a joint letter nominating Dr. Way for the award, Margaret Hostetter, MD, and Lou Muglia, MD, PhD, called Dr. Way’s work “paradigm shifting and transformative.”

Dr. Way focuses on prenatal infection and maternal-fetal immunology. His laboratory has made seminal contributions on the molecular-cellular mechanisms responsible for maternal-fetal immunological tolerance, fetal injury after prenatal infection, and infection susceptibility during pregnancy and in newborn infants.

Evidence strengthens autism’s link to maternal obesity, diabetes

In a study published online in Autism Research, researchers from the Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology show they can use electronic medical records and birth information to verify and strengthen an already suspected link between autistic children and pregnant mothers with obesity and diabetes. According to study data, pregnant mothers with obesity or gestational diabetes were 1.5 times more likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to mothers of children without developmental disorders. The increased risk of ASD for pregnant mothers with both obesity and gestational diabetes was two-fold.

“Without placing any burden on study participants or the costs of developing an epidemiologic study from scratch, we can use the vast amounts of data already collected for clinical purposes to conduct broad population-based studies on this link to autism. We are very excited about the future studies we can do with this ability,” says Katherine Bowers, PhD, MPH, the study’s senior author.

Exposure to high levels of small particle air pollution linked to higher preterm birth risk

Cincinnati Children’s researchers find that exposure to high levels of small particle air pollution is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, according to a new study published online in the journal Environmental Health. “We estimate that decreasing the amount of particulate matter in the air below the EPA’s standard threshold could decrease preterm birth in women exposed to high levels of small particulates by about 17 percent, which corresponds to a 2.22 percent decrease in the preterm birth rate in the population as a whole,” says physician-researcher Emily DeFranco, DO, with the Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth.

Preterm birth rates were higher among mothers exposed to high levels of airborne particle pollution above the EPA standard, as well as among mothers 40 or older, black mothers, and women with no prenatal care or with lower education level.

Molecule Identified that Appears to Fuel Genetic Disease

Published in Stem Cell Reports, Cincinnati Children’s researchers report identifying a molecular target and experimental treatment strategy for DNA repair defects behind Fanconi anemia. The complex genetic disorder is responsible for birth anomalies, organ damage, anemia and cancer. The findings give hope for further discovery. Susanne Wells, PhD, lead investigator and director of the Epithelial Carcinogenesis and Stem Cell Program, says, “This study provides an experimental platform to test new therapies that could prevent pre- and post-natal Fanconi anemia conditions, which have no cure and limited treatment options.”

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Premature Birth Data Reveals Racial Disparity

Researchers with Cincinnati Children’s Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth have released a study in the online edition of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reporting that black women are nearly four times more likely than white women to have a baby born between 16 and 22 weeks gestation, a period in which life outside the womb is not viable. “Our findings suggest that public health efforts should focus on access to prenatal care, optimizing opportunities for preterm birth screening and preventive efforts in high-risk black women to close the racial disparity gap in infant mortality,” says Emily DeFranco, DO, a physician-researcher with the Center.

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Caregiver Stress Can Affect Sick Kids After Hospital Discharge

"Our study finds that transitions from hospital to home affect the lives of families in ways that may impact patient outcomes at discharge,” says Andrew Beck, MD, MPH, a physician in the divisions of General and Community Pediatrics and Hospital Medicine and co-author on a new study published online in Nov. 30 edition of Pediatrics. As part of the multi-stage research project Hospital-to-Home Outcomes (H20), which is led by Cincinnati Children’s, this study focused on obtaining detailed input from caregivers that will help develop “family centered” solutions in future phases of the project.

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Stimulant Medications Safe for Children with ADHD & Congenial Heart Disease

A new study presented at a national meeting on October 4, 2015 reveals that patients with congenital heart disease and ADHD can safely benefit from stimulant medications. “Children with congenital heart disease are at high risk for ADHD, but fears about cardiovascular side effects, including sudden death, limit the use of stimulant medications,” says Julia Anixt, MD, senior author of the study. “This study indicates that stimulants are both effective and safe when prescribed with appropriate monitoring and in collaboration with the patient’s cardiologist.”

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Newly Discovered Cell Type Helps Explain Cause of Dangerous Food Allergies

A study led by researchers in the Division of Allergy and Immunology. reports findings that offer insight into new therapeutic strategies and diagnostics for severe food allergies triggered by immunoglobin E (IgE). The study, published in the journal Immunity, reveals the discovery of IL-9-producing mucosal mast (MM9) cells that produce large amounts of an inflammatory protein, interleukin 9 (IL-9), known to amplify anaphylactic shock in response to certain foods. “Our study suggests that although you need to have some level of IgE to trigger a food allergy response, you also have to produce MMC9 cells to get a severe response and anaphylaxis,” says Yui-Hsi Wang, PhD, the study’s co-first author. “Without these cells you will not get severe food allergies.”

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New, Innovative, Master’s Program at Cincinnati Children’s

We are excited to announce the launch of a new, innovative, Master’s Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati. The Biomedical Research Master’s Program is born from the recognition that there is a growing job market, in both academia and industry, for scientists who have a strong foundation in the basic methods of biomedical laboratory research, and are trained in emerging techniques and technologies. We have designed this new program to provide students with extensive hands-on training in basic molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry as well as rotations in our state-of-the art core facilities where they will be provided one-on-one training in the use of stem cell techniques, the generation of transgenic animals, flow-sorting, histology, high-end imaging techniques, animal handling, and single-cell techniques. Our first class of five students started classes on August 24 and we are expecting that they will graduate in May of 2017. If you would like more information this new and exciting program, please contact us at BMRMSProg@cchmc.org.

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Cincinnati Children’s Using NIH Grant to Study Genomic Basis of Disease, Tailored Care

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is among a group of medical research institutions awarded $52.4 million by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the next four years to identify the potential medical effects of rare genomic variants in about 100 clinically relevant genes.

Led by principal investigator John Harley, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Autoimmune Genomics & Etiology at Cincinnati Children’s, the medical center will receive $3.4 million over four years to evaluate the role of 100 genes in the genomes of 2,500 patients who agree to receive their test results.

Proof of Concept Published: Noninvasive Therapy for Obesity-Related Diseases

A study published in the journal Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and led by scientists at Cincinnati Children’s has demonstrated the feasibility of using ultrasound as a non-invasive therapy to destroy fat. This development may lead to new treatments for metabolic syndrome. The lead author, Charles Dumoulin, PhD, is the director of the Imaging Research Center at Cincinnati Children’s.

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$16.7M Awarded in Support of Bench-to-Bedside Research Efforts

The Center for Clinical and Translation Science and Training (CCTST) has been awarded $16.7 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to further enhance its efforts in translating basic scientific discoveries from the laboratory bench to patients’ bedsides. "This new funding will enable us to build on the transformation accomplishments we’ve been able to instigate or serve as a catalyst for at the CCTST,” says James Heubi, MD, co-director of the CCTST. The Center is a collaborative research resource among Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

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Shifting from CT Scans in Children’s Hospitals

A study published online Aug. 24 in the journal Pediatrics finds a significant decrease in the use of computed tomography (CT) scans at children’s hospitals for 10 common childhood diagnoses. Study authors hypothesize the decline in CT usage may be attributable to a growing body of evidence linking ionizing radiation from CT scans to an increased risk of cancer in patients. “This study reinforces the pediatric community’s commitment to think about both immediate and long term risks and benefits of our treatment,” said Michelle Parker, MD, the study’s lead investigator and a physician in the Division of Hospital Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s.

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New Technology Opens Doors in Tissue Development & Disease Research

Data reported Aug. 6 in Molecular Cell highlight a technology developed at Cincinnati Children’s that might offer scientists new ways of approaching previously unanswerable questions in the field of tissue development and disease research. Senior author Raphael Kopan, PhD, director of Developmental Biology, calls the SpDamID method “transformative for our research.”

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Psychotropic Medication Use in Children & Teens with Down Syndrome

“Providers must be more systematic in the screening, diagnosis and management of mental health conditions in children and teens with Down syndrome,” concludes Julia S. Anixt, MD, lead author of a study recently completed at Cincinnati Children’s. Researchers studied trends related to the prescription of stimulants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and atypical antipsychotics (AAPs).

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Two Cincinnati Children's Researchers Among 2015 Pew Scholars

The Pew Charitable Trusts have named 22 promising early-career researchers as Pew scholars in the biomedical sciences. Among the recipients are two Cincinnati Children's researchers: Theresa Alenghat, VMD, PhD of the Division of Immunobiology and Douglas Millay, PhD of the Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology. Awardees were nominated based on their dedication to pursuing high-risk, high-reward research that can ultimately lead to extraordinary findings in bioscience.

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Kids With a History of Respiratory Illness May Benefit from Early Antibiotic Administration

Cincinnati Children’s researchers, including Theresa Guilbert, MD, MS, report in the Nov. 17 edition of JAMA that acute episodes of severe lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI) are common among preschoolers, and 14 percent to 26 percent of preschoolers experience recurrent wheezing during the first 6 years of life. However, study findings suggest that early use of an antibiotic significantly reduces the risk of severe LRTI in young children with a history of recurrent episodes of the condition.

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Effects of Surgical Anesthesia in Young Children

A study led by Andreas Loepke, MD, PhD and published in the journal Pediatrics found that children under age 4 who received general anesthesia for surgery risk diminished language comprehension, lower IQ and decreased gray matter density in posterior regions of the brain.

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Parent-Reported Symptoms Gauge Features of EOE

Cincinnati Children’s researchers recently identified that parent-reported responses to the Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptom Score (PEESS® v2.0) questionnaire correspond to clinical and biologic features of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). The study’s first author, Lisa Martin, PhD, reports, “Because eosinophilic esophagitis is a disease with multiple symptoms, the ability to capture patient and parent perceptions of these symptoms is a major unmet need.”

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Study Links Exposure to a Common Pesticide with ADHD in Boys

Published in Environmental Health, a recent study found a link between exposure to pyrethroid pesticides and ADHD in children and young teens. Corresponding author Tanya Froehlich, MD states, “Given the growing use of pyrethroid pesticides and the perception that they may represent a safe alternative, our findings may be of considerable public health importance.”

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Using Excess Stress Can Kill Therapy Resistant Breast Cancer

A study published in Science Signaling by Kakajan Komurov, PhD suggests that maxing out the inherently stressed nature of treatment-resistant breast cancer cells thwarts their adaptive ability to evolve genetic workarounds to treatment.

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Pharmacies’ Role in Reducing Asthma-Related Illness

A study recently published in Pediatrics finds that pharmacies in neighborhoods with high rates of asthma-related emergency-room use and hospitalization filled fewer asthma controller medications compared to asthma rescue medications. Lead author, Andrew Beck, MD, MPH states, “Tracking medication fills could highlight ways in which pharmacies could deliver proactive, as opposed to reactive, asthma care.”

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Vitamin D Deficiency Prevalent in Breastfeeding Arab Women and Infants

A Cincinnati Children’s-led study concludes that breastfeeding Arab mother and infants have a very high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency. The study’s lead author, Adekunle Dawodu, MBBS, points to Arab women’s traditional style of dress as a major factor, as it largely prevents exposure of the skin to sunlight.

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Bio-Marker Identified in Hard-to-Treat Asthma Patients

Why do some asthma patients respond well to corticosteroids while others do not? A new study reveals that VNN-1 gene expression is required for corticosteroids to be effective during an asthma attack. Gurjit Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD and her research team discovered the revealing bio-marker and are using their findings to develop new treatments for hard-to-treat asthma cases.

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Study Findings Suggest Possible Treatments for Stillbirth, Prematurity

Promising research focused on redirecting an expectant mother’s immune cells away from the fetus suggests new therapeutic strategies for preventing pregnancy complications, including prematurity and stillbirth. Senior author Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD hopes these findings – published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation – will spark a renewed interest in the biomedical community to establish the underlying causes of certain pregnancy complications and the development of new therapeutic approaches.

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Teen-LABS Findings Highlight Cardiovascular Risks for Severely Overweight Teens

Cardiovascular risks for severely overweight teens are much higher than previously realized, according to an article published online in JAMA Pediatrics. A part of the ongoing Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS), the findings include increased risk of elevated blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol and insulin resistance in severely overweight teenagers. Thomas Inge, MD, PhD, acts as Chair for the Teen-LABS study.

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Study Finds Preschoolers in Child Care Centers Need More Outdoor Time

A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds child care centers play a pivotal role when it comes to the physical activity levels of preschoolers. The Preschool Eating and Activity Study (PEAS) found that children in child care centers with at least 60 minutes of outdoor time were more active over 24 hours than children that did not get this time. “These [outdoor play] opportunities may be especially important for children who lack opportunities to be active at home,” says Kristen Copeland, MD, a researcher in the Division of General and Community Pediatrics and senior author of the study.

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Adolescent Gastric Bypass Follow-Up Study Results Presented

In a study presented Nov. 10 at the annual American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, researchers found that eight years after having gastric bypass surgery as teenagers, patients continue to have significant weight loss and improvement in their lipid profiles. “Those who did not undergo surgery experienced weight gain and no improvement in co-morbidities over time,” says Elaine Urbina, MD, presenter and Director of Preventative Cardiology at Cincinnati Children’s. “These findings highlight the concerning long-term health trajectory for those with severe pediatric obesity and suggest that bariatric surgery can meaningfully and durably improve long-term outcomes in teens with this disease.”

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Increased Risks in Adulthood for Those Born with Heart Disease

An international group of researchers, including Cincinnati Children’s cardiologist Nicolas Madsen, MD, analyzed over 14,000 patient records, finding that adults up to age 70 who were born with heart disease show a dramatically increased risk of heart attack. “We’re not used to thinking about heart attack risk in a 30 or 40 year old, but we should be in this population,” says Dr. Madsen, who presented the study at Nov. 9 at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando.

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Three Years Later: Health Effects of Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

A study published Nov. 6 in The New England Journal of Medicine offers hopeful news for bariatric adolescent patients and their families. Thomas Inge, MD, PhD, lead author of the study, reports results showing that three years post-surgery, “…almost 90 percent [of patients] experienced clinically meaningful weight loss, and participants were in better health, with improved quality of life scores.” Dr. Inge is the surgical director of the Surgical Weight Loss Program for Teens at Cincinnati Children’s.

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The Untold Story of a New Asthma Drug

When the FDA approved the drug mepolizumab on November 4th to help treat severe asthma, it was a blip on the radar screen of health industry news. The medication targets a subset of asthma patients (ages 12 and up) whose current drug regimens are insufficient to control their condition.

Absent from official press announcements about mepolizumab’s approval on Nov. 4 are the many years of research and testing by countless physicians and scientists at institutions around the world. Cincinnati Children’s and its Division of Allergy and Immunology were key parts to this effort.

Genetic Test Could Help Doctors Time Delicate Births

Doctors may soon have a new tool to help them time births in the case of delicate, pre-mature babies. A study led by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Perinatal Institute have identified a way to test RNA and specific genetic signatures in amniotic fluid to see whether fetal lungs – and potentially other organs – are mature enough for a safe and viable delivery. “This will allow pediatricians and neonatologists to prepare for the various neonatal morbidities these preterm infants may face, and allow obstetricians to better weigh risks to the baby when making decisions about preterm delivery,” says Beena Kamath-Rayne, MD, MPH, one of the study’s lead authors. The findings are published in BMC Medical Genomics.

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Predicting Success of Cochlear Implantation in Children

A new computer program developed at Cincinnati Children’s analyzes functional brain MRIs to predict whether hearing impaired children will develop effective language skills within two years of cochlear implantation surgery. “This study identifies two features from our computer analysis that are potential biomarkers for predicting cochlear implant outcomes,” says collaborator Long (Jason) Lu, PhD from the Division of Biomedical Informatics. The findings are published in the Oct. 12 online edition of Brain and Behavior .

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Oral antibiotics equally effective as IVs for bone infection treatment in kids

Findings published online in the December 15 ^th issue of JAMA Pediatrics report on a multi-dimensional study, co-led by Cincinnati Children’s. The study found that osteomyelitis treatment can be equally as effective through IV and oral antibiotics. According to study co-author Samir Shah, MD, MSCE, serious complications can be avoided by opting for oral antibiotics over IV treatment.

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New test can predict death risk from septic shock

A new test that measures five key biomarkers can quickly and accurately predict the risk of death in children with septic shock, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in PLOS ONE.  The multi-institutional study was led by Hector Wong, MD, Director, Division of Critical Care Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s and Christopher Lindsell, PhD, UC College of Medicine.

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ADHD linked with increased alcohol and tobacco use

New research links ADHD and conduct disorder in young adolescents with increased alcohol and tobacco use. William Brinkman, MD, was lead author in the study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

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Successful Outcome in Sickle Cell Anemia Trial

A sickle Cell Anemia Clinical Trial ended early as conclusive data shows that hydroxyurea therapy offers safe and effective disease management of sickle cell anemia (SCA) and reduces the risk of stroke. Russell E. Ware, MD, PhD, was principal investigator of the study.

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New Approach for Lung Disease

A new type of cell transplantation developed to treat mice mimicking a rare lung disease could one day be used to treat this and other human lung diseases caused by dysfunctional immune cells. The study was published online Oct. 1 by Nature. Bruce Trapnell, MD is senior author.

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New Treatment Strategy for Mysterious Food Allergy

New research published in Nature Genetics identifies a novel genetic and molecular pathway in the esophagus that causes eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Marc E. Rothenberg, MD, was senior investigator.

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Steroids and Pediatric Liver Disease

Treating infants with high doses of steroids fails to improve medical outcomes in the end-stage pediatric liver disease, according to a study published in the May 7, Journal of the American Medical Association. Jorge Bezerra, MD was principal investigator.

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Twin study provides cancer clues

By studying the genomes of twin 3-year-old sisters, researchers have uncovered a molecular pathway involving the gene SETD2 that could lead to better treatments for aggressive leukemia. The study was published online Feb. 9 in Nature Genetics. Gang Huang, PhD, a researcher in the divisions of Pathology and Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology was a co-corresponding author.

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Progress in gene therapy for Hurler syndrome

In a mouse study, researchers have successfully used blood platelets and bone marrow cells to deliver potentially curative gene therapy to treat Hurler syndrome. The study appeared online Feb. 3 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Dao Pan, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, was corresponding author.

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HPV vaccine does not change sexual behavior

A new study published online Feb. 2 in Pediatrics finds no evidence that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine leads to unsafe sexual behaviors among teenage girls and young women. Jessica Kahn, MD, a physician in the Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine was senior author.

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Stem cell breakthrough

A basic signaling pathway known to play important roles in normal cell and cancer cell formation also plays an unexpected role as a molecular switch that controls the aging process of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), according to a study published online Oct. 20, 2013, in Nature. The study was led by Hartmut Geiger, PhD, Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology.

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Traffic pollution and ADHD

In a study published May 21, 2013 in Environmental Health Perspectives, a team led by Nicholas Newman, DO, MS, director of the Pediatric Environmental Health and Lead Clinic at Cincinnati Children’s, reported that children exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) during their first year of life were more likely to have “at risk” scores for hyperactivity by age 7.

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Medical device risks

The same modern medical devices that have helped extend and enhance life for so many children also can cause complications that have not been well-understood, according to a study led by Patrick Brady, MD, MSc, a physician in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Findings were posted online June 7, 2013, in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

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Anesthesia and the brain

Beyond the known effects that surgical anesthesia can have on the developing brains of young children, new findings posted June 5 the Annals of Neurology suggest the threat may also apply to adult brains. The study was led by Andreas Loepke, MD, PhD, a physician and researcher in the Department of Anesthesiology.

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14 more JIA genes

An international team of researchers led by Cincinnati Children’s has confirmed 14 more genes linked to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), bringing the total to 17. The study involved patient DNA samples from across the United States, Germany and United Kingdom, says Susan Thompson, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Rheumatology who was a leader in the project. Findings were published April 21, 2013, in Nature Genetics.

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New biomarker for NEC

Two distinct microbial imbalances in the digestive tract may serve as biomarkers to predict the onset of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), according to a study led by Ardythe Morrow, PhD. Findings were published April 16, 2013, in the journal Microbiome .

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Alternative to bariatric surgery

Manipulating bile acid levels may be enough to recreate the key effects of bariatric surgery without the need for an invasive procedure, according to a study led by Rohit Kohli, MBBS, MS, a member of the Division of Gastroenterology. Findings were published online April 16, 2013, in Endocrinology.

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Bubble Boy Breakthrough

For children with X-SCID, a new version of gene therapy shows renewed promise. A boy treated when he was 8 months old is doing well several months after receiving experimental therapy through a clinical trial at Cincinnati Children’s.

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Targeting Cancer Stem Cells

Scientists at UC and Cincinnati Children’s report that a new molecular pathway may offer a new way to kill leukemia cancer stem cells that survive traditional forms of treatment. Findings were published in June 2012 in the journal Blood. Our researchers also are using new lines of “humanized” mice to explore the potential of microRNA inhibitors and small-molecule inhibitors as anti-cancer weapons.

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Closer to Conquering HLH

The 10-center Hybrid Immunotherapy for HLH (HIT-HLH) trial, led by Michael Jordan, MD, is the first US-based clinical trial to focus on this condition. Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s also are studying a promising antibody, a possible gene replacement therapy and targeted drug therapies to improve HLH treatment.

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Light and Eye Development

Even in the womb, the eye needs light to develop normally. This and other unexpected findings could change our understanding of how the retina develops, according to a study published online Jan. 16, 2013, in Nature. The paper was co-authored by  Richard Lang, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Cincinnati Children’s and David Copenhagen, PhD, a scientist at UCSF.

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Teen obesity risks

Severely obese teens are four times more likely to have swollen legs with skin ulcers as adults and three times more likely to develop severe walking limitations and abnormal kidney function, according to a study published online Nov. 18, 2013, in Pediatrics by Thomas Inge, MD, PhD, and colleagues.

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Kidney Removal Unnecessary

Thousands of people have had kidneys removed unnecessarily because doctors misdiagnose patients who actually have tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), according to a study published online Jan. 11, 2013, in Lancet. Proper diagnosis could have led to a medication that would have made surgery or kidney removal unnecessary, according to John Bissler, MD, a nephrologist at Cincinnati Children’s and lead author of the study.

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Teen Girls Face Online Risks

Thirty percent of teen girls report having offline meetings with strangers and semi-strangers they meet on the Internet, according to a study published online in Pediatrics.  The study, led by says Jennie Noll, PhD,  a psychologist in Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s, shows the risk is further heightened for teen girls who have been victims of abuse or neglect.

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Antioxidant Treatment May Reduce NF1-Linked Behavioral Issues

Treatment with antioxidants may help reduce behavioral issues linked to neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) and an associated condition, Costello syndrome. Findings were posted Sept. 12 in Cell Reports. The study was led by Nancy Ratner, PhD, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology.

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Regenerative medicine

Controlling the protein RhoA could help fight a variety of blood and immune system disorders, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. Yi Zheng, PhD, director of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, was principal investigator.

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Prostate cancer advance

A study involving mouse models published Aug. 2, 2013, in the Journal of Biological Chemistry reports that depleting the FoxM1 protein in prostate epithelial cells inhibits tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Tanya Kalin, MD, PhD, a physician-scientist in Pulmonary Biology was senior author.

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Fighting resistant leukemia

Findings posted online April 26, 2013, in Leukemia report that an experimental combination treatment was effective against T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in mouse models and human cells in the lab. Fukun Guo, PhD, a researcher in Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, is first author.

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Insulin and breastfeeding

RNA sequencing reveals in detail how insulin resistance can lead to insufficient breast milk production. The study, led by Laurie Nommsen-Rivers, PhD, at Cincinnati Children’s and scientists at the University of California Davis, was published in July 5, 2013, in PLOS ONE. The findings suggest a potential biomarker to predict which women may have difficulty breastfeeding.

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Drug reduces seizures

Everolimus can dramatically reduce seizures in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), according to a study posted online June 24, 2013, in Annals of Neurology. The study was led by Darcy Krueger, MD, PhD, at Cincinnati Children’s in collaboration with a team at Texas Children’s Hospital.

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New target for treating MDS

Scientists at Cincinnati Children’s have successfully targeted a malfunctioning immune system enzyme to kill diseased cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The study, led by Daniel Starczynowski, PhD was published July 8, 2013, in Cancer Cell.

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Progress Against NF1 Tumors

A preclinical study in mice successfully used targeted molecular therapy to block mostly untreatable nerve tumors caused by the genetic disorder Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1).  The study was led by Nancy Ratner, PhD, program leader for the Cancer Biology and Neural Tumors Program in the Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute. Findings were published online Dec. 10, 2012, in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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Snoring and Behavior

Persistent and loud snoring in young children can make preschool behavior problems worse, according  to Dean Beebe, PhD, director of the neuropsychology program at Cincinnati Children’s. Behaviors affected by snoring include hyperactivity, depression and inattention. Findings were published online Aug. 13 in Pediatrics.

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HPV Vaccine Reach Grows

The HPV vaccine does more than protect the vaccinated.  A study led by Jessica Kahn, MD, MPH, a physician in the division of Adolescent Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s, is the first to document that the vaccine also provides herd immunity. Findings were published online July 9 in Pediatrics.

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Detecting At-Risk Athletes

A 9-minute modified echocardiogram is more effective than EKG at detecting athletes at risk of sudden cardiac death, according to a study led by Michelle Grenier, MD, a physician at the Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute Findings were presented in July at the annual meeting of the American Society of Echocardiography.

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Smoking and Osteoporosis

Teenage girls who smoke accumulate less bone during a critical growth period and carry a higher risk of developing osteoporosis later in life, according to research published Dec. 4, 2012, in the Journal of Adolescent Health. The study was led by Lorah Dorn, PhD, director of research in the Division of Adolescent Medicine.

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Gene Linked to Deafness

A research team led by Cincinnati Children’s has discovered a genetic mutation responsible for deafness associated with Usher syndrome type 1. These findings offer a potential target for new therapies, says Zubair Ahmed, PhD, senior investigator. The study results were published online Sept. 30 in Nature Genetics.

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Marijuana and Preeclampsia

Marijuana consumption may increase risks of preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications, according to SK Dey,PhD, director, Division of Reproductive Sciences. Analysis of mouse models indicates that THC can affect placenta development. Findings appeared Sept. 14 in The Journal of Biological Chemistry.

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ATV Safety

Warning labels are not working. Tougher rider training and helmet laws are needed to reduce deaths among underaged All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) riders, according to Rebeccah Brown, MD. She presented new findings about ATV crashes Oct. 22 at American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting in New Orleans.

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How Epilepsy Seizures Begin

Molecular disruptions in granule cells – located in the dentate gyrus region of the brain – caused brain seizures in mice similar to those seen in human temporal lobe epilepsy, according to a study led by Steven Danzer, PhD, a neuroscientist in the Department of Anesthesia. The findings appeared Sept. 19 in Neuron.

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Rhosin Shows Promise

A small-molecule-inhibiting drug dubbed “Rhosin” stopped breast cancer cells from metastasizing and promoted nerve cell growth in early laboratory cell tests. Although years away from market, Rhosin eventually could treat a variety of cancers and could promote spinal cord regeneration, says lead investigator  Yi Zheng, PhD, director of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology. Findings appeared June 21 in Chemistry & Biology .

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Predicting Readmissions

A geographic social risk index based on income, home values and the parents’ education levels can help hospitals predict which children with asthma are most likely to need readmission, according to research led by Andrew Beck, MD. Study results were posted online Oct. 18 in the American Journal of Public Health.

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The mechanisms involved in preventing a pregnant woman’s body from rejecting her baby as a foreign object eventually may lead to a new class of vaccines that could prevent preterm births and possibly other autoimmune diseases, according to Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD, a physician researcher in Infectious Diseases. Findings were published online Sept. 26 in the journal Nature.