Connections
Stay informed. Keep up to date. Read more. Visit PediatricsNationwide.org for exclusive online content, physician commentaries and more. Novel Intervention Helps Infants With Cerebral Palsy Develop Arm and Hand Function Written by Abbie Roth A new NIH-funded randomized controlled trial shows that an intervention combining a patented soft restraint harness, therapist coaching and parent training increases reach smoothness, fine motor skills and tactile sensation in the more-affected upper extremity. For the first time in infants with CP under 2, a clinical trial of this type of intervention was shown to also be safe for the tactile processing of the restrained extremity, and for the development of other motor skills. PediatricsNationwide.org/CP-Arm-Hand-Function
Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Cancer Research Written by Lauren Dembeck, PhD COVID-19 has had an immediate and potential long-term impact on pediatric cancer research. During state lockdowns, many early-stage clinical trials were temporarily halted and other research activities were deemed nonessential, such as biospecimen collections, which could ultimately extend timelines to new discoveries. Recently, a panel of pediatric cancer advocates and experts published a special report focused on areas pertinent to continuing pediatric cancer research despite the impact of COVID-19 on the field. PediatricsNationwide.org/COVID-Impact-Cancer-Research
An Expanded, Multicenter Look at Gene Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Written by Mary Bates, PhD In May 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a gene replacement therapy for the inherited, progressive neuromuscular disease 5q-linked spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Approval included all children with SMA under the age of 2 years; however, the gene therapy had only been studied in children aged up to 8 months. Now, a new study discusses safety and early outcomes in a large cohort of SMA patients under the age of 2 years who were treated with gene therapy. PediatricsNationwide.org/SMA-Expanded-Multicenter-Study
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PediatricsNationwide.org | Fall/Winter 2020
