CHOP Eye Doctors Search the World for New Methods to Prevent Blindness

The ophthalmology team at CHOP is working on news ways to prevent blindness in premature babies born around the world. They are teaching health care workers improved methods to screen newborns for a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), as well as studying ways to get ROP scanning capabilities to the most remote areas of the world. CHOP’s team, and their work, are featured in a Health Economist article this week. Check it out!

Posted at 04:17PM Jan 20, 2012 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

USA Today Quotes Adolescent Medicine Chief, Dr. Carol Ford

Carol Ford, M.D. chief of adolescent medicine, is quoted in a USA Today article this week about the most productive way to have "the talk" with teens. Check out her expert advice here.

Posted at 04:06PM Jan 20, 2012 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

Toddler Awaits Double Transplant Surgery

Carol O’Brien’s 3½-year-old son Riley visits CHOP every two weeks while waiting for a heart and lung transplant. Riley was diagnosed with heterotaxy syndrome and complex congenital heart disease. His doctor,  Samuel Goldfarb, was featured in the Courier Post’s article featuring the O’Brien family.

Posted at 04:27PM Dec 15, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in Cancer  |  Comments[0]

Newborn Test Helps Save Child's Life

Newborn baby Brandon is at least the second baby whose critical heart defect was detected by the newly passed law in NJ which states that pulse ox tests must be given to all newborns.  The test found a hole in Brandon’s heart and ultimately saved his life.

Aaron Dorfman, Brandon’s cardiologist at CHOP's Children's Specialty Care Center in Voorhees, was quoted in a Philadelphia Inquirer article about his case and the new state mandate. “Critical heart defects are the hardest type to detect with prenatal testing. They are not readily apparent to the eye after birth,” Dr. Dorfman said.

Posted at 04:25PM Dec 15, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in Cancer  |  Comments[0]

Dr. Ian Jacobs Discusses the Dangers of Lithium Disc Batteries to NBC10

View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com.

Posted at 04:54PM Nov 18, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

CHOP Pediatricians Host Live Web Chat on 6ABC Online

6ABC featured CHOP pediatricians David Pollack, Zarana Swarup and Ira Strassman in an online chat to answer parents questions about their kids’ fevers, bumps, bruises. The chat was a great way to get CHOP expert opinions on what to do when something happens.

Read the ABC chat transcript here!

Posted at 04:51PM Nov 18, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in Cancer  |  Comments[0]

Dr. Muller Quoted in Parenting Article

Allison Muller, Pharm.D., clinical managing director of the Poison Control Center at CHOP, was quoted in a an Parenting article about what to do when your kids eat gross things.

Make sure your kids aren’t choking or haven’t consumed large quantities. But if your child consumed anything toxic be sure to call the Poison Control Center immediately, Muller said. 

Read the full Parenting article here.

Posted at 04:15PM Nov 09, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

Animal Bites

Animal bites are very common among kids who come to CHOP.  Some animal bites may seem harmless at first but not for this 18-year-old. The bite from her cat sent her right to CHOP because of the infection.

CHOP Dr. Rakesh Mistry was quoted in the ABC article saying that the bacteria in the animal's mouth, when inserted deep beneath the skin by those sharp teeth, has a much easier time staying there and causing problems.

Read the full ABC News Article here.

Learn more about Animal Bites here. 

Posted at 02:20PM Nov 02, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

What to do with Halloween Candy

Now that Halloween is over, all that extra candy is sitting around just waiting to be eaten! CHOP’s nutrition specialist Dr. Elizabeth Prout Parks was featured in the L.A Times giving a few tips on how to get rid of all that excess candy.

One of her key tips is to dole the candy out in limited quantities over the course of several days or weeks.

Read the full L.A Times article here 

Posted at 02:17PM Nov 02, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

Robotics May Be Able to Help Kids With Autism

The University of Southern California’s Robotics Lab is using robots to help kids with autism better understand social cues and emotional behavior. Debra Dunn, Outreach Director, for CHOP’s Center for Autism Research, was interviewed about the new intervention and what it means for kids with autism. 

 "Some children with autism spectrum disorders have an affinity for technology and for machines and may be particularly engaged during this therapy," said Dunn.

But she also warned that children with autism tend to retreat into a world of objects rather than human interaction, and so robots may not be the best solution, and ultimately, more research is needed to test the effectiveness of this and any new intervention,

Read the full ABC article here.

Learn more about the Center for Autism Research here.

Posted at 02:13PM Oct 21, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in Cancer  |  Comments[0]

Medcape Medical News Features New Emergency Medicine Research

Emergency Medicine specialist, Dr. Rakesh Mistry, presented new research this weekend at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2011 conference in Boston showing that ultrasound is superior to 2-view abdominal radiography to rule out, or confirm, a diagnosis of ileo-intussusception in children.  Intussusception is a blockage of the intestines often treated by surgery.

"Ileo-colic intussusception is a common surgical emergency in young children who come into the emergency department with abdominal pain, and we often have to image these patients," Dr. Mistry told Medscape Medical News. To read the full Medscape Medical News article, click here.

Posted at 11:28AM Oct 20, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

CHOP and Penn Publish Important Autism Study

Researchers at CHOP’s Center for Autism Research (CAR) and Penn School of Nursing published an important autism discovery this week in the journal Pediatrics.  It is the first long-term study to look at the prevalence of autism using research instruments.

“We evaluated The research team evaluated children at birth, ages 2, 6, 9, 16, and 21, and found that infants born weighing less than 4.4 pounds have a five times higher risk of developing autism than babies with higher birth weights,” said Susan Levy, MD, a developmental pediatrician and director of the Regional Autism Center.

Read the United Press International article here. 

Posted at 11:14AM Oct 20, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

CHOP Research Gives New Look at Teen Drivers

It’s National Teen Driver Safety week! CHOP research shows that most kids rely at least partially on their parents to learn how to drive- and for 40%, parents are the only driving instructor teens ever have. Even though parents play a critical role in teaching teens to drive, new research from CHOP shows they may not have the tools and support they need tools and support to be effective teachers.

Read this editorial in the Courier Post from the teen driving experts at CHOP’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention, encouraging parents and driving instructors to work together to help teens to develop into safe, responsible drivers.

For more action tips and the latest research to help support parents and teens, read the TeenDriverSource article here.

Read the Courier Post article here.

Posted at 03:38PM Oct 19, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

Dr. Kevin Osterhoudt Featured in Philadelphia Tribune

The Philadelphia Tribune featured Dr. Kevin Osterhoudt, medical director of the Poison Control Center at CHOP, speaking on the issue of harmful air pollutants.

Dr. Osterhoudt gave an overview on the impact of air pollution on health and the importance of clean air.

“Polluted air harms people — particularly infants and children, and toxins in the air not only accumulate in our lungs but they can get into our water, into our food supply and they can cause numerous health effects.”

Read the Tribune article here: http://bit.ly/quMFsB

Posted at 01:55PM Oct 13, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]

Center for Autism Research growth highlighted in Inquirer

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Autism Research (CAR) was highlighted in a front page article in the Inquirer this Sunday, focusing on Philadelphia’s growth into a hub for autism research. In less than four years, CAR has grown to include about 100 researchers and staff running two dozen research studies.

The article follows the experience of Yocum family, who brought their 18-month-old daughter, Amanda to CHOP for a language-learning study when she was diagnosed with autism in 2009. The family has continued to rely on CAR research and programs for guidance and support throughout Amanda’s childhood. Now the Yocums have another baby girl, and all four of them are enrolled in Philadelphia-based autism studies to try to understand environmental and genetic triggers for autism.

Read more about CHOP’s Center for Autism Research in the Inquirer article here: http://bit.ly/pU3UeQ

Follow CAR on Facebook here: http://on.fb.me/edyVHQ 

Posted at 01:31PM Oct 11, 2011 by Juliann Walsh in General  |  Comments[0]