Boston Children's Hospital

About: Boston Children's Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 165409 authors who have published 215589 publications receiving 6885627 citations.

Human Decidual Natural Killer Cells Are a Unique NK Cell Subset with Immunomodulatory Potential

Abstract: Natural killer cells constitute 50–90% of lymphocytes in human uterine decidua in early pregnancy. Here, CD56bright uterine decidual NK (dNK) cells were compared with the CD56bright and CD56dim peripheral NK cell subsets by microarray analysis, with verification of results by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. Among the ∼10,000 genes studied, 278 genes showed at least a threefold change with P ≤ 0.001 when comparing the dNK and peripheral NK cell subsets, most displaying increased expression in dNK cells. The largest number of these encoded surface proteins, including the unusual lectinlike receptors NKG2E and Ly-49L, several killer cell Ig-like receptors, the integrin subunits αD, αX, β1, and β5, and multiple tetraspanins (CD9, CD151, CD53, CD63, and TSPAN-5). Additionally, two secreted proteins, galectin-1 and progestagen-associated protein 14, known to have immunomodulatory functions, were selectively expressed in dNK cells.

Outcomes following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement with associated chondrolabral dysfunction: MINIMUM TWO-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Abstract: Over an eight-month period we prospectively enrolled 122 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery of the hip for femoroacetabular impingement and met the inclusion criteria for this study. Patients with bilateral hip arthroscopy, avascular necrosis and previous hip surgery were excluded. Ten patients refused to participate leaving 112 in the study. There were 62 women and 50 men. The mean age of the patients was 40.6 yrs (95% confidence interval (CI) 37.7 to 43.5). At arthroscopy, 23 patients underwent osteoplasty only for cam impingement, three underwent rim trimming only for pincer impingement, and 86 underwent both procedures for mixed-type impingement. The mean follow-up was 2.3 years (2.0 to 2.9). The mean modified Harris hip score (HHS) improved from 58 to 84 (mean difference = 24 (95% CI 19 to 28)) and the median patient satisfaction was 9 (1 to 10). Ten patients underwent total hip replacement at a mean of 16 months (8 to 26) after arthroscopy. The predictors of a better outcome were the pre-operative modified HHS (p = 0.018), joint space narrowing >or= 2 mm (p = 0.005), and repair of labral pathology instead of debridement (p = 0.032). Hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement, accompanied by suitable rehabilitation, gives a good short-term outcome and high patient satisfaction.

Halothane–Morphine Compared with High-Dose Sufentanil for Anesthesia and Postoperative Analgesia in Neonatal Cardiac Surgery

Abstract: Background Extreme hormonal and metabolic responses to stress are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in sick adults. We hypothesized that administering deep opioid anesthesia to critically ill neonates undergoing cardiac surgery would blunt their responses to stress and might improve clinical outcomes. Methods In a randomized trial, 30 neonates were assigned to receive deep intraoperative anesthesia with high doses of sufentanil and postoperative infusions of opiates for 24 hours; 15 neonates were assigned to receive lighter anesthesia with halothane and morphine followed postoperatively by intermittent morphine and diazepam. Hormonal and metabolic responses to surgery were evaluated by assay of arterial blood samples obtained before, during, and after the operations. Results The neonates who received deep anesthesia (with sufentanil) had significantly reduced responses of beta-endorphin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, glucagon, aldosterone, cortisol, and other steroid hormones; thei...