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.

EULAR/PReS endorsed consensus criteria for the classification of childhood vasculitides

Abstract: Background: There has been a lack of appropriate classification criteria for vasculitis in children. Objective: To develop a widely accepted general classification for the vasculitides observed in children and specific and realistic classification criteria for common childhood vasculitides (Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), Kawasaki disease (KD), childhood polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG), and Takayasu arteritis (TA)). Methods: The project was divided into two phases: (1) the Delphi technique was used to gather opinions from a wide spectrum of paediatric rheumatologists and nephrologists; (2) a consensus conference using nominal group technique was held. Ten international experts, all paediatricians, met for the consensus conference. Agreement of at least 80% of the participants was defined as consensus. Results: Consensus was reached to base the general working classification for childhood vasculitides on vessel size. The small vessel disease was further subcategorised into “granulomatous” and “non-granulomatous.” Final criteria were developed to classify a child as HSP, KD, childhood PAN, WG, or TA, with changes introduced based on paediatric experience. Mandatory criteria were suggested for all diseases except WG. Conclusions: It is hoped that the suggested criteria will be widely accepted around the world because of the reliable techniques used and the international and multispecialist composition of the expert group involved.

Effects of pediatric chronic physical disorders on child and family adjustment.

Abstract: Research conducted primarily over the past 5-8 years on the psychosocial effects of pediatric chronic physical disorders on children and their families is reviewed. A large body of studies show that both children and their mothers, as groups, are at increased risk for psychosocial adjustment problems compared to peers, but that there is considerable individual variation in outcome. Since the last review on this topic (Eiser, 1990a), many studies have been conducted to identify risk and resistance factors associated with differences in adjustment among these children and their mothers. Improvements are noted in the theoretical basis for this work, programmatic nature of some of the research, and efforts at producing clinically relevant information. Evaluations of interventions, however, are lagging. Critical issues and future directions regarding developmental approaches, theory, method, measurement, and intervention are discussed.

The structure of HLA-B27 reveals nonamer self-peptides bound in an extended conformation.

Abstract: X-ray crystallography reveals electron density in the antigen-binding site of HLA-B27 that is an interpretable image of nonameric peptides in a largely extended conformation. Clear density exists for the main chain and several side chains and is consistent with the sequence of 11 nonameric self-peptides eluted from HLA-B27. Pockets in the antigen-binding cleft bind four side chains and the amino and carboxyl termini of the peptide.