Hospital for Sick Children

About: Hospital for Sick Children is a healthcare organization based out in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 4097 authors who have published 3746 publications receiving 129066 citations. The organization is also known as: Sick Kids Hospital & SickKids.

The Ontogeny of Cerebral Dominance

Abstract: It has long been known that in most people the language function depends on the activity of the left cerebral hemisphere. It is clear that language develops from a base state of no language. But does language lateralization analogously develop from a base state of no lateralization? It has been generally assumed that this is so. The child at the very beginning of language development is regarded as using both cerebral hemispheres for this purpose. Differences of opinion have related more to the time frame within which lateralization occurs (Lenneberg, 1967; Krashen, 1972) than to the question of whether lateralization develops at all.

The role of emotional social support in the psychological adjustment of siblings of children with cancer

Abstract: Background Siblings of children with cancer are at risk for reduced emotional support. The role of emotional social support in the psychological adjustment of siblings of paediatric cancer patients was examined, in the context of age and gender. Methods The sample consisted of two groups of siblings of children being treated for cancer: siblings referred for behaviour problems (n = 47) and a comparison group of non-referred siblings (n = 25). Forty-two were female, and 30 were male. The mean age was 10.31 years (SD = 2.71). Siblings completed measures of depression, anxiety, behaviour, and emotional social support. One parent of each sibling completed measures of sibling's behaviour and anxiety. Results Siblings who reported more social support endorsed significantly fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fewer behaviour problems, and their parents reported less anxiety and fewer behaviour problems than siblings who reported lower social support. Parents of referred siblings reported significantly more behaviour problems than parents of non-referred siblings. Referred adolescent females reported significantly higher depression scores and were perceived as more anxious than referred adolescent males and non-referred adolescent females. Non-referred younger siblings with high social support were perceived by their parents as having the fewest behaviour problems. Conclusions High level of social support appears to play a protective role in psychological adjustment of siblings of paediatric cancer patients, with age and gender as modifying factors. Although not all siblings develop behaviour or emotional problems, it is critical to identify those who do in order to intervene accordingly.

Permanent cardiac pacing in children: choosing the optimal pacing site: a multicenter study.

Abstract: Background—We evaluated the effects of the site of ventricular pacing on left ventricular (LV) synchrony and function in children requiring permanent pacing. Methods and Results—One hundred seventy-eight children (aged <18 years) from 21 centers with atrioventricular block and a structurally normal heart undergoing permanent pacing were studied cross-sectionally. Median age at evaluation was 11.2 (interquartile range, 6.3–15.0) years. Median pacing duration was 5.4 (interquartile range, 3.1–8.8) years. Pacing sites were the free wall of the right ventricular (RV) outflow tract (n=8), lateral RV (n=44), RV apex (n=61), RV septum (n=29), LV apex (n=12), LV midlateral wall (n=17), and LV base (n=7). LV synchrony, pump function, and contraction efficiency were significantly affected by pacing site and were superior in children paced at the LV apex/LV midlateral wall. LV dyssynchrony correlated inversely with LV ejection fraction (R=0.80, P=0.031). Pacing from the RV outflow tract/lateral RV predicted signific...

Stenting of the right ventricular outflow tract in the symptomatic infant with tetralogy of Fallot.

Abstract: Background: Repair of neonatal tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has low mortality. Debate continues regarding the initial management of cyanotic or duct-dependent infants with TOF and adverse risk factors. While repair can and has been performed in these patients, it is associated with increased morbidity. Objective: We review the effectiveness of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting in the symptomatic young infant with TOF. Methods: Clinical, echocardiographic, angiographic and haemodynamic data were reviewed for nine patients who underwent 11 RVOT stenting procedures from October 1994 to August 2007. Results: The pulmonary valve was deemed unsalvageable in all patients (median valve diameter 3.7 mm (range 2.7–4.2), Z-score −6.7 (range −9.7 to −5.4). RVOT stenting improved arterial oxygen saturation from a median of 73% (60–85%) to 94% (90–98%) (p = 0.008). Median Z-score for the left pulmonary artery increased from −4.9 (−7.8 to −2.4) before stent implantation to −1.5 (−4.2 to −0.2) (p = 0.02) before surgical repair. Median Z-score for the right pulmonary artery increased from −3.7 (−6.8 to −1.9) to −0.8 (−2.5 to 0.1) (p = 0.008). Median Nakata index increased from 56 mm 2 /m 2 (21–77) to 150 mm 2 /m 2 (123–231) (p = 0.008). There were no procedural complications. Six patients have undergone successful repair. There were no deaths. Conclusions: In the symptomatic young infant with TOF, stenting of the RVOT provides a safe and effective management strategy, improving arterial oxygen saturation and encouraging pulmonary artery growth.

Documentation of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in Immunodeficient Patients with Life-threatening Lymphoproliferative Diseases by Clinical, Virological, and Immunopathological Studies

Abstract: Multiple methods, pedigree analysis, clinical evaluation, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific serology, EBV DNA hybridization of tissues to probe for viral genome, staining of touch imprints for EBV nuclear-associated antigen, establishment of spontaneous infected B-cell lines from peripheral blood or tissues, examination of peripheral blood smears, and hematopathology studies, were used to study seven patients with the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome and seven additional patients with life-threatening EBV-associated diseases. These studies demonstrated EBV in the tissues of all 14 patients and immunodeficient antibody responses to EBV were documented. This virus can produce various life-threatening lymphoproliferative diseases in a variety of immunodeficient patients.