Endocrinology, Heart, Pediatric Services

Promising new treatments for diabetes-associated heart disease warrant study

Several potential treatments for diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease have shown promising results in preclinical animal studies and warrant randomized clinical trials to validate their effectiveness, according to a recent study published in Nature Reviews Cardiology. The treatments target myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance. Pathophysiological factors such as metabolic disturbances, insulin resistance, formation and…

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COVID-19, Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Returning to classrooms could increase vaping-related risks of COVID-19 and lung injury

With kids returning to in-classroom instruction, the availability of vaping products and the peer pressure to use them could increase. That adds to the risks of developing COVID-19 as well as e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI). A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that those ages 13 to 24…

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Heart, Pediatric Services

New capabilities at Norton Children’s Heart Institute cath lab

Joshua Kurtz, M.D., and colleagues at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, are applying sophisticated training and experience to provide some of the newest minimally invasive treatments for babies born with congenital heart conditions. “I want to help push the field forward and improve the future for children and adults…

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Endocrinology, Pediatric Services

Expertise in diabetes and other endocrine conditions

The clinical team of 30, including nine board-certified pediatric endocrinologists and seven nurse practitioners, receives approximately 4,000 hospital and outpatient visits each year. More than 1,400 patients with diabetes seek the expertise of Norton Children’s Endocrinology each year. Patients include children up to age 21 with general endocrine conditions and adults up to age 26…

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Endocrinology, Pediatric Services

New closed loop monitoring technology changes teen’s life

When David Adams was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in eighth grade, his future changed in an instant. David planned on following in his father’s footsteps by joining the Marines when he graduated from high school, but people with Type 1 diabetes are disqualified from military service. More immediately, David had to learn to manage…

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Adult Services, Womens

The latest in symptoms and treatments in menopause

Perimenopause brings vast changes to a person’s life that can begin months or years before menopause. This transition is in some ways more difficult due to the dramatic fluctuations in the reproductive hormone levels during perimenopause. During this time, reproductive hormones are sometimes underproduced and sometimes overproduced as opposed to menopause when the reproductive hormones…

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Pediatric Services, Urology

Rain J. Wells, APRN, joins Norton Children’s Urology

Rain J. Wells, APRN, has joined Norton Children’s Urology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, as a nurse practitioner. Rain is the ninth clinician on the urology team, joining five pediatric urologists and three nurse practitioners. From 2013 to 2016, Rain was a registered nurse at Norton Children’s Hospital. She graduated with a Master…

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Neuroscience, Pediatric Services

Mystery solved: Sudden onset of obsessive behaviors following infection

A 5-year-old girl arrived in the Norton Children’s Hospital emergency department in December with behavior that was frightening her parents and her siblings. Earlier in the month, the girl began moving abnormally and had become prone to emotional outbursts. One day she repeated the word “puppy” over and over and then laughed hysterically. The next,…

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Endocrinology, Pediatric Services

Unique diabetes sports and activity program helping active youth manage diabetes

The Christensen Family Diabetes Sports & Activity Program is the only program of its kind nationally focused on helping active children and young adults manage diabetes on and off the playing field. Activity is one of the big variables during the day causing fluctuations in blood glucose levels, and everyone is different. You can’t put…

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Cancer, Hematology, Pediatric Services

Jun Zhao, D.O., named physician lead for outpatient care at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute

Jun Zhao, D.O., pediatric hematologist/oncologist, has been named physician lead for outpatient care at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. Dr. Zhao will work with Ashok B. Raj, M.D., medical director, Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, and division chief of pediatric hematology/oncology for the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department…

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Adult Services, Neuroscience

Stroke summary: Patient home four days after mechanical thrombectomy; full recovery

Shervin R. Dashti, M.D., Ph.D., was able to remove a clot from the patient’s left middle cerebral artery, which was the cause of the patient’s stroke symptoms. Incident details: 75-year-old female Arrived at Norton Brownsboro Hospital 10 p.m. Norton Neuroscience Institute physicians: Mohammad S. Alsorogi, M.D., vascular stroke neurologist; Shervin R. Dashti M.D., Ph.D., neurosurgeon…

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Pediatric Services

7-session online program helps teens quit tobacco and vaping

N-O-T: Not on Tobacco, an American Lung Association program led by trained Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness facilitators, is helping kids in the Louisville area quit tobacco and vaping. About 90% of teens who participated in a N-O-T program nationally have either quit or reduced their use of tobacco, according to the American Lung Association….

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