Tumor vaccines for pediatric sarcomas

Significant progress has been made in the field of tumor vaccines that target established tumor antigens. While tumor vaccines have demonstrated safety and improved survival rates, they are inadequate in mediating the regression of established tumor masses and metastases. Nowicki et al. review the current state of tumor vaccines targeting pediatric sarcomas. See Prospective immunotherapies in childhood sarcomas: PD1/PDL1 blockade in combination with tumor vaccines

Bilirubin clearance

Memon et al. review the molecular mechanisms and clinical manifestations of conditions resulting in reduced hepatic bilirubin clearance. Current approaches to diagnosis and therapy are also discussed. See Inherited disorders of bilirubin clearance

Osteogenesis imperfecta and growth

There is limited information on linear growth and weight in the various types of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Germain-Lee and coauthors report cross-sectional anthropometric data from 343 subjects with different OI types. Growth velocities of children with type I OI were found to taper off near puberty; those of children with type III OI decelerate before 5 years of age. The linear growth patterns, in addition to the marked increase in weight over time, indicate a need for lifestyle modifications early in childhood. See Cross-sectional and longitudinal growth patterns in osteogenesis imperfecta: implications for clinical care

Next-generation sequencing for DRTA

Primary distal renal tubular acidosis (DRTA) is a rare disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in at least three genes involved in urinary distal acidification. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) facilitates the search for mutations in DRTA patients and helps characterize the genetic and clinical spectra of the disease. Gómez and colleagues sequenced exons of the three genes by ultrasequencing for 10 DRTA patients and found a total of 13 mutations. This study shows that NGS is cost-effective for the analysis of DRTA genes. See Primary distal renal tubular acidosis: novel findings in patients studied by next-generation sequencing

Long-term evaluation after neonatal kidney injury

The neonatal acute kidney injury workshop sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in April 2013 provided a platform for discussing our understanding of the long-term renal consequences of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in newborns. This special article by Askenazi and coauthors examines the feasibility of conducting large multicenter studies of CKD. See Strategies to improve the understanding of long-term renal consequences after neonatal acute kidney injury

Genetics of human hematopoiesis

In the review that won the 2015 Young Investigator Award, Wakabayashi and Sankaran observe that the majority of studies on hematopoiesis have been conducted primarily in animal models, but significant divergence between species is increasingly recognized at the genomic level. The authors discuss studies of humans and human variation that provide additional insight into blood production and disorders, and look to advancements in therapies. Society for Pediatric Research 2015 Young Investigator Award: genetics of human hematopoiesis—what patients can teach us about blood cell production