Publications by authors named "Christy H Smith"

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is a common disorder in children and adolescents that negatively impacts health-related quality of life (HRQOL). It can include chronic pain, fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, and mood problems. The objective of this study was to examine levels of agreement between children and parents in the setting of hEDS and HRQOL.

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Article Synopsis
  • Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors (OSCTs) are uncommon and can be benign or malignant, with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) linked to bilateral ovarian fibromas in individuals.
  • A case study discusses a 5-year-old girl diagnosed with bilateral ovarian fibromas, showing that such tumors can occur at a much younger age than typically seen in the general population.
  • Genetic testing revealed specific variants associated with NBCCS and possible links to Rhabdoid Tumor Predisposition Syndrome, marking this case as a first for this demographic.
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Many pediatric oncology patients and their families may benefit from genetic counseling and testing; however, identifying the best timing and delivery method for these referrals is sometimes a challenge. The goal of this study was to understand how and when caregivers prefer to receive information about genetic counseling and testing. A total of 56 surveys completed by caregivers at The Johns Hopkins Hospital Pediatric Oncology unit in Baltimore, Maryland were analyzed.

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Implementation and adherence to consensus statement criteria for referral of pediatric cancer patients for genetic evaluation are critical to identify the 5% to 10% with a genetic cancer predisposition syndrome. The authors implemented a Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement initiative aimed at increasing referrals of at-risk patients. Retrospective chart review was followed by educational intervention-with impact assessed over a 9-month prospective chart review.

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Objective: To determine how the method of presenting testing options and a provider recommendation can influence a decision about genetic testing for inherited cancer predispositions.

Methods: An online hypothetical vignette study was completed by 454 healthy volunteers. Participants were randomized to receive one of two survey versions which differed by genetic testing choice presentation.

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Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is a hereditary disorder of connective tissue, often presenting with complex symptoms can include chronic pain, fatigue, and dysautonomia. Factors influencing functional disability in the pediatric hEDS population are incompletely studied. This study's aims were to assess factors that affect quality of life in children and adolescents with hEDS.

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The objective of this study was to explore the factors contributing to quality of life in pediatric patients with non-vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS). Data were analyzed on 41 children with a diagnosis of non-vascular EDS from the de-identified data available from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) study of heritable disorders of connective tissue. Children under age 19 years were seen as part of a long-term evaluation project from 2003 to 2013 on a larger natural history of patients with heritable disorders of connective tissue.

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