· Early detection of asymptomatic infants with primary immunodeficiencies before the onset of infections enables effective treatment and intervention to prevent serious sequelae. · T-cell receptor excision circles and kappa-deleting recombination excision circles have recently been used to detect T- or B-cell lymphopenia in neonates. |
Functional gastrointestinal disorders are common disorders characterized by persistent and recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. Pathophysiological mechanisms have been suggested, including intestinal microbiota, altered intestinal permeability and motility, dietary effects, sensory abnormalities, and brain-gut dysregulation. Lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, affect, and physical activity might function as moderators. |
The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey are major nationwide health and nutrition surveys in Korea. Although these surveys have some limitations of cross-sectional sample surveys, the accumulated data are valuable and provide new prospects for understanding public health depending on the interpretation method. |
Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is often diagnosed in children with nephrotic syndrome. Massive PTE can cause hemodynamic instability, right ventricular failure, and circulatory collapse. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be used for massive PTE as a method of hemodynamic support and adjunct to surgical embolectomy. |
Behavioral therapy, the most widely proven intervention for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is required for life for individuals with ASD. Parent involvement, early detection, and early therapy play important roles. We must organize the risk factors for ASD and develop a screening tool that can be easily applied in the clinical, daycare, or school setting. |
Recent studies are focused on the noninferiority of noncarbapenem therapy for the treatment of extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae infections to reduce the utilization of carbapenem. |
Concerns have arisen in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic upon pregnancy and postnatal care starting from reproductive decision-making. To the utmost knowledge, reproductive decisions should not be based primarily on health-related COVID-19 concerns, as the possibility of vertical transmission is negligible and the perinatal outcome is generally not poor compared to pregnancies without COVID-19, as long as infection control measures are well kept. |
Acute fulminant myocarditis is an uncommon syndrome characterized by sudden and severe cardiac inflammation, which leads to cardiogenic shock, ventricular arrhythmia, heart blocks, or multiorgan failure. Despite aggressive clinical course, patients with acute fulminant myocarditis have better outcomes than those with the nonfulminant type when appropriately supported during the acute phase of the disease. Therefore, early recognition of deteriorating myocarditis and timely mechanical circulatory support are crucial to improve outcomes. |
With the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is important to consider why Kawasaki disease (KD) is prevalent in young children and its symptoms are similar to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in older children. We hypothesized that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression may be related. In fact, this may be an answer why COVID-19 occurs less frequently in children with lower ACE2 expression. |
Identifying phenotypes and endotypes of asthma patients is challenging, and eosinophilic phenotypes are generally characterized by severe or refractory asthma. Biologicals targeting eosinophils are promising for the control of severe or refractory asthma symptoms. To ensure proper treatment, increased understanding of the diverse phenotypes of high Th2 inflammation in pediatric asthma is needed. |
Determining the therapeutic hypothermia and predict long-term prognosis quickly and accurately in infants with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy requires a thorough history taking, physical examination, amplitude-integrated electroencephalography, brain magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, heart evaluation (cardiac enzymes, electrocardiography, and echocardiography), and several other biomarkers. |
· The early diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) could be supported by molecular testing in sporadic NF1 patients and would benefit their health. · The well-planned surveillance and introduction of newly developed drugs targeting molecular pathways could improve the lives of pediatric NF1 patients. |
· Fetal exposure to renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors leads to short- and long-term kidney complications. · Women of reproductive age who are absolutely indicated for RAS inhibitors should be adequately informed of the risks for the duration of treatment. |
• Intravascular catheter-related infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children, and care bundles are effective and cost-saving in pediatric and neonatal patients. • Providing regular feedbacks to critical care practitioners is helpful to maintain compliance to care bundle. • Establishing a bundle policy (insertion and maintenance), monitoring compliance, and providing regular feedbacks are necessary for prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections in pediatric patients. |
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses examine various existing research results. Such studies are conducted according to a technically determined algorithm to minimize errors. It is particularly important to understand basic analytical methods such as the fixed-effect and random-effects models and apply appropriate statistical techniques to verify interstudy heterogeneity. A design that eliminates possible bias from the early stages of the research in a step-by-step manner is required whenever possible. |
· Pediatric heart transplantation is achieving better outcomes. · The waitlist mortality is still high, especially in Korea, and should be reduced. · The use of ventricular assist device is promising and might offer improved waitlist mortality rates. |
· Neonatal sepsis is a global problem and significant cause of neonatal mortality and adverse short- and long-term outcomes. · Due to severe limitations diagnosing neonatal sepsis, there is a critical need to identify reliable specific biomarkers for early detection. · nCD11b might be an accurate and rapid biomarker for the early detection of neonatal sepsis. |
· Early menarche is associated with several health problems in later life. · Early menarche can be caused by environmental factors such as increased subcutaneous fat, a high body mass index, and sugar-sweetened beverages as well as genetic factors. · Health education can prevent early menarche by aiming to reduce the consumption of fructose, high concentrations of which are present in sugar-sweetened beverages. |
Undescended testes (UDT) is the most common congenital genitourinary abnormality in male infants and associated with decreased fertility and a higher future malignancy risk, especially in cases of delayed orchiopexy after puberty. It is important to timely referral to a surgical specialist and timely surgical correction of UDT to improve fertility and decrease the risk of malignancy. |
· Evaluation of the risk factors for early-onset sepsis (EOS) is important to optimal prevention and treatment. · The EOS calculator is still valid as part of the risk-based group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening approach. · The risk factor assessment using the EOS calculator is worth use before the introduction of universal GBS screening. |
The incidence and mortality rates of critical congenital heart disease (CHD) are higher in preterm than in term infants. The risk factors for in-hospital mortality in premature infants with critical CHD are unclear. However, the mortality of preterm infants with critical CHD may be related to CHD complexity as well as gestational age, birth weight, the presence of prematurity-associated comorbidities, and the treatment itself. |
Although the precise pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unclear, dietary factors seem to play a significant role. Dietary modifications including enteral nutrition and the Crohn disease exclusion, specific carbohydrate, and anti-inflammatory diets show a potential ability to downregulate gut inflammation. These nutritional interventions have various degree of efficacies with limited side effects profile for treating pediatric IBD, but data from randomized prospective studies are lacking, and further studies are warranted. |