Question: What is the ideal initiation timing of parenteral nutrition for critically ill children? Finding: This randomized clinical trial of 140 children examined the effects of an early or late start of parenteral nutrition on mechanical ventilation need (primary outcome) and length of stay and mortality (secondary outcomes). Meaning: Children who received early versus late parenteral nutrition had lower mechanical ventilation need and duration. |
Question: Is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) a risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents? Finding: The frequency of NAFLD did not increase in adolescents with PCOS. However, hyperandrogenemia was a risk factor for NAFLD. Meaning: Adolescents with PCOS and hyperandrogenemia should be closely monitored for hepatic steatosis. |
· Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is among the most common causes of nongenetic sensorineural hearing loss. · Congenital CMV is initially treated with intravenous ganciclovir for 2–6 weeks and switched to oral valganciclovir, or with oral valganciclovir for the entire 6-month period. · Infants with congenital CMV require periodic monitoring of absolute neutrophil count, platelet count, and blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, liver function tests, audiological, ophthalmological, and developmental tests during antiviral medication. |
· Pediatric small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) manifestations range from nonspecific abdominal symptoms to malabsorption or malnutrition. · SIBO is prevalent in children and adolescents with functional abdominal pain disorders. · Predisposing factors include disturbed intestinal motility, altered anatomy, and/or abnormal body defense systems against intestinal bacteria. · Breath tests are safe and noninvasive. · Treatment principles include managing predisposing conditions, nutritional support, symptom control, and antibiotics. |
· Congenital hearing loss is common, with an approximate incidence of 1.5 per 1,000 newborns and affecting 1.2%–11% of preterm and 1.6%–13.7% of neonatal intensive care unit neonates. · Etiologies vary, and up to 80% of cases are genetic. · Newborn hearing screenings follow the 1-3-6 rule, and babies at high risk of hearing loss should be referred to otolaryngology for early detection and timely intervention. |
Question: Is dyslipidemia a risk factor for asthma in children? Finding: This was a comprehensive systematic review and retrospective multicenter study of the association between dyslipidemia and asthma in children. In a multicenter cohort analysis using the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model, elevated total cholesterol levels were associated with increased risk of asthma development. Meaning: These findings suggest an association between dyslipidemia and asthma in children. |
Question: What are the current palliative care protocols, palliative course, and implementable palliative care programs for hospitalized pediatric patients with neurological diseases in Italy? Finding: We studied 34 newborns with nervous system diseases, all of whom had a poor prognosis. Meaning: Despite current legislation in Italy, no palliative care network has been implemented. Given the vast number of patients with neurological conditions, standardized palliative care guidelines and protocols are required. |
· Childrens with coronavirus disease 2019 less commonly display life-threatening arrhythmias, including premature atrial or ventricular beats, or conduction disturbances such as first-degree atrioventricular blocks. · Life-threatening arrhythmias (e.g., nonsustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, complete atrioventricular block) occur in children with sudden acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection suffering from myocarditis or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). · Monitoring clinical status and assessing and managing arrhythmias are crucial in MIS-C. |
· Vitamin D may affect asthma via multiple mechanisms, including lung and optimal immune system functions. · Many clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of vitamin D on asthma onset and aggravation. However, definitive clinical trials are lacking, and reports have detailed contradictory effects of vitamin D in children with asthma. · Some exciting reports stated that obesity and vitamin D deficiency are associated with increased asthma symptoms in the pediatric population. |
· As the number of patients with congenital heart disease increases, the medical burden increases. · Various fusion imaging techniques using percutaneous procedures have been introduced. · With advances in technology, convenient ambulatory devices have been introduced. · A well-organized team approach is required to resolve advanced heart failure in patients with congenital heart disease. |
Phenylketonuria, an autosomal recessive disease that results from the inability to metabolize phenylalanine, is currently treated with medical nutrition therapy. New treatment approaches such as tetrahydrobiopterin, glycomacropeptide, large neutral amino acids, pegvaliase, and gene therapy significantly impact disease management and dietary enrichment. This article also reviews animal and human studies that have evaluated the efficacy and safety of these new protein substitutes. |
The peripartum period is an important transmission time for human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) infection, mainly via breastfeeding and partly through the placental tissues of carrier mothers. Although most HTLV-1–infected individuals are asymptomatic, fetal and childhood infections often result in several diseases with disappointing treatment outcomes. An estimated HTLV-1 burden in Nigeria among perinatal women must be determined to enable rational planning of a comprehensive health care intervention. |
Question: What causes childhood constipation, and what can predict organic constipation? Finding: Constipation represents 14.7% of gastroenterology visits. Functional constipation is more common among constipation types, while organic constipation is more common in young children and those with a low body weight, stunted growth, mucus in the stool, and associated diseases. Meaning: Younger children and those with lower growth or mucus in the stool should be assessed for underlying organic causes of constipation. |
· An imbalance of the gut microbiota with a relative increase in Firmicutes versus Bacteroidetes is associated with the pathogenesis of obesity. · Dysbiosis is associated with microbial genes associated with short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production and increased colonic SCFA levels. SCFAs have also been shown to regulate appetite and satiety hormones, which can affect food intake and energy balance. · A dietary high-fat intake is reportedly associated with increased plasma lipopolysaccharide. Altered Toll-like receptor-4 signaling leads to propagating the cascade of further inflammation and promoting insulin resistance. |
· This review discusses the development and application of the Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children (K-DST) for ensuring early childhood development. · Various studies have demonstrated the integral role of the K-DST in facilitating the detection of developmental delays and delivery of timely interventions. · The tailoring of the K-DST to Korean infants and children suggests that other countries may further translate and adapt it. |
· Among survivors, 60.9% of infants born at 22 weeks’ gestation had moderate to severe impairments, whereas 50.3% born at 23 weeks’ and 42.2% at 24 weeks’ gestation had moderate to severe impairments. · Moderate and late preterm infants reportedly have less severe disease than very preterm infants, but they still experience adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. · The careful follow-up and early detection of developmental problems in these patients are required. |
· The gut microbiota can alter a host’s brain development and behavior. · Gut bacteria communicate with the brain via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. · Fecal microbial transplantation is a promising treatment strategy for autism spectrum disorder. |
Breastfeeding and it's tolerance are the positive indicators for preterm babies. Placing the preterm infant in the right lateral or prone position after feed had lesser gastric residual volume compared to placing them in left lateral or supine positions. The post-feed position is a vital element in enhancing feeding tolerance, mechanical functions of the gastrointestinal tract and the overall development of preterm infants. |
· Question: What level of parenting stress is experienced by parents of children with developmental delays (DDs) without autism spectrum disorder, and what factors contribute to it? · Findings: Parents of children with DDs experienced high parenting stress that were significantly mediated by their children’s low interactive behaviors. · Meaning: The interactive behaviors of children with DDs mediate parenting stress. |
· Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in rapidly increasing food allergy. · There is still no definitive way to diagnose food allergy. · Early introduction of peanuts, eggs, and cow’s milk reduces food allergy incidence. · Administration of probiotics such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium bifidum can partially reduce the occurrence of allergic symptoms. |
Gastrointestinal (GI) allergies are divided into immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated, non-IgE-mediated, and mixed types. In addition to non-IgE-mediated, overlapping eosinophilic GI disorders (EGIDs) have increased in Japan. EGIDs, a mixed-type allergy category, include eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and non-EoE EGIDs. The number of EoE cases has increased in Western countries, followed by Asian countries. Recent GI allergies may also be associated with type 2 inflammation. |
· Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) is uncommon, with a prevalence of 1–30/100,000 in the general population; however, it is increasing worldwide. · The diagnosis of EGID is based on histopathological findings of endoscopic mucosal biopsy in which tissue eosinophils are counted in each gastrointestinal tract segment of patients with chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. · Individualized treatment strategies, including adequate dietary and pharmacological therapy, may help improve outcomes of children with EGID. |
· Social media use can cause adverse health outcomes, including gastrointestinal disorders, in children and adolescents. · Recent findings have shown a high prevalence of social media use and decreased well-being in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. · The biopsychosocial nature of functional gastrointestinal disorders and the clear influence of social media on the psychosocial lives of children suggests the likely involvement of social media in their development. |
Question: Z score reference values for right ventricular size and systolic function in children using echocardiography are available in several countries. Despite the high burden of diseases involving the right ventricle in Nigeria, these reference values have limited applicability. Finding: The right ventricular sizes of Nigerian children differed from those published elsewhere. Meaning: These reference values will aid the treatment, monitoring, and pre- and postintervention for Nigerian children. |