Background: Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are common complications of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Owing to questions regarding optimal iron formulation, dosage, route of administration, and safety, these complications are frequently overlooked and undertreated, negatively impacting patient development and quality of life.
Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of iron sucrose (IS) and ferric carboxymaltose (FCM)... |
Background: Critically ill children are at risk of postoperative malnutrition. Thus, optimal nutritional therapy is essential for preventing morbidity development and reducing mortality rates among this population. An adequate protein intake increases anabolism. However, data on the effect of enteral protein supplementation on nitrogen balance and intestinal fatty acid–binding protein (I-FABP) levels in postoperative critically ill children remain limited.
Purpose: This... |
Background: Thiamin deficiency (TD) manifesting clinically as wet beriberi can significantly impair a patient's cardiac function. Children with heart disease who are receiving diuretic treatment may be at increased risk for severe clinical manifestations of TD.
Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TD and evaluate the association between various factors with thiamin status in pediatric patients with... |
Background: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is rare and characterized by hemolytic anemia with a positive direct antiglobulin test result after the exclusion of other causes. While adults often relapse within 1 year of first-line steroid therapy, children generally respond well. However, current treatment approaches lack substantial evidence and are primarily expert opinion–based.
Purpose: This study aimed to contribute our single-center... |
Background: Inadequate knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms underlying pediatric neurological disorders impedes their effective treatment. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are essential for exploring the course of neurological diseases because they enable disease modeling at the cellular level.
Purpose: This study aimed to generate an iPSC bank using urine cells (UCs) for clinical applications, particularly the study of pediatric neurogenetic diseases.... |
Background: Adequately powered studies in children are scarce and there are reports on the risk of carbon dioxide (CO2) retention after colonoscopy.
Purpose: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of CO2 insufflation in children undergoing colonoscopy. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted at a tertiary care hospital between March 2023 and July 2024. We recruited 200 consecutive children... |
Protocolized sedation may reduce ventilation requirements, pediatric intensive care unit length of stay, and sedative exposure. However, it may increase the likelihood of unplanned extubation, highlighting the importance of incorporating preventive measures to mitigate this risk. |
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· Infection remains a leading cause of death in febrile neutropenia (FN). · Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-ProADM) levels are higher among patients with FN and a bacterial infection. · A longer FN duration and hospital stay length as well as elevated C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and MR-ProADM levels are significant risk factors for mortality. |
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· Childhood blood pressure (BP) is significantly associated with adult hypertension and cardiovascular disease. · Despite ongoing debate regarding the need for regular BP screening and early pharmacotherapy in children, the benefits of optimizing BP throughout childhood are clear. · Childhood presents a critical window for normalizing BP through lifestyle modifications such as reducing sodium intake and increasing physical activity to promote lifelong cardiovascular health and prevent longterm complications. |
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Cerebral organoids obtained from human induced pluripotent stem cells are transforming the study of pediatric neurological diseases by providing more accurate models of human brain development and pathology. These advancements have improved pathology modeling and the potential for novel therapeutic approaches despite existing challenges such as reproducibility and vascularization. |
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Studies indicate potential connections between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and childhood obesity. Variations in the impact of EDCs in epidemiological studies may result from differences in exposure concentrations and timing, measurement methods, and interactive effects of multiple EDCs. Longitudinal studies on exposure to multiple EDCs are crucial to elucidating their contribution to pediatric obesity and minimize the adverse health consequences of EDC exposure. |
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Question: Is the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway (TNF-α-converting enzyme [TACE]/TNF-α/angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE]) involved in pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection? Finding: Significantly increased circulating TACE/TNF-α and decreased ACE2 levels were noted. TNF-α-308G/A plays a significant role in susceptibility to COVID-19 infection among children. The ACE (I/D) (rs4646994) and ACE2 (rs2285666) single nucleotide polymorphisms lack significant associations with pediatric COVID-19 infection. Meaning: The TNF signaling pathway participates in pediatric COVID-19 infection. |
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The incidence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide. National surveys in Malaysia have shown similar trends. This review aimed to increase our understanding of the prevalence and associated factors of childhood overweight, obesity, and excess weight in Malaysia. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted of studies reporting the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Malaysian children aged <18 years.... |
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Question: Can a balance task with narrowed base of support indicate overall functional balance control in children with disabilities? Finding: While single-limb standing could explain overall balance control for children with disabilities, it was unrelated with balance control for typically developing children. Meaning: One balance task with narrowed base of support can be used as practical assessment of balance abilities for children with disabilities when allocated session time is of concern. |
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Question: How Common is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in obese children? OSA is common in obese children, even without habitual snoring. Finding: Among the subjects, 60.6% had positional OSA, 40.2% had rapid eye movement-related OSA, 59.8% had desaturation, 20.5% had sleep-related hypoventilation, and 5.0% had obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Body mass index (BMI) and neck and waist circumferences were significantly associated with severe OSA. Meaning: We recommend screening obese children (BMI > 29.2 kg/m2) for OSA. |
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· Milk and formula are common sources of microplastic in infants. · Water and air are the most common sources of microplastic pollution from infancy to adolescence. · Microplastic use by children of all ages can cause cell damage and affect their health. · Microplastics present in children can be quantified using a stereomicroscope and characterized using micro- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. |
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· This study analyzed 45 randomized controlled trials (5,061 participants, 13 interventions) of the comparative efficacies of treatments for acute bronchiolitis in infants. · Inhalation therapy with epinephrine and hypertonic saline significantly reduced the length of hospital stay compared with normal saline. · Hypertonic saline had the greatest ability to improve the clinical severity score of bronchiolitis in infants younger than 2 years of age. |
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The long-term effects of concussion for pediatric patient remains unclear. Children and teenagers do not experience or recover from concussion in the same manner as adults do. Concussions can cause a variety of anatomical and functional alterations. Nonpharmacological approach in pediatric concussion management is an understudied field of research with significant ability to affect prognosis and quality of life. Active rehabilitation and occupational therapy were especially promising. |
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· The safety and efficacy of the two-bag versus one-bag system for treating patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) < 21 years remains unestablished. · Our meta-analysis demonstrated similar safety outcomes but sooner DKA resolution and shorter mean response time for intravenous fluid changes for the two-bag system. · This preliminary evidence suggests that the two-bag system has some advantages in efficacy, but further studies are needed to evaluate their extent. |
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· Virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly common for entertainment and in medical settings. · VR is useful for treating children with cerebral palsy. · VR can help with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms. · VR can decrease pain perception in children undergoing burn wound care. · VR can reduce preoperative anxiety. · VR can reduce fear and pain during needle-involving procedures. |
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· Pediatric obesity increases the risk of metabolic complications (insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) and long-term cardiovascular diseases. · A new obesity definition and various indicators (continuous metabolic syndrome score, pediatric simple metabolic syndrome score, fatty liver index) have been proposed to evaluate children’s susceptibility to metabolic disorders. · Laboratory and body composition tests in pediatric screenings can identify groups at high risk of metabolic complications of obesity. |
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· Pediatric heart failure (PHF) is a clinical syndrome featuring various symptoms (shortness of breath, ankle swelling, fatigue) and signs (pulmonary crackles, peripheral edema). · Congenital heart diseases are the most common underlying etiology of PHF, whereas myocarditis and primary cardio-myopathies are common in children without structural ab-normalities. · PHF pathophysiology is complex and multifactorial and varies by etiology and age. · PHF management includes decongestive therapy, treatment of underlying causes, preventing progression, and managing pulmonary or systemic obstructions. · Drugs should be chosen based on pharmacodynamics, clinical manifestations, hemodynamic state, and renal function. |
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Question: This is the first meta-analysis to examine published evidence of the effectiveness of virtual reality at reducing pain during pediatric intravenous injections. Finding: Our results suggest that virtual reality effectively reduces pain associated with intravenous injections in pediatric patients. Meaning: These findings suggest the importance of virtual reality in decreasing the pain of intravenous injections among children. |
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Question: The inferior vena cava to aorta (IVC/Ao) ratio measured via ultrasound has been touted as a promising noninvasive technique to assess clinically significant dehydration in pediatric patients. Finding: Our meta-analysis found that IVC/Ao ratio had a positive likelihood ratio of 3.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1–5.1) and negative likelihood ratio of 0.18 (95% CI, 0.12–0.28). Meaning: Hence, IVC/Ao ratio is insufficient to exclude or confirm significant dehydration in pediatric patients. |
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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. |
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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. |
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An accurate diagnosis depends on correct history taking and its interpretation. An in-depth understanding of the symptoms of syncope in connection with its pathophysiology can lead to avoiding critical pitfalls in the diagnostic process of history taking. |
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· Chronic liver diseases in children are heterogenous but converge in the common pathway of fibrosis. · Much of the literature on mechanisms of fibrogenesis focus on adults but pediatric physiology has documented differences. · Understanding of these distinctions are necessary to define, treat, and prevent fibrosis. · Current management of liver fibrosis relies heavily on liver biopsy. Multiple tools have shown high diagnostic performance in pediatric and adult populations. Large, multicenter studies are needed for validation. |
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· This study compared the ability of 2 probiotics to reduce and improve functional abdominal pain (FAP) in children. · In the polymicrobial probiotic (PMP) group, 10.34% of children reported no pain; in the mono-strain probiotic (MSP) group, all patients reported low-degree pain. The mean pain score decreased significantly over time in both groups. · The use of both PMP and MSP is recommended to reduce pain in patients with FAP. |
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The number of studies on ferritin predictive ability in pediatric critical illness has grown exponentially over the past 2 decades. However, among the 66 of 1,580 studies analyzed here, summary statistics for overall and condition-specific studies were only reported in 45.4% and 71.2%, respectively. In contrast, ferritin as a categorical variable with a preset threshold was a significant predictor in 84.6% of studies. |
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