Frontiers in Pediatrics最新文献

Introduction: One of the most prevalent healthcare-associated infections in the pediatric intensive care unit is ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). VAP not only results in prolonged hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays but also imposes higher costs on patients and the healthcare system. Therefore, it is essential to implement preventive measures. The lung-protective properties of taurine are recognized, and this research focuses on assessing the impact of taurine supplementation in preventing VAP.

Method: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted at Namazi Hospital's PICUs. The study included pediatrics on mechanical ventilation for over 48 h. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the taurine and placebo groups. Alongside the standard care, participants from both groups were administered taurine or placebo capsules (30 mg/kg. day) in divided doses from the day of PICU admission through PICU discharge. The incidence of VAP through clinical and laboratory evidence was considered the primary outcome.

Results: Seventy-seven patients were included in the study, with 38 in the taurine group and 39 in the placebo group. VAP incidence was 7.9% in the taurine group and 64.1% in the placebo group. Taurine significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital stay, and inotrope duration. The occurrence of septic shock was lower in the taurine group at 5.3%. Stepwise logistic regression showed that placebo receipt was the only risk factor for VAP, with placebo recipients being 20.8 times more likely to develop VAP. (P < 0.0001, OR 20.8, 95% CI 6.11-97.93) Taurine treatment also significantly reduced inflammatory markers such as CRP, pro-calcitonin, and interleukin-6 compared to placebo.

Conclusion: Our results showed that taurine supplementation can reduce the incidence of VAP and the duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU, and hospital stay in critically ill pediatric patients.

Registration number of the clinical trial: This study received approval from the Iranian registry clinical trial, registered on 29 June 2023 (IRCT20120731010453N4, http://www.irct.ir/).

Objective: To establish a prediction nomogram for early prediction of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (NARDS).

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted between January 2021 and December 2023. Clinical characteristics and laboratory results of cases with neonatal pneumonia were compared in terms of presence of NARDS diagnosis based on the Montreux Definition. The NARDS group and non-NARDS group were then compared to establish a prediction nomogram for early prediction of NARDS. The predictive accuracy and compliance of the model were evaluated using subject operating characteristic curves, area under the ROC curve, and calibration curves, and the model performance was estimated by self-lifting weight sampling. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to assess the goodness of fit of the model.

Findings: NARDS group consisted of 104, non-NARDS group consisted of 238 newborns in our study. Gestational age, triple concave sign, blood glucose measurement after birth (Glu), Apgar score at the 5th minute (Apgar5), neutrophil count (ANC) and platelet count (PLT) are independent predictors of NARDS in late preterm and term newborns who present with progressive respiratory distress and require varying degrees of respiratory support within the first 24 h of life to minimize work of breathing and restore organismal oxygenation. The area under the ROC curve was 0.829 (95% CI = 0.785-0.873), indicating the model's strong predictive power. In addition, decision curve analysis showed that the model had significantly better net benefits.

Conclusion: In this study, a predictive column-line plot was constructed based on six clinically accessible conventional variables. Early application of this model has a better predictive effect on the early diagnosis of NARDS, thus facilitating more timely and effective interventions.

Introduction: Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome (IESS) typically has a profound impact on the neurodevelopment of patients. The study on IESS indicates possible geographical variation in etiology and a lack of data from China. Our study intends to summarize the etiology of IESS and analyze its characteristics.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to gather clinical data from patients diagnosed with IESS at the Department of Neurology of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University between June 2017 to May 2024.

Results: A total of 361 patients with IESS were included, comprising 115 structural cases (31.9%), 37 genetic cases (10.2%), 32 genetic-structural cases (8.9%), 9 metabolic cases (2.5%), 3 infectious cases (0.8%), and 165 cases with unknown etiology (45.7%). No immunological cause was determined. The primary cause of the condition was linked to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), with structural brain abnormalities following closely. The predominant pathogenic genes identified were TSC2, NF1, SCN8A, and KCNQ2. Male gender, preterm infants, low birth weight infants, and developmental regression in patients were associated with a higher likelihood of structural etiology. Patients exhibiting developmental regression before the commencement demonstrated inferior outcomes. Patients administered adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) exhibited a higher likelihood of attaining seizure control, and those who responded favorably to the medication saw improved results.

Conclusion: The predominant etiology of IESS is structural, succeeded by genetic factors, with significant pathogenic genes comprising TSC2, NF1, SCN8A, and KCNQ2. The genetic classifications exhibit geographic variability. Genetic and structural etiologies are frequently linked to an unfavorable prognosis. Genetic testing can help clarify the etiology of IESS when metabolic screening and brain MRI results are negative. The advancement of genetic testing is crucial for future targeted and individualized diagnosis and therapy.

Background: Alport syndrome (AS) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder resulting from variants in genes coding for the alpha-3/4/5 chains of Collagen IV, leading to defective basement membranes in the kidney, cochlea, and eye. The clinical manifestations of AS vary in patients. Cases of childhood AS caused by COL4A3 presenting primarily with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are rarely reported. Here, we report a pediatric case presenting initially with NS attributed to AS caused by COL4A3.

Case presentation: An 11-year-old boy presented with hematuria and nephrotic range proteinuria. After excluding secondary causes, primary NS was considered. He was administered with prednisone (60 mg/day). The patient had not responded to treatment by the end of 4 weeks, so he was diagnosed with steroid-resistant NS. A renal biopsy showed granular and vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells, multifocal foam cell infiltration in the renal interstitium, and immunofluorescence indicated the absence of α3, α4, and α5 expression in the glomerular and tubular basement membrane, while Bowman's capsule expression was normal. Electron microscopy ultrastructural suggested variable basement membrane thickness, and partial tearing and web-like structures. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous COL4A3 missense mutation c.3210 (exon 37)G>A(NM:000091). These findings are consistent with the diagnosis of AS. Prednisone was gradually tapered and enalapril maleate was initiated.

Conclusion: We have described a pediatric case of AS featuring NS as its primary manifestation. It is important to consider AS to be a diagnosis or differential diagnosis in patients who have NS with hematuria or steroid resistance.

Background: Food allergies are common among children worldwide. This occurs when the immune system has an abnormal reaction to certain foods. This reaction can range in severity from mild to severe and may lead to anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. As teachers are the first responders in managing such situations in schools, this study aims to explore and measure primary school teachers' knowledge and attitudes about food allergies and their management and review the current school policy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study uses a randomly distributed online questionnaire to measure teachers' knowledge and attitudes at primary schools in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Results: The sample consisted of 383 primary school teachers. Approximately 87.5% of the participants were aware of food allergies. More than two-thirds of teachers were able to identify anaphylactic shock. Only 15.4% of the teachers knew that an epinephrine autoinjector was the first aid measurement to be taken. Additionally, 39.9% of the teachers reported that the school does not have an action plan for dealing with students with food allergies. Approximately 93.4% of the participants agreed that avoiding foods that cause allergies is important for preventing allergies.

Conclusions: This study revealed teachers' good knowledge in the identification of food allergy and their symptoms, as well as the awareness of their potential severity. However, the study highlighted a significant gap in management. Most had positive attitudes toward learning about food allergies. Therefore, administration policies and strategies need to be implemented to assist in managing food allergies at school.

Background: Rotavirus (RV), norovirus (NoV), human enteric adenovirus (HAdV), human astrovirus (HAstV), and sapovirus (SaV) are important viral causes of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. However, limited information is available regarding AGE in Yunnan, Southwest China.

Methods: To investigate the prevalence of group A rotavirus (RVA), norovirus genogroups I (GI) and II (GII), and HAdV, HAstV, and SaV in children aged <5 years hospitalized with AGE between 2020 and 2022.

Results: Stool samples were collected from 612 children hospitalized with AGE. A total of 266 of the 612 children presented with AGE (43.46%; 266/612). RVA was detected in 28.76% (176 of 612) of the children. Rotavirus G9P[8] was the most frequent genotype in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, G8P[8] became the dominant genotype combination circulating in Yunnan Province. The norovirus positivity rate was present in 11.93% (73/612) of the 612 samples. Of the 45 GII successfully sequenced samples, GII.4 was the dominant genotype, accounting for 51.11% (23 of 45), followed by GII.3 [P12] (28.89%; 13 of 45). The positivity rates for SaV, HAstV, and HAdV were 2.94% (18/612), 3.43% (21/612), and 4.74% (29/612), respectively. HAdV-F41 was the predominant genotype and non-enteric HAdV-C2 and HAdV-A12 were also observed in Yunnan. Male children had a higher incidence of AGE than female children upon infection with RV, NoV, and HAdV. The highest incidence of AGE was observed among children aged between 12 and 23 months (62.50%; 120/192), followed by children aged between 24 and 35 months (52.44%; 43/82). The incidence rate of the infection peaked (78.62%; 125/159) in the first 3 months of the year, followed by the next 3 months (66.67%; 70/105).

Conclusions: RV and NoV remained the most important agents causing AGE. RV G8P[8] became the dominant circulating genotype instead of G9P[8] in Yunnan in 2022. The authors suggest that monitoring should be strengthened to prevent outbreaks caused by RV G8P[8]. New vaccines, such as the RV G8P[8] genotype, should be considered.

Introduction: Data from the Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network (PR-COIN) registry suggests that reliable collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) varies across sites. The objective of this study was to better understand the practices of collecting PROs at PR-COIN sites.

Methods: A REDCap survey was sent to the lead representative for each PR-COIN site. Registry data were analyzed to better understand the completion rates of PROs. Interviews of physician leaders of high performing sites were conducted by videoconference, audiotranscribed and themes were summarized. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were thematically analyzed.

Results: All 23 PR-COIN sites responded to the survey. PROs were collected by 21/23 (91%) sites. Arthritis-related pain intensity, morning stiffness, and physical function were the top three collected PROs ( Supplementary 3 and 4). PROs were collected using paper, electronically or in combination, with most sites collecting PROs only on paper. PROs were manually scored at most sites. Among sites with electronic PRO collection, 42% did not have automatic transfer of scores into the electronic medical record. Facilitators to successful collection of PROs included availability of staff, training, and culture. Barriers to PRO collection cited were limited time, lack of infrastructure, and lack of staff. Completion rates of PROs in the registry in top 4 performing centers for morning stiffness was 100%, overall well-being and pain intensity scores ranged from 93%-98%, and for physical function 69%-94%. Interviews with physician leaders indicated that their site overcame barriers through: integration of PRO collection into workflow, gaining buy-in of stakeholders (clinicians and patients), and automating PRO collection. Interviewees endorsed automation of data collection (e.g., self-completion on tablets) and automated transfer to electronic medical record (EMR) as key components enabling reliable PRO collection.

Conclusions: Through understanding our current ability to systematically collect PROs across all sites in PR-COIN and exploring successful implementation of PRO collection both within and outside our learning health network, we share lessons learned and identify the most influential factors for successful PRO collection in pediatric rheumatology.

Object: This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of children with tracheobronchial foreign body and to investigate the factors influencing the surgical duration of rigid bronchoscopic foreign body removal under general anesthesia.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 421 children diagnosed with tracheobronchial foreign body undergoing rigid bronchoscopy between January 2020 and December 2021. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on patient demographics, including age, weight, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification, foreign body type and location, duration of foreign body retention, preoperative symptoms, signs, imaging findings, tracheobronchial manifestations observed during bronchoscopy, and surgical durations. Statistical analysis utilized both univariate and multivariate linear regression models to assess factors influencing the surgical duration of tracheobronchial foreign body removal in children.

Results: The mean age of children with tracheobronchial foreign body was 1.59 years (1.32, 2.04). The male-to-female ratio was 1.8:1, and the ASA physical status classification was predominantly ASA II (96.7%). Organic foreign body accounted for 94.8% of cases, with 91.7% located unilaterally. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses revealed that ASA III, pulmonary rales, and the presence of one, two, or three specific tracheobronchial manifestations observed during bronchoscopy-including mucosal hyperemia and edema, purulent exudate, and granulation tissue-were independent risk factors associated with prolonged surgical duration for foreign body removal (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: ASA III, pulmonary rales, and various tracheobronchial manifestations observed during bronchoscopy are significant risk factors associated with prolonged surgical duration for foreign body removal in children.

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins play a critical role in regulating immune signaling pathways. Deficiency of SOCS1 leads to various autoimmune pathologies. We present two unrelated patients with distinct clinical manifestations. Patient 1, a 16-year-old male from Guinea, presented with Evans Syndrome, musculoskeletal pain and elevated liver enzymes. Patient 2, a 6-year-old German boy, developed recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, mild inflammatory bowel disease and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. Both patients were diagnosed with SOCS1 deficiency by genetic testing. Treatment strategies included steroids, JAK inhibition and colchicine. These cases emphasize the importance of considering SOCS1 deficiency in patients with autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases but also in patients with unexplained elevated IgE levels. They highlight the need for further research in ongoing multicenter registries to better understand this condition.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the impact of physical exercise interventions on anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including Embase, Web of Science (WOS), PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, VIP Information, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), from their inception up to July 2024. The search aimed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the impact of physical exercise on anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation in children diagnosed with ADHD. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was employed to assess the quality of the literature, while the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (ROB-2) was used to evaluate the overall risk of bias. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) profiler method was utilized to further assess the quality of evidence. Meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias testing were performed using Stata 18.0 software. Effect sizes were calculated using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: The analysis included 18 RCTs, encompassing 830 participants. Physical exercise exhibited a significant positive effect on anxiety (SMD = -0.58, p < 0.05), depression (SMD = -0.57, p < 0.05), and emotional regulation (SMD = 1.03, p < 0.05) in children diagnosed with ADHD. Subgroup analysis revealed that exercise programs with monotypic and mixed modalities, short duration, high frequencies, medium duration, and moderate intensities were the most efficacious in ameliorating anxiety symptoms. The mixed exercise program, when conducted for short duration, with low frequencies, medium duration, and moderate intensity was the most effective in alleviating depression symptoms. Exercise programs featuring mixed modalities, longer duration, moderate to high frequencies, shorter duration, and low intensity yielded the most significant improvements in emotional regulation.

Conclusions: Research demonstrates that physical exercise mitigates anxiety and depression and improves emotional regulation in children with ADHD. A dose-response relationship is evident, correlating with the type, duration, intensity, frequency, and overall exercise duration.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, PROSPERO identifier (CRD42024571577).