Frontiers in Pediatrics最新文献

Introduction: There is a critical need for evidence-based and manualized interventions targeting water competency including swim and water safety skills tailored to meet the needs of children on the autism spectrum, a group that is at a high risk of drowning. This study examined the efficacy of AquOTic-a 10-week occupational therapy-based aquatic intervention to improve water competency among children on the autism spectrum.

Methods: A total of 37 children on the autism spectrum (ages 5-9 years) were randomized to a waitlist control group (n = 24) or AquOTic intervention group (n = 37; 28 males). Blinded assessors administered the standardized Water Orientation Test-Alyn (WOTA) 1 and 2 and a Swim Skills Checklist to all participants pre- and post-AquOTic/control. Repeated measures mixed effects models were used to examine intervention effects.

Results: Average WOTA 1 scores increased significantly after participants received AquOTic (Δ = 5.7; 95% CI: 3.7-7.8; p < 0.001), and average WOTA 2 scores increased significantly after participants received AquOTic (Δ = 9.0; 95% CI: 5.7-12.3; p < 0.001). Average swim skills increased significantly after participants received AquOTic (Δ = 7.6; 95% CI: 5.3, 10.0; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our results highlight the efficacy of AquOTic to improve water competency among children on the autism spectrum. Further research is needed to examine long-term effects, dosage requirements to achieve water competency, and the impact of aquatic therapy on other health outcomes.

Clinical trials registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05524753.

Background: Serum lactate levels are used as biomarkers for perinatal asphyxia, while their value for outcome prediction in preterm infants is uncertain. It was the aim of this observational study to determine the association of the first postnatal serum-lactate levels on day 1 of life and short-term outcome in preterm infants less than 29 gestational weeks.

Methods: We analysed data in a population-based cohort of German Neonatal Network (GNN) preterm infants with available first postnatal lactate levels enrolled at 22-28 weeks of gestational age (GA) between 1st of April 2009 and 31st December 2020. We hypothesized that high lactate levels as measured in mmol/L increase the risk of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in infants with VLBW regardless of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) status. Hypotheses were evaluated in univariate analyses and multiple logistic regression models.

Results: First postnatal lactate levels were available in 2499 infants. The study population had a median GA of 26.7 [IQR 25.2-27.9] weeks and birth weight of 840 g [IQR 665-995]. Infants with short-term complications such as IVH and BPD had higher initial lactate levels than non-affected infants. The positive predictive value of a lactate cut-off of 4 mmol/L was 0.28 for IVH and 0.30 for BPD. After adjustment for known confounding variables, each 1 mmol/L increase of day 1 lactate levels was associated with a modestly increased risk of IVH (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.03-1.37; p = 0.002) and BPD (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.06-1.43; p = 0.005) but not with sepsis or mortality. Notably, SGA was associated with lower risk of any grade and severe IVH (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.54-0.85; p = 0.001).

Conclusions: In our observational cohort study higher initial lactate levels were associated with adverse outcome regardless of SGA status. However, the predictive value of lactate cut-off levels such as 4 mmol/L is low.

Pediatric rheumatology is a relatively new subspecialty in Nigeria. For many years, rheumatic disease had not been well-recognized or studied in Nigeria, so there has been a low suspicion index. The clinical presentation of most pediatric rheumatic diseases (PRDs) mimics non-rheumatic diseases making it a diagnostic challenge most of the time. The story has changed in Lagos since the creation of a pediatric rheumatology unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. There is now a high index of suspicion for these diseases in the hospital but no one knows about what is happening in the other 35 states of the country who do not have a pediatric rheumatologist. Major challenges being faced presently are poor awareness among healthcare workers and the community, high cost of investigations and medications, lack of pediatric rheumatologists in most hospitals in the country, lack of pediatric rheumatology training centers for both undergraduate and postgraduate training, and lack of research data. The healthcare community in Nigeria is looking forward to a future where pediatric rheumatology will be highly recognized and established.

The clinical symptoms of tuberculosis infection in children are not typical and need to be distinguished from many diseases, and the tumor is one of them. We present a case of cervical lymphadenopathy in a child with positive purified protein derivative (PPD) and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay results, ultimately diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma via cervical lymph node biopsy. We learned some lessons from the case: First, Pathological biopsy remains the "gold standard" for diagnosing tuberculosis. Second, there are limitations of sampling in lump fine needle aspiration biopsy, surgical methods for lymph node are preferred to obtain larger tissues and improve tuberculosis detection sensitivity.

Background: Neonatologists and clinical neurophysiologists face challenges with the current electrodes used for long-duration amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), limiting the capacity to diagnose brain damage.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop methods for comparing the performance of different electrodes to be used in aEEG. The comparison was done between a newly designed neonate-specific electrode, aCUP-E, with commercial liquid gel electrodes used in amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG). The comparison included impedance stability, electrode survival, recording quality, usability, and satisfaction of NICU staff.

Methods: aEEG recordings with bipolar montage was used, with one hemisphere fitted with commercial electrodes and the other with aCUP-E electrodes, alternated among subjects. Continuous impedance and raw EEG data were collected over a minimum of 24 h, and signal processing was performed using Python and MATLAB.

Main results: aCUP-E electrodes demonstrated superior performance, including: Increased impedance stability and electrode survival, enhanced recording quality with fewer artifacts, high correlation in signal capture between electrodes during optimal brain activity segments, higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across varying impedance levels, greater staff satisfaction and ease of use. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier curves indicated a higher survival rate for aCUP-E electrodes over 24 h compared to commercial electrodes. Impedance variability analysis showed statistically significant stability improvements for aCUP-E.

Conclusion: aCUP-E electrodes outperform commercial liquid gel electrodes in impedance stability, electrode survival, and recording quality. These results suggest that aCUP-E electrodes could significantly enhance aEEG utilization in diagnosing and treating neonatal brain conditions in NICUs. Future improvements to the aCUP-E electrode may further reduce artifacts and increase electrode longevity, potentially leading to a significant improvement in neonatal brain monitoring by means of aEEG.

Background and aim: Recent studies have demonstrated the anti-allergic effects of probiotics in humans. However, their role in preventing and treating pediatric allergic rhinitis has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to systematically review the efficacy and preventive effects of probiotics on pediatric allergic rhinitis.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science databases for all relevant studies on probiotics and pediatric allergic rhinitis. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included, data were extracted, and meta-analyses were performed.

Results: A total of 28 studies with 4,765 participants were included in this study. The pooled results showed that the use of probiotics was associated with a significant improvement in total nose symptom scores (SMD, -2.27; 95% CI, -3.26 to -1.29; P < 0.00001), itchy nose scores (SMD, -0.44; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.07; P = 0.02), sneezing scores (SMD, -0.47; 95% CI, -0.84 to -0.10; P = 0.01), eye symptoms (SMD, -3.77; 95% CI, -5.47 to -2.07; P < 0.00001), and Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (SMD, -2.52; 95% CI, -4.12 to -0.92; P < 00001). However, the use of probiotics was not associated with the incidence of allergic rhinitis (RR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.74-1.08; P = 0.26).

Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that probiotics were effective and safe for improving pediatric allergic rhinitis symptoms and quality of life. However, probiotics could not prevent pediatric allergic rhinitis.

Background and study design: Limited data exists on noradrenaline therapy in neonatal septic shock. We compared the efficacy of noradrenaline with adrenaline in neonatal septic shock. This single center, open label, pilot randomized controlled trial included neonates with clinical evidence of sepsis and shock.

Study outcomes: Primary outcomes were: 1) resolution of shock one hour after treatment, and 2) mortality during hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included: need for additional vasopressors; hemodynamic stability without further administration of vasopressors for ≥2 h; changes in blood pressure and heart rate after 1 h of vasopressor treatment; and morbidities during the hospital stay.

Results: Of 65 eligible neonates, 42 were randomized (21 each in adrenaline and noradrenaline treatment arms) between August 2020 and January 2022, at level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College and Hospital (BVDUMCH). The mean (SD) gestational age and mean (SD) birth weight were 36.1(4.2) weeks and 1.8 (0.2) kilograms birth weight for noradrenaline and 36.9 (4.1) weeks and 1.7 (0.7) kilograms for adrenaline. Shock resolved within 1 h of vasopressor therapy in 76.2% neonates in the noradrenaline arm and 61.9% in adrenaline arm (p value-0.53). Mortality during hospital stay was 28.6% (6/21) in noradrenaline group and 33.3% (7/21) in adrenaline group (p value- 0.58). Additional vasopressors were required in 23.8% neonates of the noradrenaline group compared to 38.1% neonates in adrenaline arm (p value-0.53). Median (SD) duration of intensive care stay was 6 (SD) days in the noradrenaline group and 10 (SD) days in the adrenaline group (p value-0.045).

Conclusion: Among neonates with septic shock, the efficacy of noradrenaline was comparable to adrenaline in resolving septic shock after one hour of infusion and on the mortality during hospital stay.

Clinical trial registration: https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?EncHid=NDI2NTc=&Enc=&userName=noradrenaline, Clinical Trials Registry - India with identifier CTRI/2020/08/027185 (17/08/2020).

Background: WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the WW-containing oxidoreductase gene, characterized by the onset of refractory seizures in infants. Early-onset epilepsy, electroencephalography abnormalities, and developmental delay or degeneration are the main clinical manifestations. Early death can occur in severe cases. In the present study, a novel variant in WWOX was detected in a patient with epilepsy and his healthy parents.

Case presentation: A 5-month-old boy presented with epilepsy. The main manifestations were intractable seizures, mental and motor retardation and hearing impairment. Subsequent genetic testing revealed the presence of an epilepsy-associated novel mutation: c.991C>A (amino acid change: p.Ser304Tyr) in the WWOX gene. Variants were inherited from parents with healthy phenotypes. Finally, a patient died at 6 months of age.

Conclusion: The discovery of novel variants has enriched the existing database of WWOX gene variants and may expand the range of clinical options for treating WWOX-related disorders.

Objective: To explore the risk factors of delivery room (DR) resuscitation and assess the association of DR resuscitation with neonatal outcomes in very preterm infants (VPIs).

Methods: A multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study included VPIs with gestational age (GA) <32 weeks born between January, 2022 and June, 2023 and admitted to neonatal intensive care units of six tertiary hospitals in Shenzhen within 24 h after birth. They were divided into routine care group, positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) group, and endotracheal intubation (ETT) group based on the highest intensity of resuscitation received at birth. The association of antepartum and intrapartum risk factors and short-term outcomes with the intensity of DR resuscitation was evaluated.

Results: Of 683 infants included in this study, 170 (24.9%) received routine care, 260 (38.1%) received bag and mask ventilation or T-piece ventilation and 253 (37%) received ETT. Among the antepartum and intrapartum factors, exposure to antenatal steroids (ANS) decreased the likelihood of ETT. Increasing GA decreased the likelihood of receiving a higher level of DR resuscitation. Among the neonatal outcomes, increasing intensity of DR resuscitation was associated with a raise in the risk of Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Higher levels of DR resuscitation were associated with the risk of early-onset sepsis. ETT was significantly associated with an increased risk of death.

Conclusion: Among VPIs, low GA and no ANS use increased the risk of high-intensity DR resuscitation interventions; and those who receiving ETT were associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes.

Objectives: Vasopressin is used for shock and acute pulmonary hypertension in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and is associated with hyponatremia. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, severity, contributing risk factors associated with vasopressin-induced hyponatremia in neonates and infants <3 months of age in the NICU. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of hyponatremia (<130 mEq/L) and severe hyponatremia (<125 mEq/L). The secondary objectives were to compare clinical characteristics and the vasopressin regimen between those with and without hyponatremia.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included neonates and infants <3 months from 1/1/2017-12/31/2022 receiving vasopressin for >6 h. Analyses were performed using SAS v9.4, with a priori less than 0.05. A multiple variable logistic regression was employed to assess odds of hyponatremia.

Results: Of the 105 patients included, 57 (54.3%) developed hyponatremia, and 17 (29.8%) were classified as severe hyponatremia. Overall, the median (interquartile range, IQR) gestational and postnatal age at vasopressin initiation were 35.4 (27-38.7) weeks and 2 (1-12) days. There was no difference in vasopressin dose, but duration of treatment was longer in those with hyponatremia. Higher baseline serum sodium was associated with decreased odds of hyponatremia [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.90 (95% CI: 0.83-0.99), p = 0.03], and increased vasopressin duration was associated with increased odds of hyponatremia [aOR: 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01-1.03), p < 0.001].

Conclusions: Hyponatremia occurred in half of patients included. The pre-vasopressin sodium value and the vasopressin duration were independently associated with hyponatremia.