Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition最新文献

Purpose: The Cow's Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMiSS) improves the recognition of cow milk allergy (CMA) symptoms. A score of ≥10 should raise awareness of CMA. The median CoMiSS in healthy European infants aged <6 months is 3. This study aimed to determine the impact of different regions on CoMiSS in healthy infants aged <12 months to evaluate regional and age-related differences.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at one hospital each in Indonesia (Jakarta) and Brazil (Sergipe). CoMiSS was assessed in healthy infants aged -12 months old.

Results: In Jakarta, a total of 286 infants (50.7% boys) were included. The median (interquartile range) CoMiSS was 1.5 (0-4); the 95th percentile was 7. In Sergipe, 101 infants (60.4% boys) were included. The median (interquartile range) CoMiSS was 4 (4-6); the 95th centile was 10.9. Age (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.99; p<0.001) and country (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 2.06-2.79; p<0.001) were significant independent predictors of changes in mean CoMiSS in a linear regression model (r²=0.27).

Conclusion: Median CoMiSS in healthy infants differed between Jakarta and Sergipe (1.5 vs. 4.0). These findings highlight that the perceived normality of parents may be region-dependent.

The magnitude of the problem of stunting is high in low- to middle-income countries, including Indonesia. The government of Indonesia has implemented specific and sensitive intervention programs to reduce this problem. This public health problem requires multidisciplinary management with suitable approaches and programs. In the first 1000 days of life, the quality of life is determined by conception and delivery until two years old. The requirement and fulfillment of nutrients during this period would benefit the growth and development of children. Indonesia is an archipelago country with 100,000 km of coastline and 16,771 islands with great potential for fishing. In coastal areas, optimizing protein consumption from the sea and enhancing educational programs in psychosocial care are appropriate intervention programs that will benefit stunting eradication. The complexity of the stunting problem puts authorities and other stakeholders together to formulate and design appropriate comprehensive intervention programs to improve the quality of life of the next generation.

Purpose: Gastrostomy granulomas frequently occur in pediatric patients with gastrostomy tubes, yet there is a notable lack of comprehensive data on the efficacy and safety of various treatment modalities. Commonly used treatments, such as silver nitrate, are often painful and require frequent clinic visits, posing challenges for patients and families. Additionally, research on home-based treatments is limited, despite their potential to offer more convenient and less painful alternatives. This study addresses the need for well-designed comparisons of different treatment options.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, open-label study at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio, enrolling 36 pediatric patients aged 6 months to 17 years with gastrostomy tubes. Patients were randomized into two groups: one treated with topical silver nitrate and the other with table salt, excluding those on chemotherapy or with immunologic disorders. Granuloma sizes were measured at the study's start with blinded physicians analyzing photographs to assess size reduction, and parent satisfaction surveys were conducted to evaluate treatment acceptability and side effects.

Results: The median reduction in granuloma size was significantly greater in the table salt group (3.12 mm) compared to the silver nitrate group (2.25 mm) (Wilcoxon p-value=0.04). Parental satisfaction and confidence were high in both groups, with minor, self-limited skin irritation reported as a side effect.

Conclusion: The study suggests that table salt could be a feasible, non-inferior, and cost-effective alternative to silver nitrate for treating gastrostomy granulomas in pediatric patients. Further research with a larger sample size is necessary to validate these findings.

Purpose: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is the most well-known eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) characterized by the presence of a high number eosinophils within the esophageal epithelium and the clinical signs. Biopsies of patients with suspected EoE may not show a high number of eosinophils, however the presence of granules may help with the diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the presence of cell-free eosinophil granules in the esophageal tissue of patients with suspected and confirmed EoE to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with low eosinophil count.

Methods: Fifteen patients with confirmed EoE and 15 suspected of EoE were included in this study. Patients' esophageal tissue biopsies were stained using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to identify eosinophils and their cell-free granules. For testing, anti-major basic protein (MBP) and anti-chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) were used as primary antibodies and a double-staining kit containing secondary antibodies conjugated to the enzyme and related chromogens were used.

Results: Cell-free granules with different degrees were observed in 53.3% and 93.3% of suspected and confirmed EoE samples, respectively. Furthermore, in esophageal biopsy of 73.3% of patients with suspected and 93.3% of patients with a definitive diagnosis of EoE, basal layer hyperplasia (BLH) was recognized.

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that IHC can be applied to detect cell-free eosinophil granules in esophageal tissue. Observation of granules and basal cell hyperplasia in biopsies of suspected EoE patients whose eosinophil count is below the threshold can be valuable findings to make a definitive diagnosis for these patients.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the association between platelet count and endoscopy activity in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: This single center retrospective study included children and adolescents aged <19 years who were newly diagnosed with CD. Comparison of baseline characteristics at diagnosis between two groups divided according to the presence and absence of thrombocytosis were conducted. Factors associated with moderate-to-severe endoscopic activity was also conducted.

Results: A total of 50 were included. Thirty-five patients (70.0%) were male, and the mean age±standard deviation was 13.7±2.5 years. Among patients without thrombocytosis, endoscopic activity was mild in 9 patients (42.9%), moderate in 11 (52.4%), and severe in 1 (4.8%), while among patients with thrombocytosis, endoscopic activity was mild in 3 (10.3%), moderate in14 (48.3%), and severe in 12 (41.4%) (p=0.003). According to multivariate analysis with stepwise selection, platelet count (odds ratio [OR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.02; p=0.021) and albumin (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.02-0.98; p=0.045) were significantly associated with moderate-to-severe endoscopic activity at diagnosis. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the optimal platelet count cut-off level associated with moderate-to-severe endoscopic activity was 456,000/µL with an area under the ROC curve of 0.752 (95% CI, 0.598-0.906; sensitivity, 55.3%; specificity, 91.7%; postitive predictive value, 95.5%; negative predictive value, 39.3%; p<0.001).

Conclusion: Pediatric patients with CD that present with thrombocytosis at diagnosis are likely to have a moderate-to-severe endoscopic activity.

Purpose: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium that is associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastric cancer. However, studies on the endoscopic finding and factors related to H. Pylori infection in children are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with H. pylori infection in children with dyspepsia.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients aged <18 years who underwent upper endoscopy for dyspepsia between January 2015 and December 2022. H. pylori was diagnosed using a rapid urease test, and the dyspeptic symptoms included postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain, and nausea.

Results: Among 185 patients, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was 16.2%. Obesity and a family history of H. pylori infection were more frequently observed in patients with H. pylori infection than in those without. Anemia was also more common in patients with H. pylori infection than in those without. H. pylori was detected in six (18.8%) patients with PUD (n=32). All six patients had duodenal ulcers and anemia, and complications such as obstruction and bleeding were significantly more common among patients with PUD who were positive for H. pylori infection than among those without.

Conclusion: We observed a low prevalence of H. pylori infection in children with dyspepsia; however, these children exhibited a more severe clinical course. Therefore, caution should be exercised in detecting H. pylori infection in children, especially, who had obesity or family history of H. pylori infection.

Prebiotics are substrates selectively utilized by microorganisms to confer health benefits to their hosts. Various prebiotics have been supplemented in standard milk formulas for infants who cannot be exclusively breastfed, aiming to provide benefits similar to those of breast milk. One of the most commonly used prebiotics is a mixture of 90% short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and 10% long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS [9:1]). Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the effectiveness of scGOS:lcFOS (9:1) supplementation in standard milk formula for improving gastrointestinal health and immunity among healthy infants and toddlers, using parameters such as stool pH and intestinal colonization with beneficial bacteria. This systematic review was prepared in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Randomized clinical trials comparing scGOS/lcFOS (9:1)-supplemented formula versus placebo- or non-supplemented formula milk were eligible for inclusion. Related studies on gastrointestinal health and immunity among healthy infants up to five years old were searched from the earliest available date until February 29, 2024. Eighteen publications (number of participants=1,675) were selected for the systematic review, of which 11 were subsequently subjected to a meta-analysis. Results showed that the standard formula supplemented with scGOS/lcFOS (9:1) was well tolerated and conferred various gastrointestinal health and immunity to healthy infants and toddlers. These findings support the supplementation of standard milk formula with scGOS/lcFOS (9:1) for healthy infants and toddlers.

Purpose: Significant debate exists on the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and childhood asthma. We aimed to explore this association in a cohort of children in Palestine while estimating the prevalence of H. pylori in this population.

Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study among children aged 6-15 years in Palestine, including 44 asthma cases diagnosed by pediatric pulmonologists and 99 age-matched healthy controls recruited through cluster sampling from schools. H. pylori status was determined using a stool antigen test. Asthma severity was assessed using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Data on recent antibiotic use, which could affect H. pylori status, were collected for both groups. Multiple logistic regression analyzed the association between H. pylori and asthma, adjusting for age and sex. The chi-square test assessed the impact of antibiotic use on H. pylori status.

Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in the study population was 45%. Children with asthma had a lower prevalence of H. pylori infection compared to healthy controls (32% vs. 51%, adjusted odds ratios, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.99; p=0.04). Antibiotic use in the past month or year did not significantly impact H. pylori status. Among children with asthma, H. pylori infection rates did not vary by asthma severity (p=0.05).

Conclusion: H. pylori infection is associated with a reduced risk of asthma in children, suggesting a potential protective role. Further prospective cohort studies are warranted to clarify the mechanisms underlying this association.

Purpose: Research proved the beneficial effect of Zinc on human health and Gastrointestinal tract inflammatory diseases. We propose that zinc would be of value in children with Hirschsprung's disease (HD) undergoing elective pull-through surgery. This study was carried out to determine the influence of preoperative zinc intake on postoperative outcomes, especially the hospital length of stay in patients diagnosed with HD as a primary outcome. Other outcomes include identification of the nutritional and inflammatory status including the nutritional and inflammatory markers in children with HD with possible impacts on hospital outcomes.

Methods: This is a randomized interventional control study that was applied to 50 children diagnosed with HD who underwent elective pull-through surgery. We randomly allocated 25 diagnosed with HD who underwent elective pull-through surgery. We randomly allocated 25 patients to zinc treatment.

Results: The results demonstrated that the interventional group had a lower incidence of complications (20%) when compared to the control group (64%), with a significant p-value of 0.002. In addition, less incidence of Hirschsprung's associated enterocolitis (HAEC) (12% vs. 40%) and skin excoriation (8% vs. 32%) were documented in the interventional group compared to the controls respectively.

Conclusion: Pre-operative zinc supplementation may have a beneficial impact on HD children undergoing elective pull-through surgery as regards outcomes such as HAEC and skin excoriation.

Despite being an essential specialty, pediatrics in South Korea faces the threat of collapse. While the declining birth rate is an important contributor to the decrease in the pediatric population, a more critical issue lies in the dysfunctional healthcare system. Primary care pediatricians are troubled by the lack of patients, whereas tertiary care specialists are concerned about the shortage of doctors. Although the absolute number of pediatric specialists is not small, there is a scarcity of doctors willing to specialize in pediatrics. Recently, pediatric abdominal ultrasonography has been conducted in tertiary hospitals. However, there is an argument that this responsibility should be shifted to primary care pediatricians. As someone who has been performing pediatric abdominal ultrasound examinations for years, I am committed to educating pediatric specialists in this field. My aim is to contribute, albeit modestly, to improving the South Korean healthcare system.