Pub Date : 2024-07-23DOI: 10.3390/children11080887
Emily Eglitis, Catherine E M Simpson, Ben Singh, Timothy Olds, Amanda Machell, Rosa Virgara, M. Richardson, Kylie Brannelly, Aniella Grant, Jessica Gray, Terri Wilkinson, Zoe Rix, Carol A Maher
Poor youth mental health is an area of global concern. Summer holiday programs may provide environments that support mental health when the structures and supports of school are not available. The aim of this review was to determine the effectiveness of summer holiday programs in improving the mental health, social–emotional well-being, and cognitive (non-academic) outcomes of children and adolescents. Studies of summer holiday programs for school-aged children (5–18 years) were included if they measured any mental, socio-emotional or cognitive (non-academic) outcome. Studies were excluded if they were published prior to 2000, targeted clinical populations or lasted less than five days. Six databases were searched (April 2023). Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro tool. Study outcomes were grouped according to three main constructs: mental health (psychological well-being, anxiety, depression, distress, and self-perception including self-esteem, self-worth, self-concept, confidence, and competence); social–emotional well-being (behavior and social skills, e.g., communication, bullying, conflict resolution, empathy, and social skills); and cognitive function (memory, selective attention, and executive function). A fourth “other” group captured substance use, personality traits, character skills, and values. Effect sizes were calculated as the standardized mean difference between pre- and post-intervention scores. The synthesis involved a random-effects meta-analysis (presented in forest plots), where possible, with the remaining outcomes narratively synthesized. Twenty-six studies (n = 6812 participants) were included. The results of the meta-analysis suggested that summer programs showed a statistically non-significant trend toward reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression (k = 2 studies, SMD = −0.17, 95% CI −2.94, 2.60), psychological distress (k = 2 studies, SMD −0.46, 95% CI –1.71, 0.79), and no effect on self-esteem (k = 6 studies, SMD = 0.02, 95% CI −0.02, 0.06) or self-worth (k = 3 studies, SMD = 0.05, 95% CI 0.00, 0.11). Narrative syntheses indicated a pattern toward improvements in general mental health, self-perception, social–emotional outcomes, and cognition. Studies were generally small, with a high risk of bias. Summer holiday programs for children and adolescents show trends toward improving mental, social, emotional, and cognitive outcomes. Programs targeting disadvantaged children showed stronger patterns of improvement related to mental health and self-perception than programs targeting the general population. While effect sizes are small to negligible, they consistently indicate improvements. Summer programs present a promising avenue to promote mental health in children; however, further rigorously designed, clearly reported control-group studies are required to more fully understand their effects.
青少年心理健康状况不佳是一个全球关注的问题。当学校的结构和支持无法提供时,暑假计划可以提供支持心理健康的环境。本综述旨在确定暑假项目在改善儿童和青少年的心理健康、社会情感和认知(非学术)成果方面的有效性。有关学龄儿童(5-18 岁)暑假计划的研究,如果衡量了任何心理、社会情感或认知(非学术)方面的结果,均被纳入研究范围。如果研究发表于 2000 年之前、针对临床人群或持续时间少于五天,则排除在外。共检索了六个数据库(2023 年 4 月)。使用 PEDro 工具对偏倚风险进行了评估。研究结果按照三个主要结构进行分组:心理健康(心理健康、焦虑、抑郁、痛苦和自我认知,包括自尊、自我价值、自我概念、自信和能力);社会情感健康(行为和社交技能,如沟通、欺凌、冲突解决、移情和社交技能);认知功能(记忆、选择性注意力和执行功能)。第四个 "其他 "组包括药物使用、个性特征、性格技能和价值观。效果大小按干预前后得分的标准化平均差异计算。在可能的情况下,综合分析包括随机效应荟萃分析(以森林图的形式呈现),其余结果则以叙述的方式进行综合。共纳入 26 项研究(n = 6812 名参与者)。60)、心理困扰(k = 2 项研究,SMD = -0.46,95% CI -1.71, 0.79),对自尊(k = 6 项研究,SMD = 0.02,95% CI -0.02, 0.06)或自我价值(k = 3 项研究,SMD = 0.05,95% CI 0.00, 0.11)没有影响。叙述性综述表明,一般心理健康、自我认知、社会情感结果和认知能力都有所改善。研究的规模普遍较小,偏差风险较高。针对儿童和青少年的暑假计划显示出改善心理、社交、情感和认知结果的趋势。与针对普通人群的计划相比,针对弱势儿童的计划在心理健康和自我认知方面表现出更强的改善模式。虽然效果大小很小,甚至可以忽略不计,但它们始终显示出改善的趋势。暑期项目是促进儿童心理健康的一个很有前景的途径;然而,要想更全面地了解其效果,还需要进一步开展设计严格、报告明确的对照组研究。
{"title":"Effect of Summer Holiday Programs on Children’s Mental Health and Well-Being: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"Emily Eglitis, Catherine E M Simpson, Ben Singh, Timothy Olds, Amanda Machell, Rosa Virgara, M. Richardson, Kylie Brannelly, Aniella Grant, Jessica Gray, Terri Wilkinson, Zoe Rix, Carol A Maher","doi":"10.3390/children11080887","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11080887","url":null,"abstract":"Poor youth mental health is an area of global concern. Summer holiday programs may provide environments that support mental health when the structures and supports of school are not available. The aim of this review was to determine the effectiveness of summer holiday programs in improving the mental health, social–emotional well-being, and cognitive (non-academic) outcomes of children and adolescents. Studies of summer holiday programs for school-aged children (5–18 years) were included if they measured any mental, socio-emotional or cognitive (non-academic) outcome. Studies were excluded if they were published prior to 2000, targeted clinical populations or lasted less than five days. Six databases were searched (April 2023). Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro tool. Study outcomes were grouped according to three main constructs: mental health (psychological well-being, anxiety, depression, distress, and self-perception including self-esteem, self-worth, self-concept, confidence, and competence); social–emotional well-being (behavior and social skills, e.g., communication, bullying, conflict resolution, empathy, and social skills); and cognitive function (memory, selective attention, and executive function). A fourth “other” group captured substance use, personality traits, character skills, and values. Effect sizes were calculated as the standardized mean difference between pre- and post-intervention scores. The synthesis involved a random-effects meta-analysis (presented in forest plots), where possible, with the remaining outcomes narratively synthesized. Twenty-six studies (n = 6812 participants) were included. The results of the meta-analysis suggested that summer programs showed a statistically non-significant trend toward reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression (k = 2 studies, SMD = −0.17, 95% CI −2.94, 2.60), psychological distress (k = 2 studies, SMD −0.46, 95% CI –1.71, 0.79), and no effect on self-esteem (k = 6 studies, SMD = 0.02, 95% CI −0.02, 0.06) or self-worth (k = 3 studies, SMD = 0.05, 95% CI 0.00, 0.11). Narrative syntheses indicated a pattern toward improvements in general mental health, self-perception, social–emotional outcomes, and cognition. Studies were generally small, with a high risk of bias. Summer holiday programs for children and adolescents show trends toward improving mental, social, emotional, and cognitive outcomes. Programs targeting disadvantaged children showed stronger patterns of improvement related to mental health and self-perception than programs targeting the general population. While effect sizes are small to negligible, they consistently indicate improvements. Summer programs present a promising avenue to promote mental health in children; however, further rigorously designed, clearly reported control-group studies are required to more fully understand their effects.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141813460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-16DOI: 10.3390/children11070860
Franca Benini, Laura Brogelli, A. Mercante, Luca Giacomelli
Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is defined as “the active care of the child’s body, quality of life, mind and spirit, also giving support to the family”. PPC should be established once a diagnosis of life-limiting or life-threatening disease is reached and should continue as long as necessary. Therefore, pediatric palliative care (PPC) can continue for years, also given the improved care approaches for children with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases. Over time, the child may grow to become a young adult, and when this happens, the transition to adult healthcare services must be undertaken. This article discusses possible interventions, fostering an efficient transition from pediatric to adult palliative care. A narrative review presents issues, experiences, and existing programs. A “Perspectives” section presents opinions and proposals by the authors. The transition process is not limited to a change from pediatric to adult services. Rather, it includes the entire process of the development of the child and requires interdisciplinary management with proper planning and collaboration among professionals of pediatric and adult teams.
{"title":"Transition to Adulthood in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Narrative Review","authors":"Franca Benini, Laura Brogelli, A. Mercante, Luca Giacomelli","doi":"10.3390/children11070860","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070860","url":null,"abstract":"Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is defined as “the active care of the child’s body, quality of life, mind and spirit, also giving support to the family”. PPC should be established once a diagnosis of life-limiting or life-threatening disease is reached and should continue as long as necessary. Therefore, pediatric palliative care (PPC) can continue for years, also given the improved care approaches for children with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases. Over time, the child may grow to become a young adult, and when this happens, the transition to adult healthcare services must be undertaken. This article discusses possible interventions, fostering an efficient transition from pediatric to adult palliative care. A narrative review presents issues, experiences, and existing programs. A “Perspectives” section presents opinions and proposals by the authors. The transition process is not limited to a change from pediatric to adult services. Rather, it includes the entire process of the development of the child and requires interdisciplinary management with proper planning and collaboration among professionals of pediatric and adult teams.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141640928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-16DOI: 10.3390/children11070863
R. Baccouch, Ghada Jouira, C. I. Alexe, D. Tohănean, D. Alexe
Objective: This study compared postural control and neuromuscular activation in athletic swimmers (A-S) and non-athletic swimmers (N-A-S) in older children. Methods: Ten A-S and ten N-A-S underwent assessments of center of pressure (CoP) parameters under static and dynamic surfaces in two directions (dynamic mediolateral (DML) and dynamic anteroposterior (DAP)) in eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions, and electromyography (EMG) parameters under DAP and DML directions in EO and EC conditions. Results: Results showed that A-S demonstrated significantly superior postural control (p < 0.05), with smaller CoP area and lower CoP mean velocity compared with N-A-S, particularly in static with EC, DAP with EO and EC, and DML with EO conditions. A-S exhibited significantly larger neuromuscular activation amplitudes (p < 0.05), especially in the AP direction. Conclusions: These findings suggested that athletic swimming training may enhance postural control and neuromuscular activation in 11–13-year-old children, emphasizing the potential benefits of incorporating swimming exercises in these children.
研究目的本研究比较了大龄儿童中游泳运动员(A-S)和非运动员(N-A-S)的姿势控制和神经肌肉激活情况。方法:在睁眼(EO)和闭眼(EC)条件下,对 10 名 A-S 和 10 名 N-A-S 在静态和动态表面两个方向(动态内外侧(DML)和动态前胸(DAP))下的压力中心(CoP)参数以及在 EO 和 EC 条件下 DAP 和 DML 方向的肌电图(EMG)参数进行评估。结果显示结果显示,A-S 的姿势控制能力明显优于 N-A-S(P < 0.05),CoP 面积更小,CoP 平均速度更低,尤其是在静态与 EC、DAP 与 EO 和 EC 以及 DML 与 EO 条件下。A-S 的神经肌肉激活幅度明显更大(p < 0.05),尤其是在 AP 方向。结论这些研究结果表明,运动游泳训练可增强 11-13 岁儿童的姿势控制能力和神经肌肉活化能力,强调了在这些儿童中开展游泳训练的潜在益处。
{"title":"Postural Control and Neuromuscular Activation in 11–13-Year-Old Athletic Boy Swimmers","authors":"R. Baccouch, Ghada Jouira, C. I. Alexe, D. Tohănean, D. Alexe","doi":"10.3390/children11070863","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070863","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: This study compared postural control and neuromuscular activation in athletic swimmers (A-S) and non-athletic swimmers (N-A-S) in older children. Methods: Ten A-S and ten N-A-S underwent assessments of center of pressure (CoP) parameters under static and dynamic surfaces in two directions (dynamic mediolateral (DML) and dynamic anteroposterior (DAP)) in eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions, and electromyography (EMG) parameters under DAP and DML directions in EO and EC conditions. Results: Results showed that A-S demonstrated significantly superior postural control (p < 0.05), with smaller CoP area and lower CoP mean velocity compared with N-A-S, particularly in static with EC, DAP with EO and EC, and DML with EO conditions. A-S exhibited significantly larger neuromuscular activation amplitudes (p < 0.05), especially in the AP direction. Conclusions: These findings suggested that athletic swimming training may enhance postural control and neuromuscular activation in 11–13-year-old children, emphasizing the potential benefits of incorporating swimming exercises in these children.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141643331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-16DOI: 10.3390/children11070861
Anett Illes, H. Pikó, Virág Bartek, Olívia Szepesi, Gábor Rudas, Zsófia Benkő, Ágnes Harmath, János Kósa, Artúr Beke
Distal arthrogryposis (DA) is a skeletal muscle disorder that is characterized by the presence of joint contractures in various parts of the body, particularly in the distal extremities. In this study, after a systematic review of the literature, we present a case report of a non-consanguineous family. In our case, the first-trimester ultrasound was negative, and the presence of the affected mother was not enough for the parents to consent to us performing invasive amniotic fluid sampling. The second-trimester ultrasound showed clear abnormalities suggestive of arthrogryposis. Whole-exome sequencing was performed and an autosomal dominantly inherited disease-associated gene was identified. In our case, a pathogenic variant in the TNNT3 gene c.188G>A, p.Arg63His variant was identified. The mother, who had bilateral clubfoot and hand involvement in childhood, carried the same variant. The TNNT3 gene is associated with distal arthrogryposis type 2B2, which is characterized by congenital contractures of the distal limb joints and facial dysmorphism. In the ultrasound, prominent clubfoot was identified, and the mother, who also carried the same mutation, had undergone surgeries to correct the clubfoot, but facial dysmorphism was not detected. Our study highlights the importance of proper genetic counseling, especially in an affected parent(s), and close follow-up during pregnancy.
{"title":"Heterogenic Genetic Background of Distal Arthrogryposis—Review of the Literature and Case Report","authors":"Anett Illes, H. Pikó, Virág Bartek, Olívia Szepesi, Gábor Rudas, Zsófia Benkő, Ágnes Harmath, János Kósa, Artúr Beke","doi":"10.3390/children11070861","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070861","url":null,"abstract":"Distal arthrogryposis (DA) is a skeletal muscle disorder that is characterized by the presence of joint contractures in various parts of the body, particularly in the distal extremities. In this study, after a systematic review of the literature, we present a case report of a non-consanguineous family. In our case, the first-trimester ultrasound was negative, and the presence of the affected mother was not enough for the parents to consent to us performing invasive amniotic fluid sampling. The second-trimester ultrasound showed clear abnormalities suggestive of arthrogryposis. Whole-exome sequencing was performed and an autosomal dominantly inherited disease-associated gene was identified. In our case, a pathogenic variant in the TNNT3 gene c.188G>A, p.Arg63His variant was identified. The mother, who had bilateral clubfoot and hand involvement in childhood, carried the same variant. The TNNT3 gene is associated with distal arthrogryposis type 2B2, which is characterized by congenital contractures of the distal limb joints and facial dysmorphism. In the ultrasound, prominent clubfoot was identified, and the mother, who also carried the same mutation, had undergone surgeries to correct the clubfoot, but facial dysmorphism was not detected. Our study highlights the importance of proper genetic counseling, especially in an affected parent(s), and close follow-up during pregnancy.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141641995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-16DOI: 10.3390/children11070862
Kristina Zafirovski, Mirjana Trpevska Aleksoska, Joe Thomas, Fahad Hanna
Background: Gluten- and casein-containing foods could aggravate the symptoms of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and subsequently impact their quality of life. However, there is a mixed opinion among researchers concerning the impact of alternative diet on reducing ASD symptoms. Objective: This scoping review aimed at examining the impact of the “gluten-free, casein-free” (GFCF) diet on health outcomes and the quality of life among autistic children and adolescents. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was performed following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Four databases, including EbscoHost, Medline, CINAHL, and ProQuest, were used to obtain subject-specific studies relevant to the research question and published between July 2013 and March 2024. A comprehensive search using keywords such as “autism spectrum disorder”, “gluten-free diet”, and “casein-free diet” was conducted to obtain articles related to the research focus area. Only full-text, peer-reviewed, written in English articles were selected. Data extraction and data analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-extension to Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) protocol. Results: From the initial 586 studies, a total of 27 articles were included in the final analysis of the review. The thematic analysis included “GFCF diet and improvement of the core autistic symptoms”, “the gut–brain link”, “dietary interventions and autism”, “possible side effects due to the GCFC diet”, and “inconclusive studies and mixed opinions”. A majority of the studies showed a positive effect of the GFCF diet on a variety of autistic symptoms, including positive changes in cognitive skills, behaviour, and gastrointestinal symptoms, while some showed conflicting evidence. Conclusions: The currently available evidence on the impact of the “GFCF” diet on the quality of life of autistic children and adolescents may warrant potentially effective interventions for alleviating symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. However, this scoping review highlights the need for more research to provide more reliable evidence on the health outcomes and quality of life of ASD sufferers to guide practice.
{"title":"Impact of Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet on Behavioural Outcomes and Quality of Life of Autistic Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review","authors":"Kristina Zafirovski, Mirjana Trpevska Aleksoska, Joe Thomas, Fahad Hanna","doi":"10.3390/children11070862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070862","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Gluten- and casein-containing foods could aggravate the symptoms of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and subsequently impact their quality of life. However, there is a mixed opinion among researchers concerning the impact of alternative diet on reducing ASD symptoms. Objective: This scoping review aimed at examining the impact of the “gluten-free, casein-free” (GFCF) diet on health outcomes and the quality of life among autistic children and adolescents. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was performed following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Four databases, including EbscoHost, Medline, CINAHL, and ProQuest, were used to obtain subject-specific studies relevant to the research question and published between July 2013 and March 2024. A comprehensive search using keywords such as “autism spectrum disorder”, “gluten-free diet”, and “casein-free diet” was conducted to obtain articles related to the research focus area. Only full-text, peer-reviewed, written in English articles were selected. Data extraction and data analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-extension to Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) protocol. Results: From the initial 586 studies, a total of 27 articles were included in the final analysis of the review. The thematic analysis included “GFCF diet and improvement of the core autistic symptoms”, “the gut–brain link”, “dietary interventions and autism”, “possible side effects due to the GCFC diet”, and “inconclusive studies and mixed opinions”. A majority of the studies showed a positive effect of the GFCF diet on a variety of autistic symptoms, including positive changes in cognitive skills, behaviour, and gastrointestinal symptoms, while some showed conflicting evidence. Conclusions: The currently available evidence on the impact of the “GFCF” diet on the quality of life of autistic children and adolescents may warrant potentially effective interventions for alleviating symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. However, this scoping review highlights the need for more research to provide more reliable evidence on the health outcomes and quality of life of ASD sufferers to guide practice.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141642972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-16DOI: 10.3390/children11070859
Bibhuti B. Das
This review delves into the most recent therapeutic approaches for pediatric chronic heart failure (HF) as proposed by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), which are not yet publicly available. The guideline proposes an exhaustive overview of the evolving pharmacological strategies that are transforming the management of HF in the pediatric population. The ISHLT guidelines recognize the scarcity of randomized clinical trials in children, leading to a predominance of consensus-based recommendations, designated as Level C evidence. This review article aims to shed light on the significant paradigm shifts in the proposed 2024 ISHLT guidelines for pediatric HF and their clinical ramifications for pediatric cardiology practitioners. Noteworthy advancements in the updated proposed guidelines include the endorsement of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators for treating chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in children. These cutting-edge treatments show potential for enhancing outcomes in pediatric HFrEF. Nonetheless, the challenge persists in validating the efficacy of therapies proven in adult HFrEF for the pediatric cohort. Furthermore, the proposed ISHLT guidelines address the pharmacological management of chronic HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in children, marking a significant step forward in pediatric HF care. This review also discusses the future HF drugs in the pipeline, their mechanism of actions, potential uses, and side effects.
{"title":"A Review of Contemporary and Future Pharmacotherapy for Chronic Heart Failure in Children","authors":"Bibhuti B. Das","doi":"10.3390/children11070859","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070859","url":null,"abstract":"This review delves into the most recent therapeutic approaches for pediatric chronic heart failure (HF) as proposed by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), which are not yet publicly available. The guideline proposes an exhaustive overview of the evolving pharmacological strategies that are transforming the management of HF in the pediatric population. The ISHLT guidelines recognize the scarcity of randomized clinical trials in children, leading to a predominance of consensus-based recommendations, designated as Level C evidence. This review article aims to shed light on the significant paradigm shifts in the proposed 2024 ISHLT guidelines for pediatric HF and their clinical ramifications for pediatric cardiology practitioners. Noteworthy advancements in the updated proposed guidelines include the endorsement of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators for treating chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in children. These cutting-edge treatments show potential for enhancing outcomes in pediatric HFrEF. Nonetheless, the challenge persists in validating the efficacy of therapies proven in adult HFrEF for the pediatric cohort. Furthermore, the proposed ISHLT guidelines address the pharmacological management of chronic HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in children, marking a significant step forward in pediatric HF care. This review also discusses the future HF drugs in the pipeline, their mechanism of actions, potential uses, and side effects.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141643578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-15DOI: 10.3390/children11070858
Anita Freeman, Emily Golding, Jennifer Gardner, Zoe Berger
Background: Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PIMS-TS) is a novel condition that was identified for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited research exists that describes the psychological needs of children and young people (CYP) following an acute hospital admission for PIMS-TS. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to explore both psychological need and access to psychology services for CYP and their families who were admitted to a paediatric tertiary hospital in London, UK, for PIMS-TS between April 2020 and May 2021. Results: We included 121 CYP and a parent/caregiver for each. In total, 23.3% of the CYP were at risk of developing a traumatic stress response and 11.6% were at risk of experiencing emotional disturbance. Of the parents screened, 40.5% also scored above clinical cut-off for a trauma response. There was a significant relationship observed between CYP and parents identified as having a trauma risk. Conclusions: The importance of proactive screening for both trauma and emotional distress in CYP and their parents/caregivers following acute hospital admission is highlighted. In addition, there is a need to think about a CYP as part of a system of care and to ensure that clinicians pay attention to parental wellbeing and mental health when understanding the psychological impact on a child.
{"title":"Paediatric Post-Traumatic Stress Risk for Young People and Parents following Acute Admission for Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome: Retrospective Analysis of Psychological Screening and Support","authors":"Anita Freeman, Emily Golding, Jennifer Gardner, Zoe Berger","doi":"10.3390/children11070858","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070858","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PIMS-TS) is a novel condition that was identified for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited research exists that describes the psychological needs of children and young people (CYP) following an acute hospital admission for PIMS-TS. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to explore both psychological need and access to psychology services for CYP and their families who were admitted to a paediatric tertiary hospital in London, UK, for PIMS-TS between April 2020 and May 2021. Results: We included 121 CYP and a parent/caregiver for each. In total, 23.3% of the CYP were at risk of developing a traumatic stress response and 11.6% were at risk of experiencing emotional disturbance. Of the parents screened, 40.5% also scored above clinical cut-off for a trauma response. There was a significant relationship observed between CYP and parents identified as having a trauma risk. Conclusions: The importance of proactive screening for both trauma and emotional distress in CYP and their parents/caregivers following acute hospital admission is highlighted. In addition, there is a need to think about a CYP as part of a system of care and to ensure that clinicians pay attention to parental wellbeing and mental health when understanding the psychological impact on a child.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141646250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-15DOI: 10.3390/children11070857
Ikram Bezrati, Raouf Hammami, H. Ceylan, Karuppasamy Govindasamy, Mohamed K. Ben Fradj, Moncef Feki, Abderraouf Ben Mansour, Koulla Parpa
Background: Monitoring anthropometry, dietary intake, and physical activity (PA) is essential to prevent/counteract childhood obesity. This study examined dietary intake, PA, and anthropometric characteristics in young boys practicing soccer as a recreational sport. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 226 boys aged 8 to 13 years participating in soccer as a recreational activity in football academies located in Tunis, Tunisia. Anthropometric measures allowed the calculation of body mass index, fat mass, and peak height velocity as markers of biological maturity. A three-day food record and a food frequency questionnaire estimated nutrient intake and eating habits. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to estimate the PA level of the participants. Results: It was found that a high percentage of the children had excess weight (54%) and excess fat mass (47%). The total energy, carbohydrate, and saturated fat intake of the children exceeded the recommended levels by approximately 10%, 15%, and 30%, respectively. However, the intake of unsaturated fat was below the estimated requirements, particularly in obese children. In addition to the unbalanced macronutrient intake, the children also showed an insufficient intake of many essential micronutrients. Around 60% to 70% of the children in all three groups had a low intake of magnesium, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and vitamins B9, B12, and D. Moreover, 20% to 35% of the children in the three groups had an insufficient intake of vitamins A and C. Insufficient vitamin E intake was found in 63% of obese children and 35% of non-obese children. It was observed that the PA level was lower in the overweight/obese group compared to the normal-weight group (p < 0.005). More than three-quarters of overweight/obese children had low PA levels, about 20% were moderately active, and only 1 to 2% were highly active. Conversely, normal-weight children showed moderate to high PA levels. Conclusions: Poor eating behavior, an unbalanced diet, and a low PA level are prevalent in Tunisian boys practicing recreational sports. Such a combination is responsible for a disparity between energy intake and expenditure, contributing to weight excess and increased cardiometabolic risk. The study findings provide meaningful information for practitioners and authorities on applying a balanced diet and adequate PA to prevent and fight against obesity and improve cardiometabolic health in youth.
{"title":"Poor Eating Habits and Low Physical Activity Contribute to Weight Excess and Increase Cardiometabolic Risk in Adolescents Practicing Soccer as a Recreational Sport","authors":"Ikram Bezrati, Raouf Hammami, H. Ceylan, Karuppasamy Govindasamy, Mohamed K. Ben Fradj, Moncef Feki, Abderraouf Ben Mansour, Koulla Parpa","doi":"10.3390/children11070857","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070857","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Monitoring anthropometry, dietary intake, and physical activity (PA) is essential to prevent/counteract childhood obesity. This study examined dietary intake, PA, and anthropometric characteristics in young boys practicing soccer as a recreational sport. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 226 boys aged 8 to 13 years participating in soccer as a recreational activity in football academies located in Tunis, Tunisia. Anthropometric measures allowed the calculation of body mass index, fat mass, and peak height velocity as markers of biological maturity. A three-day food record and a food frequency questionnaire estimated nutrient intake and eating habits. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to estimate the PA level of the participants. Results: It was found that a high percentage of the children had excess weight (54%) and excess fat mass (47%). The total energy, carbohydrate, and saturated fat intake of the children exceeded the recommended levels by approximately 10%, 15%, and 30%, respectively. However, the intake of unsaturated fat was below the estimated requirements, particularly in obese children. In addition to the unbalanced macronutrient intake, the children also showed an insufficient intake of many essential micronutrients. Around 60% to 70% of the children in all three groups had a low intake of magnesium, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and vitamins B9, B12, and D. Moreover, 20% to 35% of the children in the three groups had an insufficient intake of vitamins A and C. Insufficient vitamin E intake was found in 63% of obese children and 35% of non-obese children. It was observed that the PA level was lower in the overweight/obese group compared to the normal-weight group (p < 0.005). More than three-quarters of overweight/obese children had low PA levels, about 20% were moderately active, and only 1 to 2% were highly active. Conversely, normal-weight children showed moderate to high PA levels. Conclusions: Poor eating behavior, an unbalanced diet, and a low PA level are prevalent in Tunisian boys practicing recreational sports. Such a combination is responsible for a disparity between energy intake and expenditure, contributing to weight excess and increased cardiometabolic risk. The study findings provide meaningful information for practitioners and authorities on applying a balanced diet and adequate PA to prevent and fight against obesity and improve cardiometabolic health in youth.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141645811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-14DOI: 10.3390/children11070854
J. A. Moreno-Murcia, Luciane de Paula-Borges, Alfonso Trinidad
Repetitive practice can become an exploratory activity where instruction and discovery are linked, allowing instruction and guidance through tasks that help to construct and acquire the knowledge and skills that make up the content. (1) Background: The aim of the study was to show how a teaching method based on guided discovery would affect the teaching of children’s aquatic competence in schoolchildren with different levels of competence. (2) Methods: An observational study was conducted with 385 schoolchildren (195 boys and 189 girls) aged 3–5 years belonging to a charter kindergarten, using an Instrument for the Measurement of Aquatic Competence in Children (SMACC) consisting of 17 items grouped into three dimensions: socio-affective, cognitive, and motor. (3) Results: After measuring aquatic competence, all age groups and all variables (motor, cognitive, and socio-affective) showed differences between pre- and post-scores and a high magnitude of effect size. When the teaching intervention was analyzed according to the level of aquatic competence of the age group, improvements were found in all variables in both the low and high-competence groups. (4) Conclusions: This study describes how guided discovery instruction has equal effects at different levels of proficiency. Furthermore, when this type of instruction was used, aquatic competence was explained not only by the motor and socio-affective dimensions but also by the cognitive variable.
{"title":"Can Guided Discovery Instruction Be Detrimental to Children with Different Levels of Aquatic Competence in Infancy?","authors":"J. A. Moreno-Murcia, Luciane de Paula-Borges, Alfonso Trinidad","doi":"10.3390/children11070854","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070854","url":null,"abstract":"Repetitive practice can become an exploratory activity where instruction and discovery are linked, allowing instruction and guidance through tasks that help to construct and acquire the knowledge and skills that make up the content. (1) Background: The aim of the study was to show how a teaching method based on guided discovery would affect the teaching of children’s aquatic competence in schoolchildren with different levels of competence. (2) Methods: An observational study was conducted with 385 schoolchildren (195 boys and 189 girls) aged 3–5 years belonging to a charter kindergarten, using an Instrument for the Measurement of Aquatic Competence in Children (SMACC) consisting of 17 items grouped into three dimensions: socio-affective, cognitive, and motor. (3) Results: After measuring aquatic competence, all age groups and all variables (motor, cognitive, and socio-affective) showed differences between pre- and post-scores and a high magnitude of effect size. When the teaching intervention was analyzed according to the level of aquatic competence of the age group, improvements were found in all variables in both the low and high-competence groups. (4) Conclusions: This study describes how guided discovery instruction has equal effects at different levels of proficiency. Furthermore, when this type of instruction was used, aquatic competence was explained not only by the motor and socio-affective dimensions but also by the cognitive variable.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141650660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-14DOI: 10.3390/children11070855
Rocío Muñoz-Sánchez, M. Hurtado-Pomares, I. Juárez-Leal, Jessica Piñero, E. Navarrete-Muñoz, D. Valera-Gran
This study explored the association between parental employment status and education level and the prevalence of sensory reactivity (SR) in population-based sample of school-aged children. SR was assessed in 495 children using the parent-reported Short Sensory Profile (SSP) questionnaire. Children with SR were identified based on probable or definitive differences in total SSP and subscales. Association between parental employment and education level were explored using multiple Poisson regression models with robust variance, adjusted for potential confounders. The main findings showed that a mother’s unemployment status was associated with higher prevalence of SR for the taste/smell sensitivity subscale (PR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.08–2.56), and the low energy/weak (PR = 2.18, 95%CI: 1.31–3.49) subscale. A lower education level of a father was also associated with a higher prevalence of sensory problems on the tactile sensitivity subscale (PRprimary education = 2.68, 95%CI: 1.27–5.61; PRsecondary education = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.004–3.66) and the low energy/weak subscale (PRsecondary education = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.02–3.73). This study underscores the impact of parental employment and education on SR in school-aged children, offering insights for interventions and support systems aimed at improving their sensory functioning and overall well-being.
{"title":"Exploring the Association between Parental Employment Status, Education Level, and Sensory Reactivity in Spanish Children Aged 3–7 Years: Findings from the InProS Study","authors":"Rocío Muñoz-Sánchez, M. Hurtado-Pomares, I. Juárez-Leal, Jessica Piñero, E. Navarrete-Muñoz, D. Valera-Gran","doi":"10.3390/children11070855","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070855","url":null,"abstract":"This study explored the association between parental employment status and education level and the prevalence of sensory reactivity (SR) in population-based sample of school-aged children. SR was assessed in 495 children using the parent-reported Short Sensory Profile (SSP) questionnaire. Children with SR were identified based on probable or definitive differences in total SSP and subscales. Association between parental employment and education level were explored using multiple Poisson regression models with robust variance, adjusted for potential confounders. The main findings showed that a mother’s unemployment status was associated with higher prevalence of SR for the taste/smell sensitivity subscale (PR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.08–2.56), and the low energy/weak (PR = 2.18, 95%CI: 1.31–3.49) subscale. A lower education level of a father was also associated with a higher prevalence of sensory problems on the tactile sensitivity subscale (PRprimary education = 2.68, 95%CI: 1.27–5.61; PRsecondary education = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.004–3.66) and the low energy/weak subscale (PRsecondary education = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.02–3.73). This study underscores the impact of parental employment and education on SR in school-aged children, offering insights for interventions and support systems aimed at improving their sensory functioning and overall well-being.","PeriodicalId":9854,"journal":{"name":"Children","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141650429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}