Andrew T Gabrielson, David F Grabski, Timothy B Lautz, Edward M Gong
{"title":"Modern management and multidisciplinary care of bladder prostate rhabdomyosarcoma.","authors":"Andrew T Gabrielson, David F Grabski, Timothy B Lautz, Edward M Gong","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001604","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001604","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Bladder/prostate rhabdomyosarcoma (BP-RMS) is a challenging clinical entity within pediatric genitourinary oncology. While historical management relied on radical extirpative surgery, the contemporary paradigm has shifted toward multimodal therapy combining chemotherapy, radiation, and organ-sparing surgery to maximize bladder preservation. This review examines the current landscape of BP-RMS diagnosis, molecular risk stratification, and surgical management, with a particular emphasis on multidisciplinary surgical collaboration.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Outcomes for BP-RMS have improved through cooperative group trials (COG, SIOP, EpSSG), though functional bladder outcomes remain suboptimal despite organ preservation. Risk stratification has evolved to prioritize PAX-FOXO1 fusion status over histology alone, as fusion-positive tumors demonstrate more aggressive behavior. Surgical management now favors biopsy followed by delayed primary excision or radiation rather than upfront resection. Collaboration between pediatric urology and pediatric surgery in the surgical management of patients with BP-RMS may aid in optimizing oncologic outcomes, minimize trial protocol deviations, inadvertent upstaging, and reduce cognitive load during complex resections.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>BP-RMS requires nuanced management that balances oncologic control with long-term functional quality of life. The high complexity of pelvic surgery and the risks of inadvertent upstaging necessitate a cohesive, multidisciplinary surgical team to navigate the anatomical and therapeutic challenges of this disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"531-537"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148808483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis: an early step on the atopic march.","authors":"Kaylee Spano, Theresa Gervais, Victoria Martin","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001594","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001594","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) has traditionally been considered a benign, non-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated condition of infancy without long-term consequences. This review examines evidence challenging this framework and discusses FPIAP as an early manifestation of atopic susceptibility within the broader atopic march. We also review diagnostic limitations and the potential consequences of prolonged dietary elimination.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Epidemiologic data demonstrate significant independent associations between FPIAP and IgE-mediated food allergy, asthma, as well as other non-IgE-mediated conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). These findings suggest overlap between IgE- and non-IgE-mediated allergic diseases, potentially reflecting shared immunologic pathways. A lack of standardized diagnostic criteria leads to the overdiagnosis of FPIAP contributing to unnecessary dietary restriction. Evidence further suggests that this overrestriction likely leads to the delay of introduction of allergens, potentially increasing risk for IgE-mediated food allergy in this population.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>FPIAP may represent an early marker of atopic predisposition rather than an isolated gastrointestinal disorder. Recognizing its potential role within the atopic march has important implications for diagnosis, dietary management, and timing of allergen introduction. Improved diagnostic precision, earlier reintroduction of offending allergen, and timely introduction of other food allergens may reduce unnecessary restriction and mitigate downstream atopic risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"509-514"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148808334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neonatal management of patients with anorectal malformations.","authors":"Arianne Maya, Andrea Badillo, Briony K Varda","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001603","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001603","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>To synthesize current practice patterns, expert consensus, and evidence-informed recommendations for the evaluation and management of patients with anorectal malformations (ARMs).</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Adoption of standardized, anatomy-based classification systems has improved consistency in reporting and enabled more robust multiinstitutional research. Increasing centralization of care within multidisciplinary colorectal centers has enhanced coordinated evaluation across multiple surgical subspecialties. Early, comprehensive screening for associated anomalies - particularly renal, spinal, and Müllerian abnormalities - remains critical, though gaps in detection persist. Initial management strategies emphasize ensuring effective bowel decompression through dilation, diversion, or selective primary repair. Surgical management continues to evolve, with growing evidence supporting selective single-stage repair in low malformations and utilization of emerging techniques aimed at minimizing morbidity while preserving function. Contemporary data highlights the importance of risk-stratified, longitudinal urologic surveillance given the high prevalence of renal and bladder dysfunction, particularly in patients with high fistula insertion or persistent cloaca, upper urinary tract anomalies and/or clinically significant spinal dysraphism.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Optimal neonatal management of ARM includes comprehensive screening for associated anomalies, early multidisciplinary involvement, and individualized decision-making regarding timing and approach to repair, ideally within experienced, high-volume centers.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"515-523"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148676818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Improving care for distal hypospadias: recent studies provide a blueprint for improved diagnostics and optimized operative outcomes.","authors":"Vinaya P Bhatia","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001608","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001608","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Recent clinical studies provide key insights into our current approach to the management of distal hypospadias. This common condition has known long-term complications; identification of optimal approaches to identification, assessment of anatomic landmarks, and optimal technical selection can be used to benefit our large population of these patients.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Mediators of androgen disruption have been implicated in distal hypospadias pathogenesis. Anatomic assessments are increasingly using app-based technology and deep learning to plan repair. Home-based postoperative care is being increasingly shown to be feasible, safe, and effective while supporting patient satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>The care of distal hypospadias has continued to rapidly evolve over the past year. Surgeons should strongly consider care pathways that involve support of the families at home to remove stents and dressings, coverage of urethroplasties with a dartos flap and possibly adjunctive biomaterials, and long-term care pathways that include monitoring of functional and psychosexual outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"524-530"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148808463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Vitamin D in pediatrics: the need for precision medicine-based guidelines for screening, monitoring, and supplementation.","authors":"Benjamin Udoka Nwosu","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001599","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001599","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>About 7.6 million children and adolescents in the United States have vitamin D deficiency. There are significant consequences from low vitamin D states, including epigenetic modifications in utero that lead to diseases later in life. Current vitamin D guidelines are inadequate because they focus solely on the skeletal benefits of vitamin D, excluding its extra-skeletal functions.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recent randomized controlled trials and large, long-term studies demonstrate the extra-skeletal benefits of vitamin D in type 1 diabetes, prediabetes, multiple sclerosis, telomere erosion, and cardiovascular health at higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] compared with the current recommended thresholds. These data call for a revision of current guidelines for vitamin D screening and supplementation.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Vitamin D is vital for health due to its skeletal and extra-skeletal functions. Extra-skeletal functions are less well known among medical personnel and the public. Thus, most of the world's population, especially children, have sustained suboptimal serum concentrations of 25(OH)D, which exert negative impacts on health across the lifespan. This Review provides the data and rationale for a comprehensive revision of vitamin D guidelines for fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents, using a precision medicine-based approach to address their skeletal and extra-skeletal needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"561-567"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148600108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of preventive cardiology in children.","authors":"Michelle Ghandhi Degen, Shannon M Lyon","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001614","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001614","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>This review examines prevalence, diagnosis, and management strategies for cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity in children and adolescents. As these risk factors begin in childhood and track into adulthood, early intervention is important in preventing cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in the United States.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 characterizes components of cardiovascular health including health behaviors (diet, exercise, sleep, tobacco use) and health factors (blood lipids, blood pressure, blood glucose, and weight). Optimizing these health metrics is associated with favorable overall and cardiovascular health (CVH) outcomes. In the United States, prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular disease is projected to rise over the next decade, while hypercholesterolemia is declining. While lifestyle modifications remain a cornerstone in care, new pharmacotherapeutic options have emerged for children over the past several years to treat dyslipidemia and obesity.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Pediatric clinicians have an important role in counseling and supporting CVH in children. This review examines aspects of CVH that are commonly managed in preventive cardiology programs, focusing on diagnostic evaluation and treatment strategies, highlighting new and emerging therapies for children and adolescents, including pharmacotherapy and latest research on effective lifestyle modifications.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"469-476"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148789405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ching Man Carmen Tong, Shanquell M Dixon, Theodore M Dowd, Robert T Russell
{"title":"Contemporary management of pediatric renal trauma.","authors":"Ching Man Carmen Tong, Shanquell M Dixon, Theodore M Dowd, Robert T Russell","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001601","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000001601","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Management of pediatric renal trauma has evolved in the past decade to lean towards a conservative approach. This review aims to highlight new findings in imaging utilization, nonoperative management strategies, and postinjury surveillance considerations to optimize patient outcomes and long-term renal preservation.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>In hemodynamically stable patients, nonoperative management remains the standard of care, with high success rates. Even among high-grade injuries, most patients are successfully managed without surgery, supporting a renal preservation approach. Gross hematuria remains a significant and independent predictor for need of operative intervention in high-grade injuries, necessitating a thorough imaging evaluation with excretory phase computed tomography (CT) imaging. Emerging imaging modalities such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound show promise in detecting high-grade renal injuries while reducing the use of radiation. The majority of patients do not require repeat imaging, despite recommendations in adult trauma literature, and repeat imaging during admissions should be based on clinical deterioration and symptomatology. Routine yearly blood pressure measurements should be considered for monitoring of renal function decline.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Ongoing refinement of imaging strategies and risk stratification tools holds promise for improving outcomes while reducing unnecessary interventions. Future multicenter, prospective studies are needed to validate these approaches and create standardized care pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":"38 5","pages":"538-545"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148900104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Grace Powderly, William Warner, Tara Goesch, Jamie Harris, Gwen Grimsby
{"title":"Surgical evaluation and management of neurogenic bowel and bladder in children with spinal dysraphism.","authors":"Grace Powderly, William Warner, Tara Goesch, Jamie Harris, Gwen Grimsby","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001602","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001602","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Neurogenic bowel and bladder are common comorbidities found in children with spinal dysraphism. Although historically managed reactively, treatment focus has shifted toward proactive surgical and medical management aimed to preserve renal function and achieve social continence. This review evaluates recent evidence in the evaluation and surgical management of these conditions, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to ensure long-term independence for pediatric patients with spinal dysraphism.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recent guidelines suggest delaying initial renal imaging until 48 h postbirth for accuracy. Newer evidence also indicates that ultrasound alone is insufficient for monitoring renal health, requiring supplemental markers like cystatin C. Bladder management continues to evolve with the success of awake outpatient botulinum toxin-A injections. Surgical options including robotic-assisted and single-incision laparoscopic techniques for continent bowel and bladder channels demonstrate high success rates, with multiinstitutional data specifically highlighting high family satisfaction with the Malone Antegrade Continence Enema (MACE).</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Proactive management is essential for optimizing long-term outcomes for children with spinal dysraphism. While surgical advancements improve recovery and continence, high rates of nonadherence to catheterization and bowel management protocols remain a challenge. Successful management requires balancing innovative surgical techniques with patient preferences and longitudinal support to ensure lifelong health and independence.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"546-552"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148676968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pediatric immunology laboratory evaluation.","authors":"Jonathan P Lim, Jordan K Abbott, Vijaya Knight","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001617","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000001617","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Laboratory evaluation of the immune system is an essential component of diagnostic workup for suspected immune disorders in pediatric patients. Because the immune system evolves rapidly across infancy and childhood, and age-specific reference ranges are limited for many assays, interpretation of immune laboratory results requires careful attention to developmental stage and clinical context.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Advances in pediatric immunology have improved understanding of normal, age-appropriate immune development. Consequently, there is growing recognition of the limitations of standard laboratory assays in children and the need for age-specific reference ranges. Developing and applying pediatric reference intervals remains challenging because of assay limitations, sample constraints, and biologic variability across patient populations, issues that are particularly important when interpreting quantitative and functional immune assays.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Accurate diagnosis of immune disorders in children depends on integrating clinical history, physical examination, laboratory trends, and developmental stage. Abnormal laboratory values may reflect normal maturation, benign variation, or transient effects of external factors such as infection rather than true disease. Conversely, reassuring results may still obscure clinically significant immune dysfunction if interpreted in isolation. A structured, age-aware approach to immune testing helps avoid misdiagnosis, supports timely recognition of true immunologic disease, and guides appropriate intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149036826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emerging genetics of sleep and circadian disorders.","authors":"Harita Mani, Vishnu Anand Cuddapah","doi":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001619","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MOP.0000000000001619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Improved access to genetic testing is accelerating identification of variants underlying common sleep traits and rare Mendelian disorders. This review highlights advances over the past two years.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Family-based studies continue to uncover genes governing sleep timing and amount. Advanced sleep-wake phase disorder (ASWPD) is largely caused by molecular clock variants, but newly identified variants in CACNA1D instead affect light entrainment while leaving behavioral rhythms in constant conditions intact. Additionally, a SIK3 loss-of-function variant adds to a growing list of familial natural short sleep (FNSS) genes, including DEC2, NPSR1, ADRB1, and GRM1. Although decreased sleep typically predicts poor health outcomes, converging evidence suggests FNSS variants may promote healthy aging. Mapping causative genes from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has been a challenge, but novel variant-to-gene approaches uncover variants affecting CADM2 as a driver of hypersomnia. Finally, we highlight consequences of variation in the molecular clock: ultrarare variants in BMAL1 cause a novel neurodevelopmental syndrome that includes variable sleep dysfunction.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>The genetic landscape of sleep and circadian disorders is rapidly expanding, driven by family-based studies and GWAS coupled with variant-to-gene mapping. We conclude by hypothesizing that early, severe sleep or circadian dysfunction may itself drive neurodevelopmental disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":10985,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13632946/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148982080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}