Soyoung Lee, Kyung-Hyo Kim, Ji Hyen Lee, Han Wool Kim
{"title":"Serum bactericidal activity against meningococcus in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.","authors":"Soyoung Lee, Kyung-Hyo Kim, Ji Hyen Lee, Han Wool Kim","doi":"10.3345/cep.2024.01151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2024.01151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are susceptible to infectious diseases owing to various immunosuppressive treatments and disease characteristics. Meningococcal infections progress rapidly with a high incidence of severe complications and mortality; therefore, meningococcal vaccination is needed. However, there is limited evidence regarding the immunity and immunogenicity of patients with SLE.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to analyze the serum bactericidal activity against meningococci in patients with SLE in two domestic institutions in Korea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Serum samples were collected from patients diagnosed with SLE (age < 19 years) at Seoul National University Children's Hospital and Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital in 2016-2018. Serum bactericidal activity against the four meningococcal serogroups was analyzed using a serum bactericidal assay with rabbit serum. The patients' demographic information, diagnostic history, and disease activity status were obtained from electronic medical records.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of the 41 included patients was 20.3±5.4 (range, 10-35) years. All but one patient received steroids. The sera of most of the patients (34/41 [82.9%]) lacked bactericidal activity against serogroup A. Some patients showed bactericidal activity against serogroups C, W-135, and Y (63.4%, 56.1%, and 61.0%, respectively). There were no significant differences in the geometric mean indices based on complement consumption state or anti-double-stranded DNA antibody positivity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although the sera of some patients exhibited serum bactericidal activity against meningococci, most remained seronegative. It is important that patients with SLE at risk of meningococcal infection receive appropriate vaccinations. Our findings serve as baseline serological data for meningococcal vaccination policies for patients with SLE.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142984888","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}
{"title":"The role of serum zinc and selenium levels in etiology of febrile seizures.","authors":"Yavuz Ataş, Hatice Gamze Poyrazoğlu","doi":"10.3345/cep.2024.01410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2024.01410","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Febrile seizures (FSs) are the most common form of childhood seizures. Determining the role of trace elements in the pathophysiology of FSs will contribute to the management of FSs by pediatricians.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the effects of zinc and selenium on the nervous system and how they may influence the risk of FSs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this case-control study, there were 60 children in the simple FS group and 40 children in the complex FS group. The control groups comprised 50 children with fever but without seizures and 50 healthy children. Blood samples were collected within the first hour after FS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Zinc and selenium levels were significantly lower in children with fever but without seizures versus healthy children (p<0.001). Serum zinc levels were lower in children with FSs (simple and complex FSs) than in healthy children (p<0.001) but higher than in children with fever but without seizures (p<0.001). Serum selenium levels in children with FSs (simple and complex) were lower than in healthy children but higher than in the children with fever but without seizures. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Serum zinc levels are significantly decreased during infection, whereas they show a statistically significant increase within the first hour after FS activity. This indicates that the body secretes zinc during FSs to restore homeostasis, reduce oxidative stress, and increase the seizure threshold. Therefore, zinc supplementation during febrile periods may effectively prevent FSs in high-risk children.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142984980","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}
Ameneh Lamsehchi, Maryam Shokouhi Solgi, Mohammad Kazem Sabzehei, Behnaz Basiri, Elahe Talebi Ghane, Kiana Kimiaei Asadi, Sina Azadnajafabad
{"title":"Short-term outcomes of oropharyngeal administration of colostrum in preterm neonates: a double-blind placebocontrolled randomized trial.","authors":"Ameneh Lamsehchi, Maryam Shokouhi Solgi, Mohammad Kazem Sabzehei, Behnaz Basiri, Elahe Talebi Ghane, Kiana Kimiaei Asadi, Sina Azadnajafabad","doi":"10.3345/cep.2024.00591","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2024.00591","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The oropharyngeal administration of colostrum (OAC) in neonates has several benefits.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the short-term outcomes of OAC in preterm neonates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed this 2-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial at a tertiary neonatal center in Iran in 2021-2023. The intervention and control arms received 0.2 mL of their mother's colostrum or distilled water via oropharyngeal administration every 6 hours for 3 days starting from birth until 72 hours of age. The main study outcomes were neonatal death, the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), length of hospital stay, and period to full enteral feeding. A regression analysis was used to adjust for possible confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 126 neonates (mean gestational age, 30.05 weeks) were randomized to the intervention and placebo groups (n=63 each) and had a mean±standard deviation weight of 1,247±193 g versus 1,156±215 g (P=0.013) and 1- and 5-min Apgar scores of 6.35 versus 5.38 (P=0.003) and 7.84 versus 7.13 (P=0.001), respectively. The mortality rate was 12.7% in the intervention group versus 14.3% in the placebo group (P=0.794). The necrotizing enterocolitis rate was significantly lower in the intervention versus placebo arm (11.1% vs. 28.6%, respectively, P=0.010), as was the clinically suspected sepsis rate (15.9% vs. 39.7%, respectively, P=0.004). The ROP and bronchopulmonary dysplasia rates did not differ significantly between groups after the adjustment for confounders. The mean length of hospital stay was shorter in the intervention group (26.1 days vs. 37.32 days, P=0.023). Moreover, the mean duration of antibiotic therapy and period to full feeding were significantly shorter in the intervention group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>OAC could effectively decrease the incidence of complications in preterm infants and facilitate earlier patient discharge.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"73-79"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11725619/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eun-Young Lee, Reyana Jayawardena, Seiyeong Park, Justin Y Jeon, Yeon-Soo Kim, Mark S Tremblay
{"title":"Global trends in importance of 24-hour movement behaviors to pediatric health: implications for South Korea.","authors":"Eun-Young Lee, Reyana Jayawardena, Seiyeong Park, Justin Y Jeon, Yeon-Soo Kim, Mark S Tremblay","doi":"10.3345/cep.2024.00178","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2024.00178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cultivating a 24-hour movement behavioral profile conducive to health and well-being, marked by adequate levels of physical activity, limited screen time, and sufficient sleep, has emerged as an important avenue for promoting pediatric health. We aimed to provide evidence of this potential, this multiphase, multimethod, and integrative review comprehensively investigated the global trends in health promotion initiatives and status of the Korean pediatric population. This integrative review comprised 3 phases employing various review methods: an environmental scan of existing guidelines for 24-hour movement behaviors worldwide, a rapid review of physical activity-related indicators from Global Matrix data, and a systematic review of 24-hour movement behaviors among children and adolescents in South Korea. The growing recognition of a holistic approach to the 24-hour movement behavior paradigm in pediatric health promotion has led to the establishment and adoption of 24-hour movement guidelines in different countries and by the World Health Organization (WHO). Korean health authorities have also responded to this need by releasing a translated report of the WHO guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behavior as well as the 2024 update of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Koreans. Accordingly, actions must be followed in policy, research, and practice. This is critical considering that Korean children and adolescents exhibit an unfavorable profile of 24-hour movement behaviors compared to the global average. Among those aged 0-6 years, the weighted averages for guideline adherence were 18.2% for physical activity, 38.1% for sedentary behavior, and 76.2% for sleep. For those aged 12-18 years, the weighted averages for guideline adherence were 20.4% for physical activity, 55.9% for sedentary behavior, and 26.2% for sleep. Building on these current findings, this integrative review provides 3 priorities for pediatric health promotion policy and practice and 3 recommendations for future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"16-29"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11725615/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nur Faten Hafizah Rosli, Noor Shafina Mohd Nor, Rose Adzrianee Adnan, Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul Kadir
{"title":"A review of vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor polymorphisms in endocrine-related disorders.","authors":"Nur Faten Hafizah Rosli, Noor Shafina Mohd Nor, Rose Adzrianee Adnan, Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul Kadir","doi":"10.3345/cep.2024.00227","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2024.00227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The endocrine system is a complex network of glands that produce and release hormones that regulate various physiological processes. In the past few decades, the human skin has been identified as an important peripheral endocrine organ that is the main site for the synthesis of vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. Mutations in downstream vitamin D-related gene pathways are associated with disease development. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene, which regulates the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D, has been extensively studied in adult populations. Several studies have reported the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents. With changes in socioeconomic status and lifestyle, vitamin D-deficient individuals are prone to developing the disease at a young age. However, geographical and racial differences affect the association between VDR gene polymorphisms and vitamin D endocrine disorders, explaining the nonconsensus effects of polymorphisms and their association with disease development across populations. In this review, we discuss the connection between the vitamin D endocrine system and polymorphisms in the gene encoding VDR in children and adolescents, focusing on its effects on growth, puberty, insulin resistance, and the immune system.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"30-52"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11725620/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ji Eun Jeong, You Min Kim, Na Won Lee, Gyeong Nam Kim, Jisuk Bae, Jin Kyung Kim
{"title":"Instability of revised Korean Developmental Screening Test classification in first year of life.","authors":"Ji Eun Jeong, You Min Kim, Na Won Lee, Gyeong Nam Kim, Jisuk Bae, Jin Kyung Kim","doi":"10.3345/cep.2024.00619","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2024.00619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early development is characterized by considerable variability.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to examine the stability of developmental classifications using the revised Korean Developmental Screening Test (K-DST) in healthy term infants aged 4-6 and 10-12 months.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were obtained from the Korean Children's Environmental Health Study, a nationwide prospective birth cohort. Sixty-nine healthy term infants (26 boys, 43 girls) underwent serial K-DST assessments at 4-6 and 10-12 months of age, between August 2017 and December 2019.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 4-5 months, over 50% of infants were categorized in the ≥-1 standard deviation (SD) group, with the lowest prevalence in the gross motor domain (52.7%). Seven infants (10.1%) scored below -2 SD in at least one domain, most commonly in gross and fine motor domains (7.3%). At 10-12 months, over 70% of infants scored in the ≥-1 SD group, except in the language domain. Six infants (9.5%) scored below -2 SD in at least one domain, (cognition 4.8%, language 3.2%, gross motor 3.2%). Serial follow-up showed significant improvement, with many infants moving to the ≥-1 SD group, particularly in the gross motor domain (33.3%). Of the seven infants scoring below -2 SD at 4-5 months, only two remained in this category at 10-12 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Infants scoring below -2 SD on the revised K-DST 4-5 months questionnaire, especially in the gross motor domain, should undergo close monitoring and repeated evaluations in the absence of neurological abnormalities or developmental red flags.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"97-103"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11725617/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rogers Wainkwa Chia, Ntegang Venant Atem, Jin-Yong Lee, Jihye Cha
{"title":"Microplastic and human health with focus on pediatric well-being: a comprehensive review and call for future studies.","authors":"Rogers Wainkwa Chia, Ntegang Venant Atem, Jin-Yong Lee, Jihye Cha","doi":"10.3345/cep.2023.01739","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2023.01739","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although humans are highly dependent on plastics from infancy to adolescence, these materials can degrade into ubiquitous microplastics (MPs) that affect individuals at every stage of life. However, information on the sources, mechanisms, detection techniques, and detrimental effects of MPs on children's health from infancy to adolescence is limited. Hence, here we identified and reviewed original research papers published in 2017-2023 across 11 database categories in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science to improve our understanding of MPs with a focus on pediatric well-being. These studies found that milk and infant formulas are common sources of MP exposure in infants. Infant formula is the dominant source of MPs in babies, while plastic toys are a common source of MPs in toddlers. Adolescents are frequently exposed to MPs through the consumption of food contaminated with MPs and the use of plastics in food packaging. Water and air are sources of MP exposure in children from infancy through adolescence. This study thoroughly summarized how MP exposure in children of all ages causes cell damage and leads to adverse health effects such as cancer. With appropriate authorization from the relevant authorities, small amounts of human biological samples (10 g of feces) were collected from volunteers to assess the amounts of MPs in children with the aim of promoting pediatric well-being. The samples were then treated with Fenton's reagent, stored in glass jars, and filtered through nonplastic filters. Finally, MPs in children were quantified using stereomicroscopy and characterized using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11725616/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Need for national guidance regarding proactive care of infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation.","authors":"Ga Won Jeon","doi":"10.3345/cep.2024.01277","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2024.01277","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With recent rapid improvements in neonatal intensive care, the limit of viability has shifted downward to 22-23 weeks' gestation. The younger the gestational age of preterm infants, the higher the risk of survival despite severe neurodevelopmental impairments. For infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation, the limit of viability, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and survival rates may be determined by the quality of proactive care. Owing to the high risk of severe neurodevelopmental impairment in 22-23 weeks' gestation, proactive care is sometimes withheld according to ethical or legal considerations, and there are significant differences in the provision of proactive care and survival rates across countries or institutions. Additionally, there are differing or even lacking guidelines regarding the care of these infants across countries and institutions. Japan and Sweden are countries with well-established national guidance and proactive care for infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation, resulting in higher survival rates among them. In Korea, where there is an extreme shortage of neonatologists, maternal transfer before delivery at 22-23 weeks' gestation to high-activity regions with appropriate neonatal intensive care unit resources, such as adequate personnel and facilities similar to the centralized care model seen in Sweden, is crucial for improving the survival rates of infants born at 22-23 weeks' gestation. The survival of these infants largely depends on the quality of proactive care provided. This rate is not static and can be improved through proactive care based on national guidance and the implementation of enhanced neonatal intensive care practices, including centralization of care.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"53-61"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11725612/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Polysomnographic features of children with obesity: body mass index predict severe obstructive sleep apnea in obese children?","authors":"Rungrat Sukharom, Prakarn Tovichien, Kanokporn Udomittipong, Pinyapach Tiamduangtawan, Wattanachai Chotinaiwattarakul","doi":"10.3345/cep.2024.00066","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2024.00066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Few studies have explored the polysomnographic features of children with obesity.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to explore the demographic and polysomnographic features of obese children and determine whether body mass index (BMI) could predict severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study recruited obese children who underwent diagnostic polysomnography between January 2019 and March 2022. We explored demographic and anthropometric measures as well as polysomnographic abnormalities among them. We used receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic regression analyses to determine the optimal cutoff values of anthropometric variables for predicting severe OSA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 132 children with obesity (76.5% male; mean age, 12.5±3.2 years) were included. Severe OSA was identified in 64 children (48.5%). Desaturation was observed in 59.8%, while 23.5% had hyperarousal, 20.5% had sleep-related hypoventilation, 60.6% had positional OSA, 40.2% had rapid eye movement-related OSA, and 5.0% had obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Among them, BMI (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.17; P<0.001), neck circumference (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.07-1.25; P<0.001), and waist circumference (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02- 1.07; P=0.001) were significantly associated with severe OSA. These findings suggest a cutoff BMI for predicting severe OSA of greater than 29.2 kg/m2 with 81.3% sensitivity and 48.5% specificity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Severe OSA is common in children with obesity; thus, we recommend screening children with obesity and a BMI greater than 29.2 kg/m2 for severe OSA.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"80-90"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11725614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}