Chen-Wei Yen , Jung Lee , En-Pei Lee , Yi-Jung Chang , Po-Cheng Yen , Chyi-Liang Chen , Cheng-Hsun Chiu
{"title":"Clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection and its impact on pediatric emergency care in northern Taiwan","authors":"Chen-Wei Yen , Jung Lee , En-Pei Lee , Yi-Jung Chang , Po-Cheng Yen , Chyi-Liang Chen , Cheng-Hsun Chiu","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.02.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.02.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 outbreak started in Taiwan in April 2022. The pandemic posed a challenge to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) because of increased PED visits and diverse clinical presentations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analyzed the clinical characteristics and impact of the Omicron BA.2 pandemic in patients who visited our PED from April 2022 to July 2022. The data from the Alpha variant pandemic during the same period in 2021 were compared with these findings.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, 10,878 children were enrolled, and 7047 (64.8%) children were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. They had a mean ± SD age of 5.3 ± 4.1 years. The rates of patients with Pediatric Taiwan Triage and Acuity Scale (Ped-TTAS) level 1 (most urgent) (12.3%) and level 2 (27.6%) increased. More children were triaged as most urgent during the Omicron BA.2 pandemic than during the Alpha variant pandemic (<em>p</em> < 0.001). Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were likely to present with high fever, croup, dyspnea, febrile seizures, headache, dizziness, and myalgia (all <em>p</em> < 0.001). Four hundred and eleven (5.8%) patients were admitted; 25 (0.4%) patients needed intensive care, including 11 (44.0%) with encephalopathy or encephalitis. Three (0.04%) patients died due to fulminant encephalitis, encephalitis with septic shock, and respiratory failure.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The number of PED visits and the Ped-TTAS level of disease severity significantly increased during the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 outbreak. The most common symptom was fever, and high fever was more common in patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection. The rates of patients with croup and febrile seizures also increased.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":"66 2","pages":"Pages 102-109"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141297397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors associated with scoliosis development in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A single-center retrospective study.","authors":"Sohkun Hoshino, Tomohide Yoshida, Mayumi Tsukayama, Taro Naka, Hiroshi Sekiguchi, Jun Kobayashi, Koichi Nakanishi","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.10.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.10.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Scoliosis is the most frequent complication of musculoskeletal abnormalities in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, but the factors that related to its development and severity remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the clinical factors associated with the development and severity of scoliosis in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-two patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for congenital diaphragmatic hernia at the University of the Ryukyus Hospital between 2004 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, particularly those who were discharged alive and had available chest radiographs at 4-5 years of age from medical records. The presence of scoliosis was determined using the chest radiographs. Basic and medical information was also extracted from the patients' medical records.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Factors associated with scoliosis development were an Apgar score <7 points, liver prolapse, and intubation period. The Cobb angle exhibited a significant positive correlation with intubation period, hospital stay duration, and tube feeding duration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia have a high risk of developing scoliosis and may need to begin comprehensive intervention by a multidisciplinary medical team at an early stage.</p>","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143588396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A comprehensive analysis of clinical variables for severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm infants.","authors":"Yi-Ling Tung, Shih-Ming Chu, Reyin Lien, Ren-Huei Fu, Kai-Hsiang Hsu, Ming-Chou Chiang, Chih-Yung Chiu","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2025.01.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2025.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Identifying clinical risk factors that may forecast the development of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in very and extremely premature infants can assist clinicians in implementing early interventions to reduce long-term morbidity and mortality rates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cohort study of enrolled preterm neonates born before the gestational age (GA) of 32 weeks was performed between May 2018 and January 2022. Clinical parameters and comorbidities were gathered retrospectively from medical records and compared among different BPD severity levels based on the diagnostic definition of the 2019 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development criteria. Random forest models were used to rank the importance of clinical variables independently for severe BPD development.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 134 preterm infants were enrolled and then divided into three groups based on their BPD severity. Unlike infants with no or mild BPD, the GA, birth weight, and Apgar score at 5 min were considerably lower in preterm infants with severe BPD (P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of preterm infants born before GA 28 weeks revealed that only birth weight was significantly lower in those with severe BPD (P = 0.001). Furthermore, sepsis rates were significantly higher in extremely preterm infants with severe BPD (P < 0.001). Using random forest analysis, sepsis, birth weight, and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) appeared to have the highest importance for severe BPD in extremely premature infants.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Lower birth weight, sepsis, and the presence of PDA all play important roles in the development of severe BPD in extremely preterm infants.</p>","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143588395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thi Tuyet Le, Bui Quang Minh Pham, Thi Trung Thu Nguyen, Thi Hong Hanh Nguyen, Thi Thuy Dung Le
{"title":"Association of LEP rs7799039 and LEPR rs1137101 polymorphisms with obesity in Vietnamese preschool children.","authors":"Thi Tuyet Le, Bui Quang Minh Pham, Thi Trung Thu Nguyen, Thi Hong Hanh Nguyen, Thi Thuy Dung Le","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.09.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes that regulate body weight and energy homeostasis, such as LEP and LEPR, may influence susceptibility to obesity. The present study aims to evaluate the association of LEP rs7799039 and LEPR rs1137101 polymorphisms with obesity in Vietnamese preschool children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A case-control study was conducted on 1146 preschool children aged 3-6 years (360 obese children and 786 normal-weight children). Genotypes at rs7799039 and rs1137101 loci were identified by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After adjusting for age and sex, single SNP analysis indicated an association of LEP rs7799039 with obesity (OR∗ = 1.41, P∗ = 0.01 in the recessive model), but no association between LEPR rs1137101 and obesity was found. In SNP-SNP interaction analysis, the combination of LEP rs7799039 AA and LEPR rs1137101 GG genotypes conferred a greater risk of obesity (OR∗ = 1.48, P∗ = 0.015).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study implies a synergistic effect of LEP rs7799039 and LEPR rs1137101 on obesity susceptibility. Therefore, these two polymorphisms are potential genetic markers to predict childhood obesity in the Vietnamese population.</p>","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shivendra Rai, Shalini Tripathi, Mala Kumar, S N Singh, Sukriti Kumar
{"title":"Lung ultrasonography in the management of preterm (≤34 weeks) neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.","authors":"Shivendra Rai, Shalini Tripathi, Mala Kumar, S N Singh, Sukriti Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.07.014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.07.014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is largely clinical with the support of a chest X-ray. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is emerging as a reliable bedside technique to evaluate RDS.</p><p><strong>Aims and objectives: </strong>To determine the LUS for preterm neonates ≤34 weeks of gestation admitted within 12 h of birth with clinical suspicion of RDS and to compare the lung USG score with the chest X-ray score to predict the need for surfactant administration.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective observational study was conducted among 67 preterm neonates with clinical suspicion of RDS admitted to our NICU. Neonates underwent a clinical examination, followed promptly by a chest X-ray and LUS. The decision to administer surfactant was made on the basis of the clinical picture and chest X-ray. The NICU team was blinded to the findings of LUS, and the radiologist was blinded to the X-ray chest report.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>More than two-thirds (67.2%) of the enrolled neonates with clinical suspicion of RDS required surfactant administration. The median LUS score was 12 among those who needed surfactant, while it was 8 for those who did not need surfactant. A receiver operator curve was constructed for the LUS and chest X-ray scores to determine the need for surfactant administration. The area under the curve (AUC) for the LUS score was higher than that of the chest X-ray score (0.962 vs. 0.811; p < 0.001) for predicting the need for surfactant administration. The sensitivity and specificity for the LUS and chest X-ray scores were 95.6% versus 93.3% and 91% versus 50%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The LUS score is more useful than the chest X-ray score for determining the need for surfactant in preterm neonates with RDS suspicion.</p>","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143588397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of necrotizing enterocolitis in term newborns with critical congenital heart disease and affecting factors.","authors":"Berra Zumrut Tan Recep, Erkut Öztürk","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.09.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.09.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and its influencing factors in term newborns diagnosed with critical congenital heart disease.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted retrospectively on term neonates diagnosed with critical congenital heart disease who were admitted to the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2024. The frequency of NEC and the risk factors contributing to its development were evaluated in the cases. The results were analyzed statistically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 400 cases during the study period, with 52% being male. The median weight was 2900 g (IQR 2800-3000 g). NEC development was observed in 12 cases (3%). Ten cases were ductus-dependent (10/320), and two cases were diagnosed with other critical congenital heart diseases (2/80). The median age at diagnosis was 7 days (IQR 5-10 days). According to the modified Bell criteria, six patients had NEC stage IIA, four had stage IIB, one had stage IIIA, and one had stage IIIB. Surgical treatment was administered to three cases (25%). Independent risk factors for NEC included gestational age <38 weeks (OR 5.9, p = 0.004), birth weight <2500 g (OR 3.2, p = 0.02), mechanical ventilation dependency (OR 6.4, p = 0.01), >6 packed red blood cells (OR 6.4, p = 0.01), parenteral nutrition (OR 9, p < 0.001), and presence of functional single ventricle (OR 6.8, p = 0.008). The mortality rate was higher in cases with NEC compared to those without (50% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>NEC is a common complication in term neonates diagnosed with critical congenital heart disease. Low birth weight and gestational age, single ventricle physiology, mechanical ventilation dependency, excessive blood product usage, and parenteral nutrition increase the risk of NEC development in these cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143558865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Alport syndrome: Expanding diagnosis and treatment","authors":"Hou-Xuan Huang , I-Jung Tsai , Larry A. Greenbaum","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.10.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.10.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alport syndrome (AS) is the second common monogenic cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) worldwide and is caused by defective type 4 collagen due to pathogenic variants of <em>COL4A3, COL4A4,</em> or <em>COL4A5</em>. Type 4 collagen also exists in the eyes and ears, and thus ocular defects and hearing loss occur in AS. The understanding of AS has expanded over the past two decades due to greater availability of genetic testing and research on genotype-phenotype correlation. Patients previously diagnosed with idiopathic steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome or ESKD of unknown etiology may now be diagnosed as AS if pathogenic <em>COL4A3-5</em> variants are identified. Some carriers of heterozygous <em>COL4A3-5</em> variants may now be classified into females with X-linked AS or autosomal dominant AS, if there are typical pathologic changes in the glomerular basement membrane or if there is proteinuria and progression of kidney disease. Lastly, it has been recommended that renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibition be started as soon as possible for selected AS patients for its long-term protective effect against kidney function deterioration. The purpose of this review is to introduce these important concepts to general pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":"66 ","pages":"Pages S13-S17"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142633323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advocacy for DOHaD research optimizing child kidney health","authors":"You-Lin Tain","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.10.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.10.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging antenatal risk factors have been associated with an increased risk of kidney disease throughout the offspring's life course. However, the intricate kidney programming mechanisms underlying these risks remain complex and are incompletely understood, but they are rooted in structural and functional alterations within the kidneys. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory underscores the significance of elucidating core mechanisms initiated through the maternal-fetal interface, which trigger kidney programming. Furthermore, it offers a promising avenue for preventing kidney disease at its earliest stages through a process known as reprogramming. This concise review aims to synthesize existing knowledge regarding the impact of kidney programming on offspring kidney disease and to provide an overview of documented reprogramming strategies as observed in animal models of kidney programming. By consolidating this information, we aim to expedite the translation of research breakthroughs into practical clinical solutions, ultimately resulting in enhanced outcomes for children facing kidney-related issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":"66 ","pages":"Pages S18-S22"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Acid-base homeostasis in the neonate","authors":"Michael G. Michalopulos, Raymond Quigley","doi":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56095,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics and Neonatology","volume":"66 ","pages":"Pages S8-S12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142633309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}