The outcome of functional constipation in Saudi children.

Background: Understanding the outcome of functional constipation (FC) for both patients and physicians is essential, yet it has been infrequently reported worldwide. The objective of this report was to update the outcomes of FC in Saudi children.

Methods: Clinical data including age, sex, response to management, duration of follow up, and type of management were collected from the notes of each clinic visits and phone call follow-ups.

Gut fungal profile in new onset treatment-naïve ulcerative colitis in Saudi children.

Background: Although the role of fungi in gut inflammation in IBD has been suggested, data are still limited in ulcerative colitis (UC). Our aim was to describe the gut fungal profile in a pediatric UC in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Fecal samples from children with UC and control samples provided by healthy school children were collected.

Saudi consensus guidance for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents.

The management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and adolescents is challenging. Clear evidence-based guidelines are required for this population. This article provides recommendations for managing IBD in Saudi children and adolescents aged 6-19 years, developed by the Saudi Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy and the Saudi Gastroenterology Association.

Bacterial dysbiosis in newly diagnosed treatment naïve pediatric ulcerative colitis in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The role of microbiota in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been increasingly recognized. However, most of the reports are from Western populations. In Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, little is known about the role of microbiota.

Clinical profile of functional constipation in Saudi children.

Background: Functional constipation (FC) is a common condition in children, and information on the clinical characteristics of FC in Saudi children is scarce.

Objective: Describe the clinical profile of FC in Saudi children.

Design: Retrospective.

Gut microbiota predicts the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis in Saudi children.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory condition with a worldwide distribution. Although the etiology of this disease is still unknown, the understanding of the role of the microbiota is becoming increasingly strong.

Aim: To investigate the predictive power of the gut microbiota for the diagnosis of UC in a cohort of newly diagnosed treatment-naïve Saudi children with UC.

Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in Saudi infants and toddlers: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common pediatric problems, but their prevalence in Saudi Arabia is unknown. We aimed to assess the prevalence of FGIDs and risk factors among children in six regions of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional multicenter study enrolling children aged 0-48 months, attending pediatric clinics.

Multichannel intraesophageal impedance with pH metry in Saudi children.

Background: Multichannel Intraesophageal Impedance with pH (MII-pH) provides complete characterization of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). The aim of this study was to report our experience in this relatively new technique, emphasizing the challenges in the performance and interpretation of the results.

Methods: The study was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital at King Saud University in Riyadh.

Intestinal fungal profile in healthy Saudi children.

Background And Study Aim: Fungi have a well-established role in medicine. Herein, we describe the fungal profile and abundance in the gut of healthy Saudi children.

Patients And Methods: Fecal samples from a random sample of 20 school-age Saudi children were collected, stored at -80 °C, and dispatched to the laboratory in the USA where fungal DNAs were isolated and shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed.

Predictors of biliary atresia outcome: Saudi National Study (2000 - 2018).

Background: Outcomes in biliary atresia (BA) have been well-documented in large national cohorts from Europe, North America, and East Asia. Understanding the challenges that preclude success of the Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) is the key to improve the overall outcomes of BA and implementing intervention strategies. Here, we analyzed the data from the Saudi national BA study (204 BA cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2018) to identify the prognostic factors of BA outcomes.

Clinical and laboratory features of biliary atresia and patterns of management practices: Saudi national study (2000-2018).

Background: We utilized the data from the Saudi national biliary atresia (BA) study (2000-2018) to describe the clinical, biochemical, imaging, and histopathological features of BA and the perioperative clinical practices among local pediatric gastroenterologists.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicenter, nationwide study that included 10 tertiary care governmental hospitals including the four liver transplant (LT) centers in different regions across Saudi Arabia.

Results: BA was diagnosed in 204 infants (106 females; 10% preterm).

Frequency and predictive factors for spontaneous normalization of anti-tissue transglutaminase-IgA serology among Saudi children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A cohort study.

Background: Celiac serology can be transiently elevated in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and normalized despite gluten consumption. This study aimed to identify the frequency and predictive factors of spontaneous normalization of anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG-IgA) antibodies in these patients.

Methods: The charts of all patients (≤18 years) with T1DM were retrospectively reviewed from 2012 to 2021 at a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Gut microbiota predicts the diagnosis of celiac disease in Saudi children.

Background: Celiac disease (CeD) is a multisystem immune-mediated multifactorial condition strongly associated with the intestinal microbiota.

Aim: To evaluate the predictive power of the gut microbiota in the diagnosis of CeD and to search for important taxa that may help to distinguish CeD patients from controls.

Methods: Microbial DNA from bacteria, viruses, and fungi, was isolated from mucosal and fecal samples of 40 children with CeD and 39 controls.

Microbiota profile of new-onset celiac disease in children in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Intestinal dysbiosis has been reported to be associated with celiac disease (CeD) in Western populations but little is known in other populations who have different dietary lifestyle and genetic background. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a different microbiota profile is associated with CeD in children in Saudi Arabia.

Results: Forty children with CeD, 20 healthy controls, and 19 non-CeD controls were enrolled.

The Epidemiology and Outcome of Biliary Atresia: Saudi Arabian National Study (2000-2018).

Background: The epidemiology and outcomes of biliary atresia (BA) have been well-documented in national cohorts from two main ethnicities, namely, the Asian Orientals and Caucasians, with incidence ranging from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 9,000 live births in East Asia and 1 in 15,000 to 19,000 live births in Europe and North America.

Objective: We report the first nationwide BA study outside North America, Europe, and East Asia to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of BA in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A national database of BA cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 was analyzed.

Tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome: Retrospective multicenter experience in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Trichohepatoenteric syndrome (THES) is a very rare disorder that is characterized by intractable congenital diarrhea, woolly hair, intrauterine growth restriction, facial dysmorphism, and short stature. Our knowledge of THES is limited due to the small number of reported cases.

Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with THES, all molecularly confirmed by whole exome sequencing (WES) to have biallelic variants in TTC37 or SKIV2L, were included in the study.

Barriers to the delivery of enteral nutrition in pediatric intensive care units: A national survey.

Background And Aim: According to previously reported studies in the literature, a significant number of patients do not receive enteral nutrition in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) because of avoidable barriers. Optimal nutrition is a fundamental goal in PICU. This study aims to identify the barriers of enteral nutrition in PICU.

Fungal Dysbiosis in Children with Celiac Disease.

Background: Although intestinal fungi are known to interact with the immune system, the relationship between intestinal fungi and childhood celiac disease (CeD), an immune-mediated condition, has rarely been reported.

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe gut fungal profiles in a cohort of children with new-onset CeD.

Methods: Mucosal and fecal samples were collected from children with CeD and controls and subjected to metagenomics analysis of fungal microbiota communities.

Bacterial dysbiosis predicts the diagnosis of Crohn's disease in Saudi children.

Background: Studies have reached different conclusions regarding the accuracy of dysbiosis in predicting the diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this report is to assess the utility of mucosal and fecal microbial dysbiosis as predictors in the diagnosis of this condition in Saudi children.

Methods: Tissue and fecal samples were collected prospectively from children with final diagnosis of CD and from controls.

Prevalence of nutritional disorders in Saudi children with inflammatory bowel disease based on the national growth reference.

Background And Study Aim: The prevalence of nutritional disorders in Saudi children with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) has been reported using the World Health Organization (WHO) reference. Our aim was to provide more accurate definition of the prevalence of nutritional impairment in Saudi children with IBDs based on the national growth reference and to demonstrate the effect of using a reference from other populations on the prevalence rates.

Patients And Methods: Weight, height, and body mass index data, from the multicenter study of IBDs in Saudi children and adolescents, were plotted on the new Saudi national growth reference.

Social media usage pattern and its influencing factors among celiac patients and their families.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate social media usage patterns among celiac patients and explore the potential factors that may influence the frequency of its usage.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, in which an online questionnaire was sent to celiac patients registered in the Saudi celiac patients' support group through email and its related social media accounts. Eligible participants included all patients with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease or their parents.

Capsule Endoscopy Complements Magnetic Resonance Enterography and Endoscopy in Evaluating Small Bowel Crohn's Disease.

Aims: Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) and magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) are increasingly utilized to evaluate the small bowel (SB) in Crohn's disease (CD). The primary aims were to compare the ability of WCE and MRE to detect SB inflammation in children with newly diagnosed CD, and in the terminal ileum (TI) to compare them to ileo-colonoscopy. Secondary aims were to compare diagnostic accuracy of WCE and MRE and changes in Paris classification after each study.