Pediatric metabolic outcome comparisons based on a spectrum of obesity and asthmatic symptoms.

Rationale: Asthma and obesity are 2 of the most prevalent public health issues for children in the U.S. Trajectories of both have roughly paralleled one another over the past several decades causing many to explore their connection to one another and to other associated health issues such as diabetes and dyslipidemia.

An institutional experience with epidural analgesia in children and young adults undergoing cardiac surgery.

Background: Allowing spontaneous respiration after cardiac surgery eliminates complications related to mechanical ventilation and optimizes cardiopulmonary interaction. Epidural analgesia has been proposed to promote early extubation after cardiac surgery.

Objective: To identify the characteristics of patients with epidural analgesia and safety profiles with respect to the timing of extubation following cardiac surgery.