Post-traumatic stress trajectories of children and their parents over the year following intensive care discharge: A secondary analysis.

Background: New research in the field of psychological trauma has emphasized (a) the heterogeneity of psychological reactions after traumatic events and (b) the existence of distinct symptom trajectories.

Aims: In this study, existing data on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in 66 parent-child dyads were re-examined in the light of this literature in order to establish whether a similar pattern of symptom trajectories also applies to this population.

Study Design: A prospective observational cohort study.

The impact of restrictions to visiting in paediatric intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Restrictions to hospital visiting were mandated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with variability in the degree of restriction imposed. At times, paediatric intensive care units (ICU) restricted visiting to one parent/carer. Views of parents/carers and ICU staff about changes in the visiting policy are not well understood.

Chemoradiation-induced pneumonitis in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: High-grade pneumonitis is a severe and potentially life-threatening adverse event associated with concurrent chemoradiation (cCRT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to summarize and quantify the incidence of severe (grade 3-5) cCRT-induced pneumonitis in unresectable stage III NSCLC patients.

Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Interaction of bacterial genera associated with therapeutic response to immune checkpoint PD-1 blockade in a United States cohort.

Background: Recent studies show that human gut microbial composition can determine whether a patient is a responder or non-responder to immunotherapy but have not identified a common microbial signal shared by responding patients. The functional relationship between immunity, intestinal microbiota, and NSCLC response to immune checkpoint inhibitor/inhibition (ICI) in an American cohort remains unexplored.

Methods: RNAlater-preserved fecal samples were collected from 65 pre-treatment (baseline) and post-treatment stage III/IV NSCLC patients undergoing ICI therapy, categorized as responders or non-responders according to RECIST criteria.

Metagenomics and chemotherapy-induced nausea: A roadmap for future research.

Uncontrolled chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can reduce patients' quality of life and may result in premature discontinuation of chemotherapy. Although nausea and vomiting are commonly grouped together, research has shown that antiemetics are clinically effective against chemotherapy-induced vomiting (CIV) but less so against chemotherapy-induced nausea (CIN). Nausea remains a problem for up to 68% of patients who are prescribed guideline-consistent antiemetics.

Efficacy and Safety of IV Sildenafil in the Treatment of Newborn Infants with, or at Risk of, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN): A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of sildenafil added to inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) for newborn infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn (PPHN) or hypoxic respiratory failure (HRF) at risk of PPHN.

Study Design: Part A of a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Infants ≤96 hours' old, >34 weeks of gestation, receiving iNO (10-20 ppm on ≥50% FiO) for PPHN or HRF at risk of PPHN, and oxygen index >15 to <60, were randomized (1:1) to intravenous (IV) sildenafil (loading: 0.

Preoperative nutrition-enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for thoracic neoplasms.

Objectives: Because patients' preoperative nutritional status influences the outcomes, we have used a preoperative nutrition program for surgical patients for a 2-year period and compared the results with those from a cohort treated in the previous 2 years.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed curative thoracic neoplasm resections from July 15, 2016, to July 15, 2018, in patients who had received a preoperative nutritional-enhanced recovery after surgery (N-ERAS) protocol. The protocol consisted of 5 days of an oral immunonutrition drink 3 times daily, daily receipt of probiotics, and a carbohydrate-loading drink the night before surgery.

A Customized At-Home Stool Collection Protocol for Use in Microbiome Studies Conducted in Cancer Patient Populations.

Fecal specimen collection in the clinical setting is often unfeasible for large population studies, especially because cancer patients on immunotherapy often experience constipation. A method for constructing and using an at-home stool collection kit designed for epidemiological studies in cancer patients is presented. Participation and compliance rates of the collection kit among late-stage cancer patients from an ongoing, longitudinal study are also discussed.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Methods to Collect Follow-Up Information From Parents 12 Months After Their Child's Emergency Admission to Pediatric Intensive Care.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of different methods of collecting follow-up data from parents 12 months after their child's emergency admission to a PICU.

Design: Mixed-methods explanatory sequential design.

Setting: One regional PICU transport service and three PICUs in England.

Self-Reported Fatigue in Children Following Intensive Care Treatment.

Objectives: Adults report high levels of fatigue after intensive care, but little is known about pediatric survivors. This study aimed to explore rates of self-reported fatigue in children after critical illness.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Inflammation and psychopathology in children following PICU admission: an exploratory study.

Background: Survivors of critical illness in childhood commonly display subsequent psychiatric symptoms including emotional and behavioural difficulties, and manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anomalies in inflammatory profiles are an established finding in these childhood psychiatric conditions.

Objective: This exploratory study aimed to investigate whether abnormal peripheral blood inflammatory markers measured during paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission were associated with psychiatric symptoms after discharge.

Impact of viral presence in tumor on gene expression in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: In our recent study, most non-small-lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor specimens harbored viral DNA but it was absent in non-neoplastic lung. However, their targets and roles in the tumor cells remain poorly understood. We analyzed gene expression microarrays to identify genes and pathways differentially altered between virus-infected and uninfected NSCLC tumors.

A real-world, multi-site, observational study of infusion time and treatment satisfaction with rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with intravenous golimumab or infliximab.

Objectives: To assess real-world infusion times for golimumab (GLM-IV) and infliximab (IFX) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and factors associated with treatment satisfaction.

Methods: An observational study assessed infusion time including: clinic visit duration, RA medication preparation and infusion time, and infusion process time. Satisfaction was assessed by a modified Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (patient) and study-specific questionnaires (patient and clinic personnel).

Post-traumatic stress after PICU and corticosteroid use.

Aim: To examine the association between corticosteroid use in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) and subsequent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: The subjects were children aged 8-16 years admitted to PICU with sepsis, meningoencephalitis (ME) and other disorders. Illness information was extracted from case notes; 3-6 months post discharge children completed a PTSD symptom questionnaire (eight-item Impact of Events Scale (IES-8)) assessing intrusion and avoidance symptoms.

Stress hormones and posttraumatic stress symptoms following paediatric critical illness: an exploratory study.

In this exploratory case-control study, we investigated basal cortisol regulation in 5-16-year-old children, 3-6 months following PICU (paediatric intensive care) admission. This was nested within a study of child psychological and cognitive function; 47 children were assessed alongside 56 healthy controls. Saliva samples were collected three times per day (immediately after waking, waking +30 min, and waking +12 h) over two consecutive weekdays.

Bosentan as Adjunctive Therapy for Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn: Results of the Randomized Multicenter Placebo-Controlled Exploratory Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan as adjunctive therapy for neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

Study Design: This was a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled exploratory trial (FUTURE-4). Eligible patients were >34 weeks gestation, <7 days old, receiving inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) treatment (≥4 hours), and had persistent respiratory failure (oxygenation index [OI] ≥12).

Persistence of Neuropsychological Deficits Following Pediatric Critical Illness.

Objective: To study 12-month persistence of neuropsychological deficits in PICU survivors.

Design: Prospective follow-up study.

Setting: Two PICUs.

Mental and physical well-being following admission to pediatric intensive care.

Objective: To assess mental and physical well-being in school-aged children following admission to pediatric intensive care and to examine risk factors for worse outcome.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Setting: Two PICUs.

Modifier 22 for acetabular fractures in morbidly obese patients: does it affect reimbursement?

Background: Modifier 22 in the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) book is a billing code for professional fees used to reflect an increased amount of skill, time, and work required to complete a procedure. There is little disagreement that using this code in the setting of surgery for acetabulum fractures in the obese patient is appropriate; however, to our knowledge, the degree to which payers value this additional level of complexity has not been determined.

Questions/purposes: We asked whether (1) the use of Modifier 22 increased reimbursements in morbidly obese patients and (2) there was any difference between private insurance and governmental payer sources in treatment of Modifier 22.

Appearance and location of retinal haemorrhages in critically ill children.

Background: There are few high-quality studies describing the appearance and location of retinal haemorrhages in critically ill children not due to birth or abusive head trauma.

Methods: Prospective study from February 2008 to December 2009 of emergency admissions to a paediatric intensive care unit aged over 6 weeks. Children with a penetrating eye injury or suspected or proven abusive head injury were excluded.

Neuropsychologic function three to six months following admission to the PICU with meningoencephalitis, sepsis, and other disorders: a prospective study of school-aged children.

Objective: To assess short-term neuropsychological function and academic performance in school children following admission to intensive care and to explore the role of critical neurologic and systemic infection.

Design: A prospective observational case-control study.

Setting: Two PICUs.

Children's self-reported quality of life after intensive care treatment.

Objectives: A number of studies have reported on parental/clinician reports of children's quality of life after intensive care treatment. The aim of this study was to establish children's own views of their outcome. [corrected].

Patterns of post-traumatic stress symptoms in families after paediatric intensive care.

Purpose: To establish longitudinal rates of post-traumatic stress in a cohort of child-parent pairs; to determine associations with poorer outcome.

Method: This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study set in a 21-bed unit. In total 66 consecutive admissions aged 7-17 years were screened with one parent at 3 and 12 months post-discharge.