Indicators of Glucose Metabolism in Children and Adolescents Characterized as Having "Metabolically Healthy" and "Metabolically Unhealthy" Obesity.

Background/objectives: Some individuals with obesity may exhibit fewer metabolic disturbances and face a lower long-term risk of complications; however, the existence of this so-called "metabolically healthy obesity" (MHO) compared to "metabolically unhealthy obesity" (MUO) remains controversial. We hypothesized that children with MHO might have a more favorable profile than children with MUO. Markers of glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity were compared between children and adolescents diagnosed with MHO and MUO.

Perspectives on the Use of Echinocandins in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) population, especially low birth weight and critically ill neonates, is at risk of invasive infections, which are associated with high mortality rates and unfavorable long-term outcomes. The timely initiation of an appropriate antifungal treatment has been demonstrated to enhance the prognosis. Factors that should be considered in the choice of an antifungal agent include the causative strain, the presence and location of deep tissue infection, any previous use of antifungal prophylaxis, and the presence of implanted devices.

Invasive Candida Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Risk Factors and New Insights in Prevention.

Invasive Candida infections represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), with a particular impact on preterm and low-birth-weight neonates. In addition to prematurity, several predisposing factors for Candida colonization and dissemination during NICU hospitalization have been identified, including prolonged exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, central venous catheters, parenteral nutrition, corticosteroids, H2 antagonist administration, and poor adherence to infection control measures. According to the literature, the implementation of antifungal prophylaxis, mainly fluconazole, in high-risk populations has proven to be an effective strategy in reducing the incidence of fungal infections.

Bioinformatics in Neonatal/Pediatric Medicine-A Literature Review.

Bioinformatics is a scientific field that uses computer technology to gather, store, analyze, and share biological data and information. DNA sequences of genes or entire genomes, protein amino acid sequences, nucleic acid, and protein-nucleic acid complex structures are examples of traditional bioinformatics data. Moreover, proteomics, the distribution of proteins in cells, interactomics, the patterns of interactions between proteins and nucleic acids, and metabolomics, the types and patterns of small-molecule transformations by the biochemical pathways in cells, are further data streams.

Antibiofilm Strategies in Neonatal and Pediatric Infections.

Biofilm-related infections pose significant challenges in neonatal and pediatric care, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality rates. These complex microbial communities, comprising bacteria and fungi, exhibit resilience against antibiotics and host immune responses. Bacterial species such as , , , and commonly form biofilms on medical devices, exacerbating infection risks.

Reintroduction of Legacy Antibiotics in Neonatal Sepsis: The Special Role of Fosfomycin and Colistin.

Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a rapidly growing global problem. A significant proportion of the pathogens that commonly cause neonatal sepsis are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Autonomic Function in Obese Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Obesity is invariably accompanied by autonomic dysfunction, although data in pediatric populations are conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies (totaling 1102 participants) comparing obese and normal-weight subjects (5-18 years of age), defined as body mass index >95th or <85th percentile, respectively. Using a random-effects model, we report the standardized mean differences (SMD) of sympathetic and vagal indices of heart rate variability.

Application of Advanced Molecular Methods to Study Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis.

Early-onset sepsis (EOS) is a global health issue, considered one of the primary causes of neonatal mortality. Diagnosis of EOS is challenging because its clinical signs are nonspecific, and blood culture, which is the current gold-standard diagnostic tool, has low sensitivity. Commonly used biomarkers for sepsis diagnosis, including C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and interleukin-6, lack specificity for infection.

Pituitary gland height evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging in premature twins: the impact of growth and sex.

Background: Pituitary gland height reflects secretory activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis.

Objective: To assess the cumulative impact of fetal growth and sex on pituitary gland height in premature twins, dissociated from prematurity.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, assessing the pituitary gland height in 63 pairs of preterm twins, measured from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Assessment of Maternal Retinal Microvasculature in Preterm Pregnancy Using OCT-Angiography: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Pregnancy induces a cascade of hemodynamic changes that are likely to affect the maternal systemic and ocular circulation. The current study aimed to investigate retinal microvasculature alterations in women with preterm and full-term pregnancy using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). This was a cross-sectional, comparative, single-center study.

A literature review on the redundancy of additional thyroid function tests in neonates of mothers with hypothyroidism.

Aim: Newborn thyroid screening tests are carried out during the first days after birth in many parts of the world. The aim of this review was to assess whether additional thyroid function tests of neonates born to mothers with hypothyroidism are necessary to diagnose newborns with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) missed by the usual screening test.

Methods: A search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted for pertinent studies, using relevant keywords.

Beta Cell Dysfunction in Youth- and Adult-Onset Type 2 Diabetes: An Extensive Narrative Review with a Special Focus on the Role of Nutrients.

Traditionally a disease of adults, type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been increasingly diagnosed in youth, particularly among adolescents and young adults of minority ethnic groups. Especially, during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, obesity and prediabetes have surged not only in minority ethnic groups but also in the general population, further raising T2D risk. Regarding its pathogenesis, a gradually increasing insulin resistance due to central adiposity combined with a progressively defective β-cell function are the main culprits.

Classification and Special Nutritional Needs of SGA Infants and Neonates of Multiple Pregnancies.

Data regarding the nutritional management of preterm small for gestational age (SGA) infants are scarce. In the recent report of ESPGHAN, the recommended energy for very preterm infants during hospitalization has been increased, yet this may not fit the needs of all preterm infants. It is important to distinguish fetal growth-restricted (FGR) infants from constitutional SGA infants, as well as preterm SGA from preterm AGA infants, since they may have different nutritional needs.

Growth trajectories during infancy have a significant impact on body composition in childhood.

Evidence supports that growth trajectory during infancy has a major impact on body composition. We aimed to examine body composition in children born small for gestational age (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA) adjusted for postnatal growth velocity. We enrolled 365 children, 75 SGA and 290 AGA, aged 7 to 10 years, examining anthropometrics, skinfold thickness, and body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of Doppler ultrasonography of the superior mesenteric artery in detecting neonates at risk of necrotizing enterocolitis.

The role of postnatal Doppler measurements of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in detecting neonates at risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains uncertain; therefore, we systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the existing evidence regarding the usefulness of SMA Doppler measurements in detecting neonates at risk for NEC. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and we included studies which reported the following Doppler ultrasonography indices: peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, time average mean velocity, differential velocity, pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index. Eight studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis.

Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Rational Use of Antibiotics in Neonatal Sepsis.

Antibiotics are the most frequently prescribed drugs in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) due to the severity of complications accompanying neonatal sepsis. However, antimicrobial drugs are often used inappropriately due to the difficulties in diagnosing sepsis in the neonatal population. The reckless use of antibiotics leads to the development of resistant strains, rendering multidrug-resistant pathogens a serious problem in NICUs and a global threat to public health.

Serum PCSK9 levels in infants with deviant birth weight: a biomarker of the lipoprotein metabolism.

Objective: Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin-Type 9 (PCSK9), a modulator of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol metabolism, has been reported to be a promising biomarker for evaluating lipoprotein metabolism; however, evidence in infants is limited. In the current study, we sought to investigate potential differences in serum PCSK9 levels between infants with deviant birth weight and controls.

Methods: We enrolled 82 infants, classified into 33 small (SGA), 32 appropriate (AGA), and 17 large for gestation (LGA) infants.

Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Infections in the NICUs and Methods to Combat It.

Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. A significant proportion of bacteria causing neonatal sepsis is resistant to multiple antibiotics, not only to the usual empirical first-line regimens, but also to second- and third-line antibiotics in many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). NICUs have unique antimicrobial stewardship goals.

Are the current feeding volumes adequate for the growth of very preterm neonates?

Postnatal growth failure, a common problem in very preterm neonates associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, has recently been shown not to be inevitable. There is a wide discussion regarding feeding practices of very preterm neonates, specifically regarding feeding volumes and nutrients supply to avoid postnatal growth failure. Current guidelines recommend an energy intake of 115–140 kcal /kg per d with a considerably higher upper limit of 160 kcal/kg per d.

Child abuse experience, training, knowledge, and attitude of healthcare professionals in sixty hospitals in Greece.

Objective: This study aims to record the overall perception of healthcare professionals on child abuse and identify potential affecting factors in a nationwide scale in Greece as well as to provide information that might be useful for future educational actions.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1,185 healthcare professionals in 60 hospitals with pediatric departments across Greece participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants included pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, residents, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.

The trends for the "trend toward significance" in the pediatric literature.

Unlabelled: Purpose This study is to examine whether the term "trend toward statistical significance" is used to describe statistically nonsignificant results in biomedical literature. We examined articles published in five high-impact pediatric journals, including The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, The Journal of Pediatrics, Early Human Development, Frontiers in Pediatrics, and BMC Pediatrics to identify manuscripts where a "trend" was used to describe a statistically nonsignificant result, from January 2020 to December 2021, and, furthermore, for The Journal of Pediatrics, Early Human Development, and BMC Pediatrics from January 2010 to December 2011. We detected that a "trend toward significance" was used to describe a statistically nonsignificant result at least once in 146 articles (2.