Irisin Attenuates Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis in Bile Duct Ligation Mice Model and Improves Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Backgruound: Liver fibrosis is a common outcome of chronic liver disease and is primarily driven by hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. Irisin, a myokine released during physical exercise, is beneficial for metabolic disorders and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the effects of irisin on liver fibrosis in HSCs, a bile duct ligation (BDL) mouse model, and the associated mitochondrial dysfunction.

A Report on a Nationwide Surveillance System for Pediatric Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology in Korea.

Background: Several cases of pediatric acute hepatitis of unknown etiology related to adenoviral infections have been reported in Europe since January 2022. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence, severity, possible etiology, and prognosis of the disease with those in the past in Korea.

Methods: The surveillance group collected data between May and November 2022 using a surveillance system.

Differences in Growth and Dietary and Nutrient Intake Patterns by Breastfeeding Status Over One Year Among Korean Children Aged 24-35 Months.

Background: A previous national study found that Korean children who were breastfed for at least one year had lesser weight gain, lower protein, calcium, and iron intake relative to calories, and different dietary patterns in the second year of life, compared with children weaned before 12 months of age or those who were never breastfed. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether growth status, dietary and nutrient intake patterns differed by prolonged breastfeeding (PBF) experience even in the third year of life, when weaning is considered complete.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on the data of children aged 24 to 35 months from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2020).

The Current Status of Prolonged Breastfeeding and Its Related Factors in Korean Infants and Their Mothers: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: International authorities recommend prolonged breastfeeding (PBF) for 12-24 months or more with 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data, this study attempted to help encourage and educate breastfeeding (BF) over 1 year by investigating long-term BF trends and related factors in Korean infants and their mothers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on data on children aged 12-23 months and their mothers from 2010 to 2020.

Association between Weight Status and Mental Health among Korean Adolescents: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

This study explored the relationship between adolescents' weight status and mental health problems. It specifically investigated the weight perceptions of obese adolescents and the effect on their mental health. This cross-sectional study was based on the data of adolescents aged 12-18 years from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2010-2019).

Growth, Nutritional Status, and Dietary Intake Patterns Associated With Prolonged Breastfeeding in Young Korean Children: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Although the optimal duration of breastfeeding remains unclear, breastfeeding is generally recommended exclusively for the first 6 months of life, which continues into late infancy. However, the awareness regarding the effects of long-term breastfeeding is relatively low compared with that of breastfeeding in early infancy. We aimed to investigate the growth and nutritional characteristics of the children with prolonged breastfeeding (PBF) over 1 year.

The long-term clinical course of protein-losing enteropathy combined with iron deficiency anemia in Korean toddlers: Possible association with cow's milk protein.

Background: Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), a rare condition with excessive gastrointestinal protein loss, presents with hypoalbuminemia, edema, or ascites. Several cases of PLE combined with severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA) have been reported in infants and toddlers that were considered to result from excessive cow's milk consumption, although the mechanism has not been clearly established.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and radiologic characteristics of patients diagnosed and treated for PLE with IDA between 2015 and 2021.

A new perspective on cholesterol in pediatric health: association of vitamin D metabolism, respiratory diseases, and mental health problems.

Cholesterol, the main structural molecule of cell membranes, is involved in essential functions of the human body. Dyslipidemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) that is observed even in childhood. To reduce the risk of CVDs in children, several clinical guidelines have been published for the management of pediatric dyslipidemia.

Nationwide "Pediatric Nutrition Day" survey on the nutritional status of hospitalized children in South Korea.

Background/objectives: To evaluate the nutritional status and prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized children at admission and during hospitalization in South Korea.

Subjects/methods: This first cross-sectional nationwide "Pediatric Nutrition Day (pNday)" survey was conducted among 872 hospitalized children (504 boys, 368 girls; 686 medical, 186 surgical) from 23 hospitals in South Korea. Malnutrition risk was screened using the Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS) and the Screening Tool Risk on Nutritional status and Growth.

Clinical and Radiologic Characteristics of Caudal Regression Syndrome in a 3-Year-Old Boy: Lessons from Overlooked Plain Radiographs.

Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) is a rare neural tube defect that affects the terminal spinal segment, manifesting as neurological deficits and structural anomalies in the lower body. We report a case of a 31-month-old boy presenting with constipation who had long been considered to have functional constipation but was finally confirmed to have CRS. Small, flat buttocks with bilateral buttock dimples and a short intergluteal cleft were identified on close examination.

Association of Variants With Crohn's Disease in Korean Children.

The interleukin 23 receptor gene () is strongly associated with Crohn's disease (CD). It is unknown whether genetic variations in determine susceptibility for pediatric CD in Asian populations. Here, we investigated the association between variants and CD in Korean children.

The Association between Depressive Mood and Cholesterol Levels in Korean Adolescents.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that there is a correlation between lipid levels and depressive mood, and that lipids could be useful biomarkers for depression. We conducted this study to clarify the association between lipid levels and depressive mood in adolescents, especially in community samples.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) that was conducted from 2013 to 2016.

Three case reports of collagenous gastritis in children: Lessons for an endoscopic and histologic approach to mucosal nodularity of the stomach.

Rationale: Collagenous gastritis (CG) is a rare form of chronic gastritis defined histologically by a thickened subepithelial collageneous band in the lamina propria. However, the clinical features and endoscopic findings of CG have not been clearly established in the pediatric population.

Presenting Concerns: We report the cases of 3 children who presented with intractable anemia and minimal or no gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and were followed up without definitive diagnosis determination even through diagnostic endoscopic evaluations.

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Obesity: Recommendations from the Committee on Pediatric Obesity of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition.

The Committee on Pediatric Obesity of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition newly developed the first Korean Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity in Children and Adolescents to deliver an evidence-based systematic approach to childhood obesity in South Korea. The following areas were systematically reviewed, especially on the basis of all available references published in South Korea and worldwide, and new guidelines were established in each area with the strength of recommendations based on the levels of evidence: 1) definition and diagnosis of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents; 2) principles of treatment of pediatric obesity; 3) behavioral interventions for children and adolescents with obesity, including diet, exercise, lifestyle, and mental health; 4) pharmacotherapy; and 5) bariatric surgery.

Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric obesity: recommendations from the Committee on Pediatric Obesity of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition.

The Committee on Pediatric Obesity of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition newly developed the first Korean Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity in Children and Adolescents to deliver an evidence-based systematic approach to childhood obesity in South Korea. The following areas were systematically reviewed, especially on the basis of all available references published in South Korea and worldwide, and new guidelines were established in each area with the strength of recommendations based on the levels of evidence: (1) definition and diagnosis of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents; (2) principles of treatment of pediatric obesity; (3) behavioral interventions for children and adolescents with obesity, including diet, exercise, lifestyle, and mental health; (4) pharmacotherapy; and (5) bariatric surgery.

Complete Recovery of Oxysterol 7α-Hydroxylase Deficiency by Living Donor Transplantation in a 4-Month-Old Infant: the First Korean Case Report and Literature Review.

Oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase deficiency is a very rare liver disease categorized as inborn errors of bile acid synthesis, caused by mutations. As it may cause rapid progression to end-stage liver disease even in early infancy, a high index of suspicion is required to prevent fatal outcomes. We describe the case of a 3-month-old boy with progressive cholestatic hepatitis and severe hepatic fibrosis.

Characteristics of Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Involvement in Korean Pediatric Crohn's Disease: A Multicenter Study.

Purpose: Crohn's disease (CD) can involve any site of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). However, the characteristics of upper GIT involvement in CD are unclear, especially in the Eastern pediatric population. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of upper GIT involvement and identify the clinical features of Korean children with CD.

A case of retroperitoneal abscess: A rare complication of Meckel's diverticulum.

Introduction: The frequent complications of Meckel's diverticulum are hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, and inflammation, and perforation. The presentation as a retroperitoneal abscess as complications of Meckel's diverticulum is a very rare clinical entity.

Presentation Of Case: We report a rare case of perforated Meckel's diverticulum with retroperitoneal abscess.

Ménétrier's Disease as a Gastrointestinal Manifestation of Active Cytomegalovirus Infection in a 22-Month-Old Boy: A Case Report with a Review of the Literature of Korean Pediatric Cases.

Ménétrier's disease (MD), which is characterized by hypertrophic gastric folds and foveolar cell hyperplasia, is the most common gastrointestinal (GI) cause of protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). The clinical course of MD in childhood differs from that in adults and has often been reported to be associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. We present a case of a previously healthy 22-month-old boy presenting with PLE, who was initially suspected to have an eosinophilic GI disorder.

Breastfeeding and Red Meat Intake Are Associated with Iron Status in Healthy Korean Weaning-age Infants.

The present study investigated risk factors for iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) during late infancy, including feeding type and complementary feeding (CF) practice. Healthy term Korean infants (8-15 months) were weighed, and questionnaires regarding delivery, feeding, and weaning were completed by their caregivers. We also examined levels of hemoglobin, serum iron/total iron-binding capacity, serum ferritin, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV).

Low-Level Toxic Metal Exposure in Healthy Weaning-Age Infants: Association with Growth, Dietary Intake, and Iron Deficiency.

Even low levels of toxic metal exposure (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in infancy might be harmful to children's development. This study investigated toxic metal exposure on healthy weaning-age infants and its relationship with growth, diet, and iron/anemia status. The weight, height, head circumference, whole blood levels of four toxic metals, hemoglobin, and serum ferritin of healthy infants was measured.

Laboratory markers indicating gastrointestinal involvement of henoch-schönlein purpura in children.

Purpose: To determine clinically useful biochemical markers reflecting disease activity and/or gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).

Methods: A total of 185 children with HSP and 130 controls were included. Laboratory data indicating inflammation, standard coagulation, and activated coagulation were analyzed for the HSP patients, including measurements of the hemoglobin level, white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen, D-dimer, and fibrin degradation product (FDP) levels.

Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the common bile duct: first Asian case report.

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) in the biliary system is a poorly differentiated, high-grade neuroendocrine tumor. These tumors exhibit aggressive behavior and an increased tendency for early nodal and distant metastases. Herein, we report an unusual case of a pure primary LCNEC of the common bile duct (CBD).

Clinical applications of gastrointestinal manometry in children.

Manometry is a noninvasive diagnostic tool for identifying motility dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite the great technical advances in monitoring motility, performance of the study in pediatric patients has several limitations that should be considered during the procedure and interpretation of the test results. This article reviews the clinical applications of conventional esophageal and anorectal manometries in children by describing a technique for performing the test.