Expression of IL-7RαCX3CR1 CD8 T Cells and α4β7 Integrin Tagged T Cells Related to Mucosal Immunity in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the recruiting of T lymphocytes including IL-7Rα CX3CR1 effector memory (EM) CD8 T cells and α4β7 integrin tagged T cells to inflamed intestinal mucosa.

Methods: Whole blood and mucosal tissues of intestine were collected from 40 children with or without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). T cell surface staining and immunohistochemistry were done with several antibodies in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and intestinal mucosa, respectively.

Micronutrient Deficiency and Muscular Status in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Micronutrient deficiencies are common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to evaluate micronutrient deficiencies and identify muscular status of patients with IBD. From June 2019 to October 2021, a total of 105 patients with IBD were enrolled prospectively.

Piperacillin-Tazobactam versus Cefotaxime as Empiric Treatment for Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Hospitalized Children.

Background: According to international pediatric urinary tract infection (UTI) guidelines, selecting ampicillin/sulbactam or amoxicillin/clavulanate is recommended as the first-line treatment for pediatric UTI. In Korea, elevated resistance to ampicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam has resulted in the widespread use of third-generation cephalosporins for treating pediatric UTIs. This study aims to compare the efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) and cefotaxime (CTX) as first-line treatments in hospitalized children with UTIs.

Mucosal Immunity Related to CD8 T Lymphocytes in Children with Gastritis.

Purpose: We investigated the role of CD8T cells as host immune factors in pediatric patients with gastritis.

Methods: Gastric mucosal tissue and blood samples were collected from 39 children, including 11 children with infection and 28 children as controls. Anti-CD8 and anti-T-bet antibodies were used for immunohistochemistry of the gastric mucosa.

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.

Thirty-year Trend in Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Jeju Island, South Korea.

Background/aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasing in South Korea. On the other hand, there are no reports of the incidence and prevalence of IBD specific to Jeju Island, prompting the necessity of this study.

Methods: In this retrospective design, the medical records of 453 patients diagnosed with IBD at Jeju National University Hospital from January 1990 to December 2019 were analyzed.

Two adolescent cases of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis after second dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the emergency use authorization for the BNT162b2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) for children aged 12-15 years on 10 May 2021. To date, less than a year has passed since vaccination against COVID-19 has been used in children and adolescents, and the overall effects and safety of these vaccines are still being assessed. The BNT162b2 vaccine originally had a favorable profile in 12-17-year-old recipients compared with older ages, and no serious adverse events had previously been reported.

Quantitative Analysis of Pancreatic Fat in Children with Obesity Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with and without obesity and to correlate PFF with body mass index (BMI) z-score, hepatic fat fraction (HFF), and ultrasonography-derived pancreato-perihepatic fat index (PPHFI).

Methods: This prospective study included 45 children with obesity and 19 without obesity (control group). PFF and HFF were quantitatively assessed using the abdominal multi-echo Dixon method for MRI.

Effector Memory CD8 and CD4 T Cell Immunity Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Children.

Purpose: We investigated the association of effector memory (EM) CD8 T cell and CD4 T cell immunity with metabolic syndrome (MS).

Methods: Surface and intracellular staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed. Anti-interleukin-7 receptor-alpha (IL-7Rα) and CX3CR1 antibodies were used to stain the subsets of EM CD8 T cells, while anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) antibodies were used for CD4 T cell subsets.

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.

Steroid-induced Psychosis in Adolescent Patient with Crohn's Disease.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts, including the oral cavity. For the conventional treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, steroids are usually used as induction therapy, and azathioprine is used as maintenance therapy. Steroids are associated with various side effects.

Factors associated with Advanced Bone Age in Overweight and Obese Children.

Purpose: Obese children may often present with advanced bone age. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between factors associated with childhood obesity and advanced bone age.

Methods: We enrolled 232 overweight or obese children.

Is the Diagnostic Trial with Proton Pump Inhibitors Reasonable for School Age Children with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms?

Purpose: On the basis of evidence, we aimed to reevaluate the necessity of the empirical proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trial for children with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: We analyzed the frequency of GERD in 85 school-age children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms, who received 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and/or upper endoscopy. According to the reflux index (RI), the children were classified into normal (RI <5%), intermediate (5%≤ RI <10%), or abnormal (RI ≥10%) groups.

Meckel's Diverticulum Diagnosed in a Child with Suspected Small Bowel Crohn's Disease.

We report a rare case of Meckel's diverticulum in a boy who initially presented with chronic iron deficiency anemia (IDA) without any history of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding at 8 years-old. Isolated small bowel Crohn's disease was suspected based on findings of small bowel ulcers on capsule endoscopy. At four years from initial presentation, he developed massive GI bleeding.

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.

Mucosal Immunity Related to FOXP3 Regulatory T Cells, Th17 Cells and Cytokines in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: We aimed to investigate mucosal immunity related to forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) regulatory T (Treg) cells, T helper 17 (Th17) cells and cytokines in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Mucosal tissues from terminal ileum and colon and serum samples were collected from twelve children with IBD and seven control children. Immunohistochemical staining was done using anti-human FOXP3 and anti-RORγt antibodies.

The Analysis of Factors Causing the High Prevalence of Child Obesity in Jeju Island.

Purpose: For 3 consecutive years from 2012-2014, we analyzed the causative factors for why the Jeju Island had the highest obesity prevalences of school children among the 15 provinces in Korea.

Methods: From our analysis of 28,026 elementary school children with obesity or normal weight in the 15 provinces, we analyzed 12 factors related to eating habits, exercise habits, lifestyle, and mental health. The differences between the obese and normal weight children were researched.

Ultrasonographic Quantitative Analysis of Fatty Pancreas in Obese Children: Its Correlation with Metabolic Syndrome and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance.

Objectives: To evaluate pancreatic echogenicity on transabdominal ultrasonography and the correlation of fatty pancreas with metabolic syndrome (MetS), as well as insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]).

Study Design: This retrospective study included 135 obese children and adolescents who underwent transabdominal ultrasonography from January 2015 to December 2015. Fatty pancreas was quantitatively analyzed using the pancreato-perihepatic fat index (PPHFI).

Nutritional Counseling for Obese Children with Obesity-Related Metabolic Abnormalities in Korea.

Child obesity has become a significant health issue in Korea. Prevalence of obesity in school-age children in Korea has been alarmingly rising since 2008. Prevalence of obesity among infants and preschool-age children in Korea has doubled since 2008.