Effectiveness of Cord blood as a Strategy to rule out Conjugated Hyperbilirubinemia.

Early detection of biliary atresia is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes in infants with elevated conjugated bilirubin levels. This study aims to investigate the viability of cord blood gas analysis as a novel method for assessing conjugated bilirubin levels. Infants with high heel stick levels also showed elevated cord blood bilirubin levels, indicating that cord blood testing could replace the need for repeat heel stick tests, especially benefiting low birth weight infants.

Dawn-to-dusk dry fasting decreases circulating inflammatory cytokines in subjects with increased body mass index.

Background: The circadian rhythm involves numerous metabolic processes, including sleep/awakening, body temperature regulation, hormone secretion, hepatic function, cellular plasticity, and cytokine release (inflammation), that appear to have a dynamic relationship with all the processes above. Studies have linked various cytokines to the chronic state of low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress in obesity. Dawn-to-dusk dry fasting (DDDF) could alleviate the adverse effects of obesity by decreasing inflammation.

Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes screening at a large pediatric center.

Objective: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation guidelines recommend annual diabetes screening by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) starting at the age of 10 years. Adherence to these guidelines proves to be challenging, and the nationwide screening rates are still considered suboptimal. The aim of this study was to assess and improve the screening rates at our large pediatric center.

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Titers and Severity of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Objective: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare yet serious pathological consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection which is reported 4-12 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 in children and adolescents. The most common hyper-inflammatory conditions mimicking the clinical presentation of MIS-C include Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. The surveillance criteria of MIS-C were recently revised by US Center for Disease Control and Prevention to improve diagnostic precision.

A Retrospective Chart Review of Patients Who Underwent Cardiac Evaluation Before Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Overweight and obesity are considered to be a global pandemic. Its associations with hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational chart review of obese patients who were seen in our outpatient clinic for cardiovascular clearance prior to an intended bariatric surgery between 2004 and 2020.