Evidence for shrunken pore syndrome in children.

The link between cystatin C and mortality independent of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in adults has prompted the "Shrunken Pore Syndrome" (SPS) hypothesis, where high serum cystatin C with normal creatinine is explained by smaller glomerular pores, through which creatinine can pass freely, while the larger cystatin C, beta-trace protein (BTP) and pro-inflammatory molecules are retained. This study set out to apply the definition of SPS to children. In 294 children who underwent inulin clearance (Cin) test, serum creatinine, cystatin C and BTP were measured.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression after treatment with glucocorticoid therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Background: Glucocorticoids play a major role in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). However, supraphysiological doses can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. HPA axis suppression resulting in reduced cortisol response may cause an impaired stress response and an inadequate host defence against infection, which remain a cause of morbidity and death.

The Association of Birth Weight and Infant Growth with Energy Balance-Related Behavior - A Systematic Review and Best-Evidence Synthesis of Human Studies.

Background: Suboptimal prenatal and early postnatal growths are associated with obesity in later life, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature that reports on the longitudinal association of (i) birth size or (ii) infant growth with later (i) energy intake, (ii) eating behaviors, (iii) physical activity or (iv) sedentary behavior in humans.

Methods: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Library was conducted to identify relevant publications.

Correction: Associations of Infant Feeding and Timing of Weight Gain and Linear Growth during Early Life with Childhood Blood Pressure: Findings from a Prospective Population Based Cohort Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The association of birth weight and infant growth with childhood autonomic nervous system activity and its mediating effects on energy-balance-related behaviours-the ABCD study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of birth weight and infant growth with childhood autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and to assess whether ANS activity mediates the associations of birth weight and infant growth with energy-balance-related behaviours, including energy intake, satiety response, physical activity and screen time.

Methods: In 2089 children, we prospectively collected birth weight, infant growth defined as conditional weight and height gain between birth and 12 months and-at 5 years-indices of cardiac ANS activity and parent-reported energy-balance-related behaviours. A mediation analysis was conducted, based on MacKinnon's multivariate extension of the product-of-coefficients strategy.

Associations of Infant Feeding and Timing of Weight Gain and Linear Growth during Early Life with Childhood Blood Pressure: Findings from a Prospective Population Based Cohort Study.

Objective: Small birth size and rapid postnatal growth have been associated with higher future blood pressure. The timing of these effects, the relative importance of weight gain and linear growth and the role of infant feeding need to be clarified.

Methods: We assessed how blood pressure relates to birth weight, infant and childhood growth and infant feeding (duration of exclusive breastfeeding and timing of introduction of complementary feeding) in 2227 children aged 5 years from a prospective cohort study (Amsterdam Born Children and their Development).

Excessive infant crying doubles the risk of mood and behavioral problems at age 5: evidence for mediation by maternal characteristics.

The onset of behavioral problems starts in early life. This study examined whether excessive infant crying (maternal ratings) is a determinant of emotional and behavioral problems at age 5-6 years. In the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, a large prospective, observational, population-based multiethnic birth cohort, excessive infant crying (crying for three or more hours per 24 h day over the past week) during the 13th week after birth (range 11-25 weeks, SD 2 weeks), maternal burden of infant care and maternal aggressive behavior (either angry speaking, or physical aggression) was assessed using a questionnaire.

Predicting trajectories of behavioral adjustment in children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Purpose: Previous research showed that children with cancer are at risk for developing behavioral adjustment problems after successful treatment; however, the course of adjustment remains unclear. This study focuses on adjustment trajectories of children during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and aims to distinguish subgroups of patients showing different trajectories during active treatment, and to identify sociodemographic, medical, and psychosocial predictors of the distinct adjustment trajectories.

Methods: In a multicenter longitudinal study, 108 parents of a child (response rate 80 %) diagnosed with ALL were assessed during induction treatment (T0), after induction/consolidation treatment (T1), and after end of treatment (T2).

The association of birth weight and postnatal growth with energy intake and eating behavior at 5 years of age - a birth cohort study.

Background: Low and high birth weight and accelerated postnatal weight gain are associated with an increased risk of obesity. Perinatal effects on energy intake and eating behavior have been proposed as underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the independent associations of birth weight and postnatal weight and height gain with childhood energy intake and satiety response.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression after treatment with glucocorticoid therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Background: Glucocorticoids play a major role in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). However, supraphysiological doses can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. HPA axis suppression resulting in reduced cortisol response may cause an impaired stress response and an inadequate host defence against infections, which remains a cause of morbidity and death.

Screen time and cardiometabolic function in Dutch 5-6 year olds: cross-sectional analysis of the ABCD-study.

Background: Evidence on the association between different screen behaviours and cardiometabolic biomarkers in children is limited. We examined the independent relationship of TV time and PC time with cardiometabolic biomarkers in Dutch 5-6 year old children.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted December 2012-March 2013 using data from a multi-ethnic cohort (the ABCD study, n = 1,961).

Determinants of quality of life during induction therapy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Purpose: Improvement in survival of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has increased the attention to quality of life (QoL) . QoL is impaired during maintenance treatment, but little is known about QoL during induction therapy. Identification of patients with poor QoL during induction will provide opportunities for early interventions, and may subsequently improve future QoL.

Increased production of interleukin-10 in children with Down syndrome upon ex vivo stimulation with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Background: Children with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased susceptibility to infections, due to altered humoral and/or cellular immunity. The aim of the study was to determine the cytokine production in whole blood of children with DS upon stimulation with heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in comparison with their healthy siblings.

Methods: Whole blood of 61 children with DS and 57 of their healthy siblings was stimulated with 200 ng/ml LPS and 4 × 10(7) colony-forming units/ml S.

Adequate endocrine and cardiovascular response to social stress in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Survivors of childhood ALL have been demonstrated to have increased morning cortisol levels compared to healthy controls. Information regarding the response of the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system to stress in childhood ALL survivors is not available. The present study aimed at assessing the endocrine and cardiovascular stress response in childhood ALL survivors and healthy controls by evaluating perceived stress on visual analog scales, by determining saliva cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate in response to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C).

Health status utilities in pediatrics: a systematic review of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Measuring utilities and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in children is challenging due to their cognitive abilities and changing developmental stages.

Purpose: . To identify methodological issues on utility measurements in children, we performed a systematic review on utilities measured with a single instrument, the Health Utilities Index (HUI), in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Study protocol: the relation of birth weight and infant growth trajectories with physical fitness, physical activity and sedentary behavior at 8-9 years of age - the ABCD study.

Background: Low birth weight and accelerated infant growth have been identified as independent risk factors for childhood and adult obesity and cardiovascular disease. This led to the 'Developmental Origins of Health and Disease' (DOHaD) hypothesis, stating that environmental factors during pregnancy and early postnatal life affect disease risk in later life. There is growing evidence that perinatal factors may influence adult health through the programming of energy balance regulation, including sedentary behavior and physical activity.

Measuring cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in children.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls mainly automatic bodily functions that are engaged in homeostasis, like heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, salivation, perspiration and renal function. The ANS has two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system, preparing the human body for action in times of danger and stress, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates the resting state of the body. ANS activity can be measured invasively, for instance by radiotracer techniques or microelectrode recording from superficial nerves, or it can be measured non-invasively by using changes in an organ's response as a proxy for changes in ANS activity, for instance of the sweat glands or the heart.

Smoking overrules many other risk factors for small for gestational age birth in less educated mothers.

Background: Although there is convincing evidence for the association between small for gestational age (SGA) and socioeconomic status (SES), it is not known to what extent explanatory factors contribute to this association.

Aim: To examine to what extent risk factors could explain educational inequalities in SGA.

Study Design: In this study fully completed data were available for 3793 pregnant women of Dutch origin from a population-based cohort (ABCD study).

The association of maternal prenatal psychosocial stress with vascular function in the child at age 10-11 years: findings from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children.

Objective: To investigate whether (1) maternal psychosocial stress (depression/anxiety) during pregnancy is associated with offspring vascular function and (2) whether any association differs depending on the gestational timing of exposure to stress. We also investigated whether any association is likely to be due to intrauterine mechanisms by (3) comparing with the association of paternal stress with offspring vascular function and (4) examining whether any prenatal association is explained by maternal postnatal stress.

Methods And Results: Associations were examined in a UK birth cohort, with offspring outcomes (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, SBP and DBP, endothelial function assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD); arterial stiffness assessed by carotid to radial pulse wave velocity (PWV), brachial artery distensibility (DC), and brachial artery diameter (BD) assessed at age 10-11 years (n = 4,318).

Independent validation of an existing model enables prediction of hearing loss after childhood bacterial meningitis.

Objective: This study aimed external validation of a formerly developed prediction model identifying children at risk for hearing loss after bacterial meningitis (BM). Independent risk factors included in the model are: duration of symptoms prior to admission, petechiae, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) glucose level, Streptococcus pneumoniae and ataxia. Validation helps to evaluate whether the model has potential in clinical practice.

The association between interpregnancy interval and birth weight: what is the role of maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid status?

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the mediating role of maternal early pregnancy plasma levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in the association of interpregnancy interval (IPI) with birth weight and smallness for gestational age (SGA) at birth.

Methods: We analysed a subsample of the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) cohort, comprising 1,659 parous pregnant women recruited between January 2003 and March 2004. We used linear and logistic regression to evaluate the associations between fatty acid status, interpregnancy interval and pregnancy outcome.

Explaining socioeconomic inequalities in childhood blood pressure and prehypertension: the ABCD study.

Much remains to be understood about the socioeconomic inequalities in hypertension that continue to exist. We investigated the association of socioeconomic status with blood pressure and prehypertension in childhood. In a prospective cohort, 3024 five- to six-year-old children had blood pressure measurements and available information on potential explanatory factors, namely birth weight, gestational age, smoking during pregnancy, pregnancy-induced hypertension, familial hypertension, maternal body mass index, breastfeeding duration, domestic tobacco exposure, and body mass index.

Association between body size and blood pressure in children from different ethnic origins.

Objective: To assess associations between body size and blood pressure in children (5-6 years) from different ethnic origins.

Method: Five ethnic groups of the ABCD cohort were examined: Dutch (n=1 923), Turkish (n=99), Moroccan (n=187), Black-African (n=67) and Black-Caribbean (n=121). Data on body-mass-index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), fat-mass-index (FMI), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), were collected.

[Living with a short bowel: longer and better?].

Congenital malformations or complications of premature birth may require extensive intestinal resection which could result in short bowel syndrome. Prolonged parenteral nutrition and its complications (e.g.