Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Children.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use on COVID-19 susceptibility and severity in children.

Study Design: This retrospective, case-control study included all children ≤21 years undergoing COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction testing at a tertiary children's hospital between March 2020 and January 2023. The main exposure was PPI usage.

The Real Relevance of Nonacid Reflux in Pediatric Patients.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is one of the most common presenting complaints to pediatric gastroenterologists, and a wide variety of symptoms in children are potentially attributable to typical or atypical GER. While reflux diagnosis and treatment paradigms classically have focused on targeting acid, there is a growing recognition of the prevalence and significance of nonacid GER in both children and adults. This review explores the role of nonacid reflux in pediatric patients, including definitions, associations with symptoms, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and treatment implications.

Characterization of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Infants and Toddlers.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine demographic and clinical characteristics of infants and toddlers <2 years with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and to assess treatment response in this rarely studied pediatric age group.

Methods: Retrospective study of children <2 years diagnosed with EoE at a single center from 2016 to 2018. EoE was defined by ≥15 eosinophils per high power field (eos/hpf) on at least 1 esophageal biopsy.

A prospective study of intrapyloric botulinum toxin and EndoFLIP in children with nausea and vomiting.

Background: Intrapyloric botulinum toxin injection (IPBI) is used to treat nausea and vomiting in children, but no prospective pediatric studies exist. The aims of the current study were to assess the efficacy of IPBI in children with refractory nausea or vomiting and to use EndoFLIP as a biomarker of IPBI response.

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study of pediatric patients undergoing IPBI for refractory nausea, vomiting, or feeding difficulties at a tertiary center.

Prucalopride for Treatment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in pediatrics, and few prokinetics for children exist. The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy of prucalopride for treatment of upper GI symptoms and feeding difficulties in children.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients prescribed prucalopride for upper GI symptoms at a single tertiary care center from July 2019 to January 2021.

Effect of Added Free Water to Enteral Tube Feeds in Children Receiving Commercial Blends.

Objectives: To determine the impact of free water administration on clinical outcomes in medically complex patients, based on the hypothesis that patients receiving more thin liquids have worse outcomes related to increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of children initiated on commercial blenderized tube feedings from 2010 to 2019. The percentage of gastrostomy intake that was a thin liquid was determined, with thin liquids including free water or thin formula based on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) framework.

Comparison of Aerodigestive and Nonaerodigestive Provider Responses to Clinical Case Vignettes.

Objective: To evaluate differences in practice patterns between aerodigestive and nonaerodigestive providers in pediatric gastroenterology when diagnosing and treating common aerodigestive complaints.

Study Design: A questionnaire comprised of clinical vignettes with multiple-choice questions was distributed to both aerodigestive and nonaerodigestive pediatric gastroenterologists. Vignettes focused on management of commonly encountered general gastroenterology and aerodigestive issues, such as gastroesophageal (GE) reflux, aspiration, and feeding difficulties.

Botulinum Toxin as a Treatment for Feeding Difficulties in Young Children.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of intrapyloric botulinum toxin injection (IPBI) for treatment of feeding disorders and associated gastrointestinal symptoms in very young children.

Study Design: A single-center retrospective study of patients 2 months to 5 years old who received IPBI at Boston Children's Hospital from May 2007 to June 2019 was performed. Charts were reviewed for demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms leading to IPBI, oral and tube feeding data, symptom improvement after IPBI, and need for repeat injections.

Atypical face processing in children with tuberous sclerosis complex.

There is a high incidence of autism in tuberous sclerosis complex. Given the evidence of impaired face processing in autism, the authors sought to investigate electrophysiological markers of face processing in children with tuberous sclerosis complex. The authors studied 19 children with tuberous sclerosis complex under age 4, and 20 age-matched controls, using a familiar-unfamiliar faces paradigm.

Eye-tracking, autonomic, and electrophysiological correlates of emotional face processing in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulty with social-emotional cues. This study examined the neural, behavioral, and autonomic correlates of emotional face processing in adolescents with ASD and typical development (TD) using eye-tracking and event-related potentials (ERPs) across two different paradigms. Scanning of faces was similar across groups in the first task, but the second task found that face-sensitive ERPs varied with emotional expressions only in TD.