Long noncoding RNA GATA2-AS1 augments endothelial hypoxia inducible factor 1-α induction and regulates hypoxic signaling.

Vascular endothelial cells form the inner cellular lining of blood vessels and have myriad physiologic functions including angiogenesis and response to hypoxia. We recently identified a set of endothelial cell (EC)-enriched long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in differentiated human primary cell types and described the role of the STEEL lncRNA in angiogenic patterning. We sought to further understand the role of EC-enriched lncRNAs in physiologic adaptation of the vascular endothelium.

Introducing the Escalation Antibiogram: A Simple Tool to Inform Changes in Empiric Antimicrobials in the Nonresponding Patient.

Background: Hospital antibiograms guide initial empiric antibiotic treatment selections, but do not directly inform escalation of treatment among nonresponding patients.

Methods: Using gram-negative bacteremia as an exemplar condition, we sought to introduce the concept of an escalation antibiogram. Among episodes of gram-negative bacteremia between 2017 and 2020 from 6 hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area, we generated escalation antibiograms for each of 12 commonly used agents.

Virtual breakout rooms: an effective approach to offer guidance to medical students on residency applications.

Peer mentorship on residency applications has been difficult due to recent public health measures, prompting a shift from in-person events to virtual platforms. To address gaps in career exploration, we created a virtual, non-recorded space that allowed medical students and residents to discuss the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) process meaningfully and transparently. Attendees reported a greater understanding of the match process and reduced anxiety after the event.

Characterization of Patients with Ibuprofen Hypersensitivity.

Background: Ibuprofen is the most frequently used over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in North America. While it has been commonly implicated in drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions, there is limited literature specifically on ibuprofen hypersensitivity.

Objectives: To characterize the demographics and clinical course of hypersensitivity reactions in a cohort of patients with ibuprofen allergy.

Moving towards Therapists Becoming Better Educators: A Commentary on Changes in the Content of Pediatric Physical Therapy for Infants: A Quantitative, Observational Study.

Patients and their families have expressed that they want information (Hendricks, 2000) and as a result often turn to Google for health and medical information. Society as a whole is more informed than ever and no longer rely only on medical practitioners as in previous generations. Instead, and rightly so, they question medical experts and want to know the reasoning and rationale behind everything they experience.

Short bowel mucosal morphology, proliferation and inflammation at first and repeat STEP procedures.

Background: Although serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) improves function of dilated short bowel, a significant proportion of patients require repeat surgery. To address underlying reasons for unsuccessful STEP, we compared small intestinal mucosal characteristics between initial and repeat STEP procedures in children with short bowel syndrome (SBS).

Methods: Fifteen SBS children, who underwent 13 first and 7 repeat STEP procedures with full thickness small bowel samples at median age 1.

Evaluation of decontamination efficacy of commonly used antimicrobial interventions for beef carcasses against Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.

In Argentina, Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups O157, O26, O103, O111, O145 and O121 are adulterant in ground beef. In other countries, the zero-tolerance approach to all STEC is implemented for chilled beef. Argentinean abattoirs are interested in implementing effective interventions against STEC on carcasses.

Reduced paraspinous muscle area is associated with post-colectomy complications in children with ulcerative colitis.

Background And Objectives: Sarcopenia, defined as reduced muscle mass, is typically assessed by CT scans, which are infrequently performed in children. Using MRI to measure sarcopenia, we determined the association with postoperative complications after colectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Clinical and preoperative MRI data for 13-18-year-old UC patients who underwent colectomy were retrospectively reviewed.

Isolation and characterization of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from beef carcasses, cuts and trimmings of abattoirs in Argentina.

Several foods contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are associated with human diseases. Some countries have established microbiological criteria for non-O157 STEC, thus, the absence of serogroups O26, O45, O103, O104, O111, O121, and O145 in sprouts from the European Union or ground beef and beef trimmings from the United States is mandatory. While in Argentina screening for O26, O103, O111, O145 and O121 in ground beef, ready-to-eat food, sausages and vegetables is mandatory, other countries have zero-tolerance for all STEC in chilled beef.

Critical evaluation of the Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) score: A multicenter study of 116 children with Hirschsprung disease.

Objective: To identify the optimal clinical criteria to diagnose Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) in children with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR).

Background: HAEC is the most common life-threatening complication in HSCR patients, yet the diagnostic criteria for HAEC remain unclear. The consensus-based HAEC scoring system was not validated using patient data, thereby making its diagnostic accuracy uncertain.

Interdependency of EGF and GLP-2 Signaling in Attenuating Mucosal Atrophy in a Mouse Model of Parenteral Nutrition.

Background & Aims: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN), a crucial treatment for patients who cannot receive enteral nutrition, is associated with mucosal atrophy, barrier dysfunction, and infectious complications. Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) improve intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) responses and attenuate mucosal atrophy in several TPN models. However, it remains unclear whether these 2 factors use distinct or overlapping signaling pathways to improve IEC responses.

Antegrade continence enemas improve quality of life in patients with medically-refractory encopresis.

Purpose: Fecal incontinence is a socially debilitating problem for many children. We hypothesized that in selected patients with medically-refractory encopresis, placement of an appendicostomy or cecostomy tube for administration of antegrade continence enemas (ACE) would improve quality of life (QOL).

Methods: We reviewed all patients with encopresis who underwent appendicostomy or cecostomy placement from 2003 to 2014 at our institution.

Redo pullthrough for Hirschsprung disease.

Pullthrough procedures for Hirschsprung diseases typically have favorable results. However, some children experience long-term postoperative complications comprising stooling disorders, such as intermittent enterocolitis, severe stool retention, intestinal obstruction, as well as incontinence. Reoperative Hirschsprung Disease surgery is complex.

Taking a STEP back: Assessing the outcomes of multiple STEP procedures.

Purpose: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a highly morbid condition primarily because of parenteral nutrition (PN)-associated complications. Bowel lengthening via serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) has become standard of care. While initial STEPs have resulted in weaning from PN, outcomes of repeated STEPs (ReSTEPs) are not well described.

Outcomes from a 12-Week, Open-Label, Multicenter Clinical Trial of Teduglutide in Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome.

Objective: To determine safety and pharmacodynamics/efficacy of teduglutide in children with intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF).

Study Design: This 12-week, open-label study enrolled patients aged 1-17 years with SBS-IF who required parenteral nutrition (PN) and showed minimal or no advance in enteral nutrition (EN) feeds. Patients enrolled sequentially into 3 teduglutide cohorts (0.

Ultrasound-guided intrasphincteric botulinum toxin injection relieves obstructive defecation due to Hirschsprung's disease and internal anal sphincter achalasia.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive defecation can occur in patients with Hirschsprung Disease (HD) and internal anal sphincter (IAS) achalasia. Injection of Botulinum Toxin (BoTox) into the IAS can temporarily relieve obstructive defecation, but can be challenging when performed by tactile sense alone. We compared results of BoTox injections with and without ultrasound (US) guidance.

Small Bowel Diameter in Short Bowel Syndrome as a Predictive Factor for Achieving Enteral Autonomy.

Children with short bowel syndrome commonly have dilated small bowel. We found that the extent of dilation was associated with bowel length and that both were related to achieving enteral autonomy.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-assisted laparoscopic anorectoplasty for imperforate anus: a single center experience.

Purpose: Surgical procedures for high imperforate anus have ranged from the posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) to laparoscopic-assisted anorectoplasty (LAARP). PSARP bisects the sphincter muscle complex, introducing muscle injury and scarring. LAARP uses a straight trocar to traverse an often non-linear sphincter muscle complex.

Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system prevents acute and immunologically relevant colitis in murine models.

Background: Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been shown to alleviate inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to determine if blockade of the RAS would be effective in an immunologically relevant colitis model, and to compare outcome with an acute colitis model.

Methods: A losartan analog, CCG-203025 (CHClNOS) containing a highly polar sulfonic acid moiety that we expected would allow localized mucosal antagonism with minimal systemic absorption was selected as an angiotensin II type 1a receptor antagonist (AT1aR-A).

Watch Me Move: A Program For Parents of Young Children With Gross-Motor Delays.

Aims: Watch Me Move (WMM) is a 6-week parent education program for caregivers of children with gross-motor delays. The aims are to improve parent-child interaction in a gross-motor context, increase parents' knowledge of behavioral cues and gross-motor development, and decrease perceived parental stress.

Methods: Forty mothers of children, 6 months to 3 years of age, with a gross-motor delay participated in a randomized control trial comparing parents who received the WMM program plus standard of care physiotherapy (n = 24) with parents whose children received standard of care physiotherapy (n = 16).