Predicting factors for acute encephalopathy in febrile seizure children with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant: a retrospective study.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 posed a threat to children during the early phase of Omicron wave because many patients presented with febrile seizures. The study aimed to investigate predicting factors for acute encephalopathy of children infected by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant presenting with febrile seizures.

Methods: The retrospective study analyzed data from pediatric patients who visited the emergency department of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan between April and July 2022.

Ferritin as an Effective Predictor of Neurological Outcomes in Children With Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy.

Background: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a fulminant disease with poor prognosis. Cytokine storm is the important phenomenon of ANE that affects the brain and multiple organs. The study aimed to identify whether hyperferritinemia was associated with poor prognosis in patients with ANE.

Risk factors of Omicron variant associated acute encephalitis/encephalopathy in children.

Background: Outbreak of Omicron BA.2 in Taiwan led to an increased number of acute encephalitis/encephalopathy cases in children and several fatal cases drew public attention. In pre-Omicron period, pediatric cases of COVID-19-associated acute encephalitis have been reported and during Omicron epidemic, febrile convulsions, encephalitis were mentioned more frequently.

Sjogren's syndrome related autoimmune encephalopathy presenting as depression and involuntary agitation in a 15-year-old girl: a case report.

Introduction: Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that commonly involves exocrinopathy. Although studies have reported psychiatric manifestations resulting from Sjogren's syndrome, few studies have focused on such manifestations in pediatric patients. Herein, we present a case of an adolescent girl with depression and involuntary self-harm behaviors related to Sjogren's syndrome with central nervous system involvement.

Automatic and human level Graf's type identification for detecting developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Background: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common congenital disorder that may lead to hip dislocation and requires surgical intervention if left untreated. Ultrasonography is the preferred method for DDH screening; however, the lack of experienced operators impedes its application in universal neonatal screening.

Methods: We developed a deep neural network tool to automatically register the five keypoints that mark important anatomical structures of the hip and provide a reference for measuring alpha and beta angles following Graf's guidelines, which is an ultrasound classification system for DDH in infants.

MRI of fatal course of acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis in a child with SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA 2.0 infection.

We present a pediatric case of acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA 2.0 infection. A previously healthy girl presented with ataxia and diplopia three weeks after the COVID-19 confirmation from a nasopharyngeal swab.

Electrographic Seizures in Neonates with a High Risk of Encephalopathy.

Background: Neonatal encephalopathy is caused by a wide variety of acute brain insults in newborns and presents with a spectrum of neurologic dysfunction, such as consciousness disturbance, seizures, and coma. The increased excitability in the neonatal brain appears to be highly susceptible to seizures after a variety of insults, and seizures may be the first clinical sign of a serious neurologic disorder. Subtle seizures are common in the neonatal period, and abnormal clinical paroxysmal events may raise the suspicion of neonatal seizures.

The Frequency of Clinical Seizures in Paroxysmal Events in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background: In general clinical practice, neonatal seizures are identified visually by direct clinical observation. The study aimed to examine the frequency of clinical seizures in paroxysmal events in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of continuous video-EEG monitoring in a neonatal intensive care unit between January 2017 and December 2020.

The Utility of a Point-of-Care Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Management Algorithm on Outcomes in Pediatric Asphyxial Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - An Exploratory Investigation.

Background: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is a sensitive, real time tool used for monitoring cerebral blood flow; it could provide additional information for cerebral perfusion in cerebral resuscitation during post cardiac arrest care. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the utility of a point-of-care transcranial Doppler ultrasound management algorithm on outcomes in pediatric asphyxial out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in two tertiary pediatric intensive care units between January 2013 and June 2018.

Secular Trends in the Incidence, Prevalence, and Medications for Epilepsy from 2007 to 2015 in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Patients with epilepsy have a higher mortality rate than the general population. Up-to-date estimates of epilepsy incidence, prevalence, and medication use are critical to assist policymaking.

Methods: Using the National Taiwan Insurance Research Database, the standardized incidence and prevalence of epilepsy were estimated in each calendar year from 2007 to 2015.

Measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter by ultrasound in healthy term neonates.

Background: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) ultrasound is a noninvasive and repeatable tool to dynamically evaluate intracranial pressure with high diagnostic accuracy; however, data in neonates are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the reference value of ONSD and potential influencing factors in healthy term neonates.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 250 full-term neonates who underwent cranial ultrasound as part of selective newborn screening over a 2-year period.

High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy in Children With Acute Respiratory Distress With Hypoxia in A Pediatric Intensive Care UnitA Single Center Experience.

High-flow nasal cannulas (HFNCs) show potential in the application of positive pressure, improving gas exchange, and decreasing work of breathing in patients with acute respiratory distress. The aims of this study were to elucidate the indications for HFNC therapy in children of all ages and diagnoses, and to evaluate the efficacy and risk factors for failure of HFNC therapy in children with acute respiratory distress with hypoxia in a pediatric intensive care unit. We conducted this retrospective cohort study at a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020.

Clinical and endocrinological manifestations of childhood-onset craniopharyngioma before surgical removal: A report from one medical center in Taiwan.

Background: Craniopharyngiomas are benign tumors of embryologic origin located in the sellar region. Patients have both neurological and endocrinological symptoms. Symptoms may be subtle in the early clinical course, which leads to delayed diagnosis.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies: Is prognosis related to different epileptic network dysfunctions?

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies are a group of rare, severe epilepsies, which are characterized by refractory seizures starting in infancy or childhood and developmental delay or regression. Developmental changes might be independent of epilepsy. However, interictal epileptic activity and seizures can further deteriorate cognition and behavior.

Factors Associated With In-hospital Mortality of Children With Acute Fulminant Myocarditis on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

To analyze the factors associated with in-hospital mortality of children with acute fulminant myocarditis on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). This was a retrospective cohort study using chart reviews of patients diagnosed with acute fulminant myocarditis at the pediatric intensive care unit of two tertiary medical centers between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2017. The inclusion criteria for this study were: (1) age from 1 month to 18 years; (2) diagnosed with acute myocarditis; (3) cardiogenic shock and need vasoactive-inotropic score ≥20 within 48 h after the use of vasoactive-inotropic agents; and (4) the need for ECMO placement.

Epileptiform Discharge and Electrographic Seizures during the Hypothermia Phase as Predictors of Rewarming Seizures in Children after Resuscitation.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, timing, and predictors of rewarming seizures in a cohort of children undergoing therapeutic hypothermia after resuscitation. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive pediatric patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia after resuscitation admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit between January 2000 and December 2019. Continuous electroencephalographic monitoring was performed during hypothermia (24 h for cardiac aetiologies and 72 h for asphyxial aetiologies), rewarming (72 h), and then an additional 12 h of normothermia.

Shifting Valproic Acid to Levetiracetam in Women of Childbearing Age With Epilepsy: A Retrospective Investigation and Review of the Literature.

Valproic acid is the most high-risk teratogenic antiepileptic drug, and it may lead to fetal major congenital malformations. However, it is still used in women of childbearing age with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to report our experience of discontinuing or lowering valproic acid by adding levetiracetam, a low-risk teratogenic antiepileptic drug.

Early Clinical Predictors of Neurological Outcome in Children With Asphyxial Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Treated With Therapeutic Hypothermia.

The aim of the current study was to identify early clinical predictors of neurologic outcome in children with asphyxial out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) treated with therapeutic hypothermia. The present retrospective cohort study of comatose children treated with therapeutic hypothermia or normothermia after asphyxial OHCA was conducted between January 2010 and June 2018. All children aged between 1 month and 18 years of age, with a history of at least 3 min of chest compressions were eligible for inclusion.

Methylprednisolone pulse therapy as an adjuvant treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis complicated by cerebral infarction-a case report and review of the literature.

Purpose: The role of methylprednisolone pulse therapy as adjuvant treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis complicated by cerebral infarction has rarely been reported.

Methods: We reported a case report and also performed a systematic literature review.

Results: A 1-year 2-month-old boy who presented with high fever, status epilepticus, and septic shock was diagnosed with cerebral infarction caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).