From Alpha Diversity to Zzz: Interactions among sleep, the brain, and gut microbiota in the first year of life.

Sleep disorders have been linked to alterations of gut microbiota composition in adult humans and animal models, but it is unclear how this link develops. With longitudinal assessments in 162 healthy infants, we present a so far unrecognized sleep-brain-gut interrelationship. First, we report a link between sleep habits and gut microbiota: daytime sleep is associated with bacterial diversity, and nighttime sleep fragmentation and variability are linked with bacterial maturity and enterotype.

Concomitant variants in NF1, LZTR1 and GNAZ genes probably contribute to the aggressiveness of plexiform neurofibroma and warrant treatment with MEK inhibitor.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is caused by germline mutations in the NF1 gene and manifests as proliferation of various tissues, including plexiform neurofibromas. The plexiform neurofibroma phenotype varies from indolent to locally aggressive, suggesting contributions of other modifiers in addition to somatic loss of NF1. In this study, we investigated a life-threatening plexiform neurofibroma in a 9-month-old female infant with NF1.

Microstructural alterations of the corticospinal tract are associated with poor motor function in patients with severe congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) patients are at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments, including altered motor function. However, little is known about the neuroanatomical correlates of persistent motor deficits in CHD. Thus, we examined the link between corticospinal tract (CST) microstructure and motor function in adolescent and adult CHD patients compared to healthy controls.

Association Between Antenatal Antimicrobial Therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Nested Case-Control Study.

Multiple prenatal factors have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. However, current data about the association between antimicrobial use during pregnancy and ASD is limited. A nested matched case-control study of children with ASD (cases), and children without ASD or other psychiatric or genetic disorders (controls).

World Health Organisation-Caregiver Skills Training (WHO-CST) Program: Feasibility of Delivery by Non-Specialist Providers in Real-world Urban Settings in India.

The World Health Organization-Caregiver Skills Training Program, a parent-mediated early intervention facilitated by non-specialist providers piloted in urban India was evaluated using mixed-methods for feasibility and effects on child and caregiver outcomes. Caregivers (n = 22) of children (2-9 years) with social-communication delays participated in a single-group pre-post study. High rates of caregiver attendance, improved caregiver fidelity, and facilitator competency suggested program feasibility.

Congenital heart disease in school-aged children: Cognition, education, and participation in leisure activities.

Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for neurodevelopmental deficits. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cognitive deficits on educational outcome and participation in leisure activities.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 134 children with CHD who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (CPB) was examined at 10 years of age.

Burden of Disease, Unmet Needs in the Diagnosis and Management of Atopic Dermatitis: An Indian Expert Consensus.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory, non-communicable, and relapsing skin disease that affects all age groups. There is a dearth of literature that reports the disease burden, and epidemiology and highlights unmet needs in the diagnosis and management of AD in India.

Methods: A total of ten specialists including dermatologists, pediatric dermatologists, and pediatricians with more than ten years of experience and practicing in different parts of India served as the expert panel during the virtual meet conducted on January 24, 2021.

Expanding the clinico-molecular spectrum of Angelman syndrome phenotype with the GABRG3 gene: Evidence from methylation and sequencing studies.

Angelman syndrome (AS) (OMIM#105830) is an imprinting disorder caused due to alterations in the maternal chr 15q11-13 region. Majority of cases can be diagnosed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) of SNRPN gene and by UBE3A sequencing, however, about 10% of cases with AS phenotype remain undiagnosed. Differential diagnoses of AS can be detected by chromosomal microarray (CMA) and clinical exome sequencing (CES).

6-year course of sleep homeostasis in a case with epilepsy-aphasia spectrum disorder.

The epilepsy-aphasia spectrum consists of epilepsies with a strong activation of epileptic discharges during non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep, variable seizure burden and language problems. The homeostatic decrease of slow waves (SW) during NREM sleep (i.e.

Providing Services for Children With Developmental Difficulties, Delay or Disability - Early Diagnosis and Interventions at the Community Level.

This paper describes two programs using the recommended tiered approach - World Health Organization's (WHO) Nurturing Care Framework (NCF), viz., Early Childhood Champions (ECC) program and Child Development Aide (CDA) program delivered by Ummeed Child Development Center, a non-governmental organization in Mumbai. The ECC program builds capacity in community health workers (CHWs) employed by community based organizations in urban, semi-urban and rural areas to deliver the responsive caregiving and early learning components of WHO-NCF framework to all children (universal services) and those with or at risk for disabilities (targeted and indicated services).

A Uniform Description of Perioperative Brain MRI Findings in Infants with Severe Congenital Heart Disease: Results of a European Collaboration.

Background And Purpose: A uniform description of brain MR imaging findings in infants with severe congenital heart disease to assess risk factors, predict outcome, and compare centers is lacking. Our objective was to uniformly describe the spectrum of perioperative brain MR imaging findings in infants with congenital heart disease.

Materials And Methods: Prospective observational studies were performed at 3 European centers between 2009 and 2019.

Healthcare Communication Role in the Detection of Unhealthy Behavior in University Students.

The current study aims to identify unhealthy behaviors among university students, establish means of detection of unhealthy behavior, identify obstacles to digital volunteering, and explore the relationship between volunteer preferred style of volunteering and the obstacles to volunteering. Data for the study was gathered by administering an unstructured, anonymous questionnaire to 207 female university students and staff. The survey design included questions about sociodemographic characteristics, views on different facets of volunteering, unhealthy behaviors, and correlation between volunteering and unhealthy behaviors.

Closed-loop auditory stimulation method to modulate sleep slow waves and motor learning performance in rats.

Slow waves and cognitive output have been modulated in humans by phase-targeted auditory stimulation. However, to advance its technical development and further our understanding, implementation of the method in animal models is indispensable. Here, we report the successful employment of slow waves' phase-targeted closed-loop auditory stimulation (CLAS) in rats.

Facilitator Reflections on Shared Expertise and Adaptive Leadership in ECHO Autism: Center Engagement.

Introduction: Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) is used to increase provider capacity in a wide range of health care specialties. ECHO Autism: Center Engagement is a program that promotes improvement in autism care by improving the management of autism care centers. The program's focus brought experienced clinicians together as both facilitators and participants in an ECHO series.

Hybrid type 1 effectiveness/implementation trial of the international Guide for Monitoring Child Development: protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: More than 40% of children under 5 years of age in low-income and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential. The international Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) early intervention package is a comprehensive programme to address developmental difficulties using an individualised intervention plan for young children and their families. We will conduct a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation evaluation of the GMCD intervention in rural India and Guatemala.

Parental experience of the neuromotor development of children with congenital heart disease: an exploratory qualitative study.

Background: Children with severe congenital heart disease (CHD) are a group of children at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. Motor development is the first domain to show a delay during the first year of life and may significantly contribute to parental concerns, stress, and difficulties in early child-parent attachment. Thus, the aim of the study was to better understand the wishes and concerns of parents of children with CHD and explore their experience of their children's neuromotor development in the first year of life.

Involvement of brain structures in childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.

Background: We aimed to investigate electroencephalography (EEG)-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings to elucidate the interictal epileptiform discharge (IED)-related functional alterations in deep brain structures and the neocortex in childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (CECTS).

Methods: Ten children with CECTS (median age 8.2 years), referred to our hospital within a year of onset, were eligible for inclusion.

Moral injury and cannabis use disorder among Israeli combat veterans: The role of depression and perceived social support.

Introduction: Cannabis use is highly common among military combat veterans, who are also inclined toward developing Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). The present study examined the association between Moral Injury (MI), which may occur following combat-related acts that violate one's deep moral beliefs, and CUD, as well as the mediating role of depression and the moderating role of perceived social support.

Methods: Participants were 215 Israel Defense Forces male combat veterans discharged from military service within the past five years, who reported using cannabis regularly (≥3 days weekly) during the past six months.

Thalamic Influence on Slow Wave Slope Renormalization During Sleep.

Objective: Slow waves are thought to mediate an overall reduction in synaptic strength during sleep. The specific contribution of the thalamus to this so-called synaptic renormalization is unknown. Thalamic stroke is associated with daytime sleepiness, along with changes to sleep electroencephalography and cognition, making it a unique "experiment of nature" to assess the relationship between sleep rhythms, synaptic renormalization, and daytime functions.

The Value of Telehealth and a Team-Based Approach in Improving Developmental and Behavioral Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Billy is a 2.6-year-old boy who presented for evaluation in the developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) clinic 2 weeks before the onset of pandemic-related clinic restrictions. Billy had received early intervention for the past year because of speech and fine motor delays.

Walking onset: a poor predictor for motor and cognitive skills in healthy preschool children.

Background: The onset of walking is thought to be an indicator of early development. However, evidence is mixed and clear data on this relationship at preschool age is missing. The study aimed at investigating if walking onset and motor and cognitive development in preschool children are related.