Theoretical impact of a bedside decision-making tool on antibiotic use for suspected neonatal healthcare-associated infection: an observational study.

Background And Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in hospitalised neonates. Diagnosing neonatal HAI is challenging owing to non-specific symptoms and lack of definitive diagnostic markers, contributing to high rates of inappropriate antibiotic use. This study evaluated the theoretical impact of implementing a bedside tool for decision-making on antibiotic length of therapy (LOT).

Pilot study of a ketogenic diet in bipolar disorder: a process evaluation.

Background: Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness, which requires new strategies for prevention and management. Recent evidence suggests that a ketogenic diet may be an effective intervention. This research aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a ketogenic diet intervention for bipolar disorder, fidelity to its behavioural components and the experiences of the participants and research clinicians involved.

Association between adolescent obesity and early adulthood healthcare utilization-a two-cohort prospective study.

Background: Pediatric obesity is a growing global health challenge, with long-term implications for individuals and healthcare systems. Existing studies on the association between pediatric obesity and healthcare use in adulthood are limited and often rely on mathematical simulation models. This study aims to provide real-world data on the impact of adolescent obesity on specialized healthcare utilization and costs in early adulthood.

Inherited metabolic diseases are a potent risk factor for cytomegalovirus infection in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major infectious complication in solid-organ transplant recipients, particularly in the context of pediatric liver transplantation. CMV serostatus is a well-established risk factor for postoperative CMV infection, with CMV seronegative recipients who receive organs from seropositive donors (D+/R-) being at the highest risk. Our previous research indicated a higher incidence of CMV infection in recipients with inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) compared with those with biliary atresia (BA).

Understanding factors influencing safety and team functionality at operative vaginal birth through multidisciplinary perspectives: a mixed methods study.

Background: Operative vaginal birth (OVB) relies on effective teamwork to optimise outcomes. This study aims to explore providers' perspectives of factors influencing safety and team functionality at OVB.

Methods: This mixed methods study involved four maternity sites at Monash Health, Australia.

A Proposed Framework to Aid Primary Care Clinicians in Promoting Cardiovascular Health.

Healthy lifestyle behaviors play a significant role in promoting cardiovascular health. Primary care clinicians (PCCs) are tasked with promoting cardiovascular health through the assessment of lifestyle behaviors and the use of behavior change counseling. However, PCCs face several barriers including a lack of training in counseling techniques.

Current practices in MRI screening in early onset scoliosis.

Purpose: Early onset scoliosis (EOS) has traditionally been an indication for MRI because of its association with neural axis abnormalities (NAAs). Because these abnormalities are often clinically silent and concerns regarding sedation in young children are growing, routine MRI for EOS is debated. This study investigates the current practices of EOS MRI screening among surgeons in the Pediatric Spine Study Group (PSSG).

Wellbeing and quality of life among parents of individuals with Fontan physiology.

Purpose: To examine global and health-related quality of life (QOL) among parents of individuals with Fontan physiology and determine associations with sociodemographic, parent and child-related health, psychological, and relational factors.

Methods: Parents participating in the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry (ANZFR) QOL Study (N = 151, Parent Mean age = 47.9 ± 10.

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Donkeys of Inner Mongolia, Northern China.

Background: Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are important zoonotic pathogens. In Inner Mongolia, a single pathogen molecular epidemiological survey of these three protozoa was previously conducted on only 176 fecal samples donkeys.

Sex dimorphic associations of Prader-Willi imprinted gene expressions in umbilical cord with prenatal and postnatal growth in healthy infants.

Background: The impact of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) domain gene expression on the growth of healthy children is not well understood. This study investigated associations between PWS domain gene expression in umbilical cord tissue and prenatal and postnatal growth, considering potential sex differences.

Methods: Relative gene expression of paternally expressed MAGEL2, NDN, and SNURF-SNRPN, and the small nucleolar RNAs SNORD116 and SNORD115 were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in umbilical cord tissue from 122 healthy newborns (59 girls and 63 boys).

Evaluating the Sapien® XT Valve in Native Right Ventricular Outflow Tracts After Tetralogy of Fallot Repair: Mid- and Long-Term Results.

Although the long-term outcomes of the surgical grafts are well defined and reported, the data regarding the mid-and long-term results of the balloon-expandable percutaneous valves in the native right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is limited. We retrospectively evaluated 42 patients who underwent PPVI (Sapien® XT valve) to native RVOT due to severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and/or moderate to severe pulmonary stenosis (PS) between August 2015 and November 2020. The median patient age at the time of PPVI was 13.

Impact of Acute Energy Drink Consumption on Heart Rate Variability in Children and Adolescents. A Randomized Trial.

The EDUCATE study investigated the acute impact of energy drink (ED) consumption on heart rate variability (HRV) in children and adolescents, with a focus on how these stimulant-rich beverages influence cardiac autonomic function. Given the popularity of EDs among young people, this study assessed the immediate cardiovascular response to ED intake. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involved 26 healthy participants aged 10-18 years.

The impact of major congenital anomalies on obstetric outcomes in the United Arab Emirates: the Mutaba'ah Study.

Major congenital anomalies (MCAs) are a public health concern. However, studies on obstetric outcomes in pregnancies complicated by MCAs are scarce, emphasizing the need for research to enhance management strategies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of MCAs on fetal presentation and delivery mode in the United Arab Emirates.

Development of an artificial intelligence system to indicate intraoperative findings of scarring in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis.

Background: The surgical difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) and the risk of bile duct injury (BDI) depend on the degree of fibrosis and scarring caused by inflammation; therefore, understanding these intraoperative findings is crucial to preventing BDI. Scarring makes it particularly difficult to perform safely and increases the BDI risk. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system to indicate intraoperative findings of scarring in LC for AC.

Diagnostic methods and protocols for rapid determination of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections: a comparative analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate diagnostic performance of four diagnostic methods for rapid determination of methicillin resistance in S. aureus positive blood cultures (BCs).

Methods: Clinical and spiked BCs were subjected to the evaluation of the following methods and protocols: a.

Preclinical assessment of splicing modulation therapy for ABCA4 variant c.768G>T in Stargardt disease.

Background: Stargardt disease type 1 (STGD1) is a progressive retinal disorder caused by bi-allelic variants in the ABCA4 gene. A recurrent variant at the exon-intron junction of exon 6, c.768G>T, causes a 35-nt elongation of exon 6 that leads to premature termination of protein synthesis.

TLE4 is a repressor of the oncogenic activity of TLX3 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological disease originating from the malignant transformation of T-cell progenitors, caused by the accumulation of genetic aberrations. One-fifth of T-ALL patients are characterized by ectopic expression of the homeobox transcription factor TLX3. However, the role of TLX3 in T-ALL remains elusive, partly due to the lack of suitable study models.

Association between extracellular DNA levels, markers of inflammation and left ventricular mass index in children with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, but the primary factors triggering this inflammation remain unclear. Extracellular or cell-free DNA (exDNA) originates from virtually all tissues, being released during cell death, and stimulates the innate immune system. Our study was designed as an observational, cross-sectional cohort study of children with CKD (both before and after kidney transplantation) and controls to analyze associations between exDNA, markers of inflammation, and cardiovascular health.

Evaluation of the core muscles of children and adolescents with nocturnal enuresis using shear wave elastography: a preliminary study.

The purpose of this study was to determine any changes in the rectus abdominis and diaphragm muscles, which are core muscles, in children and adolescents with nocturnal enuresis (NE) using the shear wave elastography (SWE). In this case-control study, the rectus abdominis and diaphragm muscles of 40 children and adolescents with NE and 40 healthy controls were evaluated. The rectus abdominis muscle was examined at the right supra- and subumbilical levels, and the diaphragm at the right 9th-10th intercostal space.

Supraglottic airway in neonatal porcine model.

Background: Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in the delivery room is routinely performed using a face mask attached to a ventilation device. In 2023, the Consensus of Science and Treatment Recommendations for neonatal resuscitation stated that a supraglottic airway (SGA) can be used for PPV if resources and training permits. However, there is very limited data on tidal volume (V) delivery using SGAs.

Autism screening tool validation for toddlers and young children: advantages and limitations.

Background: Early identification is crucial for children with autism. However, many children are diagnosed later due to the lack of specific assessment tools in primary care settings. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the STAT in screening autism across different age groups while assessing its advantages and limitations.

Development of a 3D cephalometric index to grade severity of dentofacial deformity in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

This investigation aimed to develop a radiographic 3D cephalometric index to grade severity of dentofacial deformity in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to perform a validation against expert evaluations. Data were collected from a population-based Nordic JIA cohort of 240 patients that received a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan approximately 17 years after onset of JIA. The cohort was randomized into two groups: A baseline group for establishing the index (n = 210) and a test group (n = 30).