Risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19 and PIMS-TS in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Germany.

Unlabelled: Although children and adolescents have a lower burden of SARS-CoV-2-associated disease compared to adults, assessing the risk for severe outcomes among SARS-CoV-2-infected children remains difficult due to a high rate of undetected cases. We combine data from three data sources - a national seroprevalence study (the SARS-CoV-2 KIDS study), the nationwide, state-based reporting system for PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in Germany, and a nationwide registry on children and adolescents hospitalized with either SARS-CoV-2 or pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS-TS, also known as MIS-C) - in order to provide estimates on the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19-related treatment, intensive care admission, and death due to COVID-19 and PIMS-TS in children. The rate of hospitalization for COVID-19-related treatment among all SARS-CoV-2 seropositive children was 7.

Incidence and risk factors of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis in infants.

Aim: To describe the incidence of term and preterm neonatal cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) and identify perinatal risk factors.

Method: This was a national capture-recapture calculation-corrected surveillance and nested case-control study. Infants born preterm and at term with magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed neonatal CSVT were identified by surveillance in all paediatric hospitals in Germany (2015-2017).

Incidence of SCID in Germany from 2014 to 2015 an ESPED* Survey on Behalf of the API*** Erhebungseinheit für Seltene Pädiatrische Erkrankungen in Deutschland (German Paediatric Surveillance Unit) ** Arbeitsgemeinschaft Pädiatrische Immunologie.

Purpose: Severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) are a heterogeneous group of fatal genetic disorders, in which the immune response is severely impaired. SCID can be cured if diagnosed early. We aim to determine the incidence of clinically defined SCID cases, acquire data of reported cases and evaluate their possible prediction by newborn screening, before introduction of a general screening program in Germany.

General Movement Assessment from videos of computed 3D infant body models is equally effective compared to conventional RGB video rating.

Background: General Movement Assessment (GMA) is a powerful tool to predict Cerebral Palsy (CP). Yet, GMA requires substantial training challenging its broad implementation in clinical routine. This inspired a world-wide quest for automated GMA.

Sex-specific epigenetic gene activation profiles are differentially modulated in human placentas affected by intrauterine growth restriction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the sex specific expression of histone protein modifications responsible for rapid gene expression in IUGR placentas.

Patients And Methods: We screened for fetal sex-specific expression of the histone proteins H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in 23 IUGR and 40 control placentas via immunohistochemistry. The trophoblast-like cell line BeWo was used in order to analyze a potential effect of stimulation with prednisolone on H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in vitro.

Motor outcome, executive functioning, and health-related quality of life of children, adolescents, and young adults after ventricular assist device and heart transplantation.

Objective: The aim of the current study is to measure long-term executive function, motor outcome, and QoL in children, adolescents, and young adults after VAD and Htx.

Methods: Patients were examined during routine follow-up. Investigation tools were used as follows: Examination for MND of motor outcomes, Epitrack for attention and executive functioning, and Kidscreen-52 and EQ-5D-5L questionnaires for QoL.

Childhood haemorrhagic stroke: a 7-year single-centre experience.

Background: In recent years, there has been increasing research interest in improving diagnostic and management protocols in childhood arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS). However, childhood stroke comprises, in approximately equal parts, both arterial ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke (HS).

Objective: The aim of this study was to focus on the aetiology, clinical presentation, treatment and short-term outcome of children with spontaneous intracranial bleeding in a university hospital and elucidate differences to childhood AIS.

Three by three weeks of robot-enhanced repetitive gait therapy within a global rehabilitation plan improves gross motor development in children with cerebral palsy - a retrospective cohort study.

Aim: To assess the improvement in gross motor function following three blocks of a three-week, intensive robot-enhanced treadmill therapy (ROBERT-Program).

Method: retrospective chart review in a before-after interventional trial in children with cerebral palsy attending a university hospital outpatient rehabilitation centre. Patients received three blocks of a three-week, 12 sessions ROBERT-Program over a mean period of 24 months.

Late-pregnancy dysglycemia in obese pregnancies after negative testing for gestational diabetes and risk of future childhood overweight: An interim analysis from a longitudinal mother-child cohort study.

Background: Maternal pre-conception obesity is a strong risk factor for childhood overweight. However, prenatal mechanisms and their effects in susceptible gestational periods that contribute to this risk are not well understood. We aimed to assess the impact of late-pregnancy dysglycemia in obese pregnancies with negative testing for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on long-term mother-child outcomes.

No further improvement in pregnancy-related outcomes in the offspring of mothers with pre-gestational diabetes in Bavaria, Germany, between 2001 and 2016.

Aims: To investigate whether there has been further improvement in the risk of adverse outcomes in pregnancies in women with diabetes during 2008-2016 in Bavaria, Germany.

Methods: Using cross-sectional data on all 1716 170 deliveries in Bavarian hospitals between 2001 and 2016, we assessed the risks of stillbirth, early neonatal death, preterm delivery, large for gestational age, malformations, low Apgar score and low umbilical cord pH by maternal group with diabetes (gestational, pre-gestational, or none) separately for 2001-2007 and 2008-2016. We also investigated the associations of specific risk factors such as maternal smoking with respect to early mortality and malformations in each group with diabetes during 2008-2016.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) - What we know and what we should know - The knowledge of German health professionals and parents.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the knowledge about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and the implementation of the German guideline for FASD among different professionals in the health and social system and among parents with children with FASD.

Methods: A questionnaire about FASD, containing 20 items, was sent by post to all children's hospitals (n = 287), all hospitals for child and adolescent psychiatry (n = 173), all social paediatric centres (n = 162), all neuropaediatricians (n = 129) and all youth welfare offices (n = 672) in Germany. Furthermore a link to the questionnaire as online version was put in the member's newsletter by 14 relevant professional societies.

Risk factors in childhood arterial ischaemic stroke: Findings from a population-based study in Germany.

Objective: Acute treatment of childhood arterial ischaemic stroke and prevention strategies for recurrent stroke episodes depend strongly on each child's individual risk profile. The aim of this study is to characterize risk factors for childhood stroke, their occurrence in isolation or combination, and to identify possible common risk factor patterns.

Methods: This population-based study was conducted via ESPED, a surveillance unit for rare paediatric diseases in Germany.

Invasive pneumococcal disease in children under 16 years of age: Incomplete rebound in incidence after the maximum effect of PCV13 in 2012/13 in Germany.

Objective: To identify a potential nadir of the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) in infancy on invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in children under 16 in Germany.

Methods: Active surveillance on IPD based on two independent data sources with capture-recapture correction for underreporting. Annual incidence rates by age group, serotypes, site of infection, and relative incidence reduction compared to pre-vaccination period (1997-2001) at nadir and for the most recent season are reported.

Reduction of Portion Size and Eating Rate Is Associated with BMI-SDS Reduction in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents: Results on Eating and Nutrition Behaviour from the Observational KgAS Study.

Objective: Treatment of paediatric obesity focuses on changes of nutrition and eating behaviour and physical activity. The evaluation of the patient education programme by KgAS was utilised to analyse the association of changes of portion size, eating rate and dietary habits with BMI-SDS reductions.

Methods: Patients (n = 297) were examined at the beginning and at the end of treatment and after 1-year follow-up at different out-patient centres.

TNFRSF1A and MEFV mutations in childhood onset multiple sclerosis.

To investigate frequency and phenotype of TNFRSF1A and MEFV mutations in childhood-onset multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty-nine clinically well characterized patients were investigated for mutations in exons 2, 3, 4, and 6 of the TNFRSF1A gene and in exons 2, 3, 9, 10 of the MEFV gene. Standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) was used to assess whether the number of observed mutations was higher than expected.

Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) Induces Signs of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in 6-Year-Old Infants Despite Absence Of Excessive Growth.

Postnatal catch-up growth and rapid weight gain after intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) seem to increase the risk for later disease. This study aimed to compare features of the metabolic syndrome early in life between IUGR and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Data for 9 infants with IUGR defined by a birth weight<10 percentile and ultrasound-proven placental insufficiency and 11 AGA children were available.

Risk of Intussusception After Rotavirus Vaccination.

Background: In 2013, the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (Ständige Impfkommission, STIKO) recommended rotavirus (RV) vaccination for all infants while stating that this mildly increased the risk of intussusception, a potentially life-threatening event. Since this recommendation was issued, multiple observational studies on this topic designed as self-controlled case series (SCCS) have been published. The SCCS design is particularly suitable for the study of rare adverse effects of medications.

Treatment outcome in children with nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis: A retrospective follow-up study.

Introduction: Information on the long-term treatment outcome following nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lymphadenitis is very limited. We performed a study to (a) compare cure rates following different initial treatment courses, (b) describe subsequent treatment courses and their outcomes, and (c) determine the occurrence of late sequelae in immunocompetent children with NTM lymphadenitis.

Materials And Methods: In 2011, we conducted a retrospective follow-up study in 71 parents whose children had been hospitalized with NTM disease 2002-2005.

Health-Related Quality of Life of Children/Adolescents with Vertigo: Retrospective Study from the German Center of Vertigo and Balance Disorders.

 To assess the impact of vertigo on health-related quality of life (HrQoL) of children/adolescents and to assess if the impact on HrQoL varies by age group, gender, and type of vertigo diagnoses.  A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and HrQoL data of children and adolescents referred to the German Center of Vertigo and Balance Disorders ( = 32; male = 17; female = 15; age range: 8-18 years), using the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire. For each scale, means of the Z-scores with 95% confidence intervals of the study and norm sample were compared.

[Transition of Adolescents with Chronic Neurologic Disorders into Adult Health Care].

Background: Transition of care from pediatric to adult services is a complex process. Factors influencing the success of health care transition of adolescents with chronic neurological disorders are poorly understood.

Methods: Young adults with chronic neurological disorders who had been cared for in an Interdisciplinary Pediatric Center participated in this study.