UTILITY OF ENDOSCOPIC NARROW-BAND IMAGING FOR IDENTIFYING H. PYLORI-ASSOCIATED GASTRITIS IN CHILDREN.

Background: Conventional white light endoscopic (WLE) findings of H. pylori-associated gastritis are often non-specific and may not correlate with histology. Narrow band imaging (NBI), an optical digital technique employed for the visualization of vessels and patterns of gastric mucosa may improve identification.

Prevalence of functional defecation disorders in European children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Functional defecation disorders (FDDs) are common among children worldwide. The prevalence of these disorders has not been clearly described in Europe. This study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of FDD in European children and assessed geographical, age, and sex distribution and associated factors.

Asymmetry in the Onset of Paraspinal Muscles Activity Differs in Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis Compared With Those With a Symmetrical Spine.

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is characterized by an asymmetrical formation of the spine and ribcage. Recent work provides evidence of asymmetrical (right versus left side) paraspinal muscle size, composition, and activation amplitude in adolescents with AIS. Each of these factors influences muscle force generation.

Enhancing Effective Scanning Techniques for Digital Impression in Neonates with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Laboratory Study Investigating the Impact of Different Scanners, Scanning Tip Sizes, and Strategies.

Digital impressions are increasingly used to manage Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P), potentially offering advantages over traditional methods. This laboratory investigation sought to evaluate the impact of scanning tip sizes, different scanners, and scanning strategies on intraoral scanning in neonates with CL/P. Ten soft acrylic models were used to simulate the oral anatomy of neonates with CL/P, evaluating parameters such as the ability of different scanning tips to capture alveolar cleft depth, scanning time, number of scan stops, and scan quality.

Enhancement of anti-sarcoma immunity by NK cells engineered with mRNA for expression of a EphA2-targeted CAR.

Background: Paediatric sarcomas, including rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma, represent a group of malignancies that significantly contribute to cancer-related morbidity and mortality in children and young adults. These cancers share common challenges, including high rates of metastasis, recurrence or treatment resistance, leading to a 5-year survival rate of approximately 20% for patients with advanced disease stages. Despite the critical need, therapeutic advancements have been limited over the past three decades.

Living with Pediatric Coeliac Disease: Lessons for Health Service Delivery.

Background: Coeliac Disease (CD) affects up to 1.4% of children worldwide, with a rising global incidence. A less typical clinical presentation and the need for a life-long gluten exclusion diet raise challenges for diagnosis, management, and healthcare delivery with considerable impacts for CD patients and families as well as clinical services.

'Walking the journey' with pregnant and birthing women from remote Australian First Nations communities: A qualitative study in the Top End of the Northern Territory.

Problem/background: Australian First Nations people experience disproportionate burdens of poor outcomes compared to non-First Nations people. Further, women living in remote communities face more barriers to care-seeking in pregnancy. Despite work being done in some remote communities, there is limited data exploring women's experiences of pregnancy care, thus a limited understanding of specific barriers and enablers to care-seeking for these women.

High-Energy Nutrition in Hospitalised Paediatric Patients With Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aims: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a significant cause of growth failure and neonatal mortality worldwide, and requirement-focused nutritional management can deeply impact the prognosis. Despite multiple trials, there is no published meta-analysis on the impact of high-energy nutrition in this population.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central for RCTs comparing high-energy to standard formulas in hospitalised patients.

Diagnostic accuracy of early neonatal MRI in predicting adverse motor outcomes in children born preterm: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To examine the diagnostic accuracy of Early structural and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (acquired at < 36 weeks postmenstrual age) to detect cerebral palsy (CP) or other adverse motor outcomes at or beyond 3 years corrected age in infants born preterm.

Method: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched the CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases for studies without language restrictions and a prospectively registered protocol up to October 2023. We extracted the study details, associations presented, and meta-analyses conducted with pooled sensitivity and specificity.

Potential Impact of Rapid Molecular Microbiologic Diagnosis for Mechanically Ventilated Children in Intensive Care With Suspected Pneumonia.

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) remain a leading cause of community-acquired and nosocomial infection in children and a common indication for antimicrobial use and intensive care admission. Determining the causative pathogen for LRTIs is difficult and traditional culture-based methods are labor- and time-intensive. Emerging molecular diagnostic tools may identify pathogens and detect antimicrobial resistance more quickly, to enable earlier targeted antimicrobial therapy.

Prediction of good neurological outcome after return of circulation following paediatric cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the ability of blood-biomarkers, clinical examination, electrophysiology, or neuroimaging, assessed within 14 days from return of circulation to predict good neurological outcome in children following out- or in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods: Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane Trials databases were searched (2010-2023). Sensitivity and false positive rates (FPR) for good neurological outcome (defined as either 'no, mild, moderate disability or minimal change from baseline') in paediatric survivors were calculated for each predictor.

Electronic and paper delivery of parent proxy and children's report of two scar-specific patient-reported outcome measures (Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale): An equivalence study.

Introduction: The Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (BBSIP) and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) are used in burn scar assessment to quantify patient health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). These questionnaires were developed using pen-and-paper delivery methods; however, there is a push towards electronic delivery of these questionnaires in both clinical practice and research. Equivalence testing is required to ensure that validity of these paper questionnaires is maintained electronically.

Characteristics and management of eosinophilic esophagitis in Australasian children: a decade of experience.

Background: The frequency of EoE has been increasing in Northern Hemisphere cohorts, yet there is a scarcity of data in our region. Regional climatic factors, and lifestyle habits may influence the presentation of EoE, and appropriate management is crucial to prevent complications. WIth this is mind we undertook the first comprehensive multisite study of EoE in Australasian children.

A national Australian Congenital Heart Disease registry; methods and initial results.

Background: Although several National Data Registries for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) exist, few are comprehensive and contemporary. A National Australian CHD Registry has been developed that aims to redress this by creating the first comprehensive data collection for CHD children and adults, initially across Australia.

Methods: We defined and collected a minimum dataset of demographics, diagnoses, and procedures from people with CHD presenting at participating quaternary CHD services Australia-wide.

Disparities in kidney care in vulnerable populations: A multinational study from the ISN-GKHA.

Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, displaced people, and refugees, often encounter challenges in accessing healthcare. In this study, we used data from the third iteration of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) to describe kidney care access and delivery to vulnerable populations across countries and regions. Using data from an international survey of clinicians, policymakers, and patient advocates, we assessed the funding and coverage of vulnerable populations on all aspects of kidney replacement therapies (KRT).

Identifying Paediatric Populations with Increased Risk for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Acute and Critical Care Settings: A Scoping Review.

Dysphagia is common in hospitalised children. Clarity regarding its prevalence is required to direct service needs. This review reports oropharyngeal dysphagia prevalence in children admitted to acute and/or critical care, following acute illness, medical or surgical intervention.

Diagnostic accuracy of neonatal structural MRI scores to predict 6-year motor outcomes of children born very preterm.

Aims: This study aimed to (1) evaluate associations between Early and Term structural MRI (sMRI) brain abnormality scores and adverse motor outcomes at 6-years corrected age (CA), (2) determine their diagnostic accuracy in predicting adverse motor outcomes and cerebral palsy (CP) at 6-years CA.

Methods: Infants born < 31-weeks gestational age (GA) returning for 6-year follow-up were included. Early and Term sMRI were scored using a validated method, deriving white matter, cortical grey matter, deep grey matter, cerebellar and global brain abnormality scores (GBAS).

Home mechanical ventilation in children: evolving indications in an era of new treatment options.

Worldwide, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of paediatric home mechanical ventilation (HMV). In this review, we examine this rapid evolution in clinical practice through the prism of two distinct groups of children: those with neurodisability/medical complexity and patients with neuromuscular disease. We illustrate the changes in service provision for these two groups that are driven by a recognition that early intervention with HMV can enhance quality of life for these children and may complement the beneficial effects of novel disease-modifying medications to improve survival.

Pre-operative transcranial Doppler ultrasound assessment of cerebral collateral circulation in children undergoing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or cardiac surgery.

Children requiring veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) or cardiac surgery often undergo cervical cannulation or carotid artery clamping, which can interrupt cerebral circulation. Inadequate collateral flow through the circle of Willis (CoW) may lead to cerebral ischaemia within the vascular territory and/or watershed regions. Pre-cannulation survey of the CoW using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound may be performed to predict and plan neuroprotection.

A prospective study of acute propranolol overdose defining dose thresholds of severe toxicity (ATOM - 9).

Introduction: Propranolol is a beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug with sodium channel-blocking properties that can cause life-threatening toxicity in overdose. Limited research defines dose thresholds of toxicity. We aimed to investigate propranolol overdose and dose thresholds for severe toxicity.

Vigabatrin-associated brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities and clinical symptoms in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Objective: Previous retrospective studies have reported vigabatrin-associated brain abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (VABAM), although clinical impact is unknown. We evaluated the association between vigabatrin and predefined brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in a large homogenous tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) cohort and assessed to what extent VABAM-related symptoms were reported in TSC infants.

Methods: The Dutch TSC Registry and the EPISTOP cohort provided retrospective and prospective data from 80 TSC patients treated with vigabatrin (VGB) before the age of 2 years and 23 TSC patients without VGB.