Diabetes screening outcomes in youth presenting for paediatric weight management: A report of the Paediatric Obesity Weight Evaluation Registry.

Objective: Rising prevalence of obesity has led to increased rates of prediabetes and diabetes mellitus (DM) in children. This study compares rates of prediabetes and diabetes using two recommended screening tests (fasting plasma glucose [FPG] and haemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]).

Study Design: Data were collected prospectively from 37 multi-component paediatric weight management programs in POWER (Paediatric Obesity Weight Evaluation Registry).

Comparison of scissor-type knife to non-scissor-type knife for endoscopic submucosal dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: Scissor-type endoscopic submucosal dissection (ST-ESD) knives can reduce the adverse events associated with ESDs. This study aimed to compare ST-ESD and non-scissor-type (NST)-ESD knives.

Methods: We identified ten studies that compared the performance characteristics and safety profiles of ST-ESD and NST-ESD knives.

Finding of in blood using cell-free DNA technique in a patient with infective endocarditis.

Introduction: The annual incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) is 3-9 cases per 100000 in developed countries and most cases are due to staphylococci and streptococci. IE due to Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) is very rare.

Case Report: We present a case of a 38-year-old female with bacteremia and infective endocarditis of the native mitral valve.

Safety of Non-Operating Room Anesthesia With Propofol Sedation in Three Pediatric Patients With Central Sleep Apnea.

Children with central sleep apnea may require sedation for procedures, including brain imaging as part of the evaluation of apnea. However, the safety of deep sedation without a protected airway is not known in this patient population. In this case series, we present 3 children with central sleep apnea who were sedated with propofol for brain imaging in a non-operating room setting.

Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The role of corticosteroids in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains uncertain. We conducted an updated meta-analysis to investigate the effectiveness and potential effect modifiers of adjunctive corticosteroids in patients with CAP.

Methods: The protocol of this meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022354920).

The Pediatric Data Science and Analytics Subgroup of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Network: Use of Supervised Machine Learning Applications in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Research.

Objective: Perform a scoping review of supervised machine learning in pediatric critical care to identify published applications, methodologies, and implementation frequency to inform best practices for the development, validation, and reporting of predictive models in pediatric critical care.

Design: Scoping review and expert opinion.

Setting: We queried CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCO), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Embase (Elsevier), Ovid Medline, and PubMed for articles published between 2000 and 2022 related to machine learning concepts and pediatric critical illness.

Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection in the West: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The advantages of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) over endoscopic mucosal resection for large colorectal neoplasms are well established; however, the technical challenges and lack of adequate training in ESD limit its widespread adoption in Western countries. A literature search was performed in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies conducted in non-Asian countries evaluating the effectiveness of colorectal ESD. A random effects model was used to obtain pooled en bloc, R0 resection rates, and adverse events (AEs).

Efficacy of scissor-type knife for endoscopic submucosal dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an effective resection technique for early cancers and large gastrointestinal luminal lesions. However, ESD is technically challenging, with the potential for severe adverse events. Scissor-type ESD (ST-ESD) knives with an inner cutting edge and an electrically insulated external coating could mitigate some of these risks.

Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) multiplex activity assay differentiation of type 1 von Willebrand Disease (VWD) and variant VWD.

Introduction: VWD diagnosis is challenging requiring multiple VWF activity tests using many individual assays. We have developed an ELISA-based VWF Multiplex Activity Assay (VWF-MAA) to address this concern; however, the ability of the VWF-MAA to discriminate between type 1 VWD, variant VWD, and normal subjects has not been evaluated.

Aim: To evaluate the VWF-MAA and its ability to differentiate between type 1 VWD, variant VWD and normal subjects in individuals undergoing an initial laboratory evaluation for bleeding.

Single tertiary center experience using Gore Cardioform Atrial Septal Defect Occluder for secundum atrial septal defect closure with a focus on deficient rims.

Background: The data on the use of Gore Cardioform Septal Occluder (GCA; W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc.

Automated Patient Note Grading: Examining Scoring Reliability and Feasibility.

Purpose: Scoring postencounter patient notes (PNs) yields significant insights into student performance, but the resource intensity of scoring limits its use. Recent advances in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning allow application of automated short answer grading (ASAG) for this task. This retrospective study evaluated psychometric characteristics and reliability of an ASAG system for PNs and factors contributing to implementation, including feasibility and case-specific phrase annotation required to tune the system for a new case.

Antimicrobial stewardship strategy implementation and impact in acute care spinal cord injury and disorder units.

Context: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) are crucial to optimizing antibiotic use. ASPs are implemented in the Veterans Health Administration (VAs), but they do not target the needs of populations at high risk for resistant infections, such as spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D).

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess key ASP leader and SCI/D clinicians' perceived level of implementation and impact of 33 Antimicrobial Stewardship (AS) strategies.

Poke Plan: An Initiative to Improve Distraction and Pain Mitigation With Venous Access in Hospitalized Children.

Background: Adequate pain control and anxiety relief during peripheral intravenous cannula (PIV) placement improves patient, parental, and staff satisfaction and reduces health care-induced stress in children. We noted a low rate of analgesic/anxiolysis use (<20%) and child life utilization (3%) in our institution. This quality improvement project was initiated to increase pain mitigation strategies in hospitalized children requiring PIV access.

Treating Children and Adolescents With Obesity: Characteristics of Success.

Factors related to clinically meaningful outcomes for pediatric patients seeking care for severe obesity are not well known. Examining patient-level and program-level characteristics related to success may inform future care. : To determine factors associated with a clinically significant reduction in weight status measured by %BMIp95 after 6 months of treatment.

Probiotics for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although numerous modalities are currently in use for the treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19, probiotics are a cost-effective alternative that could be used in diverse clinical settings. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the role of probiotics in preventing and treating COVID-19 infection.

Methods: We searched several databases from inception to 30 May 2023 for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative observational studies that evaluated probiotics (irrespective of the regimen) for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.

Predictive value of serum β2-microglobulin in cardiac valve calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Background: Cardiac valve calcification (CVC) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. We studied the risk factors of CVC in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and the value of serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) levels in predicting the incidence of CVC. β2-MG is a middle molecular weight toxin.

A Literature Review Examining Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Individuals Diagnosed With Social Anxiety Disorder.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a specific subtype of anxiety disorder where individuals experience uncomfortable social situations that induce anxious feelings including nervousness and panic. Computer technology has been applied in interventions for many mental health disorders. We aim to understand and explore the use of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) to treat adults with SAD.

Clinical outcomes and predictors for 30-day readmissions of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the United States.

Background/objectives: We aimed to assess 30-day readmissions of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the United States.

Methods: The National Readmission Database was utilized from 2016 to 2020 to identify 30-day readmissions of ERCP. Hospitalization characteristics and outcomes were compared between index hospitalizations and readmissions.

Delayed adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with systemic sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases: a substudy of the COVAD-2 cohort.

Data on short-term safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were explored previously in the first COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) survey conducted in 2021. However, delayed adverse events (ADEs) (occurring > 7 days post-vaccination) are poorly characterized in these patients with SSc. In this study, we analysed delayed COVID-19 vaccine-related ADEs among patients with SSc, other systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (SAIDs) and healthy controls (HCs) using data from the second COVAD study conducted in 2022.