Paediatric liver transplantation(PLT)is a life-saving procedure for children with advanced liver disease or hepatoblastoma.The number of available grafts is limited in relation to the number of children on PLT waiting...Paediatric liver transplantation(PLT)is a life-saving procedure for children with advanced liver disease or hepatoblastoma.The number of available grafts is limited in relation to the number of children on PLT waiting list.This graft shortage has led transplant societies and healthcare organizations to explore ways to investigate possible options and expand the donor pool.The safe use of grafts from obese donors has always been a subject of debate among PLT specialists.Donors’obesity is strongly associated with hepatic steatosis which can affect graft function by impairing microcirculation and maximizing the potential of ischemiareperfusion injury.Donor body mass index consideration should go hand in hand with the workup for hepatic steatosis which is an independent predictor for early graft dysfunction.New strategies to optimize the grafts before PLT such as normothermic regional perfusion and ex vivo liver perfusion can potentially mitigate the risk of using grafts from obese donors.This review summarizes the available evidence about the impact of donor obesity on PLT and highlights the current policies to widen the graft pool and suggest future research directions to improve donor selection and patient outcomes.展开更多
Fournier’s gangrene is a form of necrotizing fasciitis that has multiple causes and is relatively uncommon in children. We report a case of Fournier’s gangrene of infectious origin in a 12-month-old infant following...Fournier’s gangrene is a form of necrotizing fasciitis that has multiple causes and is relatively uncommon in children. We report a case of Fournier’s gangrene of infectious origin in a 12-month-old infant following an insect bite. A rapid diagnosis and multidisciplinary care saved the patient.展开更多
Inborn errors of metabolism(IEM)are rare disorders,most are liver-based with liver transplantation(LT)emerging as an effective cure in the pediatric population.LT has been shown to offer a cure or deter disease progre...Inborn errors of metabolism(IEM)are rare disorders,most are liver-based with liver transplantation(LT)emerging as an effective cure in the pediatric population.LT has been shown to offer a cure or deter disease progression and provide symptomatic improvement in patients with IEM.Each metabolic disorder is unique,with the missing enzyme or transporter protein causing substrate deficiency or toxic byproduct production.Knowledge about the distribution of deficient enzymes,the percentage of enzymes replaced by LT,and the extent of extrahepatic involvement helps anticipate and manage complications in the perioperative period.Most patients have multisystem involvement and can be on complex dietary regimens.Metabolic decompensation can be triggered due to the stress response to surgery,fasting and other unanticipated complications perioperatively.Thus,a multidisciplinary team’s input including those from metabolic specialists is essential to develop disease and patient-specific strategies for the perioperative management of these patients during LT.In this review,we outline the classification of IEM,indications for LT along with potential benefits,basic metabolic defects and their implications,details of extrahepatic involvement and perioperative management strategies for LT in children with some of the commonly presenting IEM,to assist anesthesiologists handling this cohort of patients.展开更多
AIM To determine if ketamine sedation is a safe and cost effective way of treating displaced paediatric radial and ulna fractures in the emergency department. METHODS Following an agreed interdepartmental protocol, fr...AIM To determine if ketamine sedation is a safe and cost effective way of treating displaced paediatric radial and ulna fractures in the emergency department. METHODS Following an agreed interdepartmental protocol, fractures of the radius and ulna(moderately to severely displaced) in children between the age of 2 and 16 years old, presenting within a specified 4 mo period, were manipulated in our paediatric emergency department. Verbal and written consent was obtained prior to procedural sedation to ensure parents were informed and satisfied to have ketamine. A single attempt at manipulation was performed. Pre and postmanipulation radiographs were requested and assessed to ensure adequacy of reduction. Parental satisfaction surveys were collected after the procedure to assess the perceived quality of treatment. After closed reduction and cast immobilisation, patients were then followed-up in the paediatric outpatient fracture clinic and functional outcomes measured prospectively. A cost analysis compared to more formal manipulation under a general anaesthetic was also undertaken.RESULTS During the 4 mo period of study, 10 closed, moderate to severely displaced fractures were identified and treated in the paediatric emergency department using our ketamine sedation protocol. These included fractures of the growth plate(3), fractures of both radius and ulna(6) and a single isolated proximal radius fracture. The mean time from administration of ketamine until completion of the moulded plaster was 20 min. The mean time interval from sedation to full recovery was 74 min. We had no cases of unacceptable fracture reduction and no patients required any further manipulation, either in fracture clinic or under a more formal general anaesthetic. There were no serious adverse events in relation to the use of ketamine. Parents, patients and clinicians reported extremely favourable outcomes using this technique. Furthermore, compared to using a manipulation under general anaesthesia, each case performed under ketamine sedation was associated with a saving of £1470, the overall study saving being £14700. CONCLUSION Ketamine procedural sedation in the paediatric population is a safe and cost effective method for the treatment of displaced fractures of the radius and ulna, with high parent satisfaction rates.展开更多
Investigating gastrointestinal(GI)motility disorders relies on diagnostic tools to assess muscular contractions,peristalsis propagation and the integrity and coordination of various sphincters.Manometries are the gold...Investigating gastrointestinal(GI)motility disorders relies on diagnostic tools to assess muscular contractions,peristalsis propagation and the integrity and coordination of various sphincters.Manometries are the gold standard to study the GI motor function but it is increasingly acknowledged that manometries do not provide a complete picture in relation to sphincters competencies and muscle fibrosis.Endolumenal functional lumen imaging probe(EndoFLIP)an emerging technology,uses impedance planimetry to measure hollow organs cross sectional area,distensibility and compliance.It has been successfully used as a complementary tool in the assessment of the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters,oesophageal body,the pylorus and the anal canal.In this article,we aim to review the uses of EndoFLIP as a tool to investigate GI motility disorders with a special focus on paediatric practice.The majority of EndoFLIP studies were conducted in adult patients but the uptake of the technology in paediatrics is increasing.EndoFLIP can provide a useful complementary data to the existing GI motility investigation in both children and adults.展开更多
Introduction: Omphalocele is an embryopathy of the first ten weeks of gestation. It corresponds to a defect in the abdominal wall through which viscera contained in a sac constituted by the amniotic membrane and cente...Introduction: Omphalocele is an embryopathy of the first ten weeks of gestation. It corresponds to a defect in the abdominal wall through which viscera contained in a sac constituted by the amniotic membrane and centered by the umbilical cord are exteriorized. The objective of this work was to study the diagnostic modalities and the impact of our therapeutic choices on the outcome of the management. Material and Methods: We carried out a prospective study on patients with omphalocele admitted to the pediatric surgery departments of the HND, during a period spread over 4 years, between January 2017 and December 2020. Results: we collected 55 files (i.e., 13.7 cases/year). There were 38 boys and 17 girls (sex ratio 2.2) with an average age of 1.9 days. We found 15 cases (27%) of type I and 40 cases (73%) of type II according to the AITKEN classification. Fifteen cases (27%) benefited from surgical treatment and 45 cases (73%) benefited from conservative treatment (Grob). Two surgical methods were used: Primary parietal closure, which was used in 10 cases (66.7%), and the GROSS method, which was used in 5 cases (33.3%). We obtained an improvement of 40 cases (73%) and 15 cases (27%) of death. Conclusion: our work reported our experience in the management of omphalocele and the difficulties of postoperative resuscitation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Picky eating is a commonly observed behavior among children globally,negatively impacting their physical and mental growth.Although common characteristics distinguish peaky eaters,including food selectivity...BACKGROUND Picky eating is a commonly observed behavior among children globally,negatively impacting their physical and mental growth.Although common characteristics distinguish peaky eaters,including food selectivity,food neophobia,and food avoidance,there is no clear definition to assess this behavior.Due to the unavailability of data regarding picky eating,it wasn’t easy to estimate its prevalence.AIM To develop a regional protocol to help healthcare professionals identify and manage mild and moderate picky eating cases.METHODS A virtual roundtable discussion was held in April 2021 to gather the opinions of seven pediatricians and two pediatric dietitians from eight Middle Eastern countries who had great experience in the management of picky eating.The discussion covered different topics,including clearly defining mild and moderate picky eating,identifying the role of diet fortification in these cases,and the possibility of developing a systematic approach to diet fortification.RESULTS The panel identified picky eating as consuming an inadequate amount and variety of foods by rejecting familiar and unfamiliar food.Most of the time,moderate picky eating cases had micronutrient deficiencies with over-or undernutrition;the mild cases only showed inadequate food consumption and/or poor diet quality.Paying attention to the organic red flags like growth faltering and development delay and behavioral red flags,including food fixation and anticipatory gagging,will help healthcare professionals evaluate the picky eaters and the caregivers to care for their children.Although dietary supplementation and commercial food fortification play an important role in picky eating,they were no benefit in the Middle East.CONCLUSION The panel agreed that food fortification through a food-first approach and oral nutritional supplements would be the best for Middle Eastern children.These recommendations would facilitate identifying and managing picky-eating children in the Middle East.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cow's milk allergy(CMA)is a common condition in infants,requiring alternative protein sources in their diets.Soya milk has become a popular substitute,especially in developing countries where it is a mo...BACKGROUND Cow's milk allergy(CMA)is a common condition in infants,requiring alternative protein sources in their diets.Soya milk has become a popular substitute,especially in developing countries where it is a more affordable option compared to expensive hypoallergenic feeds for infants with insufficient breast milk supply.However,recent observations have shown an increase in soya cross-allergic reactions among infants with CMA.AIM To determine how often infants diagnosed with CMA also had soya cross-allergy and to examine the symptoms and outcomes of these infants at 2 years of age.METHODS Data from two pediatric centers were analyzed,looking at clinical records of children under 2 years old diagnosed with CMA from August 2015 to July 2023,divided into two four-year periods.RESULTS The records of 432 infants with CMA were analyzed.In the first four-year period from August 2015 to July 2019,142 infants were studied,with 27(19%)found to have soya-protein allergy as well.In the second four-year period,a total of 290 infants were studied,and soya allergy was found in 136 babies(47%).This represents a significant increase(P<0.0001)in cases of soya protein cross-allergy among infants with CMA.The most common symptoms observed were gastroesophageal reflux disorder(39%),followed by failure to thrive,bloody diarrhea,watery diarrhea,and constipation.At 2 years of age,these infants showed significant growth failure compared to infants with CMA only.CONCLUSION In conclusion,this study emphasizes the importance of being cautious when using soy protein in infants with cow's milk protein allergy,especially in areas where cost is a major concern.展开更多
BACKGROUND In our day-to-day practice,constipation is a common problem in the pediatric population and cause of frequent visit in outpatient and emergency department.But occult constipation(OC)remains as the most unad...BACKGROUND In our day-to-day practice,constipation is a common problem in the pediatric population and cause of frequent visit in outpatient and emergency department.But occult constipation(OC)remains as the most unaddressed problem.AIM To investigate the clinical profile of OC in children.METHODS It was a prospective observational study,done in Bangladesh from January 2022 to December 2024.It included all consecutive children diagnosed as OC and were treated accordingly.Before diagnosis,secondary causes of the presenting symptoms were excluded with appropriate investigations.They were followed up monthly for 4 months and treatment response were measured by improvement of symptoms.RESULTS A total of 404 children were included in this study with mean age group of 76.50±36.62 months,and male-female ratio of 1.67:1.The most common presenting complaint was abdominal pain(66%),followed by anorexia(49%),vomiting(24%),nausea(17%),frequent defecation with small volume stool(17%),altered bowel habit(16%),failure to thrive(14%)and recurrent helminthiasis(12%).Interestingly,2.5%children presented with persistent diarrhea.CONCLUSION Abdominal pain is the most common presentation of OC.When symptoms cannot be explained by other etiology,OC should be kept in mind.展开更多
Stem cell therapy holds great promise for the regeneration and repair of damaged tissues and organs.Stem cell therapy has been successfully applied to treat diseases that cannot be cured with conventional medicine.A c...Stem cell therapy holds great promise for the regeneration and repair of damaged tissues and organs.Stem cell therapy has been successfully applied to treat diseases that cannot be cured with conventional medicine.A careful evaluation of the outcomes is required for successful implementation of stem cell therapy.Recently,artificial intelligence(AI)has opened new avenues for research in the stem cell therapy field.The integration of AI can assist in evaluating the quality,efficiency and safety of stem cells by analyzing available data.It has the potential to improve and accelerate progress in various aspects of stem cell research and therapeutic applications.AI is still in its infancy and has certain limitations,such as algorithm validation problems,inadequate data availability,poor data quality,and ethical considerations.Considering the potential of AI to improve stem cell research and therapeutics,this review aims to explore applications of AI in understanding stem cell behavior,identification and characterization,optimization of the delivery methods,stem cell modeling and prediction of mortality risk.In addition,this review highlights the role of AI,machine learning,deep learning,and other subtypes in advancing stem cell biology research.This review also discusses the current limitations,ethical considerations,and future prospective of use of AI in stem cell research and therapeutic applications.展开更多
Aesthetic medicine is a branch of medicine dedicated to improve an individual’s appearance and overall visual appeal.Conventional aesthetic treatments have limitations,including the risk of complications,allergic rea...Aesthetic medicine is a branch of medicine dedicated to improve an individual’s appearance and overall visual appeal.Conventional aesthetic treatments have limitations,including the risk of complications,allergic reactions,and temporary benefits.Adipose tissue offers a promising alternative to conventional aesthetic treatments.The regenerative properties,accessibility and versatility of adipose tissue make it an attractive option for individuals seeking natural and long-lasting aesthetic results.Adipose tissue is rich source of adipose tissue derived stem cells(ASCs),growth factors and extracellular matrix.It can restore and rejuvenate the damaged and aged tissues.Adipose tissue can be used in different formats such as pure adipose tissue grafts,stromal vascular fraction,nanofat,macrofat,microfat and as a pure population of ASCs.In addition,ASC derived exosomes offer a unique cell-free therapy advantages bioactive molecules like growth factors,cytokines,and microRNAs to stimulate collagen production,improve skin texture,and address pigmentation issues.This review highlights the multifaceted potential of adipose tissue in aesthetic medicine.It discusses its diverse applications,the biological mechanisms involved,and emerging therapeutic approaches.Moreover,this review also highlights the challenges and future direction of using adipose tissue-based therapies for aesthetic treatments.展开更多
Objective:To analyse the clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)in children under two years of age.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 112 paediatric cases of MPP admitted to our...Objective:To analyse the clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)in children under two years of age.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 112 paediatric cases of MPP admitted to our hospital between January 2022 and December 2023.Clinical data including symptoms,signs,imaging findings,and prognosis were collected.Results:Analysis of clinical symptom distribution revealed coughing in 100.0%of cases,comprising both paroxysmal dry cough and productive cough.Fever was present in 61.61%of cases,with additional manifestations including wheezing,vomiting,diarrhoea,and respiratory distress.Pulmonary rales were the most prevalent finding at 75.89%,alongside other signs such as diminished breath sounds.Imaging analysis of all 112 pneumonia cases revealed bronchopneumonia accounted for 70.54%of cases,representing a relatively high proportion.Treatment involved macrolide antibiotics,including azithromycin,with bronchodilators and corticosteroids added for significant wheezing.The overall treatment efficacy rate was 90.18%.Conclusion:Analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae characteristics in children under 2 years indicates that MPP in infants and young children under 2 presents with mild symptoms,pronounced signs,and relatively mild overall inflammation,resulting in a comparatively high overall cure rate.展开更多
AIM: To investigate morphological changes of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in small bowel atresia.METHODS: Resected small bowel specimens from affected patients (n = 7) we...AIM: To investigate morphological changes of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in small bowel atresia.METHODS: Resected small bowel specimens from affected patients (n = 7) were divided into three parts (proximal, atretic, distal). Standard histology and enzyme immunohistochemistry anti-S100, anti-protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, anti-neurofilament (NF), antic-kit-receptor (CD117) was carried out on conventional paraffin sections of the proximal and distal part. RESULTS: The neuronal and glial markers (PGP 9.5, NF, S-100) were expressed in hypertrophied ganglia and nerve fibres within the myenteric and submucosal plexuses. Furthermore, the submucous plexus contained typical giant ganglia. The innervation pattern of the proximal bowel resembled intestinal neuronal dysplasia. The density of myenteric ICCs was clearly reduced in the proximal bowel, whereas a moderate number of muscular ICCs were found. The anti-CD117 immunore- action revealed additional numerous mast cells. The distal bowel demonstrated normal morphology and density of the ENS, the ICCs and the mast cells.CONCLUSION: The proximal and distal bowel in small bowel atresia revealed clear changes in morphology and density of the ENS and ICCs.展开更多
Upper gastrointestinal(UGI) tract involvement of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is commonly seen in pediatric patients. Upper endoscopy is included in the routine workup of children with suspected IBD to enhance the ...Upper gastrointestinal(UGI) tract involvement of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is commonly seen in pediatric patients. Upper endoscopy is included in the routine workup of children with suspected IBD to enhance the diagnosis and management of these patients. Currently, childhood IBD is classified into ulcerative colitis(UC), atypical UC, Crohn's disease(CD) and IBD unclassified.Histologic confirmation of UGI tract involvement, in particular the presence of epithelioid(non-caseating) granulomas, is helpful in confirming the diagnosis of IBD and its classification. Herein, we reviewed selected IBD-associated UGI tract manifestations in children. Lymphocytic esophagitis, seen predominantly in CD,is histologically characterized by increased intraepithelial lymphocytes(> 20 in one high-power field) in a background of mucosal injury with absence of granulocytes. Focally enhanced gastritis is a form of gastric inflammation in pediatric IBD marked by a focal lymphohistiocytic pit inflammation with or without granulocytes and plasma cells in a relatively normal background gastric mucosa. Duodenal inflammation seen in children with IBD includes cryptitis,villous flattening, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, and lamina propria eosinophilia. Finally, epithelioid granulomas not associated with ruptured gland/crypt are a diagnostic feature of CD. The clinicopathologic correlation and differential diagnosis of each microscopic finding are discussed. Clinicians and pathologists should be cognizant of the utility and limitations of these histologic features.展开更多
Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection remains an important global health problem with chronic infection affecting approximately 11 million children worldwide. The emergence of direct-acting antiviral(DAA) therapies and the...Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection remains an important global health problem with chronic infection affecting approximately 11 million children worldwide. The emergence of direct-acting antiviral(DAA) therapies and the development of non-invasive methods for the determination of liver fibrosis will significantly improve the management of paediatric patients with chronic HCV infection in subsequent years. For paediatric patients, a new era of highly effective DAA agents is beginning, and the first results of available clinical trials are very promising. In this era, the identification and monitoring of patients continues to be an important issue. The availability of non-invasive serological and imaging methods to measure hepatic fibrosis enables the identification of patients with significant or advanced liver fibrosis stages. This article summarizes the current data on the epidemiology and progress of research aimed to evaluate the new therapies and non-invasive methods for liver injury in paediatric patients with chronic hepatitis C.展开更多
Since the first report of use of endoscopy in children in the 1970 s, there has seen an exponential growthin published experience and innovation in the field. In this review article we focus on modern age therapeutic ...Since the first report of use of endoscopy in children in the 1970 s, there has seen an exponential growthin published experience and innovation in the field. In this review article we focus on modern age therapeutic endoscopy practice, explaining use of traditional as well as new and innovative techniques, for diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the paediatric upper gastrointestinal tract.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the role and our experience of injecti-on sclerotherapy with cow milk in the treatment of rectal prolapse in children. METHODS:In the last 30 years (1976-2006) we made 100 injections of sclerotherapy w...AIM:To evaluate the role and our experience of injecti-on sclerotherapy with cow milk in the treatment of rectal prolapse in children. METHODS:In the last 30 years (1976-2006) we made 100 injections of sclerotherapy with cow milk in 86 chil-dren. In this study we included children who failed to respond to conservative treatment and we perform ope-rative treatment. RESULTS:In our study we included 86 children and in all of the patients we perform cow milk injection sclerot-herapy. In 95.3% (82 children) of patients sclerotherapy was successful. In 4 (4.7%) patients we had recurrent rectal prolapse where we performed operative treatment. Below 4 years we had 62 children (72%) and 24 older children (28%). In children who needed operative trea-tment we performed Thiersch operation and without any complications. CONCLUSION:Injection sclerotherapy with cow milk for treatment rectal prolapse in children is a simple and effective treatment for rectal prolapse with minimal com-plications.展开更多
BACKGROUND Abdominal cocoon or“encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis”(EPS)is an uncommon and rare cause of intestinal obstruction.Only a few cases have been reported in paediatric patients.Typically,EPS is described as...BACKGROUND Abdominal cocoon or“encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis”(EPS)is an uncommon and rare cause of intestinal obstruction.Only a few cases have been reported in paediatric patients.Typically,EPS is described as the primary form in young adolescent girls from tropical and subtropical countries because of viral peritonitis due to retrograde menstruation or a history of peritoneal dialysis.Most patients are asymptomatic or present with abdominal pain,which is likely to occur secondary to subacute bowel obstruction.Findings at imaging,such as ultrasound,computed tomography,and magnetic resonance imaging,are often nonspecific.When diagnosed,EPS is characterized by total or partial encasement of the bowel within a thick fibrocollagenous membrane that envelopes the small intestine in the form of a cocoon because of chronic intraabdominal fibroinflammatory processes.The membrane forms a fibrous tissue sheet that covers,fixes,and finely constricts the gut,compromising its motility.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of EPS in a 12-year-old boy 8 wk after primary surgery for resection of symptomatic jejunal angiodysplasia.There was no history of peritoneal dialysis or drug intake.CONCLUSION In this report,we sought to highlight the diagnostic,surgical,and histopathological characteristics and review the current literature on EPS in paediatric patients.展开更多
AIM To investigate the impact of IL28 B and OAS gene polymorphisms on interferon treatment responses in children with chronic hepatitis B.METHODS We enrolled 52 children(between the ages of 4 and 18) with hepatitis B ...AIM To investigate the impact of IL28 B and OAS gene polymorphisms on interferon treatment responses in children with chronic hepatitis B.METHODS We enrolled 52 children(between the ages of 4 and 18) with hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB), who were treated with pegylated interferon alfa for 48 wk. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the OAS1(rs1131476), OAS2(rs1293747),OAS3(rs2072136), OASL(rs10849829) and IL28B(rs12979860, rs12980275 and rs8099917) genes were studied to examine their associations with responses to IFN treatment in paediatric patients. We adopted two criteria for the therapeutic response, achieving an hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA level < 2000 IU/m L and normalization of ALT activity(< 40 IU/L). To perform the analyses, we compared the patients in terms of achieving a partial response(PR) and a complete response(CR) upon measurement at the 24-wk posttreatment follow-up. RESULTS The PR and CR rates were 80.8% and 42.3%, respectively. Factors such as age, gender and liver histology had no impact on the type of response(partial or complete). A statistically significant relationship between higher baseline HBV DNA and ALT activity levels and lower rates of PR and CR was shown(P < 0.05). The allele association analysis revealed that only the IL-28 B rs12979860(C vs T) and IL28 B rs12980275(A vs G) markers significantly affected the achievement of PR(P = 0.021, OR = 3.3, 95%CI: 1.2-9.2 and P = 0.014, OR = 3.7, 95%CI: 1.3-10.1, respectively). However, in the genotype analysis, only IL-28 B rs12980275 was significantly associated with PR(AA vs AG-GG, P = 0.014, OR = 10.9, 95%CI: 1.3-93.9). The association analysis for CR showed that the TT genotype of IL28 B rs12979860 was present only in the no-CR group(P = 0.033) and the AA genotype of OASL rs10849829 was significantly more frequent in the noCR group(P = 0.044, OR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.07-0.88). The haplotype analysis revealed significant associations between PR and CR and OAS haplotype(P = 0.0002 and P = 0.001, respectively), but no association with IL28 B haplotype was observed.CONCLUSION IL28 B and OAS polymorphisms are associated with different clinical outcomes in CHB children treated with interferon.展开更多
Complicated acute appendicitis(CAA)is a serious condition and carries significant morbidity in children.A strict diagnosis is challenging,as there are many lesions that mimic CAA.The management of CAA is still controv...Complicated acute appendicitis(CAA)is a serious condition and carries significant morbidity in children.A strict diagnosis is challenging,as there are many lesions that mimic CAA.The management of CAA is still controversial.There are two options for treatment:Immediate operative management and nonoperative management with antibiotics and/or drainage of any abscess or phlegmon.Each method of treatment has advantages and disadvantages.Operative management may be difficult due to the presence of inflamed tissues and may lead to detrimental events.In many cases,non-operative management with or without drainage and interval appendectomy is advised.The reasons for this approach include new medications and policies for the use of antibiotic therapy.Furthermore,advances in radiological interventions may overcome difficulties such as diagnosing and managing the complications of CAA without any surgeries.However,questions have been raised about the risk of recurrence,prolonged use of antibiotics,lengthened hospital stay and delay in returning to daily activities.Moreover,the need for interval appendectomy is currently under debate because of the low risk of recurrence.Due to the paucity of high-quality studies,more randomized controlled trials to determine the precise management strategy are needed.This review aims to study the current data on operative vs non-operative management for CAA in children and to extract any useful information from the literature.展开更多
文摘Paediatric liver transplantation(PLT)is a life-saving procedure for children with advanced liver disease or hepatoblastoma.The number of available grafts is limited in relation to the number of children on PLT waiting list.This graft shortage has led transplant societies and healthcare organizations to explore ways to investigate possible options and expand the donor pool.The safe use of grafts from obese donors has always been a subject of debate among PLT specialists.Donors’obesity is strongly associated with hepatic steatosis which can affect graft function by impairing microcirculation and maximizing the potential of ischemiareperfusion injury.Donor body mass index consideration should go hand in hand with the workup for hepatic steatosis which is an independent predictor for early graft dysfunction.New strategies to optimize the grafts before PLT such as normothermic regional perfusion and ex vivo liver perfusion can potentially mitigate the risk of using grafts from obese donors.This review summarizes the available evidence about the impact of donor obesity on PLT and highlights the current policies to widen the graft pool and suggest future research directions to improve donor selection and patient outcomes.
文摘Fournier’s gangrene is a form of necrotizing fasciitis that has multiple causes and is relatively uncommon in children. We report a case of Fournier’s gangrene of infectious origin in a 12-month-old infant following an insect bite. A rapid diagnosis and multidisciplinary care saved the patient.
文摘Inborn errors of metabolism(IEM)are rare disorders,most are liver-based with liver transplantation(LT)emerging as an effective cure in the pediatric population.LT has been shown to offer a cure or deter disease progression and provide symptomatic improvement in patients with IEM.Each metabolic disorder is unique,with the missing enzyme or transporter protein causing substrate deficiency or toxic byproduct production.Knowledge about the distribution of deficient enzymes,the percentage of enzymes replaced by LT,and the extent of extrahepatic involvement helps anticipate and manage complications in the perioperative period.Most patients have multisystem involvement and can be on complex dietary regimens.Metabolic decompensation can be triggered due to the stress response to surgery,fasting and other unanticipated complications perioperatively.Thus,a multidisciplinary team’s input including those from metabolic specialists is essential to develop disease and patient-specific strategies for the perioperative management of these patients during LT.In this review,we outline the classification of IEM,indications for LT along with potential benefits,basic metabolic defects and their implications,details of extrahepatic involvement and perioperative management strategies for LT in children with some of the commonly presenting IEM,to assist anesthesiologists handling this cohort of patients.
文摘AIM To determine if ketamine sedation is a safe and cost effective way of treating displaced paediatric radial and ulna fractures in the emergency department. METHODS Following an agreed interdepartmental protocol, fractures of the radius and ulna(moderately to severely displaced) in children between the age of 2 and 16 years old, presenting within a specified 4 mo period, were manipulated in our paediatric emergency department. Verbal and written consent was obtained prior to procedural sedation to ensure parents were informed and satisfied to have ketamine. A single attempt at manipulation was performed. Pre and postmanipulation radiographs were requested and assessed to ensure adequacy of reduction. Parental satisfaction surveys were collected after the procedure to assess the perceived quality of treatment. After closed reduction and cast immobilisation, patients were then followed-up in the paediatric outpatient fracture clinic and functional outcomes measured prospectively. A cost analysis compared to more formal manipulation under a general anaesthetic was also undertaken.RESULTS During the 4 mo period of study, 10 closed, moderate to severely displaced fractures were identified and treated in the paediatric emergency department using our ketamine sedation protocol. These included fractures of the growth plate(3), fractures of both radius and ulna(6) and a single isolated proximal radius fracture. The mean time from administration of ketamine until completion of the moulded plaster was 20 min. The mean time interval from sedation to full recovery was 74 min. We had no cases of unacceptable fracture reduction and no patients required any further manipulation, either in fracture clinic or under a more formal general anaesthetic. There were no serious adverse events in relation to the use of ketamine. Parents, patients and clinicians reported extremely favourable outcomes using this technique. Furthermore, compared to using a manipulation under general anaesthesia, each case performed under ketamine sedation was associated with a saving of £1470, the overall study saving being £14700. CONCLUSION Ketamine procedural sedation in the paediatric population is a safe and cost effective method for the treatment of displaced fractures of the radius and ulna, with high parent satisfaction rates.
文摘Investigating gastrointestinal(GI)motility disorders relies on diagnostic tools to assess muscular contractions,peristalsis propagation and the integrity and coordination of various sphincters.Manometries are the gold standard to study the GI motor function but it is increasingly acknowledged that manometries do not provide a complete picture in relation to sphincters competencies and muscle fibrosis.Endolumenal functional lumen imaging probe(EndoFLIP)an emerging technology,uses impedance planimetry to measure hollow organs cross sectional area,distensibility and compliance.It has been successfully used as a complementary tool in the assessment of the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters,oesophageal body,the pylorus and the anal canal.In this article,we aim to review the uses of EndoFLIP as a tool to investigate GI motility disorders with a special focus on paediatric practice.The majority of EndoFLIP studies were conducted in adult patients but the uptake of the technology in paediatrics is increasing.EndoFLIP can provide a useful complementary data to the existing GI motility investigation in both children and adults.
文摘Introduction: Omphalocele is an embryopathy of the first ten weeks of gestation. It corresponds to a defect in the abdominal wall through which viscera contained in a sac constituted by the amniotic membrane and centered by the umbilical cord are exteriorized. The objective of this work was to study the diagnostic modalities and the impact of our therapeutic choices on the outcome of the management. Material and Methods: We carried out a prospective study on patients with omphalocele admitted to the pediatric surgery departments of the HND, during a period spread over 4 years, between January 2017 and December 2020. Results: we collected 55 files (i.e., 13.7 cases/year). There were 38 boys and 17 girls (sex ratio 2.2) with an average age of 1.9 days. We found 15 cases (27%) of type I and 40 cases (73%) of type II according to the AITKEN classification. Fifteen cases (27%) benefited from surgical treatment and 45 cases (73%) benefited from conservative treatment (Grob). Two surgical methods were used: Primary parietal closure, which was used in 10 cases (66.7%), and the GROSS method, which was used in 5 cases (33.3%). We obtained an improvement of 40 cases (73%) and 15 cases (27%) of death. Conclusion: our work reported our experience in the management of omphalocele and the difficulties of postoperative resuscitation.
文摘BACKGROUND Picky eating is a commonly observed behavior among children globally,negatively impacting their physical and mental growth.Although common characteristics distinguish peaky eaters,including food selectivity,food neophobia,and food avoidance,there is no clear definition to assess this behavior.Due to the unavailability of data regarding picky eating,it wasn’t easy to estimate its prevalence.AIM To develop a regional protocol to help healthcare professionals identify and manage mild and moderate picky eating cases.METHODS A virtual roundtable discussion was held in April 2021 to gather the opinions of seven pediatricians and two pediatric dietitians from eight Middle Eastern countries who had great experience in the management of picky eating.The discussion covered different topics,including clearly defining mild and moderate picky eating,identifying the role of diet fortification in these cases,and the possibility of developing a systematic approach to diet fortification.RESULTS The panel identified picky eating as consuming an inadequate amount and variety of foods by rejecting familiar and unfamiliar food.Most of the time,moderate picky eating cases had micronutrient deficiencies with over-or undernutrition;the mild cases only showed inadequate food consumption and/or poor diet quality.Paying attention to the organic red flags like growth faltering and development delay and behavioral red flags,including food fixation and anticipatory gagging,will help healthcare professionals evaluate the picky eaters and the caregivers to care for their children.Although dietary supplementation and commercial food fortification play an important role in picky eating,they were no benefit in the Middle East.CONCLUSION The panel agreed that food fortification through a food-first approach and oral nutritional supplements would be the best for Middle Eastern children.These recommendations would facilitate identifying and managing picky-eating children in the Middle East.
文摘BACKGROUND Cow's milk allergy(CMA)is a common condition in infants,requiring alternative protein sources in their diets.Soya milk has become a popular substitute,especially in developing countries where it is a more affordable option compared to expensive hypoallergenic feeds for infants with insufficient breast milk supply.However,recent observations have shown an increase in soya cross-allergic reactions among infants with CMA.AIM To determine how often infants diagnosed with CMA also had soya cross-allergy and to examine the symptoms and outcomes of these infants at 2 years of age.METHODS Data from two pediatric centers were analyzed,looking at clinical records of children under 2 years old diagnosed with CMA from August 2015 to July 2023,divided into two four-year periods.RESULTS The records of 432 infants with CMA were analyzed.In the first four-year period from August 2015 to July 2019,142 infants were studied,with 27(19%)found to have soya-protein allergy as well.In the second four-year period,a total of 290 infants were studied,and soya allergy was found in 136 babies(47%).This represents a significant increase(P<0.0001)in cases of soya protein cross-allergy among infants with CMA.The most common symptoms observed were gastroesophageal reflux disorder(39%),followed by failure to thrive,bloody diarrhea,watery diarrhea,and constipation.At 2 years of age,these infants showed significant growth failure compared to infants with CMA only.CONCLUSION In conclusion,this study emphasizes the importance of being cautious when using soy protein in infants with cow's milk protein allergy,especially in areas where cost is a major concern.
文摘BACKGROUND In our day-to-day practice,constipation is a common problem in the pediatric population and cause of frequent visit in outpatient and emergency department.But occult constipation(OC)remains as the most unaddressed problem.AIM To investigate the clinical profile of OC in children.METHODS It was a prospective observational study,done in Bangladesh from January 2022 to December 2024.It included all consecutive children diagnosed as OC and were treated accordingly.Before diagnosis,secondary causes of the presenting symptoms were excluded with appropriate investigations.They were followed up monthly for 4 months and treatment response were measured by improvement of symptoms.RESULTS A total of 404 children were included in this study with mean age group of 76.50±36.62 months,and male-female ratio of 1.67:1.The most common presenting complaint was abdominal pain(66%),followed by anorexia(49%),vomiting(24%),nausea(17%),frequent defecation with small volume stool(17%),altered bowel habit(16%),failure to thrive(14%)and recurrent helminthiasis(12%).Interestingly,2.5%children presented with persistent diarrhea.CONCLUSION Abdominal pain is the most common presentation of OC.When symptoms cannot be explained by other etiology,OC should be kept in mind.
文摘Stem cell therapy holds great promise for the regeneration and repair of damaged tissues and organs.Stem cell therapy has been successfully applied to treat diseases that cannot be cured with conventional medicine.A careful evaluation of the outcomes is required for successful implementation of stem cell therapy.Recently,artificial intelligence(AI)has opened new avenues for research in the stem cell therapy field.The integration of AI can assist in evaluating the quality,efficiency and safety of stem cells by analyzing available data.It has the potential to improve and accelerate progress in various aspects of stem cell research and therapeutic applications.AI is still in its infancy and has certain limitations,such as algorithm validation problems,inadequate data availability,poor data quality,and ethical considerations.Considering the potential of AI to improve stem cell research and therapeutics,this review aims to explore applications of AI in understanding stem cell behavior,identification and characterization,optimization of the delivery methods,stem cell modeling and prediction of mortality risk.In addition,this review highlights the role of AI,machine learning,deep learning,and other subtypes in advancing stem cell biology research.This review also discusses the current limitations,ethical considerations,and future prospective of use of AI in stem cell research and therapeutic applications.
文摘Aesthetic medicine is a branch of medicine dedicated to improve an individual’s appearance and overall visual appeal.Conventional aesthetic treatments have limitations,including the risk of complications,allergic reactions,and temporary benefits.Adipose tissue offers a promising alternative to conventional aesthetic treatments.The regenerative properties,accessibility and versatility of adipose tissue make it an attractive option for individuals seeking natural and long-lasting aesthetic results.Adipose tissue is rich source of adipose tissue derived stem cells(ASCs),growth factors and extracellular matrix.It can restore and rejuvenate the damaged and aged tissues.Adipose tissue can be used in different formats such as pure adipose tissue grafts,stromal vascular fraction,nanofat,macrofat,microfat and as a pure population of ASCs.In addition,ASC derived exosomes offer a unique cell-free therapy advantages bioactive molecules like growth factors,cytokines,and microRNAs to stimulate collagen production,improve skin texture,and address pigmentation issues.This review highlights the multifaceted potential of adipose tissue in aesthetic medicine.It discusses its diverse applications,the biological mechanisms involved,and emerging therapeutic approaches.Moreover,this review also highlights the challenges and future direction of using adipose tissue-based therapies for aesthetic treatments.
文摘Objective:To analyse the clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)in children under two years of age.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 112 paediatric cases of MPP admitted to our hospital between January 2022 and December 2023.Clinical data including symptoms,signs,imaging findings,and prognosis were collected.Results:Analysis of clinical symptom distribution revealed coughing in 100.0%of cases,comprising both paroxysmal dry cough and productive cough.Fever was present in 61.61%of cases,with additional manifestations including wheezing,vomiting,diarrhoea,and respiratory distress.Pulmonary rales were the most prevalent finding at 75.89%,alongside other signs such as diminished breath sounds.Imaging analysis of all 112 pneumonia cases revealed bronchopneumonia accounted for 70.54%of cases,representing a relatively high proportion.Treatment involved macrolide antibiotics,including azithromycin,with bronchodilators and corticosteroids added for significant wheezing.The overall treatment efficacy rate was 90.18%.Conclusion:Analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae characteristics in children under 2 years indicates that MPP in infants and young children under 2 presents with mild symptoms,pronounced signs,and relatively mild overall inflammation,resulting in a comparatively high overall cure rate.
文摘AIM: To investigate morphological changes of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in small bowel atresia.METHODS: Resected small bowel specimens from affected patients (n = 7) were divided into three parts (proximal, atretic, distal). Standard histology and enzyme immunohistochemistry anti-S100, anti-protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, anti-neurofilament (NF), antic-kit-receptor (CD117) was carried out on conventional paraffin sections of the proximal and distal part. RESULTS: The neuronal and glial markers (PGP 9.5, NF, S-100) were expressed in hypertrophied ganglia and nerve fibres within the myenteric and submucosal plexuses. Furthermore, the submucous plexus contained typical giant ganglia. The innervation pattern of the proximal bowel resembled intestinal neuronal dysplasia. The density of myenteric ICCs was clearly reduced in the proximal bowel, whereas a moderate number of muscular ICCs were found. The anti-CD117 immunore- action revealed additional numerous mast cells. The distal bowel demonstrated normal morphology and density of the ENS, the ICCs and the mast cells.CONCLUSION: The proximal and distal bowel in small bowel atresia revealed clear changes in morphology and density of the ENS and ICCs.
文摘Upper gastrointestinal(UGI) tract involvement of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is commonly seen in pediatric patients. Upper endoscopy is included in the routine workup of children with suspected IBD to enhance the diagnosis and management of these patients. Currently, childhood IBD is classified into ulcerative colitis(UC), atypical UC, Crohn's disease(CD) and IBD unclassified.Histologic confirmation of UGI tract involvement, in particular the presence of epithelioid(non-caseating) granulomas, is helpful in confirming the diagnosis of IBD and its classification. Herein, we reviewed selected IBD-associated UGI tract manifestations in children. Lymphocytic esophagitis, seen predominantly in CD,is histologically characterized by increased intraepithelial lymphocytes(> 20 in one high-power field) in a background of mucosal injury with absence of granulocytes. Focally enhanced gastritis is a form of gastric inflammation in pediatric IBD marked by a focal lymphohistiocytic pit inflammation with or without granulocytes and plasma cells in a relatively normal background gastric mucosa. Duodenal inflammation seen in children with IBD includes cryptitis,villous flattening, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, and lamina propria eosinophilia. Finally, epithelioid granulomas not associated with ruptured gland/crypt are a diagnostic feature of CD. The clinicopathologic correlation and differential diagnosis of each microscopic finding are discussed. Clinicians and pathologists should be cognizant of the utility and limitations of these histologic features.
文摘Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection remains an important global health problem with chronic infection affecting approximately 11 million children worldwide. The emergence of direct-acting antiviral(DAA) therapies and the development of non-invasive methods for the determination of liver fibrosis will significantly improve the management of paediatric patients with chronic HCV infection in subsequent years. For paediatric patients, a new era of highly effective DAA agents is beginning, and the first results of available clinical trials are very promising. In this era, the identification and monitoring of patients continues to be an important issue. The availability of non-invasive serological and imaging methods to measure hepatic fibrosis enables the identification of patients with significant or advanced liver fibrosis stages. This article summarizes the current data on the epidemiology and progress of research aimed to evaluate the new therapies and non-invasive methods for liver injury in paediatric patients with chronic hepatitis C.
文摘Since the first report of use of endoscopy in children in the 1970 s, there has seen an exponential growthin published experience and innovation in the field. In this review article we focus on modern age therapeutic endoscopy practice, explaining use of traditional as well as new and innovative techniques, for diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the paediatric upper gastrointestinal tract.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the role and our experience of injecti-on sclerotherapy with cow milk in the treatment of rectal prolapse in children. METHODS:In the last 30 years (1976-2006) we made 100 injections of sclerotherapy with cow milk in 86 chil-dren. In this study we included children who failed to respond to conservative treatment and we perform ope-rative treatment. RESULTS:In our study we included 86 children and in all of the patients we perform cow milk injection sclerot-herapy. In 95.3% (82 children) of patients sclerotherapy was successful. In 4 (4.7%) patients we had recurrent rectal prolapse where we performed operative treatment. Below 4 years we had 62 children (72%) and 24 older children (28%). In children who needed operative trea-tment we performed Thiersch operation and without any complications. CONCLUSION:Injection sclerotherapy with cow milk for treatment rectal prolapse in children is a simple and effective treatment for rectal prolapse with minimal com-plications.
文摘BACKGROUND Abdominal cocoon or“encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis”(EPS)is an uncommon and rare cause of intestinal obstruction.Only a few cases have been reported in paediatric patients.Typically,EPS is described as the primary form in young adolescent girls from tropical and subtropical countries because of viral peritonitis due to retrograde menstruation or a history of peritoneal dialysis.Most patients are asymptomatic or present with abdominal pain,which is likely to occur secondary to subacute bowel obstruction.Findings at imaging,such as ultrasound,computed tomography,and magnetic resonance imaging,are often nonspecific.When diagnosed,EPS is characterized by total or partial encasement of the bowel within a thick fibrocollagenous membrane that envelopes the small intestine in the form of a cocoon because of chronic intraabdominal fibroinflammatory processes.The membrane forms a fibrous tissue sheet that covers,fixes,and finely constricts the gut,compromising its motility.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of EPS in a 12-year-old boy 8 wk after primary surgery for resection of symptomatic jejunal angiodysplasia.There was no history of peritoneal dialysis or drug intake.CONCLUSION In this report,we sought to highlight the diagnostic,surgical,and histopathological characteristics and review the current literature on EPS in paediatric patients.
文摘AIM To investigate the impact of IL28 B and OAS gene polymorphisms on interferon treatment responses in children with chronic hepatitis B.METHODS We enrolled 52 children(between the ages of 4 and 18) with hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB), who were treated with pegylated interferon alfa for 48 wk. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the OAS1(rs1131476), OAS2(rs1293747),OAS3(rs2072136), OASL(rs10849829) and IL28B(rs12979860, rs12980275 and rs8099917) genes were studied to examine their associations with responses to IFN treatment in paediatric patients. We adopted two criteria for the therapeutic response, achieving an hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA level < 2000 IU/m L and normalization of ALT activity(< 40 IU/L). To perform the analyses, we compared the patients in terms of achieving a partial response(PR) and a complete response(CR) upon measurement at the 24-wk posttreatment follow-up. RESULTS The PR and CR rates were 80.8% and 42.3%, respectively. Factors such as age, gender and liver histology had no impact on the type of response(partial or complete). A statistically significant relationship between higher baseline HBV DNA and ALT activity levels and lower rates of PR and CR was shown(P < 0.05). The allele association analysis revealed that only the IL-28 B rs12979860(C vs T) and IL28 B rs12980275(A vs G) markers significantly affected the achievement of PR(P = 0.021, OR = 3.3, 95%CI: 1.2-9.2 and P = 0.014, OR = 3.7, 95%CI: 1.3-10.1, respectively). However, in the genotype analysis, only IL-28 B rs12980275 was significantly associated with PR(AA vs AG-GG, P = 0.014, OR = 10.9, 95%CI: 1.3-93.9). The association analysis for CR showed that the TT genotype of IL28 B rs12979860 was present only in the no-CR group(P = 0.033) and the AA genotype of OASL rs10849829 was significantly more frequent in the noCR group(P = 0.044, OR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.07-0.88). The haplotype analysis revealed significant associations between PR and CR and OAS haplotype(P = 0.0002 and P = 0.001, respectively), but no association with IL28 B haplotype was observed.CONCLUSION IL28 B and OAS polymorphisms are associated with different clinical outcomes in CHB children treated with interferon.
文摘Complicated acute appendicitis(CAA)is a serious condition and carries significant morbidity in children.A strict diagnosis is challenging,as there are many lesions that mimic CAA.The management of CAA is still controversial.There are two options for treatment:Immediate operative management and nonoperative management with antibiotics and/or drainage of any abscess or phlegmon.Each method of treatment has advantages and disadvantages.Operative management may be difficult due to the presence of inflamed tissues and may lead to detrimental events.In many cases,non-operative management with or without drainage and interval appendectomy is advised.The reasons for this approach include new medications and policies for the use of antibiotic therapy.Furthermore,advances in radiological interventions may overcome difficulties such as diagnosing and managing the complications of CAA without any surgeries.However,questions have been raised about the risk of recurrence,prolonged use of antibiotics,lengthened hospital stay and delay in returning to daily activities.Moreover,the need for interval appendectomy is currently under debate because of the low risk of recurrence.Due to the paucity of high-quality studies,more randomized controlled trials to determine the precise management strategy are needed.This review aims to study the current data on operative vs non-operative management for CAA in children and to extract any useful information from the literature.