Debora Porter

Baldo by Hector D. Cantú and Carlos Castellanos ( GoComics.com )           source http://www.thepediablog.com/2021/10/31/sunday-funnies-478/

Purple People Eater from MbR Radio on Vimeo : We worked with Universal Music to bring life back to this old classic.     source http://www.thepediablog.com/2021/10/30/cool-video-of-the-week-478/

To compare key seizure and outcome characteristics between neonates with and without cardiopulmonary disease (CPD). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01058-1/fulltext?rss=yes

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had an impact on the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the 2020-2021 winter season in the US.1 These epidemiologic changes could be related to interactions between respiratory viruses and/or ongoing COVID-19 mitigation efforts. We describe RSV infections at a children’s hospital during the first winter RSV season (2020-2021) since the advent of COVID-19 and compare the epidemiology of these infections to RSV infections in previous seasons. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01057-X/fulltext?rss=yes

A 17-year-old woman whom you have followed since the age of five in primary care clinic also sees a child neurologist for generalized epilepsy and migraine headaches without aura. Her current daily medications are lamotrigine 200 mg BID for seizure prevention, as well as topiramate 50 mg BID for prevention of both seizures and migraines, and magnesium oxide 400 mg once daily for migraine prevention. She has no family members with epilepsy. She presents to your office today for a well adolescent visit. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01056-8/fulltext?rss=yes

*This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on October 29, 2020.   LDs — Did You Know? (2)     Yesterday we discovered that learning disabilities are common in American schoolchildren: about 20% (1 in 5) kids have one or more obstacles that interfere with effective and efficient learning in school. Children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and other kinds of learning and attention issues are as smart as their peers. Unfortunately, when kids fail to get needed educational intervention and support, many fall behind academically and struggle socially. Kids with learning disabilities are more likely to have to repeat a grade, get in trouble at school or with the law, drop out, and struggle as adults to find work and stay employed. The good news is that when students are diagnosed early and receive learning support in school — accompanied by increased awareness among parents, educators, and others in the community — they can succeed academically and thrive s...

  OUT OF THE OLD BLACK BAG   Renewal of Vows “On The Banks”   By  Anthony Kovatch, M.D. AHN Pediatrics —  Pediatric Alliance Arcadia   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   * “Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting and doing things historians usually record; while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happens on the banks. Historians are pessimists because they ignore the banks of the river.”   —  The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   Musical Accompaniment:  “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac (sung by Christine McVie)   The old man, who went by Ernie, was comforted that his portly bearing with thin, greyi...

Global emergencies, including natural disasters, epidemics, drought, armed conflicts, and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, have affected populations on five continents, causing devastating socioeconomic effects (1). Children are a most vulnerable and defenseless group (2). In tense situations, they feel overwhelmed, insecure, and are often left to their own devices. Their rights to protection and integrity are threatened (3). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01052-0/fulltext?rss=yes

  Fast Food for Around 500 Calories By  Jennifer Yoon, RDN, LDN, IBCLC , Pediatric Alliance —  St. Clair       *   *   *   *   *   *   *   * Child obesity and overweight are increasing at epidemic rates in this country, especially during the  pandemic .  The PediaBlog is pleased to highlight a series of articles written by Jennifer Yoon related to this important topic. We hope by posting these articles once a week for the next few weeks parents will gain some useful ideas to help combat this alarming problem. This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on February 4, 2019. *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   When fast food first came upon the culinary landscape, it was an occasional treat or part of a weekend night out. Now, with busy working families running around to activities, meals out have become far more frequent, and problematic. Since most people...

In this retrospective cohort analysis of Colorado birth certificate records from April to December 2015-2020, we demonstrate that Colorado birthing individuals experienced lower adjusted odds of preterm birth after issuance of COVID-19 “stay-at-home” orders. However, this positive birth outcome was experienced by non-Hispanic white and Hispanic mothers only. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01046-5/fulltext?rss=yes

To qualitatively examine the fertility-related decision making process of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and their parents, in the setting of pursing gender affirming treatments. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00979-3/fulltext?rss=yes

  This is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) , a joint effort by the CDC, EPA, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to raise awareness about lead poisoning, reduce children’s exposure to lead, and prevent its serious and permanent health consequences. There are three main themes for NLPPW in 2021:   1. Get the Facts Although remarkable progress has been made in this country to reduce the chances of lead exposure, yesterday we learned of a recent study of more than one million children under six showing that more than half had detectable levels of lead in their bloodstreams. NLPPW outlines the scope of the problem: About 3.3 MILLION American households, including 2.1 MILLION low-income households, have children under 6 YEARS of age who live in homes with lead exposure hazards. Even relatively low levels of lead exposure can impair a child’s cognitive development. Children with blood lead levels can experience delayed growth ...

Current guidelines support the use of a cardiac monitor during neonatal resuscitation. Preterm infants randomized to a novel ECG algorithm displayed a heart rate sooner than the conventional ECG algorithm. Although resuscitation outcomes were not different, availability of an earlier heart rate may benefit neonatal providers during high-risk resuscitations. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01037-4/fulltext?rss=yes

    One of the more successful public health interventions in recent decades has been in reducing the incidence of lead poisoning in children. It took 25 years before the Environmental Protection Agency finally phased out leaded gasoline in 1996. In 1978, lead was banned as an additive in house paints . And communities around the country, including in Allegheny County,  have started to tackle the problem of lead in drinking water by replacing old plumbing fixtures and lead service lines connecting homes to main water lines. Unfortunately, early exposure to lead is still a problem in the United States, especially for children who grow up in old housing units with chipping paint and paint dust, which remains the most common type of childhood exposure. In a large study published last month in JAMA Pediatrics , researchers found that lead remains a threat to children’s health and well-being. Emma Ockerman sums up the stunning findings without mincing words: More tha...

We performed a point prevalence study on infants with severe BPD collecting data on type and settings of ventilatory support; 187 infants were included from 15 centers, 51% who were on invasive positive pressure ventilation. We found significant center-specific variation in ventilator modes. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01029-5/fulltext?rss=yes

To test whether infant-directed foreign language active learning would specifically increase speech sound differentiation to the intervention language while not decreasing differentiation in response to English. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01028-3/fulltext?rss=yes

Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson ( GoComics.com )           source http://www.thepediablog.com/2021/10/24/sunday-funnies-477/

Paris Day & Night from Teeter-Totter-Tam on Vimeo : This video is a 5-minute visual journey through Paris in technique of hyper lapse and time lapse. When the city and the weather become the movie directors, and the time becomes the main actor, wonderful views are opened. Turn Captions On, we signed places.     source http://www.thepediablog.com/2021/10/23/cool-video-of-the-week-477/

To compare the parenting environment and the relationships between parenting behaviors and concurrent child neurobehavioral outcomes at 2 years of corrected age between children born moderate-to-late preterm (MLP; 32-36 weeks of gestation) and at term (≥37 weeks of gestation). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01038-6/fulltext?rss=yes

To determine if training residents in a structured communication method elicits specific behaviors in a laboratory model of interaction with vaccine-hesitant parents. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01026-X/fulltext?rss=yes

To assess the impact of recent federal statute changes mandating child welfare-based Plan of Safe Care (POSC) supportive programming and community-based linkages to treatment providers, resources, and services for families of infants affected by prenatal substance exposure (IPSE). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01025-8/fulltext?rss=yes

*This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on October 22, 2018.   GET IT NOW!     If you don’t seek out and receive a flu vaccine this season, you can’t say you weren’t reminded and warned by your family and friends, your doctors, and the media. Jamie Ducharme jogs memories from last year: The 2017-2018 flu season was a bad one. The dominant viral strain, H3N2, was a particularly severe form of influenza, leading to widespread and serious illness across the country. The flu and its complications killed around 80,000 people last year, the CDC estimates, including 180 children. That’s the highest flu death toll in four decades.   Like everything else in health and in life, timing is everything. Getting your flu vaccine before Halloween is advised, so it’s time to get a move on and get a flu shot this week: The CDC recommends getting your flu shot by the end of October, before the bulk of the 2018-2019 flu season hits, because it takes about two wee...

To compare extrahepatic adverse events (AEs) during fish oil lipid emulsion (FOLE) or soybean oil lipid emulsion (SOLE) treatment in children with intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01023-4/fulltext?rss=yes

To describe the implementation process and assess results of a large-scale universal depression screening program with pathways to suicide risk screening in a pediatric integrated delivery network. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01024-6/fulltext?rss=yes

  The latest surge of COVID-19 that lasted much of the summer appears to be waning in recent weeks, although it’s important to point out that at least 75,000 Americans are still testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and more than 1,500 are dying  every day. Eighteen months into the pandemic, in excess of 725,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19. If there is good news to report about COVID-19 it’s that fewer cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been reported in children compared to adults. But most pediatricians will tell you that although many of their patients remain asymptomatic after being exposed to the virus, plenty are symptomatic and testing positive for COVID-19, and some are requiring a visit to a local hospital emergency department or inpatient unit with more serious symptoms. In children, the back-to-school surge remains strong, according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review (October 15), especially in children under 12 who are currently ine...

  The Just One Thing Rule By  Jennifer Yoon, RDN, LDN, IBCLC , Pediatric Alliance —  St. Clair         *   *   *   *   *   *   *   * Child obesity and overweight are increasing at epidemic rates in this country, especially during the  pandemic .  The PediaBlog is pleased to highlight a series of articles written by Jennifer Yoon related to this important topic. We hope by posting these articles once a week for the next few weeks parents will gain some useful ideas to help combat this alarming problem. This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on July 23, 2018. *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   As a single mother of three with a never-ending list of home improvement projects and list of things-to-do, I have one rule that helps keep my house clean and organized. I call it the “Just One Thing Rule.” Besides the day-to-day tasks, before I sit down in...

Describe growth and feeding outcomes in patients with type C esophageal atresia, who underwent early primary repair, and to identify predictors for poor growth. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00978-1/fulltext?rss=yes

Medical writing support was provided by Geraint Owens, PhD, of Chameleon Communications International, with funding from Bayer AG. C.M. has received personal fees from Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, and Pfizer, and fees paid to his institution from Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer. G.Y. has received honoraria and consulting payments from Bayer and Daiichi Sankyo. M.A. is a member of a pediatric expert working group for Boehringer Ingelheim and participated in advisory board activities of Daiichi Sankyo. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00900-8/fulltext?rss=yes

To test the association of material deprivation and the utilization of vision care services for young children. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01013-1/fulltext?rss=yes

To assess the feasibility of volumetric capnography in spontaneously breathing very preterm infants at 36 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA) and its association with clinical markers of lung disease including the duration of respiratory support and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01012-X/fulltext?rss=yes

To evaluate the performance of pulmonary hypertension (PH) biomarkers in children with Down syndrome, an independent risk factor for PH for whom biomarker performance may differ compared with other populations. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01010-6/fulltext?rss=yes

To evaluate the effect of a nutrition care bundle to improve growth among premature infants during neonatal hospitalization. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01009-X/fulltext?rss=yes

To evaluate the association between maternal ambient pollutant exposure and neonatal jaundice in multiple pollutant species and examine sex differences. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01006-4/fulltext?rss=yes

A growth restricted neonate was born at 34 weeks gestation with a birth weight of 1.28 kilograms to a 33-year-old female with unremarkable pre-natal labs. During his first six weeks of life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), he demonstrated persistent hypoglycemia requiring continuous enteral feeding, oral feeding immaturity, respiratory insufficiency, cholestasis, elevated liver enzymes and hyperammonemia. In addition, he had a history of anemia, thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy requiring packed red blood cell, platelet, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate transfusions. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00976-8/fulltext?rss=yes

At mid-term follow up visits performed at 7 months (range 6.0-8.4), 16 patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) had resolution of left ventricular dysfunction and most had resolution of coronary aneurysms. On cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, no patients had late gadolinium enhancement. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00975-6/fulltext?rss=yes

  It’s World PB&J Day! No, we’re not celebrating the best combination between two slices of bread. Instead, every year on October 19, World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day raises awareness about musculoskeletal problems affecting millions of children worldwide. Every year in the United States, it is estimated that 19 million children receive treatment for a musculoskeletal problem. In fact, musculoskeletal disorders are the second most common reason for missed school days (respiratory infections rank first). Joint pain and back pain are the most common complaints: Musculoskeletal disorders are any type of disease that affects the joints, ligaments, nerves, muscles, and bones. Musculoskeletal conditions in children and teenagers are becoming more common. Some examples of this type of condition include: • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) • Bone fractures • Tendinitis • Developmental dysplasia of the hip • Muscular dystrophy • Osteoporosis   All of these disorders affec...

A 7-year-old girl with a history of atopic dermatitis presented with complaints of pain, swelling and reddish discolouration of her nose for past 4 days. Her mother indicated frequent recurrence of similar symptoms over previous 2 years, predominantly during the winter months. The child had a habit of “nose picking”. She denied any fever, chills, malaise, or suggestive systemic symptom. Cutaneous examination revealed a well demarcated unilateral tender, erythematous, and edematous plaque over the tip, right-sided ala and vestibule of nose. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01011-8/fulltext?rss=yes

To test whether a policy approach aimed at reducing prescription drug misuse, specifically, state monitoring of controlled substance prescriptions—Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)—were associated with changes in Child Protective Services-reported maltreatment prevalence. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01007-6/fulltext?rss=yes

E.A. is an employee of Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The views expressed in this article are her own and not that of PHAC. M.G. is is a consultant for Aquestive; is a member of physician/medical advisory boards for DBV Technologies, Sanofi/Regeneron, Genentech, Nutricia, Novartis, Acquestive, Allergy Therapeutics, Pfizer, ALK-Abello, US World Meds, Allergenis, Aravax, and Prota; is a member of the scientific advisory council for the National Peanut Board; is an associate editor for the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and is member of the Joint Taskforce on Allergy Practice Parameters. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00977-X/fulltext?rss=yes

  Everyone was more than a little spooked last Halloween as cases of COVID-19 were rising with no vaccine in sight. What a difference a year makes, Jesse Leavenworth observes : Consumer spending on candy, costumes and decorations is expected to reach an all-time high of $10.14 billion, up from $8.05 billion in 2020, according to the National Retail Federation. On average, consumers plan to spend $102.74 on costumes, candy, decorations and greeting cards, $10 more than last year, the organization reported. An estimated 65 percent of Americans intend to mark All Hallows Eve, which falls on a Sunday this year, with parties and trick or treating, up from 58 percent in 2020 and comparable with 68 percent in 2019 before the pandemic, according to the NRF. Households with children are much more likely to celebrate Halloween (82 percent) than those without kids (55 percent), the organization reported.   Vaccinated parents and their trick-or-treating tweens and teens should be...

There has been increasing recognition of the importance of addressing both medical care practices and interventions as well as non-medical factors and interventions for the mother-infant dyad in neonatal intensive care. This update addresses the evidence for medical and non-medical practices affecting the outcomes of infants born preterm who require intensive care. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)01008-8/fulltext?rss=yes

We thank Dr Brown for her interest in our commentary regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in children under the age of 12 years and for sharing the epidemiological data relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in England and Wales. Dr Brown reported a contrast with the path taken by England and Wales in recent months compared with other European areas. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00974-4/fulltext?rss=yes

The European Pediatric Societies’ viewpoint regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of children under 12 years old amid return to school and the surge in virus variants1 presents an interesting contrast to the path taken in England and Wales in June to September, 2021.2-5 source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00973-2/fulltext?rss=yes

Thatababy by Paul Trap ( GoComics.com )             source http://www.thepediablog.com/2021/10/17/sunday-funnies-476/

Colors of the World from Dolby Laboratories on Vimeo : Experience Holi in a fuller palette of rich new colors, with Dolby Vision […]     source http://www.thepediablog.com/2021/10/16/cool-video-of-the-week-476/

*This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on October 15, 2019.   The Need To Please     Practically every new thing humans do begins with a failure. Grit and tenacity help us learn from our mistakes so we can repeat and practice until we ultimately succeed. You can see it very early in life when an older infant or toddler first tries to walk: Stand up, one step, fall, push up to stand again, two steps, fall, back up again, determined to meet you on the other side of the room on two feet. Every child wants to succeed. More than a desire to please themselves, they want to please their most important teachers and supporters — their parents. The drive to succeed and the need to please often intensify once elementary school begins. It is when school success is elusive that anxiety, negativity, and low self-esteem begins to set in. Lack of academic success is rarely a manifestation of simple laziness, says  pediatrician Perri Klass, M.D.: We aren’t ta...