Debora Porter

  This week, Allegheny County and 27 other counties in Pennsylvania find themselves hosting “high” community levels of COVID-19, according to CDC surveillance data. The United States experienced a steady rise of COVID-19 illnesses during the month of May, with the highest increases seen in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Florida. Infectious disease experts blame the springtime emergence of Omicron subvariants BA.2 and (more recently) BA.2.12.1, waning immunity from infection after vaccination and prior infections, and the lifting of mask mandates and other precautionary restrictions. Near the end of May, BA.2.12.1 became the dominant strain in the U.S., accounting for nearly 60% of new cases diagnosed (66% in Pennsylvania, according to Allegheny Alerts ). BA.2.12.1 is the most contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 yet. Fenit Nirappil and colleagues expect problems after the warm and festive Memorial Day weekend: “This one is really revved up, and it’s probably getting up the...

Red and Rover by Brian Basset ( GoComics.com )           source http://www.thepediablog.com/2022/05/30/memorial-day-2022/

Joe Heller ( GoComics.com )   source http://www.thepediablog.com/2022/05/29/sunday-funnies-507/

Water III from Morgan Maassen on Vimeo: A short film about my affinity for the ocean, its mystery and power. No project challenges me more creatively and physically; making these films is the absolute honor of a lifetime. filmed on a Red Weapon, using a Nikon 14mm F/2.8 and 35mm f/1.4 lens in a SPL waterhousing filmed in: Tahiti, Indonesia, Hawaii, Australia, Barbados, Maldives, Philippines and California music: “Movies” by Weyes Blood     source http://www.thepediablog.com/2022/05/28/cool-video-of-the-week-508/

To assess the clinical applicability of the current definitions of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and their ability to predict subsequent respiratory outcomes. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00489-9/fulltext?rss=yes

*This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on May 27, 2016.   Are Things Better Off Or Worse?     Are you better off today than you were yesterday? Are you doing better this year than you were at this time last year? Would you rate your quality of life, income, and health as better than your parents when they were your age? How about your kids? Think back to when you were their ages. Think about your family back then — your own parents, and your siblings. Remember your life in school, your friends, your time involved in activities and sports (and your time doing things that maybe you shouldn’t have been doing). Consider expectations parents and teachers had of you, and the opportunities they saw for the future before you. Do you think your kids are better off now than you were when you were their ages, or do you think things are worse for them now? A recent study on parental perceptions sheds some light. Robert Preidt reports that more than half of Am...

Dr Jagsi has stock options as compensation for her advisory board role in Equity Quotient, a company that evaluates culture in health care companies; she has received personal fees from the Greenwall Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health and grants for unrelated work from the National Institutes of Health, the Doris Duke Foundation, the Greenwall Foundation, the Komen Foundation, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for the Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00492-9/fulltext?rss=yes

Alexa Datko, MD shares her journey to becoming an MD with Scott Harrah, MA, Director of Digital Content at UMHS. She discusses her hometown of San Diego, California, and her status as an elite NCAA Division 1 athlete at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. Eventually winding up at UMHS more than six years after graduating from undergrad. Dr. Datko chose UMHS as her medical school because of the small class sizes and the reputation of having professors that were 100% dedicated to helping her succeed in becoming a medical doctor. She then discusses why she chose Family Medicine (with a concentration in OB and Women’s Health) as her choice of residencies. To read her in-depth interview with Scott Harrah, MA, Director of Digital Content at UMHS, please go to this link: https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/class-of-2022-dr.-alexa-datko-on-family-medicine-residency-in-wy To learn more about Family medicine as a specialty, please read this informative article: https://www.umhs-sk....

Alexa Datko, MD shares her journey to becoming an MD with Scott Harrah, MA, Director of Digital Content at UMHS. She discusses her hometown of San Diego, California, and her status as an elite NCAA Division 1 athlete at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. Eventually winding up at UMHS more than six years after graduating from undergrad. Dr. Datko chose UMHS as her medical school because of the small class sizes and the reputation of having professors that were 100% dedicated to helping her succeed in becoming a medical doctor. She then discusses why she chose Family Medicine (with a concentration in OB and Women’s Health) as her choice of residencies. To read her in-depth interview with Scott Harrah, MA, Director of Digital Content at UMHS, please go to this link: https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/class-of-2022-dr.-alexa-datko-on-family-medicine-residency-in-wy To learn more about Family medicine as a specialty, please read this informative article: https://www.umhs-sk....

  Environmental Working Group came out with its annual Guide to Sunscreens earlier this month. As it does every year, EWG analyzes sunscreens and makes recommendations based on their effectiveness and the safety of the ingredients used. But perhaps the best advice for consumers to hear is that sunscreens alone aren’t enough protection to prevent skin damage and reduce the risk of skin cancer . We need to reduce sun exposure: The best defense against getting too much harmful ultraviolet radiation is a combination of protective clothing, shade and good timing. Our checklist: Don’t get burned.  Red, sore, blistered or peeling skin means far too much sun – and raises your skin cancer risk. Cover up.  Shirts, hats, shorts and pants provide the best protection from UV rays – and they don’t coat your skin with goop. Find shade – or make it.  Picnic under a tree, read beneath an umbrella or take a canopy to the beach. Keep infants in the shade – they are still develo...

A 7.5-year-old girl developed fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) at the age of 3 years. FOP, the most devastating form of heterotopic ossification (HO), is an autosomal dominant disease (most patients have de novo mutations) caused by mutations of the ACVR1/ALK2 gene on chromosome 2q24, which encodes the activin A receptor type I/activin-like kinase 2, a bone morphogenetic protein type I receptor.1 Beyond the typical congenitally malformed great toes (Figure 1), which are the earliest pathognomonic sign of FOP,2 her phenotype was aggressive. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00490-5/fulltext?rss=yes

Dear Editor, We agree with Barone et al on the advantages of point-of-care-ultrasound for catheter tip location and intraprocedural use. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00488-7/fulltext?rss=yes

We read with great interest the report by Grasso and al1 regarding the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to assess the catheter tip location in aNeonatal Intensive Care Unit. As pointed out by the authors, the advantages in the use of POCUS are maximal accuracy of tip location, avoidance of x-ray exposure, and use of a real-time, intra-procedural method which completely avoids the risk of primary malposition. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00487-5/fulltext?rss=yes

  May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month   65 million people living in the United States are affected by allergies or asthma, or both — two diseases that have excellent treatments but no cure.  According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: • About 25 million Americans have asthma (20 million adults and 5 million children) • About 32 million Americans have food allergies (26 million adults and 6 million children) • About 24 million Americans have rhinitis (hay fever), or nasal allergies (19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children)   Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. and one of the most common health problems affecting children. After being inhaled, ingested, injected, or touched, foreign proteins called allergens can trigger the immune system to react by releasing chemicals like histamine that can cause discomfort (itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, scratchy throat, hives), difficult...

Shivaan Oomrigar, MD shares her very inspiring story of determination and perseverance that led to a successful match into an Internal Medicine residency at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in her home State of Florida. During this interview, she expresses her appreciation to UMHS as she was turned down by every other medical school in the US and Caribbean, and UMHS gave her a chance when no one else would. She then goes on to discuss why she decided on Internal Medicine and the life-changing events that made her want to become a doctor. To read her in-depth interview with Scott Harrah, MA, Director of Digital Content at UMHS, please go to this link: https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/class-of-2022-dr.-shivaan-oomrigar-on-internal-medicine-residency-in-miami To learn more about Internal Medicine as a specialty, please read this informative article: https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/what-is-internal-medicine#what_do If you are interested in learning more about the University of Medicine and Health Sci...

Shivaan Oomrigar, MD shares her very inspiring story of determination and perseverance that led to a successful match into an Internal Medicine residency at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in her home State of Florida. During this interview, she expresses her appreciation to UMHS as she was turned down by every other medical school in the US and Caribbean, and UMHS gave her a chance when no one else would. She then goes on to discuss why she decided on Internal Medicine and the life-changing events that made her want to become a doctor. To read her in-depth interview with Scott Harrah, MA, Director of Digital Content at UMHS, please go to this link: https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/class-of-2022-dr.-shivaan-oomrigar-on-internal-medicine-residency-in-miami To learn more about Internal Medicine as a specialty, please read this informative article: https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/what-is-internal-medicine#what_do If you are interested in learning more about the University of Medicine and Health Sci...

  As the numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations trend  upward throughout the United States, parents received good news last week when the FDA approved a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine for kids 5-11 years old. Vaccine uptake in children has been slow. First available in November 2021, only 29% of children ages 5-11 have completed a 2-dose series of the Pfizer vaccine. Teenagers, on the other hand, have had a year of choosing between either the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine, and they have done considerably better; 59% of 12-17-year-olds have received 2 jabs. If it’s been at least 5 months since the second vaccine was administered, Melissa Jenco makes the case that now is the time to consider getting them a booster shot: A booster dose for this age group is 10 micrograms, the same as the dosage in the primary series. It is one-third of the adolescent and adult dose. “While it has largely been the case that COVID-19 tends to be less severe in children than adult...

  A sudden outbreak of salmonellosis across 12 states has resulted in the recall of a food staple especially popular with American children. The Food and Drug Administration reported on Friday that 4 out of 5 people who got sick with the infection had eaten Jif peanut butter before their symptoms started. Here’s how the FDA determined the source of the outbreak: FDA conducted Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis on an environmental sample collected at the Lexington, KY, J.M. Smucker Company facility in 2010. The analysis shows that this 2010 environmental sample matches the strain [Salmonella causing illnesses in this current outbreak. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that Jif brand peanut butter produced in the J.M. Smucker Company facility located in Lexington, KY, is the likely cause of illnesses in this outbreak.   Large and small jars and little containers of Jif containing creamy, crunchy, natural, and low-fat peanut butter were recalled. Here is the recall ann...

Moderately Confused by Jeff Stahler ( GoComics.com )   source http://www.thepediablog.com/2022/05/22/sunday-funnies-506/

The Name from Goh Iromoto on Vimeo : Everyone has a name — and from birth through a lifetime of introductions, it becomes the cornerstone of our identity. For many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), their given names carry an even deeper history and significance. But bias, indifference, and unintentional mistakes can lead to misidentification and mispronunciation.⁠ ⁠ This film hopes to elevate the importance of a name, and how meaningful gestures — like pronunciation and understanding its meaning — can create a greater sense of belonging for us all.     source http://www.thepediablog.com/2022/05/21/cool-video-of-the-week-507/

An author’s name was incorrectly listed in the article “Raising the Cut-Off Level of Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies to Detect Celiac Disease Reduces the Number of Small Bowel Biopsies in Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Retrospective Study.” The author’s name Victorien Wolters is corrected as Victorien Maria Wolters. The authors regret the error and apologize for any inconvenience caused. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00387-0/fulltext?rss=yes

Michelle Hornedo, MD shares her journey of matching into Internal Medicine. Michelle Hornedo, MD recently graduated from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) in Saint Kitts and was interviewed by Scott Harrah, MA the director of digital content for UMHS from the New York administrative office. Here are some of the key points of the video: Dr. Hornedo chose to attend UMHS because it was so warm and welcoming. In addition, she had a close friend at UMHS that helped her make up her decision to attend UMHS. She mentioned that the professors had an open-door policy and that everyone was willing to give extra help and support. Dr. Hornedo discusses the opportunities at UMHS that helped her match into Internal medicine. She also suggested that working harder than others are willing to do will help you stand out above other students competing for residency positions. Read more on a recent interview with Dr. Hornedo here: https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/class-of-2022-dr.-michelle-...

Michelle Hornedo, MD shares her journey of matching into Internal Medicine. Michelle Hornedo, MD recently graduated from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) in Saint Kitts and was interviewed by Scott Harrah, MA the director of digital content for UMHS from the New York administrative office. Here are some of the key points of the video: Dr. Hornedo chose to attend UMHS because it was so warm and welcoming. In addition, she had a close friend at UMHS that helped her make up her decision to attend UMHS. She mentioned that the professors had an open-door policy and that everyone was willing to give extra help and support. Dr. Hornedo discusses the opportunities at UMHS that helped her match into Internal medicine. She also suggested that working harder than others are willing to do will help you stand out above other students competing for residency positions. Read more on a recent interview with Dr. Hornedo here: https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/class-of-2022-dr.-michelle-...

*This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on May 20, 2019.   The Gluten-Free Diet — Is it Right for the Whole Family? By Jennifer Yoon, RDN/LDN, Breastfeeding Educator , AHN Pediatrics  St. Clair     Celiac disease and gluten intolerance have become much more common in the past ten years. Both conditions can damage the intestines and result in digestive issues and other symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and behavioral issues.   Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. Oats can also contain gluten due to contamination. Gluten is present in many cereals, breads, pasta, baked goods, and other products such as soups, sauces, and breading. Gluten is a common food additive in many packaged and snack foods making label reading an essential part of following the gluten-free diet. The truly gluten-free diet necessary for the control of celiac disease can be very difficult to achieve and manage.   Over the past several y...

Detailed accounts of long-term respiratory complications among children with acute flaccid myelitis have not been systematically reported. We describe respiratory complications and outcomes in a single-center cohort of 19 children with acute flaccid myelitis. Significantly, 3 of the 19 children had a prolonged course of nocturnal hypoventilation that required intervention. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00481-4/fulltext?rss=yes

To evaluate the effect of RAS-MAPK pathway inhibitor Trametinib on medically refractory chylous effusions in three hospitalized patients with Noonan syndrome. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00479-6/fulltext?rss=yes

In 2020, firearm injuries were the leading cause of death in Americans 18 years old and younger, accounting for 3,230 children’s deaths (63% homicide; 30% suicide; 4% unintentional injury, 2% undetermined). (1) This has increased over the last two years (2) concurrent with a surge in firearm purchases and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. (3) Firearms are the most lethal method of suicide attempt with a case fatality rate of 90%; they account for 42% of suicide deaths among those <19 years of age.(1) Triple-safe storage practices (storing firearms locked and unloaded with ammunition stored separately) are protective, with simulation models demonstrating that even a modest increase in safe storage could lead to decreased rates of suicide and unintentional injury among children and adolescents. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00478-4/fulltext?rss=yes

To evaluate national trends in healthcare transition (HCT) preparation over a four-year period using the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Our secondary aim was to identify and examine disparities in receipt of HCT preparation over the study period. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00437-1/fulltext?rss=yes

To assess whether residents who trained with a co-located or integrated behavioral/mental health professional (B/MHP) reported higher competence in the assessment and management of behavioral/mental health (B/MH) conditions than those who trained without an onsite B/MHP. We hypothesized that having an onsite B/MHP would be associated with higher self-reported competence, especially if integrated into clinic. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00419-X/fulltext?rss=yes

The optimal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine strategy for patients with a history of MIS-C is unclear. We performed an international survey (32 countries) and found substantial variations in vaccine policies. Respondents did not report relapses of MIS-C or other severe inflammatory side effects after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in 273 patients with a history of MIS-C. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00438-3/fulltext?rss=yes

  OUT OF THE OLD BLACK BAG   Burnout: Save the Beasts and the Children By  Anthony Kovatch, M.D.   Musical Accompaniment:  “Bless the Beasts and the Children” by the Carpenters   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   * “BE KIND:   For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”       — Plato *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   It makes eminent sense that pediatricians and veterinarians are kindred spirits. Everybody knows that children are not just “small adults,” and taking care of babies and little children who are yet incapable of verbally reporting their symptoms is often equated with veterinary medicine. Both groups are distinguished from others in the health care field and are defined by their passion and compassion for making the welfare of their subjects paramount, often to their own privation.     The 20...

A 12-month-old Japanese boy presented with cyanotic breath-holding spells. He began crying excessively, then held his breath until he became cyanotic. He had achieved the normal physical and neurological milestones for his age and had no history of bone fractures. There were no signs or history of external or gastrointestinal bleeding. On presentation, he was alert and playing. His heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature was 154 beats per minute, 32 per minute, and 36.8 °C, respectively. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00480-2/fulltext?rss=yes

To determine follow-up rates for the high-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) visit at 18-36 months among infants with very low birthweights (VLBW) and identify factors associated with completion. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00436-X/fulltext?rss=yes

  The nationwide shortage of infant formula has intensified since Dr. Brian Donnelly alerted us to the problem on The PediaBlog back in February. Stores running low in supply or out-of-stock have been warned that things may not be back to normal until the end of the year. Joe Hernandez points to supply chain challenges exacerbated by the pandemic and product recalls for contamination for creating this “incredibly stressful” situation for parents who feed their babies formula: During the first week of May, the average out-of-stock rate for baby formula at retailers across the country was 43%, according to data from the firm Datasembly, which collected information from more than 11,000 sellers. In late April, the rate was even higher in some states, with an out-of-stock rate over 50% in Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, Texas and Tennessee.   While the Food and Drug Administration is working with manufacturers and retailers to alleviate the problem, the Am...