Debora Porter

A male infant born at 39 weeks’ gestation with weight 3200 g was referred to our center at four days of life for abdominal distention. The baby was born to a primiparous mother and breast fed exclusively. He had passed meconium on multiple occasions since birth. Despite gross abdominal distention, he had no vomiting. On perineal examination, small cysts were arranged in a “string of pearls” fashion, emerging from the anal dimple and reaching the mid scrotum along the midline raphe (blue arrow, Figure 1). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00356-6/fulltext?rss=yes

Technological advancement and accrual of evidence-based interventions have expanded fertility preservation (FP) options for those at-risk for iatrogenic infertility. We use the term “iatrogenic” infertility, that is infertility resulting from medical care, intentionally as it is inclusive of all pediatric and young adult patients who will receive therapies that threaten their future fertility. Increasingly, as technologies advance, FP procedures are becoming feasible in non-experimental settings for pre-and post-pubertal patients (Table 1). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00344-X/fulltext?rss=yes

To evaluate genetic evaluation practices in newborns with the most common birth defect, congenital heart defects (CHD), we determine the prevalence and the yield of genetic evaluation across time and across patient subtypes, before and after implementation of institutional genetic testing guidelines. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00343-8/fulltext?rss=yes

To investigate among U.S. infants born <37 weeks gestational age a) racial and ethnic disparities in sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and b) state variation in SUID rates and Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) – Non-Hispanic white (NHW) SUID disparity ratio. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00346-3/fulltext?rss=yes

Onasemnogene abeparvovec treats spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) by delivering a functional SMN1 gene. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) typically occurs in preterm infants. We report two term infants diagnosed with SMA who presented with NEC after onasemnogene abeparvovec infusion. We discuss potential etiologies and propose monitoring for NEC after onasemnogene abeparvovec therapy. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00341-4/fulltext?rss=yes

A 3-year-old girl presented with a skin nodule of unclear duration. On history, her mother mentioned persistent “ringworm” that had been present for a couple years and tended to flare during the summer months. All lesions were asymptomatic. Past treatments had included intermittent use of hydrocortisone and topical antifungal creams, without consistent response. Examination revealed a firm, mobile subcutaneous nodule of the anterior lower leg (Figure 1A), and annular mildly erythematous non-scaly plaques on the dorsal left ankle (Figure 1B) and dorsal right foot (Figure 1C). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00345-1/fulltext?rss=yes

We report 3 pediatric patients who present with only non-anaphylactic symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome. This report highlights the necessity of not discounting alpha-gal syndrome from a differential diagnosis for patients with recurrent gastrointestinal distress and emesis after consuming mammalian meat, even in the absence of an anaphylactic reaction. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00334-7/fulltext?rss=yes

Caffeine has become one of the most prescribed drugs in neonatal medicine.1-3 The effects of this medication on mortality, neonatal morbidities, and child development have been rigorously studied in the Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity (CAP) trial.4-7 The World Health Organization (WHO) has included caffeine citrate in its short core list of essential medicines for neonates.8 However, caffeine remains unavailable or unaffordable in many middle-and-low-income countries.9 At the same time, regional and national guidelines are promoting potentially unsafe therapeutic drift in some high-income countries. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00336-0/fulltext?rss=yes

To analyze laboratory testing results from pediatric patients newly diagnosed with celiac disease (CD) in order to determine the utility of each test derived from recommended guidelines. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00335-9/fulltext?rss=yes

To compare disease severity and mortality differences between female and male patients with CDH. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00329-3/fulltext?rss=yes

There is an urgent need to identify best practices for hospital treatment of youth with malnutrition secondary to restrictive eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa (AN) and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Certain physical health complications of malnutrition, such as bradycardia, hypotension, and hypothermia, often lead to hospitalization. These acute medical complications improve with refeeding, or short-term nutritional rehabilitation, and will resolve with ongoing recovery. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00330-X/fulltext?rss=yes

To evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5.5 years of age in children who were previously randomized to cow milk-based infant formula (control) or similar formula (milk fat globule membrane plus lactoferrin [MFGM+LF]) with added sources of bovine MFGM and bovine LF (bLF) through 12 months of age. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00331-1/fulltext?rss=yes

To evaluate distribution profiles of total cholesterol (TC), lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (apoB) as candidate markers of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in newborns, taking into consideration potential confounding factors, such as gestational age, birthweight, sex, and race. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00317-7/fulltext?rss=yes

Medical toxicology (MT) education in United States (US) pediatrics residency programs has not been described in over two decades; however, childhood poisonings account for over 1.2 million calls to US poison centers (PCs) annually [1], many of which are exploratory/unsupervised ingestions in young children that result in high rates of Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalizations [2, 3, 4]. As of 2020, poisoning and drug overdose are a leading cause of death in children and adolescents [5]. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00321-9/fulltext?rss=yes

To predict behavioral disruptions in middle childhood, we identified latent classes of prenatal substance use. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00316-5/fulltext?rss=yes

Food security is understood in its broadest sense as the ability to ensure consistently and satisfactorily food and water to meet the energy requirements the body needs for survival and life, under adequate hygienic conditions. The commonly accepted international definition is the one developed at the World Food Summit in 1996 according to which all people, at all times, must have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences to lead an active and healthy life1. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00322-0/fulltext?rss=yes

A 12-year-old boy presented with a slow-growing, asymptomatic, midline neck lesion, which had been present since he was three years old. The lesion was initially more superior in the neck and over the years had migrated inferiorly. The patient denied any respiratory distress, pain, or difficulty with swallowing. Physical exam revealed a 2.0 x 1.5 cm smooth, non-tender, mobile, subcutaneous nodule on the anterior midline neck (Figure 1) that moved anteriorly with swallowing and tongue protrusion (Figure 2; video available at www.jpeds.com). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00319-0/fulltext?rss=yes

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the thoughtful comment raised by Dr. Ng regarding our article “Clinically Meaningful BMI change impacts pediatric NAFLD”. We would also like to thank Dr. Ng for his interest in our manuscript. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00315-3/fulltext?rss=yes

I congratulate Khurana et al. for their publication entitled “Clinically Meaningful BMI Change Impacts Pediatric NAFLD”, and also for the excellent outcomes shared in the paper which reflects a very successful pediatric NAFLD multidisciplinary program.1 This retrospective study describes a BMI-z-score reduction of above 0.25 to be associated with significant improvements in NAFLD through reductions in serum aminotransferase levels. Patients who were successful in achieving BMI-z-score of above 0.25 appeared to be significantly younger (mean age and standard deviation 11.7+/-3.5 years) than those who did not (13+/-2.9 years). source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00314-1/fulltext?rss=yes

To examine how social deprivation and residential mobility are associated with primary care use in children seeking care at community health centers (CHCs) overall and stratified by race and ethnicity. source https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(23)00313-X/fulltext?rss=yes