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Full-Text Articles in Gastroenterology

Effect Of 3 Days Of Oral Azithromycin On Young Children With Acute Diarrhea In Low-Resource Settings: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Antibiotics For Children With Diarrhea (Abcd) Study Group, Tahmeed Ahmed, Farah Naz Qamar, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Shahida Qureshi, Sadia Shakoor, Rozina Thobani, Aneeta Hotwani, Furqan Kabir, Jan Mohammed Dec 2021

Effect Of 3 Days Of Oral Azithromycin On Young Children With Acute Diarrhea In Low-Resource Settings: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Antibiotics For Children With Diarrhea (Abcd) Study Group, Tahmeed Ahmed, Farah Naz Qamar, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Shahida Qureshi, Sadia Shakoor, Rozina Thobani, Aneeta Hotwani, Furqan Kabir, Jan Mohammed

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Importance: World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines do not recommend routine antibiotic use for children with acute watery diarrhea. However, recent studies suggest that a significant proportion of such episodes have a bacterial cause and are associated with mortality and growth impairment, especially among children at high risk of diarrhea-associated mortality. Expanding antibiotic use among dehydrated or undernourished children may reduce diarrhea-associated mortality and improve growth.
Objective: To determine whether the addition of azithromycin to standard case management of acute nonbloody watery diarrhea for children aged 2 to 23 months who are dehydrated or undernourished could reduce mortality and improve linear …


Healthcare System-To-System Cost Variability In The Care Of Pediatric Abdominal Pain-Associated Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders., Michelle Livitz, Alec S. Friesen, Earl F. Glynn, Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Jennifer Colombo, Craig A. Friesen Nov 2021

Healthcare System-To-System Cost Variability In The Care Of Pediatric Abdominal Pain-Associated Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders., Michelle Livitz, Alec S. Friesen, Earl F. Glynn, Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Jennifer Colombo, Craig A. Friesen

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The purpose of this study was to assess cost variability in the care of abdominal pain-associated functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDS) in youth across health systems, races, and specific AP-FGID diagnoses. Patients, aged 8-17 years, with a priority 1 diagnosis corresponding to a Rome IV defined AP-FGID were identified within the Health Facts® database. Total costs were obtained across the continuum of care including outpatient clinics, emergency department, and inpatient or observation units. Cost variability was described comparing different health systems, races, and diagnoses. Thirteen thousand two hundred and fourteen patients were identified accounting for 17,287 encounters. Total costs were available …


Breaking The Pain Cycle Successfully In A Child With Severe Pain Due To Recurrent Pancreatitis: A Case Report, Ali Sarfraz Siddiqui, Mansoor Chandio Sep 2021

Breaking The Pain Cycle Successfully In A Child With Severe Pain Due To Recurrent Pancreatitis: A Case Report, Ali Sarfraz Siddiqui, Mansoor Chandio

Department of Anaesthesia

Abdominal pain, due to pancreatic diseases like idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis, is difficult to manage with medications alone in some patients. The Coeliac plexus innervates abdominal organs including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, etc. We are presenting a case of the successful pain man-agement of a 13-year-old boy with recurrent pancreatitis, by the application of coeliac plexus block. The patient was admitted to the hospital with severe abdominal pain in August 2019. Multimodal analgesia was provided to manage his pain, but he continued to have moderate to severe pain in the abdomen. So, he was scheduled for coeliac plexus …


Are Body Surface Area Based Estimates Of Liver Volume Applicable To Children With Overweight Or Obesity? An In Vivo Validation Study., Chelsea Hosey-Cojocari, Sherwin S. Chan, Chance S. Friesen, Amie L. Robinson, Veronica Williams, Erica Swanson, Daniel O'Toole, Jansynn Radford, Neil J. Mardis, Trevor N. Johnson, J Steven Leeder, Valentina Shakhnovich Sep 2021

Are Body Surface Area Based Estimates Of Liver Volume Applicable To Children With Overweight Or Obesity? An In Vivo Validation Study., Chelsea Hosey-Cojocari, Sherwin S. Chan, Chance S. Friesen, Amie L. Robinson, Veronica Williams, Erica Swanson, Daniel O'Toole, Jansynn Radford, Neil J. Mardis, Trevor N. Johnson, J Steven Leeder, Valentina Shakhnovich

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The liver is the primary organ responsible for clearing most drugs from the body and thus determines systemic drug concentrations over time. Drug clearance by the liver appears to be directly related to organ size. In children, organ size changes as children age and grow. Liver volume has been correlated with body surface area (BSA) in healthy children and adults and has been estimated by functions of BSA. However, these relationships were derived from "typical" populations and it is unknown whether they extend to estimations of liver volumes for population "outliers," such as children with overweight or obesity, who today …


Rumination Syndrome In Children And Adolescents: A Mini Review., Marc Martinez, Sandeep Rathod, Hunter J. Friesen, John Rosen, Craig A. Friesen, Jennifer Verrill Schurman Aug 2021

Rumination Syndrome In Children And Adolescents: A Mini Review., Marc Martinez, Sandeep Rathod, Hunter J. Friesen, John Rosen, Craig A. Friesen, Jennifer Verrill Schurman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Introduction: Rumination syndrome involves recurrent regurgitation of food and is believed to be underdiagnosed with patients experiencing long delays in diagnosis. It can be associated with significant social consequences, high rates of school absenteeism, and medical complications such as weight loss. The primary aims of the current review are to assess the literature regarding prevalence, pathophysiology, and treatment outcomes with a focus on neurotypical children and adolescents.

Results: Population studies in children/adolescents, 5 years of age or older, range from 0 to 5.1%. There are fewer studies in clinical settings, but the prevalence appears to be higher in patients with …


An Update On The Assessment And Management Of Pediatric Abdominal Pain., Craig A. Friesen, Jennifer Colombo, Amanda D. Deacy, Jennifer Verrill Schurman Aug 2021

An Update On The Assessment And Management Of Pediatric Abdominal Pain., Craig A. Friesen, Jennifer Colombo, Amanda D. Deacy, Jennifer Verrill Schurman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Chronic abdominal pain is very common in children and adolescent and results in high personal and social costs. Most youth with chronic abdominal pain fulfill criteria for a functional abdominal pain disorder (FAPD) as defined by Rome criteria. These are complex conditions with a wide array of biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to the experience of pain. The purpose of the current review is to provide an overview of the pathophysiology of FAPDs and an up-to-date summary of the literature related to FAPDs in children and adolescents, with additional focus on several areas (eg, diet and probiotics) where patients …


Detection Of Typhoid Carriers By Duodenal Fluid Culture In A Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sonia Qureshi, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Shafquat Rozi, Shahida Qureshi, Aneeta Hotwani, Kamran Sadiq, Om Parkash, Abdul Momin Kazi, Furqan Kabir, Hadi Usmani, Farah Naz Qamar Aug 2021

Detection Of Typhoid Carriers By Duodenal Fluid Culture In A Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sonia Qureshi, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Shafquat Rozi, Shahida Qureshi, Aneeta Hotwani, Kamran Sadiq, Om Parkash, Abdul Momin Kazi, Furqan Kabir, Hadi Usmani, Farah Naz Qamar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

We aimed to detect typhoid carriers by performing duodenal fluid culture in patients in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2017 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were included. Participants were interviewed, and duodenal fluid samples were taken for culture to detect Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) and paratyphi. A polymerase chain reaction on 100 randomly selected sub-samples was also conducted. A total of 477 participants were enrolled. The mean age was 42.4±15.5 years. History of typhoid fever was present in 73 (15.3%) participants. Out of the 477 …


A Retrospective Review On Antibiotic Use In Acute Watery Diarrhea In Children In A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Karachi, Pakistan, Sonia Qureshi, Shahzadi Resham, Mariam Hashmi, Abdullah B. Naveed, Zoya Haq, Syed Asad Ali Jul 2021

A Retrospective Review On Antibiotic Use In Acute Watery Diarrhea In Children In A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Karachi, Pakistan, Sonia Qureshi, Shahzadi Resham, Mariam Hashmi, Abdullah B. Naveed, Zoya Haq, Syed Asad Ali

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: Responsible for at least one in nine pediatric deaths, diarrheal diseases are the leading, global cause of death. Further abetted by improper antibiotic use in a hospital setting, children with acute watery diarrhea can see prolonged hospital stays, and unwanted adverse effects such as antibiotic resistance. Hence, this study is aimed to identify the association between antibiotic usage for the treatment of acute watery diarrhea in children, and the impact this line of management has on the duration of their hospital stay.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted at the department of Pediatric of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) …


A Rare Presentation Of Bilateral Bochdaleck Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, A Case Study, Manuel Britto, Sean Michael, Sofia I. Cartaya, Bernard Alfredo Cartaya Jun 2021

A Rare Presentation Of Bilateral Bochdaleck Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, A Case Study, Manuel Britto, Sean Michael, Sofia I. Cartaya, Bernard Alfredo Cartaya

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Congential diaphragmatic hernias (CDH) are a rare process that have a prevalence of 1–4 cases per 10,000 live births, and of these, bilateral Bochdalek congenital diaphragmatic hernias are even rarer entities that occur in about 1% of cases. This finding is rarely documented in literature. This paper offers a detailed methodical timeline documentation of the events that occurred after delivery and includes how to approach the diagnosis and management of such a rare and volatile condition.

Presentation

The neonate was born at 35 weeks and 6 days gestation. Unfortunately, despite intensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts, the neonate expired within less …


Applying A Mixed-Method Approach To Improve On-The-Job Learning And Job Satisfaction In A Cohort Of Interns At A University Hospital, Amna Subhan Butt, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim, M Asghar Ali, Farah Naz Qamar, Irum Qamar Khan, Swaleha Tariq, Syeda Amrah Hashmi, Quratulain Hafeez, Muhammed Tariq Jun 2021

Applying A Mixed-Method Approach To Improve On-The-Job Learning And Job Satisfaction In A Cohort Of Interns At A University Hospital, Amna Subhan Butt, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim, M Asghar Ali, Farah Naz Qamar, Irum Qamar Khan, Swaleha Tariq, Syeda Amrah Hashmi, Quratulain Hafeez, Muhammed Tariq

Section of Gastroenterology

Introduction: Job satisfaction is vital for the optimal functioning of medical practitioners. Herein, we report our experience of restructuring the internship program by identifying the gaps, developing, implementing strategies to overcome gaps and sharing the results of the pre-implementation and post-implementation audit, as an example for establishing a system for improving intern's work-based learning and satisfaction in a university hospital setting.
Methods: Using Kern's six-step instructional model, a prospective mixed-method study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital. In phase 1 (2013) gaps were identified by evaluating various aspects of the internship program. Strategies were developed and implemented to overcome …


Update On The Role Of Allergy In Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders: A Clinical Perspective., Craig A. Friesen, Jennifer Colombo, Jennifer Verrill Schurman Jun 2021

Update On The Role Of Allergy In Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders: A Clinical Perspective., Craig A. Friesen, Jennifer Colombo, Jennifer Verrill Schurman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Both functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) and food allergies are relatively common in children and adolescents, and most studies report an association between FAPDs and allergic conditions. FAPDs share pathophysiologic processes with allergies, including both immune and psychological processes interacting with the microbiome. No conclusive data are implicating IgE-mediated reactions to foods in FAPDs; however, there may be patients who have IgE reactions localized to the gastrointestinal mucosa without systemic symptoms that are not identified by common tests. In FAPDs, the data appears stronger for aeroallergens than for foods. It also remains possible that food antigens initiate an IgG reaction …


Development Of The Infant Gut Microbiome Predicts Temperament Across The First Year Of Life, Molly Fox, S. Melanie Lee, Kyle S. Wiley, Venu Lagishetty, Curt A. Sandman, Jonathan P. Jacobs, Laura M. Glynn Jun 2021

Development Of The Infant Gut Microbiome Predicts Temperament Across The First Year Of Life, Molly Fox, S. Melanie Lee, Kyle S. Wiley, Venu Lagishetty, Curt A. Sandman, Jonathan P. Jacobs, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Perturbations to the gut microbiome are implicated in altered neurodevelopmental trajectories that may shape life span risk for emotion dysregulation and affective disorders. However, the sensitive periods during which the microbiome may influence neurodevelopment remain understudied. We investigated relationships between gut microbiome composition across infancy and temperament at 12 months of age. In 67 infants, we examined if gut microbiome composition assessed at 1–3 weeks, 2, 6, and 12 months of age was associated with temperament at age 12 months. Stool samples were sequenced using the 16S Illumina MiSeq platform. Temperament was assessed using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (IBQ-R). Beta …


Infliximab As Rescue Therapy In Pediatric Severe Colitis, Kayla B. Briggs May 2021

Infliximab As Rescue Therapy In Pediatric Severe Colitis, Kayla B. Briggs

Research Days

Background: Infliximab has been shown to be effective in achieving clinical remission in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) refractory to conventional therapy. However, there is conflicting data in the literature regarding its effectiveness as rescue therapy in acute severe colitis. Furthermore, most studies were conducted in adults, and pediatric onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with more severe disease that may be less amenable to rescue therapy.

Objectives/Goal: We reviewed our experience with pediatric severe colitis and report outcomes following attempted rescue therapy with infliximab.

Methods/Design: A retrospective review was conducted of patients with UC or indeterminate colitis …


Potential Role Of Methotrexate Polyglutamates In Therapeutic Drug Monitoring For Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease., Ryan Morrow, Ryan Funk, Mara Becker, Ashley K. Sherman, Leon Van Haandel, Taina Hudson, Rebecca Casini, Valentina Shakhnovich May 2021

Potential Role Of Methotrexate Polyglutamates In Therapeutic Drug Monitoring For Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease., Ryan Morrow, Ryan Funk, Mara Becker, Ashley K. Sherman, Leon Van Haandel, Taina Hudson, Rebecca Casini, Valentina Shakhnovich

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Inside cells, the immunomodulator methotrexate (MTX) undergoes the addition of glutamates to form methotrexate polyglutamates (MTX-Glu)-promising biomarkers of systemic exposure and treatment response to MTX in rheumatology. MTX-Glu are underexplored in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), with no data in pediatrics. In this cross-sectional secondary analysis, we assessed the relationships between MTX-Glu and MTX dose and treatment response in pediatric IBD. Twenty-one children with IBD, receiving maintenance therapy with infliximab (IFX) and MTX, had MTX-Glu1-6 concentrations and IFX troughs/antibodies measured and disease activity assessed for comparison in remission vs. active IBD using non-parametric tests, with associations explored using Spearman's correlation (ρ) …


The Role Of Fractionated Exhaled Nitric Oxide (Feno) In Eosinophilic Esophagitis And The Relationship With Downstream Eosinophils, Panamdeep Kaur May 2021

The Role Of Fractionated Exhaled Nitric Oxide (Feno) In Eosinophilic Esophagitis And The Relationship With Downstream Eosinophils, Panamdeep Kaur

Research Days

Background: Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune mediated disease of the esophagus characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and eosinophilic-predominant inflammation of the esophagus. It can lead to feeding difficulties, failure to thrive, and esophageal stricturing. Currently, the gold standard for diagnosis and assessing response to therapy is upper endoscopy and histopathological analysis of biopsies. A noninvasive, cost-effective, and low risk alternative that can aid in the management of EoE is not currently available. Previous studies assessing correlation of fractionated exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) with degree of esophageal eosinophilic inflammation were low powered but noted a trend for association. …


Efficacy Of Using Antibiotic Cocktail In Medically Refractory Colitis/Inflammatory Bowel Disease, David Aaron Simon May 2021

Efficacy Of Using Antibiotic Cocktail In Medically Refractory Colitis/Inflammatory Bowel Disease, David Aaron Simon

Research Days

Background: Antibiotic cocktail targeting intestinal bacteria may offer a promising approach in certain patients with medically refractory IBD. It may find a place in serving as a bridge to more effective long-term medical therapies and in some cases help in achieving clinical remission in patients with refractory disease as an adjunctive therapy. Its main attractions include efficacy in about 50% of medically refractory patients and a non-immunosuppressive adjunct in treatment of children who may otherwise suffer from complications of untreated disease or heavy immunosuppression. The main drawbacks are lack of understanding of true mechanism of action, potential development of drug …


Characterization Of Comorbidities In Patients With A Dual Diagnosis Of Down Syndrome And Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Cerner Health Facts, Michael Slogic, Earl F. Glynn, Cy Nadler, Meredith Dreyer, Sarah T. Edwards May 2021

Characterization Of Comorbidities In Patients With A Dual Diagnosis Of Down Syndrome And Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Cerner Health Facts, Michael Slogic, Earl F. Glynn, Cy Nadler, Meredith Dreyer, Sarah T. Edwards

Presentations

Background: Up to 19% of patients with Down syndrome (DS) meet diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Channell, et al, 2019). While the medical and psychological comorbidities for patients with DS or ASD are well characterized, outcomes for patients with a dual diagnosis (DS-ASD) are poorly understood. Large DS-ASD cohorts and comparison samples are needed to fill this gap, as well as methods for grouping and analyzing complex diagnostic phenotypes. Objective: Our objective is to utilize Cerner Health Facts, a multi-institutional healthcare database, to identify large populations with DS, ASD, and DS-ASD, allowing for characterization and comparison of their …


Factors Associated With Reduced Infliximab Exposure In The Treatment Of Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Convenience Sampling Study., Ryan S. Funk, Valentina Shakhnovich, Yu Kyoung Cho, Kishore Polireddy, Taina Hudson, Kyle Gress, Mara L. Becker May 2021

Factors Associated With Reduced Infliximab Exposure In The Treatment Of Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Convenience Sampling Study., Ryan S. Funk, Valentina Shakhnovich, Yu Kyoung Cho, Kishore Polireddy, Taina Hudson, Kyle Gress, Mara L. Becker

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Inadequate systemic exposure to infliximab (IFX) is associated with treatment failure. This work evaluated factors associated with reduced IFX exposure in children with autoimmune disorders requiring IFX therapy.

METHODS: In this single-center cross-sectional prospective study IFX trough concentrations and anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) were measured in serum from children diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (n = 73), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) (n = 16), or uveitis (n = 8) receiving maintenance IFX infusions at an outpatient infusion clinic in a tertiary academic pediatric hospital. IFX concentrations in combination with population pharmacokinetic modeling were used to estimate IFX clearance. Patient …


Critical Need For Pharmacologic Treatment Options In Nafld: A Pediatric Perspective., Chance S. Friesen, Sherwin S. Chan, Jonathan B. Wagner, Chelsea Hosey-Cojocari, Iván L Csanaky, Valentina Shakhnovich May 2021

Critical Need For Pharmacologic Treatment Options In Nafld: A Pediatric Perspective., Chance S. Friesen, Sherwin S. Chan, Jonathan B. Wagner, Chelsea Hosey-Cojocari, Iván L Csanaky, Valentina Shakhnovich

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects up to 70% of children with obesity and has become the number one etiology for liver transplant in the United States. Early, effective intervention is critical to prevent disease progression into adulthood. Yet, it is seldom achieved through lifestyle modification alone. Thus, children must be included in NAFLD pharmacology trials, which, to date, continue to focus primarily on adult populations. This commentary serves as a call to action.


Gastrointestinal Complications In Critically Ill Children: Experience From A Resource-Limited Country, Sidra Ishaque, Mariam Shakir, Asma Akbar Ladak, Anwar Ul Haque May 2021

Gastrointestinal Complications In Critically Ill Children: Experience From A Resource-Limited Country, Sidra Ishaque, Mariam Shakir, Asma Akbar Ladak, Anwar Ul Haque

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objectives: To determine the frequency and predictors of outcome of gastrointestinal complications (GIC) in critically ill children.
Methods: This descriptive study was prospectively conducted in The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, from September 2015 to January 2017. After obtaining approval from the Ethical Review Committee of AKUH and informed consent from the parents, all children (aged one month to 18 years), of either gender, admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) during the study period were included. The frequency of the defined GIC: vomiting, high gastric residue volume (GRV), diarrhea, constipation, and …


Gestational Weight Gain In 4 Low- And Middle-Income Countries And Associations With Birth Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis Of The Women First Trial, Melissa S. Bauserman, Carla M. Bann, K Michael Hambidge, Ana L. Garces, Lester Figueroa, Jamie L. Westcott, Jackie K. Patterson, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Sumera Ali Aziz, Sarah Saleem Apr 2021

Gestational Weight Gain In 4 Low- And Middle-Income Countries And Associations With Birth Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis Of The Women First Trial, Melissa S. Bauserman, Carla M. Bann, K Michael Hambidge, Ana L. Garces, Lester Figueroa, Jamie L. Westcott, Jackie K. Patterson, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Sumera Ali Aziz, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Background: Adequate gestational weight gain (GWG) is essential for healthy fetal growth. However, in low- and middle-income countries, where malnutrition is prevalent, little information is available about GWG and how it might be modified by nutritional status and interventions.
Objective: We describe GWG and its associations with fetal growth and birth outcomes. We also examined the extent to which prepregnancy BMI, and preconception and early weight gain modify GWG, and its effects on fetal growth.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the Women First Trial, including 2331 women within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guatemala, India, and Pakistan, …


Correlation Of Severity Of Covid-19 Disease With Gastrointestinal Manifestations And Liver Injury - A North Brooklyn Community Hospital Experience: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Kitson Deane, Ajay Singh, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Lyam Ciccone, Beishi Zheng, Arslan Afzal, Gulam Khan, Giovanna Rodriguez, Gul Bahtiyar Apr 2021

Correlation Of Severity Of Covid-19 Disease With Gastrointestinal Manifestations And Liver Injury - A North Brooklyn Community Hospital Experience: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Kitson Deane, Ajay Singh, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Lyam Ciccone, Beishi Zheng, Arslan Afzal, Gulam Khan, Giovanna Rodriguez, Gul Bahtiyar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: The primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), is expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and liver parenchyma. The involvement of the gastrointestinal tract with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has remained unclear. The following study retrospectively reviews gastrointestinal symptoms and liver function tests at the time of hospital admission to identify patient outcomes including prolonged hospital stay, the requirement for intensive care, and all-cause in-hospital 30-day mortality.
Methods: A retrospective review of patient charts at the Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center (WMC) was conducted at the time of hospital admission, using a pre-determined selection criterion. …


Efficacy Of Weight Reduction On Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Opportunities To Improve Treatment Outcomes Through Pharmacotherapy., Chance S. Friesen, Chelsea Hosey-Cojocari, Sherwin S. Chan, Iván L. Csanaky, Jonathan B. Wagner, Brooke Sweeney, Alec Friesen, Jason D. Fraser, Valentina Shakhnovich Apr 2021

Efficacy Of Weight Reduction On Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Opportunities To Improve Treatment Outcomes Through Pharmacotherapy., Chance S. Friesen, Chelsea Hosey-Cojocari, Sherwin S. Chan, Iván L. Csanaky, Jonathan B. Wagner, Brooke Sweeney, Alec Friesen, Jason D. Fraser, Valentina Shakhnovich

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Obesity is the single greatest risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Without intervention, most pediatric patients with NAFLD continue to gain excessive weight, making early, effective weight loss intervention key for disease treatment and prevention of NAFLD progression. Unfortunately, outside of a closely monitored research setting, which is not representative of the real world, lifestyle modification success for weight loss in children is low. Bariatric surgery, though effective, is invasive and can worsen NAFLD postoperatively. Thus, there is an evolving and underutilized role for pharmacotherapy in children, both for weight reduction and NAFLD management. In this perspective article, …


A Pedunculated Esophageal Chondromatous Hamartoma In A Child, Dan-Alexandru Iozsa, Maria Puscasu, Catalin Gabriel Cirstoveanu, Vlad Denis Constantin, Anca Silvia Dumitriu, Stana Paunica, Nicolae Sebastian Ionescu Apr 2021

A Pedunculated Esophageal Chondromatous Hamartoma In A Child, Dan-Alexandru Iozsa, Maria Puscasu, Catalin Gabriel Cirstoveanu, Vlad Denis Constantin, Anca Silvia Dumitriu, Stana Paunica, Nicolae Sebastian Ionescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Esophageal tumors are uncommon in pediatric population and most of them are benign. Esophageal hamartomas have been reported extremely rare in children. These can present as intramural tumors of the esophageal wall or as polyps. Dysphagia is the main symptom described in their case, but other specific symptoms are also reported. Such symptoms encountered in clinical practice are represented by obstructive apnea episodes and bradycardia, poor weight gain, epigastric or retrosternal pain, hematemesis or melena, dysphonia or tracheal sounds. Diagnosis can be delayed due to the insidious onset and non-specific symptoms, therefore patient’s compliance to follow-up and broad, careful evaluation …


Postoperative Complicated Appendectomy Revealing Crohn’S Disease In A Pediatric Patient, Augustina Enculescu, Mircea Denis Lupusoru, Catalin Cirstoveanu, Andra-Iulia Suceveanu, Liliana Florina Andronache, Adrian-Paul Suceveanu, Felix Voinea, Maria Puscasu Apr 2021

Postoperative Complicated Appendectomy Revealing Crohn’S Disease In A Pediatric Patient, Augustina Enculescu, Mircea Denis Lupusoru, Catalin Cirstoveanu, Andra-Iulia Suceveanu, Liliana Florina Andronache, Adrian-Paul Suceveanu, Felix Voinea, Maria Puscasu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Granulomatous appendicitis is a very rare entity in children. It is related to Crohn’s disease in only 5-10% of the cases. The diagnosis of Crohn’s disease is a real challenge in the pediatric population, especially when its initial manifestation is acute appendicitis. Herein, we present a 13-year-old boy admitted for acute appendicitis. The histopathological examination was conclusive for acute granulomatous appendicitis. The development of an entero-cutaneous fistula has complicated the postoperative evolution. The failure of the conservative management required ileocecal resection. The pathological examination revealed Crohn’s disease. The one-year follow-up on the patient din not reveal any complications. We strongly …


Leveraging Institutional Support To Build An Integrated Multidisciplinary Care Model In Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease., Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Craig A. Friesen Apr 2021

Leveraging Institutional Support To Build An Integrated Multidisciplinary Care Model In Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease., Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Craig A. Friesen

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

While the biopsychosocial nature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is now well accepted by clinicians, the need for integrated multidisciplinary care is not always clear to institutional administrators who serve as decision makers regarding resources provided to clinical programs. In this commentary, we draw on our own experience in building successful integrated care models within a division of pediatric gastroenterology (GI) to highlight key considerations in garnering initial approval, as well as methods to maintain institutional support over time. Specifically, we discuss the importance of making a strong case for the inclusion of a psychologist in pediatric IBD care, justifying …


Heartburn In Children And Adolescents In The Presence Of Functional Dyspepsia And/Or Irritable Bowel Syndrome Correlates With The Presence Of Sleep Disturbances, Anxiety, And Depression., Jennifer Colombo, Amanda D. Deacy, Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Craig A. Friesen Apr 2021

Heartburn In Children And Adolescents In The Presence Of Functional Dyspepsia And/Or Irritable Bowel Syndrome Correlates With The Presence Of Sleep Disturbances, Anxiety, And Depression., Jennifer Colombo, Amanda D. Deacy, Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Craig A. Friesen

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of heartburn in pediatric patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep disturbances, and psychologic distress.The overlap in symptoms of FD, IBS, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) predicts greater symptom severity and decreased quality of life and presents opportunities for improved diagnostic classification and personalized therapeutics.A cross-sectional observational study of 260 pediatric patients with abdominal pain was conducted. Patients completed standardized questionnaires assessing clinical symptoms, sleep quality, and psychologic symptoms during routine clinical care. Questionnaire data were compared for patients reporting heartburn and …


Effect Of Crohn's Disease On Villous Length And Cyp3a4 Expression In The Pediatric Small Intestine., Carrie A. Vyhlidal, Brian D. Chapron, Atif Ahmed, Vivekanand Singh, Rebecca Casini, Valentina Shakhnovich Mar 2021

Effect Of Crohn's Disease On Villous Length And Cyp3a4 Expression In The Pediatric Small Intestine., Carrie A. Vyhlidal, Brian D. Chapron, Atif Ahmed, Vivekanand Singh, Rebecca Casini, Valentina Shakhnovich

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Changes in absorptive capacity and first-pass metabolism in the small intestine affect oral drug bioavailability. Characterization of such changes as a consequence of inflammation is important for developing physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for inflammatory bowel disease. We sought to elucidate the impact of small intestinal Crohn's disease (CD) on villous length and CYP3A4 expression in children. Freshly frozen duodenal and terminal ileum (TI) biopsies from 107 children (1-19 years) with and without CD were evaluated for active inflammation. Villous length and CYP3A4 mRNA/protein expression were compared among regions of active and inactive inflammation in CD and controls. A twofold reduction …


Relationships Between Disaccharidase Deficiencies, Duodenal Inflammation And Symptom Profile In Children With Abdominal Pain., Jennifer Colombo, Chance S. Friesen, Uttam Garg, Craig A. Friesen, William San Pablo Mar 2021

Relationships Between Disaccharidase Deficiencies, Duodenal Inflammation And Symptom Profile In Children With Abdominal Pain., Jennifer Colombo, Chance S. Friesen, Uttam Garg, Craig A. Friesen, William San Pablo

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Abdominal pain has been associated with disaccharidase deficiencies. While relationships with individual symptoms have been assessed, relationships between disaccharidase deficiencies and symptom complexes or inflammation have not been evaluated in this group. The primary aims of the current study were to assess relationships between disaccharidase deficiency and symptoms or symptom complexes and duodenal inflammation, respectively. Patients with abdominal pain who underwent endoscopy with evaluation of disaccharidase activity levels were identified. After excluding all patients with inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, H. pylori, or gross endoscopic lesions, patients were evaluated for disaccharidase deficiency frequency. Disaccharidase were compared between patients with and …


Readiness To Change And Prospective Effects Of Weight Management Programs In Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease., Voytek Slowik, Heather Wasserkrug, Ryan T. Fischer, Mark Connelly, Amanda D. Deacy, Sarah Hampl, James F. Daniel Mar 2021

Readiness To Change And Prospective Effects Of Weight Management Programs In Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease., Voytek Slowik, Heather Wasserkrug, Ryan T. Fischer, Mark Connelly, Amanda D. Deacy, Sarah Hampl, James F. Daniel

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasing problem in pediatrics with limited treatment options. We prospectively assessed outcomes in patients managed in a hepatology clinic (HC) alone vs. those managed in combination with a multidisciplinary weight management program (MWMP). We describe each group's readiness to change at the time of NAFLD diagnosis. Patients diagnosed with NAFLD were given a modified Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) at enrollment (T1) to assess readiness to change. They were then followed at 3-9 months (T2) and at 10-15 months (T3). Linear mixed models were used to evaluate changes in …