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Aim: Newborn thyroid screening tests are carried out during the first days after birth in many parts of the world. The aim of this review was to assess whether additional thyroid function tests of neonates born to mothers with hypothyroidism are necessary to diagnose newborns with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) missed by the usual screening test. Methods: A search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted for pertinent studies, using relevant keywords. All studies that were published in any language from 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2023 were included. Observational cohort studies were included in the analysis, while case reports and studies not referring to neonates were excluded. Results: Thirteen studies were identified comprising more than 4400 infants with CH. Studies with the larger study populations recommended against additional testing in healthy infants of hypothyroid mothers. Similar were the results of some smaller retrospective studies. Few studies identified in total 16 infants with CH that were missed on neonatal screening without, though, a definite causative link between the mother's and the infant's thyroid dysfunction. Conclusion: Based on available data, additional thyroid function tests seem redundant in identifying undiagnosed cases of CH. Larger studies are needed to reach a definite conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To summarise the existing evidence regarding the body fat of small or large for gestation subjects, evaluated from birth up to 18 years of age. Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were adopted for the current systematic review, including studies having evaluated body fat with bioelectrical impedance analysis, air displacement plethysmography, dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry or magnetic resonance imaging. Results: A total of 31 studies was included. The balance of evidence suggests that small for gestation infants have decreased fat mass at birth; postnatally they experience increased adiposity. In the long term, however, the evidence is inconclusive, since some studies suggest that foetal‐restricted children with increased catch‐up growth are at increased risk of fat accumulation, whereas other studies suggest a neutral or even negative association. Large for gestation infants have increased fat mass at birth, but in the long term, they have a lower body fat ratio, especially when they develop a catch‐down growth. Conclusion: Some studies suggested that foetal‐restricted children with increased catch‐up growth are at increased risk of later adiposity, while other studies suggested a neutral or negative association. Given that the evidence is inconclusive, further studies are warranted. Large for gestation subjects have lower body fat when they develop catch‐down growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After adjusting for gestational age and birth weight, the antibiotic administration (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.26-3.73, I p i =0.005), and the lack of breastfeeding (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.04-3.55, I p i =0.035) were significantly associated with IRB (Supplemental Table S1). In otherwise asymptomatic infants, isolated rectal bleeding (IRB) is attributed to benign conditions.1 However, in most cases, physicians perform laboratory evaluation and abdominal radiographs, withdraw feeding and administer antibiotics, aiming at decreasing the risk of deterioration.2 IRB has been attributed to an allergic reaction to cow's milk protein,2,3 whereas "haemorrhagic or ecchymotic colitis", a self-limited phenomenon with possible involvement of allergic mechanisms, has been reported.4 In view of the paucity of existing evidence, we aimed to determine the risk factors and outcomes of otherwise asymptomatic infants with IRB. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilised to examine the adjusted effect of gestation, birth weight, empirical antibiotic administration and the lack of breastfeeding on IRB. [Extracted from the article]

In the current study, we examined the retinal vascular morphology in IUGR compared with non-IUGR infants during the early neonatal period and the correlation of retinal vascular indexes with IUGR status. We prospectively enrolled 25 IUGR and 25 non-IUGR infants of 30-35 weeks' gestations, during 2021-2022. In conclusion, IUGR compared with non-IUGR infants had significantly higher vascular tortuosity indexes and lower branching points, whereas IUGR status was associated with a higher vascular tortuosity index and reduced branching points, after adjusting for perinatal factors. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Context: Adults with plasma glucose levels at one hour (1h‐GL) ≥8.6 mmol/L during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and present an unfavourable cardiometabolic and inflammatory profile, but relevant data on children are scarce. Objective: To investigate if elevated 1h‐GL during OGTT in obese children and adolescents is associated with insulin resistance and specific pro‐inflammatory biomarkers. Research Design and Methods: The study group comprised 88 obese children who attended the Outpatient Pediatric Clinic of our Hospital between January and December 2016. Children were divided into two groups according to 1h‐GL during an OGTT: group 1 (n = 57) consisted of those with 1h‐GL <8.6 mmol/L and group 2 (n = 31) of those with 1h‐GL ≥8.6 mmol/L. Arterial blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) z‐scores were measured in all participants. Specific insulin resistance (IR) indices, that is HOMA‐IR, Matsuda index and Cederholm insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were calculated. Further, pro‐inflammatory biomarkers that have been correlated with obesity complications, namely adiponectin, leptin, visfatin and interleukin (IL)‐6 together with lipid levels were measured in all participants. Logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Children in group 2 had higher insulin (15.5 ± 6.4 vs 10.9 ± 4.8 μU/mL), HOMA‐IR (3.41 ± 1.4 vs 2.34 ± 1.05) and lower Matsuda index [4.7 (3.1) vs 18.4 (17) median plus IQR] and Cederholm ISI (38 ± 6 vs 56 ± 11), than children in group 1 (all P < 0.001). They also had higher visfatin (15.4 ± 5.2 vs 10.1 ± 7 ng/mL), and IL‐6 [12.5 (6.7) vs 4.8 (4.4) pg/mL], and lower adiponectin (5.9 ± 3.4 vs 11.8 ± 4.7 μg/mL) than children in group 1 (all P < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that these differences between the two groups were independent of age, sex, Tanner stage, BMI and WC z‐scores. Conclusions: In obese children, 1h‐GL ≥8.6 mmol/L during an OGTT is correlated with worsened IR, and an unfavourable metabolic and inflammatory profile. Thus, 1h‐GL could be used as an additional marker to identify obese children and adolescents at increased risk of developing obesity complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food allergy in children is associated with Vitamin D deficiency: A case-control study Keywords: food allergy; vitamin D binding protein; vitamin D deficiency EN food allergy vitamin D binding protein vitamin D deficiency 644 645 2 02/24/22 20220301 NES 220301 The association between food allergy (FA), vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) is of special interest.1 A previous study has shown that low serum vitamin D levels were associated with food allergy, particularly amongst infants with specific I VDBP i gene polymorphisms.2 In addition, infants of Australian-born parents with inadequate vitamin D levels were more likely to be food allergic than were those with adequate vitamin D levels.3 In the United States, a significant association between VDD and the sensitisation to food allergens was detected.1 On the contrary, a recent systematic review could not detect any difference in vitamin D levels in children with or without FA, indicating that the relationship between FA and vitamin D remains controversial.4 In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of FA with VDD and the association of FA with vitamin D, after controlling for VDBP levels, parental smoking, breastfeeding and family history of atopy. We conducted a case-control study in the Paediatric Allergy Department of the University Hospital of Ioannina, between 7/2018 and 1/2020, including children with definite IgE-mediated FA, and age and gender-matched controls with no history of food allergy. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Preterm infants are at risk of developing iron deficiency; among the iron status and hemopoiesis indices the serum transferrin receptor (sTfr) has been shown to be a useful indicator in assessing iron status, while immature reticulocyte production is regarded as an estimator of erythropoiesis. Objective: To investigate age-related changes in iron status infants born ‘moderately’ preterm, with a gestational age (GA) of 32–36 wk, and identify associations between sTfr and other hematological and biochemical iron indices. Design: Hospital-based prospective, longitudinal study in preterm infants. Methods: Iron and erythropoiesis parameters were evaluated in 181 formula-fed preterm infants at 2 and 6 wk and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months chronological age. Hemoglobulin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), reticulocytes, serum iron (sFe), serum ferritin (sFer), sTfr, and reticulocyte subpopulations were measured. Results: A total of 756 measurements were performed. After an initial decline, Hb rose from month 3 to 12 of life. SFe and sFer and immature reticulocyte count decreased from the second week to the third month and remained stable thereafter. STfr was lower up to 6 wk and stable from month 3 to 12. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was found in 5.5% of infants. In 76 measurements sFer was <12 μg/L, implying storage iron deficiency (SID). A negative correlation was observed between sTfr and other indices of iron status such as Hb, Hct, MCV, sFe, and sFer. Infants with sFer <12 μg/L had lower sTfr than those with sFer >12 μg/L. Reticulocyte production was positively associated with STfr, but this association was dependent on the chronological age of the infant. Conclusion: Iron depletion is common in formula-fed preterm (32–36 wk GA) infants between month 3 and 12 of life. STfr appears to be an indicator of iron status in preterm infants during the first year of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]