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BACKGROUND Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in children with intestinal failure (IF) who receive parenteral nutrition (PN), but data on vitamin D status after achieving enteral autonomy (EA) are limited. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this population while exploring clinical variables that may be associated with its development. METHODS A retrospective review was performed on 29 children with IF who had achieved EA. Deficiency was defined as a mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D

INTRODUCTION Premature infants often require parenteral nutrition (PN) until they reach enteral autonomy which puts them at risk of developing PN-associated cholestasis (PNAC). We sought to compare longitudinal changes in fecal microbiomes of premature infants who developed PNAC versus those who did not despite being on similar PN doses. METHODS Stool samples from premature infants (gestational age

BACKGROUND In children with functional dyspepsia (FD), genes involved in pain modulation may be differentially expressed contributing to chronic pain. METHODS Children with suspected FD (cases) and known eosinophilic esophagitis (controls) undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy completed the Rome IV Diagnostic, Pain Burden and Frequency Severity-Duration questionnaires. Two antral and two duodenal biopsies were collected and relative fold differences in gene expression for 84 pain-associated genes compared to pain-free controls were calculated. RESULTS Sixty-six subjects with FD (postprandial distress syndrome = 34, epigastric pain syndrome = 7, both = 25; 65% female; mean age 13.7 years) and 13 pain-free controls (8% female; mean age 12.7) were studied. There were no significant differences in antral and duodenal eosinophilic counts or distribution between the pain and pain-free groups. Pain severity and burden did not differ significantly between FD subgroups and neither measure significantly correlated with eosinophil counts in the antrum or duodenum. Analysis of 47 antral and 39 duodenal biospecimens revealed 5 candidate genes significantly associated with pain burden: antral EDN1, PTGES3 and duodenal HTR1A, P2Y1, SCN3A (p

Due to concerns related primarily to allergic response and malabsorption, enteral nutrition therapy has traditionally relied on the use of elemental formulas in children with intestinal failure (IF). Blended food diets via a gastrostomy tube have been reported to improve feeding tolerance in pediatric populations receiving long-term enteral nutrition therapy. Complex macronutrients have been shown to stimulate intestinal adaptation in animal models. We report on our experience in children with IF who had an overall improvement in stool output when transitioned from an elemental formula to a tube feeding formula with real food ingredients (TFRF). Data were collected in a retrospective chart review of children with IF, >1 year of age, who were receiving enteral nutrition via continuous infusion, bolus feeding, or both. Indications for the TFRF trial were diarrhea or inconsistent stooling patterns. Ten children with a mean small bowel length of 48.3 cm were trialed on TFRF. Nine of 10 (90%) children tolerated the transition to 100% TFRF, of which 7 of 9 (78%) had their entire colon in continuity. The average age at successful transition was 29.2 months, and the average length of time to transition to 100% TFRF was 67.3 days. TFRF is well tolerated in children >1 year of age with IF; it also improves their stooling patterns. A commercially available TFRF is a cost-effective and nutritionally adequate means of providing nutrition to this patient population.

Objectives: Although use of 70% ethanol lock therapy (ELT) has been shown to decrease the rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) in patients with intestinal failure and central venous catheters (CVCs), concerns have been raised about its association with higher rates of mechanical problems and CVC replacements (CVC-Rs). We sought to compare the rates of CRBSI, mechanical problems, and CVC-Rs in a cohort of pediatric patients with intestinal failure, with and without ELT (ELT+ and ELT−, respectively). Methods: Data were collected in a retrospective chart review from February 2007 to May 2014. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare nonparametric and paired data, respectively. Results: Twenty-nine children had 9033 catheter days (CDs). The ELT+ group (vs ELT−) had lower rate of infection and significantly fewer CVC-Rs due to infection but significantly more mechanical events and related CVC-Rs with significantly shorter mean CVC survival. In 13 children who had a p...

Background Human breast milk is used sparingly in infants with intestinal failure due to observations from studies using syringe pumps that show loss of macronutrients with continuous feeding. Because of the potential benefits of using human milk, we sought to assess macronutrient losses using human milk as continuous tube feeds as done in the inpatient and home setting using a feeding bag and pump. Methods Using in vitro simulations of human milk to assess macronutrient losses with continuous tube feeds, hourly samples were analyzed using the SpectraStar Near-Infrared Analyzer (Unity Scientific, Columbia, MD). Effects of agitation and positional changes of the feeding bag on macronutrient delivery were investigated in 249 total samples. Pairwise comparisons were performed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results Significant fat losses were observed at all rates at hours 1-4, averaging to 73% at 5 mL/h. Caloric losses correlated strongly with fat losses. Significant gains in the fat content (+116% at hour 4 at 5 mL/h) were seen in the preinfusion aliquots (feeding bags). Horizontal positioning and continuous agitation of the feeding bag only partially limited fat losses. Fat delivery at 5 mL/h was significantly enhanced to 87% when the feeding bag was placed in an inverted position and improved further up to 98% with higher infusion rates. No carbohydrates and proteins losses were seen. Conclusions Enabling the delivery of the human milk from the top of the feeding bag optimizes fat delivery and limits losses. Such top infusing feeding bags should be developed and could decrease healthcare costs for intestinal rehabilitation programs.