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Background: Symptom distress is related to decreased quality of life (QOL) among children with cancer, with high levels of pain, nausea, and anxiety reported. Creative arts therapy (CAT) has been related to improved QOL and symptoms in pediatric oncology, but the quality of evidence is mixed., Objective: This article aims to examine the QOL symptom subscales in relation to CAT over time in children during the first year of cancer treatment., Methods: A secondary analysis of prospective data was performed with linear mixed modeling on 267 observations with predictors of 2 groups: No CAT (n = 18) vs CAT (n = 65). The covariate of time (6 months) was used to explore the CAT relationship with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) symptom subscales (pain and hurt, nausea, procedural anxiety, treatment anxiety, worry, cognitive problems, perceived physical appearance, and communication)., Results: Children (n = 83) were between 3 and 17 years old (M = 6), 51.2% female, and 32% minority. All tumor types were represented: liquid (37.3%), solid (24.1%), and central nervous system (38.6%). Reduced child report of procedural anxiety was significantly related to receiving CAT with a medium magnitude of association (adjusted effect size = 0.58, P = .01)., Conclusion: Creative arts interventions were associated with a longitudinal improvement in anxiety in children with cancer. Further work is needed to target interventions to the appropriate specific burdensome symptoms., Implication for Practice: Pediatric oncology nurses can advocate for CAT as an effective intervention to ameliorate the burdensome procedural anxiety experienced by patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Insufficient protein intake is a common challenge among older adults, leading to loss of muscle mass, decreased function and reduced quality of life. A protein intake of 0.4 g/kg body weight/meal is recommended to help prevent muscle loss. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the protein intake of 0.4 g/kg body weight/meal could be achieved with typical foods and whether culinary spices could enhance protein intake. A lunch meal test was conducted in 100 community-dwelling volunteers; 50 were served a meat entrée and 50 were served a vegetarian entrée with or without added culinary spices. Food consumption, liking and perceived flavor intensity were assessed using a randomized, two-period, within subjects crossover design. Within the meat or vegetarian treatments, there were no differences in entrée or meal intakes between spiced and non-spiced meals. Participants fed meat consumed 0.41 g protein/kg body weight/meal, while the vegetarian intake was 0.25 g protein/kg body weight/meal. The addition of spice to the vegetarian entrée significantly increased liking and flavor intensity of both the entrée and the entire meal, while spice addition only increased flavor for the meat offering. Culinary spices may be a useful tool to improve the liking and flavor of high-quality protein sources among older adults, especially when used with plant-based foods, although improving liking and flavor alone are insufficient to increase protein intake.

Objective: To measure adherence rates to swallowed topical steroids in children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), describe factors related to adherence, and determine the association between adherence, symptoms, perceived disease severity, and quality of life in children with EoE., Study Design: Subjects in this cross-sectional study of 117 children between 5 and 18 years old with EoE completed the Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptoms Score V2.0 (PEESS), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Eosinophilic Esophagitis Module (PedsQL EoE), a Medication-Taking Checklist (MTC), and a demographics questionnaire. Adherence rate was calculated based on reported number of missed doses/prescribed doses in the last week. Parent-reported measures were used for children aged 5-12 years and self-report was used for children aged 13-18 years., Results: Adolescents had lower adherence rates than younger children (76.2 ± 24.5% vs 88.6 ± 16.7%, P = .002). Adherence rates were not associated with disease history, PEESS, or PedsQL EoE scores but instead correlated with MTC scores (Pearson r of 0.65, P < .001 for child-report and Pearson r of 0.74, P < .001 for parent-report). Symptomatology was associated with worse quality of life (PEESS Frequency: r = -0.7, P < .001; PEESS Severity: r = -0.71, P < .001 for children 5-12 years old; PEESS Frequency: r = -0.61, P < .001; PEESS Severity: r = -.5, P < .001 for adolescents)., Conclusions: Unrelated to their clinical history, demographic factors, symptoms, and quality of life, adolescents with EoE have lower medication adherence rates. The MTC may serve as a clinical tool to discuss adherence and provide targeted educational counseling regarding adherence interventions., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) demonstrated an association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) improvements and symptom reduction during 12 months of treatment; to examine age-related EoE discrete symptom presentation; and to describe residual symptom and HRQoL burden., Methods: Children ages 2 to 18 years with EoE were assessed at the onset of treatment and 12 months later at 4 tertiary care centers. Continuous measures of symptoms and symptom severity were based on 8 discrete EoE symptoms. HRQoL was measured with the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) parent-proxy (PR) report, child self-report (CR), and Family Impact Module. Mixed-effects modeling was used to test changes over time for symptom burden and child and family HRQoL., Results: One hundred nine children were followed (ages 2-18 years, mean age 7.6 [4.6] years, 77% boys, 87% white). Baseline symptom number mean was 3.5 (standard deviation = 2.3, range 0-8) and symptom severity mean was 5.5 (standard deviation = 4.3, range 0-24). EoE symptom number and symptom severity decreased significantly over the 12 months (P = 0.013, P < 0.001, respectively). PedsQL PR Total, Physical, Psychosocial, and Family Impact scores all improved significantly (P = 0.001, 0.012, 0.012, 0.015, respectively) but PedsQL child self-report scores did not. Symptom reduction correlated with PR PedsQL improvement (P = 0.01). Few discrete symptoms completely remitted, but lowered severity ratings indicated clinically significant improvement., Conclusions: Year-long treatment in multidisciplinary tertiary centers reduced most symptoms and improved parent-reported HRQoL in children with EoE. The frequency of residual symptoms and persistently lower HRQoL, however, underscore the chronic nature of pediatric EoE.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome metrics for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) have been developed and validated but not used in a multicenter pediatric population or systematically aligned with histology. OBJECTIVE: We sought to understand (1) the potential of caregiver report to predict patient self-reported symptoms and (2) the correlation of patient-reported outcome domains with histology. METHODS: Patients with EoE (n = 310) and their parents participating in the Consortium of Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Disease Researchers (CEGIR) observational clinical trial were queried for baseline patient symptoms and quality of life (QOL) by using the Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptom Score, version 2 (PEESSv2.0), and the Pediatric QOL EoE module (PedsQL-EoE), and biopsy specimens were analyzed by using the EoE Histology Scoring System. RESULTS: PEESSv2.0 parental and child reports aligned across all domains (r = 0.68-0.73, P

BACKGROUND:Patient-reported outcome metrics for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) have been developed and validated but not used in a multicenter pediatric population or systematically aligned with histology. OBJECTIVE:We sought to understand (1) the potential of caregiver report to predict patient self-reported symptoms and (2) the correlation of patient-reported outcome domains with histology. METHODS:Patients with EoE (n = 310) and their parents participating in the Consortium of Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Disease Researchers (CEGIR) observational clinical trial were queried for baseline patient symptoms and quality of life (QOL) by using the Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptom Score, version 2 (PEESSv2.0), and the Pediatric QOL EoE module (PedsQL-EoE), and biopsy specimens were analyzed by using the EoE Histology Scoring System. RESULTS:PEESSv2.0 parental and child reports aligned across all domains (r = 0.68-0.73, P

Introduction : Children with cancer experience distress and decreased quality of life (QOL). Creative arts therapy (CAT) is a therapeutic modality which may improve QOL. This study examined the relationship between CAT and QOL in children and adolescents with cancer. Secondary aims explored relationships between CAT and emotional reactions, resilience, and posture (to investigate future potential as an objective biomarker of QOL). Methods : Children aged 3–18 years undergoing cancer treatments and a parent proxy completed the PedsQL3.0 Cancer Module, Faces Scale for emotional reactions, Resilience Scale in adolescents (>12 years), and an inclinometer to measure thoracic kyphosis before and after CAT. CAT exposure (number of sessions) was recorded. Results : Ninety-eight children with cancer (mean age 7.8 years, range 3–17) and parent proxy were enrolled. Of the 83 participants included in the final analysis, 18 received no CAT, 32 received low dose, and 33 received high dose CAT. A significant improvement in QOL was seen with high dose CAT in (slope change, p =.015), but the overall time by group interaction was not significant. Slope change response patterns suggested that CAT led to improved posture as compared to no CAT (time by group interaction, p =.044). Discussion : CAT may be an effective intervention to improve QOL in this population. Because initial evidence suggests that posture also improves with CAT, further investigation of posture as a potential objective biomarker of QOL is supported. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angelman syndrome (AS) patients often respond to low glycemic index therapy to manage refractory seizures. These diets significantly affect quality of life and are challenging to implement. These formulations may have benefits in AS even in the absence of biomarkers suggesting ketosis.Objectives: We aimed to compare an exogenous medical food ketone formulation (KF) with placebo for the dietary management of AS.Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial was conducted in an academic center from 15 November, 2018 to 6 January, 2020. Thirteen participants with molecularly confirmed AS aged 4-11 y met the criteria and completed the 16-wk study. The study consisted of four 4-wk phases: a baseline phase, a blinded KF or placebo phase, a washout phase, and the crossover phase with alternate blinded KF or placebo. Primary outcomes were safety and tolerability rated by retention in the study and adherence to the formulation. Additional secondary outcomes of safety in this nonverbal population included blood chemistry, gastrointestinal health, seizure burden, cortical irritability, cognition, mobility, sleep, and developmental staging.Results: Data were compared between the baseline, KF, and placebo epochs. One participant exited the trial owing to difficulty consuming the formulation. Adverse events included an increase in cholesterol in 1 subject when consuming KF and a decrease in albumin in 1 subject when consuming placebo. Stool consistency improved with KF consumption, from 6.04 ± 1.61 at baseline and 6.35 ± 1.55 during placebo to 4.54 ± 1.19 during KF (P = 0.0027). Electroencephalograph trends showed a decrease in Δ frequency power during the KF arm and event-related potentials suggested a change in the frontal memory response. Vineland-3 showed improved fine motor skills in the KF arm.Conclusions: The exogenous KF appears safe. More data are needed to determine the utility of exogenous ketones as a nutritional approach in children with AS.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03644693. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The literature contains few studies of open treatment with an open surgical hip dislocation approach for treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in adolescents. The average age and associated disorders in adolescents with FAI reveal a critical need to study younger patients whose hip disorder has not had time to progress. Questions: We assessed (1) how validated measures of patient-oriented assessment of hip function and quality of life change after surgical hip dislocation; (2) whether any patient-related or technique variables correlated with changes in the outcome scores; and (3) what the complications of treatment are and how many reoperations we performed on these patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 71 hips in adolescents younger than 21 years who underwent surgical hip dislocation for FAI. The final cohort consisted of 44 patients (52 hips) with a mean age of 16 years. We analyzed changes in outcome variables after surgical hip dislocation and recorded reoperations during the study period. Results: The minimum followup was 12 months (average, 27 months; range, 12-60 months). Modified Harris hip scores increased from a mean of 57.7 preoperatively to a mean of 85.8 postoperatively. Mean SF-12 scores increased from 42.3 to 50.6. Mean preoperative hip flexion increased from 97.5° to 106.2°. Mean internal rotation of the affected hip at 90° flexion increased from 18.19° to 34°. Conclusions: Early results revealed improvements in hip function, patient quality of life, and ROM after surgical hip dislocation for the majority of this group of adolescents with FAI. However, 10% of the patients did not improve, and an additional 15% improved but still did not consider their hips good or excellent. This points toward the need for further studies in this population of patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]