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The gut microbiota was reported to differ between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) children, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in preterm infants is common. Here, we explored the characteristics of gut microbiota in children born preterm with ASD. We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing using stool samples from ASD children born preterm and TD children born preterm. Alpha diversity was significantly greater in the ASD group. A comparison of beta diversity showed different clusters. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis revealed significantly more Firmicutes in the ASD group compared with the TD group. In conclusion, the gut microbiota in children born preterm differs between children with ASD and TD.

Author(s): Sohsaku Yamanouchi [sup.1] , Takahisa Kimata [sup.1] , Yuko Akagawa [sup.1] , Shohei Akagawa [sup.1] , Jiro Kino [sup.1] , Shoji Tsuji [sup.1] , Kazunari Kaneko [sup.1] Author Affiliations: [...], Background This study aimed to test the hypothesis that reduced urinary excretions of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) predispose children to recurrence of febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI). Methods Subjects were 38 children diagnosed with fUTI. To examine risk factors for recurrence of fUTI, the subjects were divided into a non-recurrent group and a recurrent group according to the presence or absence of fUTI over 3 years since the first episode. We measured the urinary NGAL levels in patients with fUTI at the non-infected stage in addition to age-matched healthy control children. Results In a multiple logistic regression analysis, significant differences between the groups were not observed for age, sex, the prevalence of kidney scarring and bladder bowel dysfunction, urinary [beta]2-microglobulin/creatinine (Cr) level, and serum levels of Cr and Cystatin C, while the recurrent group had significantly more cases with grade III or higher vesicoureteral reflux (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the urinary NGAL/Cr in the recurrent group (median, 3.60 [mu]g/gCr) was significantly lower than that in the non-recurrent group (median, 16.47 [mu]g/gCr; p < 0.01), and age-matched healthy control children (median, 14.14 [mu]g/gCr; p < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of NGAL/Cr was 0.86 for predicting recurrence of fUTI. A cut-off value of 11.59 [mu]g/gCr had the best accuracy to predict recurrent fUTI yielding a specificity of 78% and a sensitivity of 93%. Conclusions Reduced levels of urinary NGAL, which protects against urinary infection, are a risk factor for recurrence of fUTI and could serve as a biomarker.

Background: Children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMIDs) frequently and continuously receive enteral nutrition and medications and lack adequate exercise, which may lead to dysbiosis, an imbalance in the composition of the gut microbiota. However, studies on the composition of gut microbiota in children with SMIDs are limited. Therefore, we aimed to examine the characteristics of the gut microbiota in children with SMIDs. Methods: 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using fecal samples of 10 children with SMIDs, who received enteral nutrition through a gastric fistula or gastric tube (SMID group: median age, 10.0 years), and 19 healthy children (healthy control [HC] group: median age, 9.0 years). Microbial diversity, microbial composition, and abundance of butyric acid‐producing bacteria were compared between the groups. Daily dietary fiber intake in the SMID group was evaluated using questionnaires. Results: The Shannon and Simpson indices (alpha diversity indices) were significantly lower in the SMID group than those in the HC group. Beta diversity analysis identified different clusters. Compared with the HC group, Clostridiales and butyric acid‐producing bacteria were less abundant and Bacteroidales were more abundant in the SMID group. Dietary fiber intake in the SMID group was approximately two‐thirds of the estimated average requirement for healthy Japanese children. Conclusion: Children with SMIDs showed dysbiosis with alteration in the microbial diversity, which could partly be attributed to their low dietary fiber intake. Further studies, with the intervention of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics, are warranted to improve dysbiosis in children with SMIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We investigated whether the daily salt intake of children with nocturnal enuresis influenced their response to 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin therapy.Methods: This study comprised 129 children (67.4% boys) with a median age of 9.2 years (range 7.2-10.4) with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis who were seen at Kansai Medical University Hospital, Osaka, Japan, from 2013 to 2017. Urinary sodium concentrations were determined using a spot urine test, and the children were divided into appropriate (n = 55) and excessive salt intake (n = 74) groups based on Japanese Government guidelines. After a month of therapy, the treatment responses were compared for 39 and 50 children, respectively.Results: There were no significant differences in the urea nitrogen-to-creatinine or calcium-to-creatinine ratios in the two groups. However, the excessive salt intake group showed a significantly reduced treatment response to the appropriate salt intake group. In addition, the excessive and appropriate salt intake groups showed median efficacy ratios of 8.2% and 21.8%, respectively, based on intention-to-treat analysis (P = 0.029) and 12.0% and 30.8% based on per-protocol analysis (P = 0.029).Conclusion: High daily salt intake significantly reduced the efficacy of ddavp therapy for nocturnal enuresis and consumption should be controlled during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]