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Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin condition in childhood. Most (50-60%) children with AD report sleep disturbance, which is secondary to itch, dry skin, inflammation, and abnormal circadian rhythm. Sleep is essential for brain development, learning, and growth. Sleep disruption in early life is associated with cognitive and psychological dysfunction in later life. The aim of this study is to describe in detail the sleep architecture of infants with early-onset atopic dermatitis (AD), compared to controls, by using EEG polysomnography, sleep actigraphy, and parental reporting.Methods: This observational study will recruit six- to eight-month old infants with moderate to severe AD and age-matched control infants who do not have AD. At six-eight months diurnal sleep electroencephalography and polysomnography will be performed in our research center. Nocturnal sleep actigraphy will be performed at home for five consecutive nights at six-eight months and 12 months. Between six and 12 months, monthly questionnaires will capture data on quantitative sleep and parental sleep. Skin barrier and immune profiles will be captured at six-eight and 12 months. AD will be assessed using standardized severity assessment tools and treated according to protocol. A neurodevelopmental assessment will be performed at 18 months to assess cognition and behaviour. An estimated sample size of 50 participants in each group is required to power the primary outcome of disturbed macrostructure of sleep and secondary outcomes of disturbed microstructure of sleep, and disturbed parental sleep, assuming an attrition rate of 60%. Potential confounding factors which will be controlled for in the data analysis will include parental educational level, parental depression, feeding practice, and number of siblings.Discussion: This study will provide a rich analysis of sleep in infants with AD in the first year of life using detailed electroencephalography, novel actigraphy techniques, and longitudinal parent-reported data. It may provide guidance on the optimal treatment of AD to prevent or reduce sleep disruption.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT05031754 , retrospectively registered on September 2nd, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insect venom is the second most common cause of anaphylaxis outside of medical encounters. Stings cause over 20% of all anaphylactic deaths and 7% of anaphylaxis in children. To date, there have been no longitudinal studies of insect sting events or allergy in preschool children. Methods: A prospective longitudinal nested observational study in the BASELINE Birth Cohort Study (n = 2137). Sting‐related questions were asked at 6 and 12 months and 2 and 5 years. Skin prick testing (SPT) was performed at 2 and 5 years. SpIgE testing was performed on selected cases at 2 years. Results: Seventy‐seven children (6.8%) were stung by the age of 2. Of these, 25 (32.5%) reported adverse reactions (four systemic). Eleven (0.9%) had positive SPT at 2 years (eight bee, two wasp, one both). Four stung children had positive SPT. Two (one stung, one never stung) had positive spIgE to a venom component at 2 years. A total of 268 children (21.9%) were stung by 5 years, 144 (52.1%) reporting local reactions and none systemic. Four children (0.4%) had positive SPT at 5 years: one bee and three wasp. Of the 11 SPT‐positive children at 2 years, none were still positive at 5 years. Conclusion: This is the first longitudinal study of the natural history of hymenoptera stings and allergy in preschool children. Hymenoptera venom allergy is less common in this cohort than in adults. Systemic reactions were not medically documented in this population, in keeping with previous literature. This study confirms the poor correlation of IgE sensitization to venom with sting allergy and does not support the common parental request to screen children for sting allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate whether changing levels of exercise during pregnancy are related to altered neonatal adiposity. Design Secondary analysis of data from a prospective cohort study. Setting Cork, Ireland. Participants 1200 mother-infant pairs recruited as part of a prospective birth cohort, Babies After SCOPE: Evaluating the Longitudinal Impact Using Neurological and Nutritional Endpoints (BASELINE). Main outcome measures Neonatal adiposity was assessed within several days of birth using air displacement plethysmography (PEAPOD). Per cent body fat (BF%) as a continuous outcome and a pair of dichotomous variables; high or low adiposity, representing BF% >90th or <10th centile, respectively. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between exercise and the respective outcomes. Results Crude analysis revealed no association between a changing level of exercise (since becoming pregnant) at 15 weeks' gestation and any of the outcomes (BF%, low adiposity and high adiposity). At 20 weeks' gestation, analyses revealed that relative to women who do not change their exercise level up to 20 weeks, those women who decreased their exercise level were more likely to give birth to a neonate with adiposity above the 90th centile (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.46). This association was maintained after adjustment for putative confounders (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.47). Conclusions We observed a possible critical period for the association between changing exercise levels and neonatal adiposity, with no association observed with exercise recall for the first 15 weeks of gestation, but an association with a decreasing level of exercise between 15 and 20 weeks. These results should be interpreted in line with the limitations of the study and further studies utilising objectively measured estimates of exercise are required in order to replicate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study (Babies After SCOPE: Evaluating the Longitudinal Impact on Neurological and Nutritional Endpoints) was established with three main objectives: to investigate the effects of intrauterine growth restriction and early nutrition on metabolic health and neurodevelopment; to ascertain the incidence and determinants of food allergy and eczema in early childhood; and to describe early infant feeding, supplementation and nutritional status and their effects on physical and neurological growth and health outcomes. The SCOPE Ireland pregnancy cohort formed the basis of recruitment of infants to BASELINE [n 1537] and an additional 600 infants were recruited after delivery providing a total sample of 2137 between 2008 and 2011. Assessments were at day 2 and at 2, 6, 12 and 24 months, with 5-year assessments ongoing. Blood and DNA samples were biobanked at 15 and 20 weeks' gestation, birth, 24 months and 5 years. Body composition data were collected at 2 days and 2 months (air-displacement plethysmography) and at 5 years (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). Trans-epidermal water loss was measured at 2 days, 2, 6 and 24 months. Detailed dietary and validated developmental assessments were conducted at 24 months. Researchers interested in collaboration can contact [baseline@ucc.ie] and further information be found at [http://www. baselinestudy.net/ or http://www.birthcohorts.net/]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]