Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Free Radic Biol Med 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a principal cause of death and disability worldwide. Melatonin, a hormone made by the pineal gland, is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, using a weight-drop model of TBI, we investigated the protective effects of ramelteon, a melatonin MT1/MT2 receptor agonist, and its underlying mechanisms of action. Read More

Reprod Sci 2018 Dec 13:1933719118812730. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

1 Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. Santosh Jagadeeshan is now with the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

Maternal mortality remains one of the leading causes of death in women of reproductive age in developing countries, and a major concern in some developed countries. It is puzzling why such a condition has not been reduced in frequency, if not eliminated, in the course of evolution. Maternal mortality is a complex phenomenon caused by several physiological and physical factors. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Pediatrics, AOU Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, University of Catania, via S. Sofia 78, 95123, Catania, Italy.

Introduction: Stroke is the clinical designation for a rapidly developing loss of brain function due to an interruption in the blood supply to all or part of the brain. It is the third cause of death in adults and one of the top 10 causes in pediatric age. The perinatal period of onset is the second only to adult age group in the incidence of stroke. Read More

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue 2018 Nov;30(11):1046-1050

Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China (Chen X, Peng WS, Zhang Z, Zhao Q, Zhou Y, Chen L); Department of Pediatric, Anhui Provincial Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, Anhui, China (Pan JH). Corresponding author: Pan Jiahua, Email:

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of selective brain hypothermia (SBH) in the treatment of neonates with moderate or severe neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and the effect of SBH treatment on serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and central nervous specific protein S100.

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. From January 2015 to June 2017, 42 children with moderate to severe HIE in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College were enrolled, and they were randomly divided into SBH treatment group and routine treatment group after obtaining the consent of the guardian of the children. Read More

J Robot Surg 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.

Tumours located within the brainstem comprise approximately a tenth of all paediatric brain tumours. Surgical biopsy of these tumours is technically challenging and has historically been associated with considerable risk. To this end, robot-assisted surgery theoretically allows for increased accuracy and precision. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2019 Mar;14(3):480-484

Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.

Status epilepticus has been shown to activate the proliferation of neural stem cells in the hippocampus of the brain, while also causing a large amount of neuronal death, especially in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus and the subventricular zone. Simultaneously, proliferating stem cells tend to migrate to areas with obvious damage. Our previous studies have clearly confirmed the effect of sodium valproate on cognitive function in rats with convulsive status epilepticus. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Neonatologist. 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Aim: Validated a model that used bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), brain injuries measured using ultrasound and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) to predict late death or disability in premature infants at seven years of age.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed at the 12 de Octubre Hospital neonatal unit in Madrid. A logistic model was applied to estimate the independent prognostic contribution of each morbidity and the effect that the combination of morbidities had on the seven-year outcomes. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2018 Dec 6;170:253-258. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (HUST), Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China. Electronic address:

Prenatal life exposure to fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm, PM) has been linked with increased risk of adverse fetal development and birth outcomes in previous studies. However, to our knowledge, no study has investigated the association of maternal PM with the risk of fetal distress, which is a harmful fetal status and may lead to fetal brain damage, even fetal death. Read More

Top Magn Reson Imaging 2018 Dec;27(6):503-514

Professor of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Director of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Children Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a form of inflicted head injury. AHT is more frequent in 2-year-old or younger children. It is an important cause of neurological impairment and the major cause of death from head trauma in this age group. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Radiotherapy, The Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute - Oncology Center, Gliwice Branch, Ul. Wybrzeże AK 15, 44-101, Gliwice, Poland.

Purpose: To assess the results and tolerance of radiosurgery/hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy performed after craniospinal irradiation for recurrent tumor.

Methods: Fourteen patients aged 3-46 years, diagnosed with medulloblastoma (10), anaplastic ependymoma (3), and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (1). All patients had craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with the total dose of 30. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2018 Oct 1:1-8. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

OBJECTIVEPediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common, but not all injuries require hospitalization. A computational tool for ruling in patients who will have a clinically relevant TBI (CRTBI) would be valuable, providing an evidence-based way to safely discharge children who are at low risk for a CRTBI. The authors hypothesized that an artificial neural network (ANN) trained on clinical and radiologist-interpreted imaging metrics could provide a tool for identifying patients likely to suffer from a CRTBI. Read More

Emerg Med Australas 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Emergency Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Objective: Although there is a large body of research on head injury (HI) inflicted by caregivers in young children, little is known about intentional HI in older children and inflicted HI by perpetrators other than carers. Therefore, we set out to describe epidemiology, demographics and severity of intentional HIs in childhood.

Methods: A planned secondary analysis of a prospective multicentre cohort study was conducted in 10 EDs in Australia and New Zealand, including children aged <18 years with HIs. Read More

JAMA Oncol 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Center for Haematology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.

Importance: Incidence and risk factors of second solid cancers (SSCs) that occur after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are well documented. However, clinical outcome data of patients who developed an SSC after HSCT are limited.

Objective: To assess the outcome of patients with an SSC occurring after HSCT from the time of SSC diagnosis. Read More

Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2018 Nov 24. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

f Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases , Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands.

Introduction: Meningitis is the most severe manifestation of tuberculosis, resulting in death or disability in over 30% of those affected, with even higher morbidity and mortality among patients with HIV or drug resistance. Antimicrobial treatment of Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is similar to treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, although some drugs show poor central nervous system penetration. Therefore, intensification of antibiotic treatment may improve TBM treatment outcome. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Jan 22;216:176-182. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Children Rehabilitation, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Jining 272011, China; Jining No.1 People's Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China. Electronic address:

Aims: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common brain injury disease in neonates, which can lead to neonatal disability and death. Geniposide (GEN) is a main ingredient of Gardenia jasminoides, whose anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects have been reported in various diseases. However, the effect of GEN on HIE remains uninvestigated. Read More

J Surg Res 2018 Dec 5;232:164-170. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Background: Degree of compliance with Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) recommendations for radiographic evaluation following minor head injury in children is not well understood. The aim of this study was to assess PECARN compliance at a pediatric trauma center. The secondary aim was to determine whether children with indeterminate history of loss of consciousness (LOC) are at greater risk for clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) than those with no LOC. Read More

BJOG 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Centre for Women's and Children Health, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Background: Single intrauterine fetal death affects approximately 6% of twin pregnancies and can have serious sequelae for the surviving co-twin.

Objectives: Determine the prognosis of the surviving co-twin following spontaneous single intrauterine fetal death to aid counselling patients and highlight future research areas.

Search Strategy: Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, from 1980 to June 2017. Read More

Neurosurg Focus 2018 Nov;45(5):E2

OBJECTIVEModern surgical planning and prognostication requires the most accurate outcomes data to practice evidence-based medicine. For clinicians treating children following traumatic brain injury (TBI) these data are severely lacking. The first aim of this study was to assess published CT classification systems in the authors' pediatric cohort. Read More

Br J Neurosurg 2018 Nov 19:1-8. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

a Department of Neurosurgery , West China Hospital, Sichuan University , Chengdu , Sichuan 610041 , China.

Background: Intracranial germinomas are uncommon and constitute less than 1% of all intracranial tumors. They usually arise in the midline of the brain, most commonly in the pineal region. Pineal germinomas tend to spread through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Read More

Metab Brain Dis 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Gastroenterology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, 252004, China.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a serious complication of liver disease. To establish a model for predicting 3-month mortality in patients with HE in China. This retrospective study included 609 patients with HE admitted to the Peoples' Hospital, Liaocheng City, China (August 2006 to January 2016). Read More

Oncotarget 2018 Oct 16;9(81):35266-35277. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Children's Brain Tumor Research Centre, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children and are the most challenging childhood cancer in relation to diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. One potential novel strategy to improve outcomes in cancer involves the manipulation of autophagy, a fundamental process in all cells. In cancer, autophagy can be thought of as having a "Janus"-like duality. Read More

Ital J Pediatr 2018 Nov 16;44(Suppl 2):131. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Brains For Brain Foundation, Padova, Italy.

The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a heterogeneous group of in-born metabolic conditions caused by genetic defects that result in the absence or severe deficiency of one of the lysosomal hydrolases responsible for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Such enzyme deficiency causes accumulation of GAGs that begins in infancy and progressively worsens, often affecting several organs including the central nervous system (CNS) inducing mental retardation, progressive neurodegeneration, and premature death. Over the last years, enormous progress has been made in the treatment of many MPS types, and available treatments are efficacious for many of them. Read More

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2018 Jul;2018:5834-5837

Pediatric Central Nervous System (CNS) neoplasms are the second most prevalent tumors of childhood. Further on, prognosis of this type of neoplasms still remain poor and the comprehension of the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease still remains scarce. Several reports have identified microRNAs as significant molecules in the development of central nervous system tumors and propose that they might compose key molecules underlying oncogenesis. Read More

Res Sports Med 2018 ;26(sup1):38-56

a Department of Emergency Medicine , Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa , Iowa City , IA , USA.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) remain a significant source of death and injury among youth. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the scope of the problem, the risk factors involved, crash-related outcomes and costs, and injury prevention strategies. There are currently more than 100 pediatric ATV-related fatalities each year and over 30,000 emergency department visits, with a potential annual cost for deaths and injuries approaching $1 billion. Read More

J Emerg Med 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Background: Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) commonly present in infancy and, less commonly, later in life.

Case Report: This case describes an IEM, specifically, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, in a previously healthy 7-year-old boy who presented to an emergency department with vomiting for approximately 24 h prior to admission. The child became progressively encephalopathic while in the emergency department, but an ammonia level was not obtained until several hours after admission. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Nov 11. Epub 2018 Nov 11.

Oncology Institute, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Purpose: Nimotuzumab is an IgG1 antibody that targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Overexpression of EGFR is detected in some pediatric brain tumors including diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG)s.

Methods: Since May 2010, nimotuzumab, combined with carboplatin or vinorelbine or Temozolomide (TMZ), was administered during progressive disease (PD) after the use of the institutional protocol consisting of radiotherapy (RT) + TMZ and adjuvant TMZ. Read More

Front Physiol 2018 16;9:1457. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) was originally identified as a secreted trophic factor for dopamine neurons It protects and restores damaged cells in rodent models of Parkinson's disease, brain and heart ischemia, spinocerebellar ataxia and retina . However, its exact mechanism of action is not known. MANF is widely expressed in most human and mouse organs with high levels in secretory tissues. Read More

JCI Insight 2018 Nov 2;3(21). Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital Center (CRCHUM), Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Glycine encephalopathy (GE), or nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH), is a rare recessive genetic disease caused by defective glycine cleavage and characterized by increased accumulation of glycine in all tissues. Here, based on new case reports of GLDC loss-of-function mutations in GE patients, we aimed to generate a zebrafish model of severe GE in order to unravel the molecular mechanism of the disease. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we knocked out the gldc gene and showed that gldc-/- fish recapitulate GE on a molecular level and present a motor phenotype reminiscent of severe GE symptoms. Read More

Ital J Pediatr 2018 Nov 1;44(1):115. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Medicine & Surgery Department, Neuroscience Division, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.

Neonatal seizures are the most common neurological event in newborns, showing higher prevalence in preterm than in full-term infants. In the majority of cases they represent acute symptomatic phenomena, the main etiologies being intraventricular haemorrhage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, central nervous system infections and transient metabolic derangements.Current definition of neonatal seizures requires detection of paroxysmal EEG-changes, and in preterm newborns the incidence of electrographic-only seizures seems to be particularly high, further stressing the crucial role of electroencephalogram monitoring in this population. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Oct 31. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Fetal Cardiac, Labatt Family Heart Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

A circular shunt (CS) is a life-threatening condition consisting of massive shunting of systemic arterial blood via the ductus arteriosus to the left ventricle without traversing the lungs. In the prenatal circulation, it mainly occurs in severe Ebstein anomaly (EA) from unrestricted ductal flow and significant pulmonary and tricuspid regurgitation. We aimed to improve the fetal hemodynamics and chances of survival of affected fetuses by inducing ductal constriction with transplacental non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Unit of Clinical Pharmacology Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, "Luigi Sacco" University Hospital, Università di Milano, 20157, Milan, Italy.

Recent epidemiological studies have reported an increase in central nervous system (CNS)-active drug abuse rates in paediatric settings, raising several public health concerns. No study to date has explored this issue worldwide. We performed an extensive analysis of drugs abuse/overdose reported for children in the last decade by using the largest pharmacovigilance database, i. Read More

J Investig Med 2018 Dec 27;66(8):1083-1087. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) have an average life expectancy of approximately 15 months. Recently, statins have emerged as a potential adjuvant cancer therapy due to their ability to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in many types of cancer. The exact mechanisms that mediate the inhibitory actions of statins in cancer cells are largely unknown. Read More

Pediatr Res 2018 Oct 26. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Background: Cerebral edema after cardiac arrest (CA) is associated with increased mortality and unfavorable outcome in children and adults. Aquaporin-4 mediates cerebral water movement and its absence in models of ischemia improves outcome. We investigated early and selective pharmacologic inhibition of aquaporin-4 in a clinically relevant asphyxial CA model in immature rats in a threshold CA insult that produces primarily cytotoxic edema in the absence of blood-brain barrier permeability. Read More

Pediatr Res 2018 Oct 26. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Department of Paediatrics I, Neonatology and Experimental Perinatal Neuroscience, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Perinatal brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability in young children. Recent advances in obstetrics, reproductive medicine and neonatal intensive care have resulted in significantly higher survival rates of preterm or sick born neonates, at the price of increased prevalence of neurological, behavioural and psychiatric problems in later life. Therefore, the current focus of experimental research shifts from immediate injury processes to the consequences for brain function in later life. Read More

Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2018 Dec 22;2(12):872-879. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Neonatal Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Background: Decisions regarding provision of intensive care and post-discharge follow-up for infants born extremely preterm (<28 weeks' gestation) are based on the risks of mortality and neurodevelopmental disability. We aimed to elucidate the changes in probability of three outcomes (death, survival with major disability, and survival without major disability) with postnatal age in extremely preterm infants offered intensive care, and the effect of postnatal events on the probability of survival without major disability.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, we used data from three geographical cohorts composed of all extremely preterm livebirths offered intensive care at birth during three distinct periods (1991-92, 1997, and 2005) in Victoria, Australia. Read More

Front Neurosci 2018 9;12:697. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Activin A belongs to the transforming growth factor superfamily and has a variety of biological functions. Studies have revealed that activin A can regulate the body's immune and inflammatory responses and participate in the regulation of cell death. In addition, activin A also has neurotrophic function and plays an important role in the repair of brain damage. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2018 Oct 23:e27501. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Background: Brain and central nervous system (CNS) cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among children and adolescents in the United States. Data from earlier studies suggested racial and ethnic differences in survival among pediatric patients with brain tumor. This study examined racial/ethnic difference in survival using national data and considered the effects of demographic and clinical factors. Read More

Nat Med 2018 Nov 22;24(11):1752-1761. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Seattle Children's and University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Genomic studies have provided insights into molecular subgroups and oncogenic drivers of pediatric brain tumors that may lead to novel therapeutic strategies. To evaluate new treatments, better preclinical models adequately reflecting the biological heterogeneity are needed. Read More

Am J Hum Genet 2018 Nov 18;103(5):666-678. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address:

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are severe neurodevelopmental disorders often beginning in infancy or early childhood that are characterized by intractable seizures, abundant epileptiform activity on EEG, and developmental impairment or regression. CACNA1E is highly expressed in the central nervous system and encodes the α-subunit of the voltage-gated Ca2.3 channel, which conducts high voltage-activated R-type calcium currents that initiate synaptic transmission. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Dec 18;34(12):2455-2461. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, University Hospital, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil.

Introduction: Head injury is a significant economic, social, and medical problem in developing countries and remains one of the leading causes of pediatric morbidity and mortality. The association of traumatic brain injury and coagulopathy in children is linked with an increase in mortality and poor functional outcomes. However, its impact on long-term outcome has not been discussed in the literature so far. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2018 Oct 17. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 335, Luding Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, 200062, China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of B7-H3 in prognosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) children patients. A total of 65 CHD patients within age 3-12 years who went to our hospital were included during August 2011 to December 2012. Demographic data including age, sex, weight, clinical basic information such as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, pathological type were collected. Read More

Pediatr Neurol 2018 Dec 4;89:31-38. Epub 2018 Aug 4.

Oregon Health and Science University, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Portland, Oregon.

Background: Disorders requiring pediatric neurocritical care (PNCC) affect thousands of children annually. We aimed to quantify the burden of PNCC through generation of national estimates of disease incidence, utilization of critical care interventions (CCI), and hospital outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of the Kids Inpatient Database over three years to evaluate pediatric traumatic brain injury, neuro-infection or inflammatory diseases, status epilepticus, stroke, hypoxic ischemic injury after cardiac arrest, and spinal cord injury. Read More

Bioengineering (Basel) 2018 Oct 13;5(4). Epub 2018 Oct 13.

MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, 1515 Holcomb Blvd., Unit 87, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Children with central nervous system (CNS) malignancies often suffer from high symptom burden and risk of death. Pediatric palliative care is a medical specialty, provided by an interdisciplinary team, which focuses on enhancing quality of life and minimizing suffering for children with life-threatening or life-limiting disease, and their families. Primary palliative care skills, which include basic symptom management, facilitation of goals-of-care discussions, and transition to hospice, can and should be developed by all providers of neuro-oncology care. Read More

PLoS One 2018 12;13(10):e0204410. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Department of Economics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.

The major causes of newborn deaths in sub-Saharan Africa are well-known and countries are gradually implementing evidence-based interventions and strategies to reduce these deaths. Facility-based care provides the best outcome for sick and or small babies; however, little is known about the cost and burden of hospital-based neonatal services on parents in West Africa, the sub-region with the highest global neonatal death burden. To estimate the actual costs borne by parents of newborns hospitalised with birth-associated brain injury (perinatal asphyxia) and preterm/low birth weight, this study examined economic costs using micro-costing bottom-up approach in two referral hospitals operating under the nationwide social health insurance scheme in an urban setting in Ghana. Read More

PLoS One 2018 11;13(10):e0204792. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, CancerCare Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The BH3-only family member BNIP3 has been described as either promoting cell survival or cell death. This depends upon the level of BNIP3 expression and its cellular localization. Increased BNIP3 expression under hypoxia contributes to cell death through increased mitochondrial dysfunction. Read More

Dev Med Child Neurol 2019 Jan 7;61(1):25-30. Epub 2018 Oct 7.

INSERM U1245, Genetics and Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Team 4 Neovasc, Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedicine, Rouen School of Medicine, Normandy University, Rouen, France.

Cerebral palsy (CP) remains the most significant neurological disorder associated with preterm birth. It disrupts quality of life and places huge cost burdens on society. Antenatal magnesium sulphate administration to females before 32 weeks' gestation has proven to be an effective intervention to reduce the rate of CP. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2018 Oct 5. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Department of Pediatrics, Toho University Omori Medical Center, 6-11-1 Omori-nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 1438541, Japan.

Syncope is more common in children with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) than in adults with PAH. Although syncope is associated with a poor prognosis in adult PAH, the clinical effects of syncopal events on disease severity and outcome in children have not been carefully investigated. This study assessed the prevalence of syncope in pediatric PAH and examined its clinical, hemodynamic, and prognostic importance. Read More

Int J Stroke 2018 Oct 4:1747493018799958. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

1 Murdoch Children's Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

Stroke is among the top 10 causes of death in children and survivors carry resulting disabilities for decades, at substantial cost to themselves and their families. Children are not currently able to access reperfusion therapies, due to limited evidence supporting safety and efficacy and long diagnostic delays. The Australian Clinical Consensus Guideline for the Diagnosis and Acute Management of Childhood Stroke was developed to minimize unwarranted variations in care and document best evidence on the risk factors, etiologies, and conditions mimicking stroke that differ from adults. Read More

Cureus 2018 Jul 31;10(7):e3078. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Pediatric Surgery, Northwell Health at Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, USA.

Head injury is the most common cause of neurologic disability and mortality in children. We had hypothesized that in children with isolated skull fractures (SFs) and a normal neurological examination on presentation, the risk of neurosurgical intervention is very low. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all children aged six to sixteen years presenting to our Level 1 trauma center with traumatic brain injuries between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2014. Read More