Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Adv Exp Med Biol 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Pediatrico Giovanni XXIII, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

Colic is a common and distressing functional gastrointestinal disorder during infancy. It is a behavioral phenomenon in infants aged 1-4 months involving prolonged inconsolable crying and agitated status with multifactorial etiology. Colic can be considered as a benign, self-limited process because the baby normally grows and feeds even with transient irritable mood. Read More

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Objective: In therapeutic trials for infant gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ways to define GERD and measure and report study outcomes vary widely. The aim of this study was to develop a core outcome set (COS) for infant GERD.

Methods: The COS was developed using the Delphi technique, adhering to the OMERACT 2. Read More

Infect Drug Resist 2018 31;11:2063-2067. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,

was the main causative organism for acute epiglottitis in the pre- type b (Hib) vaccine era. However, with current widespread Hib vaccination, the causative organisms may have changed. Here, we report the case of a healthy infant with acute epiglottitis caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Read More

Curr Pediatr Rev 2018 Nov 12. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin. Hong Kong.

Background: Breath-holding spells are common, frightening, but fortunately benign events. Familiarity with this condition is important so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.

Objective: To familiarize physicians with the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, evaluation, and management of children with breath-holding spells. Read More

J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2018 Oct/Dec;32(4):373-381

Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Drs Rabbitt, Parker, and Yan and Ms Zhang); and Child Advocacy and Protection Services, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Ms Bretl). Dr Parker is now at the Pediatric Residency Training Program at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Infants with a history of perinatal illness are at higher risk for abusive head trauma (AHT). Crying is a common trigger for physical abuse, and education on coping with infant crying is an important component of AHT prevention. This study assesses the effects of education in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on mothers' knowledge about AHT and infant crying, self-efficacy in applying the education to infant cares and providing the education to others, and the quality of AHT and infant crying education after discharge. Read More

J Paediatr Child Health 2018 Oct 12. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

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

Aim: To examine, in a community cohort of healthy one-month-old infants, (i) the prevalence of early infant sleeping, crying and feeding problems; (ii) the extent to which they co-exist; and (iii) infant and mother characteristics associated with each problem alone and with comorbid problems.

Methods: A survey at 4 weeks of infant age examined the presence of infant sleeping, crying and feeding problems (yes/no); parenting self-efficacy; rating of self as a tense person; and doubts about parenting at bedtime.

Results: A total of 770 mothers (39% of those approached) with a total of 781 infants (11 twins) took part. Read More

Acad Pediatr 2018 Sep 29. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (D Abatemarco), Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Penn.

Objectives: Practicing Safety is an American Academy of Pediatrics toolkit to help practices address child abuse and neglect (CAN) risk by increasing screening and providing resources. The objectives in an urban practice serving low-income children were to 1) standardize CAN risk assessment and developmental screening, and 2) improve resource provision.

Methods: A quality improvement initiative to standardize CAN risk assessment, using materials adapted from Practicing Safety, was conducted through the use of SmartTools in an electronic health record. Read More

Acad Pediatr 2019 Jan - Feb;19(1):80-89. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Department of Pediatrics and Duke Center for Childhood Obesity Research (SN Ravanbakht, CT Wood, and EM Perrin), Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Electronic address:

Objective: Food insecurity is associated with childhood obesity possibly mediated through caregiver feeding practices and beliefs. We examined if caregiver feeding practices differed by household food security status in a diverse sample of infants. We hypothesized that feeding practices differ based on food security status. Read More

Pediatric Health Med Ther 2018 10;9:97-100. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Department of Pediatrics,

Osteogenesis imperfecta can be commonly mistaken for child abuse because of similar pattern of injuries. AA is a 3-week-old baby who presented to our emergency department with excessive crying. Skeletal survey revealed subacute spiral fracture of the right humerus, right posterior eighth and ninth ribs, acute fracture of the left femur, bowing of tibia and femur, and osteopenia. Read More

Paediatr Drugs 2018 Dec;20(6):523-537

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Center for Functional Motility Disorders, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the retrograde movement of gastric (and sometimes duodenal) contents into the esophagus. While the majority of GER is physiologic, for patients, it can be associated with symptoms. While some symptoms are merely bothersome (crying), others can be life threatening (cough, gagging, choking). Read More

Matern Child Nutr 2018 Sep 8:e12686. Epub 2018 Sep 8.

Doctoral Program in Nutrition and Health Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.

3D imaging for body measurements is regularly used for design of garments and ergonomic products. The development of low-cost 3D scanners provided an opportunity to extend the use of 3D imaging to the health sector. We developed and tested the AutoAnthro System, the first mobile, low-cost, full-body, 3D imaging system designed specifically for child anthropometry. Read More

Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2018 Nov 15;22(6):1110-1117. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Department of Pediatric Neurology & Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Objective: To describe the clinical spectrum of benign nocturnal alternating hemiplegia of childhood (BNAHC) including long-term follow-up data of previously published cases and to propose an underlying genetic cause of this disorder.

Methods: We studied the medical data of two novel patients, reviewed the literature on BNAHC, and gathered information of the most recent follow-up of published cases regarding the course of episodes, further development, attempted drugs, ancillary investigations, and sequelae.

Results: All patients, i. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2018 7;9:358. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Human and animal models suggest that maternal hormonal and physiological adaptations during pregnancy shape maternal brain functioning and behavior crucial for offspring care and survival. Less sensitive maternal behavior, often associated with psychobiological dysregulation and the offspring's behavioral and emotional disorders, has been observed in mothers who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. Strong evidence shows that children who are exposed to domestic violence (DV) are at risk of being abused or becoming abusive in adulthood. Read More

Clin Pediatr Endocrinol 2018 31;27(3):179-186. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Hospital, Japan Community Healthcare Organization (JCHO), Osaka, Japan.

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a metabolic bone disease characterized by failure of bone calcification and vitamin B6 dependent seizures. It is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene. A newborn girl required respiratory support by nasal-directional positive airway pressure at birth, and pyridoxine hydrochloride administration for vitamin B6-dependent seizures observed from day two. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2018 Oct 1;84:106-114. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of British Columbia, Canada.

Low incidence rates and economic recession have hampered interpretation of educational prevention efforts to reduce abusive head trauma (AHT). Our objective was to determine whether the British Columbia experience implementing a province-wide prevention program reduced AHT hospitalization rates. A 3-dose primary, universal education program (the Period of PURPLE Crying) was implemented through maternal and public health units and assessed by retrospective-prospective surveillance. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2018 Sep 12;53(9):1193-1199. Epub 2018 Jun 12.

Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.

Introduction: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate if animated cartoons could increase the cooperation of young children with asthma during the delivery of their inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

Methods: Subjects were children aged 6-47 months having a physician diagnosis of asthma, who required an ICS therapy delivered through a pMDI/spacer twice a day for at least 2 months. Families who reported on a questionnaire that their child was frequently crying or moving during treatment delivery were asked to participate in a prospective, cross-over, randomized study. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 10 7;201:154-159. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address:

Objective: To assess whether infants with colic that resolved before 6 months of age have poorer medium-term outcomes than infants without colic.

Study Design: Comparative study of 2 prospective, community-based cohorts of children aged 2-3 years in Melbourne, Australia: children from the Baby Biotics study, with previously diagnosed Wessel criteria of colic without problem crying at 6 months (True Colic Cohort), vs children from the Baby Business trial, without problem crying at 1, 4, and 6 months (No Colic Cohort). Caregiver report of child internalizing and externalizing behaviors (primary outcome), temperament, regulatory (crying/sleeping/feeding) problems, and family functioning at child age 2-3 years was collected. Read More

PLoS One 2018 31;13(5):e0197508. Epub 2018 May 31.

Department of Public Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Objective: Early life stress has been shown to influence the developing autonomic nervous system. Stressors in infancy may program the autonomic nervous system resting state set point, affecting cardiovascular function in later life. Excessive crying may be an indicator of increased stress arousal in infancy. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Jun 24;109:40-43. Epub 2018 Mar 24.

Department of ENT, MAMC, New Delhi, India.

Objectives: To study the outcomes and complications of deep neck space abscesses in children less than 5 years of age over a period of 15 years.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of children less than 5 years of age with deep neck space abscesses over a 15-year period was conducted at a tertiary care centre in India. Patients were evaluated with respect to the clinical, radiological and laboratory findings. Read More

Pak J Med Sci 2018 Jan-Feb;34(1):125-129

Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, MBBS, FCPS (Pediatrics). Department of Pediatric Neonatology, The Children's Hospital and Institute of the Child Health, Multan, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine association of in-hospital outcome of AKI with etiology in newborns at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Pediatric Neonatology, The Children's Hospital and Institute of the Child Health, Multan by using non-probability purposive sampling technique from June 2016 to June 2017. A total of 101 newborns diagnosed with acute kidney injury were registered. Read More

Epilepsia Open 2017 06 13;2(2):188-198. Epub 2017 Mar 13.

Centre for Geographic Medicine Research Coast Kenya Medical Research Institute Kilifi Kenya.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy (ACE) and describe the clinical characteristics and associated factors among a rural Ugandan population.

Methods: The entire population in Iganga/Mayuge Health Demographic Surveillance Site (IM-HDSS) was screened using two questions about seizures during a door-to-door census exercise. Those who screened positive were assessed by a clinician to confirm diagnosis of epilepsy. Read More

Pediatr Int 2018 Jun;60(6):517-522

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Dr Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Infant colic (IC), the functional GI disorder of infancy, has not been evaluated in this patient group. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the rate of IC in ASD and investigate a possible association between ASD and IC. Read More

Case Rep Pediatr 2018 21;2018:4158734. Epub 2018 Jan 21.

Department of Microbiology, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.

Introduction: primarily an environmental and agricultural organism has been reported as both commensal and pathogen of humans. We present two case reports of infections in children that involved the meninges and bloodstream.

Case Presentations: A 6-month-old female baby, diagnosed as congenital hydrocephalus secondary to aqueduct stenosis with ventriculoperitoneal shunt in situ, operated 14 days back was brought to the pediatric emergency with a two-day history of high fever associated with vomiting, irritability, excessive crying, and decreased feeding. Read More

J Paediatr Child Health 2018 Jun 22;54(6):653-660. Epub 2018 Feb 22.

Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the barriers and enablers influencing the uptake of two recommendations from a tertiary paediatric hospital's clinical practice guidelines by maternal and child health nurses (MCHNs) and emergency department (ED) doctors: (i) explaining normal crying; and (ii) avoiding attributing crying to gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and limiting anti-reflux medication use.

Methods: The study was designed as 1-h focus group discussions, guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework, and a short questionnaire, with a purposive sample of MCHNs and ED doctors in Victoria, Australia in (March to September) 2015. Analyses were conducted by inductive content analysis to identify key barriers and enablers. Read More

BMJ Open 2018 01 24;8(1):e019040. Epub 2018 Jan 24.

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses to assess the effect of manual therapy interventions for healthy but unsettled, distressed and excessively crying infants and to provide information to help clinicians and parents inform decisions about care.

Methods: We reviewed published peer-reviewed primary research articles in the last 26 years from nine databases (Medline Ovid, Embase, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Osteopathic Medicine Digital Repository , Cochrane (all databases), Index of Chiropractic Literature, Open Access Theses and Dissertations and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature). Our inclusion criteria were: manual therapy (by regulated or registered professionals) of unsettled, distressed and excessively crying infants who were otherwise healthy and treated in a primary care setting. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2018 01 15;18(1). Epub 2018 Jan 15.

Department of Pediatrics, Medizinische Fakultät, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.

Background: Triple A syndrome (or Allgrove syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by alacrima, achalasia, adrenal insufficiency and autonomic/neurological abnormalities. The majority of cases are caused by mutations in the AAAS gene located on chromosome 12q13. However, the clinical picture as well as genetic testing may be complex since symptomatology is variable and mutations cannot be identified in all clinically diagnosed patients. Read More

Prim Health Care Res Dev 2018 07 18;19(4):365-377. Epub 2017 Dec 18.

7Department of Pediatrics,Jersey Shore University Medical Center,Hackensack Meridian Health, Professor and Chair Seton Hall School of Medicine,Neptune, NJ.

Background: Child maltreatment is a significant public health issue in the United States. Yet, fewer than half of pediatricians discuss behavioral, developmental, or parenting issues with parents.

Objective: This paper describes the testing of bundles of tools and processes, part of a larger intervention, Practicing Safety, targeted at changing physician and staff behavior to identify families at risk for child maltreatment, provide anticipatory guidance, refer to community resources, and follow-up and track at-risk families. Read More

Urology 2018 08 6;118:164-171. Epub 2017 Nov 6.

Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.

Objective: To compare intraoperative and 1-hour postoperative outcomes in caudal vs dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) patients undergoing penile surgeries.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of boys <10 years old undergoing penile procedures (2013-2015) using the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network, Pediatric Health Information System databases, and our medical records. The primary outcome was a maximum Faces Limbs Activity Crying Consolability pain score of >3. Read More

Ital J Pediatr 2017 Oct 24;43(1):96. Epub 2017 Oct 24.

Pediatric and Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, Italy.

Background: Acute central nervous system (ACNS) infections such as meningitis, encephalitis and cerebellitis still cause morbidity and mortality among children. The aim of this study was to verify whether neuropsychological impairment may develop in ACNS survivors.

Methods: The study included pediatric patients affected by ACNS disorders, aged 3-16 years admitted to the Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome from June 2013 till June 2015. Read More

J Trauma Dissociation 2018 Oct-Dec;19(5):500-513. Epub 2017 Nov 3.

c Department of Pediatrics , University of South Florida , St. Petersburg , FL , USA.

There is limited research on the phenomenology of how young children who have been exposed to trauma express the intrusive symptom of dissociative reactions. The current qualitative study utilized interviews from a semi-structured diagnostic clinical interview with 74 caregivers of young children (ages 3 to 7) who were exposed to trauma to identify parents' descriptions of their children's dissociative reactions during a clinical interview. Based on results from the interview, 45. Read More

BMJ Open Respir Res 2017 30;4(1):e000193. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Kenya Medical Research Institute Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.

Introduction: Paediatric lung sound recordings can be systematically assessed, but methodological feasibility and validity is unknown, especially from developing countries. We examined the performance of acoustically interpreting recorded paediatric lung sounds and compared sound characteristics between cases and controls.

Methods: Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health staff in six African and Asian sites recorded lung sounds with a digital stethoscope in cases and controls. Read More

Benef Microbes 2017 Oct 31;8(5):717-725. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

1 Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki iWigury 63A, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.

We updated evidence on the effects of the administration of probiotic-supplemented infant formulae (IF) compared with unsupplemented IF. Five databases were searched up to September 2016 for randomised controlled trials. Twenty publications were identified, including five new RCTs. Read More

Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr 2017 Jun 28;20(2):100-106. Epub 2017 Jun 28.

Department of Pediatrics, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy of a lactose- reduced synbiotic partial whey hydrolysate in formula fed infants presenting with colic and the impact of this dietary intervention in mean crying time and quality of life.

Methods: Forty infants with infantile colic were treated during one month with parental reassurance and the intervention formula (partial whey hydrolysate, reduced lactose, BB12 and galacto-oligosaccharides) and were compared to a control group of 20 infants with infantile colic treated with parental reassurance and a standard infant formula. Parents completed a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire assessing the burden of infantile colic. Read More

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2017 26;13:1655-1660. Epub 2017 Jun 26.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey.

Breath-holding spells are benign, paroxysmal events with apnea and postural tone changes after a crying episode in infants. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathologies in brain metabolite values in the absence of seizure in children with breath-holding spells by using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Brain MRS examination was performed on 18 children with breath-holding spells and 13 neurologically normal children who were included as the control group. Read More

Chin Med Sci J 2017 Jun;32(2):129-1

Department of Pediatrics, the First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.

Clin Transl Allergy 2017 22;7:19. Epub 2017 Jun 22.

Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland.

Crying combined with miscellaneous gastrointestinal symptoms are typical symptoms of infant with food allergy, but are also common among children with abnormal neurological development. Mutations in gene is known to cause a syndrome characterized by developmental delay, hypotonia, cardiac defects, microcephaly, specific facial features and early feeding problems. However, these feeding problems have not earlier been specified. Read More

J Dev Behav Pediatr 2017 Jul/Aug;38(6):401-408

*Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA; †Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD; ‡Department of Pediatrics, Brown University, Providence, RI; §Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Boston, MA.

Objective: Disparities persist in breastfeeding exclusivity and duration despite increases in breastfeeding initiation. The objective of this study was to examine factors that influence maternal decision making surrounding infant feeding practices over time in a diverse inner-city population.

Methods: We conducted a prospective qualitative study with 20 mothers recruited from 2 urban primary care clinics. Read More

Women Birth 2017 Dec 18;30(6):472-480. Epub 2017 May 18.

Family and Child Nursing, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Problem: Although the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, only 22% of U.S. mothers do so. Read More

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2017 Sep 12;102(5):F428-F433. Epub 2017 May 12.

Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Objective: Newborns requiring hospitalisation frequently undergo painful procedures. Prevention of pain in infants is of prime concern because of adverse associations with physiological and neurological development. However, pain mitigation is currently guided by behavioural observation assessments that have not been validated against direct evidence of pain processing in the brain. Read More

J Autism Dev Disord 2017 07;47(7):2108-2119

Telethon Kids Institute & School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

There is preliminary evidence that infant siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have an atypical pattern of cry, characterized by higher fundamental frequency and increased dysphonation. This prospective study collected multiple cry samples of 12-month old siblings of children with ASD (n = 22, 'high-risk' group) and 12-month olds with no family history of ASD (n = 27, 'low risk' group). While there was no difference between groups in the fundamental frequency or degree of phonation of the cry samples, the duration of each cry unit was significantly shorter in the high-risk siblings (p < . Read More

Pediatr Emerg Care 2017 Aug;33(8):538-543

From the *Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; and †Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence of prior fussy emergency visits in infants with subsequently diagnosed fractures suggestive of abuse.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of infants younger than 6 months who presented to the pediatric emergency department (ED) between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2011. Inclusion criteria included age 0 to 6 months, discharge diagnosis including "fracture," "broken" (or break), or "trauma" or any child abuse diagnosis or chief complaint of "fussy" or "crying" as documented in the electronic medical record by the triage nurse. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2017 03 24;17(1):86. Epub 2017 Mar 24.

Department of Paediatrics, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Faculdade de Medicina, Rua 235 com Primeira Avenida, sem número, Setor Universitário, Goiânia, CEP 74605-020, Brazil.

Background: There is little evidence concerning the effect of sevoflurane in outpatient procedural sedation, especially in children. We hypothesised that the addition of sevoflurane to a sedation regimen improves children's behaviour with minimal adverse events.

Methods: This is a randomised, triple-blind clinical trial conducted on an outpatient basis. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2017 Jul 19;106(7):1150-1158. Epub 2017 Apr 19.

Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Aim: We examined the effects on gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance of a novel infant formula that combined specific fermented formula (FERM) with short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS), with a 9:1 ratio and concentration of 0.8 g/100 mL.

Methods: This prospective, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial comprised 432 healthy, term infants aged 0-28 days whose parents decided to not start, or discontinued, breastfeeding. Read More

Child Care Health Dev 2017 09 7;43(5):687-696. Epub 2017 Mar 7.

Division of Health Services and Behavioral Research, Departments of Public Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA.

Background: Maternal psychological factors like depression, anxiety and stress have been associated with infant fussiness or colic. However, little research exists on whether positive factors such as social support and the happiness of the mother-partner relationship are associated with lower rates of infant fussiness or colic.

Objectives: We investigated the association between infant colic and three types of maternal support: general maternal social support (during pregnancy and post partum), the happiness of the mother-partner relationship (during pregnancy and post partum) and partner involvement in caring for the newborn. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2017 07 17;34(8):808-817. Epub 2017 Feb 17.

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

 Mother-infant bonding provides the foundation for secure attachment through the lifespan and organizes many facets of infant social-emotional development, including later parenting.  To describe maternal bonding to offspring across the pregnancy and postnatal periods, and to examine a broad range of sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors of the maternal-offspring bond.  Data were drawn from a sample of 372 pregnant women participating in an Australian population-based longitudinal study of postnatal health and development. Read More

J Dev Behav Pediatr 2017 Feb/Mar;38 Suppl 1:S79-S81

Veronica Meneses, MD, MSHS, Douglas Vanderbilt, MD, Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. Linda Barnes, PhD, Department of Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Marilyn, Augustyn, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.

Case: Lucy is a 12-year-old Latina whose mother brought her to the pediatric clinic for help with her anxiety symptoms, "hearing voices," and episodes of "spacing out." Lucy did not cry at birth secondary to vocal cord paralysis and still has the tracheostomy performed at a few days of life. In addition to her neonatal intensive care unit stay, she has been hospitalized for pneumonia. Read More

JAMA Pediatr 2017 03;171(3):223-229

Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia.

Importance: Studies suggest that a postnatal parental intervention may reduce the incidence of abusive head trauma (AHT) of infants and young children.

Objective: To assess the effect of statewide universal AHT education for parents on AHT hospitalization rates in Pennsylvania and on parents' self-reported knowledge gains and parenting behaviors.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Changes in AHT hospitalization rates in Pennsylvania before and during the intervention were compared with those in 5 other states lacking universal parental AHT education during the same period. Read More

Acupunct Med 2017 Jun 16;35(3):171-179. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Background: Evidence for treating infantile colic with acupuncture is contradictory.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the effect of two types of acupuncture versus no acupuncture in infants with colic in public child health centres (CHCs).

Methods: A multicentre, randomised controlled, single-blind, three-armed trial (ACU-COL) comparing two styles of acupuncture with no acupuncture, as an adjunct to standard care, was conducted. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2017 Feb 14;176(2):269-272. Epub 2016 Dec 14.

Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Carmel Medical Center and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.

Medical clowns (MC) have become an integral part of the pediatric staff of hospital wards. While several studies have demonstrated the huge benefits of MC, there are almost no data regarding fear of clowns, a known phenomenon that means an irrational fear of clowns. In the current study, we sought to examine the prevalence of fear of clowns in pediatrics wards, and to characterize the affected children. Read More

CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 2017 ;16(2):210-216

Department of Pediatrics, Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.

Background: Cell therapies have shown to be able to improve neurological functions to some extent for patients with refractory central nervous system (CNS) diseases or damages. Meanwhile, increasing attention has been drawn to the operation-related and (or) cell-related adverse events when performing cell therapy. Our study is to explore the safety issue from 720 cases of neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation based on clinic manifestations and examinations. Read More