Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Pediatrics 2020 Feb;145(2)

Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California

Phenotypic and biological characterization of rare monogenic disorders represents 1 of the most important avenues toward understanding the mechanisms of human disease. Among patients with SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 () mutations, a subset will manifest neurologic regression, psychosis, and mood disorders. However, which patients will be affected, when, and why are important unresolved questions. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2020 Jan 22. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Sachs' Children and Youth hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Aim: The aim of this review was to evaluate the evidence for interventions for behavioural sleep problem in infants.

Methods: Systematic review based on a search in MEDLINE, Web of Science and PsychINFO in December 2017 for articles published in English during 2007-2017 about preventive and treatment interventions for sleep problems in infants. The review included controlled trials and meta-analyses with at least 20 infants in study groups assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. Read More

Hum Exp Toxicol 2020 Jan 13:960327119898748. Epub 2020 Jan 13.

Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey.

Melamine contamination is a recent public health problem emerging globally. Present study aimed to detect the rate of melamine presence in human milk in a cohort study and to evaluate any possible differences in maternal-infant pair characteristics such as breastfeeding status, crying and sleep problems of infants, maternal postpartum depression, maternal-infant bonding, infant and maternal anthropometry, and maternal complete blood count caused by the melamine exposure. Mothers of infants born in Şanlıurfa were invited to participate in 'Urfa Child Cohort Survey'. Read More

Child Maltreat 2019 Dec 12:1077559519892332. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Objectives: To explore the relationship between neighborhood social and material deprivation and the rates of abusive head trauma (AHT), and whether it differs according to sex, and following the implementation of the () program.

Method: A cross-sectional study design was applied to data from children 0 to 24 months old with a confirmed AHT diagnosis between 2005 and 2017 in British Columbia. Dissemination area-based social and material deprivation scores were assigned to residential areas, where AHT cases were recorded. Read More

Ital J Pediatr 2019 Nov 28;45(1):150. Epub 2019 Nov 28.

Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite implementing of different preventive interventions, the burden of neonatal sepsis is reporting in different areas of Ethiopia. For further interventions, identifying its determinants is found to be crucial. Read More

Ital J Pediatr 2019 Nov 1;45(1):134. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

Outpatient's Unit, University Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.

Background: Around the age of 6 months, difficulties in settling to sleep and frequent night awakenings are generally occurring in 20 to 30% of infants. According to the transactional model parental factors can play a significant role in influencing infant sleep development. The purpose of the current study was to explore the combined effect of infants' factors (temperament and sleep onset problems), and parental factors (parental mental health in terms of post-partum affective disorders, consistent bedtime routines and fathers' involvement at bedtime), on infant bedtime difficulties (e. Read More

Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed 2019 Oct 29. Epub 2019 Oct 29.

Paediatrics, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UK.

Foreign body aspiration is a potentially fatal occurrence, particularly in children less than 3 years of age. Predisposing factors include the tendency to put objects into the mouth, poor chewing ability, lack of posterior dentition and uninhibited inspirations when laughing or crying. Classically, the history opens with a witnessed choking episode which would raise a high level of suspicion in the clinician. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019 Oct 11;19(1):348. Epub 2019 Oct 11.

Unit of Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Breast milk is a natural and unique nutrient for optimum growth and development of the newborn. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of unpredictable drug residues in mothers' milk and the relationship between drug residues and maternal-infant characteristics.

Methods: In a descriptive study, breastfed infants under 3 months of age and their mothers who applied for child health monitoring were enrolled for the study. Read More

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2019 Dec;69(6):662-667

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam.

Objectives: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), excessive crying, and constipation are common gastrointestinal symptoms in infancy of multifactorial origin in which psychosocial stress factors play an important role. The aims of this observational study were to investigate the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms in infants of mothers with or without a history of a psychiatric disorder, their association with maternal depressive symptoms, and the possible mediating role of bonding.

Methods: One hundred one mothers with a history of a psychiatric disorder and 60 control mothers were included. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2019 Nov 29;97:104133. Epub 2019 Aug 29.

BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Address: F508, 4480 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Address: UBC Faculty of Medicine, Rm 2D19 4480 Oak Street, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada.

Background: Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a severe form of child abuse causing devastating outcomes for children and families, but its economic costs in Canada has yet to be determined. The Period of PURPLE crying program (PURPLE) is an AHT prevention program implemented in British Columbia for which success in reducing AHT events was recently reported.

Objective: This study estimated the lifetime costs to society of incidental AHT events and compared the benefits and associated costs of AHT before and after the implementation of the PURPLE program. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2019 Nov 10;104(11):1022-1023. Epub 2019 Aug 10.

Department of Psychology and Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

J Paediatr Child Health 2020 Feb 17;56(2):207-214. Epub 2019 Jul 17.

Department of Paediatrics, Nepean Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Aim: Many children admitted to hospital undergo invasive, painful and stressful procedures, including children who are not toilet trained undergoing transurethral bladder catheterisation (TUBC). Oral sucrose is commonly given to children to reduce procedural pain. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of oral sucrose in reducing procedural pain in children aged between 3 months and 3 years undergoing TUBC. Read More

Trials 2019 Jul 15;20(1):434. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by continuous impairment in communication and social interaction and by limited and repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities. Behavioral, educational, and pharmaceutical interventions have been shown to reduce behavioral disabilities, improve verbal/non-verbal communication, and help patients acquire self-reliance skills. However, there has been a lack of systematic verification and consensus regarding the treatment of the core symptoms of ASD because of its unclear etiology. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Jul 5;11(7). Epub 2019 Jul 5.

Pediatrics Department, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical research, CIBERER, 14004 Cordoba, Spain.

This study evaluated the effect of a partly fermented infant formula (using the bacterial strains Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065) with a specific prebiotic mixture (short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS; 9:1)) on the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms, stool characteristics, sleeping and crying behaviour, growth adequacy and safety. Two-hundred infants ≤28 days of age were assigned either to experimental infant formula containing 30% fermented formula and 0.8 g/100 mL scGOS/lcFOS or to non-fermented control infant formula without scGOS/lcFOS. Read More

Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed 2019 Jul 3. Epub 2019 Jul 3.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS 'Burlo Garofolo', Trieste, Italy.

Cureus 2019 Apr 12;11(4):e4441. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Pediatric Cardiology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, PAK.

Introduction:  Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly. The usual presentation in infancy is inconsolable crying or congestive cardiac failure, both due to myocardial ischemia. Survivors after infancy have improved left ventricular function but continue to have mitral regurgitation due to papillary muscle ischemia. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2019 09 22;104(9):919-923. Epub 2019 Jun 22.

Pediatrics, Hospital Universitari General de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.

Headache 2019 07 20;59(7):988-1001. Epub 2019 Jun 20.

Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Background: Infant colic, or excessive crying in an otherwise healthy infant, is common, although the cause(s) are not known. This study aimed to determine whether parental migraine is associated with infant colic.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey study of biological parents of 4-8 week olds in the United States during February and March 2017 and October 2017-April 2018. Read More

Pediatr Res 2019 10 18;86(4):537-541. Epub 2019 Jun 18.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhövelstr. 5, 89075, Ulm, Germany.

Background: Despite efforts to reduce the incidence of abusive head trauma (AHT), incidence rates remain high. One cause is that prevention programs mostly aim to educate mothers of newborns on AHT and infant crying. However, mothers commonly have already a high knowledge and constitute only a minority among identified AHT perpetrators. Read More

Compr Child Adolesc Nurs 2019 Jun 13:1-9. Epub 2019 Jun 13.

b Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Lorestan University of Medical Sciences , Khorramabad , Iran.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of caressing in infants for pain management during venipuncture. This is a randomized control trial, carried out on 120 infants between 2 and 6 months of age, that included 30 males and 30 females in the hugging and control group, respectively. Parameters such as percentage blood saturation of blood, crying, and the duration of pain felt was evaluated. Read More

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2019 May;68(5):655-661

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 Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Initiative 2. Read More

Pediatr Surg Int 2019 Jul 14;35(7):807-811. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Background: Intussusception secondary to pathologic lead points (PLPs) is a potential surgical emergency and almost all cases need surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations, physical examinations and surgical outcomes of secondary intussusception (SI) caused by PLPs, as well as to improve the diagnosis and treatment of PLPs in children and infants.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 83 children and infants who were diagnosed with intussusception secondary to PLPs in our institution. Read More

MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs 2019 Mar/Apr;44(2):108-114

Rasha F. Gad is an Assistant Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. The author can be reached via email at Donna A. Dowling is a Professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Fawzia E. Abusaad is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Mohamed R. Bassiouny is a Professor of Pediatrics/Neonatology, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Magda A. Abd Elaziz is a Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

Background: Treating pain during immunization should be a part of pediatric primary healthcare around the world, as untreated pain in children has short- and long-term consequences. Few studies of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods of pain relief during immunization have been conducted in low- and middle-income countries. Finding pain-mitigating interventions that are low-cost, effective, and feasible across all settings, including with low-resourced settings could improve primary healthcare. Read More

Pediatrics 2019 03 8;143(3). Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts

Adv Exp Med Biol 2019 ;1125:49-56

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 2019 ;15(1):22-29

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 Autism Dev Disord 2019 Mar;49(3):834-844

Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Women and Infants Hospital, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI, 02905, USA.

This study investigates parental perceptions of cries of 1-month-old infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and non-ASD controls. Parents of children with and without ASD listened to cry recordings of infants later diagnosed with ASD and comparison infants and rated them on cry perception scales. Parents completed the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) to assess the potential relations between traits associated with autism and cry perception. 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

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 23;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatric Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

J Paediatr Child Health 2019 Jun 12;55(6):644-651. 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 2019 03 29;19(2):227-235. 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

Evid Based Nurs 2018 10 15;21(4):112. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Benef Microbes 2018 Dec 10;9(6):883-898. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

6 KidZ Health Castle, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.

The gut-brain axis has recently emerged as a key modulator of human health and the intestinal microbiome has a well-recognised pivotal role in this strong connection. The aim of this narrative review is to update and summarise the effect and clinical applicability of probiotics in paediatric neurogastroenterology. The Cochrane Database and PubMed were searched using keywords relating to different subtypes of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and their symptoms, those relating to the CNS and related neurological or behavioural dysfunction as well as 'probiotic' OR 'probiotics'. 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 2019 04 18;15(2):e12686. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

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 10 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

BMC Anesthesiol 2018 06 20;18(1):73. Epub 2018 Jun 20.

Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Background: Short acting inhalational anesthetic (Desflurane) produces emergence agitation (EA) in pediatrics with an incidence up to 80%. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of Gabapentin oral solution in attenuating desflurane associated EA in children after strabismus surgery under general anesthesia.

Methods: Seventy patients, 2-6 years old, scheduled for strabismus surgery were randomly allocated into two groups (35 each); Control group (c): received 5 ml of oral strawberry juice (placebo) and Gabapentin group (G) received 5 mg/Kg gabapentin oral solution in 5 ml strawberry juice, 1 h before anesthesia. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2018 09 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

J Pediatr 2018 08 9;199:106-111.e2. Epub 2018 May 9.

Department of Psychology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Pediatrics, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA.

Objective: To describe parental practices implementing behavioral sleep intervention (BSI) outside a clinical setting.

Study Design: Parents (n = 652), recruited through a Facebook group designed as a peer support group for parents using BSI, completed an online survey about their experience using BSI with their infant or toddler.

Results: On average, parents implemented BSI when their infant was 5. Read More

Physiol Behav 2018 09 3;193(Pt A):43-54. Epub 2018 May 3.

Department of Anthropology, Emory University, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, United States; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States; Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, United States. Electronic address:

Crying is the principal means by which newborn infants shape parental behavior to meet their needs. While this mechanism can be highly effective, infant crying can also be an aversive stimulus that leads to parental frustration and even abuse. Fathers have recently become more involved in direct caregiving activities in modern, developed nations, and fathers are more likely than mothers to physically abuse infants. Read More