A Multidisciplinary Approach to Pediatric Obesity Shows Improvement Postintervention.

OBJECTIVE: Outpatient management of pediatric obesity can be difficult, requiring a significant time commitment from both provider and patient. Multidisciplinary clinic-based programs have shown promising effects in reducing BMI during intervention, but whether these changes are sustained over time is not well studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the post-treatment outcomes of children seen in a multidisciplinary pediatric obesity clinic (MPOC). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed using the MPOC database, which included all clinic patients from January 2008 to August 2016 who attended a minimum of 2 visits (n = 472). The primary outcome was the absolute change in BMI Z-score (BMIZ) from the final intervention visit compared to 1- and 2-years post-intervention. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to characterize predictors of change in BMIZ. RESULTS: MPOC patients ranged in age from 3 to 18 years. Mean BMIZ decreased significantly during intervention (-0.13 ± 1.47, P < .001) and was maintained at 1- and 2-years post-intervention. In participants ages 3 to 5, BMIZ further decreased at 1 year post intervention (-0.27 ± 0.26, P < .001). Age at time of referral was the only significant predictor of change in BMIZ. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient, multidisciplinary intervention for pediatric obesity was effective in reducing or stabilizing BMIZ during and beyond the intervention, particularly when patients were referred at an early age. Although primary prevention is the ideal management, multidisciplinary clinic intervention can be effective in the sustained treatment of pediatric obesity.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiometabolic health parameters in children with preexisting dyslipidemia.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns for worsening cardiometabolic health in children. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social restrictions on pediatric cardiometabolic health factors. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients in a pediatric lipid clinic in the year prior to (3/18/2019-3/17/2020) and during (3/18/2020-3/17/2021) the COVID-19 pandemic was performed. Physical findings (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], and blood pressure), laboratory markers of cardiometabolic health (lipid panel, insulin resistance, and liver transaminases), self-reported exercise time, and lipid-lowering medications (metformin, statin, omega-3 fatty acids, fenofibrate) were compared. RESULTS: 297 subjects met inclusion criteria. Among subjects prescribed no medications or on stable medication doses (n=241), there were few changes in lipid panels. Among subjects with new or increased medication doses between pre-pandemic and pandemic intervals (n=62), there were increases in triglycerides (p= 0.019) and HgbA1c (p=0.046). There was no change in z-scores for both BMI and WC for either group. CONCLUSION: We observed concerning trends in markers of cardiovascular disease health (dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes), independent of changes in weight, in at-risk children during the recent COVID pandemic. Our findings suggest that this vulnerable population may benefit from more frequent monitoring and intense management during such events.

Transaminase Elevation in Nutritional Infantile Failure to Thrive.

INTRODUCTION: Laboratory investigations pursued for infants with failure to thrive (FTT) often show mild transaminase elevations, the incidence and significance of which are unknown. METHODS: This retrospective chart review included infants diagnosed with simple nutritional FTT at a single academic tertiary care system. Comparisons of diagnostic studies and outcomes between children with and without transaminase elevation were performed using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. RESULTS: None of the infants with abnormal transaminases required additional follow-up or developed alternative diagnoses in the following year. DISCUSSION: Transaminase elevation may be common in infants with FTT and may not warrant further investigation if the history indicates an isolated etiology of insufficient nutrition.

Use of vemurafenib in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare, poorly differentiated type of thyroid cancer occurring in less than 5% of all thyroid cancers. Patients typically have a poor prognosis with very few options for treatment. (2) With current therapy of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, median survival is only 6 months from the time of diagnosis. Several mutations in cell cycle regulation have been discovered in ATC that contribute to its undifferentiated state, one of which is the BRAF kinase mutation. This mutation results in activation of the MAPK pathway and uncontrolled cell proliferation. In this case report, a 51 y old male presented with a 2-week history of hoarseness and was diagnosed with ATC. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in BRAF kinase; the patient subsequently began therapy with vemurafenib, a BRAF kinase inhibitor indicated for melanoma. After an initial response, the patient quickly declined and consequently died from his disease. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a deadly cancer without an effective treatment. Inhibiting mutated enzymes that drive the development of this cancer is a potential drug target that may improve outcomes in patients with ATC.