Promoting Cognitive Stimulation in Parents Across Infancy and Toddlerhood: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To test the impact of the fully integrated Smart Beginnings model on parental support of cognitive stimulation from 6 to 24 months across infancy and toddlerhood. STUDY DESIGN: This was a single-blind, 2-site randomized clinical trial of the Smart Beginnings intervention. Enrollment took place at birth in postpartum units of hospitals in New York City and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a consecutive sample of 403 mother-infant dyads. Smart Beginnings combines a Video Interaction Project-14-session universal primary prevention program delivered in the pediatric clinic at the time of well-child visits birth-36 months-with potential for Family Check-Up-3-4 sessions targeted secondary prevention home-visiting program. The principal outcome was parental support of cognitive stimulation assessed via parent survey and video-recorded observations of parent-child interactions. Ordinary least squares and mixed effects regressions were conducted. RESULTS: Families were mostly Black/African-American (50%) or Latinx (42%); all were Medicaid eligible (100%). Smart Beginnings significantly promoted cognitive stimulation during infancy and toddlerhood for most survey outcomes across time, including StimQ common total (effect size [ES] = 0.25, P = .01) and READ Quantity (ES = .19, P = .04) and Quality (ES = .30, P = .001). For the observations, the impact of Smart Beginnings varied by time, with significant impacts at 6 (ES = 0.37-.40, P < .001) and 24 (ES = 0.27-.30, P < .001) months, but not 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: Smart Beginnings positively promotes cognitive stimulation from infancy through toddlerhood using the integrated model. This study adds to the body of research showing preventive interventions in pediatric primary care and home visiting can support early relational health including parental support of cognitive stimulation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02459327.

Pharyngeal Arches, Chapter 1: Normal Development and Derivatives.

The pharyngeal arches form the cornerstone of the complex anatomy of the face and neck. These embryologic structures are the foundation of face and neck development, and anomalous growth can result in craniofacial abnormalities. Surgeons who manage head and neck pathology and pathoanatomy will invariably encounter conditions associated with aberrant pharyngeal arch anatomy, and a thorough understanding of the normal and pathological development of these important structures is paramount to accurate diagnosis and treatment. This manuscript is the first of a three-part educational series that addressed the pharyngeal/branchial arch embryology, development, nomenclature, and normal anatomy (Part I), pathologic anomalies of ear and neck derived from abnormal development of the arches (Part II), and different types of orofacial clefts, including Tessier clefts (Part III).

Father involvement in infancy predicts behavior and response to chronic stress in middle childhood in a low-income Latinx sample.

Fathers' involvement in early childhood is important for children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development, particularly in low-income families. However, little is known about the longitudinal relations between early father involvement and children's later physiological responses to chronic stress and behaviors impacted by stress in the context of poverty. These issues are particularly important among Latinx immigrant families who face significant psychosocial and poverty-related risk. In the current study, we examined the relationship between father involvement in infancy and physiological chronic stress in the middle childhood period, as measured through hair cortisol concentration (HCC), and several behavioral measures (attention problems, working memory) in a Latinx immigrant sample with low income. Father involvement in infancy predicted children's later HCC, and working memory in second to third grade. Father involvement also moderated the effect of HCC on working memory, such that increased HCC predicted better working memory when fathers were not involved. These findings suggest that the fathers' involvement in infancy has lasting impacts on health and behavior and that associations between physiological and behavioral measures of stress may be moderated by differences in early father involvement.

Effectiveness of a Sensory-Enriched Early Intervention Group Program for Children With Developmental Disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: The study's objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Interdisciplinary Sensory-Enriched Early Intervention (ISEEI) group program for children with developmental delays. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 63 children ages 18-36 mo who participated in ISEEI. We evaluated participants with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (Bayley-III) and the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP) at enrollment and after 3-9 mo. We conducted a paired t test to examine changes in the Bayley-III between pre- and posttests. RESULTS: At enrollment, 70% of children presented atypical scores in two or more areas of sensory processing in the ITSP. Results revealed that children with sensory processing difficulties demonstrated significant improvement in all areas of development except fine motor skills; children without sensory processing difficulties showed significant improvement in language and cognition. CONCLUSION: The ISEEI group program is an effective method to ameliorate developmental delays.

Effects of Bipolar Radiofrequency on Collagen Synthesis from Patients with Brachial Ptosis.

Radiofrequency is frequently used for skin rejuvenation, localized fat elimination and cellulite treatment. It prompts the expression of thermal shock proteins that lead to dermal thickening as a result of collagen synthesis. The authors report a histological and clinical analysis of the arm subdermal changes before and after bipolar radiofrequency treatment plus liposuction to determine their benefits for arm contouring. Methods: Inclusion criteria included patients with stage 1, 2a, and 2b brachial ptosis (Duncan classification) and upper limb fat deposits who were considered candidates for third-generation ultrasound-assisted liposculpture plus radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis/skin tightening. Arm subdermal tissue samples (5 mm³) were analyzed before and after the intervention. We used 10% formaldehyde for tissue fixation and stained each sample with hematoxylin/eosin, Masson trichrome, and antibody markers against the cell cycle Ki-67 protein. Results: We analyzed a total of 12 biopsies from six patients who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Histological findings with hematoxylin/eosin revealed hyperplastic and metaplastic changes with focal distribution within the papillary and reticular dermis. Masson trichrome staining showed an increase of the characteristic basophilia of thin type-I and type-III collagen fibers. In contrast, molecular analysis reported an increase in fibroblast activity mediated by the activation of the heat shock protein HSP47. Conclusion: Radiofrequency may be a great alternative to improve skin retraction in patients with mild to moderate brachial dermatochalasis through the activation of HSP47 heat shock protein and the production of type-I and type-III collagen.

Iatrogenic Calcinosis Cutis in the Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Literature Review.

Calcinosis cutis is the term used to describe the deposition of calcium compounds within the skin and subcutaneous tissue, which can occur after the administration of intravenous calcium compounds. Its etiology is broad, and the clinical presentation is variable, creating a diagnostic challenge. Although iatrogenic calcinosis cutis is extremely uncommon, awareness and early diagnosis of this entity can reduce the risks of severe complications, including soft tissue damage, restricted joint mobility, and even nerve compression. Clinical suspicion should prompt a thorough review of the medical history and appropriate radiographic studies. Evidence of extensive soft tissue calcification must be present on radiographic imaging to confirm the diagnosis. Iatrogenic calcinosis cutis is managed conservatively, and resolution of symptoms is expected within 2 months of symptom onset. Herein we report the case of an infant with DiGeorge syndrome who developed iatrogenic calcinosis cutis after receiving an intraoperative infusion of calcium gluconate. Our patient presented with right lower extremity swelling, erythema, and warmth over a broad area of the leg centered on the entry point of the venipuncture. This was initially mistaken and managed as cellulitis, but once an accurate diagnosis was made, the symptoms gradually resolved with conservative care and no functional sequelae. We also present the literature on iatrogenic and idiopathic calcinosis cutis in the pediatric population.

Not built for families: Associations between neighborhood disinvestment and reduced parental cognitive stimulation.

Infants learn and develop within an ecological context that includes family, peers, and broader built and social environments. This development relies on proximal processes-reciprocal interactions between infants and the people and environments around them that help them understand their world. Most research examining predictors of proximal processes like parent-child interaction and parenting has focused on elements within the home and family. However, factors like the neighborhood built environment may also exhibit an influence, and may be particularly critical in infancy, as socioeconomic disparities in cognition and language emerge early in life. Moreover, influence from the built environment could independently exacerbate these disparities, as research indicates that neighborhood impacts may be especially relevant for families living in neighborhoods that have experienced disinvestment and therefore have been under-resourced. The current study examines these questions by determining the association of neighborhood vacancy rate and observed physical disorder-indicators of poverty, residential stability, and long-term structural discrimination-with parental cognitive stimulation among predominantly Black/African-American families in Flint, Michigan. Flint is particularly salient for this study because vacancy rates and disinvestment vary widely across the city, driven by its long-time status as a city struggling economically. Regression analyses controlling for caregiver education, mental health, and social support indicated that vacancy rate and physical disorder negatively predicted parental cognitive stimulation. Moreover, there were significant interactions between the built environment and social support, indicating that, particularly for parent-child shared reading, vacancy rate and physical disorder predicted reduced shared reading only when parents had limited social support. These results have important implications for public policy around vacant property demolition and neighborhood reinvestment programs, as they indicate that the neighborhood built environment is associated with parenting behaviors that have important impacts on infants' learning and development.

Sickle Cell Disease Association with Premature Suture Fusion in Young Children.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) leads to the formation of an atypical hemoglobin tetramer with reduced capacity to carry oxygen. Although correlation between SCD and craniosynostosis (CS) has been mentioned, these are mostly small series or case reports. This article aimed to study any correlation between these entities in a large pediatric population. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed head CT scans of SCD patients from 0 to 8 years of age who required a CT for issues unrelated to their head shape between 2012 and 2020. We excluded patients with known history of CS or any CS-related syndrome, hydrocephalus, shunt placement, history of cranial surgery, or any reported cerebral or cranial shape abnormality. Results: Ninety-four CT scans were analyzed. The mean age at imaging was 4.48 ± 2.30 years. CS prevalence in this cohort was 19.1%. Analysis between independent variables and patients with +CS showed that SCD-associated vasculopathy, first-degree relatives with SCD, and the use of folic acid had a statistically significant association with CS development. Conclusions: Approximately 20% of pediatric patients with SCD developed CS. This association was higher in those patients who had a family history of SCD, used folic acid, and had SCD-associated vasculopathy. While the clinical impact of these findings needs more extensive study, centers that manage patients with SCD should be aware of the relatively high concordance of these diagnoses, vigilantly monitor head shape and growth parameters, and understand the potential risks associated with unidentified or untreated CS.

Reproducibilidad y validez del Picker Patient Experience (versión con 26 ítems) en participantes de investigaciones en Medellín, Colombia, en 2018 / Reproducibility and validity of the Picker Patient Experience (26-item version) in research participants in Medellin, Colombia, in 2018 / Reprodutibilidade e validade da Picker Patient Experience (versão com 26 itens) em participantes da pesquisa em Medellín, Colômbia, em 2018

Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar la reproducibilidad y validez del Picker Patient Experience versión con 26 ítems, en participantes de investigaciones de una institución de alta complejidad de Medellín, Colombia, en 2018. Metodología: Evaluación psicométrica en 241 sujetos, mediante fiabilidad con el alfa de Cronbach, consistencia interna con correlaciones de Spearman, validez de apariencia, contenido y predictiva con análisis factorial. Resultados: Más del 90% de los participantes calificó positivamente la claridad de la información, relación con personal asistencial y la atención. El alfa de Cronbach fue 0,70 (intervalo de confianza -IC- 95%=0,64-0,76); las correlaciones en la consistencia interna fueron mayores que 0,30 en la mitad de los ítems; en la validez de contenido, el porcentaje de éxito fue mayor al 90%; la validez predictiva fue moderada, con una proporción de la varianza explicada del 55%. En una escala de cero (peor resultado) a cien (mejor), el 50% de los valores centrales del Picker Patient Experience osciló entre 80,8 y 92,3, con rango entre 62 y 98, lo que demuestra la excelente percepción de calidad en el grupo de estudio, sin diferencias estadísticas según la edad, el número de hijos, la escolaridad, el estrato socioeconómico de la vivienda, el estado civil, ni la ocupación. Solo se halló asociación estadística con el sexo, siendo menor la mediana del puntaje en las mujeres (Me=85; rango intercuartil -RI-=81-92) en comparación con los hombres (Me=87; RI=83-94). Conclusión: Se dispone de una escala reproducible, válida y útil para la percepción de calidad en investigaciones con 26 ítems, correspondiente a una modificación de la versión en español del Picker Patient Experience versión con 33 ítems. Esto es de gran relevancia, al considerar que la calidad asistencial requiere la inclusión de la perspectiva del paciente con constructos psicométricamente robustos.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility and validity of the 26-item Picker Patient Experience, in research participants of a high complexity institution in Medellin, Colombia, in 2018. Methodology: Psychometric evaluation in 241 subjects, through reliability with Cronbach's alpha, internal consistency with Spearman correlations, appearance, content and predictive validity with factor analysis. Results: Over 90% of participants positively rated the clarity of the information, relationship with care staff and care. Cronbach's alpha was 0.70 (confidence interval - CI - 95% = 0.64-0.76); the correlations in internal consistency were greater than 0.30 in half of the items; in the content validity, the success rate was greater than 90%; predictive validity was moderate, with a proportion of variance explained of 55%. On a scale of zero (worst result) to one hundred (best), 50% of the central values of the Picker Patient Experience ranged between 80.8 and 92.3, with a range between 62 and 98, demonstrating the excellent perception of quality in the study group, with no statistical differences according to age, number of children, schooling, socioeconomic status of housing, marital status, or occupation. The only statistical association was found with sex, the median score being lower in women (Me = 85; interquartile range —IR— = 81-92) compared to men (Me = 87; IR = 83-94). Conclusion: There is a reproducible, valid and useful scale for the perception of quality in research with 26 items, corresponding to a modification of the Spanish version of the 33-item Picker Patient Experience. This is of great relevance, considering that the quality of care requires the inclusion of the patient's perspective with psychometrically robust constructs.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a reprodutibilidade e a validade do Picker Patient Experience versão com 26 itens, em participantes de pesquisas de uma instituição altamente complexa em Medellín, na Colômbia, em 2018. Metodologia: Avaliação psicométrica em 241 sujeitos, através da confiabilidade com o alfa de Cronbach, consistência interna com correlações de Spearman, validade de aparência, conteúdo e preditiva com análise fatorial. Resultados: Mais de 90% dos participantes qualificaram positivamente a clareza das informações, o relacionamento com a equipe de assistência e o atendimento. O alfa de Cronbach foi de 0,70 (intervalo de confiança —ic— 95 % = 0,64-0,76); as correlações na consistência interna foram superiores a 0,30 na metade dos itens; na validade do conteúdo, a percentagem de sucesso foi superior a 90 %; a validade preditiva foi moderada, com proporção da variância explicada de 55 %. Em uma escala de zero (pior resultado) a cem (o melhor), 50 % dos valores centrais da Paciente Picker Experience oscilou entre 80,8 e 92,3, com um intervalo entre 62 e 98, demonstrando a excelente percepção de qualidade no grupo de estudo, sem diferenças estatísticas segundo a idade, o número de filhos, a escolaridade, a condição socioeconômica da moradia, o estado civil nem a ocupação. Somente foi achada associação estatística com o sexo, sendo mais baixa a mediana dos pontos nas mulheres (Me = 85; intervalo interquartil —RI— = 81-92) em comparação aos homens (Me = 87; ri = 83-94). Conclusão: Existe uma escala reproduzível, válida e útil para a percepção de qualidade em pesquisas com 26 itens, correspondendo a uma modificação da versão em espanhol da versão Picker Patient Experience com 33 itens. Isso é de grande relevância, considerando que a qualidade da assistência requer a inclusão da perspectiva do paciente em constructos psicometricamente robustos.

Bloqueo ganglio estrellado guiado por ultrasonografia / Ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block

The stellate ganglion block has multiple indications for pain management. The technique has evolved from using anatomical landmarks to image-guided puncture with fluoroscopy and ultrasound. Ultrasonography is a very useful tool that allows for real time visualization of the vascular structures (carotid, vertebral artery), the visceral structures (esophagus) and thus helps in preventing puncture injuries. This article offers a description of the indications, the ultrasound-guided technique and complications under the author's point of view.

El bloqueo del ganglio estrellado tiene múltiples indicaciones para el manejo del dolor, para este fin la técnica ha evolucionado desde la realización por medio de referencias anatómicas, hasta la punción guiada por imágenes como son el fluoroscopio y la ecografía. La ultrasonografia es una herramienta muy útil ya que se puede ver en tiempo real las estructuras vasculares (carótida, arteria vertebral), las estructuras viscerales (esófago) y así evitar puncionarlas. En el presente artículo se hará una descripción de las indicaciones, la técnica guiada por ultrasonografía y las complicaciones, bajo la perspectiva del autor.

Comparación de la técnica de modelamiento con o sin refuerzo sonoro en el aprendizaje de técnicas de higiene oral en niños con síndrome down de 2 A 4 años / Oral health technics in children

Participaron en el estudio 18 niños con Síndrome Down de 2 a 4 años de edad, divididos en forma aleatoria simple en dos grupos. Al primer grupo se le instruye en la adquisición de hábitos de higiene oral mediante la técnica de modelamiento objeto-sujeto y sujeto-sujeto, y el segundo grupo es instruído mediante ésta técnica combinada con refuerzo sonoro. Se realizaron seis talleres con objetivos específicos y material previamente probado en una población Down. Se evaluaron para este estudio cuatro variables específicas: Realización de la actividad,grado de concentración,grado de interés, y grado de aprendizaje. Los datos se tabularon en tablas y se analizaron mediante la prueba de significancia estadística chi cuadrado con un valor de P<0.05. Los análisis sugieren que las actividades que se realizan en cada taller, son desempeñadas en forma similar en ambos grupos, pero el nivel de concentración y el interés en la actividad es significativa mayor en el grupo con refuerzo sonoro. Sin embargo, el aprendizaje del hábito no es claro para los dos grupos pues los datos obtenidos en la evaluación establecen confusión al determinar cual grupo fue mejor. La fijación a largo plazo del hábito no se puede estimar en este estudio y se requiere de mayor investigación