Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

BACKGROUND: Use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) in ambulatory settings improves overall glycemic control and reduces the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in adults and children/adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the use of rtCGM in children with DKA has not been well studied. METHOD: This prospective, single-arm, single-center study assessed the accuracy, reliability, and feasibility of a commercially available rtCGM device compared with point-of-care (POC) capillary and serum glucose values in pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for DKA. The primary outcome was the accuracy of rtCGM glucose values compared with POC capillary and serum glucose values during standard treatment of DKA as assessed by Clarke Error Grid (CEG) analysis. Secondary outcomes were assessment of the relationship between rtCGM readings and degree of acidosis and mean length of hospital stay (LOS). RESULTS: Data from 35 hospitalized children (mean ± SD age, 11.9 ± 4.1 years) with DKA were included in our analysis. Five hundred twenty-four time-matched glucose values between serum glucose and rtCGM and 91 time-matched glucose values between POC capillary glucose and rtCGM were obtained. The effect of acidosis on accuracy CEG analysis showed 95.4% of the 524 matched CGM/POC pairs and 95.6% of the 91 matched CGM/serum glucose pairs in the clinically acceptable A + B zones. The average LOS was 1.32 ± 0.73 days. Serum bicarbonate level did not appear to affect the accuracy of rtCGM in the setting of DKA. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous glucose monitoring use in inpatient pediatric DKA treatment was found to be feasible and reliable.

An mHealth-Based Intervention for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Parents: Pilot Feasibility and Efficacy Single-Arm Study.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects more than 165,000 individuals younger than 20 years in the United States of America. The transition from parent management to parent-child team management, with the child taking on increased levels of self-care, can be stressful and is associated with a deterioration in self-management behaviors. Therefore, a mobile app intervention, MyT1DHero, was designed to facilitate diabetes-specific positive parent-adolescent communication and improve diabetes-related outcomes. The MyT1DHero intervention links an adolescent with T1D and their parent through 2 separate app interfaces and is designed to promote positive communication regarding T1D management. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study was to determine (1) the initial efficacy of the MyT1DHero intervention in improving diabetes outcomes in adolescents, specifically the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, diabetes care adherence, and quality of life, and (2) the adolescents' overall satisfaction with this intervention. METHODS: This pilot study included 30 adolescent-parent pairs who used the MyT1DHero app in a 12-week single-arm clinical trial. Participants were recruited from the local pediatric endocrinology subspecialty clinic via snowball sampling. HbA1c levels, diabetes care adherence, quality of life, family conflict, and satisfaction levels were measured and analyzed using paired sample two-sided t tests and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The final analysis included 25 families. The mean age of the adolescents was 12.28 (SD 1.62) years. Half of the participants (13/25) reported a diabetes diagnosis of less than 5 years. After 12 weeks of the intervention, diabetes care adherence significantly improved (before the study: mean 3.87 [SD 0.59]; after the study: mean 4.19 [SD 0.65]; t21=-2.52, P=.02, d=0.52) as did quality of life (before the study: mean 4.02 [SD 0.84]; after the study: mean 4.27 [SD 0.73]; t24=2.48, P=.01, d=0.32). HbA1c levels (before the study: mean 8.94 [SD 1.46]; after the study: mean 8.87 [SD 1.29]; t24=0.67, P=.51, d=0.04) and family conflict (before the study: mean 2.45 [SD 0.55]; after the study: mean 2.61 [SD 0.45]; t23=0.55, P=.14, d=0.32) changed in the hypothesized direction, but the change was not significant. However, higher use of the mobile app was associated with more improvement in HbA1c levels (F1,20=9.74, P<.005; R2=0.33). Overall, the adolescents were satisfied with the app intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In a 12-week pilot study of the mobile app intervention designed to facilitate parent-adolescent communication for improving diabetes outcomes, significant benefits were demonstrated in self-care adherence and quality of life. A randomized controlled trial with a longer intervention is needed to replicate these findings and to determine the stability of the intervention effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03436628; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03436628.

Inequities in Health Outcomes in Children and Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Data From the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative.

Health care inequities among racial and ethnic groups remain prevalent. For people with type 1 diabetes who require increased medical access and care, disparities are seen in access to care and health outcomes. This article reports on a study by the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative evaluating differences in A1C, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), severe hypoglycemia, and technology use among racial and ethnic groups. In a diverse cohort of nearly 20,000 children and adults with type 1 diabetes, A1C was found to differ significantly among racial and ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic Blacks had higher rates of DKA and severe hypoglycemia and the lowest rate of technology use. These results underscore the crucial need to study and overcome the barriers that lead to inequities in the care and outcomes of people with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis drives COVID-19 related hospitalizations in children with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a risk factor for poor COVID-19 outcomes, but pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes are poorly represented in current studies. METHODS: T1D Exchange coordinated a US type 1 diabetes COVID-19 registry. Forty-six diabetes centers submitted pediatric cases for patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19. Associations between clinical factors and hospitalization were tested with Fisher's Exact Test. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios for hospitalization. RESULTS: Data from 266 patients with previously established type 1 diabetes aged <19 years with COVID-19 were reported. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was the most common adverse outcome (n = 44, 72% of hospitalized patients). There were four hospitalizations for severe hypoglycemia, three hospitalizations requiring respiratory support (one of whom was intubated and mechanically ventilated), one case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and 10 patients who were hospitalized for reasons unrelated to COVID-19 or diabetes. Hospitalized patients (n = 61) were more likely than nonhospitalized patients (n = 205) to have minority race/ethnicity (67% vs 39%, P < 0.001), public insurance (64% vs 41%, P < 0.001), higher A1c (11% [97 mmol/mol] vs 8.2% [66 mmol/mol], P < 0.001), and lower insulin pump and lower continuous glucose monitoring use (26% vs 54%, P < 0.001; 39% vs 75%, P < 0.001). Age and gender were not associated with risk of hospitalization. Higher A1c was significantly associated with hospitalization, with an odds ratio of 1.56 (1.34-1.84) after adjusting for age, gender, insurance, and race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Higher A1c remained the only predictor for hospitalization with COVID-19. Diabetic ketoacidosis is the primary concern among this group.

Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: Because prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with growth deficiency, little attention has been paid to the potential for overweight and obesity in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This study examined the prevalence of overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI]) in a large clinical sample of children with FASD. METHODS: Children, aged 2 to 19 years, who were evaluated for FASD at University Clinics, included 445 with an FASD diagnosis and 171 with No-FASD diagnosis. Prevalence of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 85 percentile) was compared to national and state prevalence. BMI was examined in relation to FASD diagnosis, gender, and age. Dietary intake data were examined for a young subsample (n = 42). RESULTS: Thirty-four percent with any FASD diagnosis were overweight or obese, which did not differ from the No-FASD group or U.S. prevalence. Underweight was prevalent in those with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) (17%). However, increased rates of overweight/obesity were seen in those with partial FAS (40%). Among adolescents, those with any FASD diagnosis had increased overweight/obesity (42%), particularly among females (50%). The rate in adolescent females with FASD (50%) was nearly 3 times higher than state prevalence for adolescent females (17 to 18%), p < 0.001. In the young subsample, those who were overweight/obese consumed more calories, protein, and total fat per day than those who were not overweight or obese. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of overweight/obesity are increased in children with partial FAS. In adolescents, rates are increased for any FASD diagnosis (particularly in females). Results are suggestive of possible metabolic/endocrine disruption in FASD-a hypothesis for which there is evidence from animal models. These data suggest that clinicians may consider prenatal alcohol exposure as a risk factor for metabolic/endocrine disruption, should evaluate diet as a risk in this population, and may need to target interventions to females prior to puberty to effect changes in overweight-related outcomes.

Total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation in children for chronic pancreatitis: indication, surgical techniques, postoperative management, and long-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the surgical technique, complications, and long-term outcomes of total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation (TP-IAT) in a large series of pediatric patients. BACKGROUND: Surgical management of childhood pancreatitis is not clear; partial resection or drainage procedures often provide transient pain relief, but long-term recurrence is common due to the diffuse involvement of the pancreas. Total pancreatectomy (TP) removes the source of the pain, whereas islet autotransplantation (IAT) potentially can prevent or minimize TP-related diabetes. METHODS: Retrospective review of 75 children undergoing TP-IAT for chronic pancreatitis who had failed medical, endoscopic, or surgical treatment between 1989 and 2012. RESULTS: Pancreatitis pain and the severity of pain statistically improved in 90% of patients after TP-IAT (P < 0.001). The relief from narcotics was sustained. Of the 75 patients undergoing TP-IAT, 31 (41.3%) achieved insulin independence. Younger age (P = 0.032), lack of prior Puestow procedure (P = 0.018), lower body surface area (P = 0.048), higher islet equivalents (IEQ) per kilogram body weight (P = 0.001), and total IEQ (100,000) (P = 0.004) were associated with insulin independence. By multivariate analysis, 3 factors were associated with insulin independence after TP-IAT: (1) male sex, (2) lower body surface area, and (3) higher total IEQ per kilogram body weight. Total IEQ (100,000) was the single factor most strongly associated with insulin independence (odds ratio = 2.62; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation provides sustained pain relief and improved quality of life. The ß-cell function is dependent on islet yield. Total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation is an effective therapy for children with painful pancreatitis that failed medical and/or endoscopic management.

Safety and efficacy of a protocol using bougienage or endoscopy for the management of coins acutely lodged in the esophagus: a large case series.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We report our experience using the bougienage procedure in the management of esophageal coins. METHODS: Observational case series of all patients presenting to our emergency departments with coins acutely lodged in the esophagus between 1994 and 2006. All patients were treated according to our protocol with either endoscopy or bougienage. Patients are eligible for bougienage if they have had a witnessed coin ingestion less than 24 hours before presentation and if esophageal coin position is confirmed by chest radiograph and there is no history of esophageal disease, surgery, or foreign body. Primary outcomes measured were complications, efficacy of procedure, hospital charges, length of stay, and return to the hospital. Length of stay and hospital charges data were gathered for patients presenting in the final 24 months of the study. RESULTS: Six hundred twenty patients were identified as having esophageal coins. Three hundred fifty-five patients had a successful bougienage, and 17 patients had unsuccessful bougienage. By comparison, 248 patients underwent endoscopy, and the coin was successfully removed in all but 1 of these patients. Of patients undergoing endoscopy, 89 were eligible for bougienage, but patient, parent, or physician preference was for endoscopic management. Eleven patients required reevaluation or readmission for complaints related to esophageal coin. The only complication was subglottic edema, causing respiratory distress in a single patient who had undergone endoscopy. Patients undergoing endoscopy had an average length of stay of 6.1 hours and average hospital charges were $6,087. Patients undergoing bougienage had an average length of stay of 2.2 hours and average hospital charges of $1,884. CONCLUSION: In properly screened patients with coins acutely lodged in the esophagus, bougienage offers a safe and effective alternative to other methods of coin management.

Origen anómalo de la arteria coronaria izquierda originándose de la arteria pulmonar. Reporte de caso y revisión de literatura / Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery originating itself of the pulmonary artery. Report of case and revision of literature

Se presenta el caso de un lactante de 2 meses de edad que consultó por tos y dificultad respiratoria; al ser admitido en el servicio de urgencias, el abordaje inicial fue de una infección respiratoria baja (bronquitis) pero la evolución tórpida y la presencia de cardiomegalia hizo sospechar una cardiopatía, diagnosticándose origen anómalo de la arteria coronaria izquierda que nace de la arteria pulmonar, la cual fue tratada quirúrgicamente con resultado favorable.