Do preterm babies sleep differently than their peers? Sleep characteristics and their associations with maternal depression and parenting stress.

OBJECTIVES: The findings regarding the association between prematurity, sleep problems, and maternal psychological well-being are mixed. This study examined preterm- and term-born infants' sleep patterns, ecology, and problems, in addition to the associations of these patterns with maternal parenting stress and depressive symptomatology. METHODS: In total, 84 mothers of infants between 6 and 17 months of corrected age, in which 40 were preterm infants and 44 were healthy full-term infants, participated in the study. Children's sleep was evaluated by the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Maternal depressive symptoms were screened by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Maternal parenting stress was measured via the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form. RESULTS: In preterm infants, lower total and nocturnal sleep duration and later falling asleep time were identified compared to term infants. Regarding sleep ecology, the percentages of poor sleepers, mother's perception of child's and her own sleep problems were similar in both groups. While the most common method of falling asleep was 'rocking the baby' in the preterm group, it was 'breastfeeding' in the term group. In both groups, the maternal perception of sleep problems positively predicted maternal parenting stress. Lastly, compared to good sleepers, higher maternal parenting stress, higher maternal perception of mother's and child's sleep problems, and lower infants' age were identified among poor sleepers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite many similarities in the sleep characteristics of preterm and term infants, several differences in sleep patterns and sleep ecology of preterm infants were identified. Since the maternal perception of sleep problems was found to predict parenting stress, guidance on infant sleep is suggested to support families.

Sleep and social-emotional problems in preschool-age children with developmental delay.

Sleep problems and social-emotional (SE) problems are common in preschooler children and may be affected by culture. However, little is known about the link between sleep and social-emotional problems in non-Western countries. This study aims to compare sleep problems and their association with SE problems in Turkish children with either typical development (TD) or neurodevelopmental delay (NDD). In this case-control study, children with NDD (n = 126) and children with TD (n = 102) were included. Parents completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE). More than half of the TD and NDD groups had sleep problems when assessed by CSHQ (54.4%, 72.2%, respectively). The correlation between CSHQ and ASQ:SE scores in the NDD and TD groups was r = 0.44 and r = 0.352, respectively (both p < 0.001). Children who slept less than 9 h had lower ASQ:SE scores in the NDD (p = 0.003) and TD group (p = 0.023). In the TD group, those who slept after 23:01 h had lower ASQ:SE scores compared to early sleepers (p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis revealed associations between SE problems and male gender, lower family income, bedtime resistance, and shorter sleep duration in the NDD group. In the TD group, male gender, sleep onset delay, sleep duration of CSHQ subscale were found to be associated with SE problems. Sleep problems were identified in more than half of all preschooler children, regardless of developmental delay, and were associated with increased SE problems. Interventions to correct sleep problems may have a positive impact on children's emotional development.

How effective is family counselling on screen exposure of pre-school children?

BACKGROUND: Excessive screen viewing and background TV exposure are common problems all over the world. Therefore, intervention studies have gained importance. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of family-based, developmental pediatrics clinic setting counseling in reducing screen time in typically developing children and to compare them with neurodevelopmental disorders. METHODS: Children (aged 24-62 months) who were exposed to screen viewing for at least 2 hours/day were included. Parents were given three counseling sessions to reduce excessive screen time. Parents reported daily screen time, co-viewing, background TV exposure, the duration of reading books and playing with their child. RESULTS: The study included 105 children (median age: 34 months IQR:28-41). Before counseling, the screen viewing time and the percentage of co-viewing among typically developing children (n=22) and children with a neurodevelopmental disorder (n=83) were similar. There was a statistically significant decrease in screen time in both groups after the intervention. A higher impact was shown in the neurodevelopmental disorder group. The increase in percentages of co-viewing, as well as the increase in the time spent playing with their children, were statistically significant in the neurodevelopmental disorder group. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that three pediatric office-setting counseling sessions including media use recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics are effective to decrease screen time for children who are either typically developing or with a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Screening traumatic life events in preschool aged children: cultural adaptation of Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) Caregiver-report 3-6 years version.

BACKGROUND: Given the high prevalence of potentially traumatic events (PTEs), pediatric providers are in a novel position in early identification and referral of the children with PTEs. Yet paucity of culturally adapted instruments to screen PTEs and related symptoms in preschool-aged children limits pediatric providers. This multicenter study aimed to screen the traumatic life events of preschool-aged children admitted to pediatric outpatient clinics at four different cities of Turkey and to determine the socio-demographic risk factors associated with PTEs. Moreover, it was also intended to develop the cultural adaptation of the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) Caregiver-report 3-6 Years version to Turkish and to analyze its reliability. METHODS: Participants of this multicenter study were collected from four different hospitals in three different regions (Central Anatolia, Black Sea, and Southeastern Anatolia regions) of Turkey. All parents of children at the age of 3-6 years who were admitted to the hospital for a clinical visit (sick-child or well-child visits) were invited to the study. In total, 188 preschool-aged children were included in the study. Socio-demographic characteristics of the child and the family were questioned and parents were asked to fill out the Turkish version of the CATS Caregiver-report. RESULTS: Internal consistency (Cronbach`s alpha) of the Turkish version of the CATS Caregiver-report 3-6 Years was found as 0.86. This study revealed that half of the participating children had experienced at least one PTE and more than one fourth experienced more than one event. Strikingly, no association between sociodemographic risk factors and PTE exposure was identified suggesting that PTE exposure is indeed widespread in our study population. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study manifest the importance of routine screening of PTEs and related symptoms in children.

Role of Thyroglobulin Doubling Time in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Its Relationship with Demographic-Histopathologic Risk Factors and 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Parameters.

Background: Aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between thyroglobulin doubling time (TgDT) and basal risk factors and metabolic parameters derived from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Materials and Methods: An analysis of 95 DTC patients who had rising serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels under levothyroxine (LT4) suppression after radioiodine therapy was made. TgDT was calculated for 28/95 patients. The relationship between TgDT and basal demographic and histopathologic risk factors, preablative Tg, and antithyroglobulin antibody (ATg) levels and metabolic parameters was analyzed. Results: In 28 patients (15M, 13F, mean age: 52.6 ± 17.6) that TgDT could be calculated, 18F-FDG PET/CT was positive in 12 patients. Median TgDT was lower in 18F-FDG PET/CT positive patients compared to the negative cases (p < 0.05). Patients with skeletal metastasis or local recurrence had a shorter DT compared to the patients with lung metastasis. TgDT was correlated with peak standardized uptake value (SUVpeak) (p < 0.05). Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was correlated with tumor size (p < 0.05) and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) with tumor size and vascular invasion (p < 0.05). Median SUVmax and SUVmean were higher in follicular cancer or poor histological variants of papillary DTC compared to papillary cancer classical variant patients Conclusion: TgDT may be predictive of a positive 18F-FDG PET/CT in DTC. Skeletal metastasis and local recurrence are related to shorter TgDT. Greater tumor size, vascular invasion, and follicular cancer or poor variants of papillary carcinoma are related with higher SUVmax and SUVmean. Larger scale studies are needed to confirm results and to calculate a possible cutoff of TgDT for a positive 18F-FDG PET/CT study.

Intense 18F-Flourodeoxyglucose Uptake in Brachial Plexus of Patients with Brachial Plexopathy.

Brachial plexopathy is a significant cause of pain and disability in patients with breast cancer. Major causes of brachial plexopathy in patients with breast cancer are metastatic invasion or radiation damage to the plexus. Differentiation between the two pathologies is important for appropriate treatment planning. The complicated anatomy of the plexus makes this a difficult area to image accurately. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice for diagnostic evaluation of these cases. We presented a case to demonstrate the role of 18F-flourodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography for confirming metastatic brachial plexopathy when MRI findings were suspicious and for differentiating radiation-induced brachial plexopathy from metastatic plexopathy.

Family-centred service: Perspectives of paediatric residents from a non-Western country.

OBJECTIVES: The concept of family-centred service (FCS), which is recognized as the standard of paediatric health care, emerged from Western countries, and integration of FCS can be challenging especially in non-Western countries. This study aims to explore family-centred behaviours of paediatric residents and their perspectives on FCS being trained in a non-Western country before and 6 months after an educational workshop. It was hypothesized that the workshop will increase the awareness of paediatric residents regarding FCS and improve their self-reported family-centred practices. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-nine residents who are in a 4-year paediatric residency program were included. A 2-hr interactive workshop was conducted for all participants. The measure of processes of care for service providers was used to measure self-reported family-centred practices of paediatric residents, and a study specific questionnaire was utilized to understand their perspectives towards FCS prior to and 6 months after the workshop. RESULTS: There were statistically significant increases in the measure of processes of care for service providers scores suggesting improvements in self-reported family-centred practices of participants 6 months after the workshop. Moreover, the percentage of participants describing themselves as knowledgeable and competent increased. Viewpoints of paediatric residents on the implementation of FCS and several challenges perceived by participants were highlighted. CONCLUSION: This is the first study conducted in a non-Western country exploring perspectives of paediatric residents towards the implementation of FCS and measuring their self-reported family-centred practices before and after an educational workshop. The study revealed that although a 2-hr interactive workshop improved the self-reported family-centred practices of participants, they still found FCS challenging.

Analysis of prognostic factors in patients receiving transarterial radioembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze the prognostic factors of patients receiving transarterial radioembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eighty-six (73 M and 13F; mean age: 64.3 ± 9.8 years) patients who received transarterial radioembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were included. Relationship between serum alpha-fetoprotein and international normalization ratio level, albumin-bilirubin grade, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, presence of portal venous thrombosis and extrahepatic metastases, the dimension of index lesion and OS were analyzed. RESULTS: Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio was ≤ 5 in 76 (88%) and >5 in 10 (12%) of patients. Sixty-two (72%) patients died during a mean of 25.6± 9.7 months follow-up. Mean OS for all patients was calculated as 12.9 ± 14.6 months. In univariate analysis, albumin-bilirubin grade (22.3 ± 3.8 vs. 11.6 ± 4.2; P = 0.03), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (21.8 ± 3.6 vs. 7.3 ± 2.6; P =0.04), presence of extrahepatic metastases (30.1 ± 5.4 vs. 7.4 ± 2.0; P = 0.001) and portal venous thrombosis (26.5± 4.8 vs. 10.5 ± 2.1; P = 0.01) had significant effect on OS. In multivariate analysis, serum international normalization ratio (P = 0.005) and alpha-fetoprotein level (P = 0.004), albumin-bilirubin grade (P = 0.05), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.007), Child-Pugh score (0.006) and presence of ascites (P = 0.005) were significantly correlated with OS. CONCLUSION: Patients with low basal albumin-bilirubin grade and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio survive longer after transarterial radioembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Presence of extrahepatic metastases and portal venous thrombosis seems to have a prognostic value.

Caring for a Child with Phenylketonuria: Parental Experiences from a Eurasian Country.

OBJECTIVES: Phenylketonuria (PKU) and mild hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) are characterized by increased blood phenylalanine concentrations varying from mild to severe. Management of PKU was reported to be time consuming and burdensome for caregivers. This study intended to explore the experiences of families caring for a child with PKU/HPA in a country with a high PKU rate. The aim of this study was to compare parental well-being between parents of children with and without dietary restrictions and to explore the factors associated with parental psychological well-being. METHODS: Participants were interviewed about their experiences, concerns, and challenges related to the disease by using a semistructured questionnaire. After the interview, parents filled out the Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait. RESULTS: This study highlighted the adverse psychological, financial, and social effects of the diagnosis and management of the disease regarding the lives of the families of children with PKU/HPA. Although parental anxiety scores of children with and without dietary restrictions were similar, depressive symptom scores were higher in parents of children with dietary restrictions. However, in multiple regression analysis, lower household income and absence of perceived social support were found to be independent factors associated with higher depressive symptom scores. Having a daughter diagnosed with PKU/HPA and lower household income were found to be factors associated with higher anxiety scores. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that income level, perceived social support, and gender of the child were factors associated with psychological well-being of parents caring for children with PKU/HPA. Health care professionals should identify the challenges faced by families and should be aware of risk factors associated with lower parental well-being to achieve better family adjustment and better health outcomes.

Comparison of bone scintigraphy and Ga-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the detection of bone metastases of prostate carcinoma.

AIM: This study aims to assess the diagnostic performance of Ga-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography in the comparison of planar bone scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastases. Another purpose is to define the additional benefit of bone scintigraphy subsequent to prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography and the role of prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography in the treatment planning. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty-six patients with a median interval of 19 (range: 3-90) days between prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography and bone scintigraphy included in the analysis. Diagnostic performance of both modalities was calculated and compared. RESULTS: Prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography and bone scintigraphy were performed for initial staging in 25 (54%), for evaluation of biochemical recurrence in 11 (24%) and metastatic castration-resistant prostate carcinoma in 10 (22%) patients. In the patient-based analysis sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for bone scintigraphy for detection of bone metastases were calculated as 50%, 19-29%, 32-39%, 32-39%, and 33-39%, respectively, based on whether equivocal findings were classified as positive or negative. For prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography, these values were found significantly higher as 100%, 95-100%, 98-100%, 96-100%, and 100%, respectively. The diagnostic performance of bone scintigraphy and PET/computed tomography in clinical subgroups was analyzed, prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography was superior to bone scintigraphy in three groups. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography was found to be superior to planar bone scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastases. Additional bone scintigraphy seems to be unnecessary in patients who underwent prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography within three months period without additional treatment.

Speech delay in toddlers: Are they only `late talkers`?

Zengin-Akkus P, Çelen-Yoldas T, Kurtipek G, Özmert EN. Speech delay in toddlers: Are they only `late talkers`?. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 165-172. Speech delay is prevalent in toddlers. Although some children with speech delay are able to catch up with their peers with time, the delay might be part of a broader condition such as global developmental delay, which requires specific diagnostic work-up. The current study aimed to present the demographic features, developmental profiles of the first 100 preschool-aged children who were seen at Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children`s Hospital-Developmental Pediatrics Unit with parental concern of speech delay. Moreover, risk factors associated with speech delay, possible diagnosis and intervention strategies are documented. Thirty-one of 100 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and global developmental delay (GDD). The current study presented that 4 out of 5 toddlers exceeded the recommended TV watching time. Moreover, almost one third of children had a poor linguistic home environment. Three parents whose children were diagnosed with ASD or GDD, refused to be reported as `autism spectrum disorder` or `intellectual disability` with the anxiety of labeling their child. As a result, these children were unable to receive special education paid for by the government. This study presented 31 of 100 children needed further diagnostic work up and early intervention. Therefore, pediatricians should not underestimate speech delay. On the other hand, due to the fact that, the regulations to receive special education and therapy often create anxiety for the parents, we think that this system needs to be updated and special education support should be determined by the special needs of each child.

Clinical and molecular evaluation of 16 patients with Rett syndrome.

Zengin-Akkus P, Taskiran EZ, Kabaçam S, Simsek-Kiper PÖ, Haliloglu G, Boduroglu K, Utine GE. Clinical and molecular evaluation of 16 patients with Rett syndrome. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 1-9. Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in MECP2. The disease is characterized by early neurological regression following a normal initial development. The diagnosis is a clinical one, based on major and minor diagnostic criteria. This study, in a group of patients from a single tertiary center, aimed to evaluate the efficiency of clinical diagnosis and to see if there was a diagnostic delay. A second aim was to investigate genotype-phenotype correlations, based on Pineda scores. In this study, sixteen patients with a median age of 6.5 years (2.5-22 years) were included, following molecular confirmation of clinical diagnosis. The median age at the onset of symptoms and the median age at clinical diagnosis was 1.5 years and 2.5 years, respectively, the difference being statistically significant. Considering the Rett syndrome diagnostic criteria, initially regulated in 2002 and revised in 2010, seven and two patients in our group, respectively, did not meet the main criteria. Pineda scores among mutation groups were statistically not different. To conclude, the present study revealed presence of a diagnostic delay. The challenge may be that the patients do not exhibit full-blown clinical picture initially. No genotype-phenotype correlations were detected in clinical severity, as measured by Pineda scores. Moreover, the diagnostic criteria revised in 2010 are more comprehensive as compared to the 2002 criteria; however, further revision may increase diagnostic sensitivity.

Wernicke encephalopathy due to thiamine deficiency after surgery on a child with duodenal stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Wernicke encephalopathy is rare in children and is caused by thiamine deficiency. It is characterized by acute or subacute ataxia, altered consciousness, and ophthalmoparesis. Gastroenterological surgery, total parenteral nutrition for short bowel syndrome, and alcoholism are common risk factors for Wernicke encephalopathy. Typical magnetic resonance imaging features include selective symmetrical signal changes in the mammillary bodies, medial thalamus, tectum, periaqueductal region, cranial nerves, cerebellum, red nucleus, dentate nucleus, fornix, splenium, cerebral cortex, and putamen. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the disease may be fatal. PATIENT DESCRIPTION: We describe a 13-year-old boy who developed acute cerebellar findings while receiving total parenteral nutrition after gastroduodenostomy for duodenal stenosis. RESULTS: The diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy was based on his clinical history, neurological examination, and imaging results. We immediately started intravenous thiamine replacement therapy. Two weeks later, the patient's clinical signs had resolved except for mild clumsiness, which was observed during his tandem gait examination. CONCLUSION: Our report emphasizes the importance of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging pattern recognition in timely diagnosis, as well as the importance of prompt thiamine replacement therapy. We also demonstrate the importance of thiamine supplementation during total parenteral nutrition after gastrointestinal surgery.