Comparison of endoscopic healing and durability between infliximab originator and CT-P13 in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background and aims: Favourable clinical data were published on the efficacy of CT-P13, the first biosimilar of infliximab (IFX), in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, few studies have compared the effect on endoscopic healing (EH) and drug retention rate between the IFX originator and CT-P13. Therefore, we aimed to compare EH and the drug retention rate between the IFX originator and CT-P13. Methods: Children with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)/IBD-unclassified (IBD-U) at 22 medical centers were enrolled, with a retrospective review conducted at 1-year and last follow-up. Clinical remission, EH and drug retention rate were evaluated. Results: We studied 416 pediatric patients with IBD: 77.4% had CD and 22.6% had UC/IBD-U. Among them, 255 (61.3%) received the IFX originator and 161 (38.7%) received CT-P13. No statistically significant differences were found between the IFX originator and CT-P13 in terms of corticosteroid-free remission and adverse events. At 1-year follow-up, EH rates were comparable between them (CD: P=0.902, UC: P=0.860). The estimated cumulative cessation rates were not significantly different between the two groups. In patients with CD, the drug retention rates were 66.1% in the IFX originator and 71.6% in the CT-P13 group at the maximum follow-up period (P >0.05). In patients with UC, the drug retention rates were 49.8% in the IFX originator and 56.3% in the CT-P13 group at the maximum follow-up period (P >0.05). Conclusions: The IFX originator and CT-P13 demonstrated comparable therapeutic response including EH, clinical remission, drug retention rate and safety in pediatric IBD.

Predicting the need for intubation within 3 h in the neonatal intensive care unit using a multimodal deep neural network.

Respiratory distress is a common chief complaint in neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Despite the increasing use of non-invasive ventilation in neonates with respiratory difficulty, some of them require advanced airway support. Delayed intubation is associated with increased morbidity, particularly in urgent unplanned cases. Early and accurate prediction of the need for intubation may provide more time for preparation and increase safety margins by avoiding the late intubation at high-risk infants. This study aimed to predict the need for intubation within 3 h in neonates initially managed with non-invasive ventilation for respiratory distress during the first 48 h of life using a multimodal deep neural network. We developed a multimodal deep neural network model to simultaneously analyze four time-series data collected at 1-h intervals and 19 variables including demographic, physiological and laboratory parameters. Evaluating the dataset of 128 neonates with respiratory distress who underwent non-invasive ventilation, our model achieved an area under the curve of 0.917, sensitivity of 85.2%, and specificity of 89.2%. These findings demonstrate promising results for the multimodal model in predicting neonatal intubation within 3 h.

Development of a Universal Cloning System for Reverse Genetics of Human Enteroviruses.

Enteroviruses (EVs) have been associated with several human diseases. Due to their continuous emergence and divergence, EV species have generated more than 100 types and recombinant strains, increasing the public health threat caused by them. Hence, an efficient and universal cloning system for reverse genetics (RG) of highly divergent viruses is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms of viral pathology and evolution. In this study, we generated a versatile human EV whole-genome cDNA template by enhancing the template-switching method and designing universal primers capable of simultaneous cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR of EVs. Moreover, by devising strategies to overcome limitations of previous cloning methods, we simplified significant cloning steps to be completed within a day. Of note, we successfully verified our efficient universal cloning system enabling RG of a broad range of human EVs, including EV-A (EV-A71), EV-B (CV-B5, ECHO6, and ECHO30), EV-C (CV-A24), and EV-D (EV-D68), with viral titers and phenotypes comparable to those of their wild types. This rapid and straightforward universal EV cloning strategy will help us elucidate molecular characteristics, pathogenesis, and applications of a broad range of EV serotypes for further development of genetic vaccines and delivery tools using various replication systems. IMPORTANCE Due to the broad spread, incidence, and genetic divergence of enteroviruses (EVs), it has been challenging to deal with this virus that causes severe human diseases, including aseptic meningitis, myocarditis, encephalitis, and poliomyelitis. Therefore, an efficient and universal cloning system for the reverse genetics of highly divergent EVs contributes to an understanding of the viral pathology and molecular mechanisms of evolution. We have simplified the important cloning steps, hereby enhancing the template-switching method and designing universal primers, which enable the important cloning steps to be completed in a day. We have also successfully demonstrated recovery of a broad range of human EVs, including EV-A to -D types, using this advanced universal cloning system. This rapid and robust universal EV cloning strategy will aid in elucidating the molecular characteristics, pathogenesis, and applications of a wide range of EVs for further development of genetic vaccines and antiviral screening using various replication systems.

Clinical Experiences and Selection of Accessory Devices for Pediatric Endoscopic Foreign Body Removal: A Retrospective Multicenter Study in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Swallowing of foreign bodies (FBs) is the most common indication of therapeutic endoscopy in children. Endoscopic removal may be necessary depending on the type of FB, age of the child, and location of the FB. We attempted to analyze the characteristics of each device used for the endoscopic removal of FBs in children. METHODS: Medical records of the patient's age, sex, weight, type, location, size, shape, type of device used for endoscopic removal, and endoscopic time were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: A total of 424 FB removal procedures were analyzed. The average age of the patients at the time of FB removal was 4.1 ± 3.7 years. Coins were the most common FBs (192, 45.3%). The most common locations of the FBs were the esophagus (45.7%) and the stomach (48.3%), respectively. For a total of 371 cases, forceps were used in 96 cases (25.9%) for esophageal FBs and in 25 cases for gastric FBs (6.7%), while nets were used in 250 cases (67.4%) for gastric FBs retrieval; the average durations of the procedures were 7.2 ± 7.4 minutes, 8.5 ± 7.2 minutes, and 5.7 ± 7.3 minutes, respectively (P = 0.003). The procedure time was significantly shorter, in the group of patients with low body weights, when nets were used than when forceps were used to remove gastric FBs (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The endoscopic procedure duration, in low-weight children, was shorter when retrieval nets were used than that with forceps.

Higher prevalence of rotavirus infection among out-born newborns transferred to a regional neonatal intensive care unit in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is one of important pathogens which require infection control in nurseries and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 1,135 out-born newborns who were transferred to a regional tertiary NICU of Chungbuk National University Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016. We assessed the clinical characteristics of newborns based on the results of rotavirus surveillance tests. The prevalence of rotavirus was evaluated according to the year, month, and season. RESULTS: Among the 1,135 infants, 213 (18.8%) had positive results in the rotavirus surveillance test. The rotavirus positive group had a significantly higher gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar score. They also had a significantly higher rate of postpartum care centers when compared to the rotavirus negative group (45.5% vs. 12.6%, P < 0.001). Notably, the prevalence of rotavirus was significantly increased from 3.2 to 33.8% when infants were hospitalized 48 h after birth (P < 0.001). During the study period, there were no significant differences in the annual, monthly, or seasonal prevalence of rotavirus infection. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that more active screening for rotavirus infection is necessary, especially for out-born newborns admitted to NICUs 48 h after birth or hospitalized after using postpartum care centers in Korea.

Successful treatment of a patent urachus concurrent with pyocele in a newborn: A case report.

RATIONALE: A patent urachus is a rare congenital anomaly that atypically presents as an umbilical cord cyst or large umbilical cord. Here we describe a case of a giant umbilical cord cyst in a newborn diagnosed as a patent urachus. PATIENT CONCERNS: A male infant with a birth weight of 3260 g was transferred because of an antenatally diagnosed giant umbilical cord cyst accompanied by yellowish discharge and granulation in the umbilical cord after birth. DIAGNOSES: Patent urachus. INTERVENSIONS: The patent urachus was treated by excision of the urachal remnant followed by partial cystectomy. OUTCOMES: Postoperative orchitis with pyocele occurred and was treated with a course of antimicrobial therapy; and no other complications developed. LESSONS: Newborns with a giant umbilical cord or umbilical cord cysts should be examined for possible accompanying urachal anomalies, even if antenatal ultrasound shows no other suspicious findings, to prevent delayed diagnosis and subsequent complications.

Case report of juvenile polyposis/hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia syndrome: first report in Korea with a novel mutation in the SMAD4 gene.

Juvenile polyposis/hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (JPS/HHT) syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the SMAD4 gene, presenting with features of both juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) and HHT. Reports and studies of JPS/HHT syndrome are mostly from Western countries, while there are scarce reports from East Asian countries. We report a case of a Korean boy who had been previously diagnosed with JPS at 7 years and had first visited to our center at 15 years of age. Genetic studies of the patient and parents revealed a novel variant in the SMAD4 gene, SMAD4 c.1146_1163del; p.His382_Val387del (NM_005359.5), which had developed de novo. Numerous pedunculated and sessile polyps were observed throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Mucocutaneous telangiectases were observed on the lips, tongue, and jejunum, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were observed in both lungs. This is the first case report of JPS/HHT syndrome in Korea, with a novel deletion variant in the SMAD4 gene. Patients with JPS should undergo genetic evaluation of associated genes including SMAD4, and those with genetically confirmed SMAD4 variants should undergo further evaluation for coexisting asymptomatic AVMs in order to prevent life-threatening complications of thrombotic emboli and pulmonary hemorrhage.

Nationwide "Pediatric Nutrition Day" survey on the nutritional status of hospitalized children in South Korea.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the nutritional status and prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized children at admission and during hospitalization in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This first cross-sectional nationwide "Pediatric Nutrition Day (pNday)" survey was conducted among 872 hospitalized children (504 boys, 368 girls; 686 medical, 186 surgical) from 23 hospitals in South Korea. Malnutrition risk was screened using the Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS) and the Screening Tool Risk on Nutritional status and Growth. Nutritional status was assessed by z-scores of weight-for-age for underweight, weight-for-height for wasting, and height-for-age for stunting as well as laboratory tests. RESULTS: At admission, of the 872 hospitalized children, 17.2% were underweight, and the prevalence of wasting and stunting was 20.2% and 17.3%, respectively. During hospitalization till pNday, 10.8% and 19.6% experienced weight loss and decreased oral intake, respectively. During the aforementioned period, fasting was more prevalent in surgical patients (7.5%) than in medical patients (1.6%) (P < 0.001). According to the PYMS, 34.3% and 30% of the children at admission and on pNday, respectively, had a high-risk of malnutrition, requiring consultation with the nutritional support team (NST). However, only 4% were actually referred to the NST during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition was prevalent at admission and during hospitalization in pediatric patients, with many children experiencing weight loss and poor oral intake. To improve the nutritional status of hospitalized children, it is important to screen and identify all children at risk of malnutrition and refer malnourished patients to the multidisciplinary NST for proper nutritional interventions.

The Importance of Early Recognition, Timely Management, and the Role of Healthcare Providers in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

In April 2020, a pediatric report of an unusual inflammatory illness associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to similar cases in Europe and North America, which was referred to as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Herein, we describe the case of a 12-year-old boy who had a history of polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 and developed MIS-C approximately three weeks after an initial diagnosis of COVID-19. High fever with abdominal pain mimicking appendicitis was the initial manifestation of MIS-C, which could have been easily missed if the patient's history of COVID-19 was ignored. Intravenous immunoglobulin was administered twice, 24 hours apart, five days after the onset of MIS-C, and the patient fully recovered without any obvious sequelae. Early recognition by disease awareness and prompt management are the keys to saving the lives of children affected by MIS-C.

Korean Children and Adolescents with Crohn's Disease Are More Likely to Present with Perianal Fistulizing Disease at Diagnosis Compared to Their European Counterparts.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the disease phenotype of Korean pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) patients at diagnosis according to the Paris classification by comparison with patients from the European multicenter 5-years recruitment of children with newly developed IBD (EUROKIDS registry). METHODS: Korean children and adolescents who had been newly diagnosed with CD at the age of <18 years during 2013-2016 were included in this multicenter retrospective study. Disease phenotype at diagnosis was classified according to the Paris classification, and compared with the published data from the EUROKIDS study. RESULTS: A total of 255 patients were included. The median diagnosis age was 14.7 years (range, 0.8-17.9 years). No significant difference was observed in male-to-female ratio with EUROKIDS (1.9:1 vs. 1.45:1, p=0.062). The proportion of children aged <10 years was significantly lower in Koreans (7.1% vs. 19.6%, p<0.001). Colonic disease was less prominent (10.0% vs. 27.3%, p<0.001), while upper GI involvement was more prominent in Korean children (59.3% vs. 46.2%, p<0.001). The proportion with perianal fistulizing disease at diagnosis was significantly higher in Korean patients (44.8% vs. 8.2%, p<0.001). A separate analysis of Korean patients revealed that perianal fistulizing disease at diagnosis was positively associated with male sex and body mass index z-score (odds ratio [OR]=2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.20-3.76, p=0.010; and OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.05-1.58, p=0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: Approximately half of pediatric CD patients in Korea present with perianal fistulas and/or abscesses at diagnosis, which is a distinct feature of CD in Korean children and adolescents compared to their European counterparts. An underlying genetic difference between ethnicities may play a role in this expression of different phenotypes in pediatric CD.

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Obesity: Recommendations from the Committee on Pediatric Obesity of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition.

The Committee on Pediatric Obesity of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition newly developed the first Korean Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity in Children and Adolescents to deliver an evidence-based systematic approach to childhood obesity in South Korea. The following areas were systematically reviewed, especially on the basis of all available references published in South Korea and worldwide, and new guidelines were established in each area with the strength of recommendations based on the levels of evidence: 1) definition and diagnosis of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents; 2) principles of treatment of pediatric obesity; 3) behavioral interventions for children and adolescents with obesity, including diet, exercise, lifestyle, and mental health; 4) pharmacotherapy; and 5) bariatric surgery.

Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric obesity: recommendations from the Committee on Pediatric Obesity of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition.

The Committee on Pediatric Obesity of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition newly developed the first Korean Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity in Children and Adolescents to deliver an evidence-based systematic approach to childhood obesity in South Korea. The following areas were systematically reviewed, especially on the basis of all available references published in South Korea and worldwide, and new guidelines were established in each area with the strength of recommendations based on the levels of evidence: (1) definition and diagnosis of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents; (2) principles of treatment of pediatric obesity; (3) behavioral interventions for children and adolescents with obesity, including diet, exercise, lifestyle, and mental health; (4) pharmacotherapy; and (5) bariatric surgery.

The 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents: development, improvement, and prospects.

Growth charts are curves or tables that facilitate the visualization of anthropometric parameters, and are widely used as an important indicator when evaluating the growth status of children and adolescents. The latest version of the Korean National Growth Charts released in 2007 has raised concerns regarding the inclusion of data from both breastfed and formula-fed infants, higher body mass index (BMI) values in boys, and smaller 3rd percentile values in height-for-age charts. Thus, new growth charts have been developed to improve the previous version. The 2006 World Health Organization Child Growth Standards, regarded as the standard for breastfed infants and children, were introduced for children aged 0-35 months. For children and adolescents aged 3-18 years, these new growth charts include height-for-age, weight-for-age, BMI-for-age, weight-for-height, and head circumference-for-age charts, and were developed using data obtained in 1997 and 2005. Data sets and exclusion criteria were applied differently for the development of the different growth charts. BMI-for-age charts were adjusted to decrease the 95th percentile values of BMI. Criteria for obesity were simplified and defined as a BMI of ≥95th percentile for age and sex. The 3rd percentile values for height-for-age charts were also increased. Additional percentile lines (1st and 99th) and growth charts with standard deviation lines were introduced. 2017 Korean National Growth Charts are recommended for the evaluation of body size and growth of Korean children and adolescents for use in clinics and the public health sector in Korea.

Foreign Body Ingestion in Children.

Foreign body (FB) ingestion in children is common and most children are observed to be between 6 months and 3 years of age. Although most FBs in the gastrointestinal tract pass spontaneously without complications, endoscopic or surgical removal may be required in a few children. Thus, FB ingestion presents a significant clinical difficulty in pediatric gastroenterological practice. Parameters that need to be considered regarding the timing of endoscopic removal of ingested FBs in children are the children's age or body weight, the clinical presentation, time lapse since ingestion, time of last meal, type as well as size and shape of the FB, and its current location in the gastrointestinal tract. Esophageal button batteries require emergency removal regardless of the presence of symptoms because they can cause serious complications. Coins, magnets, or sharp FBs in the esophagus should be removed within 2 hours in symptomatic and within 24 hours in asymptomatic children. Among those presenting with a single or multiple magnets and a metallic FB that have advanced beyond the stomach, symptomatic children need a consultation with a pediatric surgeon for surgery, and asymptomatic children may be followed with serial X-rays to assess progression. Sharp or pointed, and long or large and wide FBs located in the esophagus or stomach require endoscopic removal.

Subtherapeutic Infliximab Trough Levels and Complete Mucosal Healing Are Associated With Sustained Clinical Remission After Infliximab Cessation in Paediatric-onset Crohn's Disease Patients Treated With Combined Immunosuppressive Therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We aimed to investigate the outcome in paediatric-onset Crohn's disease patients who had discontinued infliximab after maintaining clinical remission with combined immunosuppression, and to determine factors associated with clinical relapse. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 63 paediatric-onset Crohn's disease patients who had stopped scheduled infliximab during sustained corticosteroid-free clinical remission for at least 1 year with infliximab and azathioprine, and were followed up for at least 1 year thereafter. Cumulative relapse rates and the median time to relapse were estimated statistically. Factors at cessation were also evaluated for their association with clinical relapse. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 4.3 years [range, 1-7.5 years], 60.3% [38/63] of patients had experienced clinical relapse. According to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the estimated cumulative relapse rates at 1, 4, and 6 years were 19.0%, 62.2%, and 75.2%, respectively, and the median relapse time was 3.3 years from infliximab cessation. According to multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, infliximab trough levels of ≥2.5 µg/mL and incomplete mucosal healing were associated with clinical relapse (hazard ratio [HR] = 7.199, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.641-31.571, p = 0.009 and HR = 3.628, 95% CI = 1.608-8.185, p = 0.002, respectively). Although re-treatment with infliximab was effective in 90.9% [30/33] of patients, 7.9% [3/38] eventually underwent surgery within 1 year of relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the high cumulative relapse rates in the long term and cases of severe relapse requiring surgery, discontinuing infliximab in paediatric-onset Crohn's disease patients is currently inadvisable. However, there may be a subgroup of patients who are good candidates for infliximab withdrawal.

Characteristics of Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Involvement in Korean Pediatric Crohn's Disease: A Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: Crohn's disease (CD) can involve any site of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). However, the characteristics of upper GIT involvement in CD are unclear, especially in the Eastern pediatric population. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of upper GIT involvement and identify the clinical features of Korean children with CD. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study that included 52 pediatric patients with CD who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsy. The clinical symptoms and endoscopic and histologic features of the upper GIT were identified according to the presence or absence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS: Among the 52 patients, upper GIT involvement was noted in 50.0% (26/52). The mean age at CD diagnosis was 14.1±2.1 years. Gastric ulcer was the most common lesion (19.2%) found on upper GIT endoscopy, followed by duodenal ulcers (15.4%). Chronic inflammation was the most common histopathologic feature (75.0%), followed by gastric erosion (17.3%). Granuloma was found in 9.6% of patients. Helicobacter pylori infection was identified in 5.8% of patients. Endoscopic and histologic findings were not significantly different, but the mean values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (60.7±27.1 vs. 43.0±27.6 mm/h, p=0.037) and C-reactive protein (16.5±28.2 vs. 6.62±13.4 mg/dL, p=0.014) were significantly different between patients with and without upper gastrointestinal CD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Upper GIT involvement was relatively common in pediatric patients with CD irrespective of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and H. pylori infection was relatively uncommon. The results of this study should aid the establishment of regional guidelines for upper GIT examination.

Unintended Pulmonary Artery Ligation during PDA Ligation.

A 10-day-old boy was transferred to our hospital due to tachypnea. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), 4.8 mm in diameter, with small ASD was diagnosed on echocardiography. Surgical ligation of the ductus was performed after failure of three cycles of ibuprofen. However, the ductus remained open on routine postoperative echocardiography on the second postoperative day, and chest CT revealed inadvertent ligation of the left pulmonary artery (LPA) rather than the PDA. Emergent operation successfully reopened the clipped LPA and ligated the ductus on the same (second postoperative) day.Mechanical ventilator support was weaned on postoperative day 21, and the baby was discharged on postoperative day 47 with a normal left lung shadow.

Probiotic bacteria, B. longum and L. acidophilus inhibit infection by rotavirus in vitro and decrease the duration of diarrhea in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evidence suggests that specific probiotics may be antagonistic to enteric pathogens and enhance immunity, and thus, provide a means of preventing or treating diarrheal diseases. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic strains isolated from Koreans for the treatment of viral gastroenteritis in young children and against rotavirus in vitro. METHODS: In vitro antiviral activities of probiotic isolates on rotavirus infection were investigated in the Vero cell using a plaque reduction assay. Then several probiotic strains with the high antiviral activity were chosen for further clinical trials. Twenty-nine pediatric patients who presented with symptoms of viral gastroenteritis were enrolled in a double-blind trial and randomly assigned at admission to receive six probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium longum, B. lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, and Pediococcus pentosaceus) at a dose of 10(9) colony forming units/g or a comparable placebo twice daily for 1 week. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Of the tested probiotic strains, B. longum isolated from an infant showed the greatest inhibitory effect and L. acidophilus showed the second-highest inhibitory effect. These probiotics significantly shortened the duration of diarrhea as compared with a placebo (6.1 ± 0.5 vs 7.2 ± 1.9, P = 0.030) and did not induce any adverse effects. Our findings suggest that the probiotic strains selected in the present study may be useful for the treatment of acute rotaviral gastroenteritis or as an alternative therapy without adverse effects.

Polyunsaturated Fatty acids in children.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are the major components of brain and retina, and are the essential fatty acids with important physiologically active functions. Thus, PUFAs should be provided to children, and are very important in the brain growth and development for fetuses, newborn infants, and children. Omega-3 fatty acids decrease coronary artery disease and improve blood flow. PUFAs have been known to have anti-inflammatory action and improved the chronic inflammation such as auto-immune diseases or degenerative neurologic diseases. PUFAs are used for metabolic syndrome related with obesity or diabetes. However, there are several considerations related with intake of PUFAs. Obsession with the intake of unsaturated fatty acids could bring about the shortage of essential fatty acids that are crucial for our body, weaken the immune system, and increase the risk of heart disease, arrhythmia, and stroke. In this review, we discuss types, physiologic mechanism of action of PUFAs, intake of PUFAs for children, recommended intake of PUFAs, and considerations for the intake of PUFAs.

Increased cow's milk protein-specific IgG4 levels after oral desensitization in 7- to 12-month-old infants.

BACKGROUND: Cow's milk protein (CMP)-specific IgG4 responses and the efficacy of oral desensitization in infants with cow's milk allergy (CMA) warrant more clarification. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether CMP-specific IgG4 responses develop during infancy and whether regular CM exposure is efficacious for inducing a CMP-specific IgG4 response accompanying CM desensitization in 7- to 12-month-old infants. METHODS: CM-specific IgE and CMP (α-lactalbumin, ß-lactoglobulin, and casein)-specific IgG4 levels were measured in 262 CM-sensitized children. Of these, 31 infants 7 to 12 months old with challenge-proved CMA were randomly assigned to oral desensitization or an elimination diet and evaluated 6 months later. RESULTS: CMP-specific IgG4 levels in 7- to 12-month-old infants were higher than in those younger than 6 months but comparable to those in children older than 12 months. CMP-specific IgG4 levels in 7- to 12-month-old infants with CMA were significantly lower than in those without CMA. Fourteen of 16 patients receiving oral desensitization could accept daily doses of 200 mL of CM, whereas all but 3 dropout patients receiving the elimination diet still showed allergic symptoms at the follow-up food challenge. In patients who became desensitized, CM-specific IgE levels were lower than at baseline, whereas CMP-specific IgG4 levels were significantly increased. In patients receiving the elimination diet, CM-specific IgE and CMP-specific IgG4 levels remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: CMP-specific IgG4 responses did not develop sufficiently in 7- to 12-month-old infants with CMA. Oral desensitization in 7- to 12-month-old infants with CMA was associated with the upregulation of CMP-specific IgG4 responses accompanying the alleviation of CMA symptoms.