Statins-Beyond Their Use in Hypercholesterolemia: Focus on the Pediatric Population.

Statins are a class of medications primarily used in adults to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. However, the use of statins in children is generally limited and carefully considered despite the well-documented anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and pro-apoptotic effects, as well as their effect on cell signaling pathways. These multifaceted effects, known as pleiotropic effects, encompass enhancements in endothelial function, a significant reduction in oxidative stress, the stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques, immunomodulation, the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle proliferation, an influence on bone metabolism, anti-inflammatory properties, antithrombotic effects, and a diminished risk of dementia. In children, recent research revealed promising perspectives on the use of statins in various conditions including neurological, cardiovascular, and oncologic diseases, as well as special situations, such as transplanted children. The long-term safety and efficacy of statins in children are still subjects of ongoing research, and healthcare providers carefully assess the individual risk factors and benefits before prescribing these medications to pediatric patients. The use of statins in children is generally less common than in adults, and it requires close monitoring and supervision by healthcare professionals. Further research is needed to fully assess the pleiotropic effects of statins in the pediatric population.

Insulin Pump Therapy Efficacy and Key Factors Influencing Adherence in Pediatric Population-A Narrative Review.

Objective: we aimed to highlight the state of the art in terms of pediatric population adherence to insulin pumps. This study intends to underline the significance of identifying and minimizing, to the greatest extent feasible, the factors that adversely affect the juvenile population's adherence to insulin pump therapy. Materials and methods: articles from PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct databases were evaluated using the following search terms: adherence, pump insulin therapy, children, pediatric population, and type 1 diabetes, in combination with several synonyms such as compliance, treatment adherence, pump adherence, patient dropouts, and treatment refusal. Results: A better glycemic control is connected to a better adherence to diabetes management. We identify, enumerate, and discuss a number of variables which make it difficult to follow an insulin pump therapy regimen. Several key factors might improve adherence to insulin pump therapy: efficient communication between care provider and patients (including home-based video-visits), continuous diabetes education, family support and parental involvement, as well as informational, practical assistance, and emotional support from the society. Conclusions: every cause and obstacle that prevents young patients from adhering to insulin pumps optimally is an opportunity for intervention to improve glycemic control and, as a result, their quality of life.

Quality of Life in Romanian Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Survey Using an Interdisciplinary Healthcare Intervention.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of life in Romanian type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) children attending an early interdisciplinary healthcare intervention. Hypothesis: engaging T1DM children in leisure sports leads to a better quality of life. Methods: This research embeds a cross-sectional observational study, incorporating some clinical characteristics relevant for diabetes management. The Kidscreen 27 questionnaire was issued to 100 T1DM children aged between 7 and 17 years. Parents completed the questionnaire. All subjects received interdisciplinary healthcare in the previous year. Statistics were performed using SPSS, v20. The required sample size of 100 subjects was obtained with a confidence interval of 95% and a sampling error of 0.009. The tests were two-sided, with a type I error set at 0.05. Results: Subjects reached an increased level of physical well-being, psychological well-being, autonomy, parent relationships, peer and social support, and school inclusion. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between children who practice leisure activities and children who only participated in physical education (PE) classes, regarding their physical well-being (t = 2.123). ANOVA demonstrated significant differences between age groups regarding physical well-being. Conclusion: The interdisciplinary healthcare intervention increased the efficiency of T1DM management with positive effects on life quality.