DR. EMILY ROTHBAUM PERITO, M.D.

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This study looked at how well transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) works for children with acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis by analyzing data from nearly 900 patients. The researchers found that TAUS effectively visualized the pancreas in about 65% of exams, with no significant difference between the two groups, and it's particularly useful because it's readily available and easy for kids to tolerate. These findings are important because they highlight TAUS as a reliable option for assessing pancreas issues in children, though more research is needed to understand its role in tracking disease progression.

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This study looked at whether online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) could help reduce abdominal pain and improve quality of life for teenagers suffering from pancreatitis. Researchers involved 90 adolescents and found that while the therapy was well-received, there wasn’t a clear difference in pain relief or improvements in health outcomes compared to a pain education program. This research is important because it shows that online therapy can be accepted by young patients, and future larger studies might provide more definitive answers on its effectiveness.

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In this study, researchers looked at how childhood acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) can lead to chronic pancreatitis (CP). They found that of the 626 children studied, 21% progressed from ARP to CP, particularly those with certain genetic mutations and more frequent pancreatitis episodes. This is important because nearly a quarter of these children developed long-term issues like pancreatic insufficiency, showing the need for careful monitoring and management of ARP in kids.

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This study looked at how children who had a liver transplant and their caregivers perceive the child's health-related quality of life. Researchers found that when there were bigger differences in responses between the child and caregiver, it was linked to poorer health-related quality of life, with a significant correlation of around -0.47. Understanding these discrepancies is important because reducing them could lead to better care and outcomes for children after transplantation.

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This study looked at how high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) affect children with repeated or ongoing pancreatitis, involving 559 kids. The findings showed that having mildly to moderately elevated triglycerides did not cause more pancreatitis attacks or lead to more chronic cases, but it was linked to more complications such as increased inflammation, more hospital visits, and more missed school days. Treating high triglyceride levels could help reduce these complications and improve the quality of life for affected kids.

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Researchers studied how to improve pediatric liver transplants by creating a new online system that collects and analyzes important data from transplant centers. They found that this system, developed in partnership with SNEPT and the United Network for Organ Sharing, successfully displays information that can help hospitals improve their transplant practices and reduce complications. This matters because it helps ensure that more children receive the best possible care and outcomes during liver transplant surgery.

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The study looked at how well young people with cystic fibrosis (CF) are being screened for liver disease associated with their condition. It found that 19% of these patients were not fully screened, with the most commonly missed test being a liver enzyme called GGT. Notably, Hispanic patients and those with public insurance were at a higher risk of incomplete screenings. This matters because better screening can lead to earlier detection and treatment of liver issues in these patients, especially if they receive care from specialized doctors.

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This study looked at how weight gain in the first six months of life affects the risk of a liver disease called MASLD in Latino children. Researchers found that babies who gained more weight were more likely to develop MASLD later; specifically, a 54% increased risk for those whose weight-for-age scores went up significantly. This finding is important because it highlights the need for early check-ups and guidance for parents to help prevent liver disease in children.

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The study focused on improving outcomes for children undergoing liver transplants by creating a collaborative system called the Starzl Network for Excellence in Pediatric Transplantation (SNEPT), which started with 10 and expanded to 16 transplant centers across the US and Canada. Over eight years, the network identified four key areas to enhance care: surgical practices, managing medications, quality of life, and helping children transition to adult care. This approach has led to better cooperation among centers, allowing them to share successful techniques and improve the overall health and well-being of children receiving liver transplants.

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This study looked at how different liver transplant centers manage medications given to children right after they receive a transplant. It found that centers with more consistent medication practices had a significantly lower likelihood—2.72 times less likely—of the child experiencing organ rejection within the first year. Understanding and reducing differences in these medication approaches could help improve transplant outcomes for kids.

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This study looked at how the new National Liver Review Board (NLRB) changed the way liver transplant exceptions are managed in the U.S. Over two years, they reviewed more than 22,000 requests for exceptions to the usual transplant rules. They found that while the speed of decision-making improved (taking about 3.73 days instead of longer), fewer initial requests were getting approved—down to about 64% for adults with other diagnoses. The changes have made the system fairer and more efficient, allowing patients to have a similar chance of getting a transplant regardless of whether they have an exception status.

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This study looked at how expanding Medicaid affects the outcomes for children who receive liver transplants in the U.S. It found that after Medicaid expansion, there was a 30% lower risk of liver transplant failure or death, and a remarkable 72% lower risk of death overall for these children. These findings highlight the importance of expanding access to health insurance to improve survival and reduce inequalities among young patients needing liver transplants.

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This study focused on how families and healthcare providers can work together to improve research on pediatric liver transplants. Over two years, 240 families and 133 doctors participated in online modules and discussions to share their ideas and priorities for future research, leading to the creation of a guide for patient-centered research. This collaboration is important because it ensures that the experiences and needs of families are heard, which can lead to better outcomes in pediatric liver transplant care.

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This research studied how not having enough food at home affects the liver health of Latinx children. Among 136 children observed, 29% lived in food-insecure households when they were 4 years old, and 27% developed a liver disease called MASLD by the time they were 5 to 12 years old. The study found that children who faced food insecurity at age 4 were 3.7 times more likely to have MASLD later on, highlighting the importance of addressing food insecurity to improve children's health outcomes.

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This study looked at how effective oral vancomycin is in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children with a liver condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Researchers found that patients taking vancomycin were more than five times more likely to experience clinical remission of IBD after one year compared to those who did not take the medication. This is important because finding effective treatments for IBD can significantly improve the quality of life for these young patients.

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In a study of over 1,100 children admitted to the hospital for biliary acute pancreatitis or gallstones, researchers found that performing gallbladder surgery during their initial hospital stay significantly reduced the chance of needing to return to the hospital within 30 days. Specifically, only 11% of those who had surgery were readmitted, compared to nearly 49% of those who did not have the surgery. This is important because it suggests that early surgery can greatly improve recovery for these young patients, and healthcare guidelines may need to change to encourage this practice.

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This study looked at how available and used a specific medical procedure called ERCP is at children's hospitals in the U.S. between 2009 and 2019. They found that 25% of kids needing ERCP for pancreatic issues and 8% for biliary issues couldn't access it. The research highlighted significant inequalities, showing that children from certain racial backgrounds and those living in rural areas have less access to this important procedure, raising concerns about fair medical treatment for all children.

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Researchers studied the effects of pancreatic enzyme therapy (PERT) on children with acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis, finding that it significantly reduced painful flare-ups. In a group of 356 children, those who took PERT experienced a drop in their annual episodes of acute pancreatitis from 3.14 to 0.71, and 42% of PERT users didn’t have any episodes during the follow-up period. This matters because it highlights a potential treatment that could help prevent painful complications in these children, showing the need for further clinical trials.

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This study focused on creating a tool to measure hope specifically for young people aged 12-16 who have chronic health conditions. Researchers interviewed 11 youth, discovering that while all reported enjoying activities most of the time, only 36% felt energetic regularly. This assessment tool is important because it directly reflects young people's own understanding of hope, which can help improve how health interventions are designed for them.

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This study focused on figuring out which key health outcomes should be measured when testing treatments for recurring acute pancreatitis (RAP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Researchers gathered input from patients, parents, and healthcare providers through surveys and found that the most important outcomes to track are pain severity, how well patients can engage in daily life, hospital visits related to pancreatitis, and episodes of acute flare-ups. These findings matter because they help ensure that future clinical trials measure what really matters to patients and can lead to better treatment strategies.

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This study looked at the family planning experiences of women aged 14-45 who have had kidney transplants. Out of 152 surveyed participants, 26% didn’t know they could get pregnant after their transplant, and while 72% used contraception afterward, a significant 24% relied on less effective methods. The findings highlight that many women lack proper reproductive counseling, which is crucial for helping them manage their health risks and pregnancy decisions after a kidney transplant.

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This study looked at how vaccinated children who received solid organ transplants were affected by Omicron infections. It found that these children got infected frequently, even though they had strong antibody responses. However, the infections were generally not severe. This matters because it highlights the ongoing risk of COVID-19 for vulnerable groups, even with vaccination.

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The study looked at how long antibodies lasted after three COVID-19 vaccine doses in teenagers who had received organ transplants. Six months after the third shot, all 34 participants still had measurable antibodies, though about 29% showed decreased levels. This matters because it indicates that while these teens maintain some immunity for at least six months, they still had a few breakthrough infections, highlighting the continuous risk from new virus variants.

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This study looked at how different early treatments to suppress the immune system affect the success of liver transplants in kids during their first year after surgery. It found that using a type of antibody called T-cell depleting antibodies can improve chances of survival in some cases but may also increase risks in others, showing contrasting results in two data sources. Overall, the research highlights the need for better teamwork among hospitals to find the best treatment strategies for these young patients.

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Researchers looked into whether a specific quality-of-life questionnaire for kids who had liver transplants could be used easily in doctor’s offices. They found that while many parents found it easy to fill out the questionnaire on a mobile app, only two out of ten hospitals continued using it regularly due to time and staffing issues worsened by the pandemic. Making it easier for parents to use the app outside of clinic visits may help more hospitals adopt this important tool for tracking kids' well-being after surgery.

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This study looked at how parents of children who received liver transplants feel about their child's medication that prevents organ rejection but can also cause complications. Out of 82 parents surveyed, 46% were more worried about the side effects from this medication than about the risk of organ rejection, and even among those whose children were on just one type of medication, nearly 30% still felt more concern about side effects. This is important because it highlights that parents need more support and information to manage these medications effectively for their children's long-term health.

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This study examined how exposure to glyphosate, a common herbicide, and its breakdown product, AMPA, affects liver health and metabolic syndrome in young adults. Researchers found that higher levels of AMPA in urine at age 5 were linked to a 55% increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome and a 14% greater risk of liver issues by age 18. This matters because it indicates that early exposure to these chemicals could lead to significant health problems later in life.

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This study looked at how living with cystic fibrosis can cause trauma-related stress in patients, which isn’t fully recognized by existing medical guidelines. Researchers interviewed 51 people, including patients and their families, and found that traumatic experiences often led to feelings of shame and anxiety, as well as problems in following medical advice and relationships with healthcare providers. Recognizing these stress symptoms is important because it can lead to better support and treatment for people with cystic fibrosis.

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Researchers surveyed 304 healthcare providers to understand how pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS) affects the care of children with chronic illnesses. They found that nearly all providers (99%) believe PMTS impacts patient health, leading many to change treatment plans, with 32% deferring or stopping treatments and 50% reporting patients not taking medications as prescribed. This study highlights the need for better training and resources for healthcare providers to help manage PMTS, which could improve health outcomes for young patients facing ongoing medical challenges.

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This study looked at how measuring ALT levels in the blood of children who received liver transplants can better inform medical decisions four to five years after surgery. Researchers found that children with higher adjusted ALT levels were more likely to experience issues like acute rejection and needed more follow-up procedures (for example, biopsies) compared to those with lower levels. Understanding these ALT measurements can help doctors identify at-risk patients and improve care for them.

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This study looked at the bone health of children suffering from recurrent and chronic pancreatitis, finding that 13% of the 87 kids had lower-than-normal height for their age, and 6.4% had lower-than-normal bone density compared to healthy children. These results show that kids with these pancreatic disorders are more likely to have growth and bone health issues. It's important to monitor and support the growth and bone development of these children to help improve their overall health.

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In a conference held in October 2021, experts discussed the challenges of increasing living donor liver transplants (LDLT) in the U.S. They identified key barriers, including financial hardships for donors and complicated regulations that slow down the process, which limit the number of transplants. Addressing these issues is crucial because expanding LDLT can save more lives, but it requires better support for donors and clearer guidelines for transplant centers.

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Using national transplant registry data, researchers examined how often pediatric liver transplant centers use partial or living-donor grafts, and what effect this has on outcomes. Centers that more aggressively used these technical variant grafts had lower waitlist mortality for children. The findings argue for broader adoption of split and living-donor livers at pediatric transplant programs.

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The study examined the long-term health of children who received liver transplants, focusing on tracking their outcomes years after the surgery. Out of nearly 8,000 children who survived at least one year following their transplant, about 1 in 6 were not reachable for follow-up, which was more common for those transplanted in the 1990s. This lack of follow-up can lead to an inaccurate understanding of long-term success, as almost 10% needed another transplant and 8% faced organ failure later on, highlighting the need for better ongoing care and monitoring for these young patients.

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This study looked at liver transplant patients who were children, tracking changes in liver health over 10 to 15 years. After examining 78 kids, the researchers found that at around 8 years post-transplant, about 29% had little to no liver scarring, 56% had moderate scarring, and 14% had severe scarring. Over the next several years, most patients showed stable liver health, which is good news for children with normal liver tests and highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring of liver health in these patients.

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This study looked at the quality of life in children suffering from acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis. Researchers found that these kids experienced low physical quality of life, scoring an average of 38.5 out of 100, mainly due to issues like severe abdominal pain and emotional problems. The findings emphasize the need to address pain and mental health support for these children to improve their overall well-being.

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This study looked at how consistently different pediatric radiologists agree on imaging findings (from CT and MRI scans) when diagnosing chronic pancreatitis in children. They reviewed a total of 156 scans from 110 children and found that agreement on some key imaging features was good—like parenchymal calcifications on CT, which had a high agreement score of 0.81, and main duct irregularity on MRI, which scored 0.74. The findings show that there is variability in how radiologists interpret these images, highlighting the need for clearer standards in diagnosing chronic pancreatitis in kids.

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This research looked at how to manage pain in children with chronic pancreatitis, a condition that causes ongoing pain and discomfort. Out of nearly 9,000 studies examined, only 287 were relevant, and none provided solid information on the effectiveness of pain medications or other treatment methods specifically for children. The findings showed that procedures like surgery can help relieve pain, but more detailed and large-scale studies are needed to find the best ways to manage pain in these children.

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This study looked at the impact of traumatic medical experiences on children with chronic illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis. It found that more than two-thirds of the kids reported experiencing traumatic medical events, and 36% showed signs of medical traumatic stress. This stress was linked to factors such as frequent hospital visits and the stress levels of their parents, which could lead to issues like missing school and lower quality of life. Addressing these stress symptoms is important for improving the overall health and well-being of these children.

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This study looked at 689 children with either acute recurrent pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis to understand the factors that contribute to these conditions. It found that chronic pancreatitis was more common in girls and was often linked to a family history of the disease, younger age at the first pancreatitis attack, and certain genetic factors; 33% of those with chronic pancreatitis also developed issues with digestion, and nearly 9% developed diabetes. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring children with a family history of pancreatitis or those experiencing constant abdominal pain, as they may be at higher risk for more serious health problems.

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This study looked at how well certain illness symptoms can predict COVID-19 infections in children aged 0-18 years. Out of 2,167 children tested, a whopping 88.9% tested negative for the virus, with exposure to someone with COVID-19 being the biggest indicator of a positive test. It found that common symptoms like a sore throat or stomach pain didn't really help in predicting COVID-19, and if schools exclude children based on these non-specific symptoms, they could miss 19 to 48 school days per case without improving safety. This highlights the need to rethink which symptoms should lead to kids staying home from school.

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Researchers focused on improving clinical trials for recurrent acute and chronic pancreatitis, diseases that cause severe abdominal pain and can significantly lower quality of life. They found there are currently no effective treatments to slow down these diseases, highlighting a crucial need for new studies. The workshop emphasized the importance of including patient experiences and perspectives when designing these trials to better address their needs and improve future research efforts.