Atopic dermatitis in the pediatric population: A cross-sectional,international epidemiologic study

BackgroundLittle is known on the current global prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in the pediatric population.ObjectiveTo estimate the real-world global prevalence of AD in the pediatric population and by disease severity.MethodsThis international, cross-sectional, web-based survey of children and adolescents (6 months to <18 years old) was conducted in the following 18 countries: North America (Canada, United States), Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico), Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom), Middle East and Eurasia (Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Russia), and East Asia (Japan, Taiwan). Prevalence was determined using the following 2 definitions: (1) diagnosed as having AD according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) criteria and self- or parent-report of ever being told by a physician that they or their child child had AD (eczema); and (2) reported AD based on the ISAAC criteria only. Severity was assessed using the Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) and Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM).ResultsAmong 65,661 responders, the 12-month diagnosed AD prevalence (ISAAC plus self-reported diagnosis) ranged from 2.7% to 20.1% across countries; reported AD (ISAAC only) was 13.5% to 41.9%. Severe AD evaluated with both PtGA and POEM was generally less than 15%; more subjects rated AD as mild on PtGA than suggested by POEM. No trends in prevalence were observed based on age or sex; prevalence was generally lower in rural residential settings than urban or suburban.ConclusionThis global survey in 18 countries revealed that AD affects a substantial proportion of the pediatric population. Although prevalence and severity varied across age groups and countries, less than 15% had severe AD.     

Maternal perception of the neonate as related to development

One hundred and twenty, full-term, normal, first-born infants were categorized at one month of age into a high-risk or low-risk group for possible development of emotional and developmental deviations. The predictions were based on measurements of the mother's perception of her infant as compared to the average. At age 4 1/2, the children were evaluated by two child psychiatrists who had no knowledge of the children's predictive risk rating. A statistically significant association was evident between prediction and outcome. This paper describes the methodology and discusses the implications of the findings.This paper was originally presented at American Psychiatric Association Meeting in Bal Harbour, Florida, May 8, 1969.The authors wish to express their appreciation to Mrs. Fredricka Latshaw, Dr. Sara Arnaud, Mr. Ted Grice, and Mrs. Karen Lento.     

Dietary Patterns,Dietary Interventions,and Mammographic Breast Density: A Systematic Literature Review

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common and deadliest malignancy among women. High mammographic breast density (MBD) is an established modifiable risk marker for BC, and it is of interest, for prevention purposes, to consider lifestyle factors that may modulate both MBD and BC risk. Here, we conducted a systematic review of the most up-to-date evidence on the association between diet as a whole and MBD. Methods: We considered as eligible for inclusion in our review (PROSPERO registration code CRD42022335289) the studies published until 31 December 2021, that reported on the association between a priori or a posteriori dietary patterns (in observational studies) or dietary interventions (in randomized controlled trials) and MBD. Results: In total, twelve studies were included. MBD tended to be inversely associated with adherence to dietary patterns characterized by high consumption of plant-based foods and low in meat, animal fats, and alcohol, defined both a priori (e.g., Mediterranean diet and WCRF/AICR guidelines) or a posteriori (e.g., “fruit-vegetable-cereal” and “salad-sauce-pasta/grains” patterns). Findings from intervention studies were in fair agreement with those from observational studies. Conclusions: While further studies are needed, we found suggestive evidence that the adoption of a healthy diet is associated with lower MBD.     

Dietary intake and micronutrient deficiency in children with cancer

Data regarding micronutrient deficiencies in children with cancer are lacking. We measured micronutrients in a subset of children with cancer (n = 23) participating in a randomized trial of the neutropenic diet. Ninety‐six percent of children had ≥1 micronutrient deficiency and 39% had ≥3 micronutrient deficiencies. Eighty‐six percent of children had vitamin C deficiency, 87% had 25‐hydroxyvitamin D deficiency, 50% had zinc deficiency, and 13% had vitamin A deficiency. Dietary intake did not correlate with micronutrient deficiency status. More data are needed regarding the prevalence and etiology of micronutrient deficiencies in children with cancer to further understand their implications and treatment.     

Thermal sensitisation by lonidamine of human melanoma cells grown at low extracellular pH

Purpose: This study tested the ability of lonidamine (LND), a clinically applicable inhibitor of monocarboxylate transporters (MCT), to thermally sensitise human melanoma cells cultured at a tumour-like extracellular pH (pH_e) 6.7.

Materials and methods: Human melanoma DB-1 cells cultured at pH_e 6.7 and pH_e 7.3 were exposed to 150?µM LND for 3?h, beginning 1?h prior to heating at 42?°C (2?h). Intracellular pH (pH_i) was determined using 2′,7′-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) and whole spectrum analysis. Levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) were determined by immunoblot analysis. Cell survival was determined by colony formation.

Results: Treatment with LND at pH_e 6.7 reduced pH_i to 6.30?±?0.21, reduced thermal induction of HSPs, and sensitised cells growing at pH_e 6.7 to 42?°C. When LND was combined with an acute acidification from pH_e 6.7 to pH_e 6.5, pH_i was reduced to 6.09?±?0.26, and additional sensitisation was observed. LND had negligible effects on cells cultured at pH 7.3.

Conclusions: The results show that LND can reduce pH_i in human melanoma cells cultured at a tumour-like low pH_e so that the 42?°C induction of HSPs are abrogated and the cells are sensitised to thermal therapy. Cells cultured at a normal tissue-like pH_e 7.3 were not sensitised to 42?°C by LND. These findings support the strategy that human melanoma cells growing in an acidic environment can be sensitised to thermal therapy in vivo by exposure to an MCT inhibitor such as LND.