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Competing Interests: Financial/Nonfinancial Disclosures None declared.

Background: The Asian American (AsA) population is heterogenous and rapidly growing; however, little is known regarding childhood asthma burden among AsA ethnic groups. The relation between obesity and asthma in AsA ethnic groups also remains unclear., Objective: To evaluate asthma prevalence and the relation of obesity to asthma risk among children in 7 AsA ethnic groups., Methods: We analyzed data from the California Health Interview Survey from 2011 to 2020. AsA ethnicities were self-reported. Body mass index z-scores, calculated from self-reported height/weight, were used to categorize children by obesity status, based on body mass index-for-age growth charts. Prevalence of self-reported lifetime doctor-diagnosed asthma and asthma attack in the last 12 months was calculated. We performed multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for age and sex., Results: Of 34,146 survey respondents, 12.2% non-Hispanic White and 12.5% AsA children reported lifetime asthma. Among AsA ethnic groups, however, lifetime asthma ranged from 5.1% (Korean American) to 21.5% (Filipino American). Non-Hispanic White children and AsA children had a similar lifetime asthma prevalence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.05; 95% CI, 0.71-1.55; P = .81), but prevalence was lower in Korean American children (aOR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.19-0.73; P = .004) and higher in Filipino American children (aOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.22-3.17; P = .006). The lifetime asthma prevalence of different AsA ethnic groups persisted even when stratified by obesity status., Conclusion: Childhood lifetime asthma prevalence varied among AsA ethnic groups, with lowest prevalence in Korean American children and highest prevalence in Filipino American. Further characterization of asthma burden among AsA ethnic groups may help guide asthma screening and prevention measures and offer new insights into asthma pathogenesis., Competing Interests: Disclosures The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although racial and ethnic disparities in allergic diseases have previously been observed, the relationship between social determinants of health (SDoH) and allergic disease prevalence among disaggregated Asian American (AsA) subgroups is poorly understood., Objective: To examine the association of SDoH with allergic disease prevalence among disaggregated AsA subgroups., Methods: Using the 2011-2018 National Health Interview Survey, we examined caregiver-reported race and ethnicity, SDoH, and allergic diseases. We compared survey-weighted allergic disease prevalence by AsA subgroup. Subgroup-stratified multivariable logistic regression accounting for age, sex, child/parent nativity, and survey year modeled the association between SDoH and allergic disease prevalence. We provide predicted probabilities of having each allergic disease based on exposure to each SDoH., Results: We examined data from 5042 non-Hispanic AsA children representing 3,264,768 AsA children. Approximately 25% of all AsA children reported at least one allergic disease, ranging from 20% of Asian Indian children to 30% of Filipino/a children. The number of unfavorable SDoH was lowest among Asian Indian and Chinese children (mean 0.7) and highest among "other Asian" children (mean 1.2). In stratified analyses, financial instability and inaccessible healthcare were associated with greater probability of allergic diseases among some, but not all AsA subgroups. Lower parent education level, food insecurity, and rent/other housing arrangement were associated with lower probability of allergic disease among some AsA children., Conclusion: There was heterogeneity in the association of SDoH and allergic disease prevalence among AsA children. Further study of SDoH may inform modifiable environmental factors for allergic disease among AsA children., (© 2024. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.)

Incident childhood asthma risk has not been examined among diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups. In a large California healthcare system, incident asthma was higher among young Filipino/a, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and South Asian children compared with non-Hispanic White children, whereas Chinese and Japanese children were similar., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Funded by the Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education and the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Cardiovascular and Metabolic Conditions Section., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is no accepted grading system classifying the severity of immediate reactions to drugs., Objective: The purpose of this article is to present a proposed grading system developed through the consensus of drug allergy experts from the United States Drug Allergy Registry (USDAR) Consortium., Methods: The USDAR investigators sought to develop a consensus severity grading system for immediate drug reactions that is applicable to clinical care and research., Results: The USDAR grading scale scores severity levels on a scale of 0 to 4. A grade of no reaction (NR) is used for patients who undergo challenge without any symptoms or signs, and it would confirm a negative challenge result. A grade 0 reaction is indicative of primarily subjective complaints that are commonly seen with both historical drug reactions and during drug challenges, and it would suggest a low likelihood of a true drug allergic reaction. Grades 1 to 4 meet the criteria for a positive challenge result and may be considered indicative of a drug allergy. Grade 1 reactions are suggestive of a potential immediate drug reaction with mild symptoms. Grade 2 reactions are more likely to be immediate drug reactions of moderate severity. Grade 3 reactions have features suggestive of a severe allergic reaction, whereas grade 4 reactions are life-threatening reactions such as anaphylactic shock and fatal anaphylaxis., Conclusion: This proposed grading schema for immediate drug reactions improves on prior schemata by being developed specifically for immediate drug reactions and being easy to implement in clinical and research practice., (Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Understanding early life risk factors for decreased lung function could guide prevention efforts and improve lung health throughout the lifespan. Our objective was to investigate the association between history of severe (hospitalized) bronchiolitis in infancy and age 6-year lung function., Methods: We analyzed data from two prospective cohort studies: infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis and a parallel cohort of healthy infants. Children were followed longitudinally, and spirometry was performed at age 6 years. To examine the relationship between history of severe bronchiolitis and primary outcomes - FEV1% predicted (pp) and FEV1/FVCpp - we used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for insurance status, perterm birth, secondhand smoke exposure, breastfeeding status, traffic-related air pollution and polygenic risk score. Secondary outcomes included FVCpp and bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR)., Results: Age 6-year spirometry was available for 425 children with history of severe bronchiolitis in infancy and 48 controls. Unadjusted analysis revealed that while most children had normal range lung function, children with a history of severe bronchiolitis had lower FEV1pp and FEV1/FVCpp. In adjusted analyses, the same findings were observed: FEV1pp was 8% lower (p = 0.004) and FEV1/FVCpp was 4% lower (p = 0.007) in children with history of severe bronchiolitis versus controls. FVC and BDR did not differ between groups., Conclusions: Children with severe bronchiolitis in infancy have decreased FEV1 and FEV1/FVC at age 6 years, compared to controls. These children may be at increased risk for chronic respiratory illness later in life., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The other authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis impacts over 700 million people globally. Schistosoma mansoni, the trematode parasite that causes the most common type of schistosomiasis, requires planorbid pond snails of the genus Biomphalaria to support its larval development and transformation to the cercarial form that can infect humans. A greater understanding of neural signaling systems that are specific to the Biomphalaria intermediate host could lead to novel strategies for parasite or snail control. This study examined a Biomphalaria glabrata neural channel that is gated by the neuropeptide FMRF-NH2. The Biomphalaria glabrata FMRF-NH2 gated sodium channel (Bgl-FaNaC) amino acid sequence was highly conserved with FaNaCs found in related gastropods, especially the planorbid Planorbella trivolvis (91% sequence identity). In common with the P. trivolvis FaNaC, the B. glabrata channel exhibited a low affinity (EC50: 3 x 10-4 M) and high specificity for the FMRF-NH2 agonist. Its expression in the central nervous system, detected with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, was widespread, with the protein localized mainly to neuronal fibers and the mRNA confined to cell bodies. Colocalization of the Bgl-FaNaC message with its FMRF-NH2 agonist precursor occurred in some neurons associated with male mating behavior. At the mRNA level, Bgl-FaNaC expression was decreased at 20 and 35 days post infection (dpi) by S. mansoni. Increased expression of the transcript encoding the FMRF-NH2 agonist at 35 dpi was proposed to reflect a compensatory response to decreased receptor levels. Altered FMRF-NH2 signaling could be vital for parasite proliferation in its intermediate host and may therefore present innovative opportunities for snail control., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Vicente-Rodríguez et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Previous research suggests that affectionate touch such as hugs might downregulate stress systems such as the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. However, the current literature lacks in generalizability beyond the laboratory setting and outside the context of romantic relationships. The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a measure of the HPA axis and is responsive to daily fluctuations in stress and social information. However, associations between affectionate touch and the CAR have never been assessed. This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure daily hugging behaviors in 104 first-year college students and salivary cortisol to assess the CAR. Participants who reported more daily hugs in their social interactions had significantly smaller CARs the next morning compared to days they reported fewer hugs. This study contributes to the literature on social interactions and stress responsive systems and emphasizes the importance of assessing affectionate touch behaviors such as hugs that can be exchanged outside the context of romantic relationships.

Data on the association of maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with childhood asthma are limited and inconsistent. We aimed to investigate these associations in a U.S. pre-birth cohort. Analyses included 16,351 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Massachusetts General Hospital Maternal-Child Cohort (1998-2010). Data were obtained by linking electronic health records for prenatal visits/delivery to determine BMI, GWG, and GDM (National Diabetes Data Group criteria) and to determine asthma incidence and allergies (atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis) for children. The associations of prenatal exposures with asthma were evaluated using logistic regression adjusted for maternal characteristics. A total of 2306 children (14%) developed asthma by age 5 years. Overall, no association was found between GWG and asthma. GDM was positively associated with offspring asthma (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.14-1.88). Associations between GDM and asthma were observed only among mothers with early pregnancy BMI between 20 and 24.9 kg/m 2 (OR 2.31, CI 1.46-3.65, p-interaction 0.02). We report novel findings on the impact of prenatal exposures on asthma, including increased risk among mothers with GDM, particularly those with a normal BMI. These findings support the strengthening of interventions targeted toward a healthier pregnancy, which may also be helpful for childhood asthma prevention.

Background: Acid suppressant medications (ASMs) are commonly prescribed in infancy. Little is known about the relationship between ASM exposure and risk of childhood asthma and atopic conditions., Objective: We sought to examine the association between infant ASM exposure and risk for developing recurrent wheeze, allergen sensitization, and asthma in early childhood., Methods: We used data from a diverse, multicenter, prospective cohort study of 921 infants with a history of bronchiolitis. ASM exposure (histamine-2 receptor antagonists and/or proton pump inhibitors) during infancy (age: <12 months) was ascertained by parent report and medical record review. The outcomes were recurrent wheeze by age 3 years, early childhood allergen sensitization (serum specific IgE), and asthma by age 6 years. We constructed multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for multiple confounders., Results: Of the 921 children in the cohort, 202 (22%) were exposed to ASMs during infancy. Compared with unexposed children, those exposed to ASM were more likely to develop recurrent wheeze by age 3 years (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20-2.08, P = .001) and asthma by age 6 years (adjusted odds ratio: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.22-2.27, P = .001). ASM exposure during infancy was not significantly associated with the development of early childhood allergen sensitization (adjusted odds ratio: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.70-1.44, P = .99)., Conclusions: Although exposure to ASMs during infancy does not increase the risk of allergen sensitization in early childhood, ASM exposure during infancy increases the risk of recurrent wheeze and asthma during early childhood., (Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy and interrater reliability of (1) point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) image interpretation for identification of intussusception and (2) reliability of secondary signs associated with intussusception among experts compared with novice POCUS reviewers., Methods: We conducted a planned secondary analysis of a prospective, convenience sample of children aged 3 months to 6 years who were evaluated with POCUS for intussusception across 17 international pediatric emergency departments between October 2018 and December 2020. A random sample of 100 POCUS examinations was reviewed by novice and expert POCUS reviewers. The primary outcome was identification of the presence or absence of intussusception. Secondary outcomes included intussusception size and the presence of trapped free fluid or echogenic foci. Accuracy was summarized using sensitivity and specificity, which were estimated via generalized mixed effects logistic regression. Interrater reliability was summarized via Light's κ statistics with bootstrapped standard errors (SEs). Accuracy and reliability of expert and novice POCUS reviewers were compared., Results: Eighteen expert and 16 novice POCUS reviewers completed the reviews. The average expert sensitivity was 94.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 88.6-97.5), and the specificity was 94.3% (95% CI, 90.3-96.7), significantly higher than the average novice sensitivity of 84.7% (95% CI, 74.3-91.4) and specificity of 80.4% (95% CI, 72.4, 86.7). κ was significantly greater for expert (0.679, SE 0.039) compared with novice POCUS reviewers (0.424, SE 0.044; difference 0.256, SE 0.033). For our secondary outcome measure of intussusception size, κ was significantly greater for experts (0.661, SE 0.038) compared with novices (0.397, SE 0.041; difference 0.264, SE 0.029). Interrater reliability was weak for expert and minimal for novice reviewers regarding the detection of trapped free fluid and echogenic foci., Conclusions: Expert POCUS reviewers demonstrate high accuracy and moderate interrater reliability when identifying intussusception via image interpretation and perform better than novice reviewers., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

While fluoroquinolones, vancomycin, macrolides, and tetracyclines are generally safe antibiotics, they can induce both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). Historically, less has been published on allergies to these antibiotics compared to beta lactams, but the prevalence of non-beta lactam HSRs is increasing. To fluoroquinolones, immediate HSRs are more common than delayed reactions. Both IgE and non-IgE mechanisms, such as the mast cell receptor Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2), have been implicated in fluoroquinolone-induced anaphylaxis. Skin testing for fluoroquinolones is controversial, and the gold standard for diagnosis is a graded dose challenge. To vancomycin, the most common reaction is vancomycin infusion reaction (previously called "red man syndrome"), which is caused by infusion rate-dependent direct mast cell degranulation. Severity can range from flushing and pruritis to angioedema, bronchospasm, and hypotension that mimic type I HSRs. MRGPRX2 has been implicated in vancomycin infusion reactions. IgE-mediated HSRs to vancomycin are rare. Vancomycin skin testing yields high false positive rates. Thus, direct provocation challenge with slower infusion rate and/or antihistamine pre-treatment is preferred if symptoms are mild to moderate, and desensitization can be considered if symptoms are severe. To tetracyclines, non-IgE-mediated and delayed HSRs predominate with cutaneous reactions being the most common. There is no standardized skin testing for tetracyclines, and avoidance is generally recommended after a severe reaction because of the paucity of data for testing. Graded dose challenges and desensitizations can be considered for alternative or index tetracyclines if there are no alternatives. With macrolides, urticaria/angioedema is the most common immediate HSR, and rash is the most common delayed HSR. The predictive value for skin testing to macrolides is similarly poorly defined. In general, HSRs to fluroquinolones, vancomycin, macrolides, and tetracyclines are challenging to diagnose given the lack of validated skin testing and in vitro testing. Direct provocation challenge remains the gold standard for diagnosis, but the benefits of confirming an allergy may not outweigh the risk of a severe reaction. Skin testing, direct provocation challenge, and/or desensitization to the index non-beta lactam antibiotic or alternatives in its class may be reasonable approaches depending on the clinical context and patient preferences., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) apps targeting health behaviors using behavior change techniques (BCTs) have been successful in promoting healthy behaviors; however, their efficacy with sleep is unclear. Some work has shown success in promoting sleep through mHealth, whereas there have been reports that sleep apps can be adverse and lead to unhealthy obsessions with achieving perfect sleep., Objective: This study aims to report and describe the use of BCTs in mHealth apps for sleep with the following research questions: How many BCTs are used on average in sleep apps, and does this relate to their effectiveness on sleep outcomes? Are there specific BCTs used more or less often in sleep apps, and does this relate to their effectiveness on sleep outcomes? Does the effect of mHealth app interventions on sleep change when distinguishing between dimension and measurement of sleep?, Methods: We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to review articles on mHealth app interventions for sleep published between 2010 and 2020., Results: A total of 12 studies met the eligibility criteria. Most studies reported positive sleep outcomes, and there were no negative effects reported. Sleep quality was the most common dimension of sleep targeted. Subjective measures of sleep were used across all apps, whereas objective measures were often assessed but rarely reported as part of results. The average number of BCTs used was 7.67 (SD 2.32; range 3-11) of 16. Of the 12 studies, the most commonly used BCTs were feedback and monitoring (n=11, 92%), shaping knowledge (n=11, 92%), goals and planning (n=10, 83%), and antecedents (n=10, 83%), whereas the least common were scheduled consequences (n=0, 0%), self-belief (n=0, 0%), and covert learning (n=0, 0%). Most apps used a similar set of BCTs that unfortunately did not allow us to distinguish which BCTs were present when studies reported more positive outcomes., Conclusions: Our study describes the peer-reviewed literature on sleep apps and provides a foundation for further examination and optimization of BCTs used in mHealth apps for sleep. We found strong evidence that mHealth apps are effective in improving sleep, and the potential reasons for the lack of adverse sleep outcome reporting are discussed. We found evidence that the type of BCTs used in mHealth apps for sleep differed from other health outcomes, although more research is needed to understand how BCTs can be implemented effectively to improve sleep using mHealth and the mechanisms of action through which they are effective (eg, self-efficacy, social norms, and attitudes)., (©Amber Carmen Arroyo, Matthew J Zawadzki. Originally published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth (https://mhealth.jmir.org), 04.04.2022.)

Study Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by experienced clinician sonologists compared to radiology-performed ultrasound (RADUS) for detection of clinically important intussusception, defined as intussusception requiring radiographic or surgical reduction., Methods: We conducted a multicenter, noninferiority, observational study among a convenience sample of children aged 3 months to 6 years treated in tertiary care emergency departments across North and Central America, Europe, and Australia. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy of POCUS and RADUS with respect to clinically important intussusception. Sample size was determined using a 4-percentage-point noninferiority margin for the absolute difference in accuracy. Secondary outcomes included agreement between POCUS and RADUS for identification of secondary sonographic findings., Results: The analysis included 256 children across 17 sites (35 sonologists). Of the 256 children, 58 (22.7%) had clinically important intussusception. POCUS identified 60 (23.4%) children with clinically important intussusception. The diagnostic accuracy of POCUS was 97.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 94.9% to 99.0%), compared to 99.3% (95% CI 96.8% to 99.9%) for RADUS. The absolute difference between the accuracy of RADUS and that of POCUS was 1.5 percentage points (95% CI -0.6 to 3.6). Sensitivity for POCUS was 96.6% (95% CI 87.2% to 99.1%), and specificity was 98.0% (95% CI 94.7% to 99.2%). Agreement was high between POCUS and RADUS for identification of trapped free fluid (83.3%, n=40/48) and decreased color Doppler signal (95.7%, n=22/23)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the diagnostic accuracy of POCUS performed by experienced clinician sonologists may be noninferior to that of RADUS for detection of clinically important intussusception. Given the limitations of convenience sampling and spectrum bias, a larger randomized controlled trial is warranted., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The US older adult population (age ≥65 years) is increasing and may be at increased risk for severe anaphylaxis. Little is known about the health care use for acute allergic reactions (AAR), including anaphylaxis, among older adults., Objective: To characterize trends in emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for AAR and anaphylaxis among US older adults from 2006 to 2014 and examine factors associated with severe anaphylaxis., Methods: We performed cross-sectional analyses of trends in ED visits and hospitalizations among older adults using data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample and the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample in 2006 to 2014. We used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic codes to identify visits for AAR, including anaphylaxis. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with severe anaphylaxis (cardiac arrest, intubation, and death)., Results: In 2006 to 2014, older adults experienced approximately 1,019,967 AAR-related ED visits, 173,844 AAR-related hospitalizations, 93,795 anaphylaxis-related ED visits, and 72,677 anaphylaxis-related hospitalizations. Whereas AAR-related ED visit and hospitalization rates remained stable (P = .28 and .16, respectively), anaphylaxis-related ED visit and hospitalization rates increased significantly over time (37 visits/100,000 in 2006 to 51 in 2014, P < .001; and from 13 hospitalizations/100,000 in 2006 to 23 in 2014, P < .001), especially hospitalization rates for drug-related anaphylaxis (47 hospitalizations/100,000 in 2006 to 85 in 2014; P < .001). Risk factors for anaphylaxis-related death included older age and drug-related trigger., Conclusions: In a nationally representative sample of US older adults, the rate of anaphylaxis-related ED visits and hospitalizations increased over time. Drug-related triggers represented a substantial portion of increased health care use and are a growing risk in this vulnerable population., (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intussusception (INT) is a common cause of bowel obstruction in young children. Delay in diagnosis can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. There have been several studies evaluating early point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the diagnosis of INT by nonradiologists., Objective: Our objective was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of POCUS by novice sonographer pediatric emergency medicine physicians (PEM-Ps) who received focused US training for diagnosing INT., Methods: We performed a prospective observational study including 17 PEM-Ps (14 attendings, 3 fellows) trained to perform abdominal US for INT. Children suspected of having INT received POCUS performed and interpreted by a PEM-P, followed by a US study performed by a certified ultrasonographer and interpreted by an attending pediatric radiologist. Diagnostic concordance between PEM-P-and radiology-performed US (RPUS) results was assessed., Results: One hundred patients were enrolled; median patient age was 24 months. There was excellent diagnostic agreement for presence or absence of INT between PEM-Ps and RPUS (97% of cases; κ = 0.826). POCUS-diagnosed INT was present in 8 of 9 patients with RPUS-diagnosed INT (sensitivity 89%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 51-99%; specificity 98%; 95% CI 92-100%; positive predictive value 80%; 95% CI 44-96%; negative predictive value 99%; 95% CI 93-100%). Likelihood ratio for INT with a positive POCUS was 40.44 (95% CI 10.07-162.36) and with a negative POCUS was 0.11 (95% CI 0.02-0.72)., Conclusions: POCUS performed by novice sonographers to diagnose INT has high diagnostic concordance with RPUS. Emergency department-performed POCUS is a rapid and accurate method for diagnosing INT., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. The overall prevalence of anaphylaxis appears to be rising in children, but temporal trends among infants and toddlers are not well studied., Objective: To characterize the trends in US emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations among infants and toddlers with anaphylaxis from 2006 to 2015., Methods: We conducted a study of temporal trends in anaphylaxis among children (age <18 years) and, more specifically, infants and toddlers (age <3 years) presenting to the ED between 2006 and 2015 using a large, nationally representative database. For internal consistency, we defined anaphylaxis using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes and excluded visits with International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes (late 2015). We calculated trends in the number and proportion of ED visits and hospitalizations and used multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of hospitalization., Results: Among infants and toddlers, the proportion of ED visits for anaphylaxis per year increased from 20 per 100,000 visits to 50 per 100,000 visits (P trend < .001). The rate of ED visits for anaphylaxis increased from 15 to 32 ED visits per 100,000 population of infants and toddlers (P trend < .001). Food was the most commonly identified trigger. The proportion of hospitalization among anaphylaxis-related ED visits decreased from 19% to 6% (P trend < .001). Among ED patients, those more likely to be hospitalized were male, privately insured, from higher income families, and presenting to urban, metropolitan teaching hospital EDs., Conclusions: In a large, nationally representative US database, from 2006 to 2015, ED visits by infants and toddlers with anaphylaxis increased, whereas hospitalization of these patients decreased., (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, are rising among children. Little is known about health care utilization among infants and toddlers. Our objective was to characterize health care utilization and charges for acute allergic reactions (AAR). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of trends in emergency department (ED) visits and revisits, hospitalizations and rehospitalizations, and charges among infants and toddlers (ages < 3 years), with an index ED visit or hospitalization for AAR (including anaphylaxis). We used data from population-based multipayer data: State Emergency Department Databases and State Inpatient Databases from New York and Nebraska. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with ED revisits and rehospitalizations. Results: Between 2006 and 2015, infant and toddler ED visits for AAR increased from 27.8 per 10,000 population to 35.2 (P trend < 0.001), whereas hospitalizations for AAR remained stable (P trend = 0.11). In the one year after an index AAR visit, 5.1% of these patients had at least one AAR ED revisit and 5.9% had at least one AAR rehospitalization. Factors most strongly associated with AAR ED revisits included an index visit hospitalization and receipt of epinephrine. Total charges for AAR ED visits (2009-2015) and hospitalizations (2011-2015) were more than $29 million and $11 million, respectively. Total charges increased more than fourfold for both AAR ED revisits for AAR rehospitalizations during the study period. Conclusion: Infants and toddlers who presented with an AAR were at risk for ED revisits and rehospitalizations for AAR within the following year. The charges associated with these revisits were substantial and seemed to be increasing.

Background: Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal acute allergic reaction. Its overall prevalence appears to be rising, but little is known about US hospitalization trends among infants and toddlers., Objective: To identify the trends and predictors of hospitalization for anaphylaxis among infants and toddlers., Methods: We used the nationally representative National Inpatient Sample (NIS), from 2006 to 2015, to perform an analysis of trends in US hospitalizations for anaphylaxis among infants and toddlers (age, <3 years) and other children (age, 3-18 years). For internal consistency, we identified patients with anaphylaxis by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code and excluded those with the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (late 2015). We calculated trends in anaphylaxis hospitalizations over time by age group and then used multivariable logistic regression to describe anaphylaxis hospitalizations among infants and toddlers., Results: Among infants and toddlers, there was no significant change in anaphylaxis hospitalizations during the 10-year study period (P trend  = .14). Anaphylaxis hospitalization among infants and toddlers was more likely in males, with private insurance, in the highest income quartile, with chronic pulmonary disease, who presented on a weekend day, to an urban teaching hospital, located in the Northeast. In contrast, anaphylaxis hospitalizations among older children (age, 3-<18 years) rose significantly during the study (P trend < .001)., Conclusion: Anaphylaxis hospitalizations among infants and toddlers in the United States were stable from 2006 to 2015, whereas hospitalizations among older children were rising. Future research should focus on the trends in disease prevalence and health care utilization in the understudied population of infants and toddlers., (Copyright © 2020 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Violent acts on university campuses are becoming more frequent. Enrollment rates of Latinos at universities is increasing. Research has indicated that youths are more susceptible to trauma, particularly Latinos. Thus, it is imperative to evaluate the validity of commonly used posttraumatic stress measures among Latino college students. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) is one of the most commonly used metrics of posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology. However, it is largely unknown if the IES-R is measuring the same construct across different sub-samples (e.g. Latino versus non-Latino). The current study aimed to assess measurement invariance for the IES-R between Latino and non-Latino participants. A total of 545 participants completed the IES-R. One- and three-factor scoring solutions were compared using confirmatory factor analyses. Measurement invariance was then evaluated by estimating several multiple-group confirmatory factor analytic models. Four models with an increasing degree of invariance across groups were compared. A significant χ2 difference test was used to indicate a significant change in model fit between nested models within the measurement invariance testing process. The three-factor scoring solution could not be used for the measurement invariance process because the subscale correlations were too high for estimation (rs 0.92-1.00). Therefore, the one-factor model was used for the invariance testing process. Invariance was met for each level of invariance: configural, metric, scalar, and strict. All measurement invariance testing results indicated that the one-factor solution for the IES-R was equivalent for the Latino and non-Latino participants.

The utility of point-of-care ultrasound is well supported by the medical literature. Consequently, pediatric emergency medicine providers have embraced this technology in everyday practice. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement endorsing the use of point-of-care ultrasound by pediatric emergency medicine providers.  To date, there is no standard guideline for the practice of point-of-care ultrasound for this specialty. This document serves as an initial step in the detailed "how to" and description of individual point-of-care ultrasound examinations.  Pediatric emergency medicine providers should refer to this paper as reference for published research, objectives for learners, and standardized reporting guidelines.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasonography is increasingly utilized across a wide variety of physician specialties. This imaging modality can be used to evaluate patients rapidly and accurately for a wide variety of pathologic conditions., Methods: A literature search was performed for articles focused on clinician-performed ultrasonography for the diagnosis of appendicitis, gallbladder disease, small bowel obstruction, intussusception, and several types of renal pathology. The findings of this search were summarized including the imaging techniques utilized in these studies., Conclusion: Clinician performed point-of-care sonography is particularly well suited to abdominal applications. Future investigations may further confirm and extend its utility at the bedside.

Objective: We evaluated the accuracy of tracheal ultrasonography of a saline-inflated endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff for confirming correct ETT insertion depth., Methods: We performed a prospective feasibility study of children undergoing endotracheal intubation for surgery. Tracheal ultrasonography at the suprasternal notch was performed during transient endobronchial intubation and inflation of the cuff with saline, and with the ETT at a correct endotracheal position. Ultrasound videos were recorded at both positions, which were confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. These videos were shown to two independent blinded reviewers, who determined the presence or absence of a saline-inflated cuff. The primary outcome was accuracy of tracheal ultrasonography for appropriate ETT insertion depth., Results: Forty-two patients were enrolled. For correct endotracheal versus endobronchial positioning, pooled results from the reviewers revealed a sensitivity of 98.8% (95% CI=90-100%), a specificity of 96.4% (95% CI=87-100%), a PPV of 96.5% (95% CI=87-100%), a NPV of 98.8% (95% CI=89-100%), a positive likelihood ratio of 32 (95% CI=6-185), and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.015 (95% CI=0.004-0.2). Agreement between reviewers was high (kappa co-efficient=0.93; 95% CI=0.86 to 1). The mean duration of the ultrasound exam was 4.0s (range 1.0-15.0s)., Conclusions: Sonographic visualization of a saline-inflated ETT cuff at the suprasternal notch is an accurate and rapid method for confirming correct ETT insertion depth in children., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)

Although bedside ultrasonography can accurately distinguish esophageal from tracheal intubation, it is not used to establish the correct depth of endotracheal tube insertion. As indirect sonographic markers of endotracheal tube insertion depth have proven unreliable, a method for visual verification of correct tube depth would be ideal. We describe the use of saline to inflate the endotracheal cuff to confirm correct endotracheal tube depth (at the level of the suprasternal notch) by bedside ultrasonography during resuscitation. This rapid technique holds promise during emergency intubation.

We conducted a retrospective, observational, population-based study to investigate the effect of staphylococcal infections on the hospitalization of children in California during 1985-2009. Hospitalized children with staphylococcal infections were identified through the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development discharge database. Infections were categorized as community onset, community onset health care-associated, or hospital onset. Infection incidence was calculated relative to all children and to those hospitalized in acute-care facilities. A total of 140,265 records were analyzed. Overall incidence increased from 49/100,000 population in 1985 to a peak of 83/100,000 in 2006 and dropped to 73/100,000 in 2009. Staphylococcal infections were associated with longer hospital stays and higher risk for death relative to all-cause hospitalizations of children. The number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections increased, and the number of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus infections remained unchanged. Children <3 years of age, Blacks, and those without private insurance were at higher risk for hospitalization.

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between insurance status and emergency department (ED) disposition of injured California children., Methods: Multivariate regression models were built using data obtained from the 2005 through 2009 California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) data sets for all ED visits by injured children younger than 19 years of age., Results: Of 3,519,530 injury-related ED visits, 52% were insured by private, and 36% were insured by public insurance, while 11% of visits were not insured. After adjustment for injury characteristics and demographic variables, publicly insured children had a higher likelihood of admission for mild, moderate, and severe injuries compared to privately insured children (mild injury adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.34 to 1.39; moderate and severe injury AOR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.28 to 1.41). However, uninsured children were less likely to be admitted for mild, moderate, and severe injuries compared to privately insured children (mild injury AOR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.61 to 0.66; moderate and severe injury AOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.46 to 0.55). While publicly insured children with moderate and severe injuries were as likely as privately insured children to experience an ED death (AOR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.70 to 1.18), uninsured children with moderate and severe injuries were more likely to die in the ED compared to privately insured children (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI = 2.38 to 4.06)., Conclusions: Privately insured, publicly insured, and uninsured injured children have disparate patterns of ED disposition. Policy and clinical efforts are needed to ensure that all injured children receive equitable emergency care., (© 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.)

Enchondroma is the most frequent benign tumor in hand bones. It occasionally occurs in the distal phalanx of the fingers; it is usually an asymptomatic lesion, but pain may occur when it is associated with a fracture. The most recommended treatment is lesion curettage and application of a bone graft, besides fixation as needed. Five cases with location in the distal phalanx are reported, as well as treatment results from January 1978 to May 2010. Of the 5 patients, 4 were females and one was male. The most frequently affected digit was the middle finger followed by the little finger. The most frequent symptom at the time of diagnosis was pain. Lesion curettage was performed in all cases, with the use of an autologous distal radius bone graft in 4 and coralline graft in one. Mean follow-up was 193 months (2-384 months). No complications or relapses were reported.