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Abstract Background Childhood hypertension is associated with hypertension and metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Since the definition of childhood hypertension is based on the distribution of normative blood pressure (BP), a reference range is essential to create hypertension guidelines for children. We aimed to investigate the compatibility of the new Korean BP reference with the United States (US) BP reference based on the 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline. Methods We compared the new Korean reference BP values for children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years with those in the 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines. We also analyzed the differences in the prevalence of hypertension in Korean children and adolescents when reference value was applied. Considering Korean and US BP references together, linear trend lines were sought. Results Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) values in 95th percentiles showed no significant differences between the two BP references. Applying the two reference values, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of elevated BP and a combination of elevated BP and hypertension. Combining the Korean and US BP values and plotting them against age, approximate lines for the 90th and 95th SBP and DBP percentiles were observed. Conclusions The BP values of the new Korean BP reference were similar to those of the US BP reference; they were reliable and interchangeable.

Myocarditis was previously attributed to an epidemic viral infection. Additional harmful reagents, in addition to viruses, play a role in its etiology. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) vaccine-induced myocarditis has recently been described, drawing attention to vaccine-induced myocarditis in children and adolescents. Its pathology is based on a series of complex immune responses, including initial innate immune responses in response to viral entry, adaptive immune responses leading to the development of antigenspecific antibodies, and autoimmune responses to cellular injury caused by cardiomyocyte rupture that releases antigens. Chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the myocardium eventually result in cardiac failure. Recent advancements in molecular biology have remarkably increased our understanding of myocarditis. In particular, microRNAs (miRNAs) are a hot topic in terms of the role of new biomarkers and the pathophysiology of myocarditis. Myocarditis has been linked with microRNA221/ 222 (miR221/ 222), miR155, miR10a*, and miR590. Despite the lack of clinical trials of miRNA intervention in myocarditis yet, multiple clinical trials of miRNAs in other cardiac diseases have been aggressively conducted to help pave the way for future research, which is bolstered by the success of recently U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved smallRNA medications. This review presents basic information and recent research that focuses on myocarditis and related miRNAs as a potential novel biomarker and the therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meta-analysis published in Clinical & Experimental Pediatrics examines the use of point-of-care ultrasound imaging, specifically the inferior vena cava/aorta ratio, for assessing dehydration in children. Dehydration can have serious consequences in young children, but traditional diagnostic methods have limitations. The study finds that while the IVC/Ao ratio has good sensitivity and moderate specificity, it is insufficient to definitively confirm or exclude significant dehydration. The authors emphasize the need for further validation studies and evidence-based research in this area. [Extracted from the article]