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Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (incidence 35-77%). AKI evolution during DKA treatment/recovery is poorly understood. Our aim was to assess children with DKA for prevalence, short-term kidney outcomes, severity, and predictors of AKI development and resolution. Methods This retrospective cohort study included children aged 2-14 years admitted with DKA between January 2016 and May 2020 in a Saudi tertiary care hospital. We defined AKI as an increase in serum creatinine of > 1.5 times baseline or > 3 mg/dL (26 mmol/L) within 48 h. Results Of 213 patients admitted with DKA, 172 (80.75%) developed AKI: stage 1 in 83 (38.96%), stage 2 in 86 (40.37%), and stage 3 in 3 (1.4%). No patient required dialysis. Multivariate analysis showed an increased risk of developing AKI with male gender (OR = 2.85) and lower serum bicarbonate (OR = 0.83) when adjusted for initial heart rate, hematocrit, new onset diabetes, and recurrent AKI. The mean time to AKI resolution was 13.21 ± 6.78 h. Factors leading to prolonged recovery from AKI in linear regression analysis were older age (B coefficient = 0.44, p = 0.01), recurrent DKA episodes (B coefficient = 3.70, p value 0.003), increased acidosis severity (B coefficient = - 0.44, p = 0.04), increased time to anion gap normalization (B coefficient = 0.44, p = 0.019), and increased initial glucose (B coefficient = 0.01, p = 0.011). Conclusion In our cohort, AKI is a common, but mostly transient complication in children presenting with DKA, and its severity is associated with longer intensive care stays and time for acidosis resolution. AKI was associated with male gender, and lower serum bicarbonate. Proper consideration of such risk factors is needed for AKI assessment and management in future DKA clinical practice guidelines. Graphical abstract A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information, Author(s): Reem Al Khalifah [sup.1] , Ayman Al-Eyadhy [sup.2] , Najd Musibeeh [sup.3] , Anfal Alshalawi [sup.3] , Noor Alanazi [sup.3] , Ayman Alhboob [sup.3] , Gamal Hassan [sup.2] [sup.4] [...]

Introduction: In recent decades, an increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents has been observed. Pediatric‐onset T2DM differs from the adult‐onset form, particularly regarding the durability of glycemic control and earlier appearance of complications. However, the scarcity of approved treatments and comprehensive studies on T2DM management in youth persists. Ongoing clinical trials seek to ascertain the efficacy and safety of sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in patients aged between 10 and 24 years with T2DM. Therefore, we aimed to perform a meta‐analysis exploring the efficacy and safety of SGLT2i in pediatric patients and young adults with T2DM. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science for randomized controlled clinical trials on the efficacy and safety of SGLT2i in children, adolescents, and young adults with T2DM compared with placebo. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 and R statistical software 4.2.1. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. Results: We included three studies totaling 334 patients followed for 37.79 weeks. Reduction in HbA1C (MD = −0.93; 95% CI = −1.36 to −0.49; p < 0.0001; I2 = 0%) was significantly higher in SGLT2i group compared with placebo. The proportion of patients requiring rescue or discontinuation of study medication due to lack of efficacy was statistically lower in SGLT2i group compared with placebo (RR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.43–0.94; p = 0.02; I2 = 0%). SGLT2i and placebo were similar in terms of any adverse event (RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.96–1.27; p = 0.17; I2 = 0%), serious side effects (RR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.44–2.57; p = 0.90; I2 = 0%), and individual adverse effects. Conclusion: In children, adolescents, and young adults with T2DM, SGLT2i appears to be effective and safe for glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antiseizure medications (ASMs) are crucial for managing epilepsy in children. However, a well-documented side effect of ASMs is their impact on bone health, often due to interference with vitamin D metabolism. This can lead to vitamin D deficiency in children with epilepsy. This study aimed to determine if a daily dose of 400 IU or 1000 IU would maintain adequate vitamin D levels in children with epilepsy. Methods: A phase IV randomized controlled trial enrolled children aged 2–16 years with epilepsy and receiving antiseizure medications. Children were divided into two groups: the monotherapy group, which was defined as children on one antiseizure medication (ASM), and the polytherapy group, which was defined as children receiving two or more ASMs. Eligible children with levels above 75 nmol/L were randomized to receive a maintenance dose of either 400 IU/day or 1000 IU/day of cholecalciferol. Baseline and 6-month assessments included demographic data, anthropometric measurements, seizure type, medications, seizure control, and 25(OH)D level. Results: Out of 163 children, 90 were on monotherapy and 25 on polytherapy. After 6 months of vitamin D maintenance, the proportion of children with 25(OH)D concentration below 75 nmol/L was 75.0% in the 400 IU group and 54.8% in the 1000 IU group. In the monotherapy group, baseline seizure-free children increased from 69% to 83.6% after treating vitamin D deficiency. Conclusion: Daily vitamin D supplementation with 1000 IU may be beneficial for children with epilepsy, particularly those receiving monotherapy, to maintain sufficiency and potentially improve seizure control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) screening facilitates access to early intervention and prevention of severe complications, such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Despite its significance, many countries lack a systematic T1DM screening program. Understanding how the public perceives T1DM screening for children is essential for successfully implementing such programs but is currently an area with limited research. Our study aims to fill this gap by developing a standardized tool designed to assess the acceptability of T1DM screening programs for children, focusing on caregiver perspectives within the general population. Materials and Methods. We developed the Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Screening Acceptability (DMSA) scale based on the theoretical framework of acceptability and integrated components from the Pediatric Testing Attitudes Scale‐Diabetes (P‐TAS‐D). It covers a broad spectrum of acceptability constructs. The DMSA scale underwent iterative modifications following expert feedback to refine clarity and content validity. We tested the scale in both Arabic and English with adults living in Saudi Arabia, regardless of their parental status, focusing on the potential of screening their children. The psychometric strengths of the scale were evaluated through reliability analyses and exploratory factor analysis. Results. Of the 599 participants, the majority were female (89.2%), with a mean age of 35.9 ± 8.6 years. The final DMSA scale consists of 10 items, with two distinct factors: "individual acceptability" and "psychosocial acceptability." The mean total score was 42.9 ± 5.1 across a potential range of 10–50 points. The English and Arabic versions of the scale demonstrated strong reliability, with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.84 and 0.79, respectively. Conclusions. The DMSA scale emerges as a valid and reliable tool for gauging the acceptability of the general population of screening children for T1DM. It integrates key elements of the acceptability construct, pivotal for guiding the implementation of culturally sensitive T1DM screening initiatives. Future research should expand its application across various cultural settings and examine the correlation between scale scores and actual screening behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FreeStyle Libre 1 (FGM) has been approved by the FDA for children older than 4 years. It enables noninvasive glucose monitoring without the need for finger pricking. Parents of very young children often use the device off-label. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the safety of and user experience with FreeStyle Libre® 1 and determine its impact on sleep and glycemic control. This was an ambi-directional cohort study. We recruited parents of very young children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who were less than 5 years old when they started using FGM at the King Saud University Diabetes Center. The parents filled out a survey evaluating their experience with the system. In addition, the glucose metrics of the children were also obtained from the Libre View system. We included 31 children with mean age of the children when they started using FGM was 3.88 ± 1.10 years (range, 1.46–5.4 years), and the mean sensor use was 2.3 ± 1.3 years. During the use of the device, the parents had increased sleep duration of 0.71 h (p-value=0.04), had earlier bedtime by 2.8 h (p-value=0.04), and were able to sleep in a separate room from their children. In addition, the time in range improved by 9.9%, the time above range decreased by 8.8%, and the HbA1c level reduced by 1.56%. The safety profile of FGM used for very young children with T1DM is the same for older children, which leads to improved metabolic control and sleep quality of both the parent and the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pallister--Hall syndrome (PHS) is a rare, autosomal dominant genetic disorder. The phenotypic features of the syndrome include hypothalamic hamartoma, polydactyly, craniofacial anomalies, and other malformations. This case report describes a 5-year-old girl with Central precocious puberty (CPP) due to the presence of suprasellar hypothalamic hamartoma. With a history of polydactyl, suspicion of PHS was made, and the genetic test showed a novel GLI3 gene mutation. CPP is treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. In addition to CPP, an extensive endocrine evaluation revealed central hypothyroidism while other pituitary functions were intact. The variable clinical phenotype of PHS makes it challenging to diagnose early, especially in the sporadic form. However, suspicion of these cases and early diagnosis leads to a better outcome as many endocrine features may evolve during follow-up, which necessitates interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nephrotic syndrome is the most common kidney disease in children worldwide. Our aim was to critically appraise the quality of recent Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for idiopathic steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) in children in addition to summarize and compare their recommendations. Methods: Systematic review of CPGs. We identified clinical questions and eligibility criteria and searched and screened for CPGs using bibliographic and CPG databases. Each included CPG was assessed by four independent appraisers using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation II (AGREE-II) instrument. We summarized the recommendations in a comparison practical table. Results: Our search retrieved 282 citations, of which three CPGs were eligible and appraised: Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2012, Japan Society for Pediatric Nephrology (JSPN) 2014, and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2009. Among these, the overall assessment of two evidence-based CPGs scored > 70% (KDIGO and JSPN), which was consistent with their higher scores in the six domains of the AGREE II Instrument. In domain 3 (rigor of development), KDIGO, JSPN, and AAP scored 84%, 74%, and 41%, respectively. In domain 5 (applicability), they scored 22%, 16%, and 19%, respectively, and in domain 6 (editorial independence), they scored 94%, 65%, and 88%, respectively. Conclusions: The methodological quality of the KDIGO CPG was superior, followed by JSPN and AAP CPGs with the relevant recommendations for use in practice. Systematic review registration: The protocol was registered in the Center for Open Science (OSF) DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/6QTMD and in the International prospective register of systematic reviews PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020197511. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a significant negative impact on clinical trials. Therefore, maintaining an optimal trial conduct should be considered to minimize risks to trial integrity while ensuring the safety of trial staff and participants. In this study, we aimed to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on conducting an ongoing clinical trial, along with challenges and solutions encountered and required to continue the trial. Methods: This Phase IV pragmatic randomized superiority controlled open-label trial included children with epilepsy receiving Vitamin D supplementation at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (clinicaltrials.gov registration number: NCT03536845). Children with epilepsy receiving chronic antiepileptic medications and with normal baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D level were randomized to receive cholecalciferol 400 IU/day versus 1000 IU/day for 6 months. The primary outcome was the percentage of children with Vitamin D insufficiency at 6 months. The secondary outcomes included seizure control, bone mineral density, and safety. Results: Under COVID-19 public health emergency measures, exceptional methods were used, such as telemedicine, home visit for blood extractions, shipping of the study medication to the patient's home, using reminder text messages to follow patients' compliance, and using privacy-compliant platforms to connect the research team members. Conclusion: During the widespread pandemic, ethical dilemmas are of major concern, especially when conducting trials on vulnerable age groups. Therefore, actions should be proportionate and based on benefit-risk considerations, affecting the risk of bias from protocol deviation and overall results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aimed to identify gaps in school care and support required for students with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We performed a cross‐sectional nationwide study using self‐administered surveys that targeted teachers and parents of students with T1DM in Saudi Arabia from August to December 2019. Results: We collected surveys from 632 parents and 983 teachers. Responses were received from all 13 regions in Saudi Arabia, with the majority representing governmental schools. Results showed that 172 students (27.3%) had no available help at school to perform blood glucose measurement, 178 students (28.3%) were left with no hypoglycemia treatment, 374 students (59.6%) took their insulin dose for breakfast at home, and 40.0 (6.4%) students omitted insulin. Overall, school admission refusal was reported by 73 students (11.7%). Students with no available help to manage their hypoglycemia or to inject insulin at school had a higher hemoglobin A1c and poorer academic performance. Conclusion: Our study revealed a significant gap between schools' local practices and international recommendations, which impacted students' safety, diabetes control, and school achievement. Our study findings will support the creation of the Saudi T1DM school practice guidelines necessary to improve the care of students with T1DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central hypothyroidism might be another clinical sign of SSADH deficiency which prompts urinary organic acid screening for GHB in central hypothyroidism patients. Studies on GABA and thyroid hormone interaction might be a concept of a new therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]