Ravi, Anupama

Background: Urine mast cell mediator levels have found significant clinical utility in supporting the diagnosis of various allergic disorders in the adult population. There are few studies on the range of these mediator levels in the children and its clinical utility. Objectives: We determined the range of the urine mast cell mediator levels in children. Methods: Pediatric allergy and community-based pediatric clinics including children with and without an allergic disorder, respectively, served as the source of the study. Baseline urine mast cell mediator levels were obtained for all children. Demographics, atopic disorders, clinical symptoms and response to medication were documented. Results: Urine 2,3-Dinor-11Beta-Prostaglandin F2 Alpha (BPG) values were significantly higher in children with an underlying allergic disorder when compared to those without. Stratification based on age, sex and allergic disorder was performed in patients with an allergic disorder. Urine Leukotriene E 4 (LTE 4 ) and n-Methylhistamine (NMH) were significantly correlated with age (Spearman’s rho -0.4874 and -0.6902 respectively). With every year of age, the level of the urine NMH decreased by 18 units and urine LTE 4 by 3 units approximately. Urine LTE 4 and NMH levels were significantly higher in males when compared to females. Urine BPG levels were not significantly affected by age or sex. Conclusion: Distribution of urine mast cell mediator levels are slightly different from the values derived from studies in the adult population. Urine mast cell mediators may provide clinical utility in the diagnosis and management of allergic disorders. Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate clinical utility.

LINKED CONTENTThis article is linked to Ravi et al and Uchida & Dougan papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16180 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16205

SummaryBackgroundThe Th2 allergic pathway in eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) responds to food antigen exposure.AimTo compare the presence and temporal pattern of food antigen penetration in oesophageal mucosa in active and inactive EoE and controlsMethodsThirty‐two patients with EoE (20 active) and 10 controls were asked to eliminate all wheat and/or dairy 12, 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours before endoscopy. Immunostaining on endoscopic biopsies was performed for gliadin, casein and whey.ResultsGluten, casein and whey were detected by positive staining in 17/32 (53.1%), 21/32 (65.6%), and 30/32 (92.0%) of patients, respectively. In active vs inactive EoE, 70.0% vs 25.0% (P < 0.05), 80.0% vs 41.5%, and 90.0% vs 90.9% patients had detectable gliadin, casein and whey, respectively. Casein and whey (20.0% and 100%, respectively) but not gliadin, were present in controls. The gliadin staining density was greater in active compared to inactive disease at ≤ 24 vs >24 hours after exposure (P = 0.05) but no differences were detected when comparing active and inactive patients for casein and whey. There was greater staining density for whey than casein for all patients at ≤24 hours (mean 2.14 ± 0.91 and 1.07 ± 1.33, P = 0.02). In active EoE, IgG4 was present in 14/20 compared to one inactive patient.ConclusionThe oesophageal epithelium is selectively permeable and has relatively long dwell times for food antigens known to trigger EoE. The precise mechanism of antigen‐specific mucosal entry and the factors that determine the induction or effector trigger of the Th2 pathway activation merit further study.

Background: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine use for outpatient pediatric specialty care was low. Stay-at-home orders (SHO) prompted rapid upscaling of telemedicine capabilities and upskilling of providers. This study compares telemedicine usage before and after the SHO and analyzes how a Children's Center addressed challenges associated with a rapid rise in telemedicine. Methods: Data on outpatient visits across 14 specialty divisions were abstracted from the institutional electronic medical record. The 12-week study period (March 9, 2020–May 29, 2020) spanned three epochs: pre-SHO; post-SHO; reopening to in-person visits. Changes in in-person visits, video visits, and completed, cancelled, and no-show appointments were compared between three epochs. Results: A total of 4,914 outpatient pediatric specialty visits were completed, including 67% (3,296/4,914) in-person and 33% (1,618/4,914) through video. During the first two epochs encompassing the SHO, video visits increased by 4,750%. During the third epoch when the SHO was lifted, video visits decreased by 66%, with 19.4% of visits conducted through video in week 12. Overall, for outpatient video appointments, 82.8% (1,618/1,954) were completed, 9.1% (178/1,954) were cancelled, and 8.1% (158/1,954) were no-shows. The percentage of completed and no-show appointments did not differ between epochs. However, the cancellation rate decreased significantly from Epochs 1 to 3 (p = 0.008). Conclusion: A SHO was associated with a large increase in pediatric specialty video visits. Post-SHO, the percentage of pediatric specialty visits conducted through video decreased but remained higher than before the SHO. Frequent, content-rich communications, self-directed tutorials, and individualized coaching may facilitate successful increases in telemedicine use.

ABSTRACTAim:Comparison of days 1 and 2 to each other and to the total recording of 48 hours in continuous 48‐hour wireless esophageal pH monitoring in children.Methods:A retrospective study of 105 patients who underwent 48‐hour pH monitoring (Bravo) studies between January 1992 and June 2010 was performed. Reflux variables were compared between days 1 and 2.Results:A total of 58 (55.2%) patients were men. The number of reflux episodes, number of long reflux >5 minutes, duration of the longest reflux (minutes), time pH <4 (minutes), fraction time pH <4 supine (%), fraction time pH <4 upright (%), reflux index, and DeMeester score did not differ between days 1 and 2.Conclusions:No effect of anesthesia was observed on the gastroesophageal reflux parameters on children.