Critical Issues in Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Diseases

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 3851

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Interests: pediatric surgery; neonatal surgery; pediatric urology; urinary tract infections; vesicoureteral reflux; obstructive uropathies; undescended testes; hypospadias

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Guest Editor
Pediatric Respiratory Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Interests: respiratory physiology; lung development; asthma; cariopulmonary exercise testing
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We live in an era of enormous technological advancements in every field of medicine. Pediatrics and pediatric subspecialties have been significantly influenced by this evolution, which has led to both advancements and setbacks. Paraclinical diagnostic interventions allow us to identify congenital and other diseases with speed and efficacy that our predecessors in medical practice could never have imagined. The use of ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, molecular and biochemical examinations, genetic assays, is evolving day by day, proving essential tools for pediatric medicine, while novel pharmaceutical factors and treatment interventional modalities provide solutions to difficult—and in many cases, formerly uncurable—conditions. However, these diagnostic conveniences have often negatively affected clinical practice, particularly medical history and clinical examination, especially among younger clinicians. Furthermore, the ease of the use of pharmaceutical agents has led to drug overuse, as exemplified by the bacterial resistance resulting from overuse of antibiotics.

In this Special Issue, we will explore the diagnostic and therapeutic experiences of colleagues in various sectors of pediatrics and their associated specialties. We are seeking original articles and comprehensive reviews which investigate the advancements in diagnosis and management of pediatric diseases, and how they have affected clinical practice. We are particularly interested in works that address researchers’ difficulties, complications, and concerns, and in their proposals for future practice.

Dr. Xenophon Sinopidis
Dr. Sotirios Fouzas
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • pediatrics
  • neonatology
  • pediatric endocrinology
  • pediatric pulmonary disease
  • pediatric surgery
  • pediatric infectious diseases
  • pediatric nephrology
  • pediatric cardiology
  • pediatric radiology
  • pediatric gastroenterology
  • pediatric nephrology
  • pediatric urology
  • pediatric oncology

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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12 pages, 596 KiB  
Article
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), Activin-A and Clusterin in Children and Adolescents with Obesity or Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus
by Eirini Kostopoulou, Dimitra Kalavrizioti, Panagiota Davoulou, Evangelos Papachristou, Xenophon Sinopidis, Sotirios Fouzas, Theodore Dassios, Despoina Gkentzi, Stavroula Ioanna Kyriakou, Ageliki Karatza, Gabriel Dimitriou, Dimitrios Goumenos, Bessie E. Spiliotis, Panagiotis Plotas and Marios Papasotiriou
Diagnostics 2024, 14(4), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14040450 - 19 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1413
Abstract
Inflammation plays a crucial role in diabetes and obesity through macrophage activation. Macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), activin-A, and clusterin are chemokines with known roles in diabetes and obesity. The aim of this study is to investigate their possible diagnostic and/or early prognostic values [...] Read more.
Inflammation plays a crucial role in diabetes and obesity through macrophage activation. Macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), activin-A, and clusterin are chemokines with known roles in diabetes and obesity. The aim of this study is to investigate their possible diagnostic and/or early prognostic values in children and adolescents with obesity and type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: We obtained serum samples from children and adolescents with a history of T1DM or obesity, in order to measure and compare MCP-1, activin-A, and clusterin concentrations. Results: Forty-three subjects were included in each of the three groups (controls, T1DM, and obesity). MCP-1 values were positively correlated to BMI z-score. Activin-A was increased in children with obesity compared to the control group. A trend for higher values was detected in children with T1DM. MCP-1 and activin-A levels were positively correlated. Clusterin levels showed a trend towards lower values in children with T1DM or obesity compared to the control group and were negatively correlated to renal function. Conclusions: The inflammation markers MCP-1, activin-A, and clusterin are not altered in children with T1DM. Conversely, obesity in children is positively correlated to serum MCP-1 values and characterized by higher activin-A levels, which may reflect an already established systematic inflammation with obesity since childhood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical Issues in Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Diseases)
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13 pages, 1438 KiB  
Article
Psychometric Properties of the Greek Version of the Autism Parenting Stress Index (APSI) among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
by Angelos Papadopoulos, Stefania Fouska, Dionysios Tafiadis, Nikolaos Trimmis, Panagiotis Plotas and Vassiliki Siafaka
Diagnostics 2023, 13(20), 3259; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13203259 - 19 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
(1) Background: This study aimed to validate the Greek version of the Autism Parenting Stress Index (APSI) among parents of children with ASD. (2) Methods: The translated version was administered to 113 parents (Male: 12, Female: 101, 39.24 years old, SD 6.70, age [...] Read more.
(1) Background: This study aimed to validate the Greek version of the Autism Parenting Stress Index (APSI) among parents of children with ASD. (2) Methods: The translated version was administered to 113 parents (Male: 12, Female: 101, 39.24 years old, SD 6.70, age range, 25–58) of children diagnosed with ASD and 127 parents (Male: 24, Female: 103, 41.08 years old, SD 6.22, age range: 27–56) of typically developing children. (3) Results: Significant differences between the APSI total scores and three domains between groups were observed. Although the initial factor structure could not be replicated, the APSI’s internal consistency was excellent (a = 0.914), with a high positive item–total correlation (0.900–0.917). The APSI’s test–retest reliability was excellent, showing an ICC equal to 0.922 [95%, CI: 0.900–0.940]. The APSI’s total score cut-off point was equal to 12.00 (AUC 0.845, p < 0.001) with a sensitivity of 0.839 and 1-specificity of 0.220. A principal component analysis of the 13 items, using varimax rotations, identified three factors, which explained approximately 45.8% of the overall variance. (4) Conclusions: The Greek version of the APSI exhibited discriminant validity for measuring parents of children with ASD. Greek health professionals can use it to assess the stress experienced by parents of children with ASD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical Issues in Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Diseases)
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13 pages, 11521 KiB  
Case Report
Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans: A Case Report
by Hermann Nudelman, Aba Lőrincz, Tamás Kassai and Gergő Józsa
Diagnostics 2024, 14(17), 1931; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14171931 - 1 Sep 2024
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Abstract
(1) Background: This report aims to illustrate the development, progression, diagnosis, and treatment of chronically present articular surface lesions. (2) Methods: In this report, two patients are described from the point of the initial presentation of symptoms to surgical consultation based on radiologic [...] Read more.
(1) Background: This report aims to illustrate the development, progression, diagnosis, and treatment of chronically present articular surface lesions. (2) Methods: In this report, two patients are described from the point of the initial presentation of symptoms to surgical consultation based on radiologic findings. These patients underwent corrective surgery in the form of mosaicplasty to repair lesions present on the articular surface and the underlying subchondral bone. (3) Discussion: Diagnosing juvenile OCD remains challenging due to its variable clinical presentation and minute radiologic discoveries. X-rays are useful; however, the gold standard remains arthroscopy, which can be both diagnostic and therapeutic. Future prospects include the use of novel sonographic methods and the use of artificial intelligence within the given modalities. (4) Conclusions: The detailed imaging provided by MRI, combined with the insights from X-rays and potentially other modalities, allows for a nuanced understanding of this disease. This comprehensive approach ensures that treatment decisions are well-informed, optimising outcomes for young patients with this condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical Issues in Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Diseases)
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