Sirinthip Kittivisuit

Background/Objectives: Disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) include a spectrum of disorders with chronic/recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms, caused by dysregulation of microbiota–gut–brain interaction. Early-life events have been suggested as the main factors influencing the microbiota–gut–brain axis. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of DGBI in 3-year-old children and its relationship with early-life events. Methods: The parents of children aged 3 years, who had been followed up in a well-baby clinic since they were 2 months old, were asked about any GI symptoms their child had experienced during the check-up visits between September 2023 and June 2024. The final diagnosis of DGBI was based on ROME IV criteria. Demographic data, including early-life factors, were collected. Results: Overall, 568 children (48.6% boys) were included, of whom 139 (24.5%) had symptoms consistent with at least one DGBI diagnosis. The most prevalent DGBI was functional constipation (20.4%), followed by colic (4.6%), infant regurgitation (2.8%), and dyschezia (1.6%). Approximately 48% of the children were breastfed for ≥6 months, and 21% were exposed to ≥1 antibiotic/antiviral drugs in the first year of life. DGBI prevalence was significantly higher in girls than in boys (28.1% vs. 20.7%; p = 0.041). Exclusive breastfeeding was the most significant protective factor against DGBI, particularly if performed for ≥3 months. Conclusions: Sex was the most significant factor affecting DGBI prevalence in children aged ≤3 years; breastfeeding offers the most effective protection against DGBI development.

Although there have been advances in treating pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in developed countries, outcomes in low- to middle-income countries remain poor. The goal of this study was to investigate the outcomes in children with AML who were treated at a tertiary care center in Thailand. We divided the study into 4 research periods based on the chemotherapy protocols employed. The 5-year probabilities of event-free survival (pEFS) rates for periods 1-4 were 19.0%, 20.6%, 17.4%, and 37.3% (p value = 0.32), while the 5-year probabilities of overall survival (pOS) rates were 19.0%, 24.7%, 18.7%, and 42.5% (p value = 0.18), respectively. The multivariable model indicated an improvement in 5-year pOS between periods 1 and 4 (p value = 0.04). Age, white blood cell count, and study period were significant predictors of survival outcomes. The pOS of AML patients improved over time, increasing from 19.0% to 42.5%.

Background: Childhood leukemia with musculoskeletal (MSK) involvement mimics various conditions, which consequently leads to diagnostic delays. The clinical implication of MSK involvement in this disease on survival outcomes is inconclusive. This study aimed to compare characteristics and survival outcomes between MSK and non-MSK involvement in childhood leukemia. Methods: The medical records of children newly diagnosed with acute leukemia aged under 15 years were retrospectively reviewed. Two-to-one nearest-neighbor propensity score-matching was performed to obtain matched groups with and without MSK involvement. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were then used to assess the effect of MSK involvement on survival outcomes. Results: Of 1042 childhood leukemia cases, 81 (7.8%) children had MSK involvement at initial presentation. MSK involvement was more likely in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia than acute myeloid leukemia (p <0.05). Hematologic abnormalities were less frequent in the MSK involvement group (p <0.05). The absence of peripheral blast cells was significantly higher in the MSK involvement group (17.3% vs 9.6%, p = 0.04). Normal complete blood counts with absence of peripheral blast cells were found 2.5% of the children with MSK involvement. By propensity score-matching for comparable risk groups of children with and without MSK involvement, the 5-year overall survival was not significantly different (48.2% vs 57.4%, respectively, p = 0.22), nor was event-free survival (43.3% vs 51.8%, respectively, p = 0.31). Conclusion: Childhood leukemia with MSK involvement had the characteristics of minimal or absent hematologic abnormalities and peripheral blast counts.

Few studies have reported the survival outcomes of myeloid leukemia associated with Down syndrome (DS) in resource-limited countries. This study aimed to compare characteristics and survival outcomes of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) between those with and without DS in Thailand. The medical records of AML patients aged 0-15 years treated in a major tertiary center in Southern Thailand between October 1978 and December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The overall (OS) and event-free survivals (EFS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 362 AML patients were included, of which 41 (11.3%) had DS. The mean age at diagnosis of the DS patients was 2.5 +/- 1.9 years and most of them (90.2%) were under the age of five. The DS patients had lower initial white blood cell counts and peripheral blasts compared to the non-DS patients. The AML-M7 subtype was more common in the DS than in the non-DS patients (80.5% vs. 9.1%, p < 0.01, respectively). The 5-year OS and EFS rates of the DS patients were lower compared to the non-DS patients (12.9% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.05 and 13.7% vs. 18.4%, p = 0.03, respectively). DS patients had a significantly higher rate of early and treatment-related deaths compared to non-DS patients (30.3% vs. 13.5%, p < 0.01 and 39.4% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.02, respectively). Over the study period, there were a decrease in early death rate and an increase in survival rates of DS patients, which suggests that chemotherapy regimens and supportive care have improved over time.

Hyperleukocytosis and extreme hyperleukocytosis, defined as initial white blood cell counts greater than 100 × 10⁹/L and 200 × 10⁹/L, respectively, have been associated with unfavorable outcomes. This study aimed to determine the early complications and survival outcomes of childhood leukemia patients with hyperleukocytosis. The medical records of 690 children newly diagnosed with acute leukemia between January 1998 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to assess and compare the survival outcomes. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine associated risk factors for overall survival. We found that 16.6% of 483 childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and 20.3% of 207 childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients had hyperleukocytosis at diagnosis. ALL patients with hyperleukocytosis had more early complications than those without hyperleukocytosis (p < 0.05). Among the ALL group, the 5-year overall survival rate for those with hyperleukocytosis was significantly lower than for those without hyperleukocytosis (37.2% vs. 67.8%, p < 0.0001), while the difference was not statistically significant in the AML group (19.0% vs. 30.2%, respectively, p = 0.26). Hyperleukocytosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.04), extreme hyperleukocytosis (HR: 2.71), age less than 1 year (HR: 3.05), age greater than 10 years (HR: 1.64), and male sex (HR: 1.37) were independently associated with poorer overall survival in childhood ALL patients. Extreme hyperleukocytosis (HR: 2.63) and age less than 1 year (HR: 1.82) were independently associated with poorer overall survival in AML patients. Hyperleukocytosis was associated with adverse survival outcomes in childhood leukemia.

There is limited information on vitamin D deficiency among childhood cancer survivors (CSS), especially in tropical countries. The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in CCSs. This study was conducted at the long-term follow-up clinic for CCSs at Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. All CCSs who were followed up between January 2021 and March 2022 were enrolled. Demographic data, dietary dairy intake, average weekly duration of outdoor activities, total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, parathyroid hormone levels, and blood chemistry were collected. A total of 206 CCSs with a mean age at follow-up of 10.8 ± 4.7 years were included. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 35.9%. Female gender (odds ratio (OR): 2.11, 95% CI: 1.08–4.13), obesity (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.00–4.04), lack of outdoor activities (OR: 4.14, 95% CI: 2.08–8.21), and lower dietary dairy intake (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.44–0.80) were independent risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was common in CCSs and associated with female gender, obesity, lack of outdoor activities, and lower dietary dairy intake. Regular 25(OH)D screening should be established in long-term care to identify those who require vitamin D supplements.

Background : Childhood leukemia with musculoskeletal (MSK) involvement mimics various conditions, which consequently leads to diagnostic delays. The clinical implication of MSK involvement in this disease on survival outcomes is inconclusive. This study aimed to compare characteristics and survival outcomes between MSK and non-MSK involvement in childhood leukemia. Methods: The medical records of children newly diagnosed with acute leukemia of an age under 15 years were retrospectively reviewed. Two-to-one nearest-neighbor propensity score-matching was performed to obtain matched groups with and without MSK involvement. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were then used to assess the effect of MSK involvement on survival outcomes. Results: Of 1042 childhood leukemia cases, 81 (7.8%) children had MSK involvement at initial presentation. MSK involvement was more likely in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia than acute myeloid leukemia (p < 0.05). Hematologic abnormalities were less frequent in the MSK involvement group (p < 0.05). The absence of peripheral blast cells was significantly higher in the MSK involvement group (17.3% vs 9.6%, p = 0.04). Normal complete blood counts with absence of peripheral blast cells were found 2.5% of the children with MSK involvement. By propensity score-matching for comparable risk groups of children with and without MSK involvement, the 5-year overall survival was not significantly different (48.2% vs 57.4%, respectively, p = 0.22), nor was event-free survival (43.3% vs 51.8%, respectively, p = 0.31). Conclusion: Childhood leukemia with MSK involvement had the characteristics of minimal or absent hematologic abnormalities and peripheral blast counts.

Background: Most childhood-onset rheumatic diseases are chronic health conditions, which need long-term care throughout adulthood. A well-organized transition care is challenging and patient assessment of transition skills is needed for transfer preparation to an adult care setting. The Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) is used to assess transition skills in chronically ill patients. Currently, limited transition skill assessment data exist in pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases, especially in Asian countries. This study aimed to determine the transition readiness skills in patients with rheumatic diseases and ascertain predictive factors contributing to high transition readiness skills. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. All patients with rheumatic diseases aged 15–20 years were recruited. The TRAQ was cross-culturally adapted into the Thai language with good internal consistency and reliability. Patients completed the Thai TRAQ at the recent clinic visit and took the retest at a 2-week interval. Demographic data, baseline characteristics, clinical manifestations, and disease status were collected. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: A total of 111 patients with a mean age of 17.4 ± 1.8 years were included. Median (IQR) disease duration was 6.4 (3.2–9.0) years. The most common rheumatic disease was juvenile idiopathic arthritis (48.6%), followed by systemic lupus erythematosus (35.1%). The mean TRAQ score was 3.85 ± 0.69. Independent visits (OR 4.35, 95% CI 1.23–15.37) was a predictor of a high TRAQ score. Furthermore, dependent visits (OR 7.84, 95% CI 2.41–25.50) was a predictor of low TRAQ score in the “appointment keeping” domain, whereas inactive disease (OR 4.54, 95% CI 1.25–16.55) was a predictor of a low TRAQ score in “tracking health issues” domain. Lack of knowledge and skills on health insurance coverage, financial management, appointment arrangement, and coping with their illness were issues causing lower TRAQ score. Conclusions: Patients, who had independent visits, had a higher chance to obtain higher TRAQ scores, whereas patients, who had an inactive disease or dependent visits, had less transition readiness skills. Physicians and parents should prepare to transfer patients to adult care settings, mainly encouraging independent living skills.

Background: There are few studies examining the prevalence and clinical risk factors for subsequent systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development after long‐term follow‐up in childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for subsequent SLE development in childhood ITP.Methods: The medical records of childhood ITP patients aged under 15 years in a major tertiary care center in Southern Thailand were retrospectively reviewed. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative probability of subsequent SLE development after ITP. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for SLE development.Results: A total of 473 childhood ITP cases were included in the study. During a mean follow‐up time of 6.1 ± 6.7 years, the prevalence of subsequent SLE development was 2.96%. Older age at ITP diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.07–1.45) and chronic ITP (OR: 24.67, 95% CI: 3.14–100.0) were independent risk factors. The cumulative probabilities of subsequently developing SLE at 5 and 10 years after diagnosis of ITP were 3.8% (95% CI: 1.4–6.2) and 6.5% (95% CI: 2.9‐9.8), respectively.Conclusion: Older age at ITP diagnosis and chronic ITP were risk factors for subsequent SLE developed in childhood ITP.