Pediatric laryngopharyngeal reflux is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs, with diverse clinical manifestations.However, there is still a lack of standardized and unified diagnostic criteria.As research on laryngopharyngeal reflux deepens, the techniques for detecting it have become more diverse.Detection methods have developed from traditional proton pump inhibitor therapy, evaluation scales, invasive pH monitoring, laryngoscopy, and esophageal motility monitoring to innovative non-invasive pepsin detection and new biomarkers.The methods are evolving towards more precise artificial intelligence and combined diagnosis.These advancements are of great significance for quick identification and accurate treatment of the condition in clinical practice.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) refers to a constellation of symptoms and signs resulting from the reflux of gastroduodenal contents above the upper esophageal sphincter.Current diagnostic challenges include non-specific clinical manifestations and the absence of standardized criteria or gold-standard detection methods.In recent years, salivary pepsin detection has gained significant clinical attention as a non-invasive, cost-effective tool for diagnosing LPRD and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.This review critically evaluates the diagnostic validity, clinical relevance, and limitations of salivary pepsin testing in LPRD management.

Pediatric laryngopharyngeal reflux is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs, with diverse clinical manifestations.However, there is still a lack of standardized and unified diagnostic criteria.As research on laryngopharyngeal reflux deepens, the techniques for detecting it have become more diverse.Detection methods have developed from traditional proton pump inhibitor therapy, evaluation scales, invasive pH monitoring, laryngoscopy, and esophageal motility monitoring to innovative non-invasive pepsin detection and new biomarkers.The methods are evolving towards more precise artificial intelligence and combined diagnosis.These advancements are of great significance for quick identification and accurate treatment of the condition in clinical practice.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) refers to a constellation of symptoms and signs resulting from the reflux of gastroduodenal contents above the upper esophageal sphincter.Current diagnostic challenges include non-specific clinical manifestations and the absence of standardized criteria or gold-standard detection methods.In recent years, salivary pepsin detection has gained significant clinical attention as a non-invasive, cost-effective tool for diagnosing LPRD and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.This review critically evaluates the diagnostic validity, clinical relevance, and limitations of salivary pepsin testing in LPRD management.

Objective:To establish and validate reference intervals of serum vitamin K for healthy children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2023, involving 807 healthy children aged 0 to 14 years, selected by stratified random sampling based on the population distribution of children in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China. Sample collection was carried out in 16 hospitals across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Basic information of the children was collected using a standardized self-design questionnaire. Serum levels of vitamin K 1 and vitamin K 2 (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals was established by direct approach. The children were divided into different groups by age. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, and the reference intervals ( P2.5- P97.5) were determined using non-parametric methods. Screening 40 healthy children for small sample validation based on age groups within the reference range(25 from eastern, 10 from central, and 5 from western regions). Results:The age of the 807 children was 5.00 (2.00, 9.81) years, and 495 (61.3%) were males and 312 (38.7%) females. Reference intervals were established for 795 children, of whom 303 children were aged 1 month to 3 years and 492 were aged 4 to 14 years. The reference intervals for serum vitamin K 1 were 0.09-4.54 μg/L for children aged 1 month to 3 years, and 0.10-1.73 μg/L for 4-14 years. For MK-7, the intervals were 0.07-1.42 μg/L for 1 month to 3 years and 0.19-2.03 μg/L for 4-14 years. The reference intervals for MK-4 in children aged 1 month to 14 years were 0-0.42 μg/L. The measured values of serum vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in the validation samples did not exceed the reference limit in more than 2 samples. Conclusion:Reference intervals for vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years have been established and validated, and can be used to assess vitamin K nutritional status in children.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of hospitalized children with pertussis.Methods The clinical data of 87 hospitalized children with pertussis admitted to Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University from January 2019 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the age of the children,they were divided into group A(≤3 months of age,35 cases),group B(4-12 months of age,36 cases)and group C(>12 months of age,16 cases).The clinical features of children at different ages were compared.Results The majority of children with pertussis were<1 year old(81.61%),and August was the month of high incidence.Spastic cough(72.41%)was the main clinical manifestation.Other manifestations included redness or cyanosis,vomiting after coughing,crow echo,etc.There were statistically significant differences in the incidence of spastic cough,redness or cyanosis and the contact history of patients with chronic cough among three groups(P<0.05).There were significant differences in the incidence of pneumonia and the average length of hospital stay among three groups(P<0.05).There was significant difference in C-reactive protein level among three groups(P<0.05).Among 87 children with pertussis,37 cases(42.53%)were infected with other pathogens,among which virus infection was the most common.The treatment is effective with macrolides and compound sulfamethoxazole.Conclusion Pertussis is more common in infants under 1 year of age,and the incidence is high in August.Chronic cough patients with close contact may be the source of infection.Spastic cough is the main clinical symptom of children;the younger,the more common symptoms such as spastic cough,redness and cyanosis,the higher incidence of pneumonia and the longer hospital stay.

With the improvement of pediatric treatment level, the number of children with prolonged mechanical ventilation has increased rapidly.The transition of children from PICU to home mechanical ventilation is a very complex and arduous process that requires multi-faceted support and management.Long-term mechanically ventilated children and their families bear a huge social and psychological burden, and they need psychological support and humanistic care from the society.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and safety of long-term home mechanical ventilation(HMV) in children with chronic respiratory failure.Methods:Clinical data of 11 children with chronic respiratory failure, who underwent HMV with the care of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2013 to December 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical manifestation, growth and development, quality of life, adverse events and prognosis of HMV children were analyzed.Results:There were 8 boys and 3 girls with the onset age of 26 days to 13 years old; and the age at starting HMV was 3 months to 13 years old. Eight children were diagnosed as neuromuscular diseases, and 3 children were diagnosed as respiratory diseases. The duration of institutional mechanical ventilation was 2 weeks to 8 months. Six patients underwent invasive HMV via a tracheostomy, and 5 received non-invasive ventilation via nasal and face masks. Bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation mode was applied in all the patients. The duration of HMV was 3 months to 27 months. During follow-up, no HMV related adverse events were observed. Both the quality of life and nutritional status were improved in all cases. One patient lost follow-up 9 months later and 1 patient died of severe adenovirus pneumonia during hospitalization for examination, the remaining 9 cases survived. Liberation from HMV was obtained in 4 patients. The frequency of readmission was 1 to 2 times.Conclusion:It is suggested that long-term HMV is safe and feasible for children with chronic respiratory failure.

Objective: To explore the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C gene polymorphisms and toxicity of Methotrexate(MTX) chemotherapy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: From January 2015 to June 2018, 128 pediatric patients with ALL in southern Fujian who were admitted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University were selected.Their peripheral blood 2 mL was collected and genomic DNA was extracted.The MTHFR genotype was detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) direct sequencing method, and the clinical significance of HD-MTX on ALL children with toxic and side effects was evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria. Results: Among 128 children, 54 cases(42.2%) presented rash, 48 cases (37.5%)with mucosal lesions, 51 cases (39.8%) with liver function damage, 23 cases (18.0%) with renal function damage, 52 cases (40.6%) with gastrointestinal reactions, 38 cases (29.7%)with leukopenia, 34 cases (26.6%) with thrombocytopenia and 63 cases (49.2%) with hemoglobin reduction.There was no significant difference in the incidence of MTX adverse reactions (rash, mucosa lesions, liver and renal function damage, gastrointestinal reaction, leukopenia, hemoglobin decrease and thrombocytopenia) between the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms (all P>0.05). The different clinical risk (MTX dose) of the children was not statistically signi-ficant in the MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes and allele frequencies (χ²=2.573, 2.264, 1.615, 0.267; all P>0.05). There was no significant difference among the abnormal incidence of MTX at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h (all P>0.05). Conclusions MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms do not seem to be good markers of MTX-related toxicity and/or outcome in pediatric ALL in southern Fujian, and its clinical application still needs further discussion.

Objective: To investigate general condition of children′s rheumatic disease associated medical resources in Fujian Province. Methods: This questionnaire-based survey was conducted in 19 hospitals in Fujian province from December 2, 2018 to May 1, 2019. The questionnaire was designed to survey the general condition of the medical resources and the hospitalization of patients with rheumatic diseases from January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2018. Results: In the 19 hospitals, there were 15 general hospitals and 4 children′s hospitals, and only 5 hospitals had children′s rheumatic specialist clinic. There were only 53-62 beds for rheumatic disease patients in the 19 hospitals, accounting for 1.7%-2.0% of the total inpatient beds (3 137). There are 29 pediatric rheumatologists in total, accounting for 2.6% (29/1 120) of the total pediatricians. In the past five years, 613 patients with rheumatic diseases, accounting for 0.1% (613/625 214) of total hospitalized patients, were treated in these hospitals. Among them, 201 had juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 295 had systemic lupus erythematosus, 39 had dermatomyositis, 7 had scleroderma, and 57 had inflammatory bowel disease, 9 had Sjogren′s syndrome, 5 had Behcet′s disease, and none had overlap syndrome or mixed connective tissue disease. Conclusion The medical resources of children rheumatic diseases in Fujian province are insufficient which need to be developed.