Salivary Testosterone, Androstenedione and 11-Oxygenated 19-Carbon Concentrations Differ by Age and Sex in Children.

Background: The diagnosis and management of childhood adrenal disorders is challenging. Clinical markers of hormone excess or deficiency may take months to manifest, and traditional biomarkers correlate only partially with clinical outcomes. Recent work has indicated that 11 oxygenated 19-carbon (11oxC19) steroids may be useful in the assessment of adrenal function.

Socioeconomic determinants of outcomes in childhood asthma.

Asthma is the commonest chronic condition of childhood. Children with asthma in the UK have the worst outcomes across Europe and other high-income countries. There are significant socioeconomic inequalities that impact the prevalence and outcomes of asthma (emergency healthcare utilisation, hospitalisation, critical care admission, mortality and quality of life).

Readability of paediatric participant information leaflets in research studies.

Background: Information leaflets in research studies should be age-appropriate to be understood, however the formal readability of children's participant information leaflets (PILs) for research studies has not been assessed.

Methods: A single-centre cross-sectional study assessing paediatric PILs. Six readability tests were applied (Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Flesch Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), Automated Readability Index (ARI) and Flesch Reading Ease score (FRE).

Severe accidental poisonings in children: a British Paediatric Surveillance Unit nationwide prospective study.

Background: Poisoning in children and young people is common. Understanding the incidence, causes and circumstances of severe accidental poisonings, requiring admission and medical intervention, may help healthcare professionals and shape public health interventions.

Methods: A prospective, population-based surveillance study using the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU)'s active surveillance methodology (July 2018-July 2019) in the UK and Ireland.

Adverse Cardiovascular Risk Profile and Increased Diurnal Salivary Cortisol in Girls With Turner Syndrome: An Exploratory Study.

Patients with Turner Syndrome (TS) and those exposed to high concentrations of glucocorticoids have a number of characteristics in common, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Pediatric TS patients underwent studies of salivary cortisol (SC) and cortisone (SCn), body composition, continuous glucose monitoring, vascular function, and ambulatory blood pressure (BP). Biochemical indicators of cardiovascular risk were also measured.

Rapid and non-invasive analysis of paracetamol overdose using paper arrow-mass spectrometry: a prospective observational study.

Background: Paracetamol is the most consumed medicine globally. Its accessibility contributes to common overdose. Paracetamol overdose is responsible for > 50% of acute liver failure cases, making it the second most common reason for a liver transplant.

Rapid differentiation of cystic fibrosis-related bacteria via reagentless atmospheric pressure photoionisation mass spectrometry.

Breath analysis is an area of significant interest in medical research as it allows for non-invasive sampling with exceptional potential for disease monitoring and diagnosis. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in breath can offer critical insight into a person's lifestyle and/or disease/health state. To this end, the development of a rapid, sensitive, cost-effective and potentially portable method for the detection of key compounds in breath would mark a significant advancement.

The Impact of Malnutrition on the Developing Lung and Long-Term Lung Health: A Narrative Review of Global Literature.

Worldwide, over 2 billion children under the age of 5 experience stunting, wasting, or are underweight. Malnutrition contributes to 45% of all deaths in this age group (approximately 3.1 million deaths) [1].

Impact of indoor environment on children's pulmonary health.

Introduction: A child's living environment has a significant impact on their respiratory health, with exposure to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) contributing to potentially lifelong respiratory morbidity. These effects occur throughout childhood, from the antenatal period through to adolescence. Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of environmental insults, and children living in socioeconomic deprivation globally are more likely to breathe air both indoors and outdoors, which poses an acute and long-term risk to their health.

Assessing and further developing age-appropriate information for young people about reporting suspected adverse drug reactions.

Aims: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Yellow Card scheme (YCS) is the UK's system that collects spontaneous reports about suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Reporting of suspected ADRs by young people (age <19 years) in the UK is extremely uncommon, driving efforts to improve awareness and reporting.

Methods: Quality improvement project, using an anonymous online survey about updated information for young people, distributed through school pupils (age 13-18 years) across the UK through the Alder Hey Research Ambassador programme.

Participant perceptions and experiences of a novel community-based respiratory longitudinal sampling method in Liverpool, UK: A mixed methods feasibility study.

Longitudinal, community-based sampling is important for understanding prevalence and transmission of respiratory pathogens. Using a minimally invasive sampling method, the FAMILY Micro study monitored the oral, nasal and hand microbiota of families for 6 months. Here, we explore participant experiences and opinions.

Laser-cutting: A novel alternative approach for point-of-care manufacturing of bespoke tablets.

A novel subtractive manufacturing method to produce bespoke tablets with immediate and extended drug release is presented. This is the first report on applying fusion laser cutting to produce bespoke furosemide solid dosage forms based on pharmaceutical-grade polymeric carriers. Cylindric tablets of different sizes were produced by controlling the two-dimensional design of circles of the corresponding diameter.

Emergency diagnosis made easy: matrix removal and analyte enrichment from raw saliva using paper-arrow mass spectrometry.

Paracetamol overdose is a leading cause of acute liver failure that can prove fatal. Establishing paracetamol concentration accurately and quickly is critical. Current detection methods are invasive, time-consuming and/or expensive.

The impact of poor housing and indoor air quality on respiratory health in children.

Unlabelled: It is becoming increasingly apparent that poor housing quality affects indoor air quality, significantly impacting on respiratory health in children and young people. Exposure to damp and/or mould in the home, cold homes and the presence of pests and pollutants all have a significant detrimental impact on child respiratory health. There is a complex relationship between features of poor-quality housing, such as being in a state of disrepair, poor ventilation, overcrowding and being cold, that favour an environment resulting in poor indoor air quality.

20 years on - the measurement of blood pressure and detection of hypertension in children and adolescents: a national descriptive survey.

In 1997 a survey identified a general lack of standardisation of blood pressure (BP) measurement and little consensus on the criteria for diagnosing hypertension amongst paediatricians. We have conducted a new online survey in 2021, to compare clinical practice between the two time periods. A national quality improvement survey was approved by the GAPRUKI committee and then circulated to consultant-grade general paediatricians.

The readability of parent information leaflets in paediatric studies.

Background: Poor literacy can impact achieving optimal health outcomes. The aim of this project was to assess the readability of parent information leaflets (PILs).

Methods: A single-centre study using paediatric PILs.

For children admitted to hospital, what interventions improve medication safety on ward rounds? A systematic review.

Objective: Every year, medication errors harm children in hospitals. Ward rounds are a unique opportunity to bring information together and plan management. There is a need to understand what strategies can improve medication safety on ward rounds.

Assessing Paracetamol Overdose in Children: Acceptability and Potential Market for a Non-Invasive Testing Device.

Background: Assessment of paracetamol overdose in children and teenagers in the emergency department (ED) requires blood, taken 4 hours post ingestion. A commercial partner developed transdermal paracetamol measuring technology. This work aims to understand the acceptability of such a device, and potential market size.

Genome-wide analyses of platinum-induced ototoxicity in childhood cancer patients: Results of GO-CAT and United Kingdom MAGIC consortia.

Hearing loss (ototoxicity) is a major adverse effect of cisplatin and carboplatin chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to identify novel genetic variants that play a role in platinum-induced ototoxicity. Therefore, a genome-wide association study was performed in the Genetics of Childhood Cancer Treatment (GO-CAT) cohort (n = 261) and the United Kingdom Molecular Genetics of Adverse Drug Reactions in Children Study (United Kingdom MAGIC) cohort (n = 248).