OBJECTIVE To determine whether childhood obesity is a risk factor for developing pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). METHODS Cases were identified through the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) pediatric acquired demyelinating diseases cohort between 2004 and 2010. For cases, body mass index (BMI) was obtained prior to symptom onset, for the unde...

OBJECTIVE To determine the relative ability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (pVEPs) to detect visual pathway involvement in pediatric-onset MS. METHODS Pediatric-onset MS participants (onset <18 years) and healthy controls (HCs) underwent OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT) and pVEPs. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer to inner plexiform ...

BACKGROUND Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) represents approximately 5% of the MS population; information regarding clinical features is slowly accumulating. Cognitive and psychiatric impairments frequently occur, but remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVES To describe psychiatric diagnoses among children with MS referred for psychiatric assessment and their relation to cognitive impairment. ...

OBJECTIVE The principles of evidence-based practice (EBP) are a mandated component of the pediatric residency curriculum; however, a pediatrics-based assessment tool validated with pediatric residents does not exist. METHODS We designed an assessment instrument composed of items in 4 categories: 1) demographics; 2) comfort level; 3) self-reported practice of EBP; and 4) EBP knowledge. This la...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE DTI has shown focal and diffuse white matter abnormalities in adults and children with MS. Here we explore whether DTI abnormalities are present at the time of a first attack or CIS in children and whether early DTI features can predict the development of MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS We assessed region-of-interest and tract-based mean ADC and mean FA values for 3 major whi...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Region-of-interest (ROI) and tract-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analyses have detected increased apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in callosal and projection systems of adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We explored whether similar changes occur in pediatric patients with MS, assessing 3 major white matter pa...

The antitumor efficacy of the synthetic benzamide derivative MS-27-275 (MS-275), an inhibitor of histone deacetylation [T. Suzuki et al., J. Med. Chem., 42: 3001-3003, 1999], was evaluated in a series of pediatric solid tumor cell lines, including neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma (EWS), retinoblastoma, medulloblastoma, undifferentiated sarcoma (US), osteosarcoma, and malignant r...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that is increasingly recognized in children and adolescents. This realization comes with additional concerns about existing therapeutic options and the impact of the disease on health-related outcomes of adolescents with MS. This five-part review provides an update on management strategies...

Background: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with a high rate of disease activity. However, only single DMT – fingolimod has been approved by Health Canada for children, in 2018. In this study, we describe trends the treatment pediatric-onset MS Alberta. Methods: We performed retrospective review Alberta administrative health databases, identifying cases under 19 years age ...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Mauriac syndrome (MS) is a rare complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). It is related to low insulin concentrations and is less common since longer-acting insulins became available. It is characterized by hepatomegaly, growth and puberty delay, and the presence of elevated transaminases and serum lipids. The aim of this study was to describe the patients from a pedi...