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003) and driven primarily by 'hypofunctional' TLR responses (p values 0.045, 0.010 & 0.018 for TLR4-mediated IL-10, IL-1β & TNF-α respectively; 0.018 & 0.015 for TLR1-2 -mediated IL-10 & IL-1β). Hierarchical clustering generated three distinct clusters of patients and a fourth group of 'unclustered' individuals. No relationship was observed between the observed immune clusters and the clinical disease phenotype. selleckchem CONCLUSIONS Although a clinically useful outcome was not observed through hierarchical clustering, our study provides a rationale for using an UML approach to stratify patients. The study also highlights the predominance of hypo-inflammatory innate immune responses as a key mechanism in the pathogenesis of IBD.Iatrogenic manganese (Mn) neurotoxicity is a safety concern in neonates receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). Prior studies suggest Mn contamination of PN ingredients represents an unintended source of Mn delivery. In order to determine the relative contribution of unsourced Mn to total Mn exposure in neonatal PN, this study measured Mn concentrations in neonatal PN solutions using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Solutions prepared using a standard fixed dose neonatal multiple trace element product were compared with test solutions prepared using individual trace element ingredients not including Mn. The standard solutions (n = 6) contained a mean (SD) Mn concentration of 56.63 μg/L (0.94), compared with 6.04 μg/L (0.39) in the test solutions without added Mn (n = 6). This study suggests that neonatal PN contains significant quantities of Mn not intentionally added during PN preparation. Further studies are needed to identify individual ingredient sources of unintentional Mn, and the feasibility of Mn omission strategies.Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are critical activities performed by medical professionals which can be observed and assessed. Adding on to common EPAs for all pediatric subspecialty trainees, specialty specific EPAs for pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutritional fellowship were developed by the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) EPA Task Force.Having developed specialty specific EPAs, building EPA assessments is the next logical step, as EPAs are included under a larger umbrella of competency-based assessment. Thus, the NASPGHAN EPA Task Force and Training Committee collaborated on an assessment tool and associated curricular resources to aid in tracking trainees' progression to entrustment within individual EPAs and readiness for independent practice.This manuscript reports the development of an EPA assessment tool, including guiding principles and the theory behind the assessment tool, with a focus on simple, meaningful assessments that can provide crucial performance feedback to trainees. In addition, curricular resources were developed, based on the assessment tool, to support training. Ultimately, it is the hope of the NASPGHAN EPA Task Force and Training Committee that this tool can aid training programs in providing formative feedback for trainees, and can be used by training programs and clinical competency committees for summative evaluation.Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is the most common of the urea cycle disorders and follows an X-linked inheritance pattern. The classical form in male infants causes vomiting and lethargy in the neonatal period; if untreated the severe hyperammonaemia can cause acute neurotoxic complications and permanent disability. OTCD may also occur in heterozygote female individuals, though the manifestations are variable. We report 2 cases of female paediatric patients with OTCD, who presented with acute liver failure. Both patients had limited oral intake at the time of presentation, causing an absence of orotic aciduria, which delayed the diagnosis. These cases demonstrate the need to consider urea cycle disorders in children presenting with acute liver failure, and that repeating the urine metabolic screen at the time of an unrestricted diet is warranted if there is a high clinical suspicion.OBJECTIVES Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study is to describe the hepatic histology in children chronically infected with hepatitis B virus living in the United States and Canada. METHODS Liver biopsies of 134 treatment-naïve children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection were scored for inflammation, fibrosis, and other histological features, and correlated with clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS Sixty percentage of subjects acquired the infection vertically, 51% were male, and 69% were hepatitis B e antigen-positive at the time of the biopsy. Hepatitis B DNA levels were generally high (mean 7.70 log IU/mL), as was serum alanine aminotransferase (median 120 U/L). Using the Ishak-modified histology activity index scoring system, interface hepatitis was mild in 31%, moderate in 61%, and severe in 6%. Lobular inflammation was mild in 54%, moderate in 29%, and marked in 7%. Portal inflammation was mild in 38% and moderate in 62% of subjects. Eighteen percentage had no fibrosis, 59% had portal expansion without bridging fibrosis, 19% had bridging fibrosis, and 4% had cirrhosis. Alanine aminotransferase positively correlated with inflammation and fibrosis. Neither age, duration of infection, nor Hepatitis B virus DNA levels correlated with fibrosis. Fibrosis-4 did not correlate with fibrosis but correlated with inflammation. Aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index correlated with both inflammation and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS Chronic hepatitis B virus infection results in significant inflammation and fibrosis during childhood. Serum alanine aminotransferase is a strong indicator of the severity and extent of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.OBJECTIVES The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) 2012 guidelines, enabled for the first time, a nonbiopsy approach in the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD). We aimed to prospectively assess 4 tissue-transglutaminase (tTg) IgA assays of 4 random-access analyzers and examine their accuracy in diagnosing CD without a biopsy. METHODS We enrolled 186 consecutive children referred to upper endoscopy and intestinal biopsy. One group included 109 patients with positive tTg that was referred for suspected CD. Another group included 77 patients with negative tTg referred because of other indications. All participants had a blood sample taken at the time of endoscopy. Samples were tested with 4 tTg IgA assays on automated analyzers and 1 Elisa kit. All intestinal biopsies were evaluated by a local pathologist, a central pathologist, and a CD expert blinded to each other. CD was diagnosed when full agreement was reached. Analytical performance of the assays included precision with controls and samples, lot to lot variation, and carryover.