Growth failure is almost inextricably linked with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Growth failure in CKD has been associated with both increased morbidity and mortality. Growth failure in the setting of kidney disease is multifactorial and is related to poor nutritional status as well as comorbidities, such as anemia, bone and mineral disorders, and alterations in hormonal responses, as well as to aspects of treatment such as steroid exposure. This review covers updated management of growth failure in these children including adequate nutrition, treatment of metabolic alterations, and early administration of recombinant human growth hormone (GH).

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial inflammatory skin disease with frequent hypersensitivity to allergens. However, the role of exposure to indoor allergens on AD severity is unclear.Methods Children aged 0-17 years with active AD from central Chile were recruited; disease severity was evaluated with SCORAD and POEM scores. A home environment survey was applied to parents. Bedroom dust samples were collected for all subjects and analyzed by multiplex assay to quantify dust mite (Der p1, Der f1), dog (Can f1), cat (Fel d1), and alternaria alternata (Alt a1) allergens.Results Twenty-five children aged 3.9 AE 3.8 years were included. Fifty-two percent were female. Mean SCORAD was 29 AE 14 (range 11-61), and mean POEM was 10.7 AE 6.2.No direct association was found between tobacco exposure, pet ownership, aerosol use, visible dust, or home carpets/rugs with SCORAD (all P > 0.05). Dust samples from all homes had Can f1 and Fel d1 allergens, regardless of pet ownership. Homes that had indoor dogs or cats had significantly higher amounts of these allergens (P < 0.001). Forty percent of homes had dust mite allergens, and none had alternaria alternata. Children with AD living in homes with elevated dust mite and animal dander allergen concentrations had higher SCORAD than those from homes with low allergen concentrations (40 AE 13 vs.26 AE 13, P = 0.025). ConclusionsHigh concentrations of indoor allergens may influence AD severity in children. Further studies assessing indoor allergens and allergen sensitization are warranted to fully evaluate the role of indoor allergens on AD.

Background Laser hair removal (LHR) is a common practice with increasing use worldwide. Clinical and dermoscopic changes in melanocytic nevi after LHR have been reported but prospective studies are lacking. Objective To describe dermoscopic changes of melanocytic nevi at different time points after LHR. Methods Prospective study in a cohort of female patients undergoing diode LHR. Dermoscopic follow‐up of at least three nevi on the legs that underwent hair removal. We included three nonexposed nevi on the arms as controls. Two blinded investigators analyzed dermoscopic images, according to variables selected based on the available literature. Results Thirty‐four patients were included with a total of 148 nevi on the legs and 112 nevi on the arms (controls). 47.9% (71/148) of the nevi on the legs had evidence of dermoscopic changes at the sixth hair removal session, compared to 9.8% (11/112) on controls (p < 0.001). The most frequent change was “bleaching” (41.9%, 62/148). Also, we observed “irregular hyperpigmented areas,” and “regression structures” in 5.4% (8/148) and 4.7% (7/148) of the cases at the sixth session, respectively. Neither of these structures were observed in the controls (p < 0.05). Limitations Only females were included; we did not perform histopathological evaluation nor reflectance confocal microscopy of changing nevi. Conclusion Melanocytic nevi frequently change after diode LHR. The changes cannot always distinguish between LHR induced and melanoma, so we advise avoiding nevi during laser therapies with melanin targets.

We describe a case of a 6‐month‐old female patient with a segmental, superficial, infantile hemangioma (IH) on the forehead being treated with propranolol 2 mg/kg/d for 5 months, who developed a symplastic hemangioma (SH) over the preexisting lesion, highlighting the need to consider SH in the differential diagnosis of vascular lesions arising over preexisting vascular anomalies in children.

Many pharmacological agents have been investigated to manage preterm labor; we postulate that a combination of tocolytic drugs may achieve a better effect in the prevention of uterine contractions without dose-dependent adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of dual combinations of tocolytics in vitro. Human myometrium was obtained during elective cesarean sections (term without labor; n = 40). Myometrial strips were placed in organ baths for the measurement of isometric tension. Contractile activity was induced by oxytocin (10 mol/L), then a concentration-response curve to single or dual combinations of tocolytics was started. All studied tocolytics (nifedipine, ritodrine, nitroglycerin, atosiban, and NS-1619), when used alone, significantly inhibited myometrial contractions. When combined, nifedipine plus ritodrine produced a significantly greater inhibition of contractility than each drug alone in the midrange of concentrations. The combination of nifedipine plus nitroglycerin or nifedipine plus atosiban produced a significantly greater inhibition than nitroglycerin or atosiban alone but not greater than nifedipine. The combination of nifedipine plus NS-1619 (Ca-activated K [BK] channel opener) reduced the inhibitory effect of each drug. We concluded that a selected combination of tocolytics (nifedipine plus ritodrine) produced a significantly greater inhibitory effect on contractility than each drug alone at intermediate concentrations. Thus, specific combinations of tocolytics with different intracellular signaling pathways may have a synergic effect constituting a provocative new option for preterm labor treatment.