Pediatrics
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An extensive literature documents the existence of pervasive and persistent child health, development, and health care disparities by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Disparities experienced during childhood can result in a wide variety of health and health care outcomes, including adult morbidity and mortality, indicating that it is crucial to examine the influence of disparities across the life course. Studies often collect data on the race, ethnicity, and SES of research participants to be used as covariates or explanatory factors. ⋯ Furthermore, the AAP believes that researchers should consider both biological and social mechanisms of action of race, ethnicity, and SES as they relate to the aims and hypothesis of the specific area of investigation. It is important to measure these variables, but it is not sufficient to use these variables alone as explanatory for differences in disease, morbidity, and outcomes without attention to the social and biologic influences they have on health throughout the life course. The AAP recommends more research, both in the United States and internationally, on measures of race, ethnicity, and SES and how these complex constructs affect health care and health outcomes throughout the life course.
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Case Reports
Atrial fibrillation induced by commotio cordis secondary to a blunt chest trauma in a teenage boy.
Low-energy blunt chest trauma can cause commotio cordis and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in otherwise healthy young individuals. If the chest wall impact occurs during a narrow vulnerable window of ventricular repolarization, the generated premature ventricular impulse can lead to VF and sudden death. Atrial fibrillation (AF) in association with a blunt chest trauma has not yet been reported in a child or adolescent. ⋯ He did not have any identifiable structural or electrical cardiac abnormality and had no previous history of arrhythmia. We hypothesize that AF, similar to commotio cordis-induced VF, may occur as a result of a blunt chest trauma in healthy young individuals. Animal studies evaluating arrhythmias related to chest wall impact may elucidate the timing and mechanism of AF induced by commotio cordis.
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Type B lactic acidosis is an underrecognized clinical entity that must be distinguished from type A (hypoxic) lactic acidosis. We present the case of a 4-year-old boy with medulloblastoma who presented with lactic acidosis in the setting of septic shock. His hyperlactatemia persisted to high levels even after his hemodynamic status improved. ⋯ It was determined that his total parenteral nutrition was deficient in vitamins due to a national shortage. Because thiamine is an important cofactor for pyruvate dehydrogenase, he was unable to use glucose through aerobic metabolism pathways. We briefly review type A versus type B lactic acidosis in this case report.