Author Archives: gutsandgrowth

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About gutsandgrowth

I am a pediatric gastroenterologist at GI Care for Kids (previously called CCDHC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The goal of my blog is to share some of my reading in my field more broadly. In addition, I wanted to provide my voice to a wide range of topics that often have inaccurate or incomplete information. Before starting this blog in 2011, I would tear out articles from journals and/or keep notes in a palm pilot. This blog helps provide an updated source of information that is easy to access and search, along with links to useful multimedia sources. I was born and raised in Chattanooga. After graduating from the University of Virginia, I attended Baylor College of Medicine. I completed residency and fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center. I received funding from the National Institutes of Health for molecular biology research of the gastrointestinal tract. During my fellowship, I had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing pediatric gastroenterologists and mentors. Some of these individuals included Mitchell Cohen, William Balistreri, James Heubi, Jorge Bezerra, Colin Rudolph, John Bucuvalas, and Michael Farrell. I am grateful for their teaching and their friendship. During my training with their help, I received a nationwide award for the best research by a GI fellow. I have authored numerous publications/presentations including original research, case reports, review articles, and textbook chapters on various pediatric gastrointestinal problems. In addition, I have been recognized by Atlanta Magazine as a "Top Doctor" in my field multiple times. Currently, I am the vice chair of the section of nutrition for the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition, I am an adjunct Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. Other society memberships have included the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), American Academy of Pediatrics, the Food Allergy Network, the American Gastroenterology Association, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. As part of a national pediatric GI organization called NASPGHAN (and its affiliated website GIKids), I have helped develop educational materials on a wide-range of gastrointestinal and liver diseases which are used across the country. Also, I have been an invited speaker for national campaigns to improve the evaluation and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, hepatitis C, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Some information on these topics has been posted at my work website, www.gicareforkids.com, which has links to multiple other useful resources. I am fortunate to work at GI Care For Kids. Our group has 17 terrific physicians with a wide range of subspecialization, including liver diseases, feeding disorders, eosinophilic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, DiGeorge/22q, celiac disease, and motility disorders. Many of our physicians are recognized nationally for their achievements. Our group of physicians have worked closely together for many years. None of the physicians in our group have ever left to join other groups. I have also worked with the same nurse (Bernadette) since I moved to Atlanta in 1997. For many families, more practical matters about our office include the following: – 14 office/satellite locations – physicians who speak Spanish – cutting edge research – on-site nutritionists – on-site psychology support for abdominal pain and feeding disorders – participation in ImproveCareNow to better the outcomes for children with inflammatory bowel disease – office endoscopy suite (lower costs and easier scheduling) – office infusion center (lower costs and easier for families) – easy access to nursing advice (each physician has at least one nurse) I am married and have two sons (both adults). I like to read, walk/hike, bike, swim, and play tennis with my free time. I do not have any financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies or other financial relationships to disclose. I have helped enroll patients in industry-sponsored research studies.

8 Cups of Water: Weight Loss or Worthless?

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A recent study: JMW Wong et al. JAMA Pediatr 2017; 17 e170012 (Thanks to Ben Gold for this reference)

Full Text Link: Effects of Advice to Drink 8 Cups of Water per Day in Adolesents with Overweight or Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Among 38 adolescents with overweight or obesity, participants were divided into a water group and a control group.  The water group received “well-defined messages about water through counseling and daily text messages, a water bottle, and a water pitcher with filters.”

Key findings:

  • The water group consumed 2.8 cups of water per day compared to 1.2 cups per day for the control group
  • The 6-month chnage in BMI z score was identical z= -0.1.

My take: Advice and behavioral supports to consume 8 cups of water per day are likely to fall short and do not seem to enhance weight loss.

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Normandy American Cementary

Adalimumab Can Reverse Growth Failure in Pediatric Crohn’s Disease

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In an industry-sponsored study (TD Walters et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2017; 23: 967-75), adalimumab (ADA) was shown to be effective agent in reversing growth failure associated with pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD).

Background:  About one-third of children and adolescents with CD suffer from growth failure and delayed puberty.  Several prior studies have shown that anti-TNF therapy can improve height velocity and that early treatment with anti-TNF therapy (≤3 months after diagnosis) leads to greater improvement in height obtained, if initiated before puberty or early into puberty. This study examines the effectiveness of ADA in children from the IMAgINE 1 trial.

The authors identified 73 participants with growth delays (& adequate data) along with 27 participants with no growth delays.

Key findings:

  • ADA therapy significantly improved and normalized growth rates at 26 and 52 weeks in patients with baseline linear growth impairment.
  • At week 26, height velocity z-score was 1.33 among 23 children in remission compared with -0.78 (n=29) among “nonremitters”
  • At week 52, height velocity z-score was 2.17 among 27 children in remission compared with -1.57 (n=17) among “nonremitters”

My take: In moderate to severe CD, anti-TNF agents have been demonstrated to reverse growth failure; though, this is expected to occur only in patients with clinical response. To my knowledge, no other CD medical therapies have been proven to reverse growth failure (surgical treatment can improve growth as well).

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Mandated Malpractice in IBD Care?

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A recent study (A Yada et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2017; 23: 853-7) finds that insurance policies are not in compliance with expert guidelines.  The authors reviewed 79 policies from the top insurance companies to examine their policies regarding anti-TNF agents, vedolizumab, and ustekinumab.  These policies were compared with the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) clinical pathway recommendations for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD).

Key findings:

  • “90% of the policies required step-wise failure prior to starting anti-TNF for non-fistulizing CD.”
  • “When choosing anti-TNF therapy, 26% of policies required the use of adalimumab as the first anti-TNF agent.”
  • 98% of policies are inconsistent with AGA IBD guidelines

Discussion from authors:

  • “The plans do not allow for treatment based on disease severity but rather dictate treatment based on the required failure of different drug classes.”
  • “Only 2% of UC policies and 10% of CD policies allowed for early initiation of biologic therapy to reduce the risk of complications.”
  • “The goal of medical management is to minimize the use of corticosteroids…However, the majority of the current policies…preclude this standard-of-care management.”

My take (from authors): “Most insurance companies do not comply with the current standard of care for treating IBD.” My expectation is that these problems will continue and/or worsen as the options for IBD treatment become more complex.

Normandy American Cementary

 

Small Pediatric Study: Probiotic Helping Some with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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In a recent study (O Jadresin et al. JPGN 2017; 64: 925-9), 55 children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome were randomized (prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study) to either L reuteri DSM or placebo.

Key findings:

  • The intervention group had more days without pain: median 89.5 days vs. 51 days (P=.029)
  • Abdominal pain was less severe in the intervention group at some time points (second month, and fourth month)
  • The two groups did not differ with regard to duration of abdominal pain, stool type, or absence from school

Limitation: Small number of patients -the estimated samples size was not reached

My take: This study suggests that probiotics may help some pediatric patients with irritable bowel syndrome.  Trying to identify which patients should receive a probiotic and which probiotic should be selected remains unclear.

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Little Evidence to Support Dietary Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Thanks to Kipp Ellsworth Twitter feed for reference:  Nutritional and Dietary Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review N Sathe Pediatrics 2017; vol 139.

Abstract:

CONTEXT: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently use special diets or receive nutritional supplements to treat ASD symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dietary interventions or nutritional supplements in ASD.

DATA SOURCES: Databases, including Medline and PsycINFO.

STUDY SELECTION: Two investigators independently screened studies against predetermined criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION: One investigator extracted data with review by a second investigator. Investigators independently assessed the risk of bias and strength of evidence (SOE) (ie, confidence in the estimate of effects).

RESULTS: Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 4 with a low risk of bias, evaluated supplements or variations of the gluten/casein-free diet and other dietary approaches. Populations, interventions, and outcomes varied. Ω-3 supplementation did not affect challenging behaviors and was associated with minimal harms (low SOE). Two RCTs of different digestive enzymes reported mixed effects on symptom severity (insufficient SOE). Studies of other supplements (methyl B12, levocarnitine) reported some improvements in symptom severity (insufficient SOE). Studies evaluating gluten/casein-free diets reported some parent-rated improvements in communication and challenging behaviors; however, data were inadequate to make conclusions about the body of evidence (insufficient SOE). Studies of gluten- or casein-containing challenge foods reported no effects on behavior or gastrointestinal symptoms with challenge foods (insufficient SOE); 1 RCT reported no effects of camel’s milk on ASD severity (insufficient SOE). Harms were disparate.

LIMITATIONS: Studies were small and short-term, and there were few fully categorized populations or concomitant interventions.

CONCLUSIONS: There is little evidence to support the use of nutritional supplements or dietary therapies for children with ASD.

Related blog post: Gluten-free, Casein-free -No improvement in Autism

Bayeux, France

Five Reasons Medical Groups Oppose the Senate’s AHCA

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Many analysts have described the American Health Care Act (AHCA) as essentially an 800 billion dollar tax cut which as a consequence eliminates health care coverage for more than 20 million.

Some of the reasons why almost all major medical groups oppose the repeal/replace effort of the Affordable Care Act are summarized from NBC News. In brief, they are the poor, the elderly, children, women, and those with preexisting conditions –all disadvantaged if the AHCA passes.

NBC News: Just About Every Major Medical Group Hates the GOP Healthcare

An excerpt -regarding children:

Medicaid covers 75 million people, including nearly 36 million children, according to data released Friday by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services..

“Senate leaders present their bill as providing states with flexibility. The reality is that it will put considerable pressure on states to limit their spending on health care, including for children,” said Dr. Matthew Davis, a professor of pediatrics and of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“The bill includes misleading ‘protections’ for children by proposing to exempt them from certain Medicaid cuts,” added Dr. Fernando Stein, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“A ‘carve-out’ for children with ‘medically complex’ health issues does little to protect their coverage when the base program providing the coverage is stripped of its funding. Doing so forces states to chip away coverage in other ways, by not covering children living in poverty who do not have complex health conditions, or by scaling back the benefits that children and their families depend on,” Stein added.

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Camp Oasis 2017: Don’t Tell Me the Sky’s the Limit

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For many years, our group has helped out at Camp Oasis, a week-long camp for children with inflammatory bowel disease.  Among our physicians, Dr. Larry Saripkin has devoted more time than anyone else for about 15 years and he does such a great job. Over the years, our nurses and many other office staff have participated as well. Here are a couple photos from this year’s camp:

 

Don’t Tell Me the Sky’s the Limit When There are Footsteps on the Moon!  –one of many painted rocks

Ft Yargo State Park (location of Camp Oasis)

Why Cost-Saving Strategies Do Not Start with Children

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On a daily basis, it is clear that there should be a more thoughtful way to spend health care dollars so that what is purchased has more value.  The graph below illustrates that older and disabled adults utilize more health care dollars (in Medicaid) and as a result are likely to be the initial focus of cost-saving strategies.

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Updated Pediatric Helicobacter Pylori Guidelines

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Joint ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines (NL Jones et al. JPGN 2017; 64: 991-1003) have been published.  Overall, these guidelines cover a great deal of information.  It is interesting that these guidelines provide some conflicting advice with recommendations for adults.

  • Some recommendations:
    The authors recommend against diagnostic testing H pylori in children with functional abdominal pain
  • The authors recommend against using antibody-based tests from blood, urine, or saliva.
  • The authors recommend noninvasive testing for H pylori when investigating chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
  • First line therapy recommendations if sensitivity is unknown: High-dose PPI-Amoxicillin-Metronidazole for 14 days OR Bismuth-based quadruple therapy (in children less than 8 years, quadruple therapy would be bismuth, PPI, amoxicillin and metronidazole; in older children it is recommended to substitute tetracycline for amoxicillin).  Specific dosing is given in this report (Table 3 and Table 4)
  • The authors recommend assessing for infection eradication at least 4 weeks after completion of therapy

My take: I favor quadruple therapy for most patients (see adult guidelines below) until sensitivities can be more easily obtained.  If you know of a reliable lab to obtain culture sensitivities, please let me know.

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Adult Guidelines:

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Improving the Value of Pediatric Colonoscopy

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Two recent studies examine the diagnostic utility of pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy:

  • PS Kawada et al. JPGN 2017; 64: 898-902
  • M Thomson, S Sharma. JPGN 2017; 64: 903-06

Before looking at these studies more closely, I would say that I was struck by contrasting remarks in their discussions. The first study: “a negative colonoscopy has not been shown to improve outcomes in those with functional pain” and references: Bonilla S et a. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2011; 50: 396-401.  The second study states that “a negative endoscopic finding, with effective reassurance, can prevent unnecessary medicalization of many children in whom other nonorganic causes may present with GI symptoms.” The latter study does not provide any data to support their claim.

In terms of the specifics, the first study is a retrospective examination of 999 colonoscopies.  The indications for colonoscopy were suspected IBD; in this circumstance, 143 of 449 (32%) were normal.  For isolated rectal bleeding, 141 of 197 (72%) were normal.  For recurrent abdominal pain, all 46 were normal.  The cecal or beyond completion rate was only 52%, potentially lowering diagnostic yield.  The perforation rate during the 10 year timeframe (2001-2010) was 0.2%. The authors conclude that the yield of colonoscopy for recurrent abdominal pain (without other features) is very low and that many children with isolated rectal bleeding “should have a trial of conservative management before undergoing endoscopy.”

The second study retrospectively examined 153 endoscopic cases from a database of 2471 children (2012-2014).  The median age was 9.58 years. The authors found a diagnostic yield of 18.9% for upper endoscopy alone, 32.6% for ileocolonoscopy alone, and 39.2% for combined upper endoscopy/ileocolonoscopy. The terminal ileum intubation rate was 98%.

My take: Both of these studies look at pediatric endoscopy and reach opposite conclusions. The first study suggests that many colonoscopies could be avoided and the latter suggests that whether normal or not, endoscopy contributes to improved management. What is your conclusion?

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