Blood. 2016 Dec 5. pii: blood-2016-09-738104. Severe anemia early in life as a risk factor for sickle cell kidney disease. Aban I, Baddam S, Hilliard LM, Howard TH, Feig D, Lebensburger JD.
Patients with Sickle Cell Disease develop microalbuminuria. This manuscript explored the impact of severe anemia in SCD and identified that 60% of infants with hemoglobin < 8.0 g/dL developed microalbuminuria during early adolescence.
Neuroscience. 2016 Jun 2;324:469-84. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.03.014. Altered metabolic activity in the developing brain of rats predisposed to high versus low depression-like behavior. McCoy CR, Golf SR, Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Glover ME, Jackson NL, Stringfellow SA, Pugh PC, Fant AD, Clinton SM.
Using a multidisciplinary approach, a well characterized animal model of anxiety and depression was used to assess brain metabolism at several time-points during postnatal development. First, transcriptome profiling revealed vast differences in the expression of genes involved in cellular metabolism, in anxiety-prone compared to non-anxiety prone rats. After this first findings, further assessment of the expression and activity of cytochrome oxidase (COX) — a key enzyme in cellular metabolism and more specifically in the production of ATP —, revealed also significant reductions in COX activity in specific brain areas of anxiety-prone rats during early stages of postnatal development. Together these findings support that early postnatal alterations in brain metabolism may play a key role in psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Cell Death Dis. 2016 Oct 20;7(10):e2427. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2016.327.Mitochondrial angiotensin receptors in dopaminergic neurons. Role in cell protection and aging-related vulnerability to neurodegeneration. Valenzuela R, Costa-Besada MA, Iglesias-Gonzalez J, Perez-Costas E, Villar-Cheda B, Garrido-Gil P, Melendez-Ferro M, Soto-Otero R, Lanciego JL, Henrion D, Franco R, Labandeira-Garcia JL.
This multi-national and interdisciplinary study demonstrates for the first time the presence of angiotensin receptors within mitochondria of brain cells, and specifically shows evidence of the role of this system in dopaminergic transmission. Previous studies have found that angiotensin receptors are present in the brain, however, this is the first study to specifically localize them to mitochondria, and assess their functioning in these cellular organelles. In addition, it also shows that angiotensin receptors are abundantly present in the mitochondria of dopaminergic cells. Altered expression of these receptors with aging may induce mitochondrial dysfunction, the main risk factor for neurodegeneration. Future studies should also explore the potential role of these receptors during brain development.
The ASHA Leader. 2017 January. Vol. 22, 18-20. doi:10.1044/leader.AEA.22012017.18.What to Know About Advances in CMV Detection, Prevention. Fowler K, Ross S.
Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Jan 5. doi: 10.1245/s10434-016-5747-5. Breast Malignancies in Children: Presentation, Management, and Survival. Richards MK, Goldin AB, Beierle EA,Doski JJ, Goldfarb M, Langer M, Nuchtern JG, Vasudevan S, Gow KW, Javid SH.
Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2017 Jan;18(1):85-87. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000000989.Defining Low Cardiac Output Syndrome: An Ode to Justice Potter Stewart. Alten JA,Gaies M.
This was an invited editorial about a recently published low cardiac output prediction model.
J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2017 Jan 3. pii: S1083-3188(16)30344-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2016.12.004. Extramedullary Relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Presenting as Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: A Case Report. Robillard DT, Kutny MA, Chewning JH, Arbuckle JL.
J Clin Oncol. 2017 Jan 9:JCO2016716712. Clonal Hematopoiesis Associated With Adverse Outcomes After Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma. Gibson CJ, Lindsley RC, Tchekmedyian V, Mar BG, Shi J, Jaiswal S, Bosworth A, Francisco L, He J, Bansal A, Morgan EA, Lacasce AS, Freedman AS, Fisher DC, Jacobsen E, Armand P, Alyea EP, Koreth J, Ho V, Soiffer RJ, Antin JH, Ritz J, Nikiforow S, Forman SJ, Michor F, Neuberg D, Bhatia R, Bhatia S, Ebert BL.
We showed that in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for lymphoma, clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) at the time of transplantation is associated with inferior survival and increased risk of therapy-related leukemia – suggesting that we can screen patients before transplantation that are at risk for these adverse outcomes.
Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2017 Jan 5. pii: S1083-8791(17)30076-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2017.01.006. Cardiovascular Function in Long-Term Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors. Armenian SH, Horak D, Scott JM, Mills G, Siyahian A, BeranoTeh J, Douglas PS, Forman SJ, Bhatia S, Jones LW.
Despite the presence of normal (>50%) resting left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation, 25% had markedly abnormal LV longitudinal strain, an advanced echocardiographic measure of myocardial dysfunction. These findings highlight the role of stress-based measures and advanced myocardial imaging to characterize risk of cardiovascular disease in HCT survivors, setting the stage for tailored interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease with its attendant morbidity and mortality.
Muscle Nerve. 2017 Jan 9. doi: 10.1002/mus.25567. Anti-HMGCR necrotizing myopathy masquerading as a muscular dystrophy in a child. Mohassel P, Foley AR, Donkervoort S, Fequiere PR, Pak K, Bönnemann CG, Mammen AL.
J Am Coll Surg. 2017 Jan 6. pii: S1072-7515(16)31726-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2016.12.022. Utilization of the NSQIP-Pediatric Database in Development and Validation of a New Predictive Model of Pediatric Postoperative Wound Complications. Maizlin II, Redden DT, Beierle EA, Chen MK, Russell RT.
Recent literature has questioned the accuracy of predicting SSI risk based on wound classification. We utilized the National Quality Surgical Improvement-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) Participant Use File evaluating over 180,000 pediatric patients and their risk of postoperative wound infection. Our model significantly improved predictive ability for postoperative SSIs than the current wound classification system. This model will allow providers to more effectively counsel families and patients of these risks, and more accurately reflect true risks for individual surgical patients to hospitals and payers.
Lancet Respir Med. 2016 Feb;4(2):107-15. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(15)00545-7. Safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ivacaftor in patients aged 2-5 years with cystic fibrosis and a CFTR gating mutation (KIWI): an open-label,single-arm study. Davies JC, Cunningham S, Harris WT, Lapey A, Regelmann WE, Sawicki GS, Southern KW, Robertson S, Green Y, Cooke J, Rosenfeld M; KIWI Study Group.
This study evaluated the safety and potential benefit of lumacaftor in CF toddlers with the G551D mutation. Lumacaftor is a CFTR directed therapy that has pries open the CFTR channel. Results from this study laid the foundation for FDA approval in children aged 2 to 5. |
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In response to news reports suggesting a possible new federal commission on immunizations, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama reiterate our strong support the use of vaccines according to the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During the University of Alabama Board of Trustees February 2017 meeting in Birmingham at UAB, a number of outstanding UAB faculty members will be recognized. The dean's leadership team selected Hussein Abdul-Latif, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, to be recognized as representation of physicians at UAB. This meeting will take place Feb. 3 in the Student Hill Center. 
The University of Alabama School of Medicine Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha announced its Faculty, Fellow, Resident and Alumni AOA Class of 2017. Among the inductees was Meghan Hofto, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow. To view a list of inductees, click 
One of every four children admitted to pediatric intensive care units around the world develops acute kidney injury, which increases the risk of death and leads to longer and more intensive hospitalizations, according to a study published online in 
Children’s will be hosting the 4th Annual “Genetics and Genomics in Day to Day Medical Practice” Rare Disease Symposium in the Bradley Lecture Center from 8 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2017. Cost to attend is $35. Register at 
UAB Medicine leaders will share updates on Organizing for Success at three meetings in January. Faculty are encouraged to attend the sessions scheduled for their departments. Click 
Jan. 20 
It is with great pleasure that we announce the selection of Drs. Jamie Powell, Robert (Rob) Sellers, and Karlene Walker as Pediatric Co-Chief Residents for the 2018-2019 academic year.
In celebration of Community Month and campus diversity, the African American Faculty
A campus-community forum will take place on Jan. 19 from 6 - 8 p.m. in Heritage Hall Room 102. The topic is "A Dialogue on Civility and Decoding Activism in the 21st Century." For more information, 
