Differentiation Of Children Research Articles

Impaired calcium influx underlies skewed T helper cell differentiation in children with IgE-mediated food allergies.

Reasons for Th2 skewing in IgE-mediated food allergies remains unclear. Clinical observations suggest impaired T cell activation may drive Th2 responses evidenced by increased atopic manifestations in liver transplant patients on tacrolimus (a calcineurin inhibitor). We aimed to assess differentiation potential, T cell activation and calcium influx of naïve CD4+ T cells in children with IgE-mediated food allergies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from infants in the Starting Time for Egg Protein (STEP) Trial were analyzed by flow cytometry to assess Th1/Th2/Treg development. Naïve CD4+ T cells from children with and without food allergies were stimulated for 7 days to assess Th1/Th2/Treg transcriptional factors and cytokines. Store operated calcium entry (SOCE) was measured in children with and without food allergies. The effect of tacrolimus on CD4+ T cell differentiation was assessed by treating stimulated naïve CD4+ T cells from healthy volunteers with tacrolimus for 7 days. Egg allergic infants had impaired development of IFNγ+ Th1 cells and FoxP3+ transitional CD4+ T cells compared with non-allergic infants. This parallels reduced T-bet, IFNγ and FoxP3 expression in naïve CD4+ T cells from food allergic children after invitro culture. SOCE of naïve CD4+ T cells was impaired in food allergic children. Naïve CD4+ T cells treated with tacrolimus had reduced IFNγ, T-bet, and FoxP3, but preserved IL-4 expression. In children with IgE-mediated food allergies, dysregulation of T helper cell development is associated with impaired SOCE, which underlies an intrinsic impairment in Th1 and Treg differentiation. Along with tacrolimus-induced Th2 skewing, this highlights an important role of SOCE/calcineurin pathway in T helper cell differentiation.

Paper-Based procalcitonin and Interleukin-6 test strip with Spectrum-Based optical reader for enterovirus severity differentiation in children

Infectious diseases significantly impact global health, necessitating prompt diagnosis to mitigate life-threatening sepsis risk. Identifying patients at risk of severe neurological complications from enterovirus infections is challenging due to nonspecific initial presentations. Point-of-care testing (POCT) has emerged as a transformative tool, with low-cost lateral-flow colorimetric assays showing promise in deployable POCT devices. We developed a PCT/IL-6 rapid diagnostic system integrating lateral flow assay (LFA) test strips and a portable optical spectrum reader, allowing simultaneous semi-quantitative measurement of serum PCT and IL-6 within 30 min at the point of care. The system demonstrated a strong correlation with traditional ELISA and effectively differentiated severe pediatric enterovirus cases using serum samples. IL-6 showed superior discriminatory ability over PCT in identifying patients with severe neurological complications. This novel diagnostic platform holds great potential for early sepsis recognition and infectious disease management, especially in resource-limited settings.

Providing a Model for Predicting Children's Differentiation Based on Communication Patterns and Personality Structure with the Mediation of Dysfunctional Attitudes in Parents Attending Counseling Centers in Tehran

Background and Objective: Most spouses in marital life use different communication patterns in interactions with family members, depending on their personality structure. The presence of dysfunctional communication patterns and underdeveloped personalities can cause destructive effects in relationships and lead to a lack of differentiation in children. This study aims to provide a model for predicting children's differentiation based on communication patterns and personality structure with the mediation of dysfunctional attitudes in parents attending counseling centers in Tehran. Methods and Materials: Considering the indices and objectives of the research, the study was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of this research included all parents attending counseling centers in Tehran during 2021-2022. In this research, the sampling method was multi-stage random sampling, and the sample size was determined to be 350 people based on the Sample Power software. Data collection was carried out using the Differentiation Inventory by Skowron and Friedlander (1998), the Couples' Communication Patterns Questionnaire by Christensen and Sullaway (1991), the NEO Personality Inventory by McCrae and Costa (1985), and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale by Weissman and Beck (1978) on the selected sample. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and SmartPLS structural equation modeling. Findings: The findings of this study indicated that the proposed model for predicting children's differentiation based on communication patterns and personality structure with the mediation of dysfunctional attitudes in parents attending counseling centers in Tehran had a good fit. Examination of the results based on the direct path showed a significant relationship between the components of communication patterns, personality structure, and dysfunctional attitudes with children's differentiation. The results of the indirect path also showed a significant relationship between the components of communication patterns, personality structure, with the partial mediation role of dysfunctional attitudes and children's differentiation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that understanding the communication patterns and personality structure of each parent based on the mutual understanding of children's needs can predict the level of children's differentiation based on dysfunctional attitudes within the context of family relationships and interpersonal interactions.

The Diagnostic Value of Human Neutrophilic Peptides 1-3 in Acute Pediatric Febrile Illness.

Background: It is prudent to develop biomarkers that enhance the differentiation between viral and bacterial infection in order to support expeditious and judicious antimicrobial implementation in emergency department admissions. Human neutrophilic peptides 1-3 (HNP1-3) are the major neutrophilic peptides with potent antimicrobial activity. Methods: We tested the performance of the plasma HNP1-3 test in a prospective observational cohort of children admitted to the emergency department for fever. We validated this test with traditionally used biomarkers and final diagnoses. An expert panel reviewed the patient's data and gave a final diagnosis. The final diagnosis was classified as definite, probable, or possible. Results: A total of 111 children (98 with fever and 13 control) were recruited: 55% male, mean age 6.3 years. Plasma HNP1-3 levels were higher with bacterial infections: 10,428 (5789-14,866) vs. 7352 (3762-10,672) pg/mL, p = 0.007. HNP1-3 were negatively correlated with age: r = -0.207, p = 0.029. Of the different categorical variables tested, only c-reactive protein (CRP) (≥42.3 mg/dL), neutrophil count (≥10.2), and age (odds ratio = 1.185, p = 0.013 and 95%CI = 1.037-1.354) had significant diagnostic capability for bacterial disease prediction. Conclusions: Due to its low diagnostic value in febrile patients, the HNP1-3 value is not currently recommended to support pathogen differentiation in children in an emergency setting. Further studies are needed to support its clinical use.

Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequencing microbiota among children with serological IgE-mediated food hypersensitivity.

We hypothesized that specific food hypersensitivity (FH) in children is linked to specific gut microbiota. The aim of our study was to quantify and evaluate differences in gut microbial composition among children with different IgE-mediated FH. Children (n = 81) aged 18 to 36 months were enrolled, fecal samples of 57 children with FH and 24 healthy children were evaluated using next-generation sequencing. Individual microbial diversity and composition were analyzed via targeting the 16 S rRNA gene hypervariable V3-V5 regions. Children with IgE-mediated FH (in milk, egg white, soy) had significantly lower gut microbiota diversity and richness than healthy children. Children with IgE-mediated FH exhibited relatively high abundances of Firmicutes and relative underrepresentation of the phylum Bacteroidetes. We observed significant increases in relative abundances of Ruminococcaceae, Clostridiaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae (p < 0.01, compared to control) in children with milk hypersensitivity and of Clostridiaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae (p < 0.01) in children with peanut hypersensitivity. We also found significant increases in the numbers of Clostridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Pasteurellaceae (p < 0.01) in children with egg white hypersensitivity. These findings identify early evidence of different gut microbiota development/ differentiation in children with food hypersensitivity. Specific food hypersensitivities may be associated with compositional changes in intestinal microbiota. These findings identify early evidence of different gut microbiota development/differentiation in children with food hypersensitivity. We built a gut microbial profile that could identify toddlers at risk for food hypersensitivity. Children with enriched Firmicutes (phylum) with partial different families may be associated with food hypersensitivity. Enriched family Clostridiaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, or Erysipelotrichaceae in gut microbiota may be associated with specific food hypersensitivities (such as milk, egg white, peanut) in children.

Avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz: comparação de diferentes tarefas de fala na identificação de crianças com e sem lesões laríngeas

ABSTRACT Purpose To compare the vowel emission and number counting tasks in perceptual-auditory differentiation among children with and without laryngeal lesions. Methods Observational, analytical, and cross-sectional methods were used. Medical records of 44 children were selected from a database of an otorhinolaryngology service at a University Hospital and they were divided into groups: without laryngeal lesion (WOLL), and with laryngeal lesion (WLL), with 33 and 11 children. For the auditory-perceptual evaluation, the vocal samples were separated according to the type of task. They were analyzed separately by a judge who analyzed the general degree of vocal deviation and assessed whether the child would pass or fail in the face of a screening situation. Results There was a difference between the WOLL and WLL groups in terms of the overall degree of vocal deviation for the task of number counting, with a predominance of mild deviations in WOLL and moderate in WLL. In the screening, there was a difference between the groups during the number counting task, with more failures in the WLL. The groups were similar in the sustained vowel task, both in terms of the overall degree of vocal deviation and the vocal screening. Most children in the WLL failed in both tasks during vocal screening compared to the children in the WOLL who, in general, failed in only one task. Conclusion The task of number counting contributes to the auditory differentiation in children with and without laryngeal lesion, by identifying deviations of greater intensity in children with laryngeal lesion.

Auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice: comparing different speech tasks to identify children with and without laryngeal lesions

To compare the vowel emission and number counting tasks in perceptual-auditory differentiation among children with and without laryngeal lesions. Observational, analytical, and cross-sectional methods were used. Medical records of 44 children were selected from a database of an otorhinolaryngology service at a University Hospital and they were divided into groups: without laryngeal lesion (WOLL), and with laryngeal lesion (WLL), with 33 and 11 children. For the auditory-perceptual evaluation, the vocal samples were separated according to the type of task. They were analyzed separately by a judge who analyzed the general degree of vocal deviation and assessed whether the child would pass or fail in the face of a screening situation. There was a difference between the WOLL and WLL groups in terms of the overall degree of vocal deviation for the task of number counting, with a predominance of mild deviations in WOLL and moderate in WLL. In the screening, there was a difference between the groups during the number counting task, with more failures in the WLL. The groups were similar in the sustained vowel task, both in terms of the overall degree of vocal deviation and the vocal screening. Most children in the WLL failed in both tasks during vocal screening compared to the children in the WOLL who, in general, failed in only one task. The task of number counting contributes to the auditory differentiation in children with and without laryngeal lesion, by identifying deviations of greater intensity in children with laryngeal lesion.

Differentiation of children with varying levels of autism spectrum disorder symptoms from children developing typically

The DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) combined all previous autism diagnoses into a single diagnostic category, autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study examined whether an 84-item measure of the ASD DSM-5 criteria, the Coolidge Autism Symptom Survey (CASS), could differentiate between children who were developing typically (DT) and children diagnosed with mild, moderate, and severe levels of ASD. One-hundred forty-nine adult participants completed the CASS about a child (5-17 years old) they knew well. As hypothesized, DT children scored significantly lower on the CASS than children with mild, moderate, and severe ASD. The CASS sums on the latter two groups were not significantly different. The results preliminarily support the reliability and validity of the CASS. • The present study used the 84-item, Coolidge Autism Symptom Survey (CASS), which is based on DSM- 5-TR criteria. • The CASS had excellent internal reliability, Cronbach's α = 0.98. • The CASS was able to differentiate statistically between children who were developing typically (DT) and children diagnosed with mild, moderate, and severe levels of ASD.

PEDAGOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF A MODERN PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER: DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH IN TRAINING

The modern Ukrainian school is facing challenges in organizing the process of differentiated learning in physical education lessons. The purpose of the article is to reveal pedagogical conditions and a differentiated approach to training a future physical culture teacher. Research methods applied: analysis, synthesis and generalization of scientific and methodical literature. Differentiation is important for physical education and sports. Differentiation of children by age, gender, morphological, physiological characteristics, psychological and physical levels of training helps to plan and organize the process of physical education in educational institutions. The conditions of organization of the educational process of future specialists in physical culture in higher education institutions are revealed. The training of future specialists in physical culture depends on the components of the educational and professional program that affect the quality of training. Due to the created pedagogical conditions it is possible to predict a positive and realistic result of the future teacher's work. The pedagogical conditions for the use of a differentiated approach in the training of specialists in physical culture and sports have been developed: namely, the theoretical and methodological foundations for the formation of the main and selective components of the educational and professional program, the methodological basis for teaching professional disciplines, the procedural and practical assimilation of students’ knowledge in the learning process. It should be noted that the formation of effective pedagogical conditions in the educational process in higher education institutions will help to implement a set of organizational and pedagogical measures that will improve the quality of physical education lessons in general secondary education institutions. A differentiated approach in the training of future specialists in physical culture reveals and forms the professional skills and readiness of the student to solve the tasks.

Umgang mit Heterogenität im (Fremdsprachen-)Unterricht – Rahmenbedingungen im polnischen Bildungssystem

The aim of the article is to discuss the main Polish educational legislation aimed at promoting diversity and individualization in the the process of schooling. The focus is on dealing with heterogeneity, which has become frequent in Polish schools and kindergartens. This includes various aspects concerning differentiation in children and young people, such as individual developmentental characteristics, gender, socio-cultural environment, special educational needs or giftedness. Heterogeneity requires individualization of the educational process, which also applies to the teaching of foreign languages. This poses a challenge for many teachers, including foreign language teachers. In many respects Polish legislation regulates how to deal with heterogeneity and individualization in the educational context.

Symbolic distancing in sharing situations restrains children's economic behavior and potentially also their inequity aversion

We examined whether representing a resource non-symbolically (i.e., as stickers) or symbolically (i.e., as tokens that could be exchanged for stickers) affected kindergartner's decisions in an Ultimatum/Inequity Game (N = 93). The game involved distribution offers, made by a fictitious child, that were either fair (i.e., same quantity for each child, i.e., 3:3) or disadvantageously unfair (i.e., less for the target child than for the fictitious child, i.e., 2:4 or 1:5). Children had to decide whether to accept or reject the offers. In the latter case, none of the children would get anything of the resource. Children rejected unfair offers more frequently than fair offers, and they rejected the offers involving the symbolic resource more frequently than offers involving the non-symbolic resource, which applied to a similar degree to fair and unfair offers. However, exploratory follow-up analyses of children's reactions to unfair offers revealed that children rejected the more unfair offer (i.e., 1:5) more frequently than the less unfair offer (i.e., 2:4) when the resource was represented non-symbolically instead of symbolically. The results suggest that the symbolic representation of a resource evokes economically less rational behavior in children and diminished their potential gain. Moreover, symbolic representations might level out children's differentiation of differently unfair offers. These findings are discussed in light of the subjective value approach and the Construal Level Theory.

Serum CXCL10/IP-10 may be a potential biomarker for severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children

BackgroundHow to early distinguish the severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a worldwide concern in clinical practice. We therefore conducted this study to assess the relationship between levels of serum inflammatory chemokines and the severity of MPP.Methods In this prospective study, we enrolled 39 children with MPP, whose clinical information was collected, blood samples were assayed for cytokines and chemokines by ELISA.ResultsThe levels of serum CXCL10 in children with severe MPP were significantly higher than those in children with mild MPP (2500.0 [1580.9–2500.0] vs. 675.7 [394.7–1134.9], P < 0.001). Measurement of CXCL10 levels in serum enabled the differentiation of children with severe MPP with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.885 (95 % CI 0.779–0.991, P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 81.0 % and a specificity of 83.3 %.ConclusionsSerum CXCL10 level may be a potential biomarker for severe MPP in children.

Can Temperament and Character Traits Be Used in the Diagnostic Differentiation of Children With ADHD?

In this study, it was aimed to determine the contributions of temperament and character traits to the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Thirty-six patients between the ages of 9 and 14 with a diagnosis of combined type ADHD and 39 healthy children were included in the study. The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version-Turkish Version and the Turgay DSM-IV Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale parent form were used to assess hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattentiveness, and comorbid disorders. The Junior Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised form was used to evaluate temperament-character traits. The classification-based association rules (CBARs) method was used for finding rules predicting ADHD accurately. Low persistence and self-directedness scores, and higher disorderliness and fatigability subgroup scores were found in the ADHD group. In CBARs, the separation of children with ADHD from healthy controls could be made with 0.83 accuracy, 0.80 sensitivity, and 0.86 specificity. The results of our study support the view that temperament-character traits can help clinical diagnosis of ADHD.

MiR-155 regulates Th9 differentiation in children with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia by targeting SIRT1

Th9 is a subset of CD4+ T cells that mainly secrete IL-9. Th9/IL-9 participates in immune response during Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia (MRSA) infection. Here, we collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 30 children with MRSA pneumonia (MRSA group) and 10 children with bronchial foreign bodies (Control group). RT-PCR, ELISA and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression of miR-155 and IL-9 in BALF and the number of Th9 cells. CD4+ T cells isolated from BALF of MRSA and Control group were transfected with miR-155 mimic or inhibitor, and then induced Th9 cell differentiation. The results showed that the expression of miR-155 and IL-9 were significantly increased in BALF and Th9 cell of MRSA group, as well as the number of Th9 cells. miR-155 mimic upregulated IL-9 mRNA expression, IL-9 secretion and increased number of Th9 cells. On the contrary, miR-155 inhibitor inhibited IL-9 mRNA expression, IL-9 secretion and decreased number of Th9 cells. The dual luciferase assays demonstrated miR-155 can target binding to SIRT1 3′UTR. Moreover, overexpression of SIRT1 could reverse the effect of miR-155 mimic on IL-9 expression level, Th9 cell number and transcription factors PU.1 and IRF4 expression. In conclusion, miR-155 regulates Th9 differentiation in children with MRSA by targeting SIRT1.

Treatment effects of functional appliances in children with Class II malocclusion with and without morphologic deviations in the upper spine

This research aimed to compare treatment effects of functional appliances between children with and without morphologic deviations in the upper spine and analyze associations between Atlas dimensions and the short- and long-term treatment effects. Sixty-eight prepubertal or pubertal children (35 boys and 33 girls; mean age, 11.47±1.39years) treated with Class II functional appliances were included. Lateral cephalograms were taken at pretreatment (T1), postfunctional appliance treatment (T2), and after retention at postpuberty (T3). Upper spine morphology and Atlas dimensions were evaluated at T1. T1-T2 and T1-T3 lateral cephalograms were superimposed using a structural method. Changes in the jaws were compared with multiple linear regression analysis between children with and without deviations in the upper spine. Associations between the changes and Atlas dimensions were analyzed by partial correlation. Children with morphologic deviations in the upper spine showed significantly more backward rotation of the mandible (P<0.01) and increased inclination of the jaws (P<0.05, P<0.01) from T1-T2 and significantly smaller condylar growth (P<0.01) from T1-T3 compared with children without the deviations. Atlas height was significantly associated with vertical and rotational changes in the mandible (P<0.01) from T1-T2 and condylar growth (P<0.05) from T1-T2 and T1-T3. Morphologic deviations in the upper spine and low Atlas height were significantly associated with smaller condylar growth induced by functional appliances in the long term. Upper spine morphology and the Atlas dimension may be valuable in phenotypic differentiation in children with Class II malocclusion for optimal treatment outcome.

Age and ability differentiation in children: A review and empirical investigation.

Differentiation hypotheses concern changes in the structural organization of cognitive abilities that depend on the level of general intelligence (ability differentiation) or age (developmental differentiation). Part 1 of this article presents a review of the literature on ability and developmental differentiation effects in children, revealing the need for studies that examine both effects simultaneously in this age group with appropriate statistical methods. Part 2 presents an empirical study in which nonlinear factor analytic models were applied to the standardization sample (N = 2,619 German elementary schoolchildren; 48% female; age: M = 8.8 years, SD = 1.2, range 6-12 years) of the THINK 1-4 intelligence test to investigate ability differentiation, developmental differentiation, and their interaction. The sample was nationally representative regarding age, gender, urbanization, and geographic location of residence but not regarding parents' education and migration background (overrepresentation of children with more educated parents, underrepresentation of children with migration background). The results showed no consistent evidence for the presence of differentiation effects or their interaction. Instead, different patterns were observed for figural, numerical, and verbal reasoning. Implications for the construction of intelligence tests, the assessment of intelligence in children, and for theories of cognitive development are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for Age and Ability Differentiation in Children: A Review and Empirical Investigation

Supplemental Material for Age and Ability Differentiation in Children: A Review and Empirical Investigation

Retrospective analysis of the histopathologic features of basal cell carcinomas in pediatric patients with basal cell nevus syndrome.

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) is an autosomal dominant condition caused most often by a loss-of-function mutation in the Patched-1 (PTCH1) gene. It is characterized by the development of varied benign and malignant tumors, including numerous cutaneous basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). The PTCH1 gene is integral in hair follicle development and loss of function mutation may lead to BCCs with an infundibulocystic histopathology in BCNS patients. Few studies have described the histopathological features of BCCs in BCNS. The recognition of these histopathologic features by dermatologists, dermatopathologists, and others caring for children will allow earlier and more effective identification of BCNS. We performed a retrospective analysis of 25 BCCs in 11 patients aged 5 to 19 years with BCNS and evaluated the histopathologic features on hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections. Our study found that 80% of BCCs in BCNS patients occurred on the head and neck with 64% of the specimens demonstrating infundibulocystic differentiation. Infundibulocystic differentiation is a common finding in BCCs found in BCNS. The finding of cutaneous neoplasms consistent with BCC with infundibulocystic differentiation in children is common in pediatric patients with BCNS and can be considered to be an early marker of the disorder, prompting further clinical investigation.

Experience-Driven Semantic Differentiation: Effects of a Naturalistic Experience on Within- and Across-Domain Differentiation in Children.

Organized semantic networks reflecting distinctions within and across domains of knowledge are critical for higher-level cognition. Thus, understanding how semantic structure changes with experience is a fundamental question in developmental science. This study probed changes in semantic structure in 4-6year-old children (N=29) as a result of participating in an enrichment program at a local botanical garden. This study presents the first direct evidence that (a) the accumulation of experience with items in a domain promoted increases in both within- and across-domain semantic differentiation, and that (b) this experience-driven semantic differentiation generalized to nonexperienced items. These findings have implications for understanding the role of experience in building semantic networks, and for conceptualizing the contribution of enrichment experiences to academic success.

Gender differentiation in the family drawings of Israeli, Jewish-orthodox preschoolers

Preschool children from Israeli, Jewish-Orthodox families with an average of four children per family drew their families. Three aspects of gender differentiation in children’s drawings were assessed in relation to children’s gender and number of siblings: size of figures, colour use, and inclusion of gender-associated characteristics. Size of drawings reflected gender differentiation, with fathers being drawn larger than mothers. Boys, and children with more siblings, drew both their mothers and their fathers larger. Colour use did not differ by children’s gender or number of siblings. Girls evidenced greater gender differentiation in their drawings, including more gender-associated characteristics than boys, both in their drawings of children, and in their drawings of adults. Finally, children who showed no differentiation between parents in terms of gender-associated characteristics drew both mothers and fathers smaller than children who showed such gender differentiation, and boys who did not use a variety of colours in their drawings drew their fathers larger than their mothers, whereas those who used a variety of colours, drew their parents the same size, indicating that the measures of gender differentiation are related. The results were discussed in terms of children’s emerging gender differentiation of self and others in large families.