Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in children, but diagnosis is challenging due to limited availability of noninvasive biomarkers. Machine learning applied to high-resolution metabolomics and clinical phenotype data offers a novel framework for developing a NAFLD screening panel in youth. Here, untargeted metabolomics by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed on plasma samples from a combined cross-sectional sample of children and adolescents ages 2-25 years old with NAFLD (n = 222) and without NAFLD (n = 337), confirmed by liver biopsy or magnetic resonance imaging. Anthropometrics, blood lipids, liver enzymes, and glucose and insulin metabolism were also assessed. A machine learning approach was applied to the metabolomics and clinical phenotype data sets, which were split into training and test sets, and included dimension reduction, feature selection, and classification model development. The selected metabolite features were the amino acids serine, leucine/isoleucine, and tryptophan; three putatively annotated compounds (dihydrothymine and two phospholipids); and two unknowns. The selected clinical phenotype variables were waist circumference, whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) based on the oral glucose tolerance test, and blood triglycerides. The highest performing classification model was random forest, which had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.94, sensitivity of 73%, and specificity of 97% for detecting NAFLD cases. A second classification model was developed using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance substituted for the WBISI. Similarly, the highest performing classification model was random forest, which had an AUROC of 0.92, sensitivity of 73%, and specificity of 94%. Conclusion: The identified screening panel consisting of both metabolomics and clinical features has promising potential for screening for NAFLD in youth. Further development of this panel and independent validation testing in other cohorts are warranted.

We assessed the performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proton density fat fraction (PDFF) in children to stratify hepatic steatosis grade before and after treatment in the Cysteamine Bitartrate Delayed-Release for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children (CyNCh) trial, using centrally scored histology as reference. Participants had multiecho 1.5 Tesla (T) or 3T MRI on scanners from three manufacturers. Of 169 enrolled children, 110 (65%) and 83 (49%) had MRI and liver biopsy at baseline and at end of treatment (EOT; 52 weeks), respectively. At baseline, 17% (19 of 110), 28% (31 of 110), and 55% (60 of 110) of liver biopsies showed grades 1, 2, and 3 histological steatosis; corresponding PDFF (mean ± SD) values were 10.9 ± 4.1%, 18.4 ± 6.2%, and 25.7 ± 9.7%, respectively. PDFF classified grade 1 versus 2-3 and 1-2 versus 3 steatosis with areas under receiving operator characteristic curves (AUROCs) of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80, 0.94) and 0.79 (0.70, 0.87), respectively. PDFF cutoffs at 90% specificity were 17.5% for grades 2-3 steatosis and 23.3% for grade 3 steatosis. At EOT, 47% (39 of 83), 41% (34 of 83), and 12% (10 of 83) of biopsies showed improved, unchanged, and worsened steatosis grade, respectively, with corresponding PDFF (mean ± SD) changes of –7.8 ± 6.3%, –1.2 ± 7.8%, and 4.9 ± 5.0%, respectively. PDFF change classified steatosis grade improvement and worsening with AUROCs (95% CIs) of 0.76 (0.66, 0.87) and 0.83 (0.73, 0.92), respectively. PDFF change cut-off values at 90% specificity were –11.0% and +5.5% for improvement and worsening. Conclusion: MRI-estimated PDFF has high diagnostic accuracy to both classify and predict histological steatosis grade and change in histological steatosis grade in children with NAFLD. (Hepatology 2018;67:858–872).

Background: The liver R2* value is widely used as a measure of liver iron but may be confounded by the presence of hepatic steatosis and other covariates. Purpose: To identify the most influential covariates for liver R2* values in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Study Type: Retrospective analysis of prospectively acquired data. Population: Baseline data from 204 subjects enrolled in NAFLD/NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) treatment trials. Field Strength: 1.5T and 3T; chemical-shift encoded multiecho gradient echo. Assessment: Correlation between liver proton density fat fraction and R2*; assessment for demographic, metabolic, laboratory, MRI-derived, and histological covariates of liver R2*. Statistical Tests: Pearson's and Spearman's correlations; univariate analysis; gradient boosting machines (GBM) multivariable machine-learning method. Results: Hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) was the most strongly correlated covariate for R2* at both 1.5T (r = 0.652, P < 0.0001) and at 3T (r = 0.586, P < 0.0001). In the GBM analysis, hepatic PDFF was the most influential covariate for hepatic R2*, with relative influences (RIs) of 61.3% at 1.5T and 47.5% at 3T; less influential covariates had RIs of up to 11.5% at 1.5T and 16.7% at 3T. Nonhepatocellular iron was weakly associated with R2* at 3T only (RI 6.7%), and hepatocellular iron was not associated with R2* at either field strength. Data Conclusion: Hepatic PDFF is the most influential covariate for R2* at both 1.5T and 3T; nonhepatocellular iron deposition is weakly associated with liver R2* at 3T only. Level of Evidence: 4. Technical Efficacy: Stage 2. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:1456–1466.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an underreported autosomal dominant vascular dysplasia. Neonatal presentations of HHT are rare, as this disorder typically presents in adolescence or beyond with epistaxis. We report a female neonate with hematochezia on the 1st day of life secondary to multiple gastrointestinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) along with intracranial hemorrhage. We describe her clinical course and management, as well as her novel family mutation in ENG. This is the first reported HHT case with significant gastrointestinal bleeding in the newborn. We review neonatal HHT and raise the consideration for more directed prenatal imaging and delivery options for fetuses at high risk of HHT.

Methods to identify children with cystic fibrosis (CF) at risk for development of advanced liver disease are lacking. We aim to determine the association between liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) with research ultrasound (US) patterns and conventional hepatic markers as a potential means to follow liver disease progression in children with CF. ELASTIC (Longitudinal Assessment of Transient Elastography in CF) is a nested cohort of 141 patients, ages 7-21, enrolled in the Prediction by US of Risk of Hepatic Cirrhosis in CF (PUSH) Study. We studied the association between LSM with research-grade US patterns (normal [NL], heterogeneous [HTG], homogeneous [HMG], or nodular [NOD]) and conventional hepatic markers. In a subgroup (n = 79), the association between controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and US pattern was explored. Among 133 subjects undergoing VCTE, NOD participants (n = 26) had a significantly higher median (interquartile range) LSM of 9.1 kPa (6.3, 15.8) versus NL (n = 72, 5.1 kPa [4.2, 7.0]; P < 0.0001), HMG (n = 17, 5.9 kPa [5.2, 7.8]; P = 0.0013), and HTG (n = 18, 6.1 kPa [4.7, 7.0]; P = 0.0008) participants. HMG participants (n = 14) had a significantly higher mean CAP (SD) (270.5 dB/m [61.1]) compared with NL (n = 40, 218.8 dB/m [46.5]; P = 0.0027), HTG (n = 10, 218.1 dB/m [60.7]; P = 0.044), and NOD (n = 15, 222.7 dB/m [56.4]; P = 0.041) participants. LSM had a negative correlation with platelet count (rs = (Formula presented.) 0.28, P = 0.0071) and positive correlation with aspartate aminotransferase–to-platelet ratio index (rs = 0.38, P = 0.0002), Fibrosis-4 index (rs = 0.36, P = 0.0007), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT; rs = 0.35, P = 0.0017), GGT-to-platelet ratio (rs = 0.35, P = 0.003), and US spleen size z-score (rs = 0.27, P = 0.0073). Conclusion: VCTE is associated with US patterns and conventional markers in patients with liver disease with CF.

INTRODUCTION: To illustrate how quality improvement can produce unexpected positive outcomes. METHODS: We compared a retrospective review of perioperative management and outcomes of baseline 122 pediatric total thyroidectomies to 121 subsequent total thyroidectomies managed by an Electronic Medical Record protocol in a large, free-standing children's healthcare system. Process measures included serum calcium measurement 6-12 hours postoperatively; parathyroid hormone measurement 6 hours postoperatively; preoperative iodine for Graves disease, and postoperative prophylactic calcium carbonate administration. In addition, we completed 4 Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, focusing on implementation, refinement, usage, education, and postoperative calcitriol administration. The primary outcome included transient hypocalcemia during admission. RESULTS: All perioperative process measures improved over PDSA cycles. Measurement of postoperative serum calcium increased from 42% at baseline to 100%. Measurement of postoperative PTH increased from 11% to 97%. Preoperative iodine administration for Graves disease surgeries improved from 72% to 94%. Postoperative calcium carbonate administration increased from 36% to 100%. There was a trend toward lower rates of severe hypocalcemia during admission over the subsequent PDSA cycles starting at 11.6% and improving to 3.4%. With the regular review of outcomes, surgical volume consolidated among high-volume providers, associated with a decrease in a permanent hypoparathyroid rate of 20.5% at baseline to 10% by the end of monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: In standardizing care at 1 large pediatric institution, implementing a focused quality improvement project involving the perioperative management of transient hypocalcemia in total thyroidectomy pediatric patients resulted in additional, unanticipated improvements in patient care.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some pediatric radiologists have shifted to working from home; the long-term ramifications for pediatric radiologists and departments have not yet been defined. Objective: To characterize experiences of working from home associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and guide expectations after the pandemic is controlled, via separate surveys of Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR) and Society of Chiefs of Radiology at Children’s Hospitals (SCORCH) members. Materials and methods: Two separate surveys were conducted. In the first, SPR members were surveyed Jan. 11 through Feb. 8, 2021. The response rate was 17.0% (255 of 1,501). Survey questions included demographics, information on the ability to work from home and subjective experiences ranked on a scale of 0 to 10. The survey enabled segregation and comparison of responses between those with and without home PACS. In the second survey, SCORCH members were surveyed Dec. 8, 2020, through Jan. 8, 2021. The response rate was 51.5% (51/99). Survey questions included the logistics of working from home, technical specifications and the expectations on clinical duties performed from home. The Wilcoxon rank test was used to determine statistical significance of compared variables between respondents with and without home PACS in SPR members, and expectations between SPR and SCORCH members. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic questions and free text responses. Results: The majority of member respondents (81.2%, 207/255) had a home PACS and most departments provided home PACS to faculty (94.1%, 48/51). Overall, radiologists who could work from home were satisfied with their ability to work from home (mean rating: 8.3/10) and were significantly more satisfied than predicted by those without home PACS (5.9/10, P<0.0001). Respondents overwhelmingly indicated they were less able to teach trainees (mean rating: 2.7/10) and had decreased emotional engagement (mean rating: 4.4/10), but had improved research productivity and cognitive ability for research when working from home (mean rating for both: 5.3/10). Regarding the expectations of the ability to work from home after no longer needing to address the pandemic, department chairs generally favored fewer rotations from home, with 97.9% (47/48) indicating working from home should be 60% or fewer assignments, compared with 84.1% (164/195) of individual radiologists (P=0.071). Conclusions: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift to working from home using PACS. Results of these SPR and SCORCH member surveys can help inform future decisions regarding pediatric radiologists working from home once the pandemic has been controlled.

Objective: To assess if a heterogeneous pattern on research liver ultrasound examination can identify children at risk for advanced cystic fibrosis (CF) liver disease. Study design: Planned 4-year interim analysis of a 9-year multicenter, case-controlled cohort study (Prospective Study of Ultrasound to Predict Hepatic Cirrhosis in CF). Children with pancreatic insufficient CF aged 3-12 years without known cirrhosis, Burkholderia species infection, or short bowel syndrome underwent a screening research ultrasound examination. Participants with a heterogeneous liver ultrasound pattern were matched (by age, Pseudomonas infection status, and center) 1:2 with participants with a normal pattern. Clinical status and laboratory data were obtained annually and research ultrasound examinations biannually. The primary end point was the development of a nodular research ultrasound pattern, a surrogate for advanced CF liver disease. Results: There were 722 participants who underwent screening research ultrasound examination, of which 65 were heterogeneous liver ultrasound pattern and 592 normal liver ultrasound pattern. The final cohort included 55 participants with a heterogeneous liver ultrasound pattern and 116 participants with a normal liver ultrasound pattern. All participants with at least 1 follow-up research ultrasound were included. There were no differences in age or sex between groups at entry. Alanine aminotransferase (42 ± 22 U/L vs 32 ± 19 U/L; P = .0033), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (36 ± 34 U/L vs 15 ± 8 U/L; P < .001), and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (0.7 ± 0.5 vs 0.4 ± 0.2; P < .0001) were higher in participants with a heterogeneous liver ultrasound pattern compared with participants with a normal liver ultrasound pattern. Participants with a heterogeneous liver ultrasound pattern had a 9.1-fold increased incidence (95% CI, 2.7-30.8; P = .0004) of nodular pattern vs a normal liver ultrasound pattern (23% in heterogeneous liver ultrasound pattern vs 2.6% in normal liver ultrasound pattern). Conclusions: Research liver ultrasound examinations can identify children with CF at increased risk for developing advanced CF liver disease.

BACKGROUND. Hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) is elevated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Improvements in hepatic fat by dietary sugar reduction may be mediated by reduced DNL, but data are limited, especially in children. We examined the effects of 8 weeks of dietary sugar restriction on hepatic DNL in adolescents with NAFLD and correlations between DNL and other metabolic outcomes. METHODS. Adolescent boys with NAFLD (n = 29) participated in an 8-week, randomized controlled trial comparing a diet low in free sugars versus their usual diet. Hepatic DNL was measured as percentage contribution to plasma triglyceride palmitate using a 7-day metabolic labeling protocol with heavy water. Hepatic fat was measured by magnetic resonance imaging–proton density fat fraction. RESULTS. Hepatic DNL was significantly decreased in the treatment group (from 34.6% to 24.1%) versus the control group (33.9% to 34.6%) (adjusted week 8 mean difference: –10.6% [95% CI: –19.1%, –2.0%]), which was paralleled by greater decreases in hepatic fat (25.5% to 17.9% vs. 19.5% to 18.8%) and fasting insulin (44.3 to 34.7 vs. 35.5 to 37.0 μIU/ mL). Percentage change in DNL during the intervention correlated significantly with changes in free-sugar intake (r = 0.48, P = 0.011), insulin (r = 0.40, P = 0.047), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (r = 0.39, P = 0.049), but not hepatic fat (r = 0.13, P = 0.532). CONCLUSION. Our results suggest that dietary sugar restriction reduces hepatic DNL and fasting insulin, in addition to reductions in hepatic fat and ALT, among adolescents with NAFLD. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that hepatic DNL is a critical metabolic abnormality linking dietary sugar and NAFLD.

Background: Although the radiographic features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children have been described, the distinguishing features of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 are not well characterized. Objective: We compared the chest radiographic findings of MIS-C with those of COVID-19 and described other distinguishing imaging features of MIS-C. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective case series review of children ages 0 to 18 years who were hospitalized at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta from March to May 2020 and who either met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definition for MIS-C (n=11) or who had symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 (n=16). Two radiologists reviewed the most severe chest radiographs for each patient. The type and distribution of pulmonary opacities and presence or absence of pleural effusions were recorded. The chest radiographs were categorized based on potential COVID-19 imaging findings as typical, indeterminate, atypical or negative. An imaging severity score was also assigned using a simplified version of the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema Score. Findings were statistically compared between patients with MIS-C and those with COVID-19. Additional imaging findings of MIS-C were also described. Results: Radiographic features of MIS-C included pleural effusions (82% [9/11]), pulmonary consolidations (73% [8/11]) and ground glass opacities (91% [10/11]). All of the lung opacities (100% [10/10]) were bilateral, and the majority of the pleural effusions (67% [6/9]) were bilateral. Compared to children with COVID-19, children with MIS-C were significantly more likely to develop pleural effusions on chest radiograph (82% [9/11] vs. 0% [0/0], P-value <0.01) and a lower zone predominance of pulmonary opacifications (100% [10/10] vs. 38% [5/13], P-value <0.01). Children with MIS-C who also had abdominal imaging had intra-abdominal inflammatory changes. Conclusion: Key chest radiographic features of MIS-C versus those of COVID-19 were pleural effusions and lower zone pulmonary opacifications as well as intra-abdominal inflammation. Elucidating the distinguishing radiographic features of MIS-C may help refine the case definition and expedite diagnosis and treatment.