Revisit some of the most popular interviews with leading pediatric experts
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In the fast-evolving world of pediatric care, staying informed about the latest research, techniques, and trends is essential. Videos have become an invaluable resource, providing visual insights into complex topics and practical demonstrations that resonate with both new and experienced practitioners. From groundbreaking advancements in pediatric medicine to expert tips on patient communication, 2024 has delivered a wealth of engaging content. Here, Contemporary Pediatrics highlights the top 5 must-watch videos of the year, offering tools and inspiration to enhance your practice and improve patient outcomes.
This interview with Ari Brown, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician and author, focuses on Kabrita goat milk-based infant formula, which received FDA long-term market authorization in June 2023. Brown highlighted that this formula, the first FDA-approved goat milk-based option, meets stringent safety and nutritional standards, providing a viable alternative to cow and soy milk formulas for infants' first year of life. She discusses the benefits of goat milk-based formulas, including better tolerability due to their similarity to human milk in protein composition and prebiotic content.
Addressing misconceptions, she explains that the formula is nutritionally complete, FDA-regulated, and not a niche product but a first-line option for infant nutrition. Brown emphasizes the importance of expanding formula options to improve supply stability, citing lessons from the 2022 infant formula shortage. She also underscores the high quality of the Kabrita formula, urging families and pediatricians to consider it as a mainstream choice.
Pediatricians play a critical role in managing ADHD, as they care for 80-90% of affected patients in the United States, according to Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, clinical professor of psychiatry at Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He emphasized early screening, using tools like the Vanderbilt Assessment Scale, and gathering input from multiple sources, including teachers, to address ADHD symptoms before they escalate. While behavioral therapy should be the first-line treatment, medications, including the newly approved extended-release liquid clonidine (ONYDA XR), can be considered for suboptimal symptom control or as augmentation therapy. Jain highlighted the rewards of helping children thrive through tailored ADHD care and the importance of empowering pediatricians with effective tools like ONYDA XR.
At the 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference, Steven Selbst, MD, raised concerns about the rising number of accidental THC ingestions among children, particularly due to THC-infused gummies that resemble candy. He highlighted a significant increase in cases, with hundreds reported in 2023 compared to only a few in previous years. Accidental ingestion can lead to severe consequences, including the need for ICU care and intubation in 4% to 15% of cases. Selbst emphasized the varying awareness levels among parents, noting that some may unknowingly put children at risk by leaving these products within reach. He urged pediatricians to educate families on the dangers of THC products, especially those that appeal to children, and to advise parents on safe storage practices to prevent accidental ingestion.
In July, roflumilast cream 0.15% (ZORYVE; Arcutis Biotherapeutics) was approved by the FDA to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults and children aged 6 years and older, according to a press release from Arcutis. The FDA's decision is supported by the positive results of several clinical trials that demonstrated efficacy and safety of roflumilast 0.15%.
"Now we have a new, well-formulated, sort of water-based emollient formulation with a very well-designed topical non-steroid, in this case, the PDE for roflumilast, that works well on the skin. The product goes into the lipid layers and has shown very nice anti-inflammatory effects, with an impact on eczema and an impact on itch. [This allowed] a significant number of patients to make it to these important endpoints that we see in the clinical study."
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals presented encouraging results for DB-OTO, an investigational gene therapy for profound genetic deafness, at the 2024 ASGCT conference. In the phase 1/2 CHORD trial, an 11-month-old treated with a single intracochlear injection restored hearing to normal levels in speech frequencies within 24 weeks, while a 4-year-old showed early improvements at 6 weeks. The therapy targets otoferlin-related hearing loss, a rare genetic condition, using a surgical approach similar to cochlear implantation. Lawrence Lustig, MD, emphasized the need for genetic testing in children with hearing loss to identify candidates for targeted therapies, stating, "This has profound impact on the treatment of children...understanding which gene is involved is going to be important." Long-term effects on speech and language remain under study, but the therapy shows transformative potential.
