New Insights in Pediatric Medicine: A Concise Reflection for the New Year
As we welcome a new year, this issue brings together a diverse collection of studies that advance our understanding of pediatric health and disease. Several contributions highlight the importance of biomarkers and immune-nutritional status in childhood illnesses—such as the meta-analysis linking low serum zinc levels to urinary tract infections and the evaluation of the prognostic nutritional index in pediatric high-grade glioma.
Diagnostic refinement remains a central theme. The review on pediatric penicillin allergy emphasizes the importance of accurate assessment and delabeling strategies to improve antimicrobial stewardship. Complementing this, research into thyroid function and infection severity provides valuable clinical context for interpreting endocrine changes during acute illness.
Innovative methodologies also enrich this issue. A multi-omics Mendelian randomization study explores the causal pathways between neonatal sepsis and later attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder risk, offering new perspectives on neurodevelopmental outcomes. Procedural and imaging advances are reflected in the report on direct right atrial catheterization in short bowel syndrome and the optical coherence tomography-based iris evaluation in pediatric Behçet’s disease.
Digital health and psychosocial domains come forward in the study examining social media and health app use in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, while the validation of a foreign body aspiration scoring system supports improved clinical decision-making in critical care. Rare case reports—including mandibular Ewing sarcoma, Morganella morganii urinary tract infection with hydronephrosis, and Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin mastitis—remind us of the diagnostic challenges that require vigilance and multidisciplinary collaboration.
As we step into the new year, these studies collectively reflect our ongoing commitment to evidence-based, innovative, and patient-centered pediatric care. We extend our thanks to the authors and reviewers whose work enriches our scientific community.
Wishing all our readers a healthy, productive, and inspiring new year.
Sanem Yılmaz, MD
