Masterclass

A-1. Childhood stunting – Role of pediatricians in diagnosis and management

• What is the definition of stunting and why does it become the global problem?
• How big is stunting a problem in Asia?
• Why should pediatricians get involved in stunting diagnosis and management?
• How to differentiate stunting with other causes of short stature
• What is the principle of nutrition intervention to stunting recovery

A-2. Pediatric obesity – Current perspectives in diagnosis and management

• Therapeutic weight loss strategies  
  • Dietary interventions
  • Behavior and lifestyle modification
  • Anti-obesity medications
  • Bariatric-metabolic surgery
• Overall concepts of pediatric obesity-related research
  • Body composition and related co-morbidities
  • Etiologies and pathophysiology: gene-environmental interactions, gut microbiota dysbiosis
  • New weight management interventions

A-3. Maternal diets and supplementation in pregnancy – Potential impact on birth weight and preterm birth

• Incidence of low birth weight and preterm birth worldwide: A huge health burden
• Maternal nutrition has a significant role in ensuring successful birth outcomes
• Maternal diets during pregnancy and its impact on birth weight and preterm birth: "Western diets" vs diet rich in vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grains and dairy products
• Effect of different micronutrients on preterm birth and LBW/ SGA babies: iron, folic acid, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, multi micronutrient supplement (MMN), lipid-based nutrient supplementation (including essential fatty acid, DHA)

A-4. Dietary patterns and non-communicable diseases in later life – Early nutrition shaping future health

• Diet-disease relationship acquired a new dimension from focus on single nutrients to dietary patterns
• Dietary patterns: quantities, proportions, variety or combination of foods, drinks and nutrients in diets and frequency by which they are habitually consumed
• Early dietary exposure may be prelude to later dietary patterns
• Dietary patterns developed early can persist in later childhood/adolescence and predict future health outcomes:  
  • Obesity
  • Cardio-metabolic diseases
  • Neurologic and developmental problems
  • Immune-related diseases (asthma/allergies)

A-5. Vitamin D deficiency, supplementation, and evidence-based applications

• Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in children unless universal supplementation is performed
• Vitamin D functions in a multifaceted manner, but enhancing Ca absorption in the intestine is its primary function.
• Vitamin D deficiency causes hypocalcemia and rickets in children.
• Maternal vitamin D status is highly associated with that in neonates.
• Vitamin D deficiency is preventable by appropriate interventions.

A-6. Conventional functional foods and nutraceuticals for health benefit in Asian children

• Definition of functional foods and nutraceuticals
• Introduction of common functional foods in different Asian regions: e.g. Fermented soybean foods (Kimena in India, Cheonggokjang and Deonjang in South Korea, Natto in Japan)
• What are the key nutrients of fermented foods for health benefits? Taking vitamin K2-producing foods as an example
• How to conduct an in vitro and clinical study using the regionally functional foods? Taking indigenous cinnamon in Taiwan as an example
• How can pediatricians use function foods and nutraceuticals in Asian children? Evidence-based communications with patients

P-1. Practical approach to children with picky eating

• Distinguished picky eating in small children and anorexia in old children (age, causes, diagnosis)
• Nutrient deficiency among picky eating children: Test to confirm nutrient deficiency (iron, Vitamin D, zinc…), short term and long-term effect of nutrient deficiency
• Control and prevent picky eating, nutrient deficiency

P-2. Innovative use of probiotics in the fight against malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies

• What is the role of the gut in influencing nutrient absorption and bioavailability?
• What are the important factors which determine bioavailability of nutrient absorption from the gut and how do they get altered?
• What methods are currently available to estimate nutrient absorption from the gut and their bioavailability?
  
• How does the composition of the gut microbiome impact nutrient absorption and bioavailability?
• How can probiotics be of potential utility in modifying the gut microbiome favourably and influencing nutrient absorption and bioavailability?
• What scientific evidence is currently available regarding this and which are the probiotic strains which appear promising?
• How can this information be effectively utilized in community based nutrition intervention programmes in Asia?

P-3. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity and gluten related disorders – Facts and myths

• Facts and Myths regarding gluten related disorders
• Diagnostic and management strategies in dealing with concerns relating to non-coeliac gluten sensitivity

P-4. Intestinal failure and rehabilitation – Current and emerging treatments

• Described current outcomes of children with intestinal failure
• Established treatment options for intestinal rehabilitation in children
• Emerging treatments for intestinal rehabilitation such as GLP-2 analogues

P-5. Optimizing management for hospital and home parenteral nutrition for pediatric intestinal failure

• Intestinal failure (IF) is an increasing disease entity in the field of pediatric nutritional support. Aggressive surgical interventions and supportive cares targeted for patients with volvulus, necrotizing enterocolitis and Hirschsprung disease make this possible.
• About one thirds of the patients with extensive bowel loss require PN with many unmet clinical needs, despite of recent improved postoperative supportive care (e.g. parenteral nutrition (PN), use of hydrolysate formula, and various enteral feeding protocols) with better outcomes
• Brief summary for the recent advance of pediatric parenteral and enteral nutrition for the children with IF and short bowel syndrome