CVSA is excited to be partnering with the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) to create the B Li Young Investigator Award.  Contributing to this fund is a way to encourage young investigators to research CVS and other functional GI disorders that need attention.


Dr. Li retired as Professor of Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Medical College of Wisconsin in 2017.  Dr. Li is an expert in cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) and spearheaded the effort to define and standardize the diagnostic and management protocols. He has served as medical advisor to the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association for 25 years as well as was a cofounder of CVSA.  He coauthored the NASPGHAN CVS guidelines published in 2008. He has received National Institute of Health funding for his research, has published extensively on CVS and given more than 100 Grand Rounds (Grand rounds originated as part of residency training wherein new information was taught and clinical reasoning skills were enhanced. Grand rounds today are an integral component of medical education. They present clinical problems in medicine by focusing on current or interesting cases. They are also sometimes utilized for dissemination of new research information.) on the topic.

Dr. Li joined Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in 2006 as Professor of Pediatric and Director of Pediatric Fellowship Education. He developed a robust 3-year Joint Fellowship Curriculum to fulfill core competencies in teaching, research, and scholarly activities and leadership development for 78 concurrent fellows in 13 subspecialty programs.

Dr. Li’s passion for teaching was evident early in his academic career. While a junior faculty member at UW-Madison, he was awarded clinical teacher of the year.  It only seems fitting that CVSA funded a scholarship in his honor to educate young investigators.  (Excerpted and revised from Master Educator Award letter written by Manu R. Sood and Laurie N. Fishman)

The Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association (CVSA) Young Investigator Prize in honor of B Li in Functional GI Disorders has been developed to promote the pursuit of research in these conditions. This award will be given to a young investigator submitting an outstanding scientific abstract focusing on basic science, clinical investigation or outcomes research in the following conditions: Cyclic vomiting syndrome, aerophagia, rumination syndrome, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, or functional abdominal pain (submissions for any other condition must have a written justification for inclusion in this category). Award decisions are made by NASPGHAN.

The investigator must be:

1) less than ten years beyond fellowship training in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition or from receiving a PhD.

2) first author

3) a member of NASPGHAN.

Recipients of the B Li Award:

2019

PREDICTORS OF HOSPITALIZATION FOR CHILDREN WITH CYCLIC VOMITING SYNDROME Zeyad Abdulkader, Neetu Bali, Karla Vaz, Desalegn Yacob, Carlo Di Lorenzo, Peter Lu. Gastroenterology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH

Summary of Abstract Conclusion: We found that in addition to young age and male gender, patients who presented to the ED more than 24 hours after their episode started were significantly more likely to be hospitalized than those presenting within 12 hours. Similarly, we found that a patient’s likelihood for hospitalization significantly increased the longer they waited for their first IV anti-emetic following arrival to the ED. To read the full abstract, Click here and go to page 38.

2020

A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PERCUTANEOUS ELECTRIC NERVE FIELD STIMULATION (PENFS) ON OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE SLEEP MEASURES, GASTRIC MECHANOSENSITIVITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASURES IN ADOLESCENTS WITH FUNCTIONAL ABDOMINAL PAIN DISORDERS

Neha R Santucci Christopher King Khalil I El-Chammas Anundorn Wongteerasut Alisara Damrongmanee Kahleb Graham Lin Fei Rashmi Sahay Cheryl Jones Natoshia R CunninghamRobert C Coghill 

Conclusions and inferences: We demonstrated improvements in resting and evoked pain and nausea, sleep, disability, pain catastrophizing, somatic complaints, and anxiety after four weeks of PENFS therapy. Some effects were sustained at 6-12 months post-treatment. This suggests that PENFS is a suitable alternative to pharmacologic therapy. (Complete article published 2022 here.)

2021

ABNORMAL AUTONOMIC REGULATION IN CHILDREN WITH CYCLIC VOMITING SYNDROME. 

Katja Kovacic, Jacek Kolacz, Linh Dang , Stephen Porges

Conclusions: Children with CVS have suboptimal autonomic regulation compared to healthy controls even during interepisodic, clinical wellness. Similar to other subsets of children with functional digestive problems, children with CVS display decreased RSA and VE, indicating abnormal vagal tone. ANS dysregulation may be a factor in CVS pathophysiology, comorbidities and triggers (e.g., anxiety) and may be indexed by VE. Autonomic monitoring of vagal efficiency during posture shifts could inform treatment opportunities, specifically therapies targeted to modulation of vagal tone.

To read the full abstract, click here and go to page S327.

2022

INCREASING TRENDS OF CANNABINOID HYPEREMESIS SYNDROME IN YOUTH: THE GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER.

Benjamin Jack, Apryl Susi, Patrick Reeves, Cade Nylund

Conclusions: This analysis demonstrates that national ED visits for CHS among youth are rising rapidly at an increase of almost 30% every year. The age of presentation is decreasing over time. Recognition of the risks associated with cannabinoid access should inform public health decisions. As restrictions against cannabis continue to relax, healthcare providers should be aware of the features of CHS and inquire about and/or test for cannabis use when appropriate.

To read the full abstract click here and go to page S499.