Research Overview

My research work is focused on understanding gastrointestinal dysfunction, both epithelial barrier disruption and gastrointestinal dysmotility, in pediatric critical illness. Using a clinical-translational approach I am examining the role of proteases and gastrointestinal hormones on gastrointestinal dysfunction in critical illness. At the bedside I examine patient and clinical care factors that may contribute to gastrointestinal dysfunction in pediatric critical illness and consider how our understanding of the mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal dysfunction at the cellular-molecular level may play a role in developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for affected patients.

Research Background

Dr. Enid E Martinez obtained her MD from the New York University School of Medicine. She subsequently completed residency in Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center through the Boston Combined Residency Program and her fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is currently an Associate in Critical Care Medicine in the Division of Critical Care Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and is pursuing her research at Boston Children’s Hospital and in collaboration with the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Education

Medical School

New York University School of Medicine
New York NY

Residency

Boston Combined Residency Program (BCRP)
Boston MA

Fellowship

Pediatric Critical Care Boston Children's Hospital
Boston MA

Publications

  1. Nutrition support in children with medical complexity and chronic critical illness: A narrative review. Nutr Clin Pract. 2025 Feb; 40(1):54-63. View Abstract
  2. The enteroendocrine axis and its effect on gastrointestinal function, nutrition, and inflammation. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2024 Aug 01; 30(4):290-297. View Abstract
  3. Changes in Global Nutrition Practices in Critically Ill Children and the Influence of Emerging Evidence: A Secondary Analysis of the Pediatric International Nutrition Studies, 2009-2018. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 Dec; 124(12):1657-1667.e5. View Abstract
  4. Biomarkers and Functional Assays of Epithelial Barrier Disruption and Gastrointestinal Dysmotility in Critical Illness-A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2023 Sep 19; 15(18). View Abstract
  5. Postpyloric vs gastric enteral nutrition in critically ill children: A single-center retrospective cohort study. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2023 05; 47(4):494-500. View Abstract
  6. Impact of implementing an evidence-based definition of enteral nutrition intolerance on nutrition delivery: A prospective, cross-sectional cohort study. Nutr Clin Pract. 2023 Apr; 38(2):376-385. View Abstract
  7. Human coagulation factor X and CD5 antigen-like are potential new members of the zonulin family proteins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2023 01 01; 638:127-133. View Abstract
  8. Editorial: Gastrointestinal function and nutrition in pediatric critical care. Front Pediatr. 2022; 10:1056544. View Abstract
  9. Intermittent versus continuous enteral nutrition in critically ill children: A pre-planned secondary analysis of an international prospective cohort study. Clin Nutr. 2022 12; 41(12):2621-2627. View Abstract
  10. Challenges and advances in nutrition for the critically ill child. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2022 08 01; 28(4):401-408. View Abstract
  11. The Zonulin Pathway as a Potential Mediator of Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Critical Illness. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2022 09 01; 23(9):e424-e428. View Abstract
  12. Association Between Anticholinergic Drug Burden and Adequacy of Enteral Nutrition in Critically Ill, Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2021 12 01; 22(12):1083-1087. View Abstract
  13. Novel role of zonulin in the pathophysiology of gastro-duodenal transit: a clinical and translational study. Sci Rep. 2021 11 17; 11(1):22462. View Abstract
  14. Nutrition therapy and outcomes in hospitalized children. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2021 09; 45(7):1392-1394. View Abstract
  15. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is driven by zonulin-dependent loss of gut mucosal barrier. J Clin Invest. 2021 07 15; 131(14). View Abstract
  16. Interleukin-10 and Zonulin Are Associated With Postoperative Delayed Gastric Emptying in Critically Ill Surgical Pediatric Patients: A Prospective Pilot Study. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2020 11; 44(8):1407-1416. View Abstract
  17. Bedside Postpyloric Tube Placement and Enteral Nutrition Delivery in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Nutr Clin Pract. 2020 Apr; 35(2):299-305. View Abstract
  18. Gastrointestinal Hormone Profiles Associated With Enteral Nutrition Tolerance and Gastric Emptying in Pediatric Critical Illness: A Pilot Study. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2020 03; 44(3):472-480. View Abstract
  19. Comprehensive nutritional and metabolic assessment in patients with spinal muscular atrophy: Opportunity for an individualized approach. Neuromuscul Disord. 2018 06; 28(6):512-519. View Abstract
  20. Body Composition in Children with Chronic Illness: Accuracy of Bedside Assessment Techniques. J Pediatr. 2017 11; 190:56-62. View Abstract
  21. Gastric Emptying in Critically Ill Children. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2017 09; 41(7):1100-1109. View Abstract
  22. 451: INACCURACY OF EXISTING FAT-FREE MASS EQUATIONS IN PEDIATRICS-AND A NEW MACHINE LEARNING METHOD. Crit Care Med. 2016 Dec; 44(12 Suppl 1):189. View Abstract
  23. Energy and Protein Delivery in Overweight and Obese Children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Nutr Clin Pract. 2017 Jun; 32(3):414-419. View Abstract
  24. The science and art of pediatric critical care nutrition. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 08; 22(4):316-24. View Abstract
  25. Census tract based income level and lipid levels in urban pediatric primary care: a retrospective study. BMC Pediatr. 2016 07 08; 16:86. View Abstract
  26. A Comparison of Carbon Dioxide Elimination Measurements Between a Portable Indirect Calorimeter and Volumetric Capnography Monitor: An In Vitro Simulation. Respir Care. 2016 Mar; 61(3):354-8. View Abstract
  27. Gastric Dysmotility in Critically Ill Children: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2015 Nov; 16(9):828-36. View Abstract
  28. Impact of Individualized Diet Intervention on Body Composition and Respiratory Variables in Children With Respiratory Insufficiency: A Pilot Intervention Study. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2015 Jul; 16(6):e157-64. View Abstract
  29. Challenges to nutrition therapy in the pediatric critically ill obese patient. Nutr Clin Pract. 2015 Jun; 30(3):432-9. View Abstract
  30. Metabolic assessment and individualized nutrition in children dependent on mechanical ventilation at home. J Pediatr. 2015 Feb; 166(2):350-7. View Abstract
  31. Nutrition algorithms and bedside nutrient delivery practices in pediatric intensive care units: an international multicenter cohort study. Nutr Clin Pract. 2014 Jun; 29(3):360-7. View Abstract

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