353 research outputs found
current clinical practice and available resources
Objective To assess European pediatric rheumatology providers’ current
clinical practices and resources used in the transition from child-centered to
adult-oriented care. Methods European pediatric rheumatologists were invited
to complete a 17-item anonymized e-survey assessing current transition
practices, transition policy awareness, and needs in advance of the
publication of EULAR/PReS recommendations on transition. Results The response
rate was 121/276 (44%), including responses from 115 centers in 22 European
Union countries. Although 32/121 (26%) responded that their centers did not
offer transition services, the majority (99%) agreed that a formalized process
in transitioning patients to adult care is necessary. A minority (<30%) of
respondents stated that they have a written transition policy although 46%
have an informal transition process. Designated staff to support transitional
care were available in a minority of centers: nurse (35%), physiotherapist
(15%), psychologist (15%), social worker (8%), and occupational therapist
(2%). The existence of a designated team member to coordinate transition was
acknowledged in many centers (64% of respondents) although just 36% use a
checklist for young people as part of individualized transitional care.
Conclusion This survey of European pediatric rheumatology providers regarding
transitional care practices demonstrates agreement that transitional care is
important, and wide variation in current provision of transition services
exists
A retrospective analysis of endocrine disease in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase insufficiency: case series and literature review
Primary adrenal insufficiency; Primary hypothyroidism; Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyaseInsuficiencia suprarrenal primaria; Hipotiroidismo primario; Esfingosina-1-fosfato liasaInsuficiència suprarenal primària; Hipotiroïdisme primari; Esfingosina-1-fosfat liasaSphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SGPL1) insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) is an autosomal recessive multi-system disorder, which mainly incorporates steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and primary adrenal insufficiency. Other variable endocrine manifestations are described. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively annotate the endocrinopathies associated with pathogenic SGPL1 variants and assess for genotype–phenotype correlations by retrospectively reviewing the reports of endocrine disease within our patient cohort and all published cases in the wider literature up to February 2022. Glucocorticoid insufficiency in early childhood is the most common endocrine manifestation affecting 64% of the 50 patients reported with SPLIS, and a third of these individuals have additional mineralocorticoid deficiency. While most individuals also have nephrotic syndrome, SGPL1 variants also account for isolated adrenal insufficiency at presentation. Primary gonadal insufficiency, manifesting with microphallus and cryptorchidism, is reported in less than one-third of affected boys, all with concomitant adrenal disease. Mild primary hypothyroidism affects approximately a third of patients. There is paucity of data on the impact of SGPL1 deficiency on growth, and pubertal development, limited by the early and high mortality rate (approximately 50%). There is no clear genotype–phenotype correlation overall in the syndrome, with variable disease penetrance within individual kindreds. However, with regards to endocrine phenotype, the most prevalent disease variant p.R222Q (affecting 22%) is most consistently associated with isolated glucocorticoid deficiency.To conclude, SPLIS is associated with significant multiple endocrine disorders. While endocrinopathy in the syndrome generally presents in infancy, late-onset disease also occurs. Screening for these is therefore warranted both at diagnosis and through follow-up.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) UK Clinical Academic Research Partner Grant (MR/T02402X/1, 2019 to R P), Barts and the London Charity (MGU0361, 2017 to L A M), Barts and the London Charity Research Fellow Grant (MGU0528 to R K), Medical Research Council (MRC) UK Clinical Research Training Fellowship Grant (MR/W015935/1 to RK), Government of Trinidad and Tobago Research Fellowship (to A M) and Wellcome Trust (209328/Z/17/Z to J C A)
A New MAMLD1 Variant in an Infant With Microphallus and Hypospadias With Hormonal Pattern Suggesting Partial Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism—Case Report
MAMLD1 gene; Hypospadias; MinipubertyGen MAMLD1; Hipospàdies; MinipubertatGen MAMLD1; Hipospadias; MinipubertadMAMLD1 (X chromosome) is one of the recognized genes related to different sex development. It is expressed in testis and ovaries and seems to be involved in fetal sex development and in adult reproductive function, including testosterone biosynthesis. However, its exact role remains unclear. Over 40 genetic variants have been described, mainly in male individuals and mostly associated with hypospadias. Although MAMLD1 has been shown to regulate the expression of the steroidogenic pathway, patients with MAMLD1 variants mostly show normal gonadal function and normal testosterone levels. Here we describe a patient (46,XY) with hypospadias and microphallus, with low testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, and with inappropriately low values of luteinizing hormone (LH) during minipuberty. This hormonal pattern was suggestive of partial hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. A stimulation test with hCG (4 months) showed no significant increase in both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone concentrations. At 5 months of age, he was treated with intramuscular testosterone, and the penis length increased to 3.5 cm. The treatment was stopped at 6 months of age. Our gonadal function massive-sequencing panel detected a previously unreported nonsense variant in the MAMLD1 gene (c.1738C>T:p.Gln580Ter), which was classified as pathogenic. This MAMLD1 variant, predicting a truncated protein, could explain his genital phenotype. His hormonal profile (low testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and LH concentrations) together with no significant increase of testosterone and DHT plasma concentrations (hCG test) highlight the potential role of this gene in the biosynthesis of testosterone during the fetal stage and minipuberty of the infant. Besides this, the LH values may suggest an involvement of MAMLD1 in the LH axis or a possible oligogenesis. It is the first time that a decrease in DHT has been described in a patient with an abnormal MAMLD1
Analysis of therapy monitoring in the International Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Registry
Biomarkers; Congenital adrenal hyperplasia; HydrocortisoneBiomarcadores; Hiperplasia suprarrenal congénita; HidrocortisonaBiomarcadors; Hiperplàsia suprarenal congènita; HidrocortisonaObjective
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) requires exogenous steroid replacement. Treatment is commonly monitored by measuring 17-OH progesterone (17OHP) and androstenedione (D4).
Design
Retrospective cohort study using real-world data to evaluate 17OHP and D4 in relation to hydrocortisone (HC) dose in CAH patients treated in 14 countries.
Patients
Pseudonymized data from children with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) recorded in the International CAH Registry.
Measurements
Assessments between January 2000 and October 2020 in patients prescribed HC were reviewed to summarise biomarkers 17OHP and D4 and HC dose. Longitudinal assessment of measures was carried out using linear mixed-effects models (LMEM).
Results
Cohort of 345 patients, 52.2% female, median age 4.3 years (interquartile range: 3.1–9.2) were taking a median 11.3 mg/m2/day (8.6–14.4) of HC. Median 17OHP was 35.7 nmol/l (3.0–104.0). Median D4 under 12 years was 0 nmol/L (0–2.0) and above 12 years was 10.5 nmol/L (3.9–21.0). There were significant differences in biomarker values between centres (p < 0.05). Correlation between D4 and 17OHP was good in multiple regression with age (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.29).
In longitudinal assessment, 17OHP levels did not change with age, whereas D4 levels increased with age (p 0.05). Multivariate LMEM showed HC dose decreasing by 1.0 mg/m2/day for every 1 point increase in weight standard deviation score.
Discussion
Registry data show large variability in 17OHP and D4 between centres. 17OHP correlates with D4 well when accounting for age. Prescribed HC dose per body surface area decreased with weight gain.This project has received support from the I-CAH Registry project that receives unrestricted education grants from Diurnal Ltd and Neurocrine Biosciences. The initial development of the Registry was supported by the Medical Research Council (G1100236), the Seventh European Union Framework Program (201444) and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Research Unit. NRL is funded by an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship. SRA is supported by the Gardiner Lectureship at the University of Glasgow. This study was funded by an award to NPK from the DFG, German Research Foundation (KR3363/3-1)
Increased Presentation of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Changes in Age and Month of Type 1 Diabetes at Onset during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain
COVID-19; Aparició de la diabetis; Diabetis tipus 1COVID-19; Aparición de diabetes; Diabetes tipo 1COVID-19; Diabetes onset; Type 1diabetesObjective: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on the presenting characteristics (age at diagnosis, severity, monthly distribution) of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in Spanish children. Research Design and Methods: An ambispective observational multicenter study was conducted in nine Spanish tertiary-level hospitals between January 2015 and March 2021. Inclusion criteria: new cases of type 1 diabetes in children (0–14 years) recording age, sex, date of diagnosis, presence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset, and severity of DKA. Data were compared before and during the pandemic. Results: We registered 1444 new cases of type 1 diabetes in children: 1085 in the pre-pandemic period (2015–2019) and 359 during the pandemic (2020–March 2021). There was a significant increase in the group aged ≤4 years in the pandemic period (chi-squared = 10.986, df 2, p = 0.0041). In 2020–2021, cases of DKA increased significantly by 12% (95% CI: 7.2–20.4%), with a higher percentage of moderate and severe DKA, although this increase was not significant. In 2020, there was a sharp decrease in the number of cases in March, with a progressive increase from May through November, higher than in the same months of the period 2015–2019, highlighting the increase in the number of cases in June, September, and November. The first three months of 2021 showed a different trend to that observed both in the years 2015–2019 and in 2020, with a marked increase in the number of cases. Conclusions: A change in monthly distribution was described, with an increase in DKA at onset of type 1 diabetes. No differences were found in severity, although there were differences in the age distribution, with an increase in the number of cases in children under 4 years of age
Reversible Tuning of Luminescence and Magnetism in a Structurally Flexible Erbium-Anilato MOF
By combining 3,6-N-ditriazolyl-2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (H2trz2An) with NIR-emitting ErIII ion, two different 3D neutral polymorphic frameworks (1a and 1b), differing for the number of uncoordinated water molecules, formulated as [Er2(trz2An)3(H2O)4]n·xH2O (x = 10, a; x = 7, b), have been obtained. The structure of 1a shows layers with (6,3) topology forming six-membered rings with distorted hexagonal cavities along the bc plane. These 2D layers are interconnected through the N4 atoms of the two pendant arms of the trz2An linkers, leading to a 3D framework, where neighboring layers are eclipsed along the a axis, with hexagonal channels filled with water molecules. In 1b, layers with (6,3) topology in the [101] plane are present, each ErIII ion being connected to three other ErIII ions through bis-bidentate trz2An linkers, forming rectangular six-membered cavities. 1a and 1b are multifunctional materials showing coexistence of NIR emission and fieldinduced slow relaxation of the magnetization. Remarkably, 1a is a flexible MOF, showing a reversible structural phase transition involving shrinkage/expansion from a distorted hexagonal 2D framework to a distorted 3,6-brickwall rectangular 3D structure in [Er2(trz2An)3(H2O)2]n·2H2O (1a_des). This transition is triggered by a dehydration/hydration process under mild conditions (vacuum/heating to 360 K). The partially dehydrated compound shows a sizeable change in the emission properties and an improvement of the magnetic blocking temperature with respect to the hydrated compound, mainly related to the loss of one water coordination molecule. Theoretical calculations support experimental findings, indicating that the slight improvement observed in the magnetic properties has its origin in the change of ligand field around the ErIII ion due to the loss of a water molecule
Reconstruction of primary vertices at the ATLAS experiment in Run 1 proton–proton collisions at the LHC
This paper presents the method and performance of primary vertex reconstruction in proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment during Run 1 of the LHC. The studies presented focus on data taken during 2012 at a centre-of-mass energy of √s=8 TeV. The performance has been measured as a function of the number of interactions per bunch crossing over a wide range, from one to seventy. The measurement of the position and size of the luminous region and its use as a constraint to improve the primary vertex resolution are discussed. A longitudinal vertex position resolution of about 30μm is achieved for events with high multiplicity of reconstructed tracks. The transverse position resolution is better than 20μm and is dominated by the precision on the size of the luminous region. An analytical model is proposed to describe the primary vertex reconstruction efficiency as a function of the number of interactions per bunch crossing and of the longitudinal size of the luminous region. Agreement between the data and the predictions of this model is better than 3% up to seventy interactions per bunch crossing
Heteroleptic iron(II) spin-crossover complexes based on a 2,6-Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine-type ligand functionalized with a carboxylic acid
Two new heteroleptic complexes [Fe(1bppCOOH)(3bpp-bph)](ClO4)2·solv (1·solv, solv = various solvents; 1bppCOOH = 2,6-bis(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)isonicotinic acid; 3bpp-bph = 2,6-bis(5-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine) and [Fe(1bppCOOH)(1bppCOOEt)](ClO4)2·0.5Me2CO (2·0.5Me2CO, 1bppCOOEt = ethyl 2,6-bis(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)isonicotinate) were designed and prepared. The heteroleptic compound 1·solv was obtained by the combination of stoichiometric amounts of Fe(ClO4)2, 1bppCOOH, and 3bpp-bph, and it was designed to fine-tune the spin crossover (SCO) properties with respect to the previously reported homoleptic compound [Fe(1bppCOOH)2](ClO4)2. Indeed, the introduction of a new substituted 3bpp ligand induces a weaker ligand field in addition to promoting the formation of π···π and C-H···π intermolecular interactions through the biphenyl groups. For the desolvated counterpart 1, this results in a shift of the SCO curve toward room temperature and the observation of a 13 K hysteresis width. Besides, compound 2·0.5Me2CO, which represents the first example of a heteroleptic complex containing two 1bpp tridentate ligands, stabilizes the LS state at room temperature confirming the same trend observed for the corresponding homoleptic compounds. Interestingly, both 1 and 2·0.5Me2CO heteroleptic complexes exhibit photoswitchable properties when irradiating with a 523 nm laser at 10 K. Preliminary characterization of the deposited complexes on native SiO2 by X-ray absorption measurements suggests oxidation and decomposition of the complexes
Basic life support training programme in schools by school nurses
[EN] BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in schools, despite being legislated in Spain, is not established as such within the subjects that children are taught in schools. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the acquisition of CPR skills by 11-year-old children after a brief theoretical-practical teaching programme taught by nurses at school. METHODS: 62 students were assessed in a quasi-experimental study on 2 cohorts (51.4% of the sample in control group [CG]). In total, 2 sessions were given, a theoretical one, and a practical training for skill development in children, in which the CG performed the CPR in 2-minute cycles and the intervention group in 1-minute cycles. The anthropometric variables recorded were weight and height, and the variables compression quality and ventilation quality were recorded using the Laerdal ResusciAnne manikin with Personal Computer/Wireless SkillReport. RESULTS: The assessment showed better results, in terms of BLS sequence performance and use of automated external defibrillator, in the CG and after training, except for the evaluation of the 10-second breathing assessment technique. The quality of chest compressions was better in the CG after training, as was the quality of the ventilations. There were no major differences in CPR quality after training and 4 months after the 1-minute and 2-minute training cycles. CONCLUSIONS: 11-year-old children do not perform quality chest compressions or ventilations but, considering their age, they are able to perform a BLS sequence correctlyS
EVALUACIÓN DE LA INFLUENCIA DE LA TEMPERATURA EN PROCESOS DE SECADO
El secado, es uno de los procesos tradicionales de conservación de alimentos de mayor interés en la actualidad; consiste en la remoción del agua libre, para lo cual se utiliza aire caliente como medio desecador. El secado, implica mecanismos complejos y simultáneos de transferencia de calor, masa y momento, siendo la temperatura en una de las principales variables del proceso, debido a que si no es la adecuada influye en la calidad del producto alterando el sabor, color, olor y otros atributos, disminuye el contenido nutricional
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