Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Diastereoselection of the addition of silyloxyfurans to five-, six- and seven-membered N-acyliminium ions

The addition of silyloxyfuran 1a to five-, six- and seven-membered N-acyliminium ions 2 afforded threo-3 as the major isomers (the structures of 3a, 3g and 3m were determined by X-ray analysis). The diastereoisomeric ratio increased with bulkier carbamate groups (Boc>Cbz>CO2Me) with the five- and seven-membered N-acyliminium ions more selective than the six-membered ones. However. erythro-4 isomers predominated when 5-methylsilyloxyfuran 1b was employed (the structures were determined by NOE studies on the corresponding bicyclic lactams 6a.b and 7a,b) and the formation or regioisomer 5 was observed for N-acyliminium ions with Boc (seven-membered series) and Cbz (six- and seven-membered series) groups. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.42406995699

Performance of digital radiography with enhancement filters for the diagnosis of proximal caries

Enhancement filters are potentially supposed to improve the diagnostic performance of digital images. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the performance of digital radiography with and without enhancement filters for the detection of induced proximal caries lesions. The total sample consisted of 120 sound human teeth (40 premolars, 80 molars). Enamel subsurface demineralization was induced in one of the proximal surfaces of 60 teeth. Standardized radiographs of all teeth were acquired after the demineralization phase using the Digora-Optime (R) system. Four radiologists examined the digital radiographs and applied the following filters provided by the Digora (R) for Windows 2.6 package: Negative, Sharpen and both (Negative plus Sharpen). Validation of radiographic diagnosis was carried out by Knoop cross-sectional micro-hardness profiling on the proximal surfaces. Intraobserver agreement was estimated using Kappa statistics (k). Sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy were compared using ANOVA/Tukey test (alpha = 5%). Intraobserver agreement ranged from good to very good/optimal (k: 0.65-0.83). Although not statistically significant, the highest sensitivity (0.68 +/- 0.22) and accuracy (0.76 +/- 0.16) values were observed using the Sharpen filter as opposed to the Negative filter, which presented the lowest performance indices (0.57 +/- 0.13 and 0.70 +/- 0.10, respectively). Specificity ranged from 0.84 to 0.85, considering all imaging modalities (p > 0.05). Insofar as the Sharpen filter had the highest performance indices, it may be considered a useful adjunct for detecting subtle proximal caries lesions.27324525

Performance of a photostimulable storage phosphor digital system with or without the sharpen filter and cone beam CT for detecting approximal enamel subsurface demineralization

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the performance of photostimulable storage phosphor (PSP) radiographs with or without using the sharpen filter and cone beam CT (CBCT) for detecting enamel subsurface demineralization. Methods: Enamel subsurface demineralization was induced on one of the approximal surfaces of 120 sound human teeth. Standardized images of all teeth were acquired after the demineralization phase using the Digora (R) Optime (Orion Corp./Soredex, Helsinki, Finland) (PSP) and the i-CAT (TM) (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, PA) (CBCT) systems. Three calibrated observers interpreted the images using a five-point scale (1, demineralization definitely absent; 2, demineralization probably absent; 3, unsure; 4, demineralization probably present; and 5, demineralization definitely present). Diagnoses were validated by cross-sectional microhardness profiling in the test areas of the approximal surfaces. Interobserver agreement was analysed using kappa statistics. Accuracy was estimated by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (4,), which were compared using the Kruskal Wallis test (alpha = 5%). Results: Interobserver agreement was higher for CBCT (kappa = 0.7-0.8), followed by sharpen-filtered (kappa = 0.6-0.7) and original (kappa = 0.5-0.6) images. CBCT presented the highest accuracy value (A(z) = 0.897) compared with the original (A(z) = 0.792) and sharpen-filtered (A(z) = 0.712) images. However, no statistical differences were observed between the imaging modalities (p = 0.0794). Conclusions: It can be concluded that PSP radiographs with or without using the sharpen filter and the CBCT images may be useful adjuncts for detecting subtle approximal enamel demineralization.o TEXTO COMPLETO DESTE ARTIGO, ESTARÁ DISPONÍVEL À PARTIR DE AGOSTO DE 2015.42

Characteristics of women victims of sexual violence and their compliance with outpatient follow-up: time trends at a referral center in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Sexual violence is a crime against individual integrity and sexual freedom. It affects women of all socioeconomic levels, and the perpetrator does not choose the victim's color or age. It is a source of high financial cost and a serious public health problem in Brazil. The current study aimed to assess compliance with outpatient follow-up by women victims of sexual violence treated at the Center for Women's Comprehensive Healthcare at the State University in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, from January 2000 to December 2006. We observed a significant increase in the return for scheduled appointments. In 2000, 41% of the women completed the six-month follow-up, and by 2006 the proportion had increased to 70%. Some 70% of the women appeared for treatment within 24 hours after being raped. Sexual assault by perpetrators known to the victims tripled during this same period. There were changes in the forms of intimidation and a significant decreased in prescription of emergency contraception.27470171