Enteroviral Infections in the First Three Months of Life

Enteroviruses (EVs) are an important source of infection in the paediatric age, with most cases concerning the neonatal age and early infancy. Molecular epidemiology is crucial to understand the circulation of main serotypes in a specific area and period due to their extreme epidemiological variability. The diagnosis of EVs infection currently relies on the detection of EVs RNA in biological samples (usually cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, but also throat swabs and feces) through a poly-merase chain reaction assay. Although EVs infections usually have a benign course, they sometimes become life threatening, especially when symptoms develop in the first few days of life. Mortality is primarily associated with myocarditis, acute hepatitis, and multi-organ failure. Neurodevelopmental sequelae have been reported following severe infections with central nervous system involvement. Unfortunately, at present, the treatment of EVs infections is mainly supportive. The use of specific antiviral agents in severe neonatal infections has been reported in single cases or studies includ-ing few neonates. Therefore, further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of these drugs in clinical practice

SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility Within Day Care Centers—Study Protocol of a Prospective Analysis of Outbreaks in Germany

Introduction: Until today, the role of children in the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and the development of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be dynamic and is not finally resolved. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in child day care centers and connected households as well as transmission-related indicators and clinical symptoms among children and adults. Methods and Analysis: COALA (“Corona outbreak-related examinations in day care centers”) is a day care center- and household-based study with a case-ascertained study design. Based on day care centers with at least one reported case of SARS-CoV-2, we include one- to six-year-old children and staff of the affected group in the day care center as well as their respective households. We visit each child's and adult's household. During the home visit we take from each household member a combined mouth and nose swab as well as a saliva sample for analysis of SARS-CoV-2-RNA by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) and a capillary blood sample for a retrospective assessment of an earlier SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, information on health status, socio-demographics and COVID-19 protective measures are collected via a short telephone interview in the subsequent days. In the following 12 days, household members (or parents for their children) self-collect the same respiratory samples as described above every 3 days and a stool sample for children once. COVID-19 symptoms are documented daily in a symptom diary. Approximately 35 days after testing the index case, every participant who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the study is re-visited at home for another capillary blood sample and a standardized interview. The analysis includes secondary attack rates, by age of primary case, both in the day care center and in households, as well as viral shedding dynamics, including the beginning of shedding relative to symptom onset and viral clearance. Discussion: The results contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiological and virological transmission-related indicators of SARS-CoV-2 among young children, as compared to adults and the interplay between day care and households.Peer Reviewe

Health-related quality of life and metabolic control in young patients with type 1 diabetes and in their parents before and after the COVID-19 lockdown

Introduction: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns for consequences in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were raised. Objectives: To compare the diabetes-specific health-related quality of life (D-HRQOL) of youths with T1D and their parents before and after the COVID-19-related lockdown. Methods: The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 3.0 Diabetes Module (PedsQL™ 3.0 DM) was used to evaluate the D-HRQOL. Patients who filled the D-HRQOL before lockdown (Dec-19–Feb-20; T0) were recruited in the study and filled the same survey immediately after the lockdown was stopped (Jun-20; T1) during a routine outpatient or telemedicine visit. Results: Sixty-two patients (median age: 12.6 [5.25-17.8] yrs; T1D duration 4.23 [0.45- 16.4] yrs) with T1D and their parents (60 mothers, 10 fathers) were enrolled. Patients' scales scores did not significantly change from T0 to T1. Mothers significantly increased their Diabetes symptoms scale score (median 67.0 vs. 70.4; p=0.007). Data were also analyzed according to visit type (outpatient vs. telemedicine), glucose monitoring (SBGM vs. isCGM vs. rtCGM), and insulin therapy (MDI vs. CSII), but D-HRQOL data were longitudinally comparable and no difference was found between groups. During lockdown no DKA, severe hypoglycemic events, and SARS-CoV-2 were recorded. Despite the significant decrease of exercise (median 3.25 vs. 0.50 h/week; p<0.0001), median glycemic control (HbA1c 58.5 vs. 57.9 mmol/mol) and total daily insulin dose (0.86 vs. 0.82 IU/kg/day) were unchanged. At T1, the lower the HbA1c, the better patients' Diabetes symptoms (R=-0.41, p<0.001), Worry (R=-0.27, p=0.032) scales, and total scores (R=-0.33, p=0.009). Similar results were found in parents. Conclusions: During COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown the D-HRQOL did not change in children and adolescents with T1D and their parents. Our data may be possibly related to staying at home, making diabetes managements easier and also allowing the maintenance of good glycemic control without acute complications

Magnesium favors the capacity of vitamin d3 to induce the monocyte differentiation of u937 cells

The hematopoietic U937 cells are able to differentiate into monocytes, macrophages, or osteoclasts when stimulated, respectively, with vitamin D3 (VD3), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or PMA plus VD3. We have previously demonstrated that magnesium (Mg) strongly potentiates the osteoclastic differentiation of U937 cells. In this study, we investigated whether such an effect may be ascribed to a capacity of Mg to modulate the monocyte differentiation of U937 cells and/or to an ability of Mg and VD3 to act directly and independently on the early phases of the osteoclastic differentiation. To address this issue, we subjected U937 cells to an individual and combined treatment with Mg and VD3 and then we analyzed, by flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, the expression of a number of genes related to the early phases of the differentiation pathways under consideration. The results obtained indicated that Mg favors the monocyte differentiation of U937 cells induced by VD3 and at the same time, Mg contrasts the inhibitory effect that VD3 exerts on the osteoclastic differentiation in the absence of PMA. The crucial and articulated role played by Mg in diverse pathways of the osteoclastic differentiation of U973 cells is emphasized