Application of the Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score (PRISM) score and determination of mortality risk factors in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit

INTRODUCTION: To establish disease severity at admission can be performed by way of the mortality prognostic. Nowadays the prognostic scores make part of quality control and research. The Pediatric Risk of Mortality is one of the scores used in the pediatric intensive care units. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is the utilization of the pediatric risk of mortality to determine mortality risk factors in a tertiary pediatric intensive care units. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study, in a period of one year, at a general tertiary pediatric intensive care unit. The pediatric risk of mortality scores corresponding to the first 24 hours of hospitalization were recorded; additional data were collected to characterize the study population. RESULTS: 359 patients were included; the variables that were found to be risk factors for death were multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, mechanical ventilation, use of vasoactive drugs, hospital-acquired infection, parenteral nutrition and duration of hospitalization (p < 0,0001). Fifty-four patients (15%) died; median pediatric risk of mortality score was significantly lower in patients who survived (p=0,0001). The ROC curve yielded a value of 0.76 (CI 95% 0,69-0,83) and the calibration was shown to be adequate. DISCUSSION: It is imperative for pediatric intensive care units to implement strict quality controls to identify groups at risk of death and to ensure the adequacy of treatment. Although some authors have shown that the PRISM score overestimates mortality and that it is not appropriate in specific pediatric populations, in this study pediatric risk of mortality showed satisfactory discriminatory performance in differentiating between survivors and non-survivors. CONCLUSIONS: The pediatric risk of mortality score showed adequate discriminatory capacity and thus constitutes a useful tool for the assessment of prognosis for pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary pediatric intensive care units

Detecção de EBV-DNA em amostras de soro de criança imunodeprimida durante três anos de seguimento: associação de dados clínicos e de PCR com a infecção ativa

Twenty-four whole blood and serum samples were drawn from an eight year-old heart transplant child during a 36 months follow-up. EBV serology was positive for VCA-IgM and IgG, and negative for EBNA-IgG at the age of five years old when the child presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of acute infectious mononucleosis. After 14 months, serological parameters were: positive VCA-IgG, EBNA-IgG and negative VCA-IgM. This serological pattern has been maintained since then even during episodes suggestive of EBV reactivation. PCR amplified a specific DNA fragment from the EBV gp220 (detection limit of 100 viral copies). All twenty-four whole blood samples yielded positive results by PCR, while 12 out of 24 serum samples were positive. We aimed at analyzing whether detection of EBV-DNA in serum samples by PCR was associated with overt disease as stated by the need of antiviral treatment and hospitalization. Statistical analysis showed agreement between the two parameters evidenced by the Kappa test (value 0.750; p < 0.001). We concluded that detection of EBV-DNA in serum samples of immunosuppressed patients might be used as a laboratory marker of active EBV disease when a Real-Time PCR or another quantitative method is not available.Vinte e quatro amostras de sangue total e de soro foram colhidas durante seguimento por 36 meses de criança de oito anos de idade, imunodeprimida devido a transplante cardíaco. O paciente apresentou VCA-IgG e IgM positivos e EBNA-IgG negativo aos cinco anos de idade quando foi diagnosticada mononucleose infecciosa. Quatorze meses depois o VCA-IgG e o EBNA-IgG eram positivos e o VCA-IgM negativo. Este padrão sorológico persiste desde aquela época mesmo durante episódios sugestivos de reativação. As amostras de sangue total e de soro foram analisadas pela Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) que amplificou fragmento oriundo da gp220 do EBV (detecção de 100 cópias virais). Todas as 24 amostras de sangue total e 12 amostras de soro foram positivas por PCR. Com o objetivo de verificar se a detecção de DNA do EBV em soro estaria associada à reativação da doença, os resultados de PCR foram analisados em relação à necessidade de hospitalização e uso de anti-viral. O teste de Kappa mostrou que existe concordância entre a presença de DNA do EBV em soro e a necessidade de hospitalização e tratamento com anti-virais (valor de 0,750; p < 0,001). Concluímos que a detecção de DNA do EBV em amostras de soro de pacientes imunosuprimidos poderia ser usada como marcador laboratorial de atividade da infecção quando técnicas quantitativas de amplificação não estiverem disponíveis

SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 disease: a mini review on diagnostic methods

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease initially reported in China and currently worldwide dispersed caused by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) affecting more than seven million people around the world causing more than 400 thousand deaths (on June 8th, 2020). The diagnosis of COVID-19 is based on the clinical and epidemiological history of the patient. However, the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis is the viral detection through the amplification of nucleic acids. Although the quantitative Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) has been described as the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19, there are several difficulties involving its use. Here we comment on RT-PCR and describe alternative tests developed for the diagnosis of COVID-19

Factors associated with hyperglycemia and low insulin levels in children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass who received a single high dose of methylprednisolone

OBJECTIVES: Administering steroids before cardiopulmonary bypass in pediatric heart surgery modulates systemic inflammatory response syndrome and improves postoperative recovery. However, the use of steroids aggravates hyperglycemia, which is associated with a poor prognosis. Adult patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome usually evolve with hyperglycemia and high insulin levels, whereas >;90% of pediatric patients exhibit hyperglycemia and low insulin levels. This study aims to determine: A) the metabolic and inflammatory factors that are associated with hyperglycemia and low insulin levels in children who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and who received a single high dose of methylprednisolone and B) the best predictors of insulin variation using a mathematical model. METHODS: This preliminary study recruited 20 children who underwent heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and received methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) immediately after anesthesia. Among the 20 patients initially recruited, one was excluded because of the absence of hyperglycemia and lower insulin levels after surgery. However, these abnormalities were confirmed in the remaining 19 children. The C-peptide, CRP, IL-6, and adrenomedullin levels were measured before surgery, immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass, and on the first, second, and third days after cardiac surgery. RESULTS: IL-6, CRP, and adrenomedullin increments were observed, whereas the C-peptide levels remained within reference intervals. CONCLUSION: The multiple regression model demonstrated that in addition to age and glycemia (two well-known factors that are directly involved in glucose metabolism), adrenomedullin and IL-6 levels were independent factors associated with lower insulin concentrations. These four parameters were responsible for 64.7% of the observed insulin variances. In addition, the fact that C-peptide levels did not fall together with insulin could have grounded the medical decision not to administer insulin to patients

Síndrome de Williams: proposta de sistema de pontuação para diagnóstico clínico

OBJECTIVE: To develop a scoring system based on clinical findings to assist pediatricians in the diagnosis of William syndrome and to delineate when the fluorescent in-situ hybridization test to detect the microdeletion at 7q11.23 may be needed. METHODS: The fluorescent in-situ hybridization test was performed on 20 patients presenting William syndrome suggestive clinical features. Eleven studies were selected from the literature in which there were 2 groups: patients with positive or negative fluorescent in-situ hybridization tests. Forty-two clinical characteristics were compared to those reported in the literature to determine which ones were associated with the affected patients (ie, bearing deletions) using meta-analysis. The 2-tailed Fisher exact test were used so that the frequency of findings observed in fluorescent in-situ hybridization positive and fluorescent in-situ hybridization negative patients could be compared in the present study together with the patients from the literature. We developed a scoring system based on clinical findings and their significant associations with patients with positive fluorescent in-situ hybridization tests. From themean and standard-deviation values of the data from our patients, we determined the cut-off score that that indicated the need for a fluorescent in-situ hybridization test to confirm diagnosis. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were fluorescent in-situ hybridization positive, and 3 were fluorescent in-situ hybridization negative. The more discriminative findings among fluorescent in-situ hybridization positive patients were the following: typical facies, low birth weight, feeding difficulties, constipation, supravalvar aortic stenosis, mental retardation, and friendly personality. The distribution of the points among the 20 patients ranged from 19 to 28 points with a mean value of 23.3 out of a possible total of 31 points. The cut-off score that indicated the need for a fluorescent in-situ hybridization test was 20. CONCLUSIONS: Our scoring system enables physicians to differentiate between those individuals who can be reliably diagnosed as having Williams syndrome solely from the clinical findings and those who need to undergo fluorescent in-situ hybridization testing for a correct diagnosis.OBJETIVOS: Desenvolver um sistema de pontuação (Score) baseado nos achados clínicos para auxiliar os pediatras no diagnóstico clínico da Síndrome de Williams-Beuren e na indicação do teste de hibridização in situ por fluorescência para detectar a microdeleção em 7q11.23. MÉTODOS: O teste de hibridização in situ por fluorescência foi feito em 20 acometidos pela Síndrome de Williams-Beuren, nos quais 42 achados clínicos foram estudados. Para estabelecer quais desses achados estariam associados ao teste de hibridização in situ por fluorescência positivo, realizou-se uma metanálise com 11 trabalhos da literatura em que havia dois grupos, hibridização in situ por fluorescência positivo e negativo. As freqüências dos achados presentes nos indivíduos fluorescência positivo e fluorescência negativo neste estudo foram comparadas em conjunto com os pacientes da literatura através do teste exato de Fisher. Elaboramos um sistema de pontuação (score) baseado nos achados que mostraram correlação significante (

Longitudinal study of Cystatin C in healthy term newborns

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of Cystatin C in healthy term newborns in the first month of life. INTRODUCTION: Cystatin C may be a suitable marker for determining the glomerular filtration rate because it is not affected by maternal renal function. METHODS: Cohort study. Inclusion: term newborns with appropriate weight; mother without renal failure or drugs that could affect fetal glomerular filtration rate. Exclusion: malformations; hypertension or any condition that could affect glomerular filtration rate. Cystatin C (mg/L)and creatinine (rng/dl) were determined in the mother (Mo) and in the newborn at birth (Day-0), 3rd (Day-3), 7th(Day-7) and 28t&gt;h(Day-28) days. Statistics: one way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation tests. Sample size of 20 subjects for a = 5% and a power test = 80% (p<0.05). RESULTS: Data from 21 newborns were obtained (mean + standard deviation): MoCystatin C=1.00 ± 0.20; Day-0 Cystatin C 1.70 ± 0.26; Day-3 Cystatin C = 1.51±0.20; Day-7 Cystatin C = 1.54 ± 0.10; Day-28 Cystatin C= 1.51±0.10. MoCystatin C was smaller than Day-0 Cystatin C (p<0.001), while MoCreatinine was not different from Day-0 Creatinine. Cystatin C only decreased from Day-0 to Day-3 (p = 0.004) but newborns Creatinine decreased along the time. Correlations were obtained between MoCystatin C and MoCreatinine (p = 0.012), as well as Day-3 (p = 0.047) and Day-28 (p = 0.022) Cystatin C and Creatinine values. CONCLUSION: Neonatal Cystatin C values were not affected by MoCystatin C and became stable from the 3rd day of life

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome: A Female Patient with a De Novo Reciprocal Translocation T(2; 16)(Q36.3; P13.3) and Dysgranulopoiesis

Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Hospital das ClinicasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of HematologyUNIFESP, Department of HematologySciEL

Assessment and comparison of bacterial load levels determined by quantitative amplifications in blood culture-positive and negative neonatal sepsis

Bacterial sepsis remains a major cause of mortality and blood cultures are the gold standard of laboratory diagnosis even though they lack sensitivity in neonates. Culturenegative sepsis, also known as clinical sepsis, has long been considered a diagnosis in neonatal intensive care units because, as well as culture-positive infants, culture-negative neonates have worse prognosis in comparison with non-infected ones. Quantitative amplifications are used to detect bacterial infections in neonates but results are considered only in a qualitative way (positive or negative). The aim of the present study was to determine and compare bacterial load levels in blood culture-positive and culture-negative neonatal sepsis. Seventy neonates with clinical and laboratory evidence of infection admitted at three neonatal intensive care units were classified as blood culture-positive or culture-negative. Blood samples obtained at the same time of blood cultures had bacterial load levels assessed through a 16S rDNA qPCR. Blood cultures were positive in 29 cases (41.4%) and qPCR in 64 (91.4%). In the 29 culture-positive cases, 100% were also positive by qPCR, while in the 41 culture-negative cases, 35 (85.4%) were positive by qPCR. Bacterial load levels were in general &lt; 50 CFU/mL, but were significantly higher in culture-positive cases (Mann-Whitney, p = 0.013), although clinical and laboratory findings were similar, excepting for deaths. In conclusion, the present study has shown that blood culture-negative neonates have lower bacteria load levels in their bloodstream when compared to blood culture-positive infants