Comparison of two interferon-gamma release assays for pediatric tuberculosis infection.

Introduction: Identifying tuberculosis infection (TBI) using interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) is a primary component of clinical and public health efforts to prevent pediatric tuberculosis. Pediatric data comparing the two IGRAs in the United States are very limited. We compared the performance of the two IGRAs among a large pediatric cohort tested for TBI and assessed whether discordance might be due to quantitative results close to test cut-off values.

Reviving the Critically Ill: Exploring Effective Fluid Resuscitation Approaches for Diverse Hypovolemic Shock Cases-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The present study was performed to investigate the efficacy of different resuscitation fluids in critically ill patients presenting any type of hypovolemic shock.

Methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for randomized trials published in English from January 1990 to August 2023. The risk of bias and methodological quality assessment was performed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool embedded within the Review Manager software (RevMan 5.

Eccrine Chromhidrosis and Bilioptysis in Type 1 Autoimmune Pancreatitis.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare form of pancreatitis. This case report focuses on type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP-1), an immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease. It is characterized by dense infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells, primarily in a periductal distribution.

[Syncope : updates in primary care medicine].

Syncope is a common reason for consultations and hospitali-zations. A diagnosis is established in 50 % of cases with the initial assessment. It can also be used to stratify the risk of cardiovascular events or recurrence, and their potentially fatal consequences.

Case report: Dysphagia aortica.

Dysphagia, characterized by abnormal swallowing, presents as oropharyngeal or esophageal dysphagia. Dysphagia aortica, a rare manifestation, results from external aortic compression, leading to swallowing difficulties. Limited literature exists on this condition.

Universal versus targeted treatment of neonatal herpes simplex virus among neonates presenting for sepsis evaluations.

Purpose Of Review: The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published guidance for the evaluation and management of febrile infants. However, guidance on testing and empiric treatment for neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) remains less standardized and subject to clinical practice variation.

Recent Findings: Recent reports reveal that high numbers of infants presenting for sepsis evaluations need to be treated empirically with acyclovir to capture one case of neonatal HSV.

Remdesivir for COVID-19 in Hospitalized Children: A Phase 2/3 Study.

Objectives: Remdesivir decreases the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection progressing to severe disease in adults. This study evaluated remdesivir safety and pharmacokinetics in infants and children.

Methods: This was a phase 2/3, open-label trial in children aged 28 days to 17 years hospitalized for polymerase chain reaction-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Association of social vulnerability index and masking adherence among children enrolled in COVID-19 community research partnership study.

Background: Individuals with high social vulnerability index (SVI) have poorer outcomes with COVID-19. Masking reduces transmission of COVID-19 among children, but how SVI plays a role in masking behavior is unknown. We aimed to measure the association of SVI with masking adherence among children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Retraction: Colonic Angiolipoma: An Extremely Rare Tumor Clinically Masquerading as Acute Appendicitis.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20659.

Cost-effectiveness of two online interventions supporting self-care for eczema for parents/carers and young people.

Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of online behavioral interventions (EczemaCareOnline.org.uk) designed to support eczema self-care management for parents/carers and young people from an NHS perspective.

Persistence of antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines among participants in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership.

Introduction: High levels of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in the community correlate with protection from COVID-19 illness. Measuring COVID-19 antibody seroprevalence and persistence may elucidate the level and length of protection afforded by vaccination and infection within a population.

Methods: We measured the duration of detectable anti-spike antibodies following COVID-19 vaccination in a multistate, longitudinal cohort study of almost 13,000 adults who completed daily surveys and submitted monthly dried blood spots collected at home.

Use of Interferon-Gamma Release Assays in Children <2 Years Old.

While interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are widely used for detecting tuberculosis (TB) infection, tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) remain preferred for children under the age of 2 years. The preference for TST stems from concern over IGRA sensitivity in young children. However, TSTs are susceptible to false-positive results following Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, which is common in infancy, and exposure to nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Examining Test Cutoffs to Optimize Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in People Born Outside the United States.

Detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in persons born in high tuberculosis (TB) incidence countries living in low TB incidence countries is key to TB elimination in low-incidence countries. Optimizing LTBI tests is critical to targeting treatment. To compare the sensitivity and specificity of tuberculin skin test (TST) and two interferon-γ release assays at different cutoffs and of a single test versus dual testing.

Characterisation of infection-induced SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence amongst children and adolescents in North Carolina.

Few prospective studies have documented the seropositivity among those children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. From 2 April 2021 to 24 June 2021, we prospectively enrolled children between the ages of 2 and 17 years at three North Carolina healthcare systems. Participants received at least four at-home serological tests detecting the presence of antibodies against, but not differentiating between, the nucleocapsid or spike antigen.

'Eczema shouldn't control you; you should control eczema': qualitative process evaluation of online behavioural interventions to support young people and parents/carers of children with eczema.

Background: There is a lack of well-conducted randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of theory-based online interventions for eczema. To address these deficiencies, we previously developed and demonstrated the effectiveness of two online behavioural interventions: Eczema Care Online for parents/carers of children with eczema, and Eczema Care Online for young people with eczema.

Objectives: To explore the views and experiences of people who have used the Eczema Care Online interventions to provide insights into how the interventions worked and identify contextual factors that may impede users' engagement with the interventions.

Eczema Care Online behavioural interventions to support self-care for children and young people: two independent, pragmatic, randomised controlled trials.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of two online behavioural interventions, one for parents and carers and one for young people, to support eczema self-management.

Design: Two independent, pragmatic, parallel group, unmasked, randomised controlled trials.

Setting: 98 general practices in England.

Infrastructure to Support Accrual of Older Adults to National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials.

As part of ongoing efforts to meaningfully improve recruitment, enrollment, and accrual of older adults into cancer clinical trials, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored a workshop with experts across the country entitled Engaging Older Adults in the NCI Clinical Trials Network: Challenges and Opportunities. Three working groups, including Study Design, Infrastructure, and Stakeholders, were formed, who worked together to offer synergistic improvements in the system. Here, we summarize the workshop discussions of the Infrastructure Working Group, whose goal was to address infrastructural challenges, identify underlying resources, and offer solutions to facilitate accrual of older adults into cancer clinical trials.

Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infections after Vaccination in North Carolina.

We characterize the overall incidence and risk factors for breakthrough infection among fully vaccinated participants in the North Carolina COVID-19 Community Research Partnership cohort. Among 15,808 eligible participants, 638 reported a positive SARS-CoV-2 test after vaccination. Factors associated with a lower risk of breakthrough in the time-to-event analysis included older age, prior SARS-CovV-2 infection, higher rates of face mask use, and receipt of a booster vaccination.

Intracranial hemorrhage with concurrent aortic dissection.

Aortic dissection is a rare yet lethal condition that is often missed. Presenting symptoms often include chest pain, abdominal pain, or loss of consciousness. Rarely is it asymptomatic, and the concurring symptoms may draw attention away from the dissection.

Feasibility of At-Home Virological and Serological Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Children.

Longitudinal virological and serological surveillance is essential for understanding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) transmission among children but requires increased test capacity. We assessed the uptake of serial at-home testing in children (2-17 years) via mailed SARS-CoV-2 antibody and molecular tests. Completion rates demonstrated the feasibility and sustainability of at-home testing across age groups.