The burden of norovirus disease in children: a multi-country study in Chile, Brazil, Thailand and the Philippines.

Background: Noroviruses (NoVs) cause acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide, affecting children in particular. We aimed to estimate the burden of disease due to NoV among children aged <6 years in Brazil, Chile, Philippines and Thailand.

Methods: This was a prospective, hospital-based, observational study.

Repeated exposure to an MF-59 adjuvanted quadrivalent subunit influenza vaccine (aQIV) in children: Results of two revaccination studies.

Background: Pediatric adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccines induce higher immune responses and have the potential to confer better protection against influenza among young vaccine-naïve children. Limited data describe benefits and risks of repeated administration of adjuvanted influenza vaccines in children. Two revaccination studies assess the safety and immunogenicity of repeated exposure to an MF59-adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aQIV; Fluad®) compared to routine non-adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV).

The Pattern of Adipose Tissue Accumulation during Early Infancy Provides an Environment for the Development of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.

Background: Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral illness in humans with half of the world's population at risk. During early infancy, severe dengue can develop after a primary dengue virus infection. There has been a clinical observation that severe dengue during the first year of life is seen only in chubby infants.

Molecular epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis in the Philippines in 2012-2014.

Objectives: The present study was designed to determine the genotypes of circulating Bordetella pertussis in the Philippines by direct molecular typing of clinical specimens.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) were collected from 50 children hospitalized with pertussis in three hospitals during 2012-2014. Multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) was performed on the DNA extracts from NPSs.

Influenza virus infections in the tropics during the first year of life.

Pediatric influenza virus infections in the tropics, particularly during infancy, are not well described. We identified influenza virus infections among infants with non-dengue acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines, as part of an ongoing clinical study of dengue virus infections during infancy. We found that 31% of infants with non-dengue acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines, had influenza virus infections.

Longitudinal growth and health outcomes in nutritionally at-risk children who received long-term nutritional intervention.

Background: The benefits of short-term oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) in undernourished children are well-established. The benefits of long-term ONS in promoting longitudinal growth and health in children who are at risk of undernutrition have not been reported previously.

Methods: In this 48-week prospective, single-arm, multicentre trial, 200 Filipino children aged 3-4 years with weight-for-height percentiles from 5th to 25th (WHO Child Growth Standards) were enrolled.

Anti-dengue virus envelope protein domain III IgG ELISA among infants with primary dengue virus infections.

Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral illness in humans. The current gold standard serologic test for dengue virus (DENV) infection is a neutralizing antibody assay. We examined a DENV recombinant (r)E protein domain III IgG ELISA among infants with primary DENV infections.

Circulating levels of soluble MICB in infants with symptomatic primary dengue virus infections.

Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral illness in humans. A MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was previously associated with symptomatic dengue compared to non-dengue causes of acute febrile illnesses in infants. We measured circulating levels of soluble (s)MICB in the sera of infants with symptomatic primary dengue virus infections.

Neonatal BCG vaccination is associated with enhanced T-helper 1 immune responses to heterologous infant vaccines.

Neonatal Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccination has been reported to have beneficial effects beyond preventing infantile tuberculous meningitis and miliary disease. We hypothesized that BCG vaccine given at birth would enhance T-helper 1 (Th1) immune responses to the first vaccines given later in infancy. We conducted a nested case-control study of neonatal BCG vaccination and its heterologous Th1 immune effects in 2-3 months old infants.

Low adiposity during early infancy is associated with a low risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever: a preliminary model.

Dengue virus (DENV) infections range from asymptomatic or mild illness to a severe and potentially life threatening disease, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF occurs in primary DENV infections during early infancy. A prospective clinical study of DENV infections during infancy was conducted in San Pablo, Philippines.

Breastfeeding During Early Infancy is Associated with a Lower Incidence of Febrile Illnesses.

Human breast milk is known to contain immunoprotective, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory agents. In a prospective clinical study of dengue virus infections during infancy, we examined the correlation between breastfeeding and the development of febrile illnesses in an infant population. We found that breastfeeding status and the frequency of breastfeeding during early infancy was associated with a lower incidence of febrile illnesses.

Breastfeeding During Early Infancy is Associated with Higher Weight-Based World Health Organization Anthropometry.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Physical Status: The Use and Interpretation of Anthropometry established reference anthropometric standards for the growth of healthy infants and children. As part of a prospective clinical study of dengue virus infections in infants, we measured the length and weight of healthy infants in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines at two scheduled study visits. We examined the correlation between breastfeeding and WHO anthropometric z scores during early infancy in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines.

Findings from a hepatitis B birth dose assessment in health facilities in the Philippines: opportunities to engage the private sector.

Background: Hepatitis B vaccination in the Philippines was introduced in 1992 to reduce the high burden of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the population; in 2007, a birth dose (HepB-BD) was introduced to decrease perinatal HBV transmission. Timely HepB-BD coverage, defined as doses given within 24h of birth, was 40% nationally in 2011. A first step in improving timely HepB-BD coverage is to ensure that all newborns born in health facilities are vaccinated.

Toll-like receptor induced pro-interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 in monocytes are lower in healthy infants compared to adults.

Infants have long been known to have higher infectious diseases morbidity and mortality and suboptimal vaccination responses compared to older children and adults. A variety of differences in innate and adaptive immune responses have been described between these two groups. We compared Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced production of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α between 2-month-old infants and adults.

Live-attenuated, tetravalent dengue vaccine in children, adolescents and adults in a dengue endemic country: randomized controlled phase I trial in the Philippines.

A recombinant live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine (TDV) is safe and immunogenic in adults and children in dengue-naïve populations. Data are needed in dengue endemic populations. In a phase I, randomized, controlled, blind-observer study in the Philippines, groups of participants aged 2-5, 6-11, 12-17, and 18-45 years received either three TDV vaccinations at months 0, 3.

Effect of an α-lactalbumin-enriched infant formula with lower protein on growth.

Background/objectives: Protein concentration is lower in human milk (HM) than in infant formula. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an α-lactalbumin-enriched formula with a lower protein concentration on infant growth, protein markers and biochemistries.

Subjects/methods: Healthy term formula-fed (FF) infants 5-14 days old were randomized in this controlled, double-blind trial to standard formula (SF: 14.

Lutein-fortified infant formula fed to healthy term infants: evaluation of growth effects and safety.

Background/objectives: Breast milk contains lutein derived from the mother's diet. This carotenoid is currently not added to infant formula, which has a small and variable lutein content from innate ingredients. This study was conducted to compare the growth of infants fed lutein-fortified infant formula with that of infants fed infant formula without lutein fortification.

The incidence, characteristics, and presentation of dengue virus infections during infancy.

Infants are a vulnerable and unique population at risk for dengue in endemic areas. This report describes the incidence and presenting clinical features of infant dengue virus (DENV) infections from a prospective community-based study performed between January 2007 and May 2009 in the Philippines. DENV3 was the predominant infecting serotype over a wide spectrum of disease severity, ranging from inapparent infection to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

A prospective nested case-control study of Dengue in infants: rethinking and refining the antibody-dependent enhancement dengue hemorrhagic fever model.

Background: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is the severe and life-threatening syndrome that can develop after infection with any one of the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes. DHF occurs almost exclusively in individuals with secondary heterologous DENV infections and infants with primary DENV infections born to dengue immune mothers. The widely accepted explanation for the pathogenesis of DHF in these settings, particularly during infancy, is antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of DENV infection.

Pneumonia in childhood: etiology and response to antimicrobial therapy.

A prospective eight-month study was carried out in 50 children admitted to hospital for radiologically confirmed community-acquired pneumonia. A potential causative agent of infection was identified in 44 (88%) cases. Using virus isolation, virus antigen detection and enzyme immunoassay serology, respiratory virus infection was diagnosed in 30 (60%) patients.