Temporal Validation of a Predictive Score for Death in Children with Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Objectives: To perform a temporal validation of a predictive model for death in children with visceral leishmaniasis (VL).

Methods: A temporal validation of a children-exclusive predictive model of death due to VL (Sampaio et al. 2010 model), using a retrospective cohort, hereby called validation cohort.

Pushing/bearing down methods for the second stage of labour.

Background: Maternal pushing during the second stage of labour is an important and indispensable contributor to the involuntary expulsive force developed by uterine contraction. There is no consensus on an ideal strategy to facilitate these expulsive efforts and there are contradictory results about the influence on the mother and fetus.

Objectives: To evaluate the benefits and possible disadvantages of different kinds of techniques regarding maternal pushing/breathing during the expulsive stage of labour on maternal and fetal outcomes.

Risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia in children under five years of age in the post-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era in Brazil: a case control study.

Background: Pneumonia plays an important role in children's morbidity and mortality. In Brazil, epidemiological and social changes occurred concomitantly with the universal introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. This study identified risk factors for pneumonia following the implementation of a pneumococcal vaccination program.

Serological statuses of pregnant women in an urban Brazilian population before and after the 2008 rubella immunization campaign.

Background: Vaccinating populations against rubella aims to mitigate viral circulation and to ensure that women of childbearing age are immunized to reduce the incidence of congenital rubella syndrome. This study determined the serological statuses of pregnant women in an urban Brazilian population before and after the national rubella immunization campaign that was undertaken in 2008, and it assessed the socio-demographic factors associated with seronegativity.

Methods: Pregnant women living in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, who participated in a municipal prenatal screening program that involved blood tests for rubella, were assessed between June 2007 and May 2012.

Pushing/bearing down methods for the second stage of labour.

Background: Maternal pushing during the second stage of labour is an important and indispensable contributor to the involuntary expulsive force developed by uterus contraction. Currently, there is no consensus on an ideal strategy to facilitate these expulsive efforts and there are contradictory results about the influence on mother and fetus.

Objectives: To evaluate the benefits and possible disadvantages of different kinds of techniques regarding maternal pushing/breathing during the expulsive stage of labour on maternal and fetal outcomes.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of severe community-acquired pneumonia in children after introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine.

Background: Pneumonia is an important cause of morbimortality in Brazil, despite the extensive vaccination coverage and the socioeconomic improvement in the past years.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of severe community-acquired pneumonia in children after the introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10).

Methods: A prospective study included children <5 years old hospitalized for pneumonia between October 2010 and September 2013 in a tertiary hospital.

Prevalence of syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and human T-lymphotropic virus infections and coinfections during prenatal screening in an urban Northeastern Brazilian population.

Objectives: To evaluate prevalences of Treponema pallidum, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections and coinfections during prenatal screening in an urban Northeastern Brazilian population through a large dataset.

Methods: Secondary data were obtained from the Maceió (Alagoas, Brazil) municipal prenatal screening program from June 2007 to May 2012. Dried blood serum tests from 54,813 pregnant women were examined to determine prevalences of T.

Reduction in Rotavirus Disease and Sustained Predominance of G2P[4] Rotavirus Strain following Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine in Recife, Brazil.

Rotavirus vaccination was introduced in Brazil in March 2006. We describe the distribution of rotavirus genotypes in children with acute gastroenteritis in a hospital in Recife, Brazil, during pre- and post-vaccination periods. There was a 43.

Knowledge about prevention and management of acute diarrhoea among caregivers of children aged under 5 years treated at an emergency department in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Background: The World Health Organization stresses the need for training families in the adequate management of acute diarrhoea to reduce child mortality and morbidity. This study analysed caregiver knowledge about diarrhoea prevention and management in north-east Brazil.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 213 children aged under 5 years treated at a public emergency department in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Interferon gamma-induced protein-10 concentrations in children with previous tuberculosis infections and disease.

Interferon gamma-induced protein-10 is a diagnostic test for tuberculosis infection. There is no information on its concentrations over time. Interferon gamma-induced protein-10 was evaluated in 72 children formerly treated or in former contact with tuberculosis using Quantiferon Gold in-tube.

Do pacifiers increase the risk of nosocomial diarrhoea? A cohort study.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Teaching paediatric hospital-Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, Northeast Brazil.

The impact of the H1N1 influenza pandemic on clinical presentations and viral epidemiology of acute respiratory infection in preschool children in Brazil.

We assessed the impact of the H1N1 influenza pandemic on acute respiratory infection in young children from low-income families in Brazil. Influenza (specifically H1N1) detection in acute respiratory infection quintupled during the pandemic and, during its peak, it was associated with 30% of all acute respiratory infection visits to the emergency department. H1N1 was also associated with increased risk of hospitalization and coinfection.

Risk factors for acute chest syndrome in patients from low socioeconomic background: a cohort study from Sergipe, Brazil.

A prospective cohort study to assess the risk factors for acute chest syndrome (ACS) in individuals with sickle cell disease was carried out in a referral center from Sergipe, Brazil. A total of 168 SS homozygotic individuals (ages between 12 wk and 26 y) were followed for 12 months. There were 134 admissions of 81 patients.

Risk factors for acute chest syndrome in patients from low socioeconomic background: a cohort study from Sergipe, Brazil.

A prospective cohort study to assess the risk factors for acute chest syndrome (ACS) in individuals with sickle cell disease was carried out in a referral center from Sergipe, Brazil. A total of 168 SS homozygotic individuals (ages between 12 wk and 26 y) were followed for 12 months. There were 134 admissions of 81 patients.

Obesity patterns among women in a slum area in Brazil.

High-energy diet and sedentary lifestyle fail to completely explain the epidemic of obesity in developing countries. In this cross-sectional survey, the prevalence and patterns of overweight/obesity were assessed among women in a slum in Brazil. Using anthropometric measurements, shorter form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and a 24-hour diet recall questionnaire, data were collected from 632 women aged 20-60 years.

Impact of rotavirus vaccination on diarrhoea mortality and hospital admissions in Brazil.

Objective: To analyse the data reported by the national surveillance system of Brazil, including data on diarrhoea mortality and hospital admissions before and after rotavirus vaccine introduction, and evaluate the impact of its widespread use under operational conditions.

Method: Retrospective analysis of routinely collected data was reported by several surveillance systems of Brazil, comprising an 8-year period of all diarrhoea-related hospitalisations and deaths in children <5 years old (2002-2009). Linear regressions were used to compare trends of diarrhoea hospitalisations and deaths before and after vaccine introduction (2002-2005 vs.

Viral and atypical bacterial detection in acute respiratory infection in children under five years.

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. This study aimed to determine the viral and atypical bacterial causes of different severities and clinical manifestations of ARI in preschool children from low-income families in North-East Brazil.

Methods: Clinical/demographic data and nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were prospectively collected from children <5 years presenting with ARI over one year to a paediatric A&E department.

Incidence and risk factors for health care-associated pneumonia in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and risk factors for health care-associated pneumonia in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit with 16 medical and surgical beds in a tertiary teaching hospital in Recife, northeast Brazil.

Effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids in reducing respiratory disorders in late preterm infants: randomised clinical trial.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of corticosteroids in reducing respiratory disorders in infants born at 34-36 weeks' gestation. Design Randomised triple blind clinical trial. Setting A large tertiary teaching hospital in northeast of Brazil.

Using the full spectral capacity (six channels) of a real-time PCR instrument can simplify diagnostic laboratory screening and typing protocols for pandemic H1N1 influenza.

Background: Timely reporting of influenza A virus subtype affects patient management. Real-time PCR is a rapid and sensitive method routinely used to characterise viral nucleic acid, but the full spectral capability of the instruments is not employed.

Objectives: To evaluate a hexaplex real-time PCR assay (Flu-6plx assay) capable of detecting influenza A and B, hMPV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and distinguishing 2008 'human' influenza A/H1 from 2009 pandemic A/H1 subtypes.

Risk factors for death in children with visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: Despite the major public health importance of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Latin America, well-designed studies to inform diagnosis, treatment and control interventions are scarce. Few observational studies address prognostic assessment in patients with VL. This study aimed to identify risk factors for death in children aged less than 15 years admitted for VL treatment in a referral center in northeast Brazil.

Agreement on radiological diagnosis of acute lower respiratory tract infection in children.

Chest radiographs are often used to support the decision to use antibiotics in children aged <5 years with moderate to severe lower acute respiratory infection (ARI). This study aimed to evaluate inter-observer agreement in the interpretation of chest radiographs of children with suspected lower ARI. Three experienced paediatric sub-specialists: a radiologist, an intensivist and a pulmonologist were provided with basic clinical information on each of 48 cases, but the individual standardized evaluations were blinded for clinical diagnoses and for the assessment by the other two specialists.

Risk factors for healthcare-associated infection in pediatric intensive care units: a systematic review.

A systematic review of observational studies on risk factors for healthcare-associated infection in pediatric Intensive Care Units (ICU) was carried out. Studies indexed in MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane, BDENF, CAPES databases published in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese between 1987 and 2006 were included and cross references added. Key words for search were 'cross infection' and 'Pediatric Intensive Care Units' with others sub-terms included.

Effectiveness of monovalent rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) against severe diarrhea caused by serotypically unrelated G2P[4] strains in Brazil.

BACKGROUND. In a Latin American trial, a monovalent G1P[8] rotavirus vaccine showed high efficacy against severe rotavirus diarrhea. Protection was lower against serotypically unrelated G2P[4] strains, which circulated infrequently.