Publications by authors named "Laura Zambrano"

Importance: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an uncommon but severe hyperinflammatory illness that occurs 2 to 6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Presentation overlaps with other conditions, and risk factors for severity differ by patient. Characterizing patterns of MIS-C presentation can guide efforts to reduce misclassification, categorize phenotypes, and identify patients at risk for severe outcomes.

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Background: Pediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) commonly requires hospitalization. The Clinical Progression Scale Pediatrics (CPS-Ped) measures level of respiratory support and degree of hypoxia across a range of disease severity, but it has not been applied in infants hospitalized with severe RSV-LRTI.

Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective surveillance registry of infants hospitalized for RSV-related complications across 39 U.

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During 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunizations intended for widespread use in the United States to prevent severe RSV illness in infants and older adults. CDC, in collaboration with federal, public health, and academic partners, is conducting evaluations of real-world effectiveness of recommended RSV immunization products in the United States. Similar frameworks for evaluation are being applied to RSV vaccines and nirsevimab, a long-acting preventative monoclonal antibody, to estimate product effectiveness.

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Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a severe, post-infectious sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet the pathophysiological mechanism connecting the infection to the broad inflammatory syndrome remains unknown. Here we leveraged a large set of samples from patients with MIS-C to identify a distinct set of host proteins targeted by patient autoantibodies including a particular autoreactive epitope within SNX8, a protein involved in regulating an antiviral pathway associated with MIS-C pathogenesis. In parallel, we also probed antibody responses from patients with MIS-C to the complete SARS-CoV-2 proteome and found enriched reactivity against a distinct domain of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein.

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Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in pregnancy is associated with severe abnormalities of the brain and eye and other adverse outcomes. Zika en Embarazadas y Niños was a prospective cohort study conducted in multiple Colombian cities that enrolled pregnant women in their first trimester. Specimens collected from pregnant women (n = 1,519) during February 2017-September 2018 and their infants (n = 1,080) during June 2017-March 2019 were tested for prenatal ZIKV infection by nucleic acid amplification tests or IgM antibody testing.

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Problem/condition: Dengue is the most prevalent mosquitoborne viral illness worldwide and is endemic in Puerto Rico. Dengue's clinical spectrum can range from mild, undifferentiated febrile illness to hemorrhagic manifestations, shock, multiorgan failure, and death in severe cases. The disease presentation is nonspecific; therefore, various other illnesses (e.

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Pediatric COVID-19 vaccination is effective in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalization, but duration of protection of the original monovalent vaccine during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron predominance merits evaluation, particularly given low coverage with updated COVID-19 vaccines. During December 19, 2021-October 29, 2023, the Overcoming COVID-19 Network evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of ≥2 original monovalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses against COVID-19-related hospitalization and critical illness among U.S.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study investigated the impact of pre-existing immunocompromising conditions (ICCs) on pediatric patients with acute COVID-19 admitted to intensive care across 55 hospitals in the U.S.!
  • Out of 1,274 patients, 105 had ICCs, which were linked to higher in-hospital mortality (11.4% vs. 4.6%) and longer hospital stays, although initial disease severity was similar between those with and without ICCs.!
  • Despite the challenges, most patients with ICCs survived and left the hospital without new severe health issues, highlighting a positive aspect of the outcomes for these vulnerable patients.!
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Article Synopsis
  • A study analyzed the clinical characteristics and vaccination status of young children hospitalized for acute COVID-19 across 28 pediatric hospitals in the U.S. from September 2022 to May 2023.
  • Of the 597 children examined, only 4.5% had completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination series, while 7.0% had started but not completed it, with the majority being unvaccinated.
  • Most children admitted with severe COVID-19, including those requiring intensive care, were previously healthy and had not initiated vaccination, highlighting a concerning gap in immunization among vaccine-eligible young kids.
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Objective: To identify risk factors for persistent impairments after pediatric hospitalization for acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Methods: Across 25 U.S.

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Article Synopsis
  • Infants under 6 months are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, but maternal vaccination during pregnancy can help protect these infants from being hospitalized due to COVID-19.
  • A study found that vaccinated mothers showed a 35% effectiveness in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalizations in infants under 6 months and 54% for those under 3 months.
  • Vaccinated mothers had lower rates of severe outcomes for their infants, such as intensive care unit admissions and the need for mechanical ventilation, highlighting the importance of vaccination for expectant mothers.*
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We analyzed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children cases by reported COVID-19 vaccination status (2-dose primary series vs. no vaccination). A total of 46% vaccinated versus 58% unvaccinated persons received intensive care unit-level care ( P = 0.

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Importance: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and infant hospitalization worldwide.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of RSV-related critical illness in US infants during peak 2022 RSV transmission.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used a public health prospective surveillance registry in 39 pediatric hospitals across 27 US states.

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Importance: Acute neurological involvement occurs in some patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), but few data report neurological and psychological sequelae, and no investigations include direct assessments of cognitive function 6 to 12 months after discharge.

Objective: To characterize neurological, psychological, and quality of life sequelae after MIS-C.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional cohort study was conducted in the US and Canada.

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Background: In a 2020 pilot case-control study using medical records, we reported that non-Hispanic Black children were more likely to develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and underlying medical conditions. Using structured interviews, we investigated patient, household, and community factors underlying MIS-C likelihood.

Methods: MIS-C case patients hospitalized in 2021 across 14 US pediatric hospitals were matched by age and site to outpatient controls testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within 3 months of the admission date.

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Objectives: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used successfully to support adults with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related cardiac or respiratory failure refractory to conventional therapies. Comprehensive reports of children and adolescents with SARS-CoV-2-related ECMO support for conditions, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and acute COVID-19, are needed.

Design: Case series of patients from the Overcoming COVID-19 public health surveillance registry.

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Objective: Evidence regarding effectiveness of interleukin-1 receptor antagonism in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is lacking. We characterized variation in initial treatment with anakinra and evaluated cardiovascular outcomes associated with adding anakinra to standard initial therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of MIS-C cases in a US surveillance registry from November 2020 to December 2021.

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We describe characteristics, clinical features and outcomes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons compared with non-Hispanic white persons. AI/AN patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children were younger, more often obese, and from areas of higher social vulnerability. A greater proportion of AI/AN patients had severe respiratory involvement and shock.

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This Report Summarizes The Evidence And Rationale Supporting The Components Of The Cste/cdc Mis-c Surveillance Case Definition And Describes The Methods Used To Develop The Definition. These Methods Included Convening Mis-c Clinical Experts (i.e.

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Background: Autoantibodies against type I IFNs occur in approximately 10% of adults with life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The frequency of anti-IFN autoantibodies in children with severe sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is unknown.

Objective: We quantified anti-type I IFN autoantibodies in a multicenter cohort of children with severe COVID-19, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections.

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Importance: Minimal data are available regarding the postdischarge treatment of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Objectives: To evaluate clinical characteristics associated with duration of postdischarge glucocorticoid use and assess postdischarge clinical course, laboratory test result trajectories, and adverse events in a multicenter cohort with MIS-C.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study included patients with MIS-C hospitalized with severe illness and followed up for 3 months in an ambulatory setting.

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Importance: In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, neurologic involvement was common in children and adolescents hospitalized in the United States for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related complications.

Objective: To provide an update on the spectrum of SARS-CoV-2-related neurologic involvement among children and adolescents in 2021.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Case series investigation of patients reported to public health surveillance hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2-related illness between December 15, 2020, and December 31, 2021, in 55 US hospitals in 31 states with follow-up at hospital discharge.

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Background Cardiac complications related to COVID-19 in children and adolescents include ventricular dysfunction, myocarditis, coronary artery aneurysm, and bradyarrhythmias, but tachyarrhythmias are less understood. The goal of this study was to evaluate the frequency, characteristics, and outcomes of children and adolescents experiencing tachyarrhythmias while hospitalized for acute severe COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Methods and Results This study involved a case series of 63 patients with tachyarrhythmias reported in a public health surveillance registry of patients aged <21 years hospitalized from March 15, 2020, to December 31, 2021, at 63 US hospitals.

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Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a postinfectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related complication that has disproportionately affected racial/ethnic minority children. We conducted a pilot study to investigate risk factors for MIS-C aiming to understand MIS-C disparities.

Methods: This case-control study included MIS-C cases and SARS-CoV-2-positive outpatient controls less than 18 years old frequency-matched 4:1 to cases by age group and site.

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