Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteremia in Pediatric Patients in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Data on the health impact of carbapenem-resistant bloodstream infections (CRE-BSIs) in pediatric populations from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are limited. This systematic review aims to examine the demographic, clinical, and microbiological aspects and resource utilization of this infection in children from this region. This systematic review investigates the impact of CRE-BSIs in pediatric populations across LAC.

Childhood severe asthma: relationship among asthma control scores, FeNO, spirometry and impulse oscillometry.

Introduction: The evaluation of the asthmatic patient is usually based on clinical and functional parameters that do not necessarily evidence the degree of airway inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyze whether clinical scores (CS) correlate with spirometry (S), impulse oscillometry (IO) and FeNO, in severe asthmatic children.

Material And Methods: A multicentric, prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted over a 12-month period.

Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, causing bacteremic pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, and other invasive pneumococcal diseases. Evidence supports nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage as a reservoir for transmission and precursor of pneumococcal disease.

Objectives: To estimate the pneumococcal nasopharyngeal burden in all age groups in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) before, during, and after the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine conjugate (PVC).

Antimicrobial resistance of from invasive pneumococcal diseases in Latin American countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease has declined since pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). However, serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns have changed.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the frequency of antimicrobial resistance of from invasive disease in LAC.

Adherence to PKU guidelines among patients with phenylketonuria: A cross-sectional national multicenter survey-based study in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

Objective: To characterize adherence to Phenylketonuria (PKU) management practices among PKU patients treated at reference sites around Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, multicenter, and multinational survey-based study using aggregate data. From an initial list of 40 sites, 22 clinicians expressed interest in completing the survey, with 20 clinicians from 20 unique sites fulfilling all the study criteria.

Ultrasound attenuation imaging: a reproducible alternative for the noninvasive quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis in children.

Background: Pediatric hepatic steatosis is a global public health concern, as an increasing number of children are affected by this condition. Liver biopsy is the gold standard diagnostic method; however, this procedure is invasive. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived proton density fat fraction has been accepted as an alternative to biopsy.

Automated identification of cell populations in flow cytometry data with transformers.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent hematologic malignancy in children and adolescents. A strong prognostic factor in ALL is given by the Minimal Residual Disease (MRD), which is a measure for the number of leukemic cells persistent in a patient. Manual MRD assessment from Multiparameter Flow Cytometry (FCM) data after treatment is time-consuming and subjective.

[Efficacy and safety of empirical treatment with piperacillin/tazobactan as monotherapy in episodes of neutropenia and fever in children with cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis].

Background: Febrile neutropenia in children with onco-hematological diseases is an important cause of morbidity and mortality and requires early and adequate empirical treatment. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate if piperacillin/ tazobactan (PTZ) monotherapy leads to a lower incidence of therapeutic failures than comparators.

Methods: A literature search was carried out in Embase, and MEDLINE databases using the search terms ('febrile neutropenia' OR hemato oncology OR haemato oncology OR 'immunocompromised host' OR 'immunocompromised patient' OR 'chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia') AND (piperacillin OR tazobactam OR 'piperacillin plus tazobactam' OR 'piperacillin/tazobactam' OR 'piperacillin-tazobactam' OR tazocin OR 'piperacillin-tazobactam drug combination')), Efficacy endpoint was treatment failure rate.

HLA diversity in the Argentinian Umbilical Cord Blood Bank: frequencies according to donor's reported ancestry and geographical distribution.

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a suitable source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The study of HLA genes by next generation sequencing is commonly used in transplants. Donor/patient HLA matching is often higher within groups of common ancestry, however "Hispanic" is a broad category that fails to represent Argentina's complex genetic admixture.

Automated Flow Cytometric MRD Assessment in Childhood Acute B- Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using Supervised Machine Learning.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) as measured by multiparameter flow cytometry (FCM) is an independent and strong prognostic factor in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). However, reliable flow cytometric detection of MRD strongly depends on operator skills and expert knowledge. Hence, an objective, automated tool for reliable FCM-MRD quantification, able to overcome the technical diversity and analytical subjectivity, would be most helpful.

Female-to-male sex reversal associated with unique Xp21.2 deletion disrupting genomic regulatory architecture of the dosage-sensitive sex reversal region.

Background: The XX male disorder of sex development (DSD) is a rare condition that is most commonly associated with the presence of the gene on one of the X chromosomes due to unequal crossing-over between sex chromosomes during spermatogenesis. However, in about 20% of the XX male individuals, is missing, although these persons have at least some testis differentiation. The genetic basis of genital ambiguity and the mechanisms triggering testis development in such patients remain unknown.

[Brain abscess caused by Haemophilus influenzae type E in a pediatric patient suffering from Apert syndrome].

We report a case of a brain abscess caused by Haemophilus influenzae type e in a 12 year-old patient suffering from Apert syndrome. Apert syndrome is characterized by the premature closure of cranial sutures. In 2010 the patient suffered head trauma in the frontal area with cranial fracture and a cerebrospinal fluid fistula.

[Mechanical circulatory support in pediatrics. Experience at the Dr. Juan P. Garrahan Pediatric Hospital. Argentina].

Introduction: Mechanical circulatory support provides oxygen to the tissues in patients with cardiac and/or respiratory reversible disease refractory to conventional treatments.

Objective: The aim of this study is to show our initial results of mechanical circulatory support in children with heart disease.

Method: Retrospective cohort between March 2006 and March 2012.

Influence of β(2)-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms on asthma exacerbation in children with severe asthma regularly receiving salmeterol.

Background: New evidence suggests that different β(2)-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) polymorphisms may influence asthma control in patients receiving long-acting β(2)agonists (LABAs) as regular therapy.

Objectives: To determine the influence of β2AR polymorphisms on asthma exacerbations in children with severe asthma from Argentina receiving inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and LABAs regularly.

Methods: Ninety-seven children with severe asthma were genotyped for polymorphisms of β2AR at codons 16 and 27.

Regional venous oxygen saturation versus mixed venous saturation after paediatric cardiac surgery.

Background: Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) remains the gold standard surrogate for tissue oxygen extraction in paediatric cardiac surgery. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been developed as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for regional oxygen saturation. The aim was to compare regional oxygen saturation measured by NIRS with ScvO2 in postoperative paediatric cardiac patients.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation: clinical features, pathological concepts and management in 172 cases.

Objective: Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) is the most common surgically resected pulmonary malformation in children. This retrospective study was undertaken to present the experience of 172 CCAM cases in a pediatric hospital.

Methods: Published series with a small number of patients reports details of lesions, progress and management.

Clinical experience with Berlin Heart Excor in pediatric patients in Argentina: 1373 days of cardiac support.

The objective of this study was to describe our experience (1373 days of support) with the Berlin Heart Excor (BH) ventricular-assist device (VAD) as bridging to cardiac transplantation in pediatric patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy. This study involved a retrospective observational cohort. Records of patients supported with the BH VAD were reviewed.

Quantitation of HTLV-I proviral load by a real-time PCR assay using SYBR Green: comparison of two methods for DNA isolation.

A real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay using SYBR Green was developed to determine HTLV-I proviral load (pVL) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and its performance was evaluated with samples processed as cell lysates and DNA isolated by salting out. Primers targeting the pol region were standardized against the MT2 cell line and HTLV-I copy number was normalized to the amount of cellular DNA by quantitation of the albumin gene. The sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the qPCR were assessed in the two methods used for DNA processing.

Outcome of renal transplant in patients with abnormal urinary tract.

Purpose: To determine whether surgical procedures of the lower urinary tract in patients with uropathies affect evolution of the graft in renal transplantation.

Methods: 156 kidney transplantations were performed in 150 patients with end-stage renal failure due to urologic disorders. The patients were classified into three groups: A, patients who did not require surgery in the lower urinary tract; B, required surgery and preserved adequate bladder function, and C, required surgery due to vesical dysfunction.

Postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans in children: clinical and pulmonary function findings.

Aim: Postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) is an infrequent yet potentially severe disorder following acute lower pulmonary infection (ALRI) in children. In infants and young children PIBO have been strongly associated with Adenovirus (Ad). The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical features and pulmonary function findings in children with PIBO.