International Pediatric Transplant Association (IPTA) position statement supporting prioritizing pediatric recipients for deceased donor organ allocation.

A position statement of the International Pediatric Transplant Association endorsing prioritizing pediatric recipients for deceased donor organ allocation, examining the key ethical arguments that serve as the foundation for that position, and making specific policy recommendations to support prioritizing pediatric recipients for deceased donor organ allocation globally.

The challenge of unidentified decedents in Africa: The need for training and research in forensic odontology to strengthen a multidisciplinary approach.

Introduction: The management of unidentified decedents suspected to be undocumented migrants is a growing humanitarian crisis in Africa. Identification of the dead and the right of the family to know the fate of a decedent is a fundamental human right. Forensic odontology methods can provide helpful and assisting information in the identification even in challenging low-resource settings.

Neurotrauma clinicians' perspectives on the contextual challenges associated with traumatic brain injury follow up in low-income and middle-income countries: A reflexive thematic analysis.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health issue, but low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face the greatest burden. Significant differences in neurotrauma outcomes are recognised between LMICs and high-income countries. However, outcome data is not consistently nor reliably recorded in either setting, thus the true burden of TBI cannot be accurately quantified.

Efficacy of deep brain stimulation of the anterior-medial globus pallidus internus in tic and non-tic related symptomatology in refractory Tourette syndrome.

Introduction: Although refractory Tourette Syndrome (TS) is rare, it poses great challenges in clinical practice. Co-morbid psychiatric symptoms often occur, negatively impacting quality of life. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting different brain structures seems effective for tics, but specific literature regarding response of psychiatric symptoms is more limited.

Aromatherapy massage seems effective in critically ill children: an observational before-after study.

Children treated in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are at risk of distress and pain. This study investigated if aromatherapy massage can reduce children's distress and improve comfort. This observational before-after study was performed in a 22-bed PICU in Cape Town, South Africa.

Adherence to the 2015 and 2020 British Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes guidelines and outcomes in critically ill children with diabetic ketoacidosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To compare clinical management and key outcomes of critically ill children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in two cohorts (2015 cohort: managed according to the 2015 British Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (BSPED) guidelines; 2020 cohort: managed according to the 2020 BSPED guidelines).

Design: Retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data.

Setting: A critical care advice and transport service based in London, and referring hospitals within the critical care network.

Prevalence of Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Congenital Heart Disease: A Scoping Review.

Feeding and swallowing difficulties are commonly reported as comorbidities in infants and children with congenital heart disease. These difficulties have negative health consequences for the child and impact the quality of life of both the child and caregivers. This scoping review presents an integrated summary of the published literature on the prevalence of feeding and swallowing difficulties in congenital heart disease.

Current challenges and opportunities in the care of patients with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP): an international, multi-stakeholder perspective.

Background: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare, disabling genetic disorder characterized by congenital malformations of the great toes and progressive heterotopic ossification of soft and connective tissues. Assiduous attention to the unmet needs of this patient community is crucial to prevent potential iatrogenic harm and optimize care for individuals with FOP.

Objective: To gather international expert opinion and real-world experience on the key challenges for individuals with FOP and their families, highlight critical gaps in care, communication, and research, and provide recommendations for improvement.

Dose effects of tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of acute depression - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) continue to be an important group of drugs, but it is unclear whether a dose-response relationship is supported by high-level evidence.

Methods: Systematic review in the Cochrane Collaboration's Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) of studies randomizing patients to at least two doses of one TCA, complemented by searches in Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo. In multilevel regression, we calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) in antidepressant efficacy per mg TCA dose increase, and we analyzed drop-outs due to adverse events.

Dose-Response Relationship in Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Meta-Analysis and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Introduction: Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) are among the most prescribed antidepressants, and dose escalation is a frequently applied strategy after non-response to an initially prescribed dose.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to find evidence of a dose-response relationship or to the contrary in direct comparisons of different SNRI doses in patients with major depressive disorder.

Methods: A systematic literature search for RCTs comparing at least two doses of SNRIs was carried out in CENTRAL, PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE.

Generating Evidence From Contextual Clinical Research in Low- to Middle Income Countries: A Roadmap Based on Theory of Change.

Along with inadequate access to high-quality care, competing health priorities, fragile health systems, and conflicts, there is an associated delay in evidence generation and research from LMICs. Lack of basic epidemiologic understanding of the disease burden in these regions poses a significant knowledge gap as solutions can only be developed and sustained if the scope of the problem is accurately defined. Congenital heart disease (CHD), for example, is the most common birth defect in children.

Towards a population-based threshold of protection for COVID-19 vaccines.

Correlates of protection for COVID-19 vaccines are urgently needed to license additional vaccines. We measured immune responses to four COVID-19 vaccines of proven efficacy using a single serological platform. IgG anti-Spike antibodies were highly correlated with ID50 neutralization in a validated pseudoviral assay and correlated significantly with efficacies for protection against infection with wild-type, alpha and delta variant SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and SARS-CoV-2 positive hospital admissions among children in South Africa.

Introduction: We describe epidemiology and outcomes of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and positive admissions among children <18 years in South Africa, an upper-middle income setting with high inequality.

Methods: Laboratory and hospital COVID-19 surveillance data, 28 January - 19 September 2020 was used. Testing rates were calculated as number of tested for SARS-CoV-2 divided by population at risk; test positivity rates were calculated as positive tests divided by total number of tests.

A position statement and practical guide to the use of particulate filtering facepiece respirators (N95, FFP2, or equivalent) for South African health workers exposed to respiratory pathogens including and SARS-CoV-2.

Summary: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted mainly by aerosol in particles <10 µm that can remain suspended for hours before being inhaled. Because particulate filtering facepiece respirators ('respirators'; e.g.

Simultaneous or Staged Bilateral Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: An Observational Study of Intraoperative and Postoperative Outcomes.

Background: Bilateral arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is frequently performed in patients with symptomatic bilateral rotator cuff tears.

Purpose: To compare patient-reported outcomes and mobility between simultaneous and staged bilateral ARCR.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Managing Rheumatic Heart Disease in Pregnancy: A Practical Evidence-Based Multidisciplinary Approach.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in pregnant patients in low- to middle-income countries. Apart from the clinical challenges, these areas face poor infrastructure and resources to allow for early detection, with many women presenting to medical services for the first time when they deteriorate clinically during the pregnancy. The opportunity for preconception counselling and planning may thus be lost.

Neurosurgeons' experiences of conducting and disseminating clinical research in low-income and middle-income countries: a reflexive thematic analysis.

Objectives: Low-income and-middle-income countries (LMICs) are increasing investment in research and development, yet there remains a paucity of neurotrauma research published by those in LMICs. The aim of this study was to understand neurosurgeons' experiences of, aspirations for, and ability to conduct and disseminate clinical research in LMICs.

Design: This was a two-stage inductive qualitative study situated within the naturalistic paradigm.

Alcohol use is associated with mental health problems and brain structural alterations in adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection on ART.

Alcohol use, presents unique challenges for HIV-1 treatment in adolescents with perinatally acquired infection. The effects of alcohol on host-virus interaction in the brain and the immune system remains understudied in this population. Adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection (PHIV) well established on ART, from the Cape Town Adolescent Antiretroviral Cohort who self-reported alcohol use (PHIV + alcohol) (n = 26) were compared to age matched 26 PHIV (PHIV-alcohol) and 26 healthy controls (HC) who reported no use of alcohol.