Ultrahypofractionated Versus Normofractionated Preoperative Radiotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Multicenter, Prospective Real-World-Time Phase 2 Clinical Trial.

The historically most commonly used preoperative radiotherapy regimen for soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) consists of 50 Gray (Gy) delivered in 25 fractions over 5 weeks, achieving excellent local control, but with significant challenges due to prolonged treatment duration and early side effects. Reducing therapy duration while maintaining optimal local and distant control would be highly beneficial for patients. We aimed to investigate the outcome of an ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy (uhRT) regimen which may represent a shorter and more patient-friendly alternative.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children: Evolving epidemiology, immunology, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, post-COVID-19 conditions, prevention strategies, and future directions.

The epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children has evolved throughout the pandemic, with initially low infection rates rising significantly as a result of the emergence of the more transmissible Omicron variant. Adolescents, children from ethnic minorities and lower-income households, and those with obesity are at increased risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The immune response in children leads to milder symptoms compared to adults, with fever and cough being most frequent; tough symptoms vary by SARS-CoV-2 variant and age.

Pharmacometric Analysis to Describe Pharmacokinetics and Exposure-Efficacy Response of Ivermectin in Adolescents Infected with Trichuris trichiura.

The efficacy of the combination therapy of albendazole and ivermectin against Trichuris trichiura infection is higher in Tanzania than in Côte d'Ivoire. This study therefore aimed to investigate the difference between the population pharmacokinetics (PK) at these study sites and to determine if an exposure-response analysis could explain the low efficacy of the combination therapy in Côte d'Ivoire. Twenty-four participants (aged 12-19 years) receiving single doses of ivermectin (200 µg/kg) and albendazole (400 mg) were included in the population PK modeling.

Swiss COVID-19 hospital surveillance: an in-depth analysis of the factors associated with hospital readmission dynamics in community-acquired COVID-19 cases.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on hospitals worldwide. In such a context of tension in healthcare systems, efficiently allocating hospital resources is a crucial aspect of crisis management. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of readmitted patients and to determine risk factors for hospital readmission using data from the Swiss COVID-19 Hospital-Based Surveillance system (CH-SUR).

The effect of antibiotics on the intestinal microbiota in children - a systematic review.

Background: Children are the age group with the highest exposure to antibiotics (ABX). ABX treatment changes the composition of the intestinal microbiota. The first few years of life are crucial for the establishment of a healthy microbiota and consequently, disturbance of the microbiota during this critical period may have far-reaching consequences.

Understanding Drug Exposure and Trichuris trichiura Cure Rates: A Pharmacometric Approach for Albendazole-Ivermectin Co-medication in Tanzania and Côte d'Ivoire.

Background And Objective: Trichuriasis caused by the human whipworm Trichuris trichiura poses a significant public health concern. Albendazole-ivermectin co-medication is currently the most effective treatment. Studies conducted in Tanzania and Côte d'Ivoire unveiled differences in efficacy for albendazole-ivermectin combination therapy in both countries.

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Children and Adolescents Hospitalized With Pyomyositis.

Background: Pyomyositis, a bacterial muscle infection, is an important differential diagnosis in children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain. In contrast to tropical regions, it is rarely recognized in temperate countries, but incidence is increasing and major studies are missing.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included patients <18 years of age hospitalized with pyomyositis in 11 Swiss children's hospitals between January 2010 and December 2022.

Pharmacometric in silico studies used to facilitate a national dose standardisation process in neonatology - application to amikacin.

Background And Aims: Pharmacometric in silico approaches are frequently applied to guide decisions concerning dosage regimes during the development of new medicines. We aimed to demonstrate how such pharmacometric modelling and simulation can provide a scientific rationale for optimising drug doses in the context of the Swiss national dose standardisation project in paediatrics using amikacin as a case study.

Methods: Amikacin neonatal dosage is stratified by post-menstrual age (PMA) and post-natal age (PNA) in Switzerland and many other countries.

National survey in Switzerland calls for improved diagnosis and treatment in children with scabies.

Aim Of The Study: The global prevalence of scabies is estimated to be up to 200 million cases annually, with young children particularly affected. In Europe, most cases are thought to originate in migrant populations. Scabies management is challenging in children.

Clinical and Laboratory Biomarkers as Predictors of Severity in Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome-temporally Associated With SARS-CoV-2: Data From a Prospective Nationwide Surveillance Study in Switzerland.

Background: PIMS-TS (pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome-temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2) is a rare but serious condition in children following SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by a range of clinical symptoms with varying severity. Understanding risk factors for severe PIMS-TS is crucial for appropriate and timely intervention.

Objective: To identify factors associated with increased PIMS-TS severity in children.

Tularemia on the rise in Switzerland? A one health approach is needed!

In the last 10 years, an increase in tularemia cases has been observed in both humans and animals in Switzerland. In these, infection with Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of the zoonotic disease tularemia, can occur through arthropod vectors or contact to infected animals or exposure to contaminated environmental sources. Currently, we are only able to postulate potential aetiologies: (i) behavioral changes of humans with more exposure to endemic habitats of infected arthropod vectors; (ii) an increased rate of tularemia infected ticks; (iii) increasing number and geographical regions of tick biotopes; (iv) increasing and/or more diverse reservoir populations; (v) increasing presence of bacteria in the environment; (vi) raised awareness and increased testing among physicians; (vii) improved laboratory techniques including molecular testing.

Seroepidemiology of Human Tularemia-Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Seroprevalence Studies.

Background: Seroepidemiologic studies of human tularemia have been conducted throughout the northern hemisphere. The purposes of this study were (1) to provide an overview of seroprevalence data, and (2) to generate an estimate of the proportion of study participants whose infection remained subclinical.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of seroprevalence studies according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.

The changing clinical presentation of COVID-19 in children during the course of the pandemic.

Aim: To investigate the evolution of clinical symptoms of COVID-19 in children throughout the pandemic.

Methods: In this national prospective surveillance study, symptoms in children hospitalised with COVID-19 were collected from all paediatric hospitals in Switzerland between March 2020 and March 2023. Data was analysed across four time periods, according to the predominantly circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant: T1 (wild-type), T2 (Alpha), T3 (Delta) and T4 (Omicron), as well as by age group.

Accounting for clustering in automated variable selection using hospital data: a comparison of different LASSO approaches.

Background: Automated feature selection methods such as the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) have recently gained importance in the prediction of quality-related outcomes as well as the risk-adjustment of quality indicators in healthcare. The methods that have been used so far, however, do not account for the fact that patient data are typically nested within hospitals.

Methods: Therefore, we aimed to demonstrate how to account for the multilevel structure of hospital data with LASSO and compare the results of this procedure with a LASSO variant that ignores the multilevel structure of the data.

Socioeconomic effects of establishing a new stroke center in Central Switzerland.

Background: Establishment of dedicated Stroke Centers has shown to be effective on the outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke, as well as mechanical thrombectomy (MTE) in acute large vessel occlusion. The cost-effectiveness of this treatment has also been proven in several countries, but so far not in Switzerland.

Methods: We compare the pathways and economic impact of patients with acute large vessel occlusions causing acute ischemic stroke before the establishment of the stroke center and MTE in 2016 with the time afterwards in the years 2016-2020.

The Role of Wearable Sensors in the Future Primary Healthcare - Preferences of the Adult Swiss Population: A Mixed Methods Approach.

Wearable sensors have the potential to increase continuity of care and reduce healthcare expenditure. The user concerns and preferences regarding wearable sensors are the least addressed topic in related literature. Therefore, this study aimed first, to examine the preferences of the adult Swiss population regarding the use of wearable sensors in primary healthcare.

Cardiac involvement in children with paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS): data from a prospective nationwide surveillance study.

Background: Paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) may occur 4 to 8 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The acute presentation of PIMS-TS has been well described, but data on longer-term outcomes, particularly cardiac, is scarce.

Methods: This prospective nationwide surveillance study included children and adolescents less than 18 years of age who were hospitalised with PIMS-TS in Switzerland between March 2020 and March 2022.

Meeting Challenges of Pediatric Drug Delivery: The Potential of Orally Fast Disintegrating Tablets for Infants and Children.

A majority of therapeutics are not available as suitable dosage forms for administration to pediatric patients. The first part of this review provides an overview of clinical and technological challenges and opportunities in the development of child-friendly dosage forms such as taste masking, tablet size, flexibility of dose administration, excipient safety and acceptability. In this context, developmental pharmacology, rapid onset of action in pediatric emergency situations, regulatory and socioeconomic aspects are also reviewed and illustrated with clinical case studies.

Methylprednisolone versus intravenous immunoglobulins in children with paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS): an open-label, multicentre, randomised trial.

Background: The emergence of paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) led to the widespread use of anti-inflammatory treatments in the absence of evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We aimed to assess the effectiveness of intravenous methylprednisolone compared with intravenous immunoglobulins.

Methods: This is an open-label, multicentre, two-arm RCT done at ten hospitals in Switzerland in children younger than 18 years hospitalised with PIMS-TS (defined as age <18 years; fever and biochemical evidence of inflammation, and single or multiorgan dysfunction; microbiologically proven or putative contact with SARS-CoV-2; and exclusion of any other probable disease).