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This is a cross-sectional study of 29 published cases of acute myopericarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. The most common presentation was chest pain within 1–5 days after the second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. All patients had an elevated troponin. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed late gadolinium enhancement consistent with myocarditis in 69% of cases. All patients recovered clinically rapidly within 1–3 weeks. Most patients were treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for symptomatic relief, and 4 received intravenous immune globulin and corticosteroids. We speculate a possible causal relationship between vaccine administration and myocarditis. The data from our analysis confirms that all myocarditis and pericarditis cases are mild and resolve within a few days to few weeks. The bottom line is that the risk of cardiac complications among children and adults due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection far exceeds the minimal and rare risks of vaccination-related transient myocardial or pericardial inflammation.

End-organ dysfunction is associated with increased mortality in pediatric cardiac patients requiring extracorporeal support. We sought to characterize the odds of developing acute renal failure (ARF) as well as associated increases in mortality in this population. Records of all cardiac patients in our pediatric intensive care unit receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) over a 24 month period were reviewed for data with respect to their course. Acute renal failure was defined as fluid retention or electrolyte disturbance resulting in institution of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), or a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of <35 ml/min/1.73 m. Analysis revealed 49 ECMO runs in 48 patients, with ARF present in 71.7%, and CRRT initiated in 58.7%. Odds for developing ARF increased by 60% per day of ECMO support (beta 1.60, 95% CI 1.08-2.37, p = 0.018). Acute renal failure during ECMO, after adjusting for patient age, remained associated with a decrease in odds of survival to discharge (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.10-20.4, p = 0.037). We conclude that ARF is more common among pediatric cardiac patients requiring extracorporeal support than previously recognized. Increasing duration of ECMO support is associated with development of ARF. Acute renal failure while on ECMO is associated with a significant decrease in the odds of survival in the pediatric cardiac patient.

Taro leaf blight (caused by the Oomycete

Overlooked in national reports and in conservation programs, wild food plants (WFPs) have been a vital component of food and nutrition security for centuries. Recently, several countries have reported on the widespread and regular consumption of WFPs, particularly by rural and indigenous communities but also in urban contexts. They are reported as critical for livelihood resilience and for providing essential micronutrients to people enduring food shortages or other emergency situations. However, threats derived from changes in land use and climate, overexploitation and urbanization are reducing the availability of these biological resources in the wild and contributing to the loss of traditional knowledge associated with their use. Meanwhile, few policy measures are in place explicitly targeting their conservation and sustainable use. This can be partially attributed to a lack of scientific evidence and awareness among policymakers and relevant stakeholders of the untapped potential of WFPs, accompanied by market and non-market barriers limiting their use. This paper reviews recent efforts being undertaken in several countries to build evidence of the importance of WFPs, while providing examples of cross-sectoral cooperation and multi-stakeholder approaches that are contributing to advance their conservation and sustainable use. An integrated conservation approach is proposed contributing to secure their availability for future generations.

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous sildenafil for immediate postoperative pulmonary hypertension (PH) in pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery.MethodsA double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, parallel-group trial was conducted. Patients were randomized to one of three doses of intravenous sildenafil, or placebo, for a minimum of 24 h.ResultsThe study was heavily underpowered. Whereas enrollment of 228 patients (57 per treatment arm) was required to achieve the sample size estimate to detect difference between arms, the sponsor terminated the study after 15 months owing to slow patient accrual. Seventeen patients (median age 5 months) experiencing postoperative PH were randomized and treated, five with placebo and four each with low-, medium-, and high-dose sildenafil. In the first 24 h, 40% of placebo and 17% of sildenafil patients required additional therapy (p = 0.330). Median time to extubation (3 versus 8 days, p = 0.023) and intensive care unit stay (6 versus 15 days, p = 0.008) were shorter for sildenafil patients. Mean ± standard deviation systolic pulmonary artery pressure was reduced with sildenafil (46 ± 11 to 35 ± 6 mmHg, p = 0.027 versus placebo). No adverse events or systemic hypotension were attributed to sildenafil.ConclusionIntravenous sildenafil reduced pulmonary artery pressure and shortened time to extubation and intensive care unit stay in children with postoperative PH.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00134-010-2065-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In this first report of the use of intravenous citrulline in humans, we found citrulline to be both safe and well tolerated in infants and young children undergoing congenital cardiac surgery. Because of the rapid clearance, the optimal dosing regimen was identified as an initial bolus of 150 mg/kg given at the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, followed 4 hours later by a postoperative infusion of 9 mg/(kg.h) continued up to 48 hours. Using this regimen, plasma arginine, citrulline, and nitric oxide metabolite levels were well maintained. Intravenous citrulline needs to be studied further as a potential therapy for postoperative pulmonary hypertension.

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