Neonatal hypoglycemia represents an emergency of heterogeneous etiology. The occurrence of persistent hypoglycemia caused by hyperinsulinism has not been well established. Some authors claim that it may be more common than previously suggested. The diagnostic goal is to distinguish hyperinsulinemia from other causes of hypoglycemia because management strategies differ. The diagnosis of persistent hypoglycemia attributable to hyperinsulinism is made when insulin secretion is excessive or inappropriate (> 10 microIU/ml). Medical management includes frequent feeding, high hydrocarbon intake, glucagon, diazoxide, somatostatin or steroid treatment. In case of resistance to medical intervention, surgery consisting of subtotal pancreatectomy is performed to avoid neurological sequelae. However, pediatric organic hypoglycemia secondary to hyperinsulinism can be caused by either diffuse or focal pancreatic lesions. Differentiation between these two types of lesion is necessary since partial pancreatectomy can prevent diabetes. In this prospective study, pancreatic venous sampling (PVS) was evaluated for the preoperative localization of lesions in 25 children with hyperinsulinism and correlated with surgical, pathological and clinical outcome. PVS is the most accurate preoperative technique for localizing focal lesions in children. Besides being safe and effective, it has the great advantage of detecting focal secretion, thus reducing the need for extensive surgery.

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, face masks are among the most common and practical control measures used globally in reducing the risk of infection and disease transmission. Although several studies have investigated the efficacy of various face masks and respirators in preventing infection, the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of the randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the actual efficacy of face masks in preventing respiratory infections. We searched nine electronic databases up to July 2020 to find potential articles. We accepted trials reporting the protective efficacy of face masks against respiratory infections, of which the primary endpoint was the presence of respiratory infections. We used the ROB-2 Cochrane tool to grade the trial quality. We initially registered the protocol for this study in PROSPERO (CRD42020178516). Sixteen RCTs involving 17 048 individuals were included for NMA. Overall, evidence was weak, lacking statistical power due to the small number of participants, and there was substantial inconsistency in our findings. In comparison to those without face masks, participants with fit-tested N95 respirators were likely to have lesser infection risk (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.38–1.19, P-score 0.80), followed by those with non-fit-tested N95 and non-fit-tested FFP2 respirators that shared the similar risk, (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.12–4.36, P-score 0.63) and (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.38–1.71, P-score 0.63), respectively. Next, participants who donned face masks with and without hand hygiene practices showed modest risk improvement alike (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.67–1.17, P-score 0.55) and (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.70–1.22, P-score 0.51). Otherwise, participants donning double-layered cloth masks were prone to infection (RR 4.80, 95% CI 1.42–16.27, P-score 0.01). Eleven out of 16 RCTs that underwent a pairwise meta-analysis revealed a substantially lower infection risk in those donning medical face masks (MFMs) than those without face masks (RR 0.83 95% CI 0.71–0.96). Given the body of evidence through a systematic review and meta-analyses, our findings supported the protective benefits of MFMs in reducing respiratory transmissions, and the universal mask-wearing should be applied—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. More clinical data is required to conclude the efficiency of cloth masks; in the short term, users should not use cloth face masks in the outbreak hot spots and places where social distancing is impossible.

Background Predictive markers represent a solution for the proactive management of severe dengue. Despite the low mortality rate resulting from severe cases, dengue requires constant examination and round-the-clock nursing care due to the unpredictable progression of complications, posing a burden on clinical triage and material resources. Accordingly, identifying markers that allow for predicting disease prognosis from the initial diagnosis is needed. Given the improved pathogenesis understanding, myriad candidates have been proposed to be associated with severe dengue progression. Thus, we aim to review the relationship between the available biomarkers and severe dengue. Methodology We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the differences in host data collected within 72 hours of fever onset amongst the different disease severity levels. We searched nine bibliographic databases without restrictive criteria of language and publication date. We assessed risk of bias and graded robustness of evidence using NHLBI quality assessments and GRADE, respectively. This study protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018104495). Principal findings Of 4000 records found, 40 studies for qualitative synthesis, 19 for meta-analysis. We identified 108 host and viral markers collected within 72 hours of fever onset from 6160 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases, including hematopoietic parameters, biochemical substances, clinical symptoms, immune mediators, viral particles, and host genes. Overall, inconsistent case classifications explained substantial heterogeneity, and meta-analyses lacked statistical power. Still, moderate-certainty evidence indicated significantly lower platelet counts (SMD -0.65, 95% CI -0.97 to -0.32) and higher AST levels (SMD 0.87, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.38) in severe cases when compared to non-severe dengue during this time window. Conclusion The findings suggest that alterations of platelet count and AST level—in the first 72 hours of fever onset—are independent markers predicting the development of severe dengue.

Although the CVSS improved over time, the mortality from the CVDs is still the second most common cause of death after NHL. Older age, not married, black, male patients, not recently diagnosed with NHL, with an advanced stage and not receiving radiation and/or surgery were associated with a worse survival. Risk factor modification along with CVDs screening should be intensified in NHL patients with these mortality predictors.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract