Novel concept-based image captioning models using LSTM and multi-encoder transformer architecture.

Captioning an image involves using a combination of vision and language models to describe the image in an expressive and concise sentence. Successful captioning task requires extracting as much information as possible from the corresponding image. One of these key pieces of information is the topic to which the image belongs. The state-of-the-art methods used topic modeling depending only on caption text in order to extract these topics. The problem with extracting the topics using topic modeling only on caption text is that it lacks the consideration of the image's semantic information. Instead, concept modeling extracts the concepts directly from the images in addition to considering the corresponding caption text. Concept modeling can be used in image captioning to extremely capture the image contexts and benefit from it to produce more accurate descriptions. In this paper, novel image captioning models are proposed by utilizing the concept modeling technique. The first concept-based model is proposed by utilizing LSTM as a decoder while the second model is proposed in association with new multi-encoder transformer architecture. Standard metrics have been used to evaluate the proposed models using Microsoft COCO and Flickr30K datasets. The proposed models outperformed the related work methods with reduced computational complexity.

Recessive variants in MYO1C as a potential novel cause of proteinuric kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome is the second leading cause of chronic kidney disease among patients < 25 years of age. Through exome sequencing, identification of > 65 monogenic causes has revealed insights into disease mechanisms of nephrotic syndrome (NS). METHODS: To elucidate novel monogenic causes of NS, we combined homozygosity mapping with exome sequencing in a worldwide cohort of 1649 pediatric patients with NS. RESULTS: We identified homozygous missense variants in MYO1C in two unrelated children with NS (c.292C > T, p.R98W; c.2273 A > T, p.K758M). We evaluated publicly available kidney single-cell RNA sequencing datasets and found MYO1C to be predominantly expressed in podocytes. We then performed structural modeling for the identified variants in PyMol using aligned shared regions from two available partial structures of MYO1C (4byf and 4r8g). In both structures, calmodulin, a common regulator of myosin activity, is shown to bind to the IQ motif. At both residue sites (K758; R98), there are ion-ion interactions stabilizing intradomain and ligand interactions: R98 binds to nearby D220 within the myosin motor domain and K758 binds to E14 on a calmodulin molecule. Variants of these charged residues to non-charged amino acids could ablate these ionic interactions, weakening protein structure and function establishing the impact of these variants. CONCLUSION: We here identified recessive variants in MYO1C as a potential novel cause of NS in children.

Molecular characterization of full-length VP2 gene of canine parvovirus type 2 strains circulating in Egypt 2019-2021.

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) is a major cause of fatal gastroenteritis and myocarditis in puppies of domestic and wild carnivores. CPV-2 has accumulated changes over time lead to the emergence of three antigenic variants CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c. VP2 is the major capsid protein that determines virus antigenicity, and host range. Although the three CPV-2 variants were previously identified in Egypt, most reports covered a restricted geographic region and/or time period, and only analyzed partial fragments of VP2 gene. Therefore, this study was designed to test 100 rectal swabs collected from 7 Egyptian governorates between 2019 and 2021 for CPV-2 using PCR. A total of 65 positive samples were identified, mostly in pure dog breeds of young age. The three variants co-circulated in 2019, while CPV-2b was not detected in 2020 and 2021. The frequency of CPV-2b and CPV-2c was higher in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Analysis of CPV-2 full-length VP2 gene sequence from 19/65 positive samples has identified four common amino acid substitutions F267Y, S297A, A300G, Y324I, which are characteristic for the new CPV-2 variants currently circulating worldwide. Unique substitutions including A5G, G36R, V38E, Q370R, and G392V were recognized in certain samples, and appears to have distinct effect on receptor binding, nuclear translocation, and inter-species transmission. Phylogenetic analysis showed separation of CPV-2 strains into two clades. All strains of this study were classified in clade I with Asian strains. In conclusion, this study provides updated comprehensive molecular analysis of CPV-2 variants in Egypt.

Copy number variation analysis in 138 families with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome identifies causal homozygous deletions in PLCE1 and NPHS2 in two families.

BACKGROUND: Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is the second most common cause of kidney failure in children and adults under the age of 20 years. Previously, we were able to detect by exome sequencing (ES) a known monogenic cause of SRNS in 25-30% of affected families. However, ES falls short of detecting copy number variants (CNV). Therefore, we hypothesized that causal CNVs could be detected in a large SRNS cohort. METHODS: We performed genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based CNV analysis on a cohort of 138 SRNS families, in whom we previously did not identify a genetic cause through ES. We evaluated ES and CNV data for variants in 60 known SRNS genes and in 13 genes in which variants are known to cause a phenocopy of SRNS. We applied previously published, predefined criteria for CNV evaluation. RESULTS: We detected a novel CNV in two genes in 2 out of 138 families (1.5%). The 9,673 bp homozygous deletion in PLCE1 and the 6,790 bp homozygous deletion in NPHS2 were confirmed across the breakpoints by PCR and Sanger sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that CNV analysis can identify the genetic cause in SRNS families that remained unsolved after ES. Though the rate of detected CNVs is minor, CNV analysis can be used when there are no other genetic causes identified. Causative CNVs are less common in SRNS than in other monogenic kidney diseases, such as congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract, where the detection rate was 5.3%. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Insight into prevalence, etiology, and modalities of pediatric chronic dialysis: a comprehensive nationwide analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and etiology of kidney failure (KF) among children below 15 years of age receiving chronic dialysis in Saudi Arabia and describe their dialysis modalities. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 8 August 2022, encompassing all 23 pediatric dialysis centers in Saudi Arabia. Data gathered comprised patient demographics, causes of KF, and the dialysis methods employed. Collected data underwent analysis to determine prevalence of children undergoing chronic dialysis, discern underlying causes of KF, and evaluate distribution of patients across different dialysis modalities. RESULTS: The prevalence of children on chronic dialysis is 77.6 per million children living in Saudi Arabia, equating to 419 children. The predominant underlying cause of KF was congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT), representing a substantial 41% of cases. Following this, others or unknown etiologies accounted for a noteworthy 25% of cases, with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) comprising 13%, glomerulonephritis at 11%, and congenital nephrotic syndrome contributing 10% to etiological distribution. Regarding dialysis modalities employed, 67% of patients were on peritoneal dialysis (PD), while the remaining 33% were on hemodialysis (HD). CONCLUSIONS: This first nationwide study of pediatric chronic dialysis in Saudi Arabia sheds light on the prevalence of children undergoing chronic dialysis and underlying causes of their KF, thereby contributing to our understanding of clinical management considerations. This research serves as a stepping stone for the development of national registries.

Awareness, Attitudes, and Willingness: A Cross-Sectional Study of Organ Donation in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Organ transplantation is inherently dependent on the availability of organ donors. There is a noticeable paucity of literature addressing the rates of organ donation registration and the awareness of Islamic regulations (Fatwa) regarding organ donation within Saudi Arabia. Our study aimed to evaluate the level of organ donation registration, awareness of Islamic regulations, and knowledge of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) within the Saudi society. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey from 30 March to 9 April 2023. This survey aimed to assess the awareness of Islamic (Fatwa) guidance on organ donation, the role of SCOT, and the rate of organ donation registration facilitated through the Tawakkalna app, the official health passport application in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Out of 2329 respondents, 21% had registered as potential deceased organ donors, despite 87% acknowledging the importance of organ donation. Awareness of the Islamic Fatwa regarding organ donation was reported by 54.7% of respondents, and 37% recognized the Fatwa's acceptance of brain death criteria. The likelihood of registration as organ donors was higher among Saudi citizens under 45 years of age, females, healthcare workers (HCWs), individuals with higher education, relatives of patients awaiting organ donations, those informed about the Islamic Fatwas, and those willing to donate organs to friends. Conversely, being over the age of 25, Saudi nationality, employment as an HCW, awareness of SCOT, and prior organ donation registration were predictive of a heightened awareness of Islamic Fatwas. However, perceiving the importance of organ donation correlated with a lower awareness of the Fatwas. Significant positive correlations were found between awareness of SCOT, awareness of Fatwas, and registration for organ donation. CONCLUSIONS: While the Saudi population exhibits a high regard for the importance of organ donation, this recognition is not adequately translated into registration rates. The discrepancy may be attributable to limited awareness of SCOT and the relevant Islamic Fatwas. It is imperative to initiate organ donation awareness campaigns that focus on religious authorization to boost organ donation rates and rectify prevalent misconceptions.

Common Prognostic Biomarkers and Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19 Infection in Saudi Arabia.

Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that eventually became a pandemic, with 300 million people infected around the world. Alongside the improvement in COVID-19 management and vaccine development, identifying biomarkers for COVID-19 has recently been reported to help in early prediction and managing severe cases, which might improve outcomes. Our study aimed to find out if there is any correlation between clinical severity and elevated hematological and biochemical markers in COVID-19 patients and its effect on the outcome. Methods: We have collected retrospective data on socio-demographics, medical history, biomarkers, and disease outcomes from five hospitals and health institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results: Pneumonia was the most common presentation of COVID-19 in our cohort. The presence of abnormal inflammatory biomarkers (D-dimer, CRP, troponin, LDH, ferritin, and t white blood cells) was significantly associated with unstable COVID-19 disease. In addition, patients with evidence of severe respiratory disease, particularly those who required mechanical ventilation, had higher biomarkers when compared to those with stable respiratory conditions (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Identifying biomarkers predicts outcomes for COVID-19 patients and may significantly help in their management.

Recessive CHRM5 variant as a potential cause of neurogenic bladder.

Neurogenic bladder is caused by disruption of neuronal pathways regulating bladder relaxation and contraction. In severe cases, neurogenic bladder can lead to vesicoureteral reflux, hydroureter, and chronic kidney disease. These complications overlap with manifestations of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). To identify novel monogenic causes of neurogenic bladder, we applied exome sequencing (ES) to our cohort of families with CAKUT. By ES, we have identified a homozygous missense variant (p.Gln184Arg) in CHRM5 (cholinergic receptor, muscarinic, 5) in a patient with neurogenic bladder and secondary complications of CAKUT. CHRM5 codes for a seven transmembrane-spanning G-protein-coupled muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. CHRM5 is shown to be expressed in murine and human bladder walls and is reported to cause bladder overactivity in Chrm5 knockout mice. We investigated CHRM5 as a potential novel candidate gene for neurogenic bladder with secondary complications of CAKUT. CHRM5 is similar to the cholinergic bladder neuron receptor CHRNA3, which Mann et al. published as the first monogenic cause of neurogenic bladder. However, functional in vitro studies did not reveal evidence to strengthen the status as a candidate gene. Discovering additional families with CHRM5 variants could help to further assess the genes' candidate status.

Clinical and molecular characterization of a large primary hyperoxaluria cohort from Saudi Arabia: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperoxalurias (PHs) constitute rare disorders resulting in abnormal glyoxalate metabolism. PH-associated phenotypes range from progressive nephrocalcinosis and/or recurrent urolithiasis to early kidney failure. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted for patients with confirmed PH diagnoses from three tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia. Detailed clinical molecular diagnosis was performed for 25 affected individuals. Whole exome sequencing (WES)-based molecular diagnosis was performed for all affected individuals. RESULTS: The male:female ratio was 52% male (n = 13) and 48% female (n = 12), and consanguinity was present in 88%. Nephrolithiasis and/or nephrocalcinosis were present in all patients. Kidney stones were present in 72%, nephrocalcinosis in 60%, hematuria in 32%, proteinuria in 16%, abdominal pain in 36%, developmental delay in 8%, and chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD stage 5) was observed in 28% of the patients. The most common PH disorder was type I caused by variants in the AGXT gene, accounting for 56%. The GRHPR gene variants were identified in 4 patients, 16% of the total cases. Seven patients did not reveal any associated variants. Missense variants were the most commonly observed variants (48%), followed by frame-shift duplication variants (28%). CONCLUSIONS: Characterization of the genetic and clinical aspects of PH in this unique population provides direction for improved patient management and further research. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Detection of Equid Alphaherpesvirus 1 from Arabian Horses with different clinical presentations between 2016-2019 in Egypt.

Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is an important virus causing pathological disorders in horses. This highly contagious pathogen causes persistent outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection, ocular affections, abortion, and neurological disorders with high mortality in Arabian horses in Egypt. The quick and accurate diagnosis is important to broaden our understanding about EHV-1 in the field, and to implicate stronger preventive, and control measures. Sixty-six Arabian horses from Cairo and Giza governorates were sampled from respiratory, abortigenic and neurological outbreaks over a period of 4 years. EHV-1 was diagnosed in these cases by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody against EHV-1 glycoprotein B and molecular detection using gB, ORF33 specific real-time PCR. EHV-1 was detected in 25 cases, mostly from abortigenic outbreaks (14 abortions, 3 stillbirths, and two early neonatal deaths), in addition to 5 respiratory affections and single EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy. Molecular characterization revealed that the ORF33 sequences from this study were almost identical and closely related to the European EHV-1 strains. Furthermore, no difference in the amino acid sequences compared to previously published EHV-1 sequences from Egypt. The data in this study provides some insights about the prevalance of EHV-1 infection in Arabian horses, discusses EHV-1 diagnostic approaches, highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis and the importance of pregnant mare vaccination, and adds to the previous knowledge about EHV-1 in Egypt which may help in better controlling EHV-1 infections in the future.

Safety and efficacy of preoperative tranexamic acid in reducing intraoperative and postoperative blood loss in high-risk women undergoing cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Objective to assess the value of preoperative tranexamic acid (TXA) in reduction of intraoperative and postoperative blood loss in high-risk cesarean delivery (CD). METHODS: A double blind randomized controlled trial included 160 high risk women who underwent elective lower segment CD. They were equally randomized to receive either 1 g of TXA or placebo 15 min before surgery. The primary outcome was Intraoperative blood loss. RESULTS: The estimated blood loss was significantly higher in the placebo group when compared to TXA group (896.81 ± 519.6 vs. 583.23 ± 379.62 ml, P < 0.001). Both postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit were lower (9.2 ± 1.6 and 27.4 ± 4.1 vs. 10.1 ± 1.2 and 30.1 ± 3.4, P values < 0.001and 0.012 respectively) and their change percentages (15.41 vs. 7.11%, P < 0.001) were higher in the placebo group when compared to TXA one. The need for further ecbolics was higher in placebo group when compared to TXA group (46.25 vs. 13.75%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative TXA is safe and effective in reducing blood loss during and after high-risk CD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClincalTrial.gov ID: NCT03820206 .

Childhood nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis caused by metabolic diseases and renal tubulopathy: A retrospective study from 2 tertiary centers.

OBJECTIVES: To study childhood nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis caused by metabolic disorders, distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA), and familial hypomagnesemia, hypercalciuria, and nephrocalcinosis (FHHNC). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 86 children presented over 10 years (2011-2021), with nephrolithiasis (89%) and nephrocalcinosis (11%) caused by metabolic disorders (62%), FHHNC (21%), and dRTA (17%). RESULTS: The mean age at discovery was 72.7 months. The underlying metabolic etiologies included hyperoxaluria (38%), cystinuria (32%), hypercalciuria (24%), and hyperuricosuria (6%). Genetic testing was carried out for 23 patients. Hyperoxaluria was typically treated medically (75%). However, the majority progressed to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Most children with cystinuria, hypercalciuria, and hyperuricosuria required medical and surgical intervention. Patients with FHHNC typically presented with nephrocalcinosis. Genetic testing revealed Claudin-16 mutations in 7 children. Patients often progressed to stage II-IV chronic kidney disease (61%) and ESKD (6%). Patients with dRTA typically presented with nephrocalcinosis (80%), as well as poor weight gain and failure to thrive (86%), and medical treatment included sodium bicarbonate and potassium replacement. Despite nephrocalcinosis progression, most patients had normal renal function (53%), although the remaining 47% progressed to chronic kidney disease (none reached ESKD). CONCLUSION: Childhood nephrolithiasis is mainly related to metabolic disorders and is associated with poor renal outcomes. Nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis have poor outcomes when associated with FHHNC, while nephrocalcinosis associated with dRTA has relatively good renal outcomes.

Factors That Influence Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Multicenter Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 infection has a high mortality rate and continues to be a global threat, which warrants the identification of all mortality risk factors in critically ill patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted in five hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We enrolled patients with confirmed SARS-COV-2 infection admitted to any of the intensive care units from the five hospitals between March 2020 and July 2020, corresponding to the peak of recorded COVID-19 cases in the KSA. RESULTS: In total, 229 critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in the study. The presenting symptoms and signs of patients who died during hospitalization were not significantly different from those observed among patients who survived. The baseline comorbidities that were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality were diabetes (62% vs. 48% among patients who died and survived (p = 0.046)), underlying cardiac disease (38% vs. 19% (p = 0.001)), and underlying kidney disease (32% vs. 12% (p < 0.001)). CONCLUSION: In our cohort, the baseline comorbidities that were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality were diabetes, underlying cardiac disease, and underlying kidney disease. Additionally, the factors that independently influenced mortality among critically ill COVID-19 patients were high Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT )and international normalization ratio (INR), acidosis, and high ferritin.

Acute kidney injury in children with COVID-19: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The reported incidence of AKI, however, varies among studies. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of AKI and its association with mortality and morbidity in children infected with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who required hospital admission. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study from three tertiary centers, which included children with confirmed COVID-19. All children were evaluated for AKI using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definition and staging. RESULTS: Of 89 children included, 19 (21 %) developed AKI (52.6 % stage I). A high renal angina index score was correlated with severity of AKI. Also, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) was increased in children with AKI compared to those with normal kidney function (15 % vs. 1.5 %). Patients with AKI had significantly more pediatric intensive care admissions (PICU) (32 % vs. 2.8 %, p < 0.001) and mortality (42 % vs. 0 %, p < 0.001). However, AKI was not associated with prolonged hospitalization (58 % vs. 40 %, p = 0.163) or development of MIS-C (10.5 % vs. 1.4 %, p = 0.051). No patient in the AKI group required renal replacement therapy. Residual renal impairment at discharge occurred in 9 % of patients. This was significantly influenced by the presence of comorbidities, hypotension, hypoxia, heart failure, acute respiratory distress, hypernatremia, abnormal liver profile, high C-reactive protein, and positive blood culture. CONCLUSIONS: AKI occurred in one-fifth of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospital admission, with one-third of those requiring PICU. AKI was associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and residual renal impairment at time of discharge.

Differentiation of Capripox Viruses by Nanopore Sequencing.

The genus capripoxvirus (CaPV), family Poxviridae, includes three virus species: goatpox virus (GPV), sheeppox virus (SPV) and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). CaPV causes disease outbreaks with consequent economic losses in Africa and the Middle East. LSDV has recently spread to Southeast Europe. As CaPVs share 96-97% genetic similarity along the length of the entire genome and are difficult to distinguish using serological assays, simple, reliable and fast methods for diagnosis and species differentiation are crucial in cases of disease outbreak. The present study aimed to develop a field-applicable CaPV differentiation method. Nanopore technology was used for whole genome sequencing. A local database of complete CaPV genomes and partial sequences of three genes (RPO30, P32 and GPCR) was established for offline Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). Specificities of 98.04% in whole genome and 97.86% in RPO30 gene runs were obtained among the three virus species, while other databases were less specific. The total run time was shortened to approximately 2 h. Functionality of the developed procedure was proved by samples with high host background sequences. Reliable differentiation options for the quality and capacity of hardware, and sample quality of suspected cases, were derived from these findings. The whole workflow can be performed rapidly with a mobile suitcase laboratory and mini-computer, allowing application at the point-of-need with limited resource settings.

Coronavirus disease in children: A multicentre study from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, warranted attention for whether it has unique manifestations in children. Children tend to develop less severe disease with a small percentage present with clinical manifestations of paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome and have poor prognosis. We studied the characteristics of COVID-19 in children requiring hospitalisation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and assessed the clinical presentation and the risk factors for mortality, morbidity, and paediatric intensive care (PICU) admission. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients under 15 years hospitalised at three tertiary academic hospitals between 1 March and 30 June 2020. RESULTS: Eighty-eight children were enrolled (>20% were infants). Seven (8%) were in critical condition and required PICU admission, and 4 (4.5%) died of which 3 met the full diagnostic criteria of multi-system inflammatory syndrome and had a high Paediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score at the time of admission. The initial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result was positive for COVID-19 in most patients (97.7%), and the remaining two patients had positive result in the repeated confirmatory test. In a subset of patients (20 subjects), repeated PCR testing was performed until conversion to negative result, and the average duration for conversion was 8 (95% CI: 5.2-10.5) days Children requiring PICU admission presented with signs of respiratory distress, dehydration, and heart failure. Most had fever (71.4%) and tonsillitis; 61.4% were discharged within 7 days of hospitalisation. Risk factors for mortality included skin rash, hypotension, hypoxia, signs of heart failure, chest radiograph suggestive of acute respiratory distress syndrome, anaemia, leucocytosis, hypernatraemia, abnormal liver enzymes, and high troponin I, and risk factors for prolonged hospitalisation (>7 days) included the presence of comorbidities, leucopaenia, hyponatraemia, and elevated C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of hospitalised children had a brief febrile illness and made a full recovery, but a minority had severe disease.

Suitcase Lab for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Based on Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay.

In March 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak was declared as a world pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The only measures for controlling the outbreak are testing and isolation of infected cases. Molecular real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are very sensitive but require highly equipped laboratories and well-trained personnel. In this study, a rapid point-of-need detection method was developed to detect the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), envelope protein (E), and nucleocapsid protein (N) genes of SARS-CoV-2 based on the reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay. RdRP, E, and N RT-RPA assays required approximately 15 min to amplify 2, 15, and 15 RNA molecules of molecular standard/reaction, respectively. RdRP and E RT-RPA assays detected SARS-CoV-1 and 2 genomic RNA, whereas the N RT-RPA assay identified only SARS-CoV-2 RNA. All established assays did not cross-react with nucleic acids of other respiratory pathogens. The RT-RPA assay's clinical sensitivity and specificity in comparison to real-time RT-PCR (n = 36) were 94 and 100% for RdRP; 65 and 77% for E; and 83 and 94% for the N RT-RPA assay. The assays were deployed to the field, where the RdRP RT-RPA assays confirmed to produce the most accurate results in three different laboratories in Africa (n = 89). The RPA assays were run in a mobile suitcase laboratory to facilitate the deployment at point of need. The assays can contribute to speed up the control measures as well as assist in the detection of COVID-19 cases in low-resource settings.

Cinacalcet for Severe Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Children with End-stage Kidney Disease.

Advanced chronic kidney disease with mineral and bone disorder have a significant obstacles to control serum bone profile [serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium and phosphorus] which subsequently have major effect on optimal bone strength, final adult height, and cardiovascular health. A retrospective, observational study, including a total of 36 children with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Fourteen children who were prescribed cinacalcet had been compared with the remaining 22 children who were managed with standard care. We report the efficacy and safety of cinacalcet for treatment of refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in children with ESKD. After 6 months of cinacalcet treatment, the mean level of iPTH serum level decreased by 56% from 202 pmol/L [95% confidence interval (CI): 150-253] to 88 pmol/L (95% CI: 41-136), compared to the change observed in the control group (P <0.001). None of our patients reported serious adverse effects or developed hypocalcemia. Cinacalcet could be an effective and safe alternative to treat severe SHPT in children with ESKD. Further long-term and large-scale studies are necessary to confirm its safety and efficacy.

Comparison of Renal Stones and Nephrocalcinosis in Children: Findings From Two Tertiary Centers in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Renal stones (nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis) and nephrocalcinosis are uncommon in children; however, their incidences in pediatric populations have been increasing. Patients and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study compared the clinical presentation, etiology, and outcomes of childhood nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis with those of nephrocalcinosis. Results: The study included 144 children: 93 with renal stones and 51 with nephrocalcinosis. The mean age at presentation was 72 months and 54 months for children with renal stones and nephrocalcinosis, respectively. A history of consanguinity was found in 65% and 76% of the cases of renal stones and nephrocalcinosis, respectively. Congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) were present in 28 and 9.8% of the patients with renal stones and nephrocalcinosis, respectively. The most common symptoms of renal stones were flank pain (29%), hematuria (15%), and dysuria (11%). Urinary tract infection was the primary presentation in the nephrocalcinosis group (18%), followed by failure to thrive (16%), polyuria (12%), and dehydration (12%). The majority of renal stone cases were caused by metabolic disorders, including hyperoxaluria (18%), cystinuria (18%), hypercalciuria (12%), and hyperuricosuria (2%). In contrast, the most common underlying disorders in cases of nephrocalcinosis were familial hypomagnesemia, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis (35%), distal renal tubular acidosis (23%), and Bartter syndrome (6%). Clinical outcomes were significantly better in children with nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis than in those with nephrocalcinosis, who showed radiological evidence of worsening/persistent calcinosis and progressed more frequently to chronic kidney disease (stage II-IV) and end-stage kidney disease. Conclusion: The average age at presentation for children with renal stones was greater than that for those presenting with nephrocalcinosis. More than 25% of the children with renal stones were found to have CAKUT. Nephrocalcinosis was associated with worse clinical outcomes related to kidney function and disease resolution than nephrolithiasis.