Changes in Treg and Breg cells in a healthy pediatric population.

The interpretation of clinical diagnostic results in suspected inborn errors of immunity, including Tregopathies, is hampered by the lack of age-stratified reference values for regulatory T cells (Treg) in the pediatric population and a consensus on which Treg immunophenotype to use. Regulatory B cells (Breg) are an important component of the regulatory system that have been poorly studied in the pediatric population. We analyzed (1) the correlation between the three immunophenotypic definitions of Treg (CD4+CD25hiCD127low, CD4+CD25hiCD127lowFoxP3+, CD4+CD25hiFoxP3+), and with CD4+CD25hi and (2) the changes in Treg and Breg frequencies and their maturation status with age. We performed peripheral blood immunophenotyping of Treg and Breg (CD19+CD24hiCD38hi) by flow cytometry in 55 healthy pediatric controls. We observed that Treg numbers varied depending on the definition used, and the frequency ranged between 3.3-9.7% for CD4+CD25hiCD127low, 0.07-1.6% for CD4+CD25hiCD127lowFoxP3+, and 0.24-2.83% for CD4+CD25hiFoxP3+. The correlation between the three definitions of Treg was positive for most age ranges, especially between the two intracellular panels and with CD4+CD25hi vs CD4+CD25hiCD127low. Treg and Breg frequencies tended to decline after 7 and 3 years onwards, respectively. Treg's maturation status increased with age, with a decline of naïve Treg and an increase in memory/effector Treg from age 7 onwards. Memory Breg increased progressively from age 3 onwards. In conclusion, the number of Treg frequencies spans a wide range depending on the immunophenotypic definition used despite a good level of correlation exists between them. The decline in numbers and maturation process with age occurs earlier in Breg than in Treg.

Expected impact of immunomodulatory agents during pregnancy: A newborn's perspective.

The neonatal immune ontogeny begins during pregnancy to ensure that the neonate is well-suited for perinatal life. It prioritizes Th2/M2 and regulatory responses over Th/M1 activity to avoid excessive inflammatory responses and to ensure immune tolerance and homeostasis. Newborns also present increased Th17/Th22 responses providing effective anti-fungal immunity and mucosal protection. Intrauterine exposure to immune modulatory drugs with the placental transfer may influence the natural course of the fetal immune development. The vertical transfer of both biological therapy and small molecules begins during the first trimester through neonatal Fc receptor or placental diffusion, respectively, reaching its maximum transfer potential during the third trimester of pregnancy. Most of the biological therapy have a prolonged half-life in newborn's blood, being detectable in infants up to 12 months after birth (usually 6-9 months). The use of immunomodulators during pregnancy is gaining global interest. Current evidence mainly reports birth-related outcomes without exhaustive analysis of the on-target side effect on the perinatal immune system ontogeny, the infection risk, or the immune dysregulation. The present review will focus on: (1) the main characteristics of the perinatal immune system to understand its specific features and vulnerabilities to immune modulation; (2) the mechanisms of placental transfer of immunomodulators; and (3) the immune changes reported to date in newborns exposed to immunomodulators with emphasis on the current concerns and gaps in knowledge.

[Consultations for digestive foreign bodies ingestion in a pediatric emergency department.] / Consultas por ingestión de cuerpos extraños digestivos en unas urgencias pediátricas.

OBJECTIVE: Foreign body (FB) ingestion distresses many families who consult the emergency department promptly. The objective of the study is to determine the epidemiological characteristics of children who consult due to suspected FB intake and its consequences. METHODS: Descriptive-observational study, carried out in a third-level maternal and child center. Emergency reports were selected from patients under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of discharge "Ingesta CE" (code 938 CIM-9-MC until May 2018; code T18.9XXA CIM-10-MC later) from 1/1/2017 until 12/31/2018. Miscoded and reconsultations within the same episode were excluded. Data was analysed with the statistics program SPSS 25.0. RESULTS: 458 cases were included; median age 3.8 years (p25-75: 1.9-6.6 years); 267 (58.3%) males. 78.9% consulted in the first 6 hours after intake. Accidental cause was reported in 98.9% of cases. In 96.7% a single FB was ingested. The most frequent types of object were metallic (46.7%), plastics (16.4%) and food bones/shells (12.9%). The 23.6% of FB involved were sharp/pointed. 49.1% of the patients presented symptoms. A complementary test was performed in 69.4%, especially radiographs (63.5%). Metal detector was used in 10%. 9.6% required endoscopy. 90.4% were discharged from the emergency department, with 12.1% of reconsultations. CONCLUSIONS: Consultations for FB ingestion are relatively frequent in the emergency department and, although most of them are discharged, many patients require complementary tests and a non-negligible number, endoscopy. The patient's profile is that of a preschooler who spontaneously goes to the emergency room due to an accidental ingestion of a blunt metallic object.

OBJETIVO: La ingestión de un cuerpo extraño (CE) angustia a muchas familias que consultan con premura a Urgencias. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar las características epidemiológicas de los niños que consultaban por sospecha de ingesta de CE y sus consecuencias. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo-observacional, realizado en un centro materno-infantil de tercer nivel. Se seleccionaron los informes de Urgencias de pacientes menores de 18 años con diagnóstico de alta por "Ingesta CE" (código 938 CIM-9-MC hasta mayo 2018; código T18.9XXA CIM-10-MC posteriormente) del 1/1/2017 al 31/12/2018. Los datos fueron analizados con el programa estadístico SPSS 25.0. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 458 casos. La edad mediana fue de 3,8 años (p25-75: 1,9-6,6 años); 267 personas (58,3%) fueron varones. El 78,9% consultaron durante las 6 horas posteriores a la ingesta. Refirieron causa accidental el 98,9% los casos. En el 96,7%, la ingesta fue de un único CE. Los objetos más frecuentes fueron metálicos (46,7%), plásticos (16,4%) y huesos/cáscaras de alimentos (12,9%). El 23,6% de CE implicados fueron afilados/puntiagudos. El 49,1% de los pacientes presentaron algún síntoma. Se realizó alguna prueba complementaria en un 69,4% de los casos, sobre todo radiografías (63,5%). Se usó el detector de metales en el 10%. El 9,6% precisó endoscopia. El 90,4% fue dado de alta desde Urgencias, con un 12,1% de reconsultas. CONCLUSIONES: Las consultas por ingestión de CE son relativamente frecuentes en Urgencias y, aunque la mayoría son dados de alta, muchos pacientes requieren pruebas complementarias, y un número no despreciable, necesita endoscopia. El perfil del paciente es el de un varón en edad preescolar que acude espontáneamente a Urgencias por ingesta accidental de un objeto romo metálico.