Early postoperative beta-blockers are associated with improved cardiac output after late complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot: a retrospective cohort study.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. For decades, our institution has cared for humanitarian patients with late presentation of tetralogy of Fallot. They are characterized by severe right ventricular hypertrophy with consecutive diastolic dysfunction, increasing the risk of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS). By right ventricular restrictive physiology, we hypothesized that patients receiving early postoperative beta-blockers (within 48 h after cardiopulmonary bypass) may have better diastolic function and cardiac output. This is a retrospective cohort study in a single-center tertiary pediatric intensive care unit. We included > 1-year-old humanitarian patients with a confirmed diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot undergoing a complete surgical repair between 2005 and 2019. We measured demographic data, preoperative echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization measures, postoperative mean heart rate, vasoactive-inotropic scores, LCOS scores, length of stay, and mechanical ventilation duration. One hundred sixty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-nine patients (36%) received early postoperative beta-blockers, associated with a lower mean heart rate, higher vasoactive-inotropic scores, and lower LCOS scores during the first 48 h following cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no significant difference in lengths of stay and ventilation. Conclusion: Early postoperative beta-blockers lower the prevalence of postoperative LCOS at the expense of a higher need for vasoactive drugs without any consequence on length of stay and ventilation duration. This approach may benefit the specific population of children undergoing a late complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot. What is Known: • Prevalence of low cardiac output syndrome is high following a late complete surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot. What is New: • Early postoperative beta-blockade is associated with lower heart rate, prolonged relaxation time, and lower prevalence of low cardiac output syndrome. • Negative chronotropic agents like beta-blockers may benefit selected patients undergoing a late complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot, who are numerous in low-income countries.

Dynamics of disease characteristics and clinical management of critically ill COVID-19 patients over the time course of the pandemic: an analysis of the prospective, international, multicentre RISC-19-ICU registry.

BACKGROUND: It remains elusive how the characteristics, the course of disease, the clinical management and the outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) worldwide have changed over the course of the pandemic. METHODS: Prospective, observational registry constituted by 90 ICUs across 22 countries worldwide including patients with a laboratory-confirmed, critical presentation of COVID-19 requiring advanced organ support. Hierarchical, generalized linear mixed-effect models accounting for hospital and country variability were employed to analyse the continuous evolution of the studied variables over the pandemic. RESULTS: Four thousand forty-one patients were included from March 2020 to September 2021. Over this period, the age of the admitted patients (62 [95% CI 60-63] years vs 64 [62-66] years, p < 0.001) and the severity of organ dysfunction at ICU admission decreased (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment 8.2 [7.6-9.0] vs 5.8 [5.3-6.4], p < 0.001) and increased, while more female patients (26 [23-29]% vs 41 [35-48]%, p < 0.001) were admitted. The time span between symptom onset and hospitalization as well as ICU admission became longer later in the pandemic (6.7 [6.2-7.2| days vs 9.7 [8.9-10.5] days, p < 0.001). The PaO2/FiO2 at admission was lower (132 [123-141] mmHg vs 101 [91-113] mmHg, p < 0.001) but showed faster improvements over the initial 5 days of ICU stay in late 2021 compared to early 2020 (34 [20-48] mmHg vs 70 [41-100] mmHg, p = 0.05). The number of patients treated with steroids and tocilizumab increased, while the use of therapeutic anticoagulation presented an inverse U-shaped behaviour over the course of the pandemic. The proportion of patients treated with high-flow oxygen (5 [4-7]% vs 20 [14-29], p < 0.001) and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (14 [11-18]% vs 24 [17-33]%, p < 0.001) throughout the pandemic increased concomitant to a decrease in invasive mechanical ventilation (82 [76-86]% vs 74 [64-82]%, p < 0.001). The ICU mortality (23 [19-26]% vs 17 [12-25]%, p < 0.001) and length of stay (14 [13-16] days vs 11 [10-13] days, p < 0.001) decreased over 19 months of the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Characteristics and disease course of critically ill COVID-19 patients have continuously evolved, concomitant to the clinical management, throughout the pandemic leading to a younger, less severely ill ICU population with distinctly different clinical, pulmonary and inflammatory presentations than at the onset of the pandemic.

Genotype-first in a cohort of 95 fetuses with multiple congenital abnormalities: when exome sequencing reveals unexpected fetal phenotype-genotype correlations.

PURPOSE: Molecular diagnosis based on singleton exome sequencing (sES) is particularly challenging in fetuses with multiple congenital abnormalities (MCA). Indeed, some studies reveal a diagnostic yield of about 20%, far lower than in live birth individuals showing developmental abnormalities (30%), suggesting that standard analyses, based on the correlation between clinical hallmarks described in postnatal syndromic presentations and genotype, may underestimate the impact of the genetic variants identified in fetal analyses. METHODS: We performed sES in 95 fetuses with MCA. Blind to phenotype, we applied a genotype-first approach consisting of combined analyses based on variants annotation and bioinformatics predictions followed by reverse phenotyping. Initially applied to OMIM-morbid genes, analyses were then extended to all genes. We complemented our approach by using reverse phenotyping, variant segregation analysis, bibliographic search and data sharing in order to establish the clinical significance of the prioritised variants. RESULTS: sES rapidly identified causal variant in 24/95 fetuses (25%), variants of unknown significance in OMIM genes in 8/95 fetuses (8%) and six novel candidate genes in 6/95 fetuses (6%). CONCLUSIONS: This method, based on a genotype-first approach followed by reverse phenotyping, shed light on unexpected fetal phenotype-genotype correlations, emphasising the relevance of prenatal studies to reveal extreme clinical presentations associated with well-known Mendelian disorders.

Implications of early respiratory support strategies on disease progression in critical COVID-19: a matched subanalysis of the prospective RISC-19-ICU cohort.

BACKGROUND: Uncertainty about the optimal respiratory support strategies in critically ill COVID-19 patients is widespread. While the risks and benefits of noninvasive techniques versus early invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) are intensely debated, actual evidence is lacking. We sought to assess the risks and benefits of different respiratory support strategies, employed in intensive care units during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic on intubation and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality rates. METHODS: Subanalysis of a prospective, multinational registry of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Patients were subclassified into standard oxygen therapy ≥10 L/min (SOT), high-flow oxygen therapy (HFNC), noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIV), and early IMV, according to the respiratory support strategy employed at the day of admission to ICU. Propensity score matching was performed to ensure comparability between groups. RESULTS: Initially, 1421 patients were assessed for possible study inclusion. Of these, 351 patients (85 SOT, 87 HFNC, 87 NIV, and 92 IMV) remained eligible for full analysis after propensity score matching. 55% of patients initially receiving noninvasive respiratory support required IMV. The intubation rate was lower in patients initially ventilated with HFNC and NIV compared to those who received SOT (SOT: 64%, HFNC: 52%, NIV: 49%, p = 0.025). Compared to the other respiratory support strategies, NIV was associated with a higher overall ICU mortality (SOT: 18%, HFNC: 20%, NIV: 37%, IMV: 25%, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of critically ill patients with COVID-19, a trial of HFNC appeared to be the most balanced initial respiratory support strategy, given the reduced intubation rate and comparable ICU mortality rate. Nonetheless, considering the uncertainty and stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, SOT and early IMV represented safe initial respiratory support strategies. The presented findings, in agreement with classic ARDS literature, suggest that NIV should be avoided whenever possible due to the elevated ICU mortality risk.

A stereotyped light chain may shape virus-specific B-cell receptors in HCV-dependent lymphoproliferative disorders.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) expressing stereotyped B-cell receptors (BCRs) endowed with rheumatoid factor (RF) activity and putatively recognizing the HCV E2 protein. To further untangle the shaping and function of these BCRs, we analyzed immunoglobulin gene rearrangements of monoclonal B cells from 13 patients with HCV-associated LPDs and correlated their features with the clinical outcomes of antiviral therapy. While only two patients shared a stereotyped heavy-chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) sequence, two kappa chain CDR3 stereotyped sequences accounted for 77% of BCRs. Light chains were enriched in sequences homologous to anti-HCV E2 antibodies compared with heavy chains (7/13 vs. 0/13; p = 0.005). Anti-HCV E2 homology was uniquely associated (7/7 vs. 0/6; p = 0.0006) with a stereotyped CDR3 sequence encoded by IGKV3-20/3D-20 gene(s) accounting for 54% of BCRs. An IGKV3-15/IGKJ1-encoded stereotyped sequence homologous to WA RF accounted for 23% of BCRs. LPDs expressing KCDR3s homologous to anti-HCV E2 antibodies responded more frequently to the eradication of HCV by antiviral therapy (6/6 vs. 1/6; p = 0.015). These findings, although limited by the small sample size, suggest that a stereotyped KCDR3 may predominantly shape anti-HCV specificity of BCRs, possibly providing a signature that may help identifying bona fide HCV-dependent LPDs.

Risk Factors for Postprocedural Arterial Ischemic Stroke in Children With Cardiac Disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cardiac pathologies are the second most frequent risk factor (RF) in children with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to analyze RFs for AIS in children with cardiac disease and cardiac intervention. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Swiss Neuropediatric Stroke Registry. Patients with cardiac disease and postprocedural AIS registered from 2000 until 2015 were analyzed for the cause of cardiac disease and for potential RFs. RESULTS: Forty-seven out of 78 children with cardiac disease had a cardiac intervention. Of these, 36 presented a postprocedural AIS. Median time from cardiac intervention to symptom onset was 4 days (interquartile range, 2-8.5); time to diagnosis of AIS was 2 days (interquartile range, 0-5.8). Main RFs for postprocedural AIS were hypotension, prosthetic cardiac material, right-to-left shunt, arrhythmias, low cardiac output, and infections. CONCLUSIONS: In children with postprocedural AIS, time to diagnosis was delayed. Most patients presented multiple potentially modifiable RFs as hemodynamic alterations and infections.

How 217 Pediatric Intensivists Manage Anemia at PICU Discharge: Online Responses to an International Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the management of anemia at PICU discharge by pediatric intensivists. DESIGN: Self-administered, online, scenario-based survey. SETTING: PICUs in Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and North America. SUBJECTS: Pediatric intensivists. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Respondents were asked to report their decisions regarding RBC transfusions, iron, and erythropoietin prescription to children ready to be discharged from PICU, who had been admitted for hemorrhagic shock, cardiac surgery, craniofacial surgery, and polytrauma. Clinical and biological variables were altered separately in order to assess their effect on the management of anemia. Two-hundred seventeen responses were analyzed. They reported that the mean (± SEM) transfusion threshold was a hemoglobin level of 6.9 ± 0.09 g/dL after hemorrhagic shock, 7.6 ± 0.10 g/dL after cardiac surgery, 7.0 ± 0.10 g/dL after craniofacial surgery, and 7.0 ± 0.10 g/dL after polytrauma (p < 0.001). The most important increase in transfusion threshold was observed in the presence of a cyanotic heart disease (mean increase ranging from 1.80 to 2.30 g/dL when compared with baseline scenario) or left ventricular dysfunction (mean increase, 1.41-2.15 g/dL). One third of respondents stated that they would not prescribe iron at PICU discharge, regardless of the hemoglobin level or the baseline scenario. Most respondents (69.4-75.0%, depending on the scenario) did not prescribe erythropoietin. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric intensivists state that they use restrictive transfusion strategies at PICU discharge similar to those they use during the acute phase of critical illness. Supplemental iron is less frequently prescribed than RBCs, and prescription of erythropoietin is uncommon. Optimal management of post-PICU anemia is currently unknown. Further studies are required to highlight the consequences of this anemia and to determine appropriate management.

Physicians' perceptions about managing enteral nutrition and the implementation of tools to assist in nutritional decision-making in a paediatric intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: For critically ill children hospitalised in paediatric intensive care units, adequate nutrition reduces their risk of morbidity and mortality. Barriers may impede optimal nutritional support in this population. Moreover, physicians are usually responsible for prescribing nutrition, although they are not experts. Therefore, tools may be used to assist in nutritional decision-making, such as nutrition protocols. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this two-stage qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of physicians about their management of enteral nutrition in a paediatric intensive care unit and the implementation of a nutrition protocol and computerised system. METHODS: This study involved semistructured interviews with physicians at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland. Research dietitians conducted interviews before (stage one) and after (stage two) the implementation of a nutrition protocol and computerised system. During stage one, six junior physicians and five fellows were interviewed. At stage two, 12 junior physicians, 12 fellows, and five senior physicians were interviewed. Interviews were recorded, with data transcribed verbatim before a thematic analysis using a framework method. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from thematic analysis: "nutritional knowledge", "nutritional practices", and "resources to manage nutrition". During stage one, physicians, especially junior physicians, reported a lack of nutritional knowledge for critically ill children and stated that nutritional issues primarily depended on senior physicians, who themselves had various practices. All physicians were in favour of a nutrition protocol and computerised system. At stage two, interviewees stated that they used both tools regularly. They reported improved nutritional knowledge, more systematic and consistent nutritional practices, and increased attention to nutrition. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a nutrition protocol and computerised system by a multiprofessional team helped physicians in the paediatric intensive care unit to manage nutritional support and increase their attention to nutrition.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome: Antenatal presentation of forty-five fetuses with biallelic pathogenic variants in known Bardet-Biedl syndrome genes.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an emblematic ciliopathy associated with retinal dystrophy, obesity, postaxial polydactyly, learning disabilities, hypogonadism and renal dysfunction. Before birth, enlarged/cystic kidneys as well as polydactyly are the hallmark signs of BBS to consider in absence of familial history. However, these findings are not specific to BBS, raising the problem of differential diagnoses and prognosis. Molecular diagnosis during pregnancies remains a timely challenge for this heterogeneous disease (22 known genes). We report here the largest cohort of BBS fetuses to better characterize the antenatal presentation. Prenatal ultrasound (US) and/or autopsy data from 74 fetuses with putative BBS diagnosis were collected out of which molecular diagnosis was established in 51 cases, mainly in BBS genes (45 cases) following the classical gene distribution, but also in other ciliopathy genes (6 cases). Based on this, an updated diagnostic decision tree is proposed. No genotype/phenotype correlation could be established but postaxial polydactyly (82%) and renal cysts (78%) were the most prevalent symptoms. However, autopsy revealed polydactyly that was missed by prenatal US in 55% of the cases. Polydactyly must be carefully looked for in pregnancies with apparently isolated renal anomalies in fetuses.

Risk factors of clinical dysimmune manifestations in a cohort of 86 children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A retrospective study in France.

In this study, we describe the biological immune profiles and clinical dysimmune manifestations (infections, autoimmune diseases, and allergies) of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome with the aim of determining risk factors for clinical events. This retrospective study concerned all the patients with 22q11 deletion syndrome attending the Montpellier University Hospital from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 2014 who had at least one immune investigation before the age of 18. We analyzed the clinical features, biological tests and the course of infections, autoimmunity, and allergy of 86 children. Among these 86 children, 48 (59%) had a low T lymphocyte level. Twenty-nine patients (34%) had a severe infection. The only risk factor for severe infection was the low level of CD4+ T-cells (OR: 3.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.020-11.108]). Eleven patients (13%) developed an autoimmune disease; the only risk factor was an antecedent of severe infection (OR: 4.1; 95% CI [1.099-15.573]). Twenty-three patients (27%) had allergic episodes. A low level of CD8+ T-cells (OR: 3.2; 95% CI [1.07-9.409]) was significantly associated with allergy manifestations. Patients with 22q11 deletion syndrome have a high rate of dysimmune manifestations. We found statistic correlations among CD4+ T-cell count, infectious manifestations, and autoimmunity.

Use of Levosimendan in Postoperative Setting After Surgical Repair of Congenital Heart Disease in Children.

Low cardiac output is one of the most common complications after cardiac surgery. Levosimendan, a new inotrope agent, has been demonstrated in adult patient to be an effective treatment for this purpose when classical therapy is not effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Levosimendan on cardiac output parameters in cardiac children with low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS.). We carried out a retrospective analysis on 62 children hospitalized in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) after cardiac surgery, which demonstrated LCOS not responding to classical catecholamine therapy and who received levosimendan as rescue therapy. LCOS parameters like diuresis, central venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), venous-to-arterial CO2 difference (∆avCO2), and plasmatic lactate were compared before therapy and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after the beginning of the levosimendan infusion. We also analyzed the effect on the Vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), adverse events, and mortality. After the beginning of levosimendan infusion, diuresis (1.1 vs. 3.5 ml/kg/h, p = 0.001) and SvO2 (59.5 vs. 63.3%, p = 0.026) increased significantly during the 24 h of infusion, and at the same time, plasmatic lactate (2.3 vs. 1.3 mmol/l, p < 0.001) decreased. ∆avCO2 (10.8 vs. 9.4 mmHg, p = 0.21) and the VIS (44.5 vs. 22.5, p = 0.143) also decreased, but not significantly. No side effects were noted. The mortality in this patient group was 16%. Levosimendan is an effective treatment in children presenting LCOS after congenital heart surgery. Our study confirms the improvement of cardiac output already shown in other pediatric studies, with no undesirable side effects.

Integrin alpha 8 recessive mutations are responsible for bilateral renal agenesis in humans.

Renal hypodysplasia (RHD) is a heterogeneous condition encompassing a spectrum of kidney development defects including renal agenesis, hypoplasia, and (cystic) dysplasia. Heterozygous mutations of several genes have been identified as genetic causes of RHD with various severity. However, these genes and mutations are not associated with bilateral renal agenesis, except for RET mutations, which could be involved in a few cases. The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to total absence of kidney development thus remain largely elusive. By using a whole-exome sequencing approach in families with several fetuses with bilateral renal agenesis, we identified recessive mutations in the integrin α8-encoding gene ITGA8 in two families. Itga8 homozygous knockout in mice is known to result in absence of kidney development. We provide evidence of a damaging effect of the human ITGA8 mutations. These results demonstrate that mutations of ITGA8 are a genetic cause of bilateral renal agenesis and that, at least in some cases, bilateral renal agenesis is an autosomal-recessive disease.

Performance of Predictive Equations Specifically Developed to Estimate Resting Energy Expenditure in Ventilated Critically Ill Children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, based on indirect calorimetry measurements, the biases of predictive equations specifically developed recently for estimating resting energy expenditure (REE) in ventilated critically ill children, or developed for healthy populations but used in critically ill children. STUDY DESIGN: A secondary analysis study was performed using our data on REE measured in a previous prospective study on protein and energy needs in pediatric intensive care unit. We included 75 ventilated critically ill children (median age, 21 months) in whom 407 indirect calorimetry measurements were performed. Fifteen predictive equations were used to estimate REE: the equations of White, Meyer, Mehta, Schofield, Henry, the World Health Organization, Fleisch, and Harris-Benedict and the tables of Talbot. Their differential and proportional biases (with 95% CIs) were computed and the bias plotted in graphs. The Bland-Altman method was also used. RESULTS: Most equations underestimated and overestimated REE between 200 and 1000 kcal/day. The equations of Mehta, Schofield, and Henry and the tables of Talbot had a bias ≤10%, but the 95% CI was large and contained values by far beyond ±10% for low REE values. Other specific equations for critically ill children had even wider biases. CONCLUSIONS: In ventilated critically ill children, none of the predictive equations tested met the performance criteria for the entire range of REE between 200 and 1000 kcal/day. Even the equations with the smallest bias may entail a risk of underfeeding or overfeeding, especially in the youngest children. Indirect calorimetry measurement must be preferred.

Prospective study of guideline-tailored therapy with direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) vasculitis commonly regresses upon virus eradication, but conventional therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin yields approximately 40% sustained virologic responses (SVR). We prospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral therapy, individually tailored according to the latest guidelines, in a cohort of 44 consecutive patients with HCV-associated MC. In two patients MC had evolved into an indolent lymphoma with monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis. All patients had negative HCV viremia at week 12 (SVR12) and at week 24 (SVR24) posttreatment, at which time all had a clinical response of vasculitis. The mean (±standard deviation) Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score decreased from 5.41 (±3.53) at baseline to 2.35 (±2.25) (P < 0.001) at week 4 on treatment to 1.39 (±1.48) (P < 0.001) at SVR12 and to 1.27 (±1.68) (P < 0.001) at SVR24. The mean cryocrit value fell from 7.2 (±15.4)% at baseline to 2.9 (±7.4)% (P < 0.01) at SVR12 and to 1.8 (±5.1)% (P < 0.001) at SVR24. Intriguingly, in the 2 patients with MC and lymphoma there was a partial clinical response of vasculitis and ∼50% decrease of cryocrit, although none experienced a significant decrease of monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis. Adverse events occurred in 59% of patients and were generally mild, with the exception of 1 patient with ribavirin-related anemia requiring blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: Interferon-free, guideline-tailored therapy with direct-acting antivirals is highly effective and safe for HCV-associated MC patients; the overall 100% rate of clinical response of vasculitis, on an intention-to-treat basis, opens the perspective for curing the large majority of these so far difficult-to-treat patients. (Hepatology 2016;64:1473-1482).

Mutations in CNTNAP1 and ADCY6 are responsible for severe arthrogryposis multiplex congenita with axoglial defects.

Non-syndromic arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is characterized by multiple congenital contractures resulting from reduced fetal mobility. Genetic mapping and whole exome sequencing (WES) were performed in 31 multiplex and/or consanguineous undiagnosed AMC families. Although this approach identified known AMC genes, we here report pathogenic mutations in two new genes. Homozygous frameshift mutations in CNTNAP1 were found in four unrelated families. Patients showed a marked reduction in motor nerve conduction velocity (<10 m/s) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of sciatic nerve in the index cases revealed severe abnormalities of both nodes of Ranvier width and myelinated axons. CNTNAP1 encodes CASPR, an essential component of node of Ranvier domains which underlies saltatory conduction of action potentials along the myelinated axons, an important process for neuronal function. A homozygous missense mutation in adenylate cyclase 6 gene (ADCY6) was found in another family characterized by a lack of myelin in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) as determined by TEM. Morpholino knockdown of the zebrafish orthologs led to severe and specific defects in peripheral myelin in spite of the presence of Schwann cells. ADCY6 encodes a protein that belongs to the adenylate cyclase family responsible for the synthesis of cAMP. Elevation of cAMP can mimic axonal contact in vitro and upregulates myelinating signals. Our data indicate an essential and so far unknown role of ADCY6 in PNS myelination likely through the cAMP pathway. Mutations of genes encoding proteins of Ranvier domains or involved in myelination of Schwann cells are responsible for novel and severe human axoglial diseases.

Treacher Collins syndrome: a clinical and molecular study based on a large series of patients.

PURPOSE: Treacher Collins/Franceschetti syndrome (TCS; OMIM 154500) is a disorder of craniofacial development belonging to the heterogeneous group of mandibulofacial dysostoses. TCS is classically characterized by bilateral mandibular and malar hypoplasia, downward-slanting palpebral fissures, and microtia. To date, three genes have been identified in TCS:,TCOF1, POLR1D, and POLR1C. METHODS: We report a clinical and extensive molecular study, including TCOF1, POLR1D, POLR1C, and EFTUD2 genes, in a series of 146 patients with TCS. Phenotype-genotype correlations were investigated for 19 clinical features, between TCOF1 and POLR1D, and the type of mutation or its localization in the TCOF1 gene. RESULTS: We identified 92/146 patients (63%) with a molecular anomaly within TCOF1, 9/146 (6%) within POLR1D, and none within POLR1C. Among the atypical negative patients (with intellectual disability and/or microcephaly), we identified four patients carrying a mutation in EFTUD2 and two patients with 5q32 deletion encompassing TCOF1 and CAMK2A in particular. Congenital cardiac defects occurred more frequently among patients with TCOF1 mutation (7/92, 8%) than reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: Even though TCOF1 and POLR1D were associated with extreme clinical variability, we found no phenotype-genotype correlation. In cases with a typical phenotype of TCS, 6/146 (4%) remained with an unidentified molecular defect.

Fraser syndrome: features suggestive of prenatal diagnosis in a review of 38 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Fraser syndrome (FS) is a rare malformation recessive disorder. Major criteria are cryptophtalmos, syndactyly, respiratory, genital and urinary tract anomalies. Few prenatal presentations have been reported. METHOD: We analyzed the prenatal and postnatal fetal phenotype in 38 cases of FS, including 25 pregnancy termination cases, 8 intra-uterine death cases and 4 cases that died after birth. RESULTS: Including both prenatal and postnatal fetal phenotypic evaluation, all cases presented dysmorphic features with nose and ear dysplasia. Renal anomalies and syndactyly were present in 37/38 cases, cryptophtalmos in 36/38, airways anomalies in 30/37 and genital anomalies in 30/35 cases. Anomalies of the abdominal wall such as low set umbilicus and omphalocele were found in 31 cases. Among the 26 cases for which ultrasound data were available, detectable anomalies included oligohydramnios (22), ascites/hydrops (9), renal anomalies (20), evidence for high airways obstruction (11), ophthalmologic anomalies (4), ear dysplasia (2) and syndactyly (2). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the postnatal phenotype of FS is very specific, whereas oligohydramnios hampers the prenatal recognition of the cardinal FS diagnosis criteria. Association of oligohydramnios, kidney agenesis and CHAOS should lead to consider this diagnosis. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Persistent left superior vena cava in cardiac congenital surgery.

Persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) is a relatively frequent finding in congenital cardiac malformation. The scope of the study was to analyze the timing of diagnosis of persistent LSVC, the timing of diagnosis of associated anomalies of the coronary sinus, and the global impact on morbidity and mortality of persistent LSVC in children with congenital heart disease after cardiac surgery. Retrospective analysis of a cohort of children after cardiac surgery on bypass for congenital heart disease. Three hundred seventy-one patients were included in the study, and their median age was 2.75 years (IQR 0.65-6.63). Forty-seven children had persistent LSVC (12.7 %), and persistent LSVC was identified on echocardiography before surgery in 39 patients (83 %). In three patients (6.4 %) with persistent LSVC, significant inflow obstruction of the left ventricle developed after surgery leading to low output syndrome or secondary pulmonary hypertension. In eight patients (17 %), persistent LSVC was associated with a partially or completely unroofed coronary sinus and in two cases (4 %) with coronary sinus ostial atresia. Duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly shorter in the control group (1.2 vs. 3.0 days, p = 0.04), whereas length of stay in intensive care did not differ. Mortality was also significantly lower in the control group (2.5 vs. 10.6 %, p = 0.004). The results of study show that persistent LSVC in association with congenital cardiac malformation increases the risk of mortality in children with cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass. Recognition of a persistent LSVC and its associated anomalies is mandatory to avoid complications during or after cardiac surgery.

Seizures in Children with Influenza during the 2022-2023 Winter Season, a Case Series.

Influenza is a viral infection presenting with general symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and involvement of airways or the gastrointestinal tract. The nervous system may be involved, but less frequently. These neurological complications remain challenging to diagnose; moreover, no guidelines for management and treatment exist. Therefore, when presenting with neurological symptoms, patients undergo invasive diagnostic procedures and empirical treatments before making the correct diagnosis. During the winter of 2022-2023, four children between nine months and nine years of age were admitted to the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, complaining of influenza and neurological complications. This report presents the symptoms of neurological manifestation and the treatment management of the four patients. All the legally authorized representatives gave their written informed consent before study inclusion.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Parents of Children With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Data on COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among parents of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) are limited. In this cohort of children with MIS-C, enrolled in the Swissped RECOVERY trial (NCT04826588), comparing intravenous immunoglobulins or methylprednisolone, who, in accordance with Swiss guidelines, were recommended for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, 65% (73/112) of parents reported being vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 before the MIS-C, while 70% were vaccinated after the MIS-C episode of their child. None of the children were vaccinated before the occurrence of the MIS-C, and only 9% (5/56) received the COVID-19 vaccine after the MIS-C. The predominant barriers to COVID-19 vaccination were concerns over potential side effects and insufficient support from their doctors. This emphasizes the crucial role of health care providers in promoting COVID-19 vaccination among children.