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OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of burnout, anxiety and depression symptoms, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in PICU workers in Brazil during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. To compare the results of subgroups stratified by age, gender, professional category, health system, and previous mental health disorders. DESIGN: Multicenter, cross-sectional study using an electronic survey. SETTING: Twenty-nine public and private Brazilian PICUs. SUBJECTS: Multidisciplinary PICU workers. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Self-reported questionnaires were used to measure burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition [PCL-5]) in 1,084 respondents. Subjects were mainly young (37.1 ± 8.4 yr old) and females (85%), with a median workload of 50 hours per week. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 33% and 19%, respectively, whereas PTSD was 13%. The overall median burnout scores were high in the emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment dimensions (16 [interquartile range (IQR), 8-24] and 40 [IQR, 33-44], respectively) whereas low in the depersonalization one (2 [IQR, 0-5]), suggesting a profile of overextended professionals, with a burnout prevalence of 24%. Professionals reporting prior mental health disorders had higher prevalence of burnout (30% vs 22%; p = 0.02), anxiety (51% vs 29%; p < 0.001), and depression symptoms (32.5% vs 15%; p < 0.001), with superior PCL-5 scores for PTSD ( p < 0.001). Public hospital workers presented more burnout (29% vs 18.6%, p < 0.001) and more PTSD levels (14.8% vs 10%, p = 0.03). Younger professionals were also more burned out ( p < 0.05 in all three dimensions). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of mental health disorders in Brazilian PICU workers during the first 2020 peak of COVID-19 was as high as those described in adult ICU workers. Some subgroups, particularly those reporting previous mental disorders and younger professionals, should receive special attention to prevent future crises.
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Esgotamento Profissional , COVID-19 , Feminino , Humanos , Criança , Saúde Mental , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Pandemias , Prevalência , Estudos Transversais , Esgotamento Profissional/epidemiologia , Esgotamento Profissional/psicologia , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica , Pessoal de Saúde/psicologiaRESUMO
Clinical presentation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pediatric immunosuppressed patients is unknown. Emerging data describe a milder or asymptomatic course in children compared with adults in this scenario. We present the seroprevalence and clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 in a prospective cohort of 114 immunosuppressed children and adolescents from three groups: kidney transplantation, liver transplantation, and cancer patients. Among the thirty-five (30.7%) patients who had a positive serological test for SARS-CoV-2, 77% did not report previous symptoms and none of them developed any complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after 30 or more days of follow-up. Among those who were symptomatic, diarrhea, fever, and cough were the most common findings.Conclusion: Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection is high among immunosuppressed children and adolescents. COVID-19 has a mild or asymptomatic course in most of these patients. What is Known: ⢠The number of immunosuppressed patients with coronavirus disease 2019 is increasing. ⢠Viral infections have the potential for greater severity in immunocompromised children. What is New: ⢠Seroprevalence for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in immunocompromised pediatric patients was 31%. ⢠A quarter of the serology-positive patients reported mild symptoms and none of them developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with coronavirus disease 2019.
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COVID-19 , Neoplasias , Transplante de Órgãos , Adolescente , Adulto , Criança , Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Humanos , Neoplasias/epidemiologia , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Estudos Prospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Síndrome de Resposta Inflamatória SistêmicaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the frequency of delirium detected by pediatric intensivists, based only on their clinical experience, without a valid and reliable tool. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, descriptive, observational study. SETTINGS: Three PICUs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PATIENTS: Twenty-nine days to 18 years old. INTERVENTIONS: Electronic forms were sent weekly to the pediatric intensivists responsible for the daily care of patients from March to September 2015, to fill in information about the presence of risk factors and diagnosis of delirium in all patients who remained in the PICU in the last week. Demographics and other clinical data were extracted from an electronic system. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 504 admissions in the three PICUs (477 patients) were included. The pediatric intensivists reported only two episodes of delirium in two different patients, based on insufficient criteria. Considering all PICUs admissions, the reported frequency of delirium was only 0.4% (2/504). CONCLUSIONS: The low frequency of delirium detection and the insufficient criteria used for the diagnosis in these units suggest flaws in the recognition of delirium and probably the occurrence of underdiagnosis/misdiagnosis when it is based only on clinical experience, without the use of a valid and reliable tool.
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Delírio , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica , Adolescente , Brasil , Criança , Delírio/diagnóstico , Delírio/epidemiologia , Humanos , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To determine the validity and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU for diagnosing delirium in patients with chronological and developmental ages from 5 to 17 years in Brazilian PICUs. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Eight Brazilian PICUs (seven in Rio de Janeiro and one in São Paulo). PATIENTS: One-hundred sixteen patients, 5-17 years old, without developmental delay, submitted to mechanical ventilation or not. INTERVENTIONS: To assess the inter-observer reliability, two previously trained researchers concomitantly applied the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU and independently rated the same patient. To assess the criterion validity, a pediatric neurologist or psychiatrist, blinded to the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU assessments, evaluated the same patient within 30 minutes, using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, considered the reference standard. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One-hundred forty-nine paired assessments were included (some patients had more than one). Delirium was diagnosed in 11 of 149 assessments (7%), or eight of 116 patients (7%), using both the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. There was one false positive and one false negative diagnosis, which resulted in 90.9% sensitivity (95% CI, 58.7-99.8%) and 99.3% specificity (95% CI, 96-100%) for the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. The inter-rater reliability was considered almost perfect (κ = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU is a valid and reliable tool for diagnosing delirium in pediatric patients 5-17 years old who are spontaneously breathing and not pharmacologically sedated in Brazilian PICUs. The implementation of this tool may be useful to reduce underdiagnosis, ensure monitoring and earlier intervention, provide a better prognosis, and improve research on delirium in this age group in Brazil. Further studies are necessary to test the psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU in sedated and mechanically ventilated children.
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Delírio/diagnóstico , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica , Adolescente , Brasil , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Confusão/diagnóstico , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Psicometria , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Respiração Artificial , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeAssuntos
Transtornos da Consciência , Insuficiência de Múltiplos Órgãos , Sepse , Humanos , Insuficiência de Múltiplos Órgãos/etiologia , Insuficiência de Múltiplos Órgãos/diagnóstico , Sepse/complicações , Criança , Transtornos da Consciência/etiologia , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica , Doença AgudaRESUMO
AIM: To present a systematic review on the validity of triage systems for paediatric emergency care. METHODS: Search in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Nursing Database Index (BDENF) and Spanish Health Sciences Bibliographic Index (IBECS) for articles in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish with no time limit. Validity studies of five-level triage systems for patients 0-18 years old were included. Two reviewers performed data extraction and quality assessment as recommended by PRISMA statement. RESULTS: We found 25 studies on seven triage systems: Manchester Triage System (MTS); paediatric version of Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (PedCTAS) and its adaptation for Taiwan (paediatric version of the Taiwan Triage and Acuity System); Emergency Severity Index version 4 (ESI v.4); Soterion Rapid Triage System and South African Triage Scale and its adaptation for Bostwana (Princess Marina Triage Scale). Only studies on the MTS used a reference standard for urgency, while all systems were evaluated using a proxy outcome for urgency such as admission. Over half of all studies were low quality. The MTS, PedCTAS and ESI v.4 presented the largest number of moderate and high quality studies. The three tools performed better in their countries or near them, showing a consistent association with hospitalisation and resource utilisation. Studies of all three tools found that patients at the lowest urgency levels were hospitalised, reflecting undertriage. CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence to corroborate the validity of the MTS, PedCTAS and ESI v.4 for paediatric emergency care in their own countries or near them. Efforts to improve the sensitivity and to minimise the undertriage rates should continue. Cross-cultural adaptation is necessary when adopting these triage systems in other countries.
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Serviços Médicos de Emergência/métodos , Pediatria/normas , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Triagem/métodos , Triagem/normas , Serviços Médicos de Emergência/normas , Humanos , Pediatria/métodos , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaAssuntos
Clonidina , Estado Terminal , Analgésicos , Criança , Humanos , Hipnóticos e Sedativos , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica , RotaçãoAssuntos
Sepse , Choque Séptico , Criança , Humanos , Insuficiência de Múltiplos Órgãos , VasoconstritoresRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate exclusive breastfeeding at discharge and hospital length-of-stay in preterm infants undergoing or not the Kangaroo-Mother Care Method (KMC). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including preterm infants < 1800 g admitted to the neonatal unit of a KMC reference center. The infants were grouped into the KMC group and the non-KMC group. Multiple logistic and Poisson regressions were performed to evaluate the association between the KMC and two outcomes, exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, and hospital length-of-stay, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: 115 mother-infant dyads were included, 78 in the KMC group and 37 in the non-KMC group. In the bivariate analysis, the KMC group had a lower prevalence of maternal adverse conditions (6% vs. 32%, p < 0.001), a higher number of prenatal visits (median 6 vs. 3.5, p < 0.001), higher gestational ages (median 32 vs. 31 weeks, p < 0.05), higher birth weights (median 1530 vs. 1365 g, p < 0.01), a lower prevalence of necrotizing enterocolitis (3.8% vs. 16.2%, p < 0.05), parenteral nutrition (50% vs. 73%, p < 0.05), and deep vascular access (49.7% vs. 78.4%, p < 0.01), a higher prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (65% vs. 8%, p < 0.001) and a shorter length of hospital stay (median 28 vs. 42 days, p < 0.001). In the multiple regression analysis, the KMC group was 23 times more likely to be exclusively breastfed at discharge (OR = 23.1; 95% CI = 4,85-109,93) and had a 19% reduction in the hospital length-of-stay (IDR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.76-0.86) compared to the non-KMC group. CONCLUSIONS: The KMC is associated with better short-term neonatal outcomes and should be encouraged in all Brazilian maternity hospitals.
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Aleitamento Materno , Recém-Nascido Prematuro , Método Canguru , Tempo de Internação , Humanos , Aleitamento Materno/estatística & dados numéricos , Tempo de Internação/estatística & dados numéricos , Recém-Nascido , Feminino , Estudos Retrospectivos , Brasil/epidemiologia , Masculino , Adulto , Idade Gestacional , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva NeonatalRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of high-fidelity simulation of pediatric emergencies compared to case-based discussion on the development of self-confidence, theoretical knowledge, clinical reasoning, communication, attitude, and leadership in undergraduate medical students. METHODS: 33 medical students were allocated to two teaching methods: high-fidelity simulation (HFS, n = 18) or case-based discussion (CBD, n = 15). Self-confidence and knowledge tests were applied before and after the interventions and the effect of HFS on both outcomes was estimated with mixed-effect models. An Objective Structured Clinical Examination activity was conducted after the interventions, while two independent raters used specific simulation checklists to assess clinical reasoning, communication, attitude, and leadership. The effect of HFS on these outcomes was estimated with linear and logistic regressions. The effect size was estimated with the Hedge's g. RESULTS: Both groups had an increase in self-confidence (HFS 59.1 × 93.6, p < 0.001; CDB 50.5 × 88.2, p < 0.001) and knowledge scores over time (HFS 45.1 × 63.2, p = 0.001; CDB 43.5 × 56.7, p-value < 0.01), but no difference was observed between groups (group*time effect in the mixed effect models adjusted for the student ranking) for both tests (p = 0.6565 and p = 0.3331, respectively). The simulation checklist scores of the HFS group were higher than those of the CBD group, with large effect sizes in all domains (Hedges g 1.15 to 2.20). CONCLUSION: HFS performed better than CBD in developing clinical reasoning, communication, attitude, and leadership in undergraduate medical students in pediatric emergency care, but no significant difference was observed in self-confidence and theoretical knowledge.
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Competência Clínica , Educação de Graduação em Medicina , Estudantes de Medicina , Humanos , Educação de Graduação em Medicina/métodos , Feminino , Masculino , Emergências , Pediatria/educação , Treinamento com Simulação de Alta Fidelidade/métodos , Comunicação , Avaliação Educacional , Adulto Jovem , Autoimagem , Raciocínio ClínicoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of the triage system CLARIPED in a pediatric population in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Prospective, observational study in a secondary-level pediatric emergency service from Sep-2018 to Ago-2019. A convenience sample of all patients aged 0-18 years triaged by the computerized CLARIPED system was selected. Associations between urgency levels and patient outcomes were analyzed to assess construct validity. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) to identify the most urgent patients were estimated, as well as under-triage and over-triage rates. RESULTS: The distribution of 24,338 visits was: RED 0.02%, ORANGE 0.9%, YELLOW 23.5%, GREEN 47.9%, and BLUE 27.7% (highest to the lowest level of urgency). The frequency of the following outcomes increased with increasing urgency: hospital admission (0.0%, 0.02%, 0.1%, 7.1% and 20%); stay in ED observation room (1.9%, 2,4%, 4.8%, 24.1%, 60%); use of ≥ 2 diagnostic/therapeutic resources (2.3%, 3.0%, 5.9%, 28.8%, 40%); ED length of stay (12, 12, 15, 99.5, 362 min). The most urgent patients (RED, ORANGE, and YELLOW) exhibited higher chances of using ≥ 2 resources (OR 2.55; 95%CI: 2.23-2.92) or of being hospitalized (OR 23.9; 95%CI: 7.17-79.62), compared to the least urgent (GREEN and BLUE). The sensitivity to identify urgency was 0.88 (95%CI: 0.70-0.98); specificity, 0.76 (95%CI: 0.75-0.76); NPV, 0.99 (95%CI: 0.99-1.00); overtriage rate, 23.0%, and undertriage, 11.5%. CONCLUSION: This study corroborates the validity and safety of CLARIPED, demonstrating significant correlations with clinical outcomes, good sensitivity, and low undertriage rate in a secondary-level Brazilian pediatric emergency service.
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Serviços Médicos de Emergência , Triagem , Criança , Humanos , Brasil , Estudos Prospectivos , Serviço Hospitalar de EmergênciaRESUMO
The pronounced change in the profile of hospitalized patients during COVID-19 and the severe respiratory component of this disease, with a great need for mechanical ventilation, led to changes in the consumption pattern of some medicines and supplies. This time-series study analyzed the in-hospital consumption of opioids during the COVID-19 pandemic in 24 Brazilian hospitals compared to the pre-pandemic period. Data included 711,883 adult patients who had opioids prescribed. In 2020, the mean consumption was significantly higher compared to 2019 for parenteral fentanyl, enteral methadone, and parenteral methadone. It was significantly lower for parenteral morphine parenteral sufentanil, and parenteral tramadol. For remifentanil, it did not differ. The number of patients in 2020 was lower but the mean consumption was higher for fentanyl, parenteral methadone, and remifentanil. It was lower for enteral methadone and parenteral sufentanil. The consumption of parenteral morphine and parenteral tramadol was stable. There was a relevant increase in hospital consumption of some potent opioids during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. These results reinforce the concern about epidemiological surveillance of opioid use after periods of increased hospital use since in-hospital consumption can be the gateway to the misuse or other than the prescribed use of opioids after discharge.
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COVID-19 , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides , Tramadol , Adulto , Humanos , Analgésicos Opioides/uso terapêutico , Sufentanil , Brasil/epidemiologia , Pandemias , Remifentanil , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Fentanila , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/tratamento farmacológico , Metadona/uso terapêutico , Morfina , PrescriçõesRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To describe the concept of toxic stress, present the basics of epigenetics and discuss their relationship with child development. DATA SOURCE: Narrative literature review through a search in the SciELO, Lilacs, Medline databases using the terms Adverse Childhood Experience OR Early Life Stress, Epigenomic OR Epigenetic, Child Development OR Infant Development. DATA SYNTHESIS: Continuing stress response, known as toxic stress, can occur when a child experiences intense, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity-such as physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, for example-without adequate adult support. This toxic stress can have harmful effects on learning, behavior, and health throughout life. Epigenetics, an emerging scientific research areaâ, shows how environmental influences affect gene expressions and explains how early experiences can impact throughout life. CONCLUSIONS: Toxic stress causes changes in the human body response systems that can be explained in part by epigenetic changes, which can be temporary or long-lasting. Pediatricians must be aware of these mechanisms and their consequences, seeking to prevent them and thus promote the health, well-being, and quality of life of children, contributing to their full development.
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Experiências Adversas da Infância , Maus-Tratos Infantis , Adulto , Criança , Desenvolvimento Infantil , Epigênese Genética , Epigenômica , Humanos , Lactente , Qualidade de VidaRESUMO
Objective: To estimate the incidence of retinoblastoma in children and adolescents in Brazil based on Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR), describing temporal trends and some quality indicators of this registry. Methods: Based on secondary data from the PBCR of the National Institute of Cancer (INCA) (2000-2018), by selecting the morphological code of retinoblastoma, the annual incidences per million (0-19 years of age) in each local PBCR were estimated by sex and age group, global combined and by region, in addition to the percentage of diagnosis only by death certificate (DC) or not informed (NI), and the male/female ratio (M/F). An annual incidence trend in the five Brazilian geographic regions was also analyzed using the inflection point regression technique. Results: 675 patients were identified in 28 PBCR, 91% between 0 and 4 years of age. The overall combined incidence per million by age group was: 7.02 (0-4 years old), ranging from 5.25 in the Midwest to 11.26 in the Northeast; 0.46 (5-9 years old); 0.05 (10-14 years old) and 0.03 (15-19 years old). The combined incidence per million, adjusted for the world population, was 2.23 (0-14 years old) and 2.24 (0-19 years old). The DC and NI percentages were 13% and 18%, respectively; the M/F ratio was 1.3. The incidence remained stable throughout the study period, except for the city of São Paulo, where there was a significant reduction of 3.4% per year. Conclusions: In Brazil, except for the Northeast region, the incidences of retinoblastoma were lower than those reported in several countries worldwide, suggesting possible underreporting, and the time series analysis showed a stable trend. Although this pioneering study brings a recent panel of available data on retinoblastoma in Brazil, more precise estimates are needed and welcome for better planning of onco-ophthalmologic care in the country.
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Importance: Targeted analgosedation is a challenge in critically ill children, and this challenge becomes even more significant with drug shortages. Observations: Published guidelines inform the provision of analgosedation in critically ill children. This review provides insights into general approaches using these guidelines during drug shortages in Pediatric Intensive Care Units as well as strategies to optimize both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches in these situations. Conclusions and relevance: Considering that drug shortages are a recurrent worldwide problem, this review may guide managing these drugs in critically ill children in situations of scarcity, such as in pandemics or disasters.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of the computerized version of the pediatric triage system CLARIPED. METHODS: Prospective, observational study in a tertiary emergency department (ED) from Jan-2018 to Jan-2019. A convenience sample of patients aged 0-18 years who had computerized triage and outcome variables registered. Construct validity was assessed through the association between urgency levels and patient outcomes. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), undertriage, and overtriage rates were assessed. RESULTS: 19,122 of 38,321 visits were analyzed. The urgency levels were: RED (emergency) 0.02%, ORANGE (high urgency) 3.21%, YELLOW (urgency) 35.69%, GREEN (low urgency) 58.46%, and BLUE (no urgency) 2.62%. The following outcomes increased according to the increase in the level of urgency: hospital admission (0.4%, 0.6%, 3.1%, 11.9% and 25%), stay in the ED observation room (2.8%, 4.7%, 15.9%, 40.4%, 50%), ≥ 2 diagnostic or therapeutic resources (7.8%, 16.5%, 33.7%, 60.6%, 75%), and ED length of stay in minutes (18, 24, 67, 120, 260). The odds of using ≥ 2 resources or being hospitalized were significantly greater in the most urgent patients (Red, Orange, and Yellow) compared to the least urgent (Green and Blue): OR 7.88 (95%CI: 5.35-11.6) and OR 2.85 (95%CI: 2.63-3.09), respectively. The sensitivity to identify urgency was 0.82 (95%CI: 0.77-0.85); specificity, 0.62 (95%CI: 0.61-0.6; NPV, 0.99 (95%CI: 0.99-1.00); overtriage rate, 4.28% and undertriage, 18.41%. CONCLUSION: The computerized version of CLARIPED is a valid and safe pediatric triage system, with a significant correlation with clinical outcomes, good sensitivity, and low undertriage rate.
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Serviços Médicos de Emergência , Triagem , Criança , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Hospitalização , Humanos , Estudos ProspectivosRESUMO
Adverse experiences in the perinatal period have been associated with the methylation of the human glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and long-term diseases. We conducted a systematic review on the association between adversities in the perinatal period and DNA methylation in the 1 F region of the NR3C1 gene in newborns. We explored the MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, and Lilacs databases without time or language limitations. Two independent reviewers performed the selection of articles and data extraction. A third participated in the methodological quality assessment and consensus meetings at all stages. Finally, ten studies were selected. Methodological quality was considered moderate in six and low in four. Methylation changes were reported in 41 of the 47 CpG sites of exon 1 F. Six studies addressed maternal conditions during pregnancy: two reported methylation changes at the same sites (CpG 10, 13, 20, 21 and 47), and four at one or more sites from CpG 35 to 39. Four studies addressed neonatal parameters and morbidities: methylation changes at the same sites 4, 8, 10, 16, 25, and 35 were reported in two. Hypermethylation associated with stressful conditions prevailed. Hypomethylation was more often associated with protective conditions (maternal-foetal attachment during pregnancy, breast milk intake, higher birth weight or Apgar). In conclusion, methylation changes in several sites of the 1 F region of the NR3C1 gene in newborns and very young infants were associated with perinatal stress, but more robust and comparable results are needed to corroborate site-specific associations.
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Metilação de DNA , Receptores de Glucocorticoides , Éxons , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Gravidez , Processamento de Proteína Pós-Traducional , Receptores de Glucocorticoides/genética , Receptores de Glucocorticoides/metabolismoRESUMO
To date, no specific diagnostic criteria for sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) have been established. We studied 33 pediatric patients with sepsis prospectively and evaluated the level of consciousness, the presence of delirium, electroencephalographic (EEG) findings, and plasma levels of neuron-specific enolase and S100-calcium-binding protein-B. A presumptive diagnosis of SAE was primarily considered in the presence of a decreased level of consciousness and/or delirium (clinical criteria), but specific EEG abnormalities were also considered (EEG criteria). The time course of the biomarkers was compared between groups with and without clinical or EEG criteria. The Functional Status Scale (FSS) was assessed at admission, discharge, and 3-6 months post-discharge. Clinical criteria were identified in 75.8% of patients, EEG criteria in 26.9%, both in 23.1%, and none in 23.1%. Biomarkers did not differ between groups. Three patients had an abnormal FSS at discharge, but no one on follow-up. A definitive diagnostic pattern for SAE remained unclear. Clinical criteria should be the basis for diagnosis, but sedation may be a significant confounder, also affecting EEG interpretation. The role of biomarkers requires a better definition. The diagnosis of SAE in pediatric patients remains a major challenge. New consensual diagnostic definitions and mainly prognostic studies are needed.