Chest X-Ray-Based Telemedicine Platform for Pediatric Tuberculosis Diagnosis in Low-Resource Settings: Development and Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and death worldwide, with a significant impact on children, especially those under the age of 5 years. The complex diagnosis of pediatric TB, compounded by limited access to more accurate diagnostic tests, underscores the need for improved tools to enhance diagnosis and care in resource-limited settings. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to present a telemedicine web platform, BITScreen PTB (Biomedical Image Technologies Screen for Pediatric Tuberculosis), aimed at improving the evaluation of pulmonary TB in children based on digital chest x-ray (CXR) imaging and clinical information in resource-limited settings. METHODS: The platform was evaluated by 3 independent expert readers through a retrospective assessment of a data set with 218 imaging examinations of children under 3 years of age, selected from a previous study performed in Mozambique. The key aspects assessed were the usability through a standardized questionnaire, the time needed to complete the assessment through the platform, the performance of the readers to identify TB cases based on the CXR, the association between the TB features identified in the CXRs and the initial diagnostic classification, and the interreader agreement of the global assessment and the radiological findings. RESULTS: The platform's usability and user satisfaction were evaluated using a questionnaire, which received an average rating of 4.4 (SD 0.59) out of 5. The average examination completion time ranged from 35 to 110 seconds. In addition, the study on CXR showed low sensitivity (16.3%-28.2%) but high specificity (91.1%-98.2%) in the assessment of the consensus case definition of pediatric TB using the platform. The CXR finding having a stronger association with the initial diagnostic classification was air space opacification (χ21>20.38, P<.001). The study found varying levels of interreader agreement, with moderate/substantial agreement for air space opacification (κ=0.54-0.67) and pleural effusion (κ=0.43-0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the promising role of telemedicine platforms such as BITScreen PTB in enhancing pediatric TB diagnosis access, particularly in resource-limited settings. Additionally, these platforms could facilitate the multireader and systematic assessment of CXR in pediatric TB clinical studies.

Colchicine as rescue treatment in two pediatric patients with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO).

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare idiopathic autoinflammatory bone disease characterised by noninfective inflammation of bones. Diagnostic approach is challenging and requires exclusion of other causes such as malignancies or infections. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are usually applied as first-line therapy in CRMO patients; however, some cases require more intensive therapy with second-line agents to control disease activity. We hereby describe the use of colchicine as a nonconventional second-line disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in two pediatric patients with CRMO refractory to NSAIDs and corticosteroids. Our data indicate that colchicine might prove an important area for future research as a potential therapeutic option with easy administration, low cost, and a good safety profile in CRMO patients refractory to first-line therapy.

Chronic Q Fever as Recurrent Osteoarticular Infection in Children: Case Report and Literature Review.

Q fever osteomyelitis has been rarely reported in children. This infection has an unclear pathophysiology and the optimal therapy is unknown. We report a 2-year-old girl with Coxiella burnetti recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: femur, metatarsal, cuneiform, and calcaneus. We highlight the complicated diagnosis and management of this case and the importance of considering Q fever in children with chronic-recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis.

Doppler ultrasound in the assessment of renal perfusion before and during continuous kidney replacement therapy in the pediatric intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess observer variability and describe renal resistive index (RRI) and pulsatility index (PI) before and after onset of continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT). A secondary objective was to correlate Doppler ultrasound findings with those from direct measurement of renal blood flow (RBF). METHODS: This is a prospective observational study in hemodynamically stable Maryland piglets with and without acute kidney injury (AKI) and in hemodynamically unstable critically ill children requiring CKRT. Doppler-based RRI and PI were assessed for each subject. Measurements were made by two different operators (pediatric intensivists) before and after CKRT onset. RESULTS: Observer variability assessment in the measurement of RRI and PI rendered a moderate correlation for both RRI (ICC 0.65, IQR 0.51-0.76) and PI (ICC 0.63, IQR 0.47-0.75). RRI and PI showed no correlation with RBF or urine output. Baseline RRI and PI were normal in control piglets [RRI 0.68 (SD 0.02), PI 1.25 (SD 0.09)] and those with AKI [RRI 0.68 (SD 0.03), PI 1.20 (SD 0.13)]. Baseline RRI and PI were elevated in critically ill children (RRI 0.85, PI 2.0). PI and RRI did not change with CKRT in any study group. CONCLUSIONS: Observer variability between inexperienced pediatric intensivists was comparable with that between senior and junior operators. Doppler-based calculations did not correlate with invasive measurements of RBF. RRI and PI were normal in hemodynamically stable piglets with and without AKI. RRI and PI were high in hemodynamically unstable patients requiring CKRT. RRI and PI did not change after CKRT onset, despite changes in hemodynamic status. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease using noninvasive techniques among children, adolescents, and youths living with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of subclinical liver abnormalities is high among people with HIV, but data regarding perinatally HIV-infected children and adolescents (PHIV) are scarce. Noninvasive image techniques offer an opportunity to address nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a population in which the scores validated for adults have not been tested. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study including PHIV and uninfected controls. METHODS: Noninvasive imaging techniques for the diagnosis of NAFLD and/or fibrosis were performed, and four scores to predict NAFLD were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy-six participants (59.2% women) with a median of 19 years old (interquartile range: 15.5-25.6) were included, 38 were PHIV and 38 were age and sex-matched controls. All HIV participants were on ART at the moment of inclusion, and 86.8% were virologically suppressed. A total of 11 PHIV and three controls were diagnosed with NAFLD (28.9% vs. 7.9%; P = 0.02) by noninvasive imaging techniques. The performance of scores based on clinical and analytical parameters was very poor. Although nonsignificant, overweight was more common among participants with NAFLD, who had a significantly higher BMI. Differences in HIV-related parameters between the groups were nonsignificant, except for the CD4+/CD8+ T-cells ratio, decreased among PHIV diagnosed with NAFLD (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NAFLD was high (28.9%) among PHIV, and only partially explained by overweight and metabolic syndrome defining factors. The scores based on clinical and analytical parameters did not accurately identify participants at risk. Therefore, liver ultrasound assessment should be considered for the screening of NAFLD among PHIV in routine clinical practice.

Gynecological anomalies in patients with anorectal malformations.

PURPOSE: The association of gynecological anomalies in all anorectal malformations (ARM) is firmly established. Our goal is to study this pathology in our patients to focus attention to this important issue. METHODS: Retrospective study of female patients operated for ARM and who underwent magnetic resonance imaging in our center. The type of malformation, the presence and type of vaginal, uterine, tubaric and urological anomalies were studied. RESULTS: 63 patients were included: 34.9% cloaca, 28.6% vestibular and 12.7% perineal. Half of patients had some type of müllerian anomaly; 19 vaginal, most frequent being the longitudinal vaginal septum (66.7%); 30 had uterine alterations, most frequent being the uterus didelphys (60%). Eighty percent of patients with complex ARM (cloaca, exstrophy) presented some type of gynecological malformation compared to 21.8% found in simple ARM (stenosis, perineal, vestibular) (p < 0.001). Vaginal anomalies are associated with a uterine anomaly in 100% of cases. Conversely, patients with uterine anomalies have concurrent vaginal anomaly in 63.3% of cases. CONCLUSION: Screening for gynecological anomalies is indicated in all patients with ARM. We recommend a vaginal examination in any girl with ARM during definitive repair and a subsequent MRI during follow-up. Collaboration with a gynecologist is essential.

Neonatal magnetic resonance imaging in double aortic arch diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound.

Congenital double aortic arch (DAA) is an uncommon vascular anomaly; however, its prenatal detection is associated with congenital heart defects and chromosomal abnormalities, including 22q11 deletion. We present a case of DAA diagnosed prenatally. DAA can be diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound in the transverse three vessel-trachea view, which shows a trident image formed by a complete vascular ring and the ductus arteriosus. Postnatal magnetic resonance images in this view correlate well with prenatal ultrasound images and help in confirmation of diagnosis, evaluation of the risk of airway or esophageal compression, and planning of surgery.

Endourological management in a newborn with incomplete bladder duplication.

We report an unusual case of a newborn with incomplete bladder duplication and a complete sagittal septum. This malformation was associated with dysplasia of the right kidney, right cryptorchidism, single urethra, and no other genital or gastrointestinal anomalies. At birth, we found severe ureterohydronephrosis in a solitary left kidney caused by the collapse of the left bladder when the right bladder was filled. We performed a neonatal puncture of the bladder septum. At 3 months of life, the patient underwent complete resection of the septum by cystoscopy with monopolar electrocautery. There are no previously reported cases of a newborn with obstructed uropathy. This is the first reported case of incomplete bladder duplication with endourological management.