Himen imperforat en el diagnòstic diferencial de la massa vaginal / Himen imperforado en el diagnóstico diferencial de la masa vaginal / Imperforate hymen in the differential diagnosis of a vaginal mass

Introducció. L’himen és una membrana que envolta i cobreix parcialment l’introit vaginal. La presència d’un himen imperforat pot passar desapercebuda, donar símptomes obstructius de l’aparell genital i del tracte urinari en el període neonatal o presentar-se com a dolor abdominal amb amenorrea en l’adolescència, com a clínica més freqüent. Cas clínic. Presentem el cas d’una pacient de dos mesos amb diagnòstic d’himen imperforat, amb una fístula preauricular esquerra i una hèrnia umbilical concomitant. Davant de la manca de simptomatologia, s’adopta una conducta expectant fins als quatre anys; amb la persistència de l’hèrnia umbilical, s’indica la cirurgia correctora dels tres defectes, que es duu a terme sense incidències. Posteriorment, la pacient presenta una evolució correcta sense recidives. Comentari. L’obstrucció vaginal congènita sol detectar-se clínicament en la pubertat i és diagnosticada de forma poc freqüent durant el període de lactant. L’himen imperforat és la malformació congènita vaginal i l’anomalia obstructiva de l’aparell reproductor femení més freqüent, però no és l’única; per aquest motiu, és important fer un correcte diagnòstic diferencial de les masses vaginals, per donar el millor tractament dirigit i evitar una morbimortalitat més alta dels pacients. (AU)

Introducción. El himen es una membrana que rodea y cubre parcialmente el introito vaginal. La presencia de un himen imperforado puede pasar desapercibida, dar síntomas obstructivos del aparato genital y del tracto urinario en el período neonatal o presentarse como dolor abdominal con amenorrea en la adolescencia, como clínica más frecuente. Caso clínico. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de dos meses con diagnóstico de himen imperforado, con una fístula preauricular izquierda y una hernia umbilical concomitante. Ante la ausencia de sintomatología, se adopta una conducta expectante hasta los cuatro años; con la persistencia de la hernia umbilical se indica la cirugía correctora de los tres defectos, que se lleva a cabo sin incidencias. Posteriormente, la paciente presenta una correcta evolución sin recidivas. Comentario. La obstrucción vaginal congénita suele detectarse clínicamente en la pubertad y es diagnosticada de forma poco frecuente durante el período de lactante. El himen imperforado es la malformación congénita vaginal y la anomalía obstructiva del aparato reproductor femenino más frecuente, pero no es la única; por este motivo, es importante la realización de un correcto diagnóstico diferencial de las masas vaginales para dar el mejor tratamiento dirigido y evitar una mayor morbimortalidad en los pacientes. (AU)

Introduction. The hymen is a membrane that surrounds and partially covers the vaginal entrance. The presence of an imperforate hymen may go unnoticed, give obstructive symptoms of the genital tract and urinary tract in the neonatal period, or most commonly present as abdominal pain with amenorrhea in adolescence. Case report. We present a two-month-old girl diagnosed with imperforate hymen, with a left preauricular fistula and a concomitant umbilical hernia. In the absence of symptoms, conservative management was followed until four years of age, when with the persistence of the umbilical hernia corrective surgery of the three defects was performed without complications. Comments. Congenital vaginal obstruction usually occurs clinically during puberty and is rarely diagnosed during infancy. Imperforate hymen is the most common congenital vaginal malformation and obstructive anomaly of the female reproductive tract, although not the only one; for this reason, it is important to make a correct differential diagnosis of a vaginal mass in children to optimize management. (AU)

Coexistència de la malaltia de Wilkie i la síndrome del trencanous / Coexistencia de enfermedad de Wilkie y síndrome del cascanueces / Simultaneous occurrence of Wilkie and nutcracker syndromes

Introducció. La síndrome de l’artèria mesentèrica superior,o malaltia de Wilkie, i la síndrome de compressió de lavena renal esquerra, o síndrome del trencanous, són pocfreqüents. Normalment estan provocades per una compressió extrínseca del duodè o de la vena renal esquerra, respectivament, a causa d’una disminució de l’angle entrel’artèria mesentèrica superior i l’aorta.Cas clínic. Adolescent de 15 anys que va consultar a urgències per dolor abdominal de cinc mesos d’evolució localitzata l’epigastri, acompanyat de vòmits, proteïnúria i pèrdua depes. La pacient havia consultat prèviament en altres centresi s’havien descartat patologies urgents quirúrgiques. Es vacompletar l’estudi amb una tomografia computada abdominal amb diagnòstic de síndrome de l’artèria mesentèricasuperior i síndrome del trencanous. La pacient va ingressara la planta d’hospitalització i es va tractar de forma conservadora amb una dieta hipercalòrica; el trànsit intestinal i laproteïnúria van millorar, i va poder ser remesa a domicili icontrolada ambulatòriament de forma multidisciplinària.Comentari. Els problemes secundaris a la compressió aortomesentèrica poden donar quadres compatibles amb la síndrome de l’artèria mesentèrica superior i la síndrome deltrencanous. El diagnòstic d’aquests quadres pot resultarcomplex per la incidència baixa i per la simptomatologiainespecífica que els caracteritza. El tractament conservador representa la primera línia de tractament, però en alguns casos pot no ser suficient. Per tot això és necessarifer un maneig multidisciplinari d’aquests pacients. (AU)

Introducción. El síndrome de la arteria mesentérica superior o deWilkie y el síndrome del cascanueces son poco frecuentes. Normalmente están producidos por una compresión extrínseca delduodeno o de la vena renal izquierda, respectivamente, debido a una disminución del ángulo entre la arteria mesentérica superior yla aorta.Caso clínico. Adolescente de 15 años que consultó a urgencias pordolor abdominal de cinco meses de evolución localizado en epigastrio, acompañado de vómitos, proteinuria y pérdida de peso. Lapaciente había consultado previamente en otros centros descartando patologías urgentes quirúrgicas. Se completó el estudio conuna tomografía computarizada abdominal con diagnóstico de síndrome de la arteria mesentérica superior o de Wilkie y síndrome delcascanueces. La paciente ingresó en planta de hospitalización y setrató de forma conservadora con una dieta hipercalórica con mejoría del tránsito intestinal y de la proteinuria, y pudo ser remitida adomicilio y controlada ambulatoriamente de forma multidisciplinar.Comentario. Los problemas secundarios a la compresión aortomesentérica pueden dar cuadros compatibles con el síndrome de laarteria mesentérica superior o de Wilkie y el síndrome del cascanueces. El diagnóstico de estos cuadros puede resultar complejo por subaja incidencia y por la sintomatología inespecífica que los caracteriza. El tratamiento conservador representa la primera línea de tratamiento, pero en algunos casos puede no ser suficiente. Por estosmotivos es necesario un manejo multidisciplinar de estos pacientes. (AU)

Introduction. The superior mesenteric artery syndrome or Wilkiesyndrome and the nutcracker syndrome are rare. They are normallycaused by extrinsic compression of the duodenum or the left renalvein respectively, due to a narrowing of the angle between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta.Case report. A 15-year-old girl presented to the emergency roomwith a five-month history of abdominal pain located in the epigastrium, accompanied by vomiting, proteinuria, and weight loss. Thepatient had previously consulted in other centers, and urgent surgical conditions were ruled out. The study was completed with anabdominal computed tomography scan, which led to the diagnosisof superior mesenteric artery or Wilkie syndrome, and nutcrackersyndrome. The patient was admitted to the hospital and treatedconservatively with a hypercaloric diet with improvement in intestinal transit and proteinuria. She was discharged to continue thefollow-up with a multidisciplinary team. Comment. Problems secondary to aortomesenteric compression cangive symptoms like superior mesenteric artery or Wilkie syndromeand nutcracker syndrome. The diagnosis of these conditions canbe complex due to their low incidence and the non-specific symptomatology that characterizes them. Conservative treatment represents the first line of treatment, but in some cases it may not beenough. For these reasons, multidisciplinary management of thesepatients is necessary. (AU)

Myo-Spain: Spanish Registry of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. Methodology.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the methods of the Spanish Registry of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) (Myo-Spain), as well as its strengths and limitations. The main objective of the project is to analyse the evolution and clinical management of a cohort of patients with IIM. METHODS: Observational, longitudinal, ambispective and multicentre study of a cohort of patients with IIM seen in rheumatology units in Spain. All patients with a diagnosis of IMM will be included in the regular follow-up of the participating centres, regardless of age on initiation of the process. Incident cases will be all patients who at the beginning of the study have been diagnosed for less than 12 months and prevalent cases for more than 12 months. The registry will include data from the visit at baseline, one year and two years. Socio-demographic, clinical, analytical variables, complications, comorbidities, association with other rheumatic diseases, hospital admissions, mortality and treatments will be collected. In addition, indices, scales and questionnaires of activity, muscle involvement, damage, disability, and quality of life will be determined. The recruitment period will be 23 months. The purpose is to obtain a cohort of 400 patients with IMM. CONCLUSIONS: Myo-Spain registry provides the opportunity to develop a cohort of incident and prevalent patients with IMM in Spain. Myo-Spain will be able to assess in detail the clinical characteristics of the disease at different times. The comprehensive information collected during the visits is expected to provide a broad source of data for future analysis.

Detection of Minority Variants and Mixed Infections in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Direct Whole-Genome Sequencing on Noncultured Specimens Using a Specific-DNA Capture Strategy.

Detection of mixed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infections is essential, particularly when resistance mutations are present in minority bacterial populations that may affect patients' disease evolution and treatment. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has extended the amount of key information available for the diagnosis of MTB infection, including the identification of mixed infections. Having genomic information at diagnosis for early intervention requires carrying out WGS directly on the clinical samples. However, few studies have been successful with this approach due to the low representation of MTB DNA in sputa. In this study, we evaluated the ability of a strategy based on specific MTB DNA enrichment by using a newly designed capture platform (MycoCap) to detect minority variants and mixed infections by WGS on controlled mixtures of MTB DNAs in a simulated sputum genetic background. A pilot study was carried out with 12 samples containing 98% of a DNA pool from sputa of patients without MTB infection and 2% of MTB DNA mixtures at different proportions. Our strategy allowed us to generate sequences with a quality equivalent to those obtained from culture: 62.5× depth coverage and 95% breadth coverage (for at least 20× reads). Assessment of minority variant detection was carried out by manual analysis and allowed us to identify heterozygous positions up to a 95:5 ratio. The strategy also automatically distinguished mixed infections up to a 90:10 proportion. Our strategy efficiently captures MTB DNA in a nonspecific genetic background, allows detection of minority variants and mixed infections, and is a promising tool for performing WGS directly on clinical samples. IMPORTANCE We present a new strategy to identify mixed infections and minority variants in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by whole-genome sequencing. The objective of the strategy is the direct detection in patient sputum; in this way, minority populations of resistant strains can be identified at the time of diagnosis, facilitating identification of the most appropriate treatment for the patient from the first moment. For this, a platform for capturing M. tuberculosis-specific DNA was designed to enrich the clinical sample and obtain quality sequences.

Myo-Spain: Spanish Registry of Patients with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy. Methodology. / Myo-Spain: Registro de pacientes con miopatía inflamatoria idiopática de España. Metodología.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the methods of the Spanish Registry of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) (Myo-Spain), as well as its strengths and limitations. The main objective of the project is to analyse the evolution and clinical management of a cohort of patients with IIM. METHODS: Observational, longitudinal, ambispective and multicentre study of a cohort of patients with IIM seen in rheumatology units in Spain. All patients with a diagnosis of IMM will be included in the regular follow-up of the participating centres, regardless of age on initiation of the process. Incident cases will be all patients who at the beginning of the study have been diagnosed for less than 12 months and prevalent cases for more than 12 months. The registry will include data from the visit at baseline, one year and two years. Socio-demographic, clinical, analytical variables, complications, comorbidities, association with other rheumatic diseases, hospital admissions, mortality and treatments will be collected. In addition, indices, scales and questionnaires of activity, muscle involvement, damage, disability, and quality of life will be determined. The recruitment period will be 23 months. The purpose is to obtain a cohort of 400 patients with IMM. CONCLUSIONS: Myo-Spain registry provides the opportunity to develop a cohort of incident and prevalent patients with IMM in Spain. Myo-Spain will be able to assess in detail the clinical characteristics of the disease at different times. The comprehensive information collected during the visits is expected to provide a broad source of data for future analysis.

Síndrome neuroléptico maligno en la urgencia pediátrica / Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in pediatrics. A case report

El síndrome neuroléptico maligno es una urgencia pediátrica con una elevada morbimortalidad, relacionada con alteración de sistema de neurotransmisión dopaminérgico. Se caracteriza por hipertermia junto con hipertonía muscular, alteración autonómica y de los niveles de conciencia. Un diagnóstico precoz es imprescindible para prevenir complicaciones comunes como la broncoaspiración, desgaste, escaras, procesos infecciosos y cambios neuropsiquiátricos. El tratamiento debe incluir en medidas generales de soporte y terapéutica farmacológica sintomática. Pese a que la mayoría de los casos descritos corresponden a población adulta, también se ha descrito en niños y adolescentes. Presentamos un caso de síndrome neuroléptico maligno en un adolescente de 12 años con encefalopatía y tetraparesia espática secundario al cese de la administración de baclofeno

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a pediatric emergency with high morbidity and mortality, related to an alteration of the dopaminergic neurotransmission system. It is characterized by hyperthermia along with muscular hypertonia, dysautonomia, and altered level of consciousness. An early diagnosis is essential to prevent common complications such as bronchoaspiration, wear, bedsores, infectious processes, and neuropsychiatric changes. Treatment should include general support measures and symptomatic pharmacological therapy. Although most of the cases described correspond to the adulthood, it has also been described in children and adolescents. We present a case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a 12-year-old adolescent with encephalopathy and spastic tetraparesis secondary to the cessation of baclofen administration

Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis Due to a Primary Epstein Barr Virus Infection in a Pediatric Patient.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is estimated to infect more than 98% of adults worldwide and is one of the most common human viruses. Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) of the gallbladder is an atypical complication of infectious mononucleosis caused by EBV. Conservative management has been described in the context of AAC caused by EBV. A surgical approach must be considered in the case of acute complications such as perforation or gallbladder gangrene. We present the case of a 10-year-old female patient with AAC due to infectious mononucleosis syndrome caused by primary EBV infection.

Epiploic Appendagitis and Omental Infarction as Rare Causes of Acute Abdominal Pain in Children.

Omental infarction and epiploic appendagitis are rare causes of acute abdominal pain in the pediatric population. Radiological evaluation is necessary to establish a specific diagnosis and to differentiate appendicitis from these conditions as they can be often managed conservatively without surgical intervention.

Blunted rest-activity rhythms link to higher body mass index and inflammatory markers in children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Disturbances of rest-activity rhythms are associated with higher body mass index (BMI) in adults. Whether such relationship exists in children is unclear. We aimed to examine cross-sectional associations of rest-activity rhythm characteristics with BMI z-score and obesity-related inflammatory markers in school-age children. METHODS: Participants included 411 healthy children (mean ± SD age 10.1 ± 1.3 years, 50.8% girls) from a Mediterranean area of Spain who wore wrist accelerometers for 7 consecutive days. Metrics of rest-activity rhythm were derived using both parametric and nonparametric approaches. Obesity-related inflammatory markers were measured in saliva (n = 121). RESULTS: In a multivariable-adjusted model, higher BMI z-score is associated with less robust 24-h rest-activity rhythms as represented by lower relative amplitude (-0.16 [95% CI -0.29, -0.02] per SD, p = 0.02). The association between BMI z-score and relative amplitude persisted with additional adjustment for sleep duration, and attenuated after adjustment for daytime activity level. Less robust rest-activity rhythms were related to increased levels of several salivary pro-inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein, which is inversely associated with relative amplitude (-32.6% [-47.8%, -12.9%] per SD), independently of BMI z-score, sleep duration, and daytime activity level. CONCLUSION: Blunted rest-activity rhythms are associated with higher BMI z-score and salivary pro-inflammatory markers already at an early age. The association with BMI z-score seem to be independent of sleep duration, and those with pro-inflammatory markers further independent of BMI z-score and daytime activity. Novel intervention targets at an early age based on improving the strength of rest-activity rhythms may help to prevent childhood obesity and related inflammation. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02895282.

Fimosi refractària a tractament mèdic amagant una balanitis xeròtica obliterant / Fimosis refractaria a tratamiento médico escondiendo una balanitis xerótica obliterante / Refractory phimosis due to balanitis xerotica obliterans

INTRODUCCIÓ: La balanitis xeròtica obliterant és una malaltia crònica inflamatòria progressiva de baixa incidència en la població pediàtrica. CAS CLÍNIC: Es presenta un pacient de 4 anys afectat de fimosi greu I aspecte xeròtic del prepuci que no respon a tratament tòpic amb corticoides. Davant la sospita de balanitis xeròtica obliterant es practica una postectomia completa, I l'anatomia patològica confirma el diagnòstic. COMENTARI: És important conèixer aquesta malaltia en l'edat pediàtrica ja que el seu diagnòstic de sospita és clínic I pot comportar greus complicacions per als pacients. La refractarietat al tractament mèdic amb corticoides tòpics, la recidiva de la fimosi en pacients intervinguts, l'aparició de lesions blanquinoses en la mucosa prepucial o el gland I l'estenosi meatal són complicacions possibles que ens han de fer sospitar aquesta entitat. El tractament de les lesions en pacients intervinguts previament de fimosi amb diagnòstic posterior de balanitis xeròtica obliterant pot ser mèdic I de forma ambulatòria amb pomada de corticoides. És necessari un seguiment estricte d'aquests pacients per detectar possibles complicacions més greus, com l'estenosi meatal

INTRODUCCIÓN: La balanitis xerótica obliterante es una enfermedad crónica inflamatoria progresiva de baja incidencia en la población pediátrica. CASO CLÍNICO: Se presenta un paciente de 4 años afectado de fimosis grave y aspecto xerótico del prepucio que no responde a tratamiento tópico con corticoides. Ante la sospecha de balanitis xerótica obliterante, se realiza una postectomía completa y la anatomía patológica confirma el diagnóstico. COMENTARIO: Es importante el conocimiento de esta enfermedad en la edad pediátrica ya que su diagnóstico de sospecha es clínico y puede conllevar graves complicaciones para los pacientes. La refractariedad al tratamiento médico con corticoides tópicos, la recidiva de la fimosis en pacientes intervenidos, la aparición de lesiones blanquecinas en mucosa prepucial o glande y la estenosis meatal son complicaciones posibles que nos deben hacer sospechar esta entidad. El tratamiento de las lesiones en pacientes previamente intervenidos de fimosis con diagnóstico posterior de balanitis xerótica obliterante puede ser médico y de forma ambulatoria con pomada de corticoides. Es necesario un seguimiento estricto de estos pacientes para la detección de posibles complicaciones más graves, como la estenosis meatal

INTRODUCTION: Balanitis xerotica obliterans is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease of low incidence in the pediatric population. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 4-year-old patient with stenosis and xerotic aspect of the foreskin that did not respond to medical treatment with topic corticosteroids. Balanitis xerotica obliterans was suspected, a complete postectomy was performed and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathology. COMMENTS: It is important to recognize this entity in children since its diagnosis is clinical and its mismanagement may result in several complications. The refractoriness to medical treatment with corticosteroid ointment, the recurrence of phimosis in operated patients, the appearance of whitish lesions in the mucosa of the foreskin or glans, and meatal stenosis are the complications that should raise suspicion of this entity. The treatment of lesions in patients who have previously undergone surgical treatment of phimosis can be medical with corticosteroid ointment. A close follow-up of these patients is required in order to detect severe complications such as meatal stenosis

Evening types have social jet lag and metabolic alterations in school-age children.

Chronotype has been mostly assessed with subjective scales. Objective assessment has been undertaken with actigraphy, although problems may occur in classifying chronotype. The aims of the study were to assess chronotype in school-age children using a novel integrative measurement (TAP) derived from non-invasive assessments of wrist temperature (T) physical activity (A) and body position (P) and to explore associations between chronotype, sleep disturbances, and metabolic components. Four-hundred-thirty-two children of 8-12 years were recruited from a Mediterranean area of Spain. Measurements were: (a) Chronotype objectively (7-day-rhythms of TAP) and subjectively measured (Munich-chronotype-self-reported questionnaire); (b) sleep rhythms and light exposition; (c) 7-day-diaries of food intake; (d) anthropometry and metabolic parameters; (e) academic scores. TAP acrophase was able to assess eveningness. As compared to more morning-types, more evening-types displayed lower amplitude in temperature rhythms, increased physical activity in the evening, delayed sleep and midpoint of intake and had more frequent social jet lag (P < 0.05). More evening-types had higher light intensity at 2 h before sleep and lower melatonin values (01:00 h). Eveningness associated with higher BMI and metabolic risk (higher values of insulin, glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol). Evening-types presented better grades in art. In conclusion, more evening-types, as objectively assessed, presented sleep alterations, social jet lag, obesity and higher metabolic risk.

Late Eating Is Associated with Obesity, Inflammatory Markers and Circadian-Related Disturbances in School-Aged Children.

Late eating has been shown to promote metabolic dysregulation and to be associated with obesity in adults. However, few studies have explored this association in children. We compared the presence of obesity, metabolic alterations and circadian-related disturbances between school-aged children who were early dinner eaters (EDE) or late dinner eaters (LDE). School-age children (n = 397; 8-12 years; mean BMI (range): 19.4 kg/m2 (11.6-35.1); 30.5% overweight/obesity) from Spain were classified into EDE and LDE, according to dinner timing (Median: 21:07). Seven-day-dietary-records were used to assess food-timing and composition. Non-invasive tools were used to collect metabolic biomarkers (saliva), sleep and circadian-related variables (body-temperature and actigraphy). Compared to EDE, LDE were more likely to be overweight/obese [OR: 2.1 (CI: 1.33, 3.31); p = 0.002], and had higher waist-circumference and inflammatory markers, such as IL-6 (1.6-fold) (p = 0.036)) and CRP (1.4-fold) than EDE (p = 0.009). LDE had alterations in the daily patterns of: (a) body-temperature, with a phase delay of 26 min (p = 0.002), and a reduced amplitude (LDE = 0.028 (0.001) and EDE = 0.030 (0.001) (Mean (SEM); p = 0.039); (b) cortisol, with a reduced amplitude (LDE = 0.94 (0.02) and EDE = 1.00 (0.02); p = 0.035). This study represents a significant step towards the understanding of novel aspects in the timing of food intake in children.

Could imbalances in the composition of gut microbiota be implicated in the origin of atopic dermatitis?

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Screening of inmates transferred to Spain reveals a Peruvian prison as a reservoir of persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis MDR strains and mixed infections.

It is relevant to evaluate MDR-tuberculosis in prisons and its impact on the global epidemiology of this disease. However, systematic molecular epidemiology programs in prisons are lacking. A health-screening program performed on arrival for inmates transferred from Peruvian prisons to Spain led to the diagnosis of five MDR-TB cases from one of the biggest prisons in Latin America. They grouped into two MIRU-VNTR-clusters (Callao-1 and Callao-2), suggesting a reservoir of two prevalent MDR strains. A high-rate of overexposure was deduced because one of the five cases was coinfected by a pansusceptible strain. Callao-1 strain was also identified in 2018 in a community case in Spain who had been in the same Peruvian prison in 2002-5. A strain-specific-PCR tailored from WGS data was implemented in Peru, allowing the confirmation that these strains were currently responsible for the majority of the MDR cases in that prison, including a new mixed infection.

A Case of Persistent Air Leak Managed by Selective Left Main Bronchus Intubation in an Infant with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND Persistent air leak, or persistent pneumothorax, is defined as a pneumothorax that persists beyond the first week, or air leak through a chest drain for more than 48 hours. The most common findings in pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis are parenchymal disease and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, but airway obstruction can cause emphysema and pneumothorax. A case is presented of persistent air leak in a 3-month-old infant with pulmonary tuberculosis that was managed by selective left main bronchus intubation. CASE REPORT A 3-month-old boy presented with respiratory distress and fever. Imaging findings suggested pulmonary tuberculosis, and first-line anti-tuberculous treatment was initiated with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (HRZE). He was discharged home after eight days, but was admitted four days later with respiratory distress. Chest X-rays showed a tension pneumothorax that required drainage and chest computed tomography (CT) showed right lung emphysema. Bronchoscopy found extrinsic obstruction of both main bronchi. Chest drains continued to leak air leak after 48 h. Right middle and lower lobectomy and drainage of multiple lymph nodes resulted in significant improvement. He developed pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, which prevented mechanical ventilation. The left main bronchus was selectively intubated to allow the air leak to heal and to ventilate the lung. He was extubated 10 days later and recovered completely. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights that when medical management of persistent air leak associated with tuberculosis is not effective, surgery, active ventilation, and selective main bronchus intubation should be considered.

Saliva as a non-invasive tool for assessment of metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in children.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Epidemiological studies in school-age children are challenging, particularly those that aim to analyse metabolic markers on blood samples obtained via invasive and stressful procedures. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the use of saliva, as a non-invasive tool in epidemiological studies performed in school-age children, to capture metabolic changes associated with body mass index (BMI), dietary characteristics and physical activity in both boys and girls. METHODS: This is an observational study in which healthy children of ages between 8 and 12 years (n = 129, 60 girls and 69 boys) from three schools in a Mediterranean area of Spain were included. A panel of biomarkers was measured in serum and saliva and correlated with BMI, dietary characteristics and physical activity. RESULTS: Significant positive correlation between serum and salivary levels were detected for CRP (r = 0.770) in all included children, and boys (r = 0.805) and girls (r = 0.775) separately (P < 0.001, in all cases) and for insulin in girls (r = 0.442; P < 0.05). Among all studied salivary biomarkers, insulin was significantly correlated with the three factors studied: positively with BMI and negatively with dietary characteristics (intake and composition) and physical activity (P < 0.05). Obesity and diet composition were both positively associated to pro-inflammatory biomarkers, CRP and IL1b; while diet composition shared with physical activity levels the correlation with IL6 (positive with energy, fat, carbohydrate and saturated fatty acid intake, and negative with cholesterol intake and average physical activity in boys), NGF and glucose (in both cases correlations were negative with diet composition and physical activity variables) (P < 0.05, in all cases). Sex differences were detected in serum glucose and TNFα. CONCLUSIONS: Biomarkers in saliva are able to capture differences in BMI, dietary characteristics and physical activity levels in school-age children. Saliva may potentially constitute a useful non-invasive and stress-free tool to evaluate metabolic markers of inflammation and/or metabolism related to BMI and lifestyle in a sex-dependent manner.

Circadian health differs between boys and girls as assessed by non-invasive tools in school-aged children.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Assessment of circadian health is confined to adults. However, understanding circadian status of school-aged children is necessary due to its health implications. The aim was to develop 1) a protocol to assess circadian function in school-aged children by combining the best non-invasive tools previously validated in adults; 2) a score to capture circadian function in children including food timing. This protocol will allow to explore gender differences and to compare the circadian function of school-aged children with adults from the same Mediterranean area. METHODS: Healthy children (8-12 y) from 3 schools in a Mediterranean area of Spain were recruited (n = 248; 125 males and 123 females). Several non-invasive tools were used: a) 7-day-diaries of food timing and food intake, physical-activity and sleep, b) Munich-chronotype-self-reported-questionnaire; c) cortisol and melatonin saliva determinations; d) 7-day-rhythms of wrist temperature (T), activity (A), position (P) and the integrative variable TAP e) 7-day-light exposure. RESULTS: We have constructed the first school-aged children population for the assessment of circadian function (ONTIME-Jr) and a new circadian score has been developed. Among circadian-related measures, TAP was the most suitable and reliable to determine circadian system characteristics. Circadian function was better in girls than in boys [circadian score (AU) Mean ± SD (girls, 1216 ± 153 vs. 1159 ± 173 boys, P = 0.012)], and also in school-aged children than in adults from the same Mediterranean area (Circadian-Function-Index: children 0.47 ± 0.06 vs. adults 0.45 ± 0.06 P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A new protocol, including TAP and food timing, demonstrated to be reliable in assessing circadian function in children. These non-invasive techniques provide the wherewithal for paediatricians to assess circadian function in clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chronobiology and childhood obesity (ONTIME-Jr: Obesity, Nutrigenetics, Timing and Mediterranean, Junior). ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02895282, October 2014.