Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis-Experience of a Tertiary Care Center.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) accounts for 3 to 10% of all MS diagnoses. POMS is usually characterized by prominent disease activity, and patients are at higher risk of developing physical disability and cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: This article characterizes a cohort of POMS patients followed at the pediatric neurology unit of a Portuguese tertiary hospital. METHODS: Retrospective observational study. Clinical records of all patients with POMS between 2011 and 2020 were revised. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients, with a female:male ratio of 11:10 and a mean age of onset of 14.8 years were included. Clinical manifestations at presentation included myelitis in eight patients (two with associated brainstem syndrome), optic neuritis in six (one with associated cerebellar syndrome), supratentorial symptoms in four, and isolated brainstem syndrome in two. Twenty patients had oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands in cerebrospinal fluid. Supra- and infratentorial involvement was identified in the first brain magnetic resonance imaging of nine patients. Initial relapses were treated with intravenous steroids in 19 patients. The mean time for diagnosis was 2.8 months. Eleven patients were on first-line treatment (nine on ß-interferon, two on teriflunomide) and 10 on second-line treatment (six on natalizumab, three on fingolimod, one on ocrelizumab). The mean annual relapse rate was 0.29 (range, 0.01-3), and the median Expanded Disability Status Scale was 1. Four patients reported learning disabilities and/or cognitive deficits. CONCLUSION: About half of patients in this cohort were on second-line disease-modifying treatment, with 19% showing cognitive impairment. Efforts to establish an early diagnosis are crucial to improving these patients' outcomes.

Adverse Events Related to COVID-19 Vaccines Reported in Pregnant Women in Brazil.

Regulations for the vaccination of pregnant women in Brazil occurred in March 2021. Despite the absence of robust data in the literature on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations in pregnant women, it is understood that the benefit-risk ratio tends to be favorable when considering the pandemic and the high burden of the disease. However, it is still important to monitor for Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (ESAVI) and to draw safety profiles of the different platforms used in pregnant and postpartum women. The present study aims to describe the main characteristics of ESAVIs related to COVID-19 vaccines occurring in pregnant women in the first months of the vaccination campaign in Brazil. During the evaluation period, 1,674 notifications of ESAVIs in pregnant women were recorded, and 582 notifications were included for the analysis. Of the 582 ESAVIs identified, 481 (82%) were classified as non-serious adverse events and 101 (17%) as serious adverse events. Ten deaths were identified, including one death which was considered to be causally related to the vaccine. The other nine maternal deaths had causality C, that is, without causal relationship with the vaccine, and most were due to complications inherent to pregnancy, such as pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder (PSHD) in 4 cases and 3 due to COVID-19. Despite some limitations in our study, we believe it brings new insights into COVID-19 vaccines in this group and will add to the available evidence.

As determinações vacinação nas gestantes foram estabelecidas em março de 2021, no Brasil. Apesar da ausência de dados robustos na literatura da vacinação contra coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nesse grupo, entende-se que a relação de benefício versus risco tende a ser favorável considerando a situação pandêmica e a elevada carga de doença, tendo justificado o uso dessas vacinas em ampla escala nas gestantes de todo o mundo. Entretanto, o monitoramento dos eventos adversos pós vacinação (EAPVs) torna-se ainda mais importante para traçar um perfil de segurança das diferentes plataformas nas gestantes e puérperas. O presente estudo tem como objetivo descrever as principais características dos EAPVs contra COVID-19 ocorridos nas gestantes nos primeiros meses de campanha da vacinação no Brasil. Foram identificadas 1.674 notificações em gestantes, com a inclusão de 582 EAPVs analisados. Dos 582 EAPVs identificados, 481 (82%) foram classificados como eventos adversos não-graves e 101 (17%) como eventos adversos graves, sendo 10 (9,9%) destes referentes aos óbitos. Apenas um caso de óbito materno teve relação causal com a vacinação comprovada (causalidade A1), e foi secundário à síndrome trombocitopênica trombótica (TTS) após a vacina AstraZeneca/Fiocruz. Os outros nove óbitos maternos tiveram causalidade C, ou seja, sem relação causal com a vacina, e a maioria por complicações inerentes à gravidez, como a doença hipertensiva específica da gestação (DHEG) e COVID-19. Apesar de algumas limitações em nosso estudo, acreditamos que ele traz dados importantes sobre as vacinas COVID-19 neste grupo aumentando as evidências disponíveis.

Adverse Events Related to COVID-19 Vaccines Reported in Pregnant Women in Brazil / Eventos adversos pós-vacina contra COVID-19 em gestantes no Brasil

Abstract Regulations for the vaccination of pregnant women in Brazil occurred in March 2021. Despite the absence of robust data in the literature on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations in pregnant women, it is understood that the benefit-risk ratio tends to be favorable when considering the pandemic and the high burden of the disease. However, it is still important to monitor for Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (ESAVI) and to draw safety profiles of the different platforms used in pregnant and postpartum women. The present study aims to describe the main characteristics of ESAVIs related to COVID-19 vaccines occurring in pregnant women in the first months of the vaccination campaign in Brazil. During the evaluation period, 1,674 notifications of ESAVIs in pregnant women were recorded, and 582 notifications were included for the analysis. Of the 582 ESAVIs identified, 481 (82%) were classified as non-serious adverse events and 101 (17%) as serious adverse events. Ten deaths were identified, including one death which was considered to be causally related to the vaccine. The other nine maternal deaths had causality C, that is, without causal relationship with the vaccine, and most were due to complications inherent to pregnancy, such as pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder (PSHD) in 4 cases and 3 due to COVID-19. Despite some limitations in our study, we believe it brings new insights into COVID-19 vaccines in this group and will add to the available evidence.

Resumo As determinações vacinação nas gestantes foram estabelecidas em março de 2021, no Brasil. Apesar da ausência de dados robustos na literatura da vacinação contra coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nesse grupo, entende-se que a relação de benefício versus risco tende a ser favorável considerando a situação pandêmica e a elevada carga de doença, tendo justificado o uso dessas vacinas em ampla escala nas gestantes de todo o mundo. Entretanto, o monitoramento dos eventos adversos pós vacinação (EAPVs) torna-se ainda mais importante para traçar um perfil de segurança das diferentes plataformas nas gestantes e puérperas. O presente estudo tem como objetivo descrever as principais características dos EAPVs contra COVID-19 ocorridos nas gestantes nos primeiros meses de campanha da vacinação no Brasil. Foram identificadas 1.674 notificações em gestantes, com a inclusão de 582 EAPVs analisados. Dos 582 EAPVs identificados, 481 (82%) foram classificados como eventos adversos não-graves e 101 (17%) como eventos adversos graves, sendo 10 (9,9%) destes referentes aos óbitos. Apenas um caso de óbito materno teve relação causal com a vacinação comprovada (causalidade A1), e foi secundário à síndrome trombocitopênica trombótica (TTS) após a vacina AstraZeneca/Fiocruz. Os outros nove óbitos maternos tiveram causalidade C, ou seja, sem relação causal com a vacina, e a maioria por complicações inerentes à gravidez, como a doença hipertensiva específica da gestação (DHEG) e COVID-19. Apesar de algumas limitações em nosso estudo, acreditamos que ele traz dados importantes sobre as vacinas COVID-19 neste grupo aumentando as evidências disponíveis.

Pediatric neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in Portugal: A multicentre retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are more prevalent in adulthood, with few cases reported in pediatric age (<18 years). In this group, anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibodies are less frequent, while antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) are more commonly detectable than in adults. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Description of pediatric NMOSD cases identified in a national multicentric NMOSD Portuguese registry. RESULTS: Twenty (11.1%) NMOSD cases were diagnosed in pediatric age. Twelve (60%) were female, with a median age of onset of 12.5 (6.8-16.5) years. The presenting feature was transverse myelitis in 10 (50%), 4 of which with simultaneous optic neuritis and 2 with concomitant brainstem syndrome. Nine patients (45%) had pleocytosis in the CSF. Six (30.0%) exhibited anti-AQP4 antibodies, 13 (65.0%) anti-MOG antibodies, and one was seronegative for both. Four anti-AQP4 antibodies-positive patients had ≥1 relapse. Most anti-MOG-positive cases were monophasic (53.8%). In the acute phase, all patients received IV methylprednisolone, nine received IVIg and four plasma exchange. One anti-AQP4-positive patient died. Ten patients (5 anti-AQP4-positive/5 anti-MOG-positive) were on maintenance immunosuppressive therapy at the time of data collection. CONCLUSION: NMOSD may present in pediatric age. It is essential to establish the diagnosis and promptly start therapy to improve the prognosis.

Consumo de anticoncepcionais e fatores associados entre estudantes universitários / Contraceptive use and associated factors among university students

Introdução: o uso de anticoncepcionais vem crescendo a cada ano, sendo um dos principais motivos para a redução das taxas de fecundidade total, inclusive na população mais jovem, como a universitária. Objetivo: identificar o consumo de anticoncepcionais hormonais e fatores associados entre estudantes universitárias. Métodos: a população de estudo foi composta por estudantes universitárias matriculadas nos cursos de graduação da Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), em Londrina, estado do Paraná, Brasil, no ano de 2019, integrantes do projeto maior denominado GraduaUEL. As estudantes responderam um instrumento construído em uma plataforma digital on-line. A variável dependente foi o consumo de contraceptivos hormonais, e as variáveis independentes foram aspectos sociodemográficos e hábitos de vida e de saúde. As associações medidas foram verificadas por meio de Regressão de Poisson, com cálculo da Razão de Prevalência (RP) e intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC 95%). Resultados: das 2.221 estudantes avaliadas, identificou-se o consumo de contraceptivos por 13,0%, maior entre mulheres brancas/amarelas, que relataram serem heterossexuais, que apresentavam pais com maior escolaridade, que referiram possuir plano privado de saúde e companheiro, e que praticavam atividade física pelo menos duas vezes na semana. Entretanto, apenas o fato de serem heterossexuais mostrou-se associação significativa após a análise ajustada (RP: 1,865; IC 95%: 1,308-2,659). Conclusões: diante do exposto, fica clara a necessidade de preparar os profissionais de saúde sobre os contraceptivos e seus efeitos adversos; ainda, que questões sociais devem ser consideradas no processo de uso dos contraceptivos, para combater a discriminação e as desigualdades social e econômica quanto ao acesso e uso destes medicamentos.

Introduction: the use of contraceptives has been growing every year, being one of the main reasons for the reduction in total fertility rates, including in the younger population, such as university students. Objective: identify the consumption of hormonal contraceptives and associated factors among university students. Methods: the study population consisted of university students enrolled in undergraduate courses at the Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), in Londrina, Paraná state, Brazil, in 2019, members of the larger project called GraduaUEL. The students answered an instrument built on an on-line digital platform. The dependent variable was the consumption of hormonal contraceptives, and the independent variables were sociodemographic aspects, lifestyle and health. Measured associations were verified using Poisson Regression, with calculation of the Prevalence Ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: of the 2,221 students evaluated, the consumption of contraceptives was identified by 13.0%, higher among white/yellow women, who reported being heterosexual, who had parents with higher education, who reported having a private health plan and partner, and who practiced physical activity at least twice a week. However, only the fact of being heterosexual showed a significant association after the adjusted analysis (PR: 1.865; 95% CI: 1.308-2.659). Conclusions: in light of the above, the need to prepare health professionals about contraceptives and their adverse effects is clear, as well as what social issues should be considered in the process of using contraceptives, to combat discrimination, social and economic inequality regarding access and the use of these medications.

Listeria monocytogenes inhibition by lactic acid bacteria and coliforms in Brazilian fresh white cheese.

INTRODUCTION: Minas fresh cheese (MFC), a Brazilian white cheese, is one of the most popular cheeses nationwide. Studies have shown that Listeria monocytogenes occurrence in this product is generally low, while high populations of coliforms can be found. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of coliforms in the behavior of L. monocytogenes in MFC. METHODS: Pasteurized milk was inoculated with L. monocytogenes and coliforms, and the acidification was made by lactic acid or by the addition of a starter culture. The cheeses of each production were divided into 3 groups and stored at 5 ºC, 12 ºC and cycles of 5 ºC followed by 25 ºC. In predetermined days, samples were taken and L. monocytogenes, coliforms and lactic acid bacteria populations were evaluated, besides the pH, water activity (aw), titratable acidity and NaCl concentration. RESULTS: The inhibition of L. monocytogenes in the presence of coliforms was observed (p < 0.05), except for those samples prepared with lactic acid and stored at temperature cycles. The values of pH and aw were not sufficiently low to cause inhibition; however, titratable acidity was higher in cheeses containing coliforms. In vitro tests containing lactic acid and L. monocytogenes showed that the bacterium is sensitive to concentration of lactic acid ≥ 0.3%, indicating that lactic acid produced by coliforms strongly influences the population of L. monocytogenes. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, it can be concluded that coliforms negatively impact populations of L. monocytogenes in MFC. We strongly recommend that producers of MFC adopt good hygiene practices to not only avoid contamination with L. monocytogenes, but also coliforms.