Malaria and COVID-19 prevalence in a population of febrile children and adolescents living in Libreville.

Background: Patients with acute febrile illness need to be screened for malaria and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in malaria-endemic areas to reduce malaria mortality rates and to prevent the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Objectives: To estimate the frequency of children and adolescents with COVID-19 and/or malaria among febrile patients attending for malaria diagnosis. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sentinel site for malaria surveillance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (Omicron variant), from October 2021 to December 2021 in Gabon. All febrile patients were tested for malaria using microscopy. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid antigen tests developed by Sansure Biotech®. Results: A total of 135 patients were screened. Their median age was 6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3-14) years. Malaria was confirmed for 49 (36.3%) patients, 29 (32.5%) children, 13 (59.0%) adolescents and 7 (29.2%) adults. The frequency of COVID-19 cases was 7.4% (n = 10/135), and it was comparable between children (n = 6; 6.7%), adolescents (n = 2; 9.1%) and adults (n = 2; 8.3%) (p = 0.17). Malaria and COVID-19 co-infections were diagnosed in 3 (6.1%) patients from all the age groups. Participants with a co-infection had a higher median temperature, a higher median parasitaemia, and were mostly infected with non-falciparum malaria. Conclusion: COVID-19 cases and cases of malaria/COVID-19 co-infections were found in febrile children and adolescents. SARS-CoV-2 testing should be included in the screening of suspected malaria cases. Contribution: This study highlights the presence of malaria-COVID-19 coinfection among children and adolescents who should also be screened for both diseases, like for adults.

Malaria and COVID-19 prevalence in a population of febrile children and adolescents living in Libreville

Background: Patients with acute febrile illness need to be screened for malaria and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in malaria-endemic areas to reduce malaria mortality rates and to prevent the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Objectives: To estimate the frequency of children and adolescents with COVID-19 and/or malaria among febrile patients attending for malaria diagnosis Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sentinel site for malaria surveillance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (Omicron variant), from October 2021 to December 2021 in Gabon. All febrile patients were tested for malaria using microscopy. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid antigen tests developed by Sansure Biotech®. Results: A total of 135 patients were screened. Their median age was 6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3­14) years. Malaria was confirmed for 49 (36.3%) patients, 29 (32.5%) children, 13 (59.0%) adolescents and 7 (29.2%) adults. The frequency of COVID-19 cases was 7.4% (n = 10/135), and it was comparable between children (n = 6; 6.7%), adolescents (n = 2; 9.1%) and adults (n = 2; 8.3%) (p = 0.17). Malaria and COVID-19 co-infections were diagnosed in 3 (6.1%) patients from all the age groups. Participants with a co-infection had a higher median temperature, a higher median parasitaemia, and were mostly infected with non-falciparum malaria. Conclusion: COVID-19 cases and cases of malaria/COVID-19 co-infections were found in febrile children and adolescents. SARS-CoV-2 testing should be included in the screening of suspected malaria cases.

Pancreatitis aguda posduodenopancreatectomía cefálica con complicaciones locales / Acute pancreatitis with local complications after cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy

RESUMEN Antecedentes: la pancreatitis aguda posduodenopancreatectomía cefálica inmediata es una complica ción cuya frecuencia puede llegar al 55% y condiciona la aparición de fístula pancreática. Objetivo: describir el manejo de 3 pacientes que presentaron pancreatitis aguda posduodenopancrea tectomía con complicaciones locales y realizar una revisión de la literatura. Material y métodos: se revisó una base de datos prospectiva de resecciones pancreáticas. Se identifi caron los pacientes con diagnóstico de pancreatitis aguda con lesiones locales posterior a la realización de duodenopancreatectomía. Se definió fístula pancreática de acuerdo con la clasificación del ISGPF y pancreatitis como la elevación de la amilasa o lipasa tres veces por encima del máximo valor sérico normal en asociación con dolor abdominal o confirmación radiológica. Resultados: entre 2008 y 2019 los autores realizaron 260 duodenopancreatectomías. Tres pacientes presentaron pancreatitis posoperatoria con complicaciones locales. Conclusiones: la pancreatitis aguda posoperatoria es una complicación de una frecuencia elevada. La mayoría de ellas se resuelven en forma espontánea. Pocos pacientes presentan complicaciones locales que pueden requerir tratamiento percutáneo o quirúrgico, predisponiendo al desarrollo de fístulas a veces de difícil manejo. No hay forma de prevenir la aparición de la fístula pancreática. El tratamiento de las complicaciones locales se realizará de acuerdo con su aparición y repercusión, pudiendo requerir desde la colocación de un drenaje percutáneo hasta la pancreatectomía total.

ABSTRACT Background: The incidence of acute pancreatitis immediately after cephalic pancreaticoduodenec tomy is up to 55% and is associated with the development of pancreatic fistula. Objective: The aim of this study is to report three cases of acute pancreatitis after pancreaticoduode nectomy with local complications with a review of the literature. Material and methods: The information about pancreatic resections was retrieved from a prospective database. Patients with diagnosis acute pancreatitis with local lesions immediately after pancreatico duodenectomy were identified. Pancreatic fistula was defined according to the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) Definition and pancreatitis was defined as serum amylase or lipase >3x upper limit of normal associated with abdominal pain or imaging criteria. Results: A total of 260 pancreaticoduodenectomies were performed between 2008 and 2019. Three patients developed postoperative acute pancreatitis with local complications. Conclusions: Postoperative acute pancreatitis is a common complication that solves spontaneously in most cases. Few patients present local complications that may require percutaneous or surgical treatment, which may predispose to the development of fistulas that are sometimes difficult to mana ge. There is no way to prevent pancreatic fistulas. Local complications will be treated according to their occurrence and impact, and may require a variety of procedures, ranging from percutaneous drainage to total pancreatectomy.

Significant improvement in triglyceride levels after switching from ritonavir to cobicistat in suppressed HIV-1-infected subjects with dyslipidaemia.

OBJECTIVES: Cobicistat seems to have a low rate of adverse events compared with ritonavir. METHODS: This restrospective observational study to evaluated changes in lipid parameters and the percentage of subjects with dyslipidemia in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients who were receiving a regimen containing darunavir/ritonavir and were then switched from ritonavir to cobicistat, carried out from December 2015 to May 2016, included 299 HIV-1-infected patients who were on stable antiretroviral treatment including darunavir/ritonavir (monotherapy, bitherapy or triple therapy for at least 6 months) and were then switched from ritonavir to cobicistat. Lipid parameters, as well as plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4 cell counts, were recorded at baseline just before the switch, and 24 weeks after the switch. Patients were stratified according to the presence of hypercholesterolaemia [baseline total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL and/or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol > 130 mg/dL] or hypertriglyceridaemia (baseline triglyceride levels > 200 mg/dL). RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-nine patients were enrolled in the study. Fifty-two per cent of the total study population showed dyslipidaemia at baseline. All patients maintained HIV-1 RNA ≤ 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL at week 24. No statistically significant changes were seen in CD4 T-cell count from baseline to week 24 [654 (298) to 643 (313) cells/µL; P = 0.173]. When patients were stratified according to the presence of hypercholesterolaemia at baseline (n = 124), significant changes were observed in total cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (P = 0.047), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P = 0.002) and triglyceride levels (P = 0.025), and when they were stratified according to the presence of hypertriglyceridaemia at baseline (n = 64), changes from baseline to week 24 in triglyceride level were statistically significant [median (interquartile range) 352 (223, 389) mg/dL at baseline and 229 (131, 279) mg/dL at week 24; P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Cobicistat as a booster of darunavir in HIV-infected subjects had a beneficial effect on the lipid profile in patients with hypercholesterolaemia or hypertrigliceridaemia at baseline.

The impact of language barriers and immigration status on the care experience for Spanish-speaking caregivers of patients with pediatric cancer.

BACKGROUND: An increasing proportion of pediatric cancer patients in the United States are Latino and many have Spanish-speaking immigrant parents with limited English proficiency (LEP). Little is known about how language or undocumented immigration status impacts their care experience. PROCEDURE: A cross-sectional survey was administered to English (N = 310) and Spanish-speaking LEP (N = 56) caregivers of pediatric cancer patients. To assess differences in healthcare experiences between the language groups, t-tests and chi-square statistics were used. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations between primary language and knowledge of clinical trial status. RESULTS: Spanish-speaking caregivers were more likely to report higher rates of quitting or changing jobs as a direct result of their child's cancer, and their children were more likely to experience a delay in education. Although Spanish-speaking caregivers reported higher satisfaction with care, 32% reported feeling that their child would have received better care if English was their primary language. Spanish-speaking caregivers were more likely to incorrectly identify whether their child was on a clinical trial compared with English-speaking caregivers. The majority of Spanish-speaking caregivers reported at least one undocumented caregiver in the household and 11% of them avoided or delayed medical care for their child due to concerns over their undocumented immigration status. CONCLUSIONS: Language barriers and undocumented immigration status may negatively impact the quality of informed decision-making and the care experience for Spanish-speaking LEP caregivers of pediatric cancer patients. These families may benefit from culturally appropriate Spanish language resources to improve communication and open a dialogue regarding undocumented immigration status.