Rapid Triage of Children with Suspected COVID-19 Using Laboratory-Based Machine-Learning Algorithms.

In order to limit the spread of the novel betacoronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), it is necessary to detect positive cases as soon as possible and isolate them. For this purpose, machine-learning algorithms, as a field of artificial intelligence, have been recognized as a promising tool. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of the most common machine-learning algorithms in the rapid triage of children with suspected COVID-19 using easily accessible and inexpensive laboratory parameters. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 566 children treated for respiratory diseases: 280 children with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 286 children with respiratory symptoms who were SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative (control group). Six machine-learning algorithms, based on the blood laboratory data, were tested: random forest, support vector machine, linear discriminant analysis, artificial neural network, k-nearest neighbors, and decision tree. The training set was validated through stratified cross-validation, while the performance of each algorithm was confirmed by an independent test set. Random forest and support vector machine models demonstrated the highest accuracy of 85% and 82.1%, respectively. The models demonstrated better sensitivity than specificity and better negative predictive value than positive predictive value. The F1 score was higher for the random forest than for the support vector machine model, 85.2% and 82.3%, respectively. This study might have significant clinical applications, helping healthcare providers identify children with COVID-19 in the early stage, prior to PCR and/or antigen testing. Additionally, machine-learning algorithms could improve overall testing efficiency with no extra costs for the healthcare facility.

Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Characteristics of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children and Adolescents during the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Vojvodina.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes globally, which has also affected patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study aimed to determine the incidence of T1DM and the characteristics of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during the pandemic comparing it to pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Data from patients <19 years with newly diagnosed T1DM between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2021 from four regional centers in Vojvodina were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results: In 2021, the highest incidence of T1DM in the last five years was recorded, 17.3/100,000. During the pandemic period (2020−2021), there were 99 new-onset T1DM, of which 42.4% presented in DKA, which is significantly higher than in the pre-pandemic period (34.1%). During the pandemic, symptom duration of T1DM lasted significantly longer than before the COVID-19 period. At the age of 10−14 years, the highest incidence of T1DM and COVID-19, the highest frequency rate of DKA, and severe DKA were observed. Conclusions: The pandemic is associated with a high incidence rate of T1DM, longer duration of symptoms of T1DM, a high frequency of DKA, and a severe DKA at diagnosis. Patients aged 10−14 years are a risk group for the occurrence of T1DM with severe clinical presentation. Additional studies are needed with a longer study period and in a wider geographical area, with data on exposure to COVID-19 infection, the permanence of new-onset T1DM, and the psychosocial impact of the pandemic.

Molecular Diagnostics of Cystic Fibrosis in Serbia: Our Approach to Meet the Diagnostic Challenges.

Background: High heterogeneity levels of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) are manifested in different populations. The aim of this study was to analyze comprehensively all mutations in the CFTR gene in Serbian patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to use the findings to propose a testing algorithm for the Serbian population. Materials and Methods: Cascade screening was employed to detect mutations in the CFTR gene of 90 patients suspected of having CF, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism or PCR-mediated site directed mutagenesis, Sanger sequencing, and/or next-generation sequencing. Results: This is the first report for the Serbian CF population where single nucleotide polymorphisms, small insertions and deletions, large genome rearrangements, and copy number variants were analyzed in detail. A high degree of heterogeneity within the CFTR was documented among our cohort of 90 patients. We identified 19 CF-causing mutations and 3 with varying consequences, including a previously unreported deletion of the entire exon 11. Conclusion: Considering the spectrum and frequency of mutations found, we recommend a multistep sequencing algorithm in combination with evaluation of large rearrangements for future analyses of the CFTR gene in the Serbian population.

Stethoscope vs. ultrasound probe - which is more reliable in children with suspected pneumonia?

OBJECTIVE: To compare lung ultrasound (LUS) with auscultation findings in children with clinical suspicion of pneumonia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study including 95 patients (age: from 2 months to 17.5 years; mean age: 5.1 y, SD 4.5 y) with referral diagnosis of suspected pneumonia. In all patients LUS and auscultatory examinations were performed within an hour. These findings were compared separately in each hemithorax. The radiologist performing LUS was blinded to the patient's clinical information. Positive auscultatory findings included: crackles and/or abnormal breath sounds (decreased, asymmetric, absent, or bronchial). For LUS examinations a combined transthoracic - transabdominal approach was used. A pneumonia-positive LUS finding included subpleural consolidation with air-bronchogram, or an adjacent area of interstitial edema. For each subpleural consolidation the cranio-caudal (CC) diameter was measured, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the sizes of subpleural consolidations for positive and negative auscultatory findings were compared. The p-value between LUS and auscultation was calculated using McNemar's test. RESULTS: LUS and auscultation showed pneumonia-positive findings in 98 and 64 hemithoraces, i.e. in 67 and 45 patients respectively. In positive auscultatory findings the CI for CC diameters of subpleural consolidations ranged from 32.46 to 54.14 mm, and in negative auscultatory findings the CI was between 16.52 and 29.83 mm, which showed a statistically significant difference. McNemar's test showed a statistically significant difference between LUS and auscultation. CONCLUSIONS: LUS showed positive findings in more hemithoraces than auscultation in children with suspected pneumonia. A cranio-caudal size of subpleural consolidation of less than 30 mm significantly reduces the possibility of auscultatory detection.

Pseudo-Bartter's Syndrome in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Pseudo-Bartter syndrome (PBS) is characterized by hyponatremic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis that mimics Bartter syndrome but with no pathology in the renal tubules. We present five patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and PBS. CASES OUTLINE: Four children aged between three and five-and-one-half months with previously diagnosed CF and one aged 17 months with previously undiagnosed disease, were hospitalized during the summer season, with severe dehydration, oliguria, apathy and adynamia. Additionally, one of them had an ileostomy due to meconium ileus after birth. All children were on a diet without additional salt intake. Laboratory analysis on admission showed hyponatremia (115-133 mmol/L, mean 122.4 mmol/L), high plasma renin activity (229-500 pg/ml, mean 324 pg/ml) and metabolic alkalosis (pH 7.5-7.6, mean 7.56) in all the patients, and in four of them high blood level of aldosterone (74-560 pg/ml, mean 295.9 pg/ml), hypokalemia (2.3-2.8 mmol/L, mean 2.6 mmol/L), hypochloremia (59-71 mmol/L, mean 66 mmol/L) and low urinary sodium (5-12 mmol/L, mean 9 mmol/L). After intravenous rehydration followed by additional use of sodium and chloride in mean dosis of 1.78 mmol/kg per day, all the patients made a complete recovery. With advice for additional use of salt in the mentioned amount, the patients were discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSION: PBS is one of CF complications, especially in infants and young children in situations accompanied by increased sweating and/or other causes of additional loss of sodium and chlorine. Sometimes, as was the case with one of our patients, PBS may be the initial presentation form of the disease.