"Induced sputum versus gastric lavage for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children".

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is difficult in infants and young children. For microbiological confirmation of PTB children, sequential gastric lavage (GL) is recommended. Induced sputum (IS) may be an alternative or complementary tool, but the information is limited in children in developed countries. The aim of this study is to assess the safety and diagnostic yield from IS combined with GL for PTB diagnosis in non-HIV infected children. METHODS: The study involved 22 children with suspected PTB admitted to the Getafe Hospital from January 2007 to May 2011. IS and GL were performed on three consecutive days, according to a standardized protocol. In all samples, BK staining, culture and PCR were carried out, including Genotype MTBDR plus for resistance to INH-RIF (Isoniazid-Rifampin) since 2008. A preliminary analysis of an ongoing prospective study is presented. RESULTS: Median age was 72 months (range 1 month to 14 years of age). Seven (33%) were ≤ 5 years of age. Seventeen were clinically diagnosed of PTB based on positive PPD and radiological criteria. Microbiological confirmation was achieved in 10 (58.8%) by either GL or IS. M. tuberculosis was identified by GL in 8 children (47.1%) and by IS in 7 (41.2%). One infant (2 IS samples) had transient oxygen desaturation recovered spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: IS appears to be safe and well tolerated by children for diagnosis of PTB and is more convenient. Increasing the diagnostic yield of PTB in children with PTB may be a complementary technique. Largest studies are necessary to define the role of IS in paediatric PTB.

A Prospective Study of the Serological, Clinical, and Epidemiological Features of a SARS-CoV-2 Positive Pediatric Cohort.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 was a global pandemic. Children develop a mild disease and may have a different rate of seroconversion compared to adults. The objective was to determine the number of seronegative patients in a pediatric cohort. We also reviewed the clinical−epidemiological features associated with seroconversion. Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study during September−November 2020, of COVID-19, confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Data were obtained 4−8 weeks after diagnosis. Blood samples were collected to investigate the humoral response, using three different serological methods. Results: A total of 111 patients were included (98 symptomatic), 8 were admitted to hospital, none required an Intensive Care Unit visit. Median age: 88 months (IQR: 24−149). Median time between diagnosis and serological test: 37 days (IQR: 34−44). A total of 19 patients were non-seroconverters when using three serological techniques (17.1%; 95% CI: 10.6−25.4); most were aged 2−10 years (35%, p < 0.05). Univariate analysis yielded a lower rate of seroconversion when COVID-19 confirmation was not present amongst household contacts (51.7%; p < 0.05). Conclusions: There was a high proportion of non-seroconverters. This is more commonly encountered in childhood than in adults. Most seronegative patients were in the group aged 2−10 years, and when COVID-19 was not documented in household contacts. Most developed a mild disease. Frequently, children were not the index case within the family.

[Surgical oncology: historical development and current status]. / Cirugía oncológica: evolución histórica y estado actual.

The surgical oncology remains an essential part in the multidisciplinary management for patients with cancer, even though the current progress in field of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, systemic therapies, including therapies directed to molecular targets. Their role impact in several moments during the management of an oncological patient: prevention, diagnosis, assessment of the spread of the disease, curative treatment, management of the sequels, complications by the treatment and not less important, the palliation. The current state of the surgical oncology as a result of a constant development, inspired by skillful hands with creative and restless minds, have achieved to mark the history of the medicine in an area which currently has a great transcendence and an accelerated growth in a short period of time. Under this argument, we have decided to present an updated overview about the role of the surgical oncology, from the evolution through the history until all their applications in the different areas of the oncology.

Disseminated Tuberculosis Complicated With Pneumatoceles in 2 Infants.

Pneumatoceles are rare complications of pulmonary tuberculosis in children. We present 2 cases in infants of disseminated tuberculosis complicated by pneumatoceles with different evolution. This complication should be considered if worsening of respiratory symptoms occurs after initiating anti-tuberculous treatment. Treatment of pneumatoceles is usually conservative and surgical treatment should be used in patients with giant cysts which cause respiratory distress.

Safety and Experience With Combined Antiretroviral Prophylaxis in Newborn at High-risk of Perinatal HIV Infection, in a Cohort of Mother Living With HIV-infant Pairs.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal transmission of HIV has dramatically decreased in high-income countries in the last few years with current rates below 1%, but it still occurs in high-risk situations, mainly pregnant women with late diagnosis of infection, poor antiretroviral adherence and a high viral load (VL). In these high-risk situations, many providers recommend combined neonatal prophylaxis (CNP). Our aim was to evaluate the safety and toxicity of CNP in infants deemed at high-risk of HIV infection among mother-infant pairs in the Madrid Cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study between years 2000 and 2019. The subgroup of newborns on CNP and their mothers were retrospectively selected (cohort A) and compared with those who received monotherapy with zidovudine (cohort B). Infants with monotherapy were classified according to treatment regimes in long (6 weeks) and short (4 weeks) course. RESULTS: We identified 227 newborns (33.3% preterm and 7 sets of twins) with CNP. A maternal diagnosis of HIV-1 infection was established during the current pregnancy in 72 cases (36.4%) and intrapartum or postpartum in 31 cases (15.7%). Most infants received triple combination antiretroviral therapy (65.6%; n = 149). The perinatal transmission rate in cohort A was 3.5% (95% confidence interval: 1.13%-5.92%). Infants from cohort A developed anemia (26.1% vs. 19.4%, P = 0.14) and neutropenia more frequently at 50-120 days (21.4% vs. 10.9%, P < 0.01), without significant differences in grade 3 and 4 anemia or neutropenia between the two cohorts. There were no differences in increased alanine aminotransferase. Neutropenia was more common in the long zidovudine regimes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide further evidence of the safety of CNP in infants with high-risk of HIV-1 perinatal transmission.

[Biosimulator training and its impact on skill in laparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / Entrenamiento en un biosimulador y su impacto sobre la destreza en colecistectomía laparoscópica.

OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to determinate the educational impact of training in an inanimate biosimulator in terms of effectiveness, time and complications in performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: We used a comparative, experimental cohort, prospective and longitudinal. Three first-postgraduate-year residents and one pre-grade internship physician were trained and assessed in basic laparoscopic skills using a biosimulator (fiberglass "dummy" where animal organs are introduced ex-vivo). The participants acted as their own control, performing a procedure to determine surgical time, complications and effectiveness. Later they observed a short video demonstrating the suitable development of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The video defined the specific deviations from the ideal cholecystectomy, which were considered as errors. Every procedure was videotaped, beginning with the careful dissection of cystic structures and clipping them, continuing with the dissection of the gallbladder from the liver with the standardized method. Each participant performed ten procedures. RESULTS: There were no differences in baseline assessment of basic skills. All participants completed all proposed procedures. Surgical time was 61% faster at the end of the study (p<0.001), as well as demonstrating a lower rate of complications of 0.67% (p<0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Skills training in endoscopic surgery by means of an inanimate biosimulator is superior to traditional training because it decreases surgical time and surgical complications without ethical considerations and the effect of a learning curve in the operating room.

Entrenamiento en un biosimulador y su impacto sobre la destreza en colecistectomía laparoscópica / Biosimulator training and its impact on skill in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Objetivo: determinar el impacto educacional del entrenamiento en un biosimulador inanimado en términos de efectividad, tiempo y complicaciones, respecto a la colecistectomía laparoscópica. Material y métodos: estudio comparativo, experimental de una cohorte, prospectivo y longitudinal. Tres médicos residentes de primer año de cirugía y un interno de pregrado, fueron entrenados y evaluados en habilidades laparoscópicas elementales mediante el empleo de un biosimulador (maniquí de fibra de vidrio en el que se introducen órganos de animales ex vivo). Los sujetos fueron su propio control: realizaron un procedimiento inicial en el que se determinó tiempo quirúrgico, complicaciones y efectividad. Posteriormente observaron un corto video que mostraba el desarrollo idóneo de la colecistectomía, y en el que se identificaban las desviaciones específicas del desempeño adecuado. Posteriormente cada sujeto realizó 10 procedimientos. Resultados: no existieron diferencias en la evaluación inicial de habilidades elementales. Los individuos completaron todos los procedimientos propuestos. Las disecciones de las estructuras císticas y de la vesícula biliar fueron 61 % más rápidas al finalizar el estudio (p < 0.001); la tasa de complicación fue de 0.67 % (p <0.009). Conclusión: el entrenamiento de habilidades en cirugía endoscópica por medio de un biosimulador inanimado es mejor que el entrenamiento tradicional, ya que disminuye el tiempo quirúrgico y las complicaciones en la sala de operaciones.

OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to determinate the educational impact of training in an inanimate biosimulator in terms of effectiveness, time and complications in performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: We used a comparative, experimental cohort, prospective and longitudinal. Three first-postgraduate-year residents and one pre-grade internship physician were trained and assessed in basic laparoscopic skills using a biosimulator (fiberglass [quot ]dummy[quot ] where animal organs are introduced ex-vivo). The participants acted as their own control, performing a procedure to determine surgical time, complications and effectiveness. Later they observed a short video demonstrating the suitable development of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The video defined the specific deviations from the ideal cholecystectomy, which were considered as errors. Every procedure was videotaped, beginning with the careful dissection of cystic structures and clipping them, continuing with the dissection of the gallbladder from the liver with the standardized method. Each participant performed ten procedures. RESULTS: There were no differences in baseline assessment of basic skills. All participants completed all proposed procedures. Surgical time was 61% faster at the end of the study (p<0.001), as well as demonstrating a lower rate of complications of 0.67% (p<0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Skills training in endoscopic surgery by means of an inanimate biosimulator is superior to traditional training because it decreases surgical time and surgical complications without ethical considerations and the effect of a learning curve in the operating room.