Three-Year Clinical Follow-Up of Children Intrauterine Exposed to Zika Virus

Infant formulae are the only alternatives to breast milk for infants who are unable to continue breastfeeding through the first year of life. They aim to provide formula-fed infants with the same structural and functional benefits observed in breastfed infants. To achieve this, bioactive nutrients have been added to infant formulae in recent years: long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids for neurodevelopment; probiotics and prebiotics for local gastrointestinal defence; and nucleotides for promoting the immune response. Changes in protein quantity and quality allow infant formulae to achieve a balance between providing the correct plasma amino acid profile and reducing the protein intake, which could prevent obesity in later life. Hydrolysed proteins may help prevent atopic disorders. Many short-term trials have been published but long-term follow-up data are needed in infants who have been fed the newer infant formulae, to fully understand the role of bioactive nutrients.

ObjectivesTo determine the costs directly or indirectly related to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. The secondary objective was to stratify the costs based on gestational age and/or birth weight.DesignSystematic literature review.SettingPubMed and Scopus were searched on 3 February 2020. Studies were selected based on eligibility criteria by two independent reviewers. Included studies were further searched to identify eligible references and citations.Two independent reviewers extracted data with a prespecified data extraction sheet, including items from a published checklist for quality assessment. The costs in the included studies are reported descriptively.Primary outcome measureCosts of BPD.ResultsThe 13 included studies reported the total costs or marginal costs of BPD. Most studies reported costs during birth hospitalisation (cost range: Int$21 392–Int$1 094 509 per child, equivalent to €19 103–€977 397, in 2019) and/or during the first year of life. One study reported costs during the first 2 years; two other studies reported costs later, during the preschool period and one study included a long-term follow-up. The highest mean costs were associated with infants born at extremely low gestational ages. The quality assessment indicated a low risk of bias in the reported findings of included studies.ConclusionsThis study was the first systematic review of costs associated with BPD. We confirmed previous reports of high costs and described the long-term follow-up necessary for preterm infants with BPD, particularly infants of very low gestational age. Moreover, we identified a need for studies that estimate costs outside hospitals and after the first year of life.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020173234.

We present a rare case of genital hemangiomas. Generally, hemangiomas are present at birth or in the first year of life and completely resolve by age 10. Most are asymptomatic. We present an 11 year old girl who presented with incidentally diagnosed asymptomatic bilateral hemangiomas on her labia majora. The treatment for genital hemangiomas is not well defined in the literature. We elected to choose watchful waiting as our treatment approach at this time. Long term follow-up is necessary with intention to intervene with multispeciality approach involving gynaecology and plastic surgery to avoid any disfigurement of the local anatomy.

Abstract Introduction and objectives Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital malformation, with an estimated prevalence ranging from 0,48 to 2%. Most of the studies describe complications associated with BAV, including aortic stenosis and regurgitation, infective endocarditis and aortic dilation and dissection. Very few studies have been performed in the neonatal and paediatric age, most lacking in long-term follow up. The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence of BAV and the progression of aortic valve disease and aortic dilation in paediatric patients followed from January 1996 to August 2018. Methods A prospective collection of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) diagnosed in the first year of life was performed in our institution from January 1996 to August 2018. Patients affected by BAV were then followed yearly. BAV morphology, aortic valve dysfunction and aortic dimensions were measured. Comparisons were performed between right-left cusp fusion (R-L) and right-non coronary cusp fusion (R-N), according to Shaefer's classification. Rate of change of the ascending aorta size over time was analyzed, and aortic size values were normalized as the number of standard deviations above or below the mean size expected for body surface area (z scores). Results A total of 35,310 live births were screened. Incidence rate of total CHD, including small ventricular septal defects and BAV was19,57%. Sixty had BAV (8,73% of CHD), with an incidence of 17/1,000 live births. Male/Female ratio was 1.4. A positive family history was present in 5 (8.3%). In 12 patients (24%) BAV was associated to other CHD (9 Aortic Coarctation, 1 Atrio-Ventricular Septal Defect, and in two cases a critical neonatal aortic stenosis). BAV was isolated in 48 cases (80%), with an incidence of 13.6/1.000 live births. According to Shaefer's classification the most common was type 1 (R-L), with Right to Left cusps fusion (R-L 76%, R-N 21% and L-N 3%). Among patients with isolated BAV, after a median follow up of 11 [1–21] years an aortic stenosis was observed in 5 patients (10.4%, none severe), an aortic insufficiency in 13 (27%, in one case severe). A dilated ascending aorta (z-score>2) was found in 11 patients (23%). An indication cardiac surgery due to severe aortic insufficiency was present in one case. No patient had indication for aortic aneurysm surgery. Conclusions Paediatric patients with isolated BAV warrant medical follow-up but progression towards severe valve dysfunction and/or dilation of the ascending aorta warranting cardiac surgery is very low.

OBJECTIVEThe authors evaluated the long-term outcome of their treatment protocol for Muenke syndrome, which includes a single craniofacial procedure.METHODSThis was a prospective observational cohort study of Muenke syndrome patients who underwent surgery for craniosynostosis within the first year of life. Symptoms and determinants of intracranial hypertension were evaluated by longitudinal monitoring of the presence of papilledema (fundoscopy), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; with polysomnography), cerebellar tonsillar herniation (MRI studies), ventricular size (MRI and CT studies), and skull growth (occipital frontal head circumference [OFC]). Other evaluated factors included hearing, speech, and ophthalmological outcomes.RESULTSThe study included 38 patients; 36 patients underwent fronto-supraorbital advancement. The median age at last follow-up was 13.2 years (range 1.3–24.4 years). Three patients had papilledema, which was related to ophthalmological disorders in 2 patients. Three patients had mild OSA. Three patients had a Chiari I malformation, and tonsillar descent < 5 mm was present in 6 patients. Tonsillar position was unrelated to papilledema, ventricular size, or restricted skull growth. Ten patients had ventriculomegaly, and the OFC growth curve deflected in 3 patients. Twenty-two patients had hearing loss. Refraction anomalies were diagnosed in 14/15 patients measured at ≥ 8 years of age.CONCLUSIONSPatients with Muenke syndrome treated with a single fronto-supraorbital advancement in their first year of life rarely develop signs of intracranial hypertension, in accordance with the very low prevalence of its causative factors (OSA, hydrocephalus, and restricted skull growth). This illustrates that there is no need for a routine second craniofacial procedure. Patient follow-up should focus on visual assessment and speech and hearing outcomes.

Background: We aim to describe the long term follow-up of a cohort of children exposed in utero to the Zika virus. Methods: Descriptive study of a cohort of microcephalic children due to Zika virus. Logistic regression was used to evaluate variables associated with worse prognosis epilepsy. Results: We followed 28 children (15 females), with a median follow-up of 24 months (IQR = 12-28). During the follow-up, 1 infant died. The median head circumference at birth was 29 cm (IQR = 27-31). All presented a global developmental delay. The most frequent central nervous system abnormalities were on cortical development in 22 participants; dysgenesis of corpus callosum in 13; ventriculomegaly in 25; and calcifications in 24. A total of 9 presented ocular abnormalities, 4 auditory impairment. During follow-up, 12 presented with sleep disorders, 10 with irritability, and 23 with epilepsy (2 with generalized tonic-clonic, 3 with generalized tonic-clonic and spasms, 12 with spasms, 3 tonic and spasms, and 3 motor focal and spasms). The median age at the begin of the epilepsy was 4 months (IQR = 2-10), the median number of drugs used to control the epilepsy was 2 (IQR = 2-3). Maternal illicit drug use during pregnancy was associated with worse prognosis epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, West syndrome, or status epilepticus). A total of 19 presented with dysphagia, 10 children required gastrostomy. Conclusion: Children with microcephaly due to Zika virus presented with several complications during follow-up, as epilepsy, spastic diplegia, and global developmental delay.

Abstract Background Spondylodiscitis is an unusual infectious disease, which usually originates as a pathogenic infection of intervertebral discs and then spreads to neighboring vertebral bodies. The objective of this study is to evaluate percutaneous debridement and drainage using intraoperative CT-Guide in multilevel spondylodiscitis. Methods From January 2002 to May 2017, 23 patients with multilevel spondylodiscitis were treated with minimally invasive debridement and drainage procedures in our department. The clinical manifestations, evolution, and minimally invasive debridement and drainage treatment of this refractory vertebral infection were investigated. Results Of the enrolled patients, the operation time ranged from 30 minutes to 124 minutes every level with an average of 48 minutes. Intraoperative hemorrhage was minimal. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 12 months to 6.5 years with an average of 3.7 years. There was no reactivation of infection in the treated vertebral segment during follow-up, but two patients with fungal spinal infection continued to progress by affecting adjacent segments prior to final resolution. According to the classification system of Macnab, one patient had a good outcome at the final follow-up, and the rest were excellent. Conclusions Minimally invasive percutaneous debridement and irrigation using intraoperative CT-Guide is an effective minimally invasive method for the treatment of multilevel spondylodiscitis.