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Birth Defects Res 2018 Sep 19. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

Background: Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) affect ~1% of newborns and are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children. We present the clinical epidemiology of CHD as seen in a large university medical center in Nigeria.

Methods: Participants were 767 children with echocardiographically confirmed CHD seen over a 5-year period at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2018 Sep 10. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Department of social and preventive medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.

Background: While adverse events following immunization (AEFI) are frequent, there are limited data on the safety of reimmunizing patients who had a prior AEFI. Our objective was to estimate the rate and severity of AEFI recurrences.

Methods: We analyzed data from the AEFI passive surveillance system in Quebec, Canada that collects information on reimmunization of patients who had a prior AEFI. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2018 Sep 8. Epub 2018 Sep 8.

National Institute for Communicable Diseases, A division of the National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa.

Background: Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) includes disorders associated with intrauterine rubella infection. Incidence of CRS is higher in countries with no rubella-containing vaccines (RCV) in their immunization schedules. In the World Health Organization African region, RCVs are being introduced as part of the 2012-2020 global measles and rubella strategic plan. Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2018 Sep 7. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Infection Control Unit, APHM, Hôpital Nord, Marseille. Electronic address:

Objectives: To analyse a measles outbreak in a Roma community.

Methods: We describe a community-wide outbreak of genotype D8 measles that took place in southeastern France, between May and July 2017, along with the control measures adopted.

Results: We identified a total of eighteen cases, between six months and 24 years old. Read More

Am J Transplant 2018 Sep 1. Epub 2018 Sep 1.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals, and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.

Live attenuated vaccines are currently contraindicated in solid-organ transplant recipients. However, the risk of vaccine-preventable infections is lifelong, and can be particularly severe after transplantation. In this prospective interventional national cohort study, 44 pediatric liver transplant recipients with measles IgG antibodies <150 IU/L (below seroprotection threshold) received measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) at a median of 6. Read More

Neuropediatrics 2018 Aug 30. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Mutations in are associated with a heterogeneous clinical spectrum including epilepsy and autism. Here, we have identified a peculiar phenotype associated with vaccination related exacerbations of ataxia. We report the first family with three individuals affected by -associated episodic ataxia (EA) with impaired speech development. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Aug 29;8(1):13021. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Infection Diseases, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medical University), Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.

Maternal antibodies contribute to the protection of young infants from infectious diseases during the early life. However, vaccinations for women of child-bearing age are not routine in China. Therefore, we investigated the level of protective immunity against vaccine preventable diseases in pregnant women and newborns in China. Read More

Mikrobiyol Bul 2018 Jul;52(3):324-327

Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Division of Virology and Basic Immunology, Istanbul, Turkey.

The protection of infants against infections during the first few months of life is provided mainly by maternal antibodies. The presence of maternal antibodies can decrease vaccine efficacy. The waning time of maternal antibodies shows variations therefore seroepidemiological studies are important for the development of vaccination schedules. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Aug 10;18(1):388. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Department of Virology and Experimental Therapy, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego s/n, Recife, PE, 50740-465, Brazil.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) is a recently emerged arbovirus, which infection during pregnancy is associated with a series of congenital malformations, collectively denominated Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Following infection, ZIKV RNA has a median duration period of 10 days in plasma and up to 6 months in semen in immunocompetent adult individuals. Moreover, ZIKV is able to replicate and persist in fetal brains and placentas, consequently, infection is associated with pregnancy loss, albeit the pathogenic mechanisms are still unknown. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Jul 30;2018. Epub 2018 Jul 30.

Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

We report a previously well paediatric patient with two distinct presentations of invasive group A streptococcus (GAS) infection resulting in significant morbidity. The first episode, following GAS pharyngitis, involved multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. This included cardiorespiratory and acute hepatorenal failure and purpura fulminans that eventually necessitated four-limb amputation. Read More

J Child Health Care 2018 Jan 1:1367493518786011. Epub 2018 Jan 1.

3 Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

The objective of this study was to describe how a sample of pediatricians were impacted by and responded to the Disneyland measles outbreak in the United States. We conducted three repeated cross-sectional, online surveys in 2014 (before the outbreak), 2015, and 2016 (after the outbreak) among members of three state chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics. We assessed pediatricians' level of willingness and length of time comfortable delaying the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before and after the outbreak. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2018 Jun 2;5(6):ofy130. Epub 2018 Jun 2.

Department of Family Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.

Background: Vaccination coverage among children entering kindergarten in the United States is high, but interstate variations exist. The relationship between state immunization laws and vaccination coverage has not been fully assessed. We evaluated associations of state laws on both measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccination coverage and exemptions to school immunization requirements. Read More

J Hosp Infect 2018 Jun 11. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

Department of Epidemiologic Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.

Ital J Pediatr 2018 Jun 14;44(1):67. Epub 2018 Jun 14.

Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Pediatric and Infectious Diseases Unit, Rome, Italy.

Background: High rates of vaccination coverage are important in preventing infectious diseases. Enforcing mandatory vaccinations is one of the strategies that some Countries adopted to protect the community when vaccination coverage is not satisfactory. In Italy, in 2017 vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella became compulsory in childhood. Read More

Vaccine 2018 Jun 4. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Pediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address:

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy. Infections and vaccines have been hypothesized to play a role in triggering GBS development. These beliefs can play a role in reducing vaccination coverage. Read More

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2018 May;7(2):93-99

Stanford University School of Medicine, California.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a group of medical and public health experts, meets 3 times per year to develop recommendations for vaccine use in the United States. The group has 15 voting members, each of whom is appointed to a 4-year term. ACIP members and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff discuss the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccine research, effectiveness, safety data, and clinical trial results. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2018 May 5. Epub 2018 May 5.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In 1882, at 19 months of age, Helen Keller developed a febrile illness that left her both deaf and blind. Historical biographies attribute the illness to rubella, scarlet fever, encephalitis, or meningitis. This analysis of her illness suggests she likely had bacterial meningitis, caused by N. Read More

Scand J Rheumatol 2018 May 9:1-3. Epub 2018 May 9.

a Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Second Department of Pediatrics, 'P and A Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Medical School , National and Kapodestrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece.

Korean J Pediatr 2018 Apr 23;61(4):114-120. Epub 2018 Apr 23.

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: Routine screening for toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (TORCH) in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and small for gestational age (SGA) neonates has become a common practice. However, the incidence of TORCH varies across countries, and the cost of TORCH testing may be disadvantageous compared to disease-specific screening. To evaluate the efficacy of TORCH screening, the medical charts of IUGR or SGA neonates born in a single institution in Bucheon, Korea from 2011 to 2015 were reviewed. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2018 Aug 7;20(4):e12903. Epub 2018 May 7.

Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Revaccination after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is necessary to compensate for the loss of immunological memory. The aims of this study were to evaluate the adherence to revaccination schedule and the humoral immune response to different vaccine antigens in HSCT pediatric and young adult patients.

Methods: Patients submitted to HSCT for over 3 years were recruited. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2017 9;28:218. Epub 2017 Nov 9.

Healthy Sciences University, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare and potentially life-threatening idiosyncratic drug reaction. It presents with extensive rash, fever, lymphadenopathy, hematologic abnormalities (eosinophilia and/or atypical lymphocytosis) and internal organ involvement. It has been described in association with more than 50 drugs. Read More

Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018 14;14(8):1970-1976. Epub 2018 May 14.

d Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine , Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit , Eskisehir , Turkey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the age-appropriate immunization coverage in 366 children with chronic neurological disease (CND), to evaluate the use of vaccines not included in routine program, to evaluate serological tests for vaccine-preventable diseases and to describe the related factors in unvaccinated children. 95.6% of all children with had received age-appropriate vaccinations according to the actual National Immunization Program (NIP) during childhood. Read More

Saudi Med J 2018 Apr;39(4):347-353

Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail.

Objectives: To assess vaccination timeliness, risk factors associated with delays and the reasons for delayed vaccinations among children below the age of 3 years in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during the period of May 2016 to August 2017. Data were obtained from parents of children under the age of 3 years using a structured questionnaire comprised of questions about sociodemographics, physical well-being of the child and the reasons that are used to justify delayed vaccinations. Read More

Vaccine 2018 04 22;36(17):2300-2306. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Bristol Children's Vaccine Centre, University of Bristol, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol BS2 8AE, UK.

Aim: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a reduced antigen diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-inactivated poliovirus (dTap-IPV) vaccine (Boostrix-IPV, GSK) as a pre-school booster in 3-4 year old children as compared to dTap-IPV (Repevax, Sanofi Pasteur), when co-administered with mumps-measles-rubella vaccine (MMRV).

Methods: This phase III, open label, randomised study was conducted in the UK between April 2011 and April 2012. Children due their pre-school dTap-IPV booster vaccination were randomised 2:1 to receive one of two different dTap-IPV vaccines (dTap-IPV or dTap-IPV) with blood sample for immunogenicity assessment just prior and one month after vaccination. Read More

HIV Med 2018 Jul 24;19(6):426-429. Epub 2018 Mar 24.

Infectious Diseases Department, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.

Objectives: Measles infection is a vaccine-preventable disease currently resurging in Europe. HIV-infected subjects are at higher risk of complications following measles infection. We investigated the risk factors associated with being seronegative in a cohort of HIV-infected subjects. Read More

Epidemiol Infect 2018 Apr 22;146(6):741-746. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

National Health Service,Lothian,Directorate of Public Health and Health Policy,Edinburgh,UK.

In September 2016, an imported case of measles in Edinburgh in a university student resulted in a further 17 confirmed cases during October and November 2016. All cases were genotype D8 and were associated with a virus strain most commonly seen in South East Asia. Twelve of the 18 cases were staff or students at a university in Edinburgh and 17 cases had incomplete or unknown measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccination status. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 03 15;18(1):130. Epub 2018 Mar 15.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Infection Diseases, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medical University), Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China.

Background: Rubella infection in pregnant women can result in serious effects, such as miscarriages, stillbirths, and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). However, very little is known about the rubella seroprevalence among pregnant women in China.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional and hospital-based study. Read More

Nutr Clin Pract 2018 Oct 12;33(5):718-724. Epub 2018 Mar 12.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intermittent parenteral copper supplementation (IPC) on serum copper status and biochemical and hematological measures of copper toxicity and deficiency in premature infants with parenteral nutrition (PN)-associated cholestasis (PNAC). We performed a prospective nested observational study in premature infants with PNAC who received IPC after the development of PNAC. Infants with chromosomal disorders, TORCH (toxoplasmosis, parvovirus, syphilis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, human immunodeficiency virus) infection, metabolic disorder, and/or surgical abnormality of the hepatobiliary system were excluded. Read More

Indian J Public Health 2018 Jan-Mar;62(1):52-54

Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is one of the most devastating congenital infections and yet the only one which is vaccine preventable and is a public health challenge for clinicians and policymakers across the developing world including India. The clinical manifestations of CRS include growth retardation, cardiac defects, cataracts, and hearing impairment. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that worldwide over 100,000 babies are born with CRS every year despite the availability of safe and inexpensive vaccines, thus highlighting the need for broader vaccination coverage programs. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 May 28;196:217-222.e1. Epub 2018 Feb 28.

Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.

Objective: To conduct a prospective study to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of live attenuated vaccines in patients with nephrotic syndrome receiving immunosuppressive agents.

Study Design: Patients with nephrotic syndrome receiving immunosuppressive agents with negative or borderline antibody titers (virus-specific IgG levels <4.0) against measles, rubella, varicella, and/or mumps fulfilling the criteria of cellular and humoral immunity were enrolled. Read More

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2018 Apr 13;27(4):405-412. Epub 2018 Feb 13.

Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Purpose: The need to develop methods for studying the safety of childhood immunization schedules has been recognized by the Institute of Medicine and Department of Health and Human Services. The recommended childhood immunization schedule includes multiple vaccines in a visit. A key concern is safety of concomitant (same day) versus separate day vaccination. Read More

Indian Pediatr 2018 May 9;55(5):405-407. Epub 2018 Feb 9.

Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatric Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Objective: To find out seropositivity rates at 4-6 and 9-12 years of age; among those who received one-dose measles at 9 months and one-dose MMR at 15 months of age.

Methods: 80 healthy children (53 males) at 4-6 or 9-12 years of age, attending outpatient department for vaccination were enrolled. Antibody titers were estimated using commercially available quantitative-IgG ELISA kits. Read More

N Engl J Med 2018 Feb;378(6):564-572

From the Departments of Pediatrics and Infection Prevention, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, and the Departments of Pediatrics and Epidemiology, Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT (R.S.B.); the Departments of Radiology (K.N.), Pediatrics (K.A.S., V.M.P.), and Pathology (V.M.P.), Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Departments of Radiology (K.N.), Pediatrics (K.A.S.), and Pathology (V.M.P.), Harvard Medical School - both in Boston; and the Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (S.A.P.).

Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018 May 15;14(5):1075-1083. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

f Research and Development Center, GSK , Siena , Italy.

Neisseria meningitidis is associated with high mortality and morbidity in infants and children worldwide. This phase 3 study (NCT02173704) evaluated safety and immunogenicity of a 4-component serogroup B recombinant meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB) co-administered with routine vaccines in Taiwanese infants. In total, 225 healthy infants were randomized (2 : 1 ) to receive 4CMenB and routine vaccines (4CMenB+Routine) or routine vaccines only (Routine group) at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age. Read More

Pediatr Nephrol 2018 May 10;33(5):897-910. Epub 2018 Jan 10.

Department of Paediatrics I, University Children's Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.

Background: Avoidance of vaccine-preventable infections in paediatric renal allograft recipients is of utmost importance. However, the development and maintenance of protective vaccination titres may be impaired in this patient population owing to their need for immunosuppressive medication.

Methods: In the framework of the Cooperative European Paediatric Renal Transplant Initiative (CERTAIN), we therefore performed a multi-centre, multi-national study and analysed vaccination titres pre- and post-transplant in 155 patients with serial titre measurements in comparison with published data in healthy children. Read More

Indian Pediatr 2017 12;54(12):1047-1049

Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017 8;7:486. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging healthcare threat. The presence of the mosquito species across South and Central America in combination with complementary climates have incited an epidemic of locally transmitted cases of ZIKV infection in Brazil. As one of the most significant current public health concerns in the Americas, ZIKV epidemic has been a cause of alarm due to its known and unknown complications. Read More

Am J Prev Med 2018 Feb 13;54(2):205-213. Epub 2017 Dec 13.

Adult and Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.

Introduction: U.S. obstetrician/gynecologists play a critical role as vaccinators of pregnant women. Read More

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2018 Jul;40(5):405-408

Center for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Muang, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Background: Fetal anemia is often assumed to be due to red cell alloimmunization and Parvovirus infection, and can lead to hydrops fetalis and death in utero. Other causes, such as mutations of hemoglobin alpha, are less commonly considered.

Methods: We report 7 cases with fetal anemia causing hydrops fetalis. Read More

Nephron 2018 12;138(4):280-286. Epub 2017 Dec 12.

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Background: Data on the immunization practices in pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate current vaccination practices for children on dialysis across European pediatric nephrology centers.

Methods: A total of 18 tertiary pediatric nephrology centers from 12 European countries were included in the study. Read More

Vaccine 2018 01 7;36(3):381-387. Epub 2017 Dec 7.

Vaccine Discovery and Development, GSK, Philadelphia, United States. Electronic address:

Background: This phase III B follow-up of an initial multicenter study (NCT00226499) will evaluate the ten-year efficacy of two doses of the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (MMRV) and one dose of the live attenuated varicella vaccine (V) versus a measles-mumps-rubella control group (MMR) for the prevention of clinical varicella disease. Here we present efficacy results for six years post-vaccination.

Methods: In phase A of the study, healthy children aged 12-22 months from ten European countries were randomized (3:3:1) and received either two doses of MMRV, or one dose of combined MMR and one dose of monovalent varicella vaccine (MMR+V), or two doses of the MMR vaccine (control), 42 days apart. Read More

Vaccine 2018 01 1;36(2):280-284. Epub 2017 Dec 1.

Centro Infant, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Avenida Ipiranga 6690, 2nd floor, ZIP-Code: 90610-000, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Electronic address:

Introduction: The Brazilian childhood National Immunization Program (NIP) introduced live and attenuated varicella vaccination in a single dose, combined as tetraviral vaccine, at 15 months of age in the whole country, during September to December of 2013. The aim of this study was to report trends in incidence of childhood hospital admissions related to varicella and zoster in Brazil from 2003 to 2016, including the first three years after vaccine introduction.

Methods: The number and incidence of hospital admission in patients aged less than 20 years in Brazilian public health system with an admission diagnosis of varicella and zoster from 2003 to 2016 were analyzed and pre (2003-2013) and post-vaccination periods (2014-2016) were compared. Read More

Western Pac Surveill Response J 2017 Apr-Jun;8(2):17-24. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

Department of Health, Philippines.

Introduction: In line with the regional aim of eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), phased introduction of rubella-containing vaccines (RCV) in the Philippines' routine immunization programme began in 2010. We estimated the burden of CRS in the country before widespread nationwide programmatic RCV use.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review in four tertiary hospitals. Read More

Lupus 2018 Apr 20;27(5):841-846. Epub 2017 Nov 20.

1 Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.

The present study investigated: (a) the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and (b) the obstetric outcome in healthy pregnant women showing false-positive TORCH-Toxoplasmosis, Other: syphilis, varicella-zoster, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes infections-results. Data from 23 singleton healthy pregnancies with false-positive TORCH results were collected. Each woman was systematically screened for TORCH IgG and IgM during the pre-conception assessment and/or at the beginning of pregnancy. Read More

Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2018 Mar;197(5):589-594

1 Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Rationale: Experimental evidence suggests that CDHR3 (cadherin-related family member 3) is a receptor for rhinovirus (RV)-C, and a missense variant in this gene (rs6967330) is associated with childhood asthma with severe exacerbations.

Objectives: To determine whether rs6967330 influences RV-C infections and illnesses in early childhood.

Methods: We studied associations between rs6967330 and respiratory infections and illnesses in the COPSAC (Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010) and COAST (Childhood Origins of Asthma Birth Cohort Study) birth cohorts, where respiratory infections were monitored prospectively for the first 3 years of life. Read More

Vaccine 2017 11 14;35(47):6444-6450. Epub 2017 Oct 14.

Computational Epidemiology Group, Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

United States kindergarten measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination rates are typically reported at the state level by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The lack of local MMR data prevents identification of areas with low vaccination rates that would be vulnerable to the spread of disease. We collected county-level vaccination rates for the 2014-2015 school year with the objective of identifying these regions. Read More

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2017 Nov;6(4):311-316

Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a group of medical and public health experts, meets 3 times per year to develop recommendations for vaccine use in the United States. The group has 15 voting members, and each member's term is 4 years. ACIP members and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff discuss the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccine research, effectiveness, safety data, and clinical trial results. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2017 Dec 10;176(12):1707-1712. Epub 2017 Oct 10.

Monash Newborn, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.

The aims of this study are to examine how frequently near-term and term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants were investigated in our clinical practice, whether being born less than the third centile for weight increased the yield of positive investigations, and whether there were additional characteristics in infants with positive investigations. This retrospective cohort study was compiled using a database of a large maternity network, using the search near term and term gestational age (greater than or equal to 35 weeks) over a span of 4 years. SGA babies were further filtered into less than the tenth centile and third centile. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2018 Feb 5;37(2):209-226. Epub 2017 Oct 5.

Department of Virology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

The emergence of Zika-virus-associated congenital microcephaly has engendered renewed interest in the pathogenesis of microcephaly induced by infectious agents. Three of the original "TORCH" agents are associated with an appreciable incidence of congenital microcephaly: cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and Toxoplasma gondii. The pathology of congenital microcephaly is characterized by neurotropic infectious agents that involve the fetal nervous system, leading to brain destruction with calcifications, microcephaly, sensorineural hearing loss, and ophthalmologic abnormalities. Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2017 Dec 22;65:4-7. Epub 2017 Sep 22.

University Hospital of Kinshasa, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Kinshasa, Congo; National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), Kinshasa, Congo.

Background: It has been demonstrated that infection with human parvovirus B19 (B19V) is associated with rash-fever illnesses. The present study aimed to investigate B19V as an aetiological agent of rash-fever syndromes in Congolese children confirmed as measles and rubella IgM-negative. An ELISA IgM test and PCR were performed to screen for B19V. Read More