OBJECTIVE: Childhood offers an excellent window of opportunity to start interventions to promote behavioral changes before unhealthy lifestyles become established, leading to cardiovascular diseases. The goal of this pilot educational project for children is the promotion of healthy lifestyles and cardiovascular health.
METHODS: This project was implemented in 4th grade children and included teacher-led classroom activities, a lesson given by a cardiologist and a practical lesson with dietitians. The teacher received a manual containing information on the topics to be discussed in class with the pupils and the children received a book that addresses cardiovascular risk factors and prevention. The components included were diet (D), physical activity (PA) and human body and heart awareness (BH). At the beginning and at the end of the schoolyear, a questionnaire was applied to the children to assess knowledge (K), attitudes (A) and habits (H) on these topics.
RESULTS: A total of 73 children from two schools from an urban district public school in Lisbon, in a low to medium income area, participated in the project. Following the intervention, there was a 9.5% increase in the overall KAH score, mainly driven by the PA component (14.5%) followed by the BH component (12.3%). No improvement was observed for component D. The benefits were also more significant in children from a lower income area, suggesting that socioeconomic status is a determinant in the response obtained.
CONCLUSIONS: An educational project for cardiovascular health can be implemented successfully in children aged 9 years, but longer and larger studies are necessary.

BACKGROUND: Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) is a rare congenital heart defect. There are different subgroups according to the location of the heart in the thorax, apical position and situs.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess pediatric patients with situs inversus (SI) ccTGA (SI-ccTGA), a rare subgroup of this condition, in detail.
METHODS: The records of patients with SI-ccTGA followed between January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2019 in our clinic were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic features, associated cardiac defects, arrhythmias and follow-up data were recorded.
RESULTS: Twenty-one out of 120 ccTGA patients had SI. The median age was 30 months (4 days-18 years). There were hemodynamically significant associated lesions in 85.7% (n=18) of the patients. A large ventricular septal defect was found in 16 patients (76.2%), severe pulmonary stenosis in 11 (52.4%), pulmonary atresia in six (28.5%), and severe tricuspid regurgitation in two (9.5%). Eleven out of 21 patients had biventricular physiology and eight had single-ventricle physiology. Bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis followed by a hemi-Mustard-Rastelli operation were planned for the remaining two patients. Twelve out of 18 patients with associated defects (66.6%) were operated and surgery was planned for three more patients (16.6%). The remaining three patients were scheduled for clinical follow-up. Arrhythmias developed in two (9.5%) patients on follow-up; ablation was performed in one of them and pacemaker implantation followed by cardiac resynchronization therapy was performed in the other. Two patients died during follow-up, one after a central shunt operation and the other preoperatively due to pneumonia and sepsis.
CONCLUSIONS: SI-ccTGA is not a mirror image of situs solitus ccTGA (SS-ccTGA) due to important anatomic and physiologic differences between them. SI-ccTGA patients have a lower risk of tricuspid valve regurgitation than SS-ccTGA patients. The timing of clinical presentation of these patients mainly depends on the type and severity of the associated lesions, as in all subtypes of ccTGA.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the differences in pulsatile hemodynamics, echocardiographic findings, 24-h Holter monitoring and heart rate variability parameters of dipper patterns in children with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.
METHODS: This study included 30 children with newly diagnosed essential hypertension and 30 healthy controls. The essential hypertension cohort was divided into dippers and non-dippers. Physical examinations, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 24-h Holter monitoring, 24-h heart rate variability, conventional 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography, and tissue Doppler imaging were performed. Pulse wave analysis using an oscillometric monitor was conducted to measure augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV).
RESULTS: In patients with essential hypertension, left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and LV mass index were increased. There were no significant differences in LV mass index and LV wall thickness based on the dipping patterns. Time domain values and the standard deviation of all RR intervals (SDNN) were substantially lower in the essential hypertension group. SDNN values were considerably lower in the non-dipper group compared with the dipper group. In terms of frequency domain measures, low frequency measured in daytime values was much lower in the essential hypertension group compared with the control. The dipper patterns revealed that low frequency measured in nighttime values was also substantially lower in the non-dipper group. Pulse wave analysis and AIx values were notably higher in the essential hypertension patient group and those with non-dipper status.
CONCLUSIONS: SDNN values, which reflect parasympathetic activity, were markedly lower in children with hypertension and the non-dipper group than healthy controls and the dipper group, respectively. Also, parameters related to arterial stiffness, such as PWV and AIx values were significantly higher in children with hypertension and the non-dipper group.

BACKGROUND: Surgery generates a neuroendocrine stress response, resulting in undesirable hemodynamic instability, alterations in metabolic response and malfunctioning of the immune system.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of caudal blocks in intra- and postoperative pain management and in reducing the stress response in children during the same periods.
METHODS: This prospective, randomized clinical trial included 60 patients scheduled for elective herniorrhaphy. One group (n = 30) received general anesthesia and the other (n = 30) received general anesthesia with a caudal block. Hemodynamic parameters, drug consumption and pain intensity were measured. Blood samples for serum glucose and cortisol level were taken before anesthesia induction and after awakening the patient.
RESULTS: Children who received a caudal block had significantly lower serum glucose (p < 0.01), cortisol concentrations (p < 0.01) and pain scores 3 hours (p = 0.002) and 6 hours (p = 0.003) after the operation, greater hemodynamic stability and lower drug consumption. Also, there were no side effects or complications identified in that group.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of caudal block with general anesthesia is a safe method that leads to less stress, greater hemodynamic stability, lower pain scores and lower consumption of medication.

To determine the main indications and assess the most common adverse events with the administration of hypnotic propofol in most pediatric clinical scenarios.
A systematic review of PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane, and EMBASE was performed, using filters such as a maximum of five years post-publication, and/or references or articles of importance, with emphasis on clinical trials using propofol. All articles of major relevance were blind-reviewed by both authors according to the PRISMA statement, looking for possible bias and limitations or the quality of the articles.
Through the search criterion applied, 417 articles were found, and their abstracts evaluated. A total of 69 papers were thoroughly studied. Articles about propofol use in children are increasing, including in neonates, with the majority being cohort studies and clinical trials in two main scenarios: upper digestive endoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. A huge list of adverse events has been published, but most articles considered them of low risk.
Propofol is a hypnotic drug with a safe profile of efficacy and adverse events. Indeed, when administered by non-anesthesiologists, quick access to emergency care must be provided, especially in airway events. The use of propofol in other scenarios must be better studied, aiming to reduce the limitations of its administration by general pediatricians.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the main cause of the irresponsible use of antibiotics at the pediatric level in a very frequent, usually self-limited, and typically viral condition: upper airway respiratory infections.
METHODS: Different databases were searched using specific terms related to resistance to antibiotics, upper airway respiratory infections, and pediatrics patients.
RESULTS: Effectiveness varies depending on the place, the form of intervention, and the resources used. Multiple interventions appear to be more effective. The foundations of treatment are training in technical aspects and in communication skills for the prescribers, and having enough time for each patient; and training through the health clinic and the media for patients/parents. Deferred prescription and the use of rapid diagnostic tests in the primary care setting have been shown to be effective. A fluid relationship based on trust between clinicians and parents/guardians is one of the keystones.
CONCLUSIONS: Any project that seeks to be totally effective must include a health authority, which in addition to helping implement these measures, has the firm intention of drastically reducing the use of antibiotics in animals and in the environment, as well as favoring research into new antimicrobials.

OBJECTIVE: To collect the most up-to-date information regarding pediatric osteoarticular infections, including the epidemiological and microbiological profiles, diagnosis, and treatment.
METHODS: A non-systematic review was performed on the search engines PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar, using the keywords \"bone and joint infection\", \"children\", \"pediatric\", \"osteomyelitis\", \"septic arthritis\" and \"spondylodiscitis\" over the last ten years. The most relevant articles were selected by the authors to constitute the database.
METHODS: Osteoarticular infections are still a major cause of morbidity in pediatrics. Their main etiology is Staphylococcus aureus, but there has been an increase in the detection of Kingella kingae, especially through molecular methods. Microbiological identification allows treatment direction, while evidence of inflammatory activity assists in treatment follow-up. Imaging tests are especially useful in the initial diagnosis of infections. Empirical treatment should include coverage for the main microorganisms according to the age and clinical conditions of the patient, while considering the local resistance profile. Surgical procedures can be indicated for diagnosis, focus control, and function preservation. Acute complications include sepsis, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Deaths are rare. Late complications are uncommon but may lead to deformities that compromise motor development.
CONCLUSIONS: A correct and early diagnosis, prompt implementation of adequate antimicrobial therapy, and focus control, when indicated, are critical to a better prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: Emergence agitation is a negative behavior commonly recorded after pediatric tonsillectomy. We investigated the efficacy of preoperative premedication with oral transmucosal buccal dexmedetomidine on the incidence and severity of emergence agitation in preschool children undergoing tonsillectomy under sevoflurane anesthesia.
METHODS: Ninety patients aged (3-6 years), ASA I-II were enrolled into three groups (n = 30) to receive oral transmucosal dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg.kg-1 (Group DEX I), 1 μg.kg-1 (Group DEX II) or saline placebo (Group C). Our primary endpoint was the Watcha agitation score at emergence in PACU. Secondary outcomes were preoperative sedation score, intraoperative hemodynamics, postoperative Objective Pain Scale (OPS) and adverse effects.
RESULTS: The patients\' demographics, preoperative sedation scores and extubation time showed no difference between groups. Significant differences between groups in incidence and frequency distribution of each grade of Watcha score were evident at 5 minutes (p = 0.007), 10 minutes (p = 0.034), 30 minutes (p = 0.022), 45 minutes (p = 0.034) and 60 minutes (p = 0.026), postoperatively with significant differences between DEX I and II groups. DEX groups showed lower OPS scores at 5 minutes (p = 0.011), 10 minutes (p = 0.037) and 30 minutes (p = 0.044) after arrival at PACU, with no difference between DEX I and II groups. Patients in DEX II group exhibited lower intraoperative mean heart rate at 15 minutes (p = 0.020), and lower mean arterial pressure at 30 minutes, (p = 0.040), 45 minutes (p = 0.002) and 60 minutes (p = 0.006) with no significant differences between groups in other time points.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the clinical advantage and the simple technique of oral transmucosal DEX premedication for emergence agitation in preschool children undergoing tonsillectomy under sevoflurane anesthesia compared with saline placebo.
BACKGROUND: Clinical Trials.gov trial registry: NCT02720705.

OBJECTIVE: To present the currently available evidence on transmission, clinical, diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention methods of major arboviruses that occur in childhood.
METHODS: Non-systematic review carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS (VHL), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, CAPES Portal, and Google Scholar databases for the past five years using the search terms arboviruses, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, Mayaro, and West Nile fever, as well as child, newborn, and adolescent.
UNASSIGNED: The main characteristic of arboviruses is the fact that part of their replication cycle occurs inside insect vectors, thus being classically transmitted to humans through the bite of mosquitoes (hematophagous arthropods), although non-vector transmission of these viruses is also possible in specific situations. These diseases remain a major public health challenge, due to the lack of specific antiviral treatment, the co-circulation of different arboviruses in endemic/epidemic regions, the lack of effective and safe immunizations for the vast majority of these viruses, and the great difficulty in vector control, especially in large urban centers.
CONCLUSIONS: Children are especially vulnerable to this group of diseases due to characteristics that facilitate the development of the most severe forms. More detailed knowledge of this group of diseases allows the pediatrician to diagnose them earlier, implement the correct treatment, monitor warning signs for the most severe forms, and establish effective preventive measures.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive validity of the day-1 PELOD-2 and day-1 \"quick\" PELOD-2 (qPELOD-2) scores for in-hospital mortality in children with sepsis in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a developing country.
METHODS: The data of 516 children diagnosed as sepsis were retrospectively analyzed. The children were divided into survival group and non-survival group, according to the clinical outcome 28 days after admission. Day-1 PELOD-2, day-1 qPELOD-2, pediatric SOFA (pSOFA), and P-MODS were collected and scored. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted, and the efficiency of the day-1 PELOD-2, day-1 qPELOD-2 score, pSOFA, and P-MODS for predicting death were evaluated by the area under the ROC curve (AUC).
RESULTS: The day-1 PELOD-2 score, day-1 qPELOD-2 score, pSOFA, and P-MODS in the non-survivor group were significantly higher than those in the survivor group. ROC curve analysis showed that the AUCs of the day-1 PELOD-2 score, day-1 qPELOD-2 score, pSOFA, and P-MODS for predicting the prognosis of children with sepsis in the PICU were 0.916, 0.802, 0.937, and 0.761, respectively (all p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Both the day-1 PELOD-2 score and day-1 qPELOD-2 score were effective and able to assess the prognosis of children with sepsis in a PICU of a developing country. Additionally, the day-1 PELOD-2 score was superior to the day-1 qPELOD-2 score. Further studies are needed to verify the usefulness of the day-1 qPELOD-2 score, particularly outside of the PICU.