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Background: Umbilical vessels present after birth allow a unique central access for both venous and arterial catheterization, yet the catheterization complications can be misdiagnosed as the complications of prematurity per se. Methods: A prospective observational study of 41 used polyurethane umbilical catheters, both venous and arterial was conducted in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. The study consisted of bedside ultrasound imaging and post-removal microbiological and microstructural analysis to assess the in vivo catheters’ changes and their clinical significance. Results: The study has shown that catheters’ surface thrombosis and bacterial colonization happen more often within umbilical venous than within arterial catheters (31% vs 8% in both cases) and are inversely proportional to the patient’s gestational age (thrombosis: Me: 28 weeks vs no thrombosis: 32 weeks; p = 0.05, bacterial colonization: 27 weeks vs no colonization: 30 weeks; p = 0.013), respectively. The clots formed near the catheter’s tip are correlated with catheter’s bacterial colonization. Chemical analysis with energy dispersive spectroscopy showed a higher calcium composition in used catheters (19.89% vs 0%, p = 0.016) and structure analysis in the scanning electron microscopy proved that within hours catheters become covered with an external coating of a constant thickness, not affected by the catheterization time. Conclusion: The following observations give a better insight to the complex in vivo interactions and call for a more intense bedside-monitoring of the indwelling devices.

Introduction:Umbilical catheterization provides a quick yet demanding central line that can lead to complications seen nowhere else. The aim of our study was to determine whether the repeated ultrasound scanning can influence the catheterization time, prevent some of the catheter-related complications, support the decision-making process and allow prolonged catheterization in patients without an alternative central access route.Methods:A prospective observational study was performed in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. A total of 129 patients and 194 umbilical catheters (119 venous and 75 arterial) were analyzed with a total of 954 scans. Ultrasound screening consisted of 1) assessing the catheter tip, location, movability, and surface and 2) analyzing the catheter trajectory. The outcome variables were defined as 1) catheter dislocation and 2) associated thrombosis.Results:Dislocation of catheter throughout the whole catheterization period was observed in 68% (81/119) of UVCs and 23% (17/75) of UACs. Thrombotic complications were observed in 34.5% (41/119) of UVCs and 12% (9/75) of UACs. 1/3 of UAC-associated thrombi were visible only after catheter removal. 51% (61/119) of UVC patients and 8% (6/75) of UAC patients made a clinical decision regarding the obtained catheter image.Conclusion:Bedside ultrasound imaging of catheters supports the decision-making process related to the catheterization duration, shortening the time if abnormalities are detected and allowing a safer prolonged UC stay when an alternative central line cannot be inserted.

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in up to 30% of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients and is associated with a high mortality rate. OBJECTIVES The objective of the study was to evaluate factors associated with the outcome and to identify the prognostic factors in children receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective, single-center study, including 46 patients. RESULTS Logistic regression analysis demonstrated significant effects on patient survival exerted by the percentage of fluid overload (FO%) (odds ratio (OR): 1.030; p = 0.044). In the group of patients with FO% < 25%, the mortality was 33.3%, and in the FO% ≥ 25% group, the mortality was 67.9% (p < 0.001). The probability of death without multi-organ failure (MOF) was 13%, while with MOF it was 74%. There was no difference in the duration of hospitalization between the CRRT patients (mean: 21.9 days) and the general population of children hospitalized in PICU in the same period (n = 3,255; mean: 25.4 days); however, a significant difference was noted in mortality between the 2 groups of patients (54% vs 6.5%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The mortality of PICU CRRT patients is more than 8-fold higher than the mortality of the total PICU population. Coexisting MOF increases the mortality almost 6 times. The mortality of children with FO% ≥ 25% was more than 2-fold higher than the mortality of children with FO% < 25%.

Introduction. Umbilical catheterization offers unique vascular access that is only possible in the neonatal setting due to unobstructed umbilical vessels from foetal circulation. With the cut of the umbilical cord, two arteries and a vein are dissected, allowing quick and painless catheterization of the neonate. Unfortunately, keeping the umbilical access sterile is challenging due to its mobility and necrosis of the umbilical stump, which makes it a perfect model for vessel catheter colonization analysis.Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial colonization of the umbilical catheter, with a focus on the difference between various sections of the catheter, the duration of catheterization, patient status and gestational age.Methodology. We performed bacterial cultures for 44 umbilical catheters, analysing the superficial and deep parts of the catheter separately, and revealed colonization in one-third of cases.Results. One hundred per cent of the colonization occurred in preterm infants, with a shift towards extreme prematurity. The catheters were mainly colonized by coagulase-negative staphylococci. The majority of catheters presented with superficial colonization dominance, and there were no cases of deep colonization. The bacterial strains and their resistance were consistent between the catheter's proximal and distal parts, as well as positive blood cultures. The patients with the most intense bacterial catheter colonization presented with sepsis around removal time or a couple of days later, especially if they were extremely premature and exhibited very low birth weight. Catheterization time did not play a major role.Conclusion. Umbilical catheters are vectors for skin microflora transmission to the bloodstream via biofilm formation, regardless of antibiotic use and the duration of catheterization, especially in preterm neonates.

The KIF5A gene (OMIM 602821) encodes a neuron-specific kinesin heavy chain involved in intracellular transport of mitochondria and other cargoes. KIF5A protein comprises the N terminal motor domain, the stalk domain and the C-terminal cargo binding domain. The binding between KIF5A and its cargoes is mediated by kinesin adaptor proteins such as TRAK1 and TRAK2. Numerous missense KIF5A mutations in the motor and stalk domains cause spastic paraplegia type 10 (SPG10, OMIM 604187). Conversely, the role of loss-of-function mutations, especially those affecting the cargo binding domain, is unclear. We describe a novel de novo KIF5A p.Ser974fs/c.2921delC mutation found by whole exome sequencing in a patient with a congenital severe disease characterized by myoclonic seizures and progressive leukoencephalopathy. Since this phenotype differs considerably from the KIF5A/SPG10 disease spectrum we propose that the KIF5A p.Ser974fs and possibly other mutations which lead to truncation of the C-terminal tail of the protein cause a novel disorder. We speculate that the unique effect of the C-terminal truncating KIF5A mutations may result from the previously described complex role of this protein domain in binding of the TRAK2 and possibly other kinesin adaptor protein(s).

Background/Aim: As continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has emerged as a standard therapy in pediatric intensive care units (PICU), many related issues that may have an impact on circuit survival have gained in importance. Objective of the study was an evaluation of factors associated with circuit survival, including anticoagulation (ACG). Methods: Retrospective study that included 40 patients, who in total received 7636 hours of CRRT during 150 sessions (84 filters, 4260 hours with heparin anticoagulation (Hep-ACG); 66 filters, 3376 hours with regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA)). Results: The Kaplan-Meier analysis of the total circuit survival time depending on the type of ACG did not demonstrate a significant difference between Hep-ACG and RCA. The percentage of clotted filters was significantly higher in case of smaller filters (HF20: 58.8%; ST60: 29.5%; ST100: 15.8%), and their lifetime was significantly lower regardless of ACG (the mean and median lifetime for HF20: 38.7/27.0 h; for ST60: 54.1/72.0 h., for ST100: 62.1/72.0 h, respectively). Conclusions: Irrespectively of filter size, filter clotting occurs within the first 24 hours after the initiation of CRRT. Most commonly, clotting affects small filters, and their lifetime is significantly shorter as compared to larger filters regardless of the type of the ACG.

Background/Aims: The recent improvements of management of patients in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) are associated with improved outcome. However, this decrease in mortality is associated with an increased number of children with acute kidney injury (AKI), especially in patients with multiorgan failure. Methods: The report presents a retrospective analysis of 25 cases of AKI (assessed based on the pRIFLE criteria) in PICU within 7 years. Results: AKI was diagnosed in 1.24% of all hospitalized children. AKI percentage duration (as compared to the total hospitalization time) in the children who died vs. the survivors was 79.55% vs. 46.19%, respectively (pvs. 49% in non-oliguric children. Averaged urine output values in the first week of hospitalization in the deceased vs. survivors were 1.49 vs. 2.57 ml/kg/h, respectively (pConclusions: Oliguria should not be considered as a sensitive parameter for AKI diagnosing in children below one year of age. A decreased mean urine output in the first week of PICU hospitalization (less than 1.4 ml/kg/h) should be considered as a poor prognostic factor. In many cases AKI was diagnosed too infrequently and too late.