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Background and Objectives: The moment of birth represents a complex physiological process that is followed by adaptive changes in the vital systems of the newborn. Such reactions have their positive but also negative effects. The aim of this research was to determine the difference in laboratory values of stress indicators in newborn children delivered by cesarean section (CS) with general and spinal anesthesia. We attempted to make a recommendation about the optimal type of anesthesia based on our results. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 150 healthy term newborns delivered by urgent or planned CS. Samples for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, triglycerides, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were analyzed. Results: Leukocyte numbers, triglycerides, and blood sugar values were normal for the newborns' age, with statistically significantly lower values of blood sugar and triglycerides in newborns delivered by CS in spinal anesthesia (p < 0.005) compared to general anesthesia. There were no significant differences in ACTH, cortisol, and IL-6 levels between those newborns delivered via CS after spinal or general anesthesia. Conclusions: In cases where vaginal delivery is not possible, when CS is indicated, the use of well-controlled spinal anesthesia is followed by lower degrees of metabolic, inflammatory, and stress responses and better vitality of the baby upon birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to limit the spread of the novel betacoronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), it is necessary to detect positive cases as soon as possible and isolate them. For this purpose, machine-learning algorithms, as a field of artificial intelligence, have been recognized as a promising tool. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of the most common machine-learning algorithms in the rapid triage of children with suspected COVID-19 using easily accessible and inexpensive laboratory parameters. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 566 children treated for respiratory diseases: 280 children with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 286 children with respiratory symptoms who were SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative (control group). Six machine-learning algorithms, based on the blood laboratory data, were tested: random forest, support vector machine, linear discriminant analysis, artificial neural network, k-nearest neighbors, and decision tree. The training set was validated through stratified cross-validation, while the performance of each algorithm was confirmed by an independent test set. Random forest and support vector machine models demonstrated the highest accuracy of 85% and 82.1%, respectively. The models demonstrated better sensitivity than specificity and better negative predictive value than positive predictive value. The F1 score was higher for the random forest than for the support vector machine model, 85.2% and 82.3%, respectively. This study might have significant clinical applications, helping healthcare providers identify children with COVID-19 in the early stage, prior to PCR and/or antigen testing. Additionally, machine-learning algorithms could improve overall testing efficiency with no extra costs for the healthcare facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Acute appendicitis in pediatric patients is one of the most common surgical emergencies, but the early diagnosis still remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), Mean platelet volume (MPV) and Platelet distribution width (PDW) in children with acute appendicitis. Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective assessment of laboratory findings (RDW, MPV, PDW) of patients who underwent surgical treatment for acute appendicitis from January 2019 to December 2020. Result: During this period, 223 appendectomies were performed at our Institute. In 107 (43%) cases appendicitis was uncomplicated, while in 116 (46.6%) it was complicated. WBC and RDW/MPV ratio were significant parameters for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis with cut-off values of 12.86 (susceptibility: 66.3%; specificity: 73.2%) and 1.64 (susceptibility: 59.8%; specificity: 71.9%), respectively. WBC and RDW/RBC ratio were independent variables for the diagnosis of complicated appendicitis. The cut-off values were 15.05 for WBC (sensitivity: 60.5%; specificity: 70.7%) and 2.5 for RDW/RBC ratio (sensitivity: 72%; specificity: 52.8%). Conclusions: WBC is an important predictor of appendicitis and complicated appendicitis. RDW, MPV and PDW alone have no diagnostic value in pediatric acute appendicitis or predicting the degree of appendix inflammation. However, the RDW/MPV ratio can be an important predictor of appendix inflammation, with higher values in patients with more severe appendix inflammation. RDW/RBC ratio may be an important predictor of complicated appendicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is а malignant, clonal proliferation of B or T lymphocyte precursors. Prognostic factors play an important role in the treatment of this disease. The objective of the study was to determine whether individual clinical and laboratory parameters may have a predictive significance for relapse and the disease outcome. Material and Methods. A retrospective study included 53 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina. The following clinical and laboratory parameters were examined: gender, age at diagnosis, initial white blood cell count, peripheral blood blast percentage, bone marrow blast percentage, prednisone response on day 8 of treatment, immunophenotypic characteristics of leukemic blasts, and infiltration of the central nervous system. Relapses and lethal outcomes were analyzed as well. Results. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.4 ± 7.8 years. Prognostic factors associated with poor outcome were: age over 10 years, mature cell leukemia, and central nervous system involvement. Relapse was found in 6 children (11.3%). Lethal outcome was recorded in 7 children (13.2%). Conclusion. Treatment of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia should be based on the prognostic factors for each patient. The results of this study are consistent with the current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Recently, there has been a need to use more readily available parameters to assess the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in children. Material and Methods. A single-center retrospective study included 30 children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection who were admitted to the Isolation Department of the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina from April to September 2020. A complete blood count with differential was performed. Additionally, systemic inflammatory index, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and plateletlymphocyte ratio were calculated. For comparison, age- and sex-matched 30 children negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were included in the study. Results. In the period from April to September 2020, 30 laboratory-confirmed cases of coronavirus-19, aged 0 – 17 years, were admitted to the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina. The age was not a risk factor for the development of coronavirus-19 (p = 0.707; OR: 1.018; 95% CI: 0.927 – 1.119). The comparison of hematological parameters of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 status showed that hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.01) and hematocrit (p < 0.01) were lower, and the percentage of neutrophil granulocytes (p < 0.05) was higher among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive children. Furthermore, it was found that some severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive children had a higher (p < 0.01), while others had a lower (p < 0.01) percentage of lymphocytes. The systemic inflammatory index, the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes, and the ratio of platelets to lymphocytes, were not found to be statistically significantly different (p > 0.05). Conclusion. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, a high percentage of neutrophil granulocytes, and a non-physiological percentage of lymphocytes (both, low and high) may have a diagnostic significance in children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]