Morten Busch’s Post

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) researchers have explored how existing treatments could help ease symptoms for children with wheezing and suppurative lung disease. Dr Melanie Neeland, Professor Prof Sarath Ranganathan and Dr Shivanthan Shanthikumar have co-authored a Medical Journal of Australia piece, explaining how their new research findings may influence the way these conditions are managed. "Preschool asthma or wheezing is a leading cause of hospital admission for young children in Australia...[while] a recent survey in a high risk Indigenous Australian population reported a community prevalence of 12% for the spectrum of suppurative lung conditions in children," they said. "Although the clinical presentations of these two diseases are different, we found that similar inflammatory endotypes are present in the lungs and therefore the same anti-inflammatory treatments could be effective against both." Full story ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gKiJhj26 #MCRI #ChildHealth #MedicalResearch #LungDisease #Wheezing 

🔔 Every year, more than 38,000 newborns benefit from a life-changing diagnosis enabled by neonatal screening, but over 100,000 newborns with rare diseases do not have access to any form of screening at birth. 🔊 As you can read more in the Screen4Rare press release: "The WHO’s provision on neonatal screening could be transformative for children around the world with treatable rare diseases. 🎙 For current and future generations neonatal screening is not merely a test; it can be a life-changing public health intervention that has the power to diagnose and treat disorders at their earliest stages. 🔬 Despite public health becoming a priority concern for many citizens, global access to this cost-effective intervention remains out of reach for many. Only one in three babies undergo any form of screening at birth. 💯 A simple heel-prick test, if universally implemented and accompanied by proper treatment, could help over 100,000 newborns annually and significantly improve their long-term outcome." 💡 Luckily, we have long-term practice of hashtag #newbornscreening in Serbia, and also one test which can screen the mutations for over 100 diseases. If you want to learn more, click the link here >>> https://lnkd.in/djcuhbH9 #genetictesting #premiumgenetics #newbornscreening #babyshealth

Syphilis, a disease many believed would be eradicated in our lifetime, is making a shocking comeback. In the early 2000s, optimism ran high, but fast forward to today, and we are witnessing an alarming 80% increase in syphilis cases over the last five years. The last time we saw rates this high was back in the 1950s! One of the biggest challenges in addressing this resurgence is the complexity of syphilis diagnosis. Even after successful treatment, antibodies to syphilis remain in the body, making it difficult to differentiate between new infections and past, treated cases when using standard antibody tests. These tests are the most commonly available and affordable but aren't equipped to provide the nuanced diagnosis we now desperately need. The challenge is even greater when it comes to diagnosing congenital syphilis in newborns. For infants born to mothers infected with syphilis, it’s hard to tell if the antibodies detected were passively transferred from the mother or if the infant themselves is infected. This diagnostic uncertainty makes it harder to provide timely and appropriate care, placing vulnerable newborns at significant risk. The resurgence of syphilis is a stark reminder that we can never take public health victories for granted. We need more advanced diagnostic tools, greater awareness, and stronger prevention efforts to curb the rising tide. We continue to push for innovation in diagnostics and public health strategies to protect future generations #syphilis #STIDiagnostics https://lnkd.in/gyvg2Dkn

By centralizing expertise and focusing on harmonized, disease-specific approaches, an FDA Center of Excellence for Rare Diseases would aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of medical product development and review, potentially transforming the landscape of rare disease treatment and care.

Today is #WorldSepsisDay! Sepsis poses a huge risk, especially for newborns in resource-limited settings. Every year, 214,000 babies lose their lives due to antibiotic-resistant sepsis. It's time to act! The SNIP-AFRICA project, funded by @Global Health EDCTP3, is working to find better treatments through innovative clinical trials like NeoSep1 or the PRECISION study, focused on finding the most effective antibiotic regimens and doses for this vulnerable group.  Let’s raise awareness and support efforts to fight sepsis and save newborns worldwide! 💜👶 #SNIPAFRICA  https://lnkd.in/dmRPuh7M Global Health EDCTP3 European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership     Penta Foundation - Child Health Research

🔥 Kawasaki Disease: What You Need to Know! 🔥 Kawasaki disease is a challenging pediatric vasculitis that affects children under 5 with symptoms like fever, rash, and conjunctivitis. If untreated, nearly 20% develop coronary artery aneurysms, which can lead to severe complications. Infants under 6 months are particularly at risk, making swift identification and treatment critical. 👶 Children with high coronary risk need primary intensification therapy, but the best additional treatment remains uncertain. Large-scale trials are essential to determine the optimal approach. 🔍 Identifying biomarkers to distinguish Kawasaki disease from similar conditions and predict coronary risks can aid in diagnosis and improve patient outcomes. This remains a crucial focus for enhancing care. For more in-depth insights, check out the article in The Lancet! 🌐 Stay informed and take care! 🌟 Read Research 👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/d4fPeeWA #research #pubmed

🚀 I’m thrilled to highlight an exciting new study in paediatrics! Congratulations to Richard Drew Rob Cunney & Lieke Brouwer, Robert for their work “Predicting community acquired bloodstream infection in infants using full blood count parameters and C-reactive protein; a machine learning study,” published in the European Journal of Pediatrics. 🎉 Here are three key points from their research (from a nephrologists perspective): 1. Early Detection with Machine Learning: The study developed machine learning models that predict bloodstream infections (BSIs) in infants based on full blood count and C-reactive protein values, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic treatments. 🤖🩺 2. High Negative Predictive Value: The decision tree and random forest models showed high negative predictive values (>97%), effectively identifying low-risk infants who do not need immediate treatment. This can significantly streamline clinical decision-making. 📈👶 3. Clinical Implementation Potential: The decision tree model’s concrete cut-off values make it easily interpretable at the bedside, offering practical benefits for clinicians in real-time decision-making. 🏥🩸 Kudos to the authors for leveraging innovative machine learning techniques to improve early diagnosis and treatment strategies for our youngest patients. 👏👏 #Paediatrics #InfectiousDiseases #MachineLearning #ClinicalInnovation #ResearchExcellence #HealthcareTech

What's new in our latest Pediatric & #Rare Liver Diseases News? 1️⃣ GLI represented the #rareliverdiseasecommunity at the Alpha-1 Foundation 2024 conference 2️⃣ Celebrating a new second line therapy option for #PBC patients 3️⃣ New study raises concerns about US #livertransplant distribution policy And so much more! 📚 Read all the updates about the cutting-edge technology in #RareLiverDisease that could improve prompt #diagnosis, ongoing feedback, and effective interventions: https://lnkd.in/gqrUzZCJ #LiverHealth #PatientAdvocacy #liverdisease

Globally, 80% of teen smokers take up smoking before age 13. With smoking causing 85% of lung cancer cases, this presents a major pediatric health challenge. This World Lung Cancer Day, we're focused on our 19-country initiative for tobacco control and cessation with our partner, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office on Smoking and Health, Global Tobacco Control Branch. Together with pediatric societies across Europe and Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, we are establishing learning collaboratives where pediatricians meet to develop awareness and advocacy initiatives. The learning collaboratives have launched pediatrician education programs and public service campaigns to support tobacco control in each region. As we continue this work, we aim to create a smoking- and cancer-free future for children and adolescents. #WorldLungCancerDay #lungcancer #globalhealth

A recent study compared Clinical and Laboratory Features of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Children and Adults. This study compared the clinical and laboratory features of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in children and adults. It found that children have a milder disease course, with lower severity scores, higher platelet and lymphocyte counts, and longer hospital stays compared to adults. Children also presented with different symptoms, such as more abdominal pain and loss of appetite, compared to adults. The mortality rate was lower in children (2.1%) compared to adults (13.1%) in the same center. This highlights the need to adjust case definitions and clinical management approaches for children with CCHF. #CCHF #Crimean_Congo_Hemorrhagic _Fever