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Contexte : Les facteurs de risque de complications graves de l'infection par le SRAS-CoV-2 n'ont pas ete bien etablis chez les enfants. Nous avons voulu decrire les hospitalisations pediatriques associees au SRAS-CoV-2 au Canada et identifier les facteurs de risque de maladie grave. Methodes : Nous avons procede a une etude prospective nationale en utilisant l'infrastructure du Programme canadien de surveillance pediatrique (PCSP). Les hospitalisations d'enfants ayant contracte une infection par le SRAS-CoV-2 confirmee en laboratoire de microbiologie ont ete rapportees du 8 avril au 31 decembre 2020 au moyen de questionnaires hebdomadaires en ligne distribues au reseau du PCSP, qui compte plus de 2800 pediatres. Nous avons categorise les hospitalisations comme suit : liees a la COVID-19, infections decouvertes fortuitement, ou hospitalisations pour des raisons sociales ou de controle des infections, et degage les facteurs de risque associes a la gravite de la maladie chez les patients hospitalises. Resultats : Sur les 264 hospitalisations d'enfants ayant contracte le SRAS-CoV-2 au cours de la periode de l'etude de 9 mois, 150 (56,8 %) ont ete associees a la COVID-19 et 100 (37,9 %o) etaient des cas decouverts fortuitement (admission pour d'autres raisons et decouverte fortuite du SRAS-CoV-2 par depistage positif). Les nourrissons (37,3 %) et les adolescents (29,6 %) representaient la majorite des cas. Parmi les hospitalisations liees a la COVID-19, 52 patients (34,7 %) etaient atteints d'une forme grave de la mala die, dont 42 (28,0 % des cas lies a la COVID-19) ont eu besoin d'une forme d'assistance respiratoire ou hemodynamique, et 59 (39,3 %o) presentaient au moins 1 comorbidite sous-jacente. Les enfants atteints d'obesite, de maladies neurologiques chroniques ou de maladies pulmonaires chroniques, a l'exclusion de l'asthme, etaient plus susceptibles de presenter une forme grave ou critique de la COVID-19. Interpretation : Parmi les enfants hospitalises au Canada chez lesquels on a diagnostique une infection par le SRAS-CoV-2 au debut de la pandemie de COVID-19, la decouverte fortuite du SRAS-CoV-2 a ete frequente. Chez les enfants hospitalises pour une COVID-19 aigue, l'obesite et les comorbidites neurologiques et respiratoires ont ete associees a une gravite accrue., En date du 31 decembre 2020, le Canada comptait 581 427 cas confirmes d'infection par le SRAS-CoV-2 (1). Comme dans d'autres pays, la plupart des infections confirmees ont ete diagnostiquees [...]

Background: Risk factors for severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection are not well established in children. We sought to describe pediatric hospital admissions associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada and identify risk factors for more severe disease. Methods: We conducted a national prospective study using the infrastructure of the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP). Cases involving children who were admitted to hospital with microbiologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported from Apr. 8 to Dec. 31 2020, through weekly online questionnaires distributed to the CPSP network of more than 2800 pediatricians. We categorized hospital admissions as related to COVID-19, incidental, or for social or infection control reasons and determined risk factors for disease severity in hospital. Results: Among 264 hospital admissions involving children with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the 9-month study period, 150 (56.8%) admissions were related to COVID-19 and 100 (37.9%) were incidental infections (admissions for other reasons and found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 on screening). Infants (37.3%) and adolescents (29.6%) represented most cases. Among hospital admissions related to COVID-19, 52 (34.7%) had critical disease, 42 (28.0%) of whom required any form of respiratory or hemodynamic support, and 59 (39.3%) had at least 1 underlying comorbidity. Children with obesity, chronic neurologic conditions or chronic lung disease other than asthma were more likely to have severe or critical COVID-19. Interpretation: Among children who were admitted to hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada during the early COVID-19 pandemic period, incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection was common. In children admitted with acute COVID-19, obesity and neurologic and respiratory comorbidities were associated with more severe disease., As of Dec. 31, 2020, Canada had 581427 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. (1) Similar to other countries, most confirmed infections were in adults, in part because of initial testing [...]

Prostaglandin F2-alpha (PF2-alpha) in fetal membranes may help induce or sustain maternal labor. PF2-alpha is a compound derived from fatty acids that is thought to stimulate the contraction or smooth uterine muscles. Fetal membranes from 10 cesarean section deliveries and nine vaginal deliveries were used to assess the action of PF2-alpha. PF-2 alpha production was higher on unseparated surfaces of fetal membranes after labor. It was much higher on the maternal side in vaginal deliveries than cesarian deliveries. When the membranes were separated, higher concentrations of PF2-alpha were found in the chorion-decidua than the in the amnion. Metabolites of PF-2 alpha were higher on the fetal side. Prostaglandin metabolism changes in fetal tissues and apparently increases PGF2-alpha production that stimulate uterine muscles and promote labor.

New mothers in developing countries who are HIV-positive should breastfeed their infants no longer than seven months. There is evidence that HIV can be transmitted in breast milk and many new mothers in developing countries do not have access to nutritional substitutes. Researchers used a mathematical model to compare the risk of an infant dying from lack of proper nutrition to its risk of contracting HIV from breast milk. Breast milk is crucial during the first few months, but over a period of time its benefits decline. However, the risk of contracting HIV is constant throughout the breastfeeding period. The model showed that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risk of contracting HIV only during the first three to seven months. Many women continue breastfeeding for a year or more. Additional research may determine approximately when viral transmission occurs during breastfeeding.