BACKGROUND: This study’s aim is to evaluate lung ultrasound (LUS) efficacy in detecting opening and closing lung pressures and its correlation with the tracheal interleukin 6 (IL-6) level. METHOD: This single-blinded randomized controlled study was done at Ain Shams University Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care units, Egypt. It consists of 44 mechanically ventilated preterm neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Initial LUS assessment was done followed by randomization to one of 2 groups; group I: 22 patients underwent LUS guided RM and group II: 22 patients underwent non-ultrasound guided RM. Tracheal IL-6 level was measured before and after RM in both groups. RESULTS: The LUS scores showed a sensitivity of 86.7% , specificity of 62.10% and accuracy of 70.45% at the cut-off point >B1 grade. After RM, there was a higher percentage of changes in mean airway pressure (p = 0.03), FiO2 (p = 0.01), PaO2/FiO2 ratio (p = 0.01), and IL-6 (p <  0.01) in group I. The duration of oxygen requirement (6 vs.13.5 days, p = 0.01), invasive ventilation (3 vs.5.5 days, p = 0.03), non-invasive ventilation (2.5 vs. 5 days, p = 0.02) and NICU stay (21.5 vs. 42.5 days, p = 0.03) was less in group I. A positive correlation between reaeration score and the duration of O2 requirement (p = 0.002), duration of invasive ventilation (p = 0.001), NICU length of stay (p = 0.002) and negative correlation with PaO2/FiO2 ratio before RM (p = 0.012). The best cut-off point for the reaeration score is >21 with a sensitivity of 75% , specificity of 71.43% and area under the curve of 78.1% . CONCLUSION: LUS-guided RM achieved earlier lowest FiO2, shorter O2 dependency, lesser NICU stay and marked decrease in lung inflammation by decreasing atelectotrauma and shortening the duration of invasive ventilation.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a small outbreak in Wuhan rapidly progressing into the deadliest pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918. The disease was deemed trivial in children, until the reporting, few days ago, of an emerging pediatric multi-inflammatory syndrome mimicking Kawasaki disease (KD). Main body: This report reveals that coronaviridae were implicated in induction of several post-infectious vasculitides, namely, KD, AHEI, and HSP. This occurs in genetically susceptible individuals to vascular inflammation. Shared genetic susceptibilities between KD and CoV include genes encoding for CD 40, HLAB-15:03, and ACE. This leads to augmented inflammation with hypersecretion of cytokines especially IL-6. Conclusion: The revealed relationships between KD and CoV can help to predict the risk of KD in COVID-19 patients through screening levels of upregulated cytokines. It might also signify that classic treatment of KD with IVIG might need to be replaced with anti-cytokine therapy in COVID-19 patients.

Background: University students face multiple stressors while accomplishing their academic goals. University students might adopt risky or unhealthy behaviors. Objective: To determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two Egyptian Universities governmental and private. A self-administered Arabic questionnaire was used to explore students' behaviors. Response rate was 97%. Results: A total of 1133 students were included in the current analysis. The average age was 19.9±1.6 years, with 43.3% males. Approximately 23% of the students were physically active, 42.4% had adequate water drinking, 14.3% were currently using tobacco 28.7% in males and 3.3% in females, and 8% had ever consumed alcohol and/or used illicit drugs in their lives. Multivariate regression showed that the likelihood of adequate water drinking was lower in students studying in private university as well as in females aOR=0.51 and aOR=0.39, respectively, p<0.001. The likelihood of regular exercise was significantly lower in females than males aOR= 0.38 and aOR=0.29, respectively, p<0.001. The likelihood of ever smoking any form of tobacco was significantly higher in a student studying in a private university aOR=3.01, p<0.001, students aged 22 years or more aOR=3.09, p<0.0001 and in students who have a monthly expenditure >1500 LE. The likelihood of ever smoking any form of tobacco, alcohol use or illicit drug use was significantly lower in females aOR=0.09, aOR=0.15, and aOR=0.11, respectively, p<0.0001. Conclusion: There were high prevalence of multiple undesirable lifestyle behaviors among studied students. Educational and other preventive activities should be directed to private Universities and on male students.