Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. MethodsWe did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. FindingsWe included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58•0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36-39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2•8 kg (2•3-3•3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39•8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20•4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5•6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0•0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90•0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31•9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1•4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0•0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2•78 [95% CI 1•88-4•11], p<0•0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2•11 [1•59-2•79], p<0•0001), sepsis at presentation (1•20 [1•04-1•40], p=0•016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4-5 vs ASA 1-2, 1•82 [1•40-2•35], p<0•0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1-2, 1•58, [1•30-1•92], p<0•0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1•39 [1•02-1•90], p=0•035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1•96, [1•4...

BACKGROUND: Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by deficient membrane transport of cationic amino acids. It is caused by pathogenic variants in SLC7A7, resulting in impairment of intestinal import and renal proximal tubule loss of the affected amino acids. LPI typically presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and failure to thrive. CASE REPORT: A 4-year-old African-American boy presented with multiple respiratory tract infections, weight loss in the setting of chronic diarrhea and worsening abdominal distention, and multiple episodes of rectal prolapse. Development was unaffected. Laboratory examination demonstrated mild anemia, hypokalemia and hypoalbuminemia, transaminitis, and normal ammonia. Initial urine amino acid analysis did not show major elevations of lysine and ornithine, often lower than expected in the setting of malnutrition. Upon initiation of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), his urine amino acids showed a characteristic profile of dibasic aminoaciduria. CONCLUSIONS: Failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea, and hepatomegaly should raise suspicion for LPI. Urine amino acids can be normal in this condition in the setting of malnutrition, a common complication of the disease. Additionally, it has been previously shown that the plasma arginine and ornithine concentration is higher in LPI subjects.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease and can be associated with other autoimmune diseases. SLE usually presents with skin change and rarely presents with gangrene. SLE gangrene usually involves the digits of upper extremities. We report the first case of SLE associated with an extremely rare constellation of neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) and diabetes mellitus type 1, presented with a rare form of the SLE gangrene which involves bilateral lower extremities up to midlegs, a case that has not yet been reported in the literature. Although SLE gangrene may respond to immunosuppressants, it has a high risk of complications that can end up with amputations.

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