Participant attrition and perinatal outcomes in prenatal vitamin Dsupplemented gestational diabetes mellitus patients in Asia: A metaanalysis

BACKGROUND The role of vitamin D supplementation in gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)patients is unclear.AIM To determine the burden and risk of post-randomization GDM patient attrition from vitamin D-supplemented arms of randomized controlled trials(RCTs).The auxiliary aim was to compare the effects of nutritional supplements on their fasting blood glucose(FPG)levels and perinatal outcomes.METHODS RCTs were searched in the PubMed,Embase,and Scopus databases.Randomeffect prevalence and pairwise meta-analysis were performed for the primary objective.The auxiliary aim was to compare the effects of nutritional supplements on their fasting blood glucose(FPG)levels and perinatal outcomes.Fixed-effect network meta-analyses were undertaken for the secondary goals.All analyses were performed using Stata software,and statistical significance was determined at P<0.05.RESULTS Thirteen RCTs from Iran and China were reviewed.The participant attrition burden in vitamin D recipients was 6%[95%confidence interval(CI):0.03,0.10],and its risk did not vary from non-recipients.Vitamin D and calcium co-supplementation reduced the cesarean section incidence in GDM patients[risk ratio(RR):0.37;95%CI:0.18,0.74].The hyperbilirubinemia or hospitalization risk in their newborns decreased with vitamin D supplementation(RR:0.47;95%CI:0.27,0.83)and co-supplementation with calcium(RR:0.35;95%CI:0.16,0.77)or omega3 fatty acids(RR:0.25;95%CI:0.08,0.77).Vitamin D and probiotics co-supplementation decreased newborn hyperbilirubinemia risk(RR:0.28;95%CI:0.09,0.91).FPG levels and macrosomia risk did not vary across interventions.CONCLUSION In RCTs,vitamin D supplementation or co-supplementation in GDM patients showed a low participant attrition burden and low risk of cesarean section,newborn hyperbilirubinemia,and newborn hospitalization.

Epidemiological burden of parents being the index cases of COVID-19 infected children

BACKGROUND In the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,when children remain home-confined secondary to the closure of schools,little is known of the burden of the parents being their index case.AIM To determine the prevalence of parents being the index case of COVID-19 infected children.METHODS A database search in PubMed and Scopus ensued to recruit studies reporting the index case information of COVID-19 infected individuals aged≤18.The reviewed articles'quality evaluation included the use of the National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute's tool.A random-effect meta-analysis ensued to determine the prevalence of the parent being and not-being the index case.Heterogeneity was assessed by I2 and Chi2 statistics.The publication bias was evaluated by funnel plots and Egger’s test.RESULTS Overall,this review included 13 eligible studies sourcing data from 622 children of 33 nations.Study designs were heterogeneous and primarily included descriptive reports(38.4%).The prevalence of parent being the index case was 54%(95%CI:0.29-0.79;I2:62.3%,Chi2 P<0.001).In>70%of children,their indexcase parent was symptomatic due to COVID-19 at the time of infection transmitting.Studies for which a risk of bias assessment was possible were of fair quality.CONCLUSION There is a substantial global burden of parents being the index case of COVID-19 infected children,and frequently these parents are symptomatic.Therefore,from a public health perspective,early detection of these parents is crucial.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose in gestational diabetes mellitus patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in low- and middle-income countries

Self-monitoring of blood glucose(SMBG)is critical for gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)care.However,there are several hurdles to its practice during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic in GDM patients in low-and middle-income countries when GDM care recommendations emphasize telemedicine-based care.Based on available knowledge,this letter proposes the following barriers to SMBG in these GDM patients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:Poor internet connectivity,affordability of SMBG and digital applications to connect with healthcare providers,government-imposed social mobility restriction,psychological stress,and mental health conditions.Nevertheless,definitive evidence will only be acquired from rigorous research.

Primary extrapulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis warrants extraprecautious pulmonary tuberculosis exclusion workup

This editorial article takes an opportunity to apprehend the diagnostic challenges of primary gastrointestinal tuberculosis(an uncommon extrapulmonary tuberculosis condition)utilizing the recently published case report of a young male with prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms and weight loss who received intermittent anti-tubercular treatment and underwent operative interventions to relieve gastric outlet obstruction.The diagnosis chiefly relied on high-end examinations,like computed tomography scans and histopathological evaluation of postoperatively resected bowel tissue,which wasn't preceded by an all-inclusive stepwise primary pulmonary tuberculosis exclusion approach that usually begins with a detailed tuberculosis-pertinent history acquisition.Given the geographic locations where the patient had been(and/or treated),pivotal consideration of tuberculosis-associated endemicities in those regions,like human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection,might have improved the case description.The obtainment of HIV-relevant histories,like intravenous drug use and sexual practice,are good places to start.The sputum bacteriology also seems imperative to rule out atypical Mycobacterium species infection because of its clinico-radiohistopathological resemblance with pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Altogether,this editorial aims to underscore that primary extrapulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis should comprise an elaborative,comprehensive,systematic,and stepwise primary pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis exclusion workup.