Childhood obesity is a major health problem. We examined differences between children with obesity and normal weight in nutritional and inflammation biomarkers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthy children aged 10–12 years from Arab villages in Israel. Parents were interviewed regarding sociodemographic and children’s health status. Body weight and height measurements were performed and weight categories were defined using the 2007 WHO growth curves. Blood samples were tested for complete blood count, levels of iron, ferritin, lipids, uric acid, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Overall, 146 children (59.0% males, mean age = 11.3 [SD = 0.5]) were enrolled. In total 43.8%, 14.1% and 42.3% of the participants had normal weight, overweight and obesity, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression model showed that children with overweight and obesity had lower iron, and HDL-C levels than children with normal weight. Levels of CRP, uric acid, LDL-C and lymphocytes were higher among children with overweight and obesity. In conclusion, our findings highlight the worse metabolic and nutritional status in overweight and obese children. Such markers play a role in metabolic syndrome, thus suggesting that metabolic syndrome might start in childhood.

Transport by unmanned aerial systems (UASs) (e.g., drones) could save time and personnel. Our study aimed to assess the effect of drone transportation on the clinical laboratory results of biological samples by examining its impact on pre-analytical and analytical processes. We performed a cross-sectional study of healthy volunteers from Sha’ar Menashe Mental Health Center between July and November 2022. Blood and urine samples were transferred to the central laboratory at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. Overall, 40 healthcare workers aged 21–67 years (57.5% females) with a mean age of 45.8 (SD = 11.3) years from Sha’ar Menashe Mental Health Center were recruited in the study. There were no significant differences between transportation modes in the complete blood count levels. We found a significant difference between the transportation modes for GGT (p = 0.01) and PT (p = 0.04), despite the very similar mean results of these tests. In Bland–Altman plots, GGT and PT samples fell within the 95% limits of agreement and were indicated as not clinically relevant; however, glucose and LDH did not meet the 95% acceptance criterion and showed a potential clinical effect. There was full agreement between the two types of transportation for urine glucose, nitrites, and urine cultures. UAS transport is an appropriate method for maintaining the quality of most routine clinical laboratory specimens, similar to the routine procedure of using a vehicle. For the 34 biochemistry, hematology, and coagulation assay parameters, only glucose and LDH did not meet the 95% acceptance criterion and showed a potential clinical effect.

Background: It is prudent to develop biomarkers that enhance the differentiation between viral and bacterial infection in order to support expeditious and judicious antimicrobial implementation in emergency department admissions. Human neutrophilic peptides 1-3 (HNP1-3) are the major neutrophilic peptides with potent antimicrobial activity. Methods: We tested the performance of the plasma HNP1-3 test in a prospective observational cohort of children admitted to the emergency department for fever. We validated this test with traditionally used biomarkers and final diagnoses. An expert panel reviewed the patient’s data and gave a final diagnosis. The final diagnosis was classified as definite, probable, or possible. Results: A total of 111 children (98 with fever and 13 control) were recruited: 55% male, mean age 6.3 years. Plasma HNP1-3 levels were higher with bacterial infections: 10,428 (5789–14,866) vs. 7352 (3762–10,672) pg/mL, p = 0.007. HNP1-3 were negatively correlated with age: r = −0.207, p = 0.029. Of the different categorical variables tested, only c-reactive protein (CRP) (≥42.3 mg/dL), neutrophil count (≥10.2), and age (odds ratio = 1.185, p = 0.013 and 95%CI = 1.037–1.354) had significant diagnostic capability for bacterial disease prediction. Conclusions: Due to its low diagnostic value in febrile patients, the HNP1-3 value is not currently recommended to support pathogen differentiation in children in an emergency setting. Further studies are needed to support its clinical use.

Background: Hemodialysis patients are particularly vulnerable to hepatitis B virus (HBV) due to immunosuppression and repeated vascular access. While universal childhood vaccination has reduced population-level HBV prevalence, dialysis units require tailored prevention and monitoring strategies. This study aimed to characterize HBV serologic profiles, evaluate immune responses, and assess the kinetics of antibody waning in a diverse hemodialysis population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 565 adult hemodialysis patients (2015–2024), assessing HBV seroprevalence, seroconversion, booster response, and antibody waning. Subgroup comparisons were made by ethnicity and birth cohort (pre- vs. post-1992 national vaccine rollout). Time-to-waning analyses were performed using Kaplan–Meier methods. Results: HBsAg and anti-HBc were positive in 4.1% and 31.7% of patients, respectively; 3.7% were HCV seropositive. No HBsAg seroconversions occurred, and 2.1% of initially anti-HBc-negative patients seroconverted. Among patients with isolated anti-HBc, 80.9% developed protective anti-HBs titers, and none became HBsAg- or HBV DNA-positive. Waning anti-HBs titers occurred in 67.5% (median: 7.3 months), with 87.4% demonstrating a serologic response following documented vaccine delivery. Patients born after 1992 showed higher isolated anti-HBs positivity and lower anti-HBc prevalence. Ethnic subgroup analysis showed higher exposure rates but similar booster response among minority patients. Conclusions: HBV serologic profiles in this hemodialysis cohort reflected the interplay of immunosuppression, vaccination practices, and evolving epidemiologic trends. Subgroups exhibited variable vaccine responses, differing patterns of antibody waning, and a low incidence of new infections. These findings support tailored, population-specific HBV monitoring and prevention strategies in dialysis care.

Background: Kingella kingae is a primary cause of pediatric osteoarticular infections. Diagnosis is challenging due to mild clinical presentations and fastidious culture growth, often mimicking viral illnesses. The MeMed BV™ assay measures C-reactive protein (CRP), interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) to differentiate bacterial from viral infections, but its utility in K. kingae has not been evaluated. Objectives: To characterize the CRP, IP-10, and TRAIL profiles in pediatric patients with confirmed K. kingae infections compared to viral and classical bacterial cohorts. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 19 children with microbiologically confirmed K. kingae. Controls included viral (n = 20), pneumococcal (n = 17) and Gram-negative (n = 7) cohorts. Serum concentrations of the three host-response proteins were compared. Results: The median age of the K. kingae cohort was 11.0 months (IQR, 9.0–12.0 months). Compared to viral controls, K. kingae elicited significantly lower IP-10 levels (median: 100.0 pg/mL [IQR, <100.0–399.0] vs. 632.5 pg/mL [IQR, 346.3–1375.8]; p = 0.004) and a downward trend in TRAIL levels (median: 75.0 pg/mL [IQR, 66.0–95.0] vs. 169.5 pg/mL [IQR, 76.5–205.0]; p = 0.066), aligning with a bacterial profile. Conversely, K. kingae induced significantly lower inflammatory and host-response markers than typical bacterial infections; its median CRP (18.8 mg/L [IQR, 10.0–50.0]) and MeMed BV™ score (28 [IQR, 11–61]) were markedly lower than those observed in the pneumococcal cohort (CRP: 94.0 mg/L [IQR, 39.5–182.5]; MeMed BV: 89 [IQR, 51–98.5]) and the alternative bacterial cohort (CRP: 106.0 mg/L [IQR, 32.0–250.0]; MeMed BV: 73.0 [IQR, 67.0–99.0]). Conclusions: Kingella kingae infections elicit a distinct host-response fingerprint characterized by mild CRP elevation, leukocytosis, and uniquely suppressed IP-10 levels. Utilizing this three-protein signature may help distinguish K. kingae from viral mimics, preventing diagnostic delays and optimizing antibiotic stewardship.

Objectives: To evaluate urinalysis (UA) performance for identifying single-uropathogen bacteriuria, characterize positive cultures after normal UA, compare laboratory and point-of-care platforms, and explore the resource implications of conditional culture. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed nonduplicate urine-culture episodes linked to same-day UA at a tertiary hospital in 2024. Pathological UA was defined as positive leukocyte esterase or nitrite. Diagnostic performance was assessed against single-uropathogen growth versus culture-negative reports. Selected culture-positive episodes underwent chart review. An exploratory model estimated resource use under a symptom- and UA-guided culture pathway. Results: Among 9,036 eligible culture episodes from 8,214 patients, 4,273 (47.3%) had same-day UA. The primary cohort comprised 3,969 episodes, including 925 single-uropathogen cases and 3,044 culture-negative controls. Pathological UA had 92.8% sensitivity (95% confidence interval, 91.1%–94.4%), 51.5% specificity (49.7%–53.2%), 36.8% positive predictive value (34.8%–38.7%), and 95.9% negative predictive value (94.9%–96.9%). Of 92 reviewed positive cultures after normal UA, 77 (83.7%) were classified as asymptomatic bacteriuria; seven of the remaining 15 episodes were adjudicated as probable urinary tract infection. The base-case model projected direct laboratory costs of ＄31,900 versus ＄102,700, with substantial variation across eligibility assumptions. Conclusions: Most positive cultures after normal UA represented asymptomatic bacteriuria, while culture-positive probable urinary tract infection was rare. These findings support a symptom-informed, UA-guided strategy with clinical overrides.