The diagnosis of respiratory disease in children using a phone-based cough and symptom analysis algorithm: The smartphone recordings of cough sounds 2 (SMARTCOUGH-C 2) trial design

The diagnosis of acute respiratory diseases in children can be challenging, and no single objective diagnostic test exists for common pediatric respiratory diseases. Previous research has demonstrated that ResAppDx, a cough sound and symptom-based analysis algorithm, can identify common respiratory diseases at the point of care. We present the study protocol for SMARTCOUGH-C 2, a prospective diagnostic accuracy trial of a cough and symptom-based algorithm in a cohort of children presenting with acute respiratory diseases. The objective of the study is to assess the performance characteristics of the ResAppDx algorithm in the diagnosis of common pediatric acute respiratory diseases.

Magnesium homeostasis following chemotherapy with cisplatin: a prospective study

Retrospective studies suggest that cisplatin chemotherapy regularly leads to hypomagnesemia and occasionally hypocalcemia. The hypomagnesemia has been attributed to renal magnesium wasting. We examined prospectively the incidence of hypomagnesemia, magnesuria, and hypocalcemia in 17 patients receiving chemotherapy with cisplatin. Hypomagnesemia was found in 53% to 88% of patients, depending on the definition of hypomagnesemia. All displayed inappropriate renal excretion of magnesium. Hypocalcemia occurred in one of the 17 prospectively studied patients (5.8%) and in three additional retrospective patients. Hypocalcemic patients demonstrated lower serum magnesium values, higher fractional magnesium excretion, and evidence for reduced intestinal magnesium absorption. We conclude that hypomagnesemia, renal magnesium wasting, and hypocalcemia occur frequently among patients receiving cisplatin. Hypocalcemia occurs in those patients who have the severest renal magnesium wasting, the severest hypomagnesemia, and inadequate intestinal magnesium absorption.