Abstract Based on an extensive analysis of public databases, we provide an overview of the global scientific output and describe the dynamics of the profound changes in the scientific enterprise during the last decades. The analysis included the scientific production of 53 countries over the 1996-2018 period. During this period, the production of articles per year has tripled. There was a strong correlation between the growth of the global gross domestic product and the increase in the number of articles (R2 = 0.973, P<0.001). Six countries showed a robust increment of their scientific production and are currently among the top 20 in the ranking of world scientific production (China, India, South Korea, Brazil, Turkey, and Iran). The mean annual growth rate was about 12.7% for these six countries. The share of the global scientific production of these countries increased from 7% in 1996 to 27.8% in 2018. Conversely, the participation of the 10 most traditional countries has dropped from 73% to 45% during the same period. In conclusion, we believe that our findings may contribute to further studies aiming to evaluate the impact and changes of the scientific endeavor over the next years in light of the forthcoming new world framework.

Abstract The world is looking forward to a prompt response by the scientific community in order to overcome the first pandemic of the 21st century. This study aimed to provide an overview of scientific output on COVID-19 during its first year. We assembled information regarding 60,830 articles related to COVID-19 indexed in the WoS database from January 24 to December 13, 2020. Only 4 countries accounted for about 60% of the articles (USA, China, Italy, and England) and 12 countries accounted for about 95% of the world scientific output on COVID-19 (USA, China, Italy, England, India, Canada, Germany, Spain, Australia, Brazil, Iran, and Turkey). 25 research centers around the world contributed with more than 500 papers on COVID-19. Papers were scattered throughout 6,133 journals, with 12 journals with > 250 articles. 20 articles (0.03%) have already received more than the 1,000 citations. The response of the scientific endeavor to this acute global public health emergency has been fast and robust. The overview provided by the analysis of the scientific response to the pandemic may contribute to further studies aiming to evaluate the impact and changes in the scientific endeavor for the next years in light of the forthcoming new world framework.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Descrever as características clínicas e demográficas de pacientes pediátricos com linfoma não Hodgkin (LNH) em uma unidade terciária de Hematologia Pediátrica entre 1982-2015. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS Estudo de coorte retrospectivo de dados de prontuários de 140 pacientes com idade até 16 anos com LNH. Características demográficas e dados relativos ao diagnóstico e evolução foram analisados. A sobrevida global (SG) e estratificada pelos subtipos histológicos mais frequentes foi analisada pelo método de Kaplan-Meier. RESULTADOS Dados de 136 pacientes com LNH de novo e quatro com LNH como segunda neoplasia foram analisados. A mediana de idade ao diagnóstico foi 6,4 anos (intervalo interquartil: 4,2 a 11,1 anos); 101 pacientes eram meninos. Onze pacientes apresentavam imunodeficiência (quatro primária, quatro secundária ao vírus da imunodeficiência humana adquirida, dois pós-transplante hepático e um com síndrome linfoproliferativa autoimune). Os tipos histológicos mais frequentes foram o LNH de células B madura (LNH-B, 67,1% dos pacientes), sendo o linfoma de Burkitt o subtipo mais frequente, e o linfoma linfoblástico (LL, 21,4%). A principal manifestação clínica ao diagnóstico foi massa abdominal (41,4%). A mediana de seguimento dos sobreviventes foi 7,7 anos (intervalo interquartil: 3,3 a 10,9 anos). Treze pacientes recidivaram (cinco alcançaram segunda remissão clínica), 35 faleceram, 103 permanecem vivos em remissão completa e dois perderam o seguimento. A probabilidade de SG em cinco anos foi 74,5%±3,8%. Para os pacientes com LL, LNH-B e os demais, a SG foi 80,4%±7,9%, 72,8%±4,7% e 74,5%±11%, respectivamente (P=0,58). CONCLUSÃO Nossos resultados são comparáveis aos de outros países de renda média.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of pediatric patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) enrolled in a tertiary unit of Pediatric Hematology between 1982-2015. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective cohort study of 140 patients aged 16 years or less with NHL. Demographic characteristics, data on diagnosis, and outcomes were analyzed. The overall survival (OS) analysis and stratification by the most frequent histological subtypes were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-six patients with de novo NHL and four with NHL as a second malignancy were analyzed. The median age at diagnosis was 6.4 years (interquartile range, 4.2 to 11.1 years); 101 patients were males. Four patients had primary immunodeficiency, four had human immunodeficiency virus, two post-liver transplantation, and one had autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. The most frequent histological type was NHL of mature B- cell (B-NHL-B; 67.1%), with Burkitt’s lymphoma being the most frequent subtype, and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL, 21.4%). The main clinical manifestation at the diagnosis was abdominal tumors (41.4%). During the follow-up time, 13 patients relapsed, but five of them reached a second remission. Thirty-five patients died, and 103 remained alive in clinical remission. No contact was possible for two patients. The OS at 5 years was 74.5% (± 3.8%). The OS estimated for patients with LBL, NHL-B, and the remaining was 80.4%±7.9%, 72.8%±4.7%, and 74.5%±11%, respectively (P = 0.58). CONCLUSION Our results are comparable with cohorts from other middle-income countries.

Abstract The Brazilian scientific community and health care workers are working hard to provide support for the political health measures to deal with this unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Paradoxically, while the society is looking forward for an immediate response of the scientific community, Brazilian scientists are facing a dramatic reduction in financial support for research and graduate programs.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o perfil e a produção científica de pesquisadores de Pediatria, cadastrados como bolsistas de produtividade científica do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. MÉTODOS: O currículo Lattes de 34 pesquisadores em Pediatria, com bolsas ativas no triênio 2006 a 2008, foram incluídos na análise. As variáveis de interesse foram: sexo, instituição, tempo de doutoramento, orientação de alunos de graduação, mestres e doutores, artigos publicados e impacto da publicação. RESULTADOS: De um total de 411 pesquisadores em Medicina, 34 (8%) foram identificados como da área de Pediatria. Houve uma predominância do gênero masculino (77%) e de bolsistas na categoria 2 (62%). Três estados foram responsáveis por aproximadamente 90% dos pesquisadores: São Paulo (53%), Minas Gerais (21%) e Rio Grande do Sul (15%). No total da carreira acadêmica, os pesquisadores em Pediatria publicaram 3.122 artigos, sendo a mediana de 89 artigos por pesquisador (intervalo interquartil - IQ=51-119). Desse total, 40 e 58,5% foram artigos indexados nas bases de dados Web of Science e Scopus, respectivamente. Os pesquisadores em Pediatria publicaram em 599 periódicos, com mediana de fator de impacto de 2,35 (IQ=1,37-3,73) para os 323 periódicos indexados. CONCLUSÕES: Na presente investigação, observou-se que os pesquisadores na área de Pediatria apresentam uma produção científica relevante do ponto de vista quantitativo, mas há necessidade de aprimoramento qualitativo das publicações.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the profile and the scientific production of researchers in Pediatrics with scholarship from the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development. METHODS: The Lattes curricula of 34 researchers in Pediatrics with active scholarships, from 2006 to 2008 were included in the analysis. The variables of interest were: gender, affiliation, time since PHD, tutoring of undergraduate students, mentorship of masters and doctors, scientific production and the papers' impact. RESULTS: In a total of 411 researchers in Medicine, 34 (8%) belonged to Pediatrics. Males (77%) and scholars in the category 2 of productivity (62%) prevailed. Three states of Brazil were responsible for approximately 90% of the researchers: São Paulo (53%), Minas Gerais (21%), and Rio Grande do Sul (15%). During their academic career, the Pediatrics researchers have published 3,122 articles with a median of 89 articles per researcher (interquartile range - IQ=51-119). Of the total, 40 and 59% articles were indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, respectively. The Pediatrics researchers have published papers in 599 journals with a median impact factor of 2.35 (IQ=1.37-3.73) for the 323 indexed journals. CONCLUSIONS: The Pediatrics researchers have a relevant scientific output from the quantity point of the view, but there is a need to improve quality.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el perfil y la producción científica de los investigadores en Pediatría catastrados como becarios de productividad científica del Consejo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico. MÉTODOS: Se incluyó en el análisis el currículo Lattes de 34 investigadores en Pediatría con becas activas en el trienio 2006 a 2008. Las variables de interés fueron: sexo, institución, tiempo de doctoramiento, orientación de alumnos de la carrera, maestros y doctores, artículos publicados e impacto de la publicación. RESULTADOS: De un total de 411 investigadores en Medicina, 34 (8%) fueron identificados como del área de Pediatría. Hubo una predominancia del género masculino (77%) y de becarios en la categoría 2 (62%). Tres provincias fueron responsables por un 90% de los investigadores: São Paulo (53%), Minas Gerais (21%) y Rio Grande do Sul (15%). En el total de la carrera académica, los investigadores en Pediatría publicaron 3.122 artículos, siendo la mediana de 89 artículos por investigador (intervalo intercuartil - IQ=51-119). De ese total, 40 y 58,5% fueron artículos indexados en las bases de datos Web of Science y Scopus, respectivamente. Los investigadores en Pediatría publicaron en 599 periódicos, con mediana de factor de impacto de 2,35 (IQ=1,37-3,73) para los 323 periódicos indexados. CONCLUSIONES: En la presente investigación, se observó que los investigadores en el área de Pediatría presentan una producción científica relevante desde la mirada cuantitativa, pero hay necesidad de perfeccionamiento cualitativo de las publicaciones.

Neste estudo é relatado o quadro clínico de cinco crianças com linfoma não-Hodgkin secundário a imunodeficiência ou imunossupressão: três portadoras do vírus da imunodeficiência humana, uma com imunodeficiência primária e uma após transplante hepático. De acordo com a classificação atual, os tipos histológicos foram: linfoma linfoblástico de células B precursoras (2), linfoma cutâneo de grandes células anaplásico (1), linfoma de células B periféricas, sugestivo de Burkitt (1), e linfoma linfoblástico de células T precursoras (1). Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a quimioterapia, sendo que dois estão em remissão clínica, dois morreram e um continua em tratamento. Após a introdução da terapia anti-retroviral combinada e o aumento dos transplantes de órgãos sólidos ocorre maior risco de neoplasia nesses pacientes. Desse modo, é importante o seguimento desses pacientes para determinar os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de neoplasias e definir adequada estratégia de tratamento.

The outcomes of five children with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas associated with immunodeficiency or immunosuppression is reported: three children with HIV, one with primary immunodeficiency and one after liver transplantation. According to the REAL classification, two patients had precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphomas, one had an anaplastic large cell lymphoma, one had a peripheral B-cell neoplasm suggestive of Burkitt's lymphoma, and one had precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. All patients received chemotherapy. Two are in complete remission, two died and one remains under treatment. There has been an increasing awareness of the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lymphoproliferative disorders after active antiretroviral therapy and with the expansion of solid organ transplant programs in the pediatric setting. Thus, for these patients it is important to establish risk factors for hematological disorders and determine the optimal and safest treatment.

OBJETIVO: A anemia hemolítica auto-imune é caracterizada pela produção de auto-anticorpos contra antígenos de superfície das hemácias. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar as características clínicas, imunológicas e evolutivas dos pacientes com anemia hemolítica auto-imune acompanhados no serviço de hematologia pediátrica do HC-UFMG e no Hemocentro de Belo Horizonte. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 17 crianças menores de 15 anos, diagnosticadas entre 1988 e 2003. O diagnóstico de anemia hemolítica auto-imune foi baseado no quadro de hemólise adquirida e confirmado por meio do teste de Coombs direto poliespecífico. Os dados clínicos, demográficos, laboratoriais e referentes à evolução dos pacientes foram obtidos retrospectivamente nos prontuários médicos. RESULTADOS: A mediana de idade ao diagnóstico foi de 10,5 meses. O teste de Coombs direto poliespecífico foi positivo em 13 pacientes e negativo em quatro. Em 14 pacientes, foi realizado o teste de Coombs direto monoespecífico. Nestes, a classe de anticorpo mais freqüente foi IgG (cinco pacientes), seguida pela IgM em dois. Em 13 (76%) pacientes, a anemia foi considerada grave, o que tornou necessária a hemotransfusão. Em quatro pacientes, foi identificada uma doença de base: lúpus eritematoso sistêmico, linfoma de Hodgkin, hepatite auto-imune e histiocitose de células de Langerhans. Os demais casos foram considerados como primários. A mediana de seguimento foi de 11 meses (5 a 23 meses). Ocorreram três óbitos, sendo dois após esplenectomia e um pela doença de base. CONCLUSÃO: A anemia hemolítica auto-imune é rara em crianças e adolescentes. Apesar de apresentar resposta ao corticóide e imunoglobulina, casos fatais têm sido relatados. O prognóstico é pior na presença de uma doença crônica de base.

OBJECTIVE: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is characterized by the production of autoantibodies against erythrocyte membrane antigens. This study was carried out to identify the clinical, immunological and outcome characteristics of autoimmune hemolytic anemia patients treated at the (HC-UFMG) Pediatric Hematology Unit and the Hemocentro de Belo Horizonte. METHODS: We evaluated 17 patients younger than 15 years old admitted from 1988 to 2003 were evaluated. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia diagnosis was based on the presence of acquired hemolysis and confirmed by positive direct Coombs polyspecific test results. Clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were obtained from patient records. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 10.5 months. The direct Coombs polyspecific test was positive in 13 and negative in four patients. Monospecific testing was performed for 14 patients. The most frequent red cell autoantibody was IgG (five patients), followed by IgM in two. Thirteen patients had severe anemia and needed blood transfusions. Underlying diseases were identified in four patients: systemic lupus erythematosus, Hodgkin's lymphoma, autoimmune hepatitis and Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The remaining patients were classified as having primary disease. The median follow-up period was 11 months (5 to 23 months). Three children died, two after splenectomy and one with complications of the underlying disease. CONCLUSION: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is rare in children and adolescents. Although patients usually respond to corticosteroids and/or immunoglobulin, fatal cases can occur. Prognosis is worse in patients with chronic underlying diseases.