Self-Induced Stretch Syncope: An Unusual Non-Epileptic Paroxysmal Event. A Case Report and Literature Mini-Review.

Stretch syncope (SS) is a benign, uncommon, distinct condition described mainly in adolescent males. It is responsible for paroxysmal events started by stereotyped stretching actions with neck hyperextension, culminating in alteration of consciousness. Motor manifestations are often present and may be associated with a generalized slowing of the electroencephalographic activity, challenging the diagnosis.

A 15-year experience in pediatric palliative care: a retrospective hospital-based study.

Background: The current Italian scenario of pediatric palliative care (PPC) services is characterized by inadequate coverage of the territory. Therefore, it is important to improve the referral of patients to the most appropriate setting (community care, general PPC, or specialized PPC) and to improve the delivery of PPC care.

Methods: Aiming at obtaining information about the referrals to the Padua Pediatric Hospice that could help estimate the investments needed to improve the provision of care, a retrospective analysis has been carried out.

A Nationwide Study to Evaluate Accessibility to Specialized Pediatric Palliative Care in Italy-Patients, Needs, and Critical Issues: The PalliPed Study.

PalliPed is the first Italian nationwide project aimed at describing the characteristics of patients accessing specialized pediatric palliative care (PPC) and their families, in the main care settings (hospice, home care, and hospital). The project's secondary aim is to assess the extent and quality of regional PPC networks/facilities and the number of dedicated resources. In this article, we present the results of the first part of the project.

Transition to Adulthood in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Narrative Review.

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is defined as "the active care of the child's body, quality of life, mind and spirit, also giving support to the family". PPC should be established once a diagnosis of life-limiting or life-threatening disease is reached and should continue as long as necessary. Therefore, pediatric palliative care (PPC) can continue for years, also given the improved care approaches for children with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases.

International consensus on sleep problems in pediatric palliative care: Paving the way.

Objective: Sleep problems constitute a common and heterogeneous complaint in pediatric palliative care (PPC), where they often contribute to disease morbidity and cause additional distress to children and adolescents and their families already facing the burden of life-threatening and life-limiting conditions. Despite the significant impact of sleep problems, clinical evidence is lacking. The application of general pediatric sleep recommendations appears insufficient to address the unique challenges of the PPC dimension in terms of disease variability, duration, comorbidities, complexity of needs, and particular features of sleep problems related to hospice care.

The specialized pediatric palliative care service in Italy: how is it working? Results of the nationwide PalliPed study.

Background: Accurate estimation of the specialized pediatric palliative care (PPC) burden and the definition of the extent and quality of PPC service in Italy represent urgent needs to enable the proper allocation of PPC resources and the definition of prevention and educational plans. The PalliPed project aimed to provide the first comprehensive assessment of the characteristics of Italian patients requiring PPC, the quality and extent of regional PPC networks/facilities, and the number of dedicated resources. In this paper, we present the results of the second part of the project, regarding the implementation and quality of PPC services in Italy.

Unravelling the role of mind-body therapies in paediatric palliative care: A narrative review.

Aim: Given the multifaceted nature of paediatric palliative care (PPC), integrative medicine and mind-body therapies, in particular, are increasingly used in this setting. However, to our knowledge, their use in PPC has never been specifically reviewed. Therefore, this work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the application and possible beneficial effects of mind-body therapies in the PPC setting.

Exploring the emotional and behavioural profile in paediatric narcolepsy type 1: A case-control study.

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a central disorder of hypersomnolence often arising in childhood and adolescence. NT1 has a significant, but poorly defined, psychological impact. We aimed to investigate the psycho-social functioning of children and adolescents with NT1.

Pediatric Palliative Care: Insights into Assessment Tools andReview Instruments.

The proper assessment of needs and outcomes in pediatric palliative care (PPC) is imperativeto ensure the best possible service to patients and families. However, given the multidimensionalnature of PPC, the low number of patients in this setting, the heterogeneity of diseases, the presenceof cognitive impairment in many patients, and the physiological development of children, outcomescan be complex and difficult to measure. Consequently, in this context, the use of standardizedand validated tools to assess the needs of children and families, to assess symptom severity, andto estimate the quality of PPC service represent a current need.

Short report. Cooking for autism: a pilot study of an innovative culinary laboratory for Italian adolescents and emerging adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Adolescence and emerging adulthood are critical periods for young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is a lack of appropriate and affordable services available.

Aims: The Il Tortellante® is an Italian project aimed at promoting adaptive behavior and social skills, and at reducing the severity of symptomatology through a culinary group intervention in which young people with ASD learn to make fresh pasta by hand.

Pediatric Palliative Care in Oncology: Basic Principles.

About 4 million children with an oncological disease worldwide require pediatric palliative care (PPC) due to the nature of their condition. PPC is not limited to end-of-life care; it is a general approach continuing over the entire disease trajectory, regardless of whether the patient receives any oncological treatment. This review addresses the value of integrating PPC in treating children with cancer, focusing on the basic principles of PPC and its application in pediatric oncology.

A Novel WAC Loss of Function Mutation in an Individual Presenting with Encephalopathy Related to Status Epilepticus during Sleep (ESES).

WAC (WW Domain Containing Adaptor With Coiled-Coil) mutations have been reported in only 20 individuals presenting a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, neonatal hypotonia, behavioral problems, and mildly dysmorphic features. Using targeted deep sequencing, we screened a cohort of 630 individuals with variable degrees of intellectual disability and identified five rare variants: two variants were inherited from healthy parents; two previously reported de novo mutations, c.1661_1664del (p.