Trash Feet and Mesenteric Ischemia as a Rare Manifestation of a Complicated Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms and atheromatous plaques are well-established potential culprits in the development of cholesterol embolization. This embolic phenomenon can result in the occlusion of peripheral arteries in the forefoot or toes, commonly referred to as "trash foot".

Case: A 61-year old patient exhibited severe symptoms and signs of lower limb and mesenteric ischemia, represented clinically by abdominal pain, hematochezia, and bilateral plantar necrotic lesions, attributed to embolization from a previously unknown large infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Limitations of the apnea-hypopnea index in children and young adults with neuromuscular disorders.

There are no validated criteria to initiate noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in children and young adults with neuromuscular disease (NMD). In order to analyze NIV initiation criteria, we reviewed the polysomnography (PSG) criteria that led to the initiation of NIV in 61 consecutive patients with NMD, median age 4.1 (0.

Do not forget asthma comorbidities in pediatric severe asthma!

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in childhood. The long-term goals in managing asthma aim to control symptoms and prevent exacerbations, as well as to reduce side effects of therapy and mortality disease-related. Most of patients have mild to moderate asthma and respond well to standard therapies.

ERS statement on paediatric long-term noninvasive respiratory support.

Long-term noninvasive respiratory support, comprising continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and noninvasive ventilation (NIV), in children is expanding worldwide, with increasing complexities of children being considered for this type of ventilator support and expanding indications such as palliative care. There have been improvements in equipment and interfaces. Despite growing experience, there are still gaps in a significant number of areas: there is a lack of validated criteria for CPAP/NIV initiation, optimal follow-up and monitoring; weaning and long-term benefits have not been evaluated.

Clinical course and risk factors for severe COVID-19 among Italian patients with cystic fibrosis: a study within the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Society.

Purpose: To describe the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to identify risk factors for severe COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study within the Italian CF Society. CF centers collected baseline and follow-up data of patients with virologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2020 and June 2021.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in cystic fibrosis: A multicentre prospective study with a control group, Italy, February-July 2020.

Objective: To describe the symptoms and clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: We carried out a prospective multicentre cohort study based on 32 CF centres and 6597 patients. Centres were contacted to collect baseline and follow-up data of patients who reported symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or who had contact with a positive/suspected case between the end of February and July 2020.

Barriers and incentives for Italian paediatricians to become smoking cessation promoters: a GARD-Italy Demonstration Project.

Background: Paediatricians rarely devote any time to screening and treatment for parental tobacco use. The present project is part of a Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)-Italy Demonstration Project, aimed to increase the skills of primary care physicians and paediatricians as "promoter of smoking cessation". The aims of this study were: (I) to identify latent classes of barriers and incentives for smoking cessation counseling among paediatricians using latent class analysis (LCA); (II) to investigate risk factors for inclusion into the identified classes.

Long Term Non-invasive Ventilation in Children With Central Hypoventilation.

Central hypoventilation (CH) is a quite rare disorder caused by some congenital or acquired conditions. It is featured by increased arterial concentration of serum carbon dioxide related to an impairment of respiratory drive. Patients affected by CH need to be treated by mechanical ventilation in order to achieve appropriate ventilation and oxygenation both in sleep and wakefulness.

Italian pediatric respiratory society recommendations on pediatric pulmonary function testing during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Effective prevention and control strategies are mandatory to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Text: The Italian Pediatric Respiratory Society promotes a series of new recommendations that should be followed in pulmonary function testing laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: Pulmonary function testing should be performed in children with chronic lung disease only if it is needed to guide management and limited to the necessary tests, namely spirometry.

Ceftolozane/Tazobactam for Treating Children With Exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis Due to : A Review of Available Data.

Ceftolozane-tazobactam is a novel fifth-generation cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combination recently approved for treatment of both complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections in adults. Considering its potent bactericidal activity against , it might represent an important option also for treating children with exacerbations of cystic fibrosis due to when other alternative treatments have been exhausted. We hereby review available data on the use of ceftolozane-tazobactam in children, focusing on cystic fibrosis.

[Shifting from heroin to alcohol addiction: descriptive survey].

Introduction: Addiction is a disease which affects the relation between the person and the object of his addiction. One of the major risks for people addicted to heroin treated with Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) is to develop addiction from another substance, particularly alcohol, while treating heroin addiction, "shifting" this way from heroin addic- tion to alcoholism.

Objective: describing such "shifting" process within the population taken into considera- tion for this study.

European Cystic Fibrosis Society Standards of Care: Quality Management in cystic fibrosis.

Since the earliest days of cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment, patient data have been recorded and reviewed in order to identify the factors that lead to more favourable outcomes. Large data repositories, such as the US Cystic Fibrosis Registry, which was established in the 1960s, enabled successful treatments and patient outcomes to be recognized and improvement programmes to be implemented in specialist CF centres. Over the past decades, the greater volumes of data becoming available through Centre databases and patient registries led to the possibility of making comparisons between different therapies, approaches to care and indeed data recording.

METODO, a prospective observational study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of methadone in heroin-addicted patients undergoing a methadone maintenance treatment: preliminary results at baseline evaluation.

METODO (methadone efficacy therapy optimization dosage on-going) is a prospective observational study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of methadone in 500 heroin-addicted patients taking a methadone maintenance treatment, enrolled through 2010 to 2011 in five Italian sites, observed over 2 years. The Opiate Dosage Adequacy Scale has been used for the evaluation of the "adequacy" of the methadone dosage and to stratify patients in adequate and not adequate groups. The treatment efficacy has been evaluated in correlation to the dosage adequacy during the visits.

Survival of patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 1.

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1) is a progressive disease and is usually fatal in the first year of life.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of SMA1 patients and their outcomes according to the following choices: letting nature take its course (NT); tracheostomy and invasive mechanical ventilation (TV); continuous noninvasive respiratory muscle aid (NRA), including noninvasive ventilation; and mechanically assisted cough.

Results: Of 194 consecutively referred patients enrolled in this study (103 males, 91 females), NT, TV, and NRA were chosen for 121 (62.

Oxidative stress in stable cystic fibrosis patients: do we need higher antioxidant plasma levels?

Unlabelled: Oxidative stress plays an important role in cystic fibrosis (CF). However, there is a lack of validated biomarkers of oxidative damage that correlate with the antioxidant needs of patients with CF.

Objective: To investigate oxidative stress in stable pediatric CF patients and evaluate if vitamin supplementation may be tailored to individual needs and oxidative status.

Acute endocarditis of the patch caused by Staphylococcus capitis in treated tetralogy of Fallot. An unusual location by an unusual bacterium.

We present the case of a 46 year-old male, HCV infected, treated with corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) immediately after percutaneous closure of the Blalock Taussig shunt. Four months later, the patient had infective endocarditis by Staphylococcus capitis localised on the right side of the patch, treated by oxacillin and gentamycin. The particularity of our report is the unusual location of the acute endocarditis and the bacterium involved: the pulmonary valve is much more likely to be involved in endocarditis in TOF patients and the patch endocarditis has rarely been reported.

Invasive and non-invasive long-term mechanical ventilation in Italian children.

Background: To date, few studies have been published regarding the number of children in Italy who require long-term mechanical ventilation (LTV) and their underlying diagnoses, ventilatory needs and hospital discharge rate.

Methods: A preliminary national postal survey was conducted and identified 535 children from 57 centers. Detailed data were then obtained for 378 children from 30 centers.