The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Epidemiology and Management Strategies of Forearm Fractures in Children-a Retrospective Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable influence over the management strategies in pediatric trauma all over the world. We are making a comparative assessment of all pediatric forearm fracture presentations in a tertiary center in Romania in a pre-pandemic year 2019 (NPG) versus a pandemic year 2021 (PG).

Material And Methods: We retrospectively compared the epidemiological, the anatomopathological, and the management features of forearm fractures for the two years.

Stabilometry in Relation to Hip and Knee Muscle Force in Children with Surgically Treated Unilateral Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis.

Background/objectives: The main aim of our study was to analyze the stabilometric parameters in relation to hip and knee muscle force in children with unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) who had undergone surgical treatment. Another objective was to compare the stabilometry in three testing situations (eyes open, eyes closed, and head retroflexed).

Methods: In total, 26 patients with unilateral right SCFE treated via in situ fixation with one percutaneous screw performed stabilometry assessments under three different situations (with their eyes open, with their eyes closed, and with their head retroflexed) and isometric muscle force assessment of the bilateral hip flexors, extensors, abductors and adductors and bilateral knee flexors and extensors.

A 10-year retrospective study of the risks and peculiarities in pediatric patients with (para)gonadal tumors and cysts.

Introduction: Gonadal pediatric tumors are rare, ranking fourth (6%) among pediatric tumors, by Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (https:∕∕seer.cancer.gov∕).

Static Plantar Pressure under Different Conditions in Children with Surgically Treated Unilateral Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis.

Background: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is the most common hip disease during infancy and adolescence. Our study aimed to analyze static plantar pressure in children with surgically treated unilateral SCFE.

Methods: Twenty-two children with right SCFE with in situ fixation with one percutaneous screw were assessed by PoData plantar pressure analysis under three different conditions (open eyes, eyes closed, and head retroflexed).

Small Scale, High Precision: Robotic Surgery in Neonatal and Pediatric Patients-A Narrative Review.

This narrative review explores the evolution and implications of robotic-assisted surgery in pediatric and neonatal cases, focusing on its advantages, drawbacks, and the specific diseases amenable to this innovative technology. Following PRISMA guidelines, 56 relevant articles from the past five years were selected, emphasizing advancements in precision, reduced trauma, and expedited recovery times for pediatric patients. Despite challenges like cost and training, ongoing research shapes pediatric robotic-assisted surgery, promising improved outcomes.

Cystic Echinococcosis in Hospitalized Children from Western Romania: A 25-Year Retrospective Study.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a cosmopolitan parasitic disease caused by We aimed to assess the epidemiological aspects of the disease in hospitalized children from Western Romania, a well-known endemic area for CE. We retrospectively investigated the medical records of children hospitalized between 1998 and 2022. A total of 144 patients were included, and 58.

Case Report of a Unique Intra-Operative Finding in a Pediatric Distal Radius Non-Union: Does This Shed Light on Other Non-Unions or Malunions in Children?

Non-unions are quite rare in closed fractures in children. Most distal radius fractures require orthopedic reduction and conservative treatment with very good radiological and clinical/functional results. In case of unsatisfactory reduction, surgical treatment is necessary to correct significant displacement.

Does COVID-19 Infection during Pregnancy Increase the Appearance of Congenital Gastrointestinal Malformations in Neonates?

Background: COVID-19 was an infection that was capable of bringing the entire world to a standstill position within a period of days to months. Despite the advancements in the medical sector, the contagion was difficult to control and costed the lives of millions of people worldwide. Many short- and long-term effects are witnessed even to date in people that contracted the disease.

VEGF Pathway Gene Expression Profile of Proliferating versus Involuting Infantile Hemangiomas: Preliminary Evidence and Review of the Literature.

. Infantile hemangiomas may have unexpected behavior. Initial regression (spontaneously or drug-induced) may be followed by unexplained recurrences.

A 10-year retrospective single-center study of alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in Romanian children with (para)gonadal tumors and cysts.

Objectives: Malignant tumor is a top-ranking cause of pediatric (>1-year) mortality in America and Europe. Among pediatric tumors, germ cell tumors (GCT) and gonadal tumors rank fourth (6%) by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program (seer.cancer.

Assessment of Platelet Mitochondrial Respiration in a Pediatric Population: A Pilot Study in Healthy Children and Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Characterization of mitochondrial respiration in peripheral blood cells has recently emerged as a potential biomarker for the assessment of the severity of hematological malignancies (HM) in adults. Whether changes in platelet respiratory function occur in children with or without HM it is unknown. The present pilot study was double-aimed: (i) to investigate whether platelet respiration is age-dependent in non-HM children and (ii) to assess the platelet mitochondrial respiration in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Combined Staged Surgery and Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Closure of a Giant Omphalocele.

The management of giant omphaloceles had always been a point of interest for the pediatric surgeons. Many surgical techniques were proposed, but none of them succeeded to become the standard procedure in closing the congenital abdominal defect. We present a case of giant omphalocele in which we used staged surgical closure combined with a prosthetic patch, with negative-pressure therapy and, finally, definitive surgical closure.

The Impact of Overweight and Obesity on Plantar Pressure in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

We aimed to synthesise the results of previous studies addressing the impact of overweight and obesity on plantar pressure in children and adolescents. An electronic search of scientific literature was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus database, with keywords: "plantar pressure" AND "children" AND "obesity"; "plantar pressure" AND "adolescents" AND "obesity", "plantar pressure" AND "children" AND "overweight", "plantar pressure" AND "adolescents" AND "overweight". Twenty-two articles were included in the review and the following data were recorded: authors, publication year, type of technology (systems, software) for the determination of plantar pressure, study characteristics.

Ultrasonographic findings of child acute appendicitis incorporated into a scoring system.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the ultrasonographic features of paediatric acute appendicitis and incorporate them into a scoring algorithm that will quantify the risk of complications and the strength of recommendation for surgical intervention.

Methods: 179 patients with suspected appendicitis who had undergone ultrasonographic examination were included in this study. Based on their medical evaluation and post-surgical histopathological results, patients were categorised into confirmed appendicitis (n = 101) and non-appendicitis (n = 78) groups.

Assessment of Static Plantar Pressure, Stabilometry, Vitamin D and Bone Mineral Density in Female Adolescents with Moderate Idiopathic Scoliosis.

(1) Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) can be associated with vitamin D deficiency and osteopenia. Plantar pressure and stabilometry offer important information about posture. The objectives of our study were to compare static plantar pressure and stabilometric parameters, serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 and calcium levels, and bone mineral densitometry expressed as z-score in patients with moderate AIS and healthy subjects.

Respiratory function, functional capacity, and physical activity behaviours in children and adolescents with scoliosis.

Objectives: To assess pulmonary function and functional capacity in children and adolescents with mild or moderate idiopathic scoliosis who were included in a rehabilitation programme, and to observe some of their physical activity behaviours.

Methods: Forty children (aged 9-17 years) with mild or moderate idiopathic scoliosis (patients) and 40 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Physical activity behaviours (hours of time spent at a desk and at a computer, hours of competitive and non-competitive practice of exercise per week) were recorded.

Static plantar pressure and functional capacity in children with femoral shaft fractures treated by titanium elastic nailing.

Background: Femoral shaft fractures represent common fractures of the lower limb in the paediatric population. The objectives of our study were to analyse the static plantar pressure and functional capacity in children with surgically treated unilateral femoral shaft fractures, 1 month after the metallic implant removal.

Methods: Our study included 24 children with unilateral femoral shaft fracture (fracture site contralateral to the dominant leg) treated by titanium elastic nailing (TEN) implants, with the removal of the implant 6 months after initial surgery.

Monoamine Oxidase-Related Vascular Oxidative Stress in Diseases Associated with Inflammatory Burden.

Monoamine oxidases (MAO) with 2 isoforms, A and B, located at the outer mitochondrial membrane are flavoenzyme membranes with a major role in the metabolism of monoaminergic neurotransmitters and biogenic amines in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues, respectively. In the process of oxidative deamination, aldehydes, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia are constantly generated as potential deleterious by-products. While being systematically studied for decades as sources of reactive oxygen species in brain diseases, compelling evidence nowadays supports the role of MAO-related oxidative stress in cardiovascular and metabolic pathologies.

Type II pleuropulmonary blastoma in a 2-year-old girl: a case report.

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a very rare, malignant aggressive primary lung tumor, which occurs mainly in children less than 5 years old. Due to its poor prognosis, it is aggressively treated with multimodal therapy including surgery and chemotherapy. We present a case of PPB in a 2-year-old girl who was brought to the pediatric clinic for fever, cough and respiratory distress.

MicroRNA Expression is Associated with Sepsis Disorders in Critically Ill Polytrauma Patients.

A critically ill polytrauma patient is one of the most complex cases to be admitted to the intensive care unit, due to both the primary traumatic complications and the secondary post-traumatic interactions. From a molecular, genetic, and epigenetic point of view, numerous biochemical interactions are responsible for the deterioration of the clinical status of a patient, and increased mortality rates. From a molecular viewpoint, microRNAs are one of the most complex macromolecular systems due to the numerous modular reactions and interactions that they are involved in.

Assessment of children with pectus excavatum without surgical correction.

Objective: To assess respiratory function and functional capacity in children with pectus excavatum who followed a physical therapy program, to compare these parameters to healthy controls and to evaluate adherence of this category of patients (pectus excavatum without surgical indications) to a supervised exercise program.

Methods: This study included 14 children with pectus excavatum and 14 gender and age-matched healthy controls. The study patients performed a 12-week exercise program.

New Molecular and Epigenetic Expressions as Novel Biomarkers in Critically Ill Polytrauma Patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI).

Background: A high percentage of the critically ill polytrauma patients develop acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to trauma and are therefore prone to high morbidity and mortality rates. One of the main objectives in these cases is the fast detection of the condition and continuous rigorous monitoring of the patients. Currently the panel of biomarkers available for monitoring and for the prognosis of AKI is limited.