Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children: Delphi study and consensus document about definition and epidemiology, diagnostic work-up, treatment, and follow-up.

Background: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is common in children with asthma but can be present also in children without asthma, especially athletes. Differential diagnosis includes several conditions such as exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO), cardiac disease, or physical deconditioning. Detailed medical history, clinical examination and specific tests are mandatory to exclude alternative diagnoses.

Myelomeningocele Repair Combining a Double Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane Homograft and the Keystone Flap in a 3-Year-Old Child: A Case Report.

Introduction: Early repair in patients affected by myelomeningocele (MMC) is of paramount importance in order to prevent infection, minimize neural tissue damage, and reduce mortality. Treatment must include duraplasty and possibly an adequate soft tissue coverage. Delayed surgery in MMC patients can be more tedious due to the less clear borders between the placode and the skin.

A novel combined fluid dynamic and strain analysis approach identified abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture.

Clinical decision-making for surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms based on maximum aortic diameter presents limitations as rupture can occur below threshold for some aneurysms, whereas others are stable at large sizes. The proposed approach combines hemodynamics and geometric indices with in vivo deformation analysis to assess local weakening of the aortic wall for a case of impending rupture that was confirmed during open surgical repair. A new combined index, the Regional Rupture Potential, is introduced to help the assessment of individual aneurysms and their rupture risk, providing a rationale for clinical decisions.

Effects of nutritional intake on disease severity in children with sickle cell disease.

Background: Children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) may show growth failure in comparison to healthy peers. Many factors as hematological status, endocrine and/or metabolic dysfunction, and nutritional status, may play an important role in growth failure. The aim of this study was to assess whether impaired growth and nutritional intake can affect SCD severity during childhood.

Zn(II)-induced conformational control of amphiphilic cavitands in langmuir monolayers.

The reversible switching from the C(4v)-symmetric vase to the C(2v)-symmetric kite conformation of an amphiphilic resorcin[4]arene cavitand was induced by Zn(II) ion coordination. Langmuir monolayers were obtained of both conformers with the area per molecule increasing dramatically from 120 A(2) for the vase to 270 A(2) for the kite form. (1)H NMR spectroscopy in chloroform solution supports the formation of a stoichiometric kite-cavitand[radical dot](Zn(II))(2) complex, with the metal ions coordinating to pairs of neighbouring quinoxaline N-atoms.