Remote support by multidisciplinary teams: A crucial means to cope with the psychological impact of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic on patients with cystic fibrosis and inflammatory bowel disease in Lombardia.

Background: During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Lombardia, people were recommended to avoid visiting emergency departments and attending routine clinic visits. In this context, it was necessary to understand the psychological reactions of patients with chronic diseases. We evaluated the psychological effects on patients with chronic respiratory conditions and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through the analysis of their spontaneous contacts with their referral centres.

Longitudinal Assessment of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease With Multivolume Noncontrast MRI and Spirometry.

Background: MRI has been suggested as a radiation-free imaging modality to investigate early structural alterations and regional functional impairment in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease.

Purpose/hypothesis: To compare functional and morphological MRI changes over the course of the disease to changes in spirometry.

Study Type: Longitudinal retrospective study.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus eradication in cystic fibrosis patients: A randomized multicenter study.

Background: Few studies, based on a limited number of patients using non-uniform therapeutic protocols, have analyzed Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) eradication.

Methods: In a randomized multicenter trial conducted on patients with new-onset MRSA infection we evaluated the efficacy of an early eradication treatment (arm A) compared with an observational group (B). Arm A received oral rifampicin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (21 days).

Lack of efficacy of Lactobacillus GG in reducing pulmonary exacerbations and hospital admissions in children with cystic fibrosis: A randomised placebo controlled trial.

Background: Intestinal dysbiosis has been described in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and probiotics have been proposed to restore microbial composition. Aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on clinical outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: A multicentre, randomised double-blind, clinical trial was conducted in children with CF.

A randomized placebo-controlled study on high-dose oral algal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in children with cystic fibrosis.

Low plasma concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are reported in unsupplemented cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Forty-one CF patients aged from 6 to 12 years were randomized to receive high-dose DHA (100 mg/kg/day in the first month and 1g per day thereafter through a 12-month supplementation) or placebo (germ oil). Primary outcome was percentage change in plasma AA:DHA ratio.

Analysis of inflammatory and immune response biomarkers in sputum and exhaled breath condensate by a multi-parametric biochip array in cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by high levels of cytokines and chemokines in the airways, producing chronic inflammation. Non-invasive biomarkers, which are also specific for the inflammatory and immune responses, are urgently needed to identify exacerbations and evaluate therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of sputum and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) biomarker changes with clinical exacerbation and response to therapy.

Efficacy and tolerability of Creon for Children in infants and toddlers with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency caused by cystic fibrosis: an open-label, single-arm, multicenter study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a pancreatic enzyme preparation specifically developed for infants and small children with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: Twelve patients with CF younger than 24 months with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and a coefficient of fat absorption (CFA) less than 70% were treated with Creon for Children (Solvay Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Hannover, Germany) minimicrospheres for 8 weeks. The primary end point was the mean change from baseline in the CFA after 2 weeks of treatment, based on 72-hour fat balance assessments.

Benefits of breastfeeding in cystic fibrosis: a single-centre follow-up survey.

Aim: To study the effect of breastfeeding (BF) on growth, lung function and number of infections during the first 3 years of life in children with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Material And Methods: One hundred forty-six CF patients, 5-18 years old, were recruited at their annual care visit. Information about infant feeding, psychosocial and socioeconomic conditions and smoking exposure was obtained by interviews.

Influenza vaccination coverage among children with high-risk medical conditions.

We evaluated influenza vaccination coverage in children with chronic disease at high risk of influenza complications, and the need for methods to increase parents' and pediatricians' knowledge of influenza and its prevention. The 5286 children aged less than 14 years attending our Emergency Department on Wednesdays and Sundays between 1 January and 30 April 2003 included 274 (5.2%) high-risk patients.

Clinical and economic impact of influenza vaccination on healthy children aged 2-5 years.

This paper reports the data concerning the net economic cost savings attributable to influenza vaccination in healthy children aged 2-5 years, and may be useful when deciding the best recommendations for the use of influenza vaccine in pediatrics. A total of 303 previously unprimed healthy children aged 2-5 years (163 males; mean age+/-S.D.

Role of atypical bacteria and azithromycin therapy for children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.

Background: The aim of this study of 352 patients, 1-14 years of age, with acute respiratory infections and a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs), and 208 healthy subjects was to evaluate whether Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae played a role in causing acute respiratory episodes among children with RRTIs and whether specific antibiotic treatment for these bacteria could improve the acute episodes and reduce recurrences.

Methods: The patients were blindly randomized to receive azithromycin (10 mg/kg/d for 3 days weekly, for 3 weeks) together with symptom-specific agents or symptom-specific agents alone. Acute M.

Aetiology of acute pharyngitis: the role of atypical bacteria.

In order to establish the role of atypical bacteria and compare characteristics of different infectious agents in acute pharyngitis, 127 patients with acute pharyngitis (66 males; median age, 5.33 years; range, 6 months to 14 years) and 130 healthy subjects of similar sex and age were studied. Serology with paired samples and PCR on nasopharyngeal aspirates and throat cultures were used to identify bacteria and viruses.

Evaluation of rapid assay for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen among infants and young children with possible invasive pneumococcal disease.

The usefulness of the rapid assay for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen was evaluated in 155 children ages 1 to 60 months with suspected invasive pneumococcal disease and 200 healthy controls. Although the assay was highly sensitive in the children with invasive pneumococcal disease, it should be interpreted with caution in young patients because a positive urine test result may simply be the result of nasopharyngeal colonization.

Serum concentrations of pneumococcal anticapsular antibodies in children with pneumonia associated with Streptococcus pneumonia infection.

The levels of specific IgG antibody to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides were investigated in 182 children, aged 2-5 years, who were hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia, including 55 (30.2%) with evidence of acute pneumococcal infection. Results show that children with concentrations of specific IgG antibody that would protect against invasive disease do not seem to be protected against pneumonia associated with pneumococcal infection.

Recurrent respiratory tract infections in pediatric age: a population-based survey of the therapeutic role of macrolides.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of macrolides in pediatric patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs), we enrolled 1,706 children (783 females) aged between 6 months and 14 years (median: 4 years) with an acute respiratory infection and a history of RRTIs (> or = 8 episodes per year if aged < 3 years; > or = 6 episodes per year if aged > or = 3 years). The therapies were chosen by the primary care pediatricians and their effects on respiratory relapses were blindly analyzed. Regardless of age and clinical diagnosis, the children treated with macrolides showed a significantly higher rate of short- and long-term clinical success than those receiving beta-lactams (p<0.

Characteristics of Streptococcus pneumoniae and atypical bacterial infections in children 2-5 years of age with community-acquired pneumonia.

The characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae infection were compared with those associated with atypical bacterial infection and with mixed S. pneumoniae-atypical bacterial infection in 196 children aged 2-5 years. S.

Emerging role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children with acute pharyngitis.

In order to define the role, the risk factors, and the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with pharyngitis, 184 patients with acute non-streptococcal pharyngitis (102 males; median age, 5.33 years) were studied. Acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was demonstrated in 44 (23.