Immigration, policies of integration and healthcare expenditure: A longitudinal analysis of the INHS (2002‒2018).

Background: Immigration has become a structural phenomenon in Italy, a country reputed as being 'immigrant-friendly'. The increase in the proportion of immigrants has led to increasing efforts to design and implement health policies throughout the country while controlling public spending.

Method: Being interested in both the cross-sectional and time series dimensions of analysis, we used a PVAR (Panel Vector Autoregression) model, which combines the VAR technique with panel data models, to estimate the impact of regular immigration on health expenditure.

Marine phycotoxin levels in shellfish-14 years of data gathered along the Italian coast.

Along the Italian coasts, toxins of algal origin in wild and cultivated shellfish have been reported since the 1970s. In this study, we used data gathered by the Veterinary Public Health Institutes (IZS) and the Italian Environmental Health Protection Agencies (ARPA) from 2006 to 2019 to investigate toxicity events along the Italian coasts and relate them to the distribution of potentially toxic species. Among the detected toxins (OA and analogs, YTXs, PTXs, STXs, DAs, AZAs), OA and YTX were those most frequently reported.

Outcome and quality of life of patients with augmented bladder or urinary diversion after kidney transplantation.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess results and quality of life after kidney transplant in adult patients with previously bladder augmentation or urinary diversion due to significant lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study examines the outcome of 19 renal allografts transplanted in patients with augmented bladder or urinary diversion over a ten years period; moreover we submitted SF36 questionnaire to evaluate quality of life of these patients and compared the results with the general population.

Result: Between January 1, 2005 and 31 December 2015 we performed 19/1093 renal transplantations in patients with abnormal lower urinary tract previously treated with bladder augmentation or bladder recycling.

Psychopathological risk in a sample of immigrant preadolescents in Italy.

Background: Aim of the study was to collect information about emotional features in a sample of immigrant preadolescents in order to identify traits of emotional fragility or psychopathological risk factors.

Methods: The sample consists of 1206 preadolescents (180 immigrants, 1026 Italian natives) attending the third year of the middle schools. In order to assess anxiety levels and the presence of depressive symptoms the Self-Administered Psychiatric Scale (SAFA-A) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) were administered.

QT interval and dispersion in drug-free anorexia nervosa adolescents: a case control study.

Long QT values have been reported in patients with anorexia nervosa of the restricting type (ANr) potentially increasing the risk of fatal arrhythmia, especially if psychotropic drug treatment is required. Nevertheless, the previous studies on this topic are biased by drug exposure, long disease durations, and small sample sizes. This study is aimed at assessing QTc and QTcd values in ANr adolescents with recent onset and drug free, as compared to subjects affected by psychiatric disorders other than ANr.

19q12q13.2 duplication syndrome: neuropsychiatric long-term follow-up of a new case and literature update.

Genetic syndromes are well characterized by the phenotypic point of view, but little is known about their progression and patients' quality of life. We report a 10-year neuropsychiatric follow-up of a boy with duplication of chromosome 19. Cytogenetic investigation was requested at the age of 5 years for psychomotor and speech delay.

Anorexia nervosa of the restrictive type and celiac disease in adolescence.

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is usually present in adolescence with symptoms partially overlapping celiac disease (CD), but the relationship between these two conditions has received little attention in the literature. The aim of this work was to explore this relationship, considering if CD could be associated with specific baseline AN-related clinical features.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 82 adolescent female out- and inpatients with AN of the restrictive type (ANr), according to the criteria, were recruited.

Perfusion CT in acute stroke: effectiveness of automatically-generated colour maps.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of perfusion CT (pCT) in the definition of the infarcted core and the penumbra, comparing the data obtained from the evaluation of parametric maps [cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF) and mean transit time (MTT)] with software-generated colour maps.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to identify patients with suspected acute ischaemic strokes and who had undergone unenhanced CT and pCT carried out within 4.5 h from the onset of the symptoms.

Cognitive profiles in bilingual children born to immigrant parents and Italian monolingual native children with specific learning disorders.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - fourth edition IV (WISC IV) intellectual profile of two groups of children with specific learning disorder, a group of bilingual children and a group of monolingual Italian children, in order to identify possible significant differences between them.

Patients And Methods: A group of 48 bilingual children and a group of 48 Italian monolingual children were included in this study. A preliminary comparison showed the homogeneity of the two groups regarding learning disorder typology and sociodemographic characteristics (age at WISC IV assessment, sex and years of education in Italy) with the exception of socioeconomic status.

Mindful approach to University education.

A mindful approach to education and training could improve students' reflective capacities and have positive effects on clinical practice because it facilitates a helping relationship. The main aims of this study were to investigate whether participation in a mindful-based University training was associated with increases in mindfulness skills as measured by the 5-Facet M Questionnaire, and to present the Italian validation of the questionnaire. Sixty-seven students from the course Neuro and Psychomotor Therapy were enrolled.

Body experiences and psychopathology in idiopathic central precocious and early puberty.

Background: Idiopathic central precocious (PP) and early puberty (EP) are frequently associated with psychopathological problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of body experiences and psychological aspects in girls with PP and EP, as well as the impact of these conditions on their families and the subjects' vulnerability.

Methods: Subjects with PP or EP, aged 7-15 years, were evaluated through the administration of a self-report questionnaire (Children's Depression Inventory, CDI), along with a projective test (Human Figure Drawing Test, HFDT).

Beta-amyloid plasma levels in adolescents with anorexia nervosa of the restrictive type.

Background: Reduced plasma leptin and elevated homocysteine (Hcy) are known to lead to increased β-amyloid (Aβ) production, besides being hallmarks of anorexia nervosa (AN) of the restrictive type. AN subjects display several neuropsychiatric manifestations, which may entail Aβ-mediated altered synaptic functions. The aim of this study consisted in assessing Aβ plasma levels in AN patients.

Global and regional brain volumes normalization in weight-recovered adolescents with anorexia nervosa: preliminary findings of a longitudinal voxel-based morphometry study.

The recent literature on anorexia nervosa (AN) suggests that functional and structural abnormalities of cortico-limbic areas might play a role in the evolution of the disease. We explored global and regional brain volumes in a cross-sectional and follow-up study on adolescents affected by AN. Eleven adolescents with AN underwent a voxel-based morphometry study at time of diagnosis and immediately after weight recovery.

Paradoxical increase of plasma vitamin B12 and folates with disease severity in anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex disorder involving severe psychological manifestations and multiple organ damage, including liver dysfunction. The primary aim of this study consisted in assessing plasma levels of vitamin B12 and folates with respect to liver function enzymes considering the liver-storage properties of this vitamin.

Method: We recruited 70 restrictive type AN adolescents and the severity of psychopathological traits was assessed using EDI-3 scale.

Autobiographical memory in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate deficits in autobiographical memory in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Methods: Sixty female individuals with AN and 60 healthy volunteers with an age range of 11-18 years were enrolled. The Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT), the Eating Disorder Inventory-3, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 for the evaluation of alexithymia and Children's Depression Inventory to evaluate depressive traits were administered.

Interstitial 11q deletion: genomic characterization and neuropsychiatric follow up from early infancy to adolescence and literature review.

Background: Interstitial deletions of chromosome 11 long arm are rarely observed and the associated phenotype ranges from normal to severe, depending on the position and size of the deletion and on the presence of unmasked recessive genes on the normal homologous. To our knowledge 32 cases are reported in literature with three family cases. Phenotype-genotype correlation is not very clear and the most common features are characteristic facial dysmorphisms, palate anomalies and developmental delay.

Diazepam binding inhibitor and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate plasma levels in borderline personality disorder adolescents.

Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients display a complex and heterogeneous clinical phenotype that plausibly implies variable underlying pathogenic mechanisms. A dysregulation of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors has previously been shown in BPD peripheral tissues, implying possible alterations of its ligand, the diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) or of the downstream products of its activation, i.e.

Heart rate variability in adolescents with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and anorexia nervosa.

Aim of this study consisted in assessing the 24-h heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalance, in 21 adolescents with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA, 11 normogonadotropic, N-FHA, and 10 hypogonadotropic, Hy-FHA) compared to 21 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 21 controls. As expected, subjects with AN showed a significant dysregulation in multiple HRV parameters, while Hy-FHA patients presented with a dysregulation in a few domains (SDNN, HFr), which was not present in girls with N-FHA, who showed values largely similar to controls. FHA might represent part of the AN biological spectrum, and a link between these two conditions might exist, possibly related to the degree of psychological and/or hormonal dysfunction.

Mathematical difficulties in nonverbal learning disability or co-morbid dyscalculia and dyslexia.

The main goal of the present study was to shed further light on the weaknesses of children with different profiles of mathematical difficulties, testing children with nonverbal learning disability (NLD), co-morbid dyscalculia and dyslexia (D&D), or typical development (TD). Sixteen children with NLD, 15 with D&D, and 16 with TD completed tasks derived from Butterworth (2003 ) and divided into: a capacity subscale (i.e.

Psychopathological traits of adolescents with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: a comparison with anorexia nervosa.

Background: Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is a form of anovulation, due to the suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, not related to identifiable organic causes. Like adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN), subjects with FHA show dysfunctional attitudes, low self-esteem, depressive mood, anxiety and inability to cope with daily stress. The aim of the study is to examine similarities and differences between FHA and AN in terms of clinical profiles and psychological variables.

Reduced fasting plasma levels of diazepam-binding inhibitor in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Altered expression and/or function, both peripherally and centrally, of various neuropeptides is involved in the neurophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) is an interesting peptide for understanding this crosstalk. The aim of this work was to assess fasting plasma levels of DBI and leptin in patients with AN.

Impact of speed and magnitude of weight loss on the development of brain trophic changes in adolescents with anorexia nervosa: a case control study.

Background: Anorexia nervosa commonly arises during adolescence and is associated with more than one medical morbidity. Abnormalities in brain structure (defined as "pseudoatrophy") are common in adolescents with anorexia nervosa; however, their correlations with endocrinological profiles and clinical parameters are still unclear. In particular, no study has described the impact of BMI (body mass index) variations (speed and magnitude of weight loss) on cerebral trophism changes.

Body experiences, emotional competence, and psychosocial functioning in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

We investigated self-image, psychological functioning, and quality of life in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Thirty-nine children with JIA were compared with 80 healthy peers. We first administered the Human Figure Drawing Test (HFDT) to all subjects; children also completed standardized questionnaires evaluating health-related quality of life (PEDSQL 4.

Preadolescent anxiety: an epidemiological study concerning an Italian sample of 3,479 nine-year-old pupils.

The epidemiology of anxiety traits was examined in a large sample of Italian preadolescent children, and 3,479 Italian nine-year-old subjects were enrolled. Anxious traits were observed in 10.5% of children.