Reasons for Neonatal Presentations to Pediatric Emergency Departments in Catania: Multicentric Cross-Sectional Analysis and Exhaustive Review of the Literature.

Introduction: This study aimed to characterize neonatal admissions to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) in Catania, to analyze the primary pediatric conditions leading to these admissions, and to explore the association between the demographic characteristics of the population and the severity of their presentations.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on neonates (aged <28 days) admitted to three PEDs in Catania between January 2015 and December 2019. Additionally, a comprehensive review of the literature on this topic was performed.

Neonatal Hyperekplexia: Is It Still a Diagnostic Challenge? Evidence From a Systematic Review.

Hyperekplexia is a neurologic disorder characterized by an exaggerated startle reflex in response to different types of stimuli. Hyperekplexia is defined by the triad of neonatal hypertonia, excessive startle reflexes, and generalized stiffness following the startle. Although uncommon, hyperekplexia can lead to serious consequences such as falls, brain injury, or sudden infant death syndrome.

PYRIDOXINE-dependent epilepsy (PDE): An observational study of neonatal cases on the role of pyridoxine in patients treated with standard anti-seizure medications.

Background: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the neurological consequences of delayed pyridoxine administration in patients diagnosed with Pyridoxin Dependent Epilepsies (PDE).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 29 articles, comprising 52 genetically diagnosed PDE cases, ensuring data homogeneity. Three additional cases were included from the General Pediatric Operative Unit of San Marco Hospital.

Impressive efficacy of the ketogenic diet in a KCNQ2 encephalopathy infant: a case report and exhaustive literature review.

Background: KCNQ2 encephalopathy is characterized by neonatal-onset epilepsy and developmental impairment, due to "de novo" KCNQ2 pathogenic variants. According to literature data, sodium channel blocking agents appear to be the best treatment options for the disease. Reports describing the use of ketogenic diet (KD) in the KCNQ2 pediatric population are limited.

Neonatal neurologic emergencies requiring access to paediatric emergency units: a retrospective observational study.

Herein, authors present a retrospective, multi-center study to determine the number of accesses to Pediatric Emergency Unit (PEU) of patients within 28 days of life, admitted to (1) the Acute and Emergency Pediatric Unit, San Marco University Hospital, Catania, Italy; (2) Garibaldi Hospital for Emergency Care, Catania, Italy; (3) Cannizzaro Hospital for Emergency Care, Catania, Italy. We included neonates admitted for neurologic problems, from January 2015 to December 2020, to the 1-Acute and Emergency Access of the San Marco University Hospital, Catania, Italy [observation center 1 (OC1)]; 2-Garibaldi Hospital for Emergency Care, Catania, Italy (Observation Center 2-OC2); 3-Cannizzaro Hospital for Emergency Care, Catania, Italy (Observation Center 3-OC3). For each patient, we evaluated the severity of urgency, by studying the admission triage-coloured codes, the clinical data at admission and the discharge diagnosis.

Measurement of nitric oxide and assessment of airway diseases in children: an update.

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas synthesized by the inducible NO synthase enzyme in airway cells and it is thought to make important functions in the airway inflammation of several respiratory diseases.

Evidence Acquisition: This current study is a review of the literature from 1990 to present about NO and its use in clinical practice. The databases used were PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library.

Omalizumab treatment in a 12 year-old girl with chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized IgG monoclonal antibody, which binds the Fc region of free IgE prevent its binding to its high-affinity receptor (FcεR1) on mast cells and basophils. Omalizumab was approved as add-on therapy for moderate-to-severe persistent allergic asthma and for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria resistant to antihistamine treatment. This article reports effective and safe treatment of a 12 years old girl with add-on omalizumab.

Minor pulmonary malformations in a child.

http://ow.ly/6zQB30jHZAP.

Exhaled markers of antioxidant activity and oxidative stress in stable cystic fibrosis patients with moderate lung disease.

The sustained imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant species contributes to lung damage in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Glutathione (GSH) is an important component of the antioxidant defense in the airways epithelial lining fluid and its transportation out of the cells may be altered in CF. The aim of this study was to assess the oxidants/antioxidants balance in the airways of patients with CF.

HMGB1 values and response to HBV vaccine in children with celiac disease.

Objectives: In addition to its wide clinical variability, celiac disease (CD) can also cause a lower response to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) than healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to examine high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as a new potential marker of an inadequate response to HBV vaccine in children with CD at diagnosis before starting a gluten-free diet.

Methods: We recruited 49 children with CD who were tested at admission for immunization against HBV.

HMGB1 as a new biomarker of celiac disease in children: A multicenter study.

Objective: Despite the availability of specific sierology and point-of-care tests, the phenotypic heterogeneity and the symptoms fluctuation as well as the "open-window" existing among the late and silent forms cause often a delayed celiac disease (CD) diagnosis. Recently, it has been reported that high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) mediates inflammation and gastrointestinal barrier failure. The aim of this study was to detect serum HMGB1 levels at CD diagnosis and to evaluate the relationship between serum HMGB1 levels and clinical and histologic phenotypes.

Severe disease in Cystic Fibrosis and fecal calprotectin levels.

Fecal calprotectin (FC) is used to asses the presence of intestinal inflammation also in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and recent studies showed a correlation between bowel and lung disease in these patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the levels of FC in CF and correlate them with different phenotypes of disease. We enrolled a cohort of 54 CF patients and 50 healthy controls.

Immune response to hepatitis B virus vaccine in celiac subjects at diagnosis.

Aim: To evaluate hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine response and correlation with human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and/or gluten intake in celiac patients at diagnosis.

Methods: Fifty-one patients affected by celiac disease, diagnosed at the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Catania (Italy), were recruited. All patients were tested at admission for immunization against HBV, according to findings from analysis of quantitative HBV surface antibody (anti-HBs).

Breastfeeding and IL-10 levels in children affected by cow's milk protein allergy: A restrospective study.

Aim: To assess the protective role of breast-feeding in infants with CMPA-related AEDS as well as IL-10 utility as marker of disease evolution.

Methods: 64 breast-feeding children with CMPA-related AEDS (31 males and 33 females; mean age 5.56±2.