A Cyanobacterial outbreak in Lake Avernus: targeted and untargeted analyses and follow up actions for food safety.

A massive Planktothrix rubescens bloom was observed during 2022 in the Lake Avernus, a volcanic lake located in Campania Region (Southern Italy). The cyanobacterial mass migrated, through a channel, to the near Gulf of Pozzuoli, causing the contamination of two marine sites dedicated to mussel farming, thus posing a potential risk for consumers' health. Mussel and water samples, from both the sea and the lake were collected weekly and analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, for identification and quantification of 10 microcystins.

Intraoperative neuromonitoring and mapping during spinal cord untethering surgery; a single-centre paediatric neurosurgery unit experience.

Purpose: A review of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and mapping (IONMa) utility during paediatric tethered cord surgery with particular attention to feasibility, measures to prevent injury, and postoperative outcome.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of spinal cord untethering surgery between 2015 and 2022 was carried out. Cohort demographics, IONM and IONMa data, and procedural details were summarised and associations between variables explored.

Perinatal Risk Factors in Single-suture Craniosynostosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To our knowledge, there has not been a review article summarizing the current evidence with regard to perinatal risk factors, and our aim is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence of perinatal risk factors in single suture craniosynostosis to inform our practice and identify any need for further research in this area. Our target population was pediatric single-suture craniosynostosis patients, and the intervention was perinatal risk factors. The comparison group was an age and sex-matched control group without craniosynostosis and the outcome we investigated was presence of single suture craniosynostosis.

Uncomplicated linear skull fractures in the paediatric population: a retrospective observational study in a UK Major Trauma Centre.

Purpose: National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines advise that paediatric patients with linear skull fractures do not require admission in the absence of intracranial injury. Despite this, a period of inpatient neuro-observation has become the standard advice and practice in the UK for fear of deterioration. Our experience is that these children rarely deteriorate or require neurosurgical intervention.

Chiari malformation type I and craniosynostosis in adults: Retrospective analysis over a 10 year period in a tertiary care Centre.

Background: Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) pathophysiology remains uncertain. One theory involves small posterior fossa volumes leading to tonsillar herniation. Craniosynostosis causes suture fusion, which can limit skull growth, and has been investigated in paediatric CM1 cohorts.

Effect of Listening Music on Nulliparous Singleton Pregnancies Who Underwent Induction of Labor: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective:  A recent randomized clinical trial (RCT) showed that listening to music reduces the pain level and anxiety levels in women with spontaneous labor at term. The effect on pregnant women undergoing induction of labor is still unclear.This study aimed to test the hypothesis that in nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies, undergoing induction of labor at term, listening to music would reduce the pain level during labor.

Levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, metals and rare earth elements in eggs and vegetables from areas with different environmental contamination impacts in the Campania region (Southern Italy).

Studying the links between environmental pollution and the levels of contamination in food is an important challenge to ensure human health. Matched samples of eggs from free-range hens and vegetables were analysed to investigate the bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, metals and rare earth elements. Only two egg samples resulted above the limit fixed for PCDD/Fs and the action level set for DL-PCBs.

Middle fossa arachnoid cyst fenestration for ruptured cysts associated with subdural collections: paediatric neurosurgery tertiary unit experience.

Introduction: Arachnoid cysts are commonly encountered benign cystic structures and often come to attention as incidental findings following cranial imaging. Surgical intervention rates vary in different studies; however, rupture of cyst and subdural collection with mass effect are some of the indications for surgical intervention. In this study, we aimed to evaluate our operated cohort of middle fossa arachnoid cysts to determine the rate of traumatic subdural collection in this cohort and further assess outcomes.

Undiagnosed sagittal synostosis as cause of "idiopathic" intracranial hypertension.

Purpose: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a rare condition in children, but if diagnosed needs to be promptly treated to avoid clinical sequalae. The main purpose of this paper was to test our clinical experience with a cohort of normocephalic children with craniosynostosis who do not present in the routine way to craniofacial services, due to the normal head shape and age, diagnosed with IIH.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all children who were referred to neurosurgery from 2012 to 2022 for management of IIH on our prospectively kept database.

Kinetics of humoral immune response and severity of infection after three doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in a large cohort of kidney transplant recipients.

Background: COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In this study we aimed to evaluate: (i) the seroconversion rate after BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, (ii) factors associated with humoral response, (iii) clinical outcome of COVID-19 in kidney transplanted patients.

Methods: We enrolled a cohort of 743 kidney transplant recipients followed up from March 2020 until April 2022.

Trampoline-Associated Cranial and Spinal Injuries: A 10-Year Study in a Pediatric Neurosurgery Center.

Objective:  There has been an increasing use of trampolines for recreation by children in recent years. Many studies have explored the different types of injuries sustained due to falls from trampolines, but so far none have focused specifically on cranial and spinal injuries. In this study, we describe the pattern of cranial and spinal injuries sustained by pediatric patients that were associated with the use of trampolines and their management in a tertiary pediatric neurosurgery unit over a period of 10 years.

Trapped Fourth Ventricle: Pathophysiology, History and Treatment Strategies.

Trapped fourth ventricle is a clinic-radiological entity characterised by progressive neurological symptoms due to enlargement and dilatation of fourth ventricle secondary to obstruction to its outflow. There are several causative mechanisms for the development of trapped fourth ventricle, including previous haemorrhage, infection or inflammatory processes. However, this condition is most commonly observed in ex preterm paediatric patients shunted for a post-haemorrhagic or post-infective hydrocephalus.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus after craniovertebral decompression for Chiari malformation type I: technical nuances and surgical pitfalls.

Purpose: Hydrocephalus after craniovertebral decompression (CVD) for Chiari I malformation (CM-1) is a well-recognised complication. The mainstay of management involves medical management with high-dose steroids and/or acetazolamide, repeated lumbar punctures, external ventricular drainage (EVD) or insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has only been used a handful of times to treat this type of hydrocephalus with controversial outcomes.

Trace Elements and Persistent Organic Pollutants in Unhatched Loggerhead Turtle Eggs from an Emerging Nesting Site along the Southwestern Coasts of Italy, Western Mediterranean Sea.

Marine pollution is one of the major threats affecting loggerhead turtles, which due to their long life span, highly migratory behavior, and carnivorous diet, may be exposed to elevated levels of toxic elements throughout their life. The transfer of chemicals from mothers to their offspring is of particular conservation concern because it may affect embryonic development and hatching success. In this study, the concentrations of 16 toxic and potentially toxic trace elements, 6 indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPs) were determined in 138 eggs from 46 loggerhead turtle nests laid during the 2021 nesting season in Campania, Italy, western Mediterranean Sea.

Endoscopic fenestration of the superior medullary velum for the treatment of a trapped fourth ventricle-technical note.

A trapped fourth ventricle is a clinic-radiological entity characterised by progressive neurological symptoms due to an enlargement of the fourth ventricle secondary to obstruction to its outflow. This condition is most commonly observed in ex-preterm patients shunted for a post-haemorrhagic or post-infective hydrocephalus. Until the introduction of endoscopic aqueductoplasty and stent placement, through a supratentorial or an infratentorial approach, treatment of trapped fourth ventricle entailed high rates of complications, repeated procedures and consequent morbidity.

The role of surgery in relieving calcified shunt site-related pain in patients with functioning VP shunt.

Purpose: Shunt calcification is a known late sequela of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion and is associated with shunt malfunction. However, in some patients, while shunt functionality is preserved despite calcification of the catheters, they experience nociceptive symptoms. In this paper, the authors present their surgical experience in managing patients with a functional VP shunt and experiencing pain secondary to shunt calcification.

Atlantoaxial limited dorsal myeloschisis: A report of two cases and review of literature.

Introduction: Limited dorsal myeloschisis (LDM) is a rare form of spinal dysraphism that is characterised by a distinctive fibroneural stalk connecting the spinal cord to the overlying skin lesion. The skin lesions associated with LDM can appear benign clinically and careful evaluation with an MRI scan is essential for diagnosing LDM and to differentiate this entity from other forms of spinal dysraphism and benign causes of skin lesions.

Research Question: There is a lack of reported atlantoaxial LDM in the literature.