Neonatal lupus erythematosus: a cutaneous cases based update.

Background: Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus (NLE) is an uncommon autoimmune disease characterized by cutaneous, hepatic, hematological, neurological and cardiac involvement.

Case Presentation: Here we report four cases of cutaneous NLE which were referred to our department in the last 10 years and update literature. The newborns presented with different skin, clinical and laboratory features.

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome caused by fish and/or shellfish in Italy.

Background: The study describes the demographic features, culprit foods, clinical features and outcomes for children presenting with acute fish and/or shellfish food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) in four Italian paediatric allergy centres.

Methods: A retrospective/prospective study was undertaken. All children diagnosed with fish or shellfish FPIES were enrolled.

Quantitative ultrasound applied to metacarpal bone in infants.

Aim. To provide bone status assessment in infancy using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) applied to second metacarpus. Methods.

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy: a troubling cutaneous presentation with a self-limiting course.

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI) is an unusual form of leukocytoclastic vasculitis with dramatic distinguishing skin lesions that occurs in infants ages 4 to 24 months old. The disease presents with skin eruptions that usually start with large (1-5 cm), symmetrically distributed, hemorrhagic lesions in a characteristic cockade pattern. The lesions are typically located on the lower extremities, face (in particular the ears, cheeks, and eyelids), and gluteal area.

Efficacy and tolerability of peg-only laxative on faecal impaction and chronic constipation in children. A controlled double blind randomized study vs a standard peg-electrolyte laxative.

Background: PEG-based laxatives are considered today the gold standard for the treatment of constipation in children. PEG formulations differ in terms of composition of inactive ingredients which may have an impact on acceptance, compliance and adherence to treatment. We therefore compared the efficacy, tolerability, acceptance and compliance of a new PEG-only formulation compared to a reference PEG-electrolyte (PEG-EL) formulation in resolving faecal impaction and in the treatment of chronic constipation.

High faecal calprotectin levels in healthy, exclusively breast-fed infants.

Background: Faecal calprotectin has been proposed as a sensitive marker for gastrointestinal inflammation in children and adults. High levels have been reported in healthy newborns and during the first months of life; the effect of the kind of feeding on the calprotectin concentration in stools is controversial.

Objective: To evaluate faecal calprotectin values in healthy, exclusively breast-fed (BF) or formula-fed (FF) infants.