Internet Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: A Study on Italian Young Adults.

The considerable prominence of internet addiction (IA) in adolescence is at least partly explained by the limited knowledge thus far available on this complex phenomenon. In discussing IA, it is necessary to be aware that this is a construct for which there is still no clear definition in the literature. Nonetheless, its important clinical implications, as emerging in recent years, justify the lively interest of researchers in this new form of behavioral addiction.

Adolescent Lifestyle Behaviors, Coping Strategies and Subjective Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Student Survey.

Background And Objectives: Adolescence represents a critical period for rapid psychophysical and socio-cognitive changes, with implications for health and wellbeing in later life. From this perspective, the manifestation of unhealthy lifestyles and dysfunctional behaviors may reflect a change in wellbeing requiring alertness and prompt intervention. This study investigated lifestyle behaviors and coping strategies among Italian adolescents, also in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and whether they would predict a change in subjective wellbeing.

Investigating Gait, Movement, and Coordination in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Is There a Role for Motor Abnormalities in Atypical Neurodevelopment?

Motor abnormalities have been suggested to play a role in most neuropsychiatric disorders, as a potential generic neurodevelopmental vulnerability. However, they still represent a neglected area, with a paucity of empirical studies, especially in pediatric populations. This case-control study aimed to comprehensively assess motor functioning in children with atypical neurodevelopment and investigate whether any socio-demographic or clinical characteristics would concur with motor difficulties to distinguish children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) from healthy controls.

Pregnancy and Hymenoptera venom allergy.

Purpose Of Review: To evaluate the indication to perform venom immunotherapy (VIT) during pregnancy considering the risks of adverse events during the build-up phase or the maintenance phase and analyzing specific articles and guidelines on VIT.

Recent Findings: Only few studies treat this argument and literature only counts one recent study on the topic, whereas recent guidelines state the behavior to keep in pregnancy.

Summary: Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) affects about 7.

Clinical and radiological results of a stemmed medial pivot revision implant in aseptic total knee revision arthroplasty.

Background: Constraint choice in revision total knee arthroplasty depends on the stability of the collateral ligaments and on the severity of bone loss, but the least degree of constraint necessary is recommended. The purpose of this retrospective matched-paired study was to compare clinical results, radiographic outcome and the survival of a stemmed medial pivot revision implant in aseptic revision TKA vs. medial pivot implant in primary TKA.

Spleen Stiffness Measurements Predict the Risk of Hepatic Decompensation After Direct-Acting Antivirals in HCV Cirrhotic Patients.

Purpose: Little evidence is available regarding the risk of hepatic decompensation (HD) after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. Our aim was to assess the risk of decompensation and the prognostic role of noninvasive tests, such as liver (LSM) and spleen (SSM) stiffness measurements, in the prediction of decompensation after sustained virologic response (SVR) by DAAs.

Materials And Methods: A cohort study involving 146 cirrhotic patients treated with DAAs in our tertiary center with LSM and SSM available both before and six months after treatment (SVR24).

Psychosocial and Behavioral Impact of COVID-19 in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Online Parent Survey.

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak could result in higher levels of psychological distress, especially among people suffering from pre-existing mental health conditions. Young individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are particularly at risk due to their vulnerability to unpredictable and complex changes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASD individuals, whether any pre-pandemic sociodemographic or clinical characteristics would predict a negative outcome, and to narratively characterize their needs.

The CSF Profile Linked to Cortical Damage Predicts Multiple Sclerosis Activity.

Objective: Intrathecal inflammation correlates with the grey matter damage since the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), but whether the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) profile can help to identify patients at risk of disease activity is still unclear.

Methods: We evaluated the association between CSF levels of 18 cytokines, previously found to be associated to grey matter damage, and the disease activity, among 99 patients with relapsing-remitting MS, who underwent blinded clinical and 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations for 4 years. Groups with evidence of disease activity (EDA) or no evidence of disease activity (NEDA; occurrence of relapses, new white matter lesions, and Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] change) were identified.

Medically unexplained symptoms in the times of COVID-19 pandemic: A case-report.

In early 2020, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) leading to a potentially fatal condition was discovered. Since then, the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread worldwide becoming a pandemic. Beyond the risks strictly related to the infection, concerns have been expressed for the psychological impact that COVID-19 may have, especially on vulnerable individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions.

CDT reference values for monitoring chronic alcohol abuse in pregnancy.

Introduction And Aim: Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) is one of the most used biomarkers for monitoring alcohol use in pregnancy. However, its effective application in this context is hampered by the demonstrated physiological progressive increase during pregnancy (even in abstinent women) of CDT values, which in the third trimester can reach values close or exceeding the cut-offs usually adopted in clinical and forensic diagnostics. The present work was aimed at the re-assessment of CDT reference values in pregnancy.

Development of a model care pathway for the management of Hymenoptera venom allergy: evidence-based key interventions and indicators.

Background: Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) is an underestimated condition representing an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Preventing future allergic reactions in patients who have already developed a systemic reaction is based on the correct management of the acute phase of the reaction followed by a correct diagnosis and, where indicated, prescription of adrenaline autoinjectors and VIT. A possible strategy to optimize care processes and to improve outcomes is the implementation of a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Pathways, also known as Integrated Care Pathways or Clinical Pathways (CPWs).

HBV vaccination status among healthcare workers: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The development of a vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the improvements in strategy prevention during the last decades.

Aim: To evaluate HBV-related vaccine status in healthcare workers (HCW) exposed to biological risk.

Methods: The serum markers for HBV were collected from HCWs in two tertiary care hospitals in Naples (Italy).

Variation of effect estimates in the analysis of mortality and length of hospital stay in patients with infections caused by bacteria-producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the variation of effect estimates in the analysis of mortality and length of stay (LOS) in patients with infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing .

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis METHODS: Literature search for clinical studies from 1 January 1960 to 1 October 2018 was conducted in PubMed. Primary outcomes were risk ratios (RRs) of all-cause and attributable mortality and weighted mean differences (WMDs) in LOS in patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) and non-invasive infections.

Systemic anti-oxidant capacity is inversely correlated with systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in children with obesity.

Background And Aims: Oxidative stress leading to endothelial dysfunction is a candidate driver of obesity-related hypertension. We aimed to assess whether the total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC) was associated with blood pressure in children/adolescents with obesity.

Methods And Results: One hundred and fifty-two children/adolescents with obesity (79 boys; age 11.

Efficacy and safety of honeybee and wasp tyrosine-adsorbed venom immunotherapy.

Introduction: It is acknowledged that any claim of efficacy of allergen immunotherapy must be done for each specific product, and this remains true also for venom immunotherapy (VIT). Thus, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a specific tyrosine-adsorbed VIT for spp. and honeybee in real-life.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Features Associated with Malignancy and Aggressiveness of Nonhypovascular Solid Pancreatic Lesions: Results from a Prospective Observational Study.

Background And Study Aims:  On contrast-enhanced imaging studies, nonhypovascular (i. e., isovascular and hypervascular) patterns can be observed in solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs) of different nature, prognosis, and management.

Benzodiazepine abuse among athletes: Pain relief or just a weapon against insomnia? A clinical case study.

It is widely recognized that benzodiazepine abuse can potentially induce addiction. Benzodiazepine addiction among athletes is a new and growing phenomenon that we are encountering among our patients. We describe a case of lormetazepam addiction in a female competitive marathon runner.

From fine-needle aspiration cytology to fluorescent in-situ hybridization in an unusual case of pharyngeal synovial sarcoma.

Synovial sarcoma arising in the pharynx is a rare entity, with very few cases described in literature, mainly as surgical-oriented case reports. We report the case of a healthy 20-year old man who presented with a painless right neck mass, clinically suspicious for a thyroid nodule. Ultrasound scan and fine-needle aspiration cytology failed to provide a definitive result, although suggesting a mesenchymal proliferation, in accordance with magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Large local reactions to Hymenoptera stings: Outcome of re-stings in real life.

Background: Large local reaction to Hymenoptera stings is usually defined as a swelling >10 cm which lasts longer than 24 hours, sometimes associated with erythema, pruritus and blisters. Currently, the risk of subsequent systemic reactions after re-stings is considered low (2%-15%). Therefore, a diagnostic workup in case of large local reaction is often judged unnecessary, as well as adrenaline auto-injector and venom immunotherapy prescription.

Hymenoptera Venom Allergy: Management of Children and Adults in Clinical Practice.

Hymenoptera venom allergy is an epidemiologically underestimated condition and a major cause of morbidity worldwide. Preventing future allergic reactions in patients who experience a systemic reaction is based on the correct management of the emergency followed by an accurate diagnosis, prescription of adrenaline autoinjectors, and, where indicated, specific venom immunotherapy. Some epidemiological studies highlight our poor knowledge of this disease and the frequent inadequacy of its management.