Complex nutritional deficiencies in a large cohort of Italian patients with Cornelia de Lange syndrome spectrum.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome Spectrum (CdLSp) is characterized by intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, and growth impairment. Although eating difficulties are a well-known feature of the disease, there is no data regarding the nutritional deficiencies of these patients. The food intake was tracked using a dietary transcription provided by the family/caregivers, biochemical nutritional parameters were measured with laboratory tests and through an accurate clinical evaluation of the incidence of qualitative and quantitative imbalances in a cohort of 73 patients with CdLSp ware determined. Of these 73, 62 (85%) subjects provided a complete and detailed dietary transcription. In the studied population, a quantitative caloric imbalance in 47/62 (76%) subjects was observed. The caloric intake was low in 27/62 (43%) subjects whereas excessive in 20/62 (33%). Only 15/62 (24%) had an optimum caloric intake. Regarding micronutrients, a calcium intake deficiency in 32% of the patients (20/62) was observed. Blood tests revealed a low iron level in 22/73 (30%) of the patients and 25(OH)D deficiency in 49/73 (67%). Serum hypocalcemia was not evidenced. Qualitative and quantitative imbalances resulted in more frequent than expected in CdLSp patients. A qualitative imbalance was more prevalent in younger patients while in older patients prevailed mainly a quantitative disproportion. We found no statistically meaningful correlation between dietary imbalances, genetic, or clinical parameters. Our findings highlight the need for further studies to evaluate the basal metabolic rate of CdLSp patients and find a correlation with their growth impairment.

Incidence of apparent life-threatening events and post-neonatal risk factors.

AIM: Even though a standard clinical definition for an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) was established more than two decades ago, the specific International Classification of Disease (ICD) code was firstly included only in 2012. This study estimated the incidence of ALTEs in Northern Italy, together with features and risk factors. METHODS: We used the Lombardy Region Hospital Discharge Records (HDR) database to estimate the cumulative incidence for ALTE during 2002-2006 and drew up a risk profile by comparing cases with and without ALTE who were followed in infancy. RESULTS: There were 246 infants registered in the HDR with ALTE putative diagnostic codes, suggesting a cumulative incidence of 4.1 per 1000 live births in the study area. Of the 148 cases with clinical co-morbidities, 31% had gastroesophageal reflux and 7% had acute respiratory infections. We analysed follow-up data from 15 ALTE cases and 1619 healthy infants and found that the significant risk factors were gastroesophageal reflux and a family history of sudden death. CONCLUSION: We established the regional incidence of ALTE and found risk factors in infants considered healthy in the first week of life and without pathological perinatal conditions. The systematic use of the specific ALTE ICD code (R68.13, ICD-10-CM) and common knowledge about ALTE diagnostic guidelines are clearly needed.

Burden of care in families of patients with rare genetic diseases: analysis of a large Italian cohort.

In the last decade, the number of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) is increased as a result of the improvement of neonatal and pediatric assistance. The aim of our study was to describe the burden of care of the families caring a CYSHCN in our country, evaluating their living condition in order to explore socio-economic characteristics, health problems, needs and their adaptation processes trying to reach a balance between the needs of the disabled child and those of the other family members. We administered a questionnaire to the parents of CYSHCN during a routine clinical evaluation. From the analyses of questionnaires obtained, parents were the main caregiver of the children and 43,8% of them reported that they were not getting enough support. Burden of care fell on parents and indeed compilers reported an average level of stress of 3,2 (0-5) and more important, the main reported sources of stress were the concern about the future and health of their children. From the analyses of our population emerged unsatisfied needs of these families and their necessity to be effectively supported and integrated into the social fabric of the community. Social supporting is essential to help managing family stress and is evident the needed of these parents for interventions to directly target caregiver needs through the provision of tailored services, such as respite care opportunity, peer support, financial aid and medical home technologies to improve their quality of life.

COnsensus on Pediatric Pain in the Emergency Room: the COPPER project, issued by 17 Italian scientific societies.

In the pediatric setting, management of pain in the emergency department - and even in common care - is a challenging exercise, due to the complexity of the pediatric patient, poor specific training of many physicians, and scant resources.A joint effort of several Italian societies involved in pediatrics or in pain management has led to the definition of the PIPER group and the COPPER project. By applying a modified Delphi method, the COPPER project resulted in the definition of 10 fundamental statements. These may represent the basis for improving the correct management of children pain in the emergency department.

A precocious cerebellar ataxia and frequent Fever episodes in a 16-month-old infant revealing ataxia-telangiectasia syndrome.

Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is the most frequent progressive cerebellar ataxia in infancy and childhood. Immunodeficiency which includes both cellular and humoral arms has variable severity. Since the clinical presentation is extremely variable, a high clinical suspicion will allow an early diagnosis. Serum alpha-fetoprotein is elevated in 80-85% of patients and therefore could be used as a screening tool. Here, we present a case of a 5-year-old female infant who was admitted to our department at the age of 16 months because of gait disorders and febrile episodes that had begun at 5 months after the cessation of breastfeeding. Serum alfa-fetoprotein level was elevated. Other investigations showed leukocytopenia with lymphopenia, reduced IgG2 and IgA levels, and low titers of specific postimmunization antibodies against tetanus toxoid and Haemophilus B polysaccharide. Peripheral lymphocytes subsets showed reduction of T cells with a marked predominance of T cells with a memory phenotype and a corresponding reduction of naïve T cells; NK cells were very increased (41%) with normal activity. The characterization of the ATM gene mutations revealed 2 specific mutations (c.5692C > T/c.7630-2A > C) compatible with AT diagnosis. It was concluded that AT syndrome should be considered in children with precocious signs of cerebellar ataxia and recurrent fever episodes.