Interdisciplinary management of orofacial lesions in early childhood: paediatric alert system at University of Verona.

BACKGROUND: Orofacial trauma (OFT) occurs frequently in children and requires thorough evaluation not only by paediatric dentists but also by all specialists involved in emergency services, particularly in cases involving children under 3 years of age, given their inability to directly participate in clinical-anamnestic evaluations. Addressing early childhood orofacial trauma resulting from maltreatment, this study explores the key role played by various healthcare professionals, including paediatric dentists, general dentists, maxillofacial surgeons, dental hygienists, and paediatricians, in the optimal management of these cases. In the event of trauma due to suspected or confirmed mistreatment, it is essential that all healthcare workers involved have precise knowledge of the appropriate course of action from both a clinical and legal point of view, guaranteeing maximum protection for the young patient. This is particularly significant as cases of mistreatment with apparently minor consequences can degenerate into situations of irreparable severity. The latest guidelines from the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) in 2020 continue to emphasise the potential correlation between OFT and cases of abuse or violence. Recent recommendations in the literature highlight the importance of facilitating mandatory reporting of incidents to relevant authorities and improving information sharing between dental healthcare professionals and child welfare services. A new flow diagram, called Paediatric Orofacial Trauma Alert (P.O.T.A.), has been proposed at the University of Verona. This tool is specifically designed to assist specialists dealing with early childhood orofacial trauma cases by assisting them in identifying potential cases of maltreatment. In this innovative approach, the collaborative efforts of general dentists, paediatric dentists, maxillofacial surgeons, dental hygienists and paediatricians play a vital role in cases of abuse. In addition to restoring the oral health of young patients, these professionals can activate a vast network of contacts, ensuring not only optimal oral health care but also providing comprehensive support to victims. The objective is to safeguard not only the physical but also the psychological well-being of these vulnerable subjects.

Role of genetic investigation in the diagnosis of short stature in a cohort of Italian children.

BACKGROUND: Short stature (SS) is defined as height more than 2 standard deviations below the mean for age and sex. Hypothyroidism, celiac disease, growth hormone deficiency, hormonal abnormalities, and genetic conditions are among its causes. A wide range of conditions often due to largely unknown genetic variants can elude conventional diagnostic workup. AIM: We used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to better understand the etiology of SS in a cohort of Italian children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study sample was 125 children with SS of unknown origin referred to our Institute between 2015 and 2021. All had undergone complete auxological and hormonal investigations to exclude common causes of SS. Genetic analysis was performed using a NGS panel of 104 genes. Clinical data were reviewed to clarify the pathogenicity of the variants detected. RESULTS: In this cohort, 43 potentially causing variants were identified in 38 children. A syndromic genetic condition was diagnosed in 7: Noonan syndrome in 3, Leri-Weill syndrome in 3, and hypochondroplasia in 1. Moreover, 8 benign variants and other 37 like benign variants were found. In 88 children, 179 variants of uncertain significance (VUS) were identified. No variant was found in 16 children. CONCLUSION: Genetic analysis is a useful tool in the diagnostic workup of patients with SS, in adapting management and treatment, and in identifying syndromes with mild atypical clinical features. The role of VUS should not be underestimated, particularly when multiple VUS with possible mutual worsening effects are present in the same child.

Observed parent-child feeding dynamics in relation to child body mass index and adiposity.

BACKGROUND: Restrictive feeding is associated with child overweight; however, the majority of studies used parent-report questionnaires. OBJECTIVES: The relationship between child adiposity measures and directly observed parent and child behaviours were tested using a novel behavioural coding system (BCS). METHODS: Data from 109 children, participants in a twin study and their mothers, were analyzed. Parent-child dyads were video-recorded twice in the laboratory, while children ate ad libitum from a buffet lunch. Mother and child behaviours were assessed using the BCS. Height, body weight and body fat were directly measured for each child. Associations between child adiposity measures and average BCS behaviour (i.e. pooled across visits) were tested using partial correlations adjusting for child age. RESULTS: Regarding discouragement prompts, child body mass index (BMI) z-score was significantly associated with a greater rate of total discouragements (per minute, min-1 ), nonverbal discouragements (min-1 ) and temporary (delay) discouragements (min-1 ) (p < 0.05). Child percent body fat was associated with greater nonverbal discouragements (min-1 ). Regarding encouragement prompts, child BMI z-score was significantly associated with a greater rate of total encouragements (min-1 ), nonverbal encouragements (min-1 ) and reward encouragements (min-1 ). Child BMI z-score and percent body fat were both positively associated with greater maternal health encouragements (min-1 ). Associations with encouragement to eat prompts were no longer significant when accounting for the dependence among twins (being part of the same family). CONCLUSIONS: Heavier children received greater maternal discouragements to eat and, with qualifications, encouragements to eat. The role of nonverbal parenting cues warrants further research regarding child eating regulation and obesity.

Predictors of blood pressure at 7-13 years: The "new millennium baby" study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between blood pressure (BP) at 7-13 years of age and body mass index (BMI), early feeding, lifestyle indicators, and parental characteristics. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective plus cross-sectional cohort study was started in 1294 children born in 2000-2004, right from their birth in primary care settings. Early feeding was estimated by measuring breast-feeding (BF) duration, complementary feeding (CF) introduction time, and lifestyle indicators such as daily screen time and weekly extracurricular sports activity time. Parental education, smoking, and obesity-related diseases were also considered. Multivariable linear regression and mediation analysis were used. CF introduction at 5-6 months of age was a negative predictor of systolic and diastolic BP (mean systolic BP-standard deviation score (SDS) -0.38 [95% CI: -0.47, -0.29] (p < 0.001); mean diastolic BP-SDS -0.32 [95% CI: -0.40, -0.24]) (p < 0.001); BMI was a positive predictor of systolic and diastolic BP (p < 0.001); and parental hypertension was a positive predictor of diastolic BP (p < 0.05). Predictors of mean BMI-SDS at 7-13 years of age were birth weight, screen time, and parental obesity and smoking (p < 0.001). BF had no effect on BP or BMI. Mediation analysis showed virtually no indication of the effect of CF on BP mediated by BMI. CONCLUSIONS: CF introduction between 5 and 6 months of age could be associated with low BP at 7-13 years. The effect of CF on BP seems to be independent of BMI. Low screen time is associated with low BMI. CF time may play a role in the occurrence of surrogates of noncommunicable disorders in future.

Accidental intravenous administration of paracetamol syrup in a child.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Medication administration errors occur frequently in clinical practice. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An 18-month-old child presented with vomiting and diarrhea. Due to a rise in temperature, paracetamol syrup was prescribed, but a nurse inadvertently administered the drug IV through the peripheral venous access. INTERVENTION: The child was referred to the pediatric intensive care unit where his clinical condition improved and the risk of peripheral venous and pulmonary embolism was excluded. CONCLUSION: The use of specific oral syringes should become a standard of practice in every healthcare organization and more supervision of new nurse graduates is necessary. Also, attention to the relationship with parents should be guaranteed because the communication of medical errors is a highly challenging aspect of these errors.

Multi-component molecular-level body composition reference methods: evolving concepts and future directions.

Excess adiposity is the main phenotypic feature that defines human obesity and that plays a pathophysiological role in most chronic diseases. Measuring the amount of fat mass present is thus a central aspect of studying obesity at the individual and population levels. Nevertheless, a consensus is lacking among investigators on a single accepted 'reference' approach for quantifying fat mass in vivo. While the research community generally relies on the multi-component body volume class of 'reference' models for quantifying fat mass, no definable guide discerns among different applied equations for partitioning the four (fat, water, protein and mineral mass) or more quantified components, standardizes 'adjustment' or measurement system approaches for model-required labelled water dilution volumes and bone mineral mass estimates, or firmly establishes the body temperature at which model physical properties are assumed. The resulting differing reference strategies for quantifying body composition in vivo leads to small, but under some circumstances, important differences in the amount of measured body fat. Recent technological advances highlight opportunities to expand model applications to new subject groups and measured components such as total body protein. The current report reviews the historical evolution of multi-component body volume-based methods in the context of prevailing uncertainties and future potential.

Functional body composition and related aspects in research on obesity and cachexia: report on the 12th Stock Conference held on 6 and 7 September 2013 in Hamburg, Germany.

The 12th Stock Conference addressed body composition and related functions in two extreme situations, obesity and cancer cachexia. The concept of 'functional body composition' integrates body components into regulatory systems relating the mass of organs and tissues to corresponding in vivo functions and metabolic processes. This concept adds to an understanding of organ/tissue mass and function in the context of metabolic adaptations to weight change and disease. During weight gain and loss, there are associated changes in individual body components while the relationships between organ and tissue mass are fixed. Thus an understanding of body weight regulation involves an examination of the relationships between organs and tissues rather than individual organ and tissue masses only. The between organ/tissue mass relationships are associated with and explained by crosstalks between organs and tissues mediated by cytokines, hormones and metabolites that are coupled with changes in body weight, composition and function as observed in obesity and cancer cachexia. In addition to established roles in intermediary metabolism, cell function and inflammation, organ-tissue crosstalk mediators are determinants of body composition and its change with weight gain and loss. The 12th Stock Conference supported Michael Stocks' concept of gaining new insights by integrating research ideas from obesity and cancer cachexia. The conference presentations provide an in-depth understanding of body composition and metabolism.

US pediatric population-level associations of DXA-measured percentage of body fat with four BMI metrics with cutoffs.

OBJECTIVE: Four body mass index (BMI) metrics--BMI, BMI z-score, BMI percentile and BMI%--are commonly used as proxy measures for children's adiposity. We sought to determine a BMI metric that is most strongly associated with measured percentage of body fat (%BF) in the US pediatric population stratified by sex, age and race/ethnicity, and to determine cutoffs that maximize the association for each BMI metric. SUBJECTS, DESIGN AND METHODS: %BF was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry among N=6120 US boys and girls aged 8.0-17.9 years old from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004. We fit piecewise linear regression models with cutoffs to %BF data using each BMI metric as the predictor stratified by sex, race/ethnicity and age. The slopes were modeled differently before and after the cutoffs which were determined on the basis of grid searches. RESULTS: BMI z-score was in general most strongly associated with %BF for both boys and girls. The associations of the four BMI metrics were lowest for boys aged 12-13.9 years and girls aged 16-17.9 years, and strongest for Mexican-American boys and for non-Hispanic Black girls. Overall, the associations were stronger for girls than for boys. In boys, BMI had the lowest association with %BF (R(2)=0.39) for all ages combined. The fold changes in slopes before and after cutoffs were greatest in general for BMI percentiles regardless of age, sex and race/ethnicity. BMI z-score cutoffs were 0.4 for both boys and girls for all ages combined. Except for BMI, the slopes after the cutoffs were in general greater than those before. CONCLUSIONS: All BMI metrics were strongly associated with %BF when stratified by age and race/ethnicity except that BMI was the least associated with %BF in boys for all ages combined. Overall, BMI z-score was superior for evaluation of %BF, and its cutoff of 0.4 can also serve as a threshold for careful monitoring of weight status.

[Epignathus, hypolastic left heart syndrome, and trisomy 18 in a small for gestational age female twin]. / Epignato, sindrome del cuore sinistro ipoplasico e trisomia 18 in una gemella piccola per età gestazionale.

We describe a rare association of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, trismony 18, and epignathus in a 970 g female twin born at 37 weeks of gestational age. She died at 24 hours of age. Neonatologists and obstetricians should be aware of this rare association for a thorough prenatal counselling.

Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19 in Bell's stage 2 of necrotizing enterocolitis.

AIM: The aim of this trial is to evaluate the role Lactobacillus paracasei in Bell's stage 2 in order to prevent the clinical progression to stage 3. METHODS: A prospective study was approved and started in December 2008. Patients were infants with birth weight 600 to 1500 g. One group received probiotic supplementation (L. paracasei susp.paracasei F-19) and the control group received only standard medical treatment. The primary outcome was the progression to stage 3 as defined by Bell's modified criteria. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were created and discussed with parents before treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (stage 2 NEC) were considered eligible for the study. Group A: 18 patients and Group B: 14 patients. Three patients in group A and six patients in group B had a clinical history of Bell's stage 3 NEC (P<0.05); oral supplementation of L. paracasei reduced the clinical progression of NEC. It was considered that an improvement in intestinal motility might have contributed to this result. CONCLUSION: The use of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F-19 is safe; the low progression rate to stage 3 NEC suggests that the use of this probiotic in stage 2 NEC could be a valuable therapeutic option.

Waist circumference-to-height ratio predicts adiposity better than body mass index in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Body mass index (BMI) is the surrogate measure of adiposity most commonly employed in children and adults. Waist circumference (WC) and the waist circumference-to-height ratio (WCHt) have been proposed as markers of adiposity-related morbidity in children. However, no study to date has compared WCHt, WC, BMI and skinfolds thickness for their ability to detect body adiposity. AIM: To compare WCHt, WC, BMI and skinfolds for their accuracy in predicting percent body fat (PBF), percent trunk fat (PTF) and fat mass index (FMI) in a large sample of children and adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We studied 2339 children and adolescents aged 8-18 years from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003/2004. Body fat was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multivariable regression splines were used to model the association between PBF, PTF, FMI and the predictors of interest. RESULTS: WCHt alone explained 64% of PBF variance as compared with 31% for WC, 32% for BMI and 72% for the sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds (SF2) (P<0.001 for all). When age and gender were added to the predictors, the explained variance increased to 80% for the WCHt model, 72% for the WC model, 68% for the BMI model and 84% for the SF2 model. There was no practical advantage to add the ethnic group as further predictor. Similar relationships were observed with PTF and FMI. CONCLUSIONS: WCHt is better than WC and BMI at predicting adiposity in children and adolescents. It can be a useful surrogate of body adiposity when skinfold measurements are not available.

Epoprostenol for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants: a novel dilution protocol.

Epoprostenol has been the first effective treatment for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. Epoprostenol is provided in vials for adult therapy. To our knowledge there are no reports on specific dilution protocols for epoprostenol in VLBW infants, when very small infusion rates are required. We describe the dilution protocol we applied to a preterm infant who was born at 30 weeks of gestational age with a weight of 1.000 g. Our dilution protocol keeps the recommended dilution ratios, and the required solution pH, for very small dosages of epoprostenol, using the same diluent vial. Our method allows a correct and safe administration of epoprostenol in VLBW infants.

Laser beam measurement of abdominal sagittal diameter in obese children: a validation study.

OBJECTIVES: Sagittal diameter (SAD) has been reported to correlate to visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors. SAD is measured with the individual lying down, halfway between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest; it represents the mid-height of the abdomen. The aim of this study was to validate SAD measured using a recently-developed laser beam device (SAD(LDB) ) against SAD measured using MRI (SAD(MRI)). METHODS: Of 48 obese children (25 boys, 23 girls) aged 9-11 years on the waiting list for obesity treatment, 34 agreed to a baseline measurement, which was followed by repeated measurements 6 and 12 months later in 31 and 22 children respectively. MRI was used to examine SAD(MRI) at 5 cm above (SAD(MRI,cra) ) and below (SAD(MRI,cau)) the mid plane of the L4-5 intervertebral disc. RESULTS: Each of the differences SAD(LBD) - SAD(MRI, cau) and SAD(LBD) - SAD(MRI,cra) was subjected to a repeated-measurements ANOVA; the visit did not have a statistically significant effect in either case (p = 0.19 and p = 0.72, respectively). The difference SAD(LBD) - SAD(MRI, cau) was 1.50 on average (p < 0.0001; CI 1.26-1.74) while the corresponding figure for SAD(LBD) -SAD(MRI, cra) was 1.26 (p < 0.0001; CI 1.04-1.49). Regression of the difference on the mean gave slopes of -0.09 (p = 0.25) and -0.04 (p = 0.57) respectively. Prediction of SAD(MRI) from SAD(LDB) can be performed in different ways: by means of linear regression or by means of an additive correction. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, this laser device can be used instead of MRI to estimate SAD by using a simple correction.

Lifestyle and nutrition related to male longevity in Sardinia: an ecological study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A demographic analysis in the Mediterranean island of Sardinia revealed marked differences in extreme longevity across the 377 municipalities and particularly identified a mountain inner area where the proportion of oldest subjects among male population has one of the highest validated value worldwide. The cause(s) of this unequal distribution of male longevity may be attributed to a concurrence of environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study we focussed on some lifestyle and nutrition variables recorded in the island's population in early decades of 20th century, when agricultural and pastoral economy was still prevalent, and try to verify through ecological spatial models if they may account for the variability in male longevity. By computing the Extreme Longevity Index (the proportion of newborns in a given municipality who reach age 100) the island's territory was divided in two areas with relatively higher and lower level of population longevity. Most nutritional variables do not show any significant difference between these two areas whereas a significant difference was found with respect to pastoralism (P = 0.0001), physical activity estimated by the average slope of the territory in each municipality (P = 0.0001), and average daily distance required by the active population to reach the usual workplace (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Overall, these findings suggest that factors affecting the average energy expenditure of male population such as occupational activity and geographic characteristics of the area where the population mainly resides, are important in explaining the spatial variation of Sardinian extreme longevity.

The potential role of fatty liver in paediatric metabolic syndrome: a distinct phenotype with high metabolic risk?

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and its metabolic consequences has dramatically increased in the last two decades urging physicians to find a reliable definition for early detection, treatment and possibly prevention of metabolic syndrome (MS). MS could be diagnosed in adult patients in the presence of a large waist circumference and ≥2 of the following features: high serum triglycerides, low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high blood pressure and high fasting glucose. The definition of MS in children is more problematic, and the potential role of its single components on metabolic risk remains largely undefined. Recent evidence strongly suggests not only a relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and MS in obese children, adolescents and adults, but also the key role exerted by liver fat deposition in the pathogenesis of MS. CONCLUSION: We propose that NAFLD should be routinely checked in obese subjects because early lifestyle changes may be effective in reducing the overall risk of MS.