Neurodevelopmental outcome in one-year-old children born preterm: differences between low birth weight and very low birth weight.

BACKGROUND: In preterm infants, low birth weight represents one of the major risk factors for health and developmental issues. In Italy, most of the studies are focused on extremely preterm or Very and Extremely Low Birth Weight (VLBW, ELBW) children, whereas little data are available on the neurodevelopmental outcome of Low Birth Weight (LBW) children. We aimed to study the developmental profile of a group of preterm children at 12 months of corrected age, comparing cognitive, language and motor performances between LBW and VLBW. METHODS: We assessed 108 children born preterm (53 LBW and 55 VLBW) at 12 months of corrected age (M= 12.9 months; SD = .95) with Bayley-III. We compared the mean scores between and within groups and the rates of mild and severe delay using the Italian norms. RESULTS: LBW children performed better than VLBW peers, particularly in the cognitive and gross motor areas. No differences between groups were found in relation to language subscales. The rate of mild and severe delay is elevated in both groups, resulting significantly higher in the VLBW group only in the motor area. CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly suggest the need of a multidisciplinary follow-up to monitor the development of premature newborns, including those with birth weights above 1500 g. The early identification of cognitive, language and motor problems is essential to promote children's well-being and intervention prior to school entry.

Assessing the three attentional networks in children from three to six years: A child-friendly version of the Attentional Network Test for Interaction.

Attention involves three functionally and neuroanatomically distinct neural networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control. This study aimed to analyze the development of attentional networks in children aged between 3 and 6 years using a child-friendly version of the Attentional Network Test for Interaction (ANTI), the ANTI-Birds. The sample included 88 children divided into four age groups: 3-year-old, 4-year-old, 5-year-old, 6-year-old children. The results of this study would seem to indicate that between 4 and 6 years, there are no significant changes in attentional networks. Instead, between 3 and 4 years of age, children significantly improve all their attentional skills.

The Floor Effect on the ABAS-II in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The present study aimed at enhancing the assessment of adaptive behavior in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder trough the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-Second Edition. To overcome the limits underpinning floor effect, which are commonly observed with the traditional methods, the statistical Hessl method and its revision by Orsini, Pezzuti and Hulbert was adopted. The results showed a more variation using the former method compared to the latter: a greater impairment in Social versus Leisure skills emerged. Regarding the Conceptual domain, a greater deficit in Functional Academics was observed. In the Practical domain, we found a greater impairment in Self-Care skills. Conversely, Home Living skills appeared as a strength compared to other skills. The results are discussed in reference to literature.

From Resilience to Burnout in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of the Ability to Tolerate Uncertainty.

The COVID-19 outbreak has placed extraordinary demands upon healthcare systems worldwide. Italy's hospitals have been among the most severely overwhelmed, and as a result, Italian healthcare workers' (HCWs) well-being has been at risk. The aim of this study is to explore the relationships between dimensions of burnout and various psychological features among Italian healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 emergency. A group of 267 HCWs from a hospital in the Lazio Region completed self-administered questionnaires online through Google Forms, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Resilience Scale, and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale Short Form (IU). Cluster analysis highlighted two opposite burnout risk profiles: low burnout and high-risk burnout. The high-risk group had lower resilience and greater difficulties in tolerating the uncertainty than the low-burnout group. A set of general linear models confirmed that both IU subscales, prospective and inhibition, moderated the relationship between resilience and burnout (specifically in the depersonalization dimension). In conclusion, the results showed that individual levels of resilience and one's ability to tolerate uncertainty have been significant factors in determining the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on HCWs. The use of emotional strategies that allow individuals to stay in a critical situation without the need to control it appears to protect against burnout in these circumstances.

Neurodevelopmental outcome of Italian preterm children at 1year of corrected age by Bayley-III scales: An assessment using local norms.

BACKGROUND: Premature birth is often associated with neurodevelopmental difficulties throughout childhood. In the first three years of life, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III) constitute one of the most used tools for assessing child development. Since Bayley-III original norms are based on United States (US) population, it remains uncertain whether their use in other countries (e.g., European) is appropriate. AIMS: This research aimed to examine neurodevelopment of preterm infants and full-term infants, using Bayley-III US norms in comparison to Italian (IT) norms. Patterns of developmental outcomes for both infant groups were also explored. METHODS: 104 preterm and 58 full-term infants were included in the study. Bayley-III was used for neurodevelopmental assessment at 1year of corrected age, considering both IT and US norms for scores computation. RESULTS: Comparing scores obtained with IT vs US norms, differences in means were all significant across five subscales (p<0.05 at least) for preterm infants, whereas for full-term peers significant differences were found only for Receptive Language and Fine Motor subscales (p<0.001). Effect size (η2) ranged from 0.22 to 0.94. Within each group, significant discrepancies across subscales were found. Moreover, Italian preterm infants had significantly lower performances than full-term peers, excepting for Expressive Language and Gross Motor subscales. CONCLUSIONS: As regards to Italian 1-year children, our study seems to provide evidence for the tendency of Bayley-III US norms to overestimate development compared to IT norms. These findings emphasize the need to early detect children at risk for developmental delay and to plan early intervention.

Risk assessment of the decay of asbestos cement roofs.

OBJECTIVES: In an assessment of the risk of asbestos fibres release from asbestos cement materials, an important role is played by the assessment of the surface corrosion and by the disaggregation of asbestos cement. The aim of this work is to evaluate the differences among several methods used for the risk assessment that lead to a specific choice of abatement techniques. METHODS: The state of deterioration of 40 asbestos cement roofs was evaluated using two priority assessment algorithms elaborated in Italy, the 'pull-up test' described by the Italian Organization for Standardization and the indicators described in the Italian legislation coupled with the observation of a small sample, taken from each roof, by a stereomicroscope. RESULTS: The results obtained with the methods, proposed in this study, for the risk assessment of the decay of asbestos cement roofs show slight differences among them, only one deviates from the others in judgement on the state of conservation of the roof. CONCLUSIONS: It is very important to train the operator conducting the study since a completely subjectivity-free method does not exist. Whatever method is used will always be affected by the subjectivity linked to the competency and the training of the operator. Moreover, each method on its own cannot assess the risk of exposure to asbestos, but reliable assessment of asbestos-containing materials requires the use of more than one method, such as visual inspections, a pull-up test, and an assessment algorithm.

[ADHD and multimodal intervention]. / L'ADHD e l'intervento multimodale.

During the year 2003, the National Register of the Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been implemented in Italy. It was commissioned by the Ministry of Health to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, which is its leading technical and scientific body, with the aim to set up a sound database gathering detailed information on the prescription of Ritalin at the national level. The latter represents the most diffused elective drug treatment for such an early-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. To this aim, the more prevalent theories on the pathogenesis of ADHD and the debate on therapy are reviewed and discussed. This paper is aimed at emphasizing that this kind of systematic data gathering of such a Register has not to be meant an unconditional approval of a therapeutical approach based on drug therapy only. Pharmacological therapies may or may not be included within the frame of a multimodal complex treatment plan which should also rely on psychological intervention.