Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the global epidemiology of other infectious respiratory diseases, leading to a significant decrease in their incidence. Hence, we aimed to characterize the epidemiology of RSV-bronchiolitis in children. Methods: children aged ≤2 years diagnosed with RSV-mediated bronchiolitis admitted to our Unit from October 2018 to December 2021, were retrospectively enrolled. Results: We included 95 patients (M/F = 46/49; mean age 7.56 ± 6.6 months). Specifically, 17 infants in 2018, 34 in 2019, 0 during 2020 lockdown, 1 during 2020 post-lockdown, and 43 in 2021. Incidence was significantly lower in 2020 compared with 2018, 2019 and 2021 (p < 0.05). No differences were found concerning need for respiratory support. Discussion: Several factors related to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, especially restrictive measures, may have contributed to a significant reduction in hospitalizations due to RSV. The new outbreak in RSV infection-related hospitalizations reported between October and December 2021 has been suggested it may be due to an increased number of susceptible individuals to RSV infection. Conclusion: The experience of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has led to a marked decrease in other viral respiratory infections, such as RSV. This may pave the way for new approaches in preventing respiratory infections, highlighting the role of preventive measures.

The 8p inverted duplication/deletion is a rare chromosomal rearrangement clinically featuring neurodevelopmental delay, mild to severe cognitive impairment, heart congenital defects and brain abnormalities. Patients affected also present typical facial dysmorphisms and skeletal malformations, and it is thought that the composite clinical picture may fall into the chromosomal rearrangement architecture. With the major aim of better framing its related clinical and diagnostic paths, we describe a patient carrying a de novo invdupde[8p] whose clinical features have not been described so far. Hence, through an extensive genotype–phenotype correlation analysis and by reviewing the dedicated scientific literature, we compared our patient’s features with those reported in other patients, which allows us to place our proband’s expressiveness in an intermediate area, widening the scope of the already known invdupde[8p] genotype–phenotype relationship.

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) poses significant challenges for maternal and neonatal outcomes, requiring strict adherence to dietary protocols to maintain optimal maternal phenylalanine (Phe) levels during pregnancy. This study retrospectively analyzed outcomes of pregnancies in PKU-affected women and conducted a systematic review on the timing of dietary management and its impact on outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study included data from nine PKU-affected women and 14 pregnancies followed at the Regional Reference Center for Metabolic Diseases in Catania. Women were categorized based on the timing of dietary intervention: preconception (pcD), during pregnancy (pD), or never (nD). Maternal Phe levels were classified as in-target (tP+) or non-target (tP−). A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PRISMA methodology, including 77 studies reporting maternal Phe levels, dietary timing, and clinical/auxological offspring outcomes. Results: In the retrospective study, pcD and tP+ groups had significantly better neonatal outcomes, with lower rates of congenital heart disease (CHD), facial dysmorphisms, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and microcephaly. Systematic review data from 1068 PKU-affected women and 2094 pregnancies revealed that pcD with tP+ resulted in the lowest rates of miscarriage (0.14%) and adverse neonatal outcomes, while tP− and nD groups showed the highest rates of CHD, microcephaly, and intellectual disability. Conclusions: Early dietary intervention, ideally preconceptionally, and achieving target maternal Phe levels are critical in reducing adverse outcomes in pregnancies of PKU-affected women. These findings emphasize the importance of metabolic control and adherence to dietary protocols in maternal PKU management.

Background: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming increasingly crucial in the Pediatric Emergency Department for objective patient examination. However, despite its growing interest and wide-ranging applications, POCUS remains relatively unexplored in general pediatric training and education. Many physicians still find it challenging to comprehend and implement. Methods: A theoretical-practical POCUS course for pediatric residents was conducted at the University of Catania, Italy. The course’s effectiveness and practical impact on residents was assessed through a pre-post training survey. The first part of the questionnaire focused on the self-perceived time needed to learn how to recognize the following conditions using POCUS: (i) Pleural effusion (ii) Lung consolidation (iii) Pneumothorax (PNX) (iv) Cardiac contractility (v) Pericardial effusion (vi) Perisplenic effusion (vii) Morison’s pouch effusion (viii) Douglas’ pouch effusion (ix) Filling and collapsibility of the inferior vena cava. In the second part, we compared the potential role of POCUS in (i) Reducing the use of ionizing radiation in children (ii) Increasing the sense of security in diagnosis and treatment decisions making and (iii) Increasing the residents’ confidence level with POCUS after the course on a 1-to-10 rating scale. Results: Seventy-two residents participated in the study. The statistical analysis showed significant pre-post differences in almost all the items considered, except for “cardiac contractility” and “PNX”. Furthermore, the perceived potential role of POCUS in reducing ionizing radiation usage and the sense of security in diagnosis and treatment decisions showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) before and after the course. Data analysis also revealed a consistently high confidence level with POCUS after the course. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of including a POCUS track course in pediatric post-graduate programs due to its simplicity, rapid learning time, and clinical usefulness. Based on these findings, it would be recommended to increase the teaching hours dedicated to the recognition of pneumothorax and cardiology POCUS examination. Emphasizing POCUS training in pediatric education can enhance patient care and diagnostic accuracy while minimizing radiation exposure.

Pediatric viral infections impose a heavy burden on child health, often worsened by infection-induced gut dysbiosis. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol with antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and microbiota-modulating properties, has been proposed to interrupt this pathogenic feedback. To our knowledge, this is the first narrative review focused on resveratrol’s antiviral activity in pediatric viral infections, concurrently evaluating its impact on the gut microbiota and their interrelationship. We synthetized preclinical and the limited available pediatric clinical data regarding resveratrol’s effect on SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, rotavirus, and norovirus, extracting information on the models, routes of administration, dosages, mechanisms, and outcomes. Resveratrol interferes with viral lifecycles via diverse mechanisms (modulation of host signaling cascades, capsid or structural protein interactions, and suppression of pro-viral chaperones) while concurrently reshaping the gut microbiota (reducing opportunistic taxa and enriching beneficial genera such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) leading to improved short-chain fatty acid profiles, barrier integrity, and dampened inflammation. Intranasal resveratrol in children shows clinical benefit, while oral use is underexplored and limited by poor bioavailability; adult data hint at supportive microbiome and anti-inflammatory effects if the delivery is optimized. These dual antiviral and microbiome-directed effects position resveratrol as a promising adjunct in pediatric viral disease management, though well-powered pediatric clinical trials are needed to define dosages, delivery strategies, and the contribution of microbiota-mediated synergy.

BACKGROUND: Different temporizing neurosurgical procedures are available for the management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm newborns. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short efficacy of the external ventricular drains (EVDs) and the ventriculosubgaleal (VSG) shunt. METHODS: This is a Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology–conformed retrospective cohort study. The inclusion criteria were (1) gestational age <37 weeks, (2) birth weight <1500 g, (3) posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus because of intraventricular hemorrhage grade II/III, and (4) EVD or VSG shunt procedure before ventriculoperitoneal (VP)-definite shunt. Twenty-four newborns were collected from 2006 to 2022. The end points considered were infectious events, proteinorrachia, reintervention rate, and time to conversion to definite VP shunt. RESULTS: Overall, 12/24 newborns underwent EVD, and the remnant had a VSG shunt. The results showed a statistically significant difference (P = .02) concerning cerebrospinal fluid infections between the EVD group (50%) and VSG shunt 1 (8.33%). The reintervention rate of EVD was significantly higher (66.67%) compared with that of the VSG shunt group (8.33%). A statistically significant difference was stated between the 2 groups (t[13] = −8.250; P < .001) (mean difference ± standard error; 10.5 ± 1.273) in the mean number of days elapsed from the achievement of the ideal weight (2000 g) to the definitive VP drainage. CONCLUSION: The increased infectious risk and the higher reintervention rate in EVD were confirmed in this study. In addition, a significant delay in the time to -conversion from EVD to VP shunt was demonstrated. Despite these optimal results, the VSG shunt remains a low practiced intervention, probably because of the limited operator experience.