Background and Objectives: Increased and unstructured digital exposure has raised growing concerns about its potential impact on children’s cognitive and behavioral development. Executive functions (EFs)—encompassing attention, working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility—are particularly sensitive to environmental influences during development. Beyond its empirical aim, this study also sought to address a theoretical gap by clarifying how multiple dimensions of digital exposure (quantity, content quality, and sleep-related timing) jointly relate to EF performance, an area insufficiently integrated into current EF frameworks. This study aimed to examine the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of digital exposure in relation to sleep duration and EF performance among Romanian school-aged children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 142 students aged 5–19 years, using standardized cognitive tasks and structured parent questionnaires to assess screen time, digital content type, and sleep duration. Analyses included correlational tests, group comparisons, regression models, and moderation procedures. Results: Higher daily screen time was associated with poorer attention and working-memory performance and shorter nocturnal sleep. Children and adolescents who exceeded the recommended daily screen-time limits performed worse on executive-function measures than those within recommended limits. Digital content type and sleep duration each contributed uniquely to executive performance, and recreational digital content as well as younger age intensified the negative effects of screen exposure. Conclusions: Excessive daily screen time, especially involving passive or recreational content, is associated with poorer EF performance and shorter sleep in children. Adequate sleep and educational or interactive digital engagement may mitigate these effects. The findings underscore the importance of age-appropriate, structured, and balanced digital habits to support healthy cognitive development.

Background/Objectives: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) affects 30–50% of end-stage renal disease patients. Parathyroidectomy (PTX), while effective for medication-refractory SHPT, carries 20–70% risk of hungry bone syndrome (HBS)—severe sustained hypocalcemia requiring intensive care and prolonged hospitalization. Accurate preoperative risk stratification using biochemical markers and validated prediction tools is critical for optimal preventive management. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive narrative review synthesizing evidence on HBS predictors after PTX in SHPT, evaluating traditional and novel bone turnover markers, clinical risk factors, and multivariate prediction models, through a structured literature search and analysis. Results: Preoperative bone turnover status represents the strongest contributor to HBS risk. Traditional biomarkers—particularly parathyroid hormone (PTH > 1000–2400 pg/mL) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP > 150–300 U/L)—demonstrate moderate-to-strong individual predictive power. Novel bone turnover markers (bone-specific ALP, P1NP, TRAP-5b) offer incremental value, especially in CKD populations where renal clearance affects traditional markers. Combined risk prediction models substantially outperform single biomarkers, achieving area under curve values of 0.87–0.95. The simple NYU 2-point score (ALP > 150 U/L + PTH > 1000 pg/mL) showed 96.8% accuracy, with 100% negative predictive value. More complex tools like nomograms (C-index 0.92–0.94) and machine-learning algorithms (AUC 0.88) provide enhanced discrimination by integrating multiple continuous parameters. Additional clinical factors—younger age (<48 years), prolonged dialysis (≥5 years), low preoperative calcium, high gland weight, and absence of autotransplantation—further refine risk assessment. Postoperative calcium typically reaches nadir at 48–72 h, defining the critical monitoring window. Conclusions: High-turnover bone biomarkers and combined risk models effectively identify high-risk SHPT patients. Risk-stratified protocols (i.e., prophylactic supplementation, intensive monitoring, and selective ICU admission) can substantially reduce HBS-related morbidity. Ongoing efforts should focus on validating these predictive tools across diverse populations and integrating them into clinical practice, thereby facilitating real-time HBS risk assessment and protocol-driven care.

Background and Objectives: Hip arthroplasty is commonly performed to enhance mobility and quality of life in patients with severe joint degeneration. However, post-surgery complications such as infections, dislocations, and mechanical failures remain prevalent and vary over time. This study examines the relationship between time intervals post-surgery and the occurrence of complications and explores the associations between specific treatment modalities and complications. It also investigates temporal patterns of infectious and mechanical complications to inform more effective post-surgery care. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on hip arthroplasty patients to analyze the occurrence and distribution of complications across medium-term (1–5 years) and long-term (≥6 years) intervals. Treatment modalities, including joint debridement, lavage, antibiotics, and mechanical interventions, were analyzed for their association with complications. Chi-Square tests were used, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A significant association was found between time intervals and complications (χ² = 58.149, df = 19, p < 0.001). Infections were more prevalent in the medium-term, while mechanical complications such as dislocation, implant loosening, and periprosthetic fractures were more common in the long-term. Antibiotics were strongly linked to infectious complications (χ² = 279.000, p < 0.001), and mechanical treatments were associated with fractures and dislocations. Conclusions: The study confirms that the timing of complications post-surgery plays a critical role in their occurrence. Specific complications become more prevalent at different intervals, emphasizing the need for tailored treatment strategies. Antibiotics for infections and mechanical interventions for fractures and dislocations should be adjusted based on timing. These findings highlight the importance of time-specific post-surgery care and suggest areas for further research on long-term strategies and risk factors.

Background: Scoliosis, a three-dimensional spinal deformity, can impair posture, function, and quality of life. Conservative approaches such as structured physical therapy are widely used, but evidence from long-term, real-world settings remains limited. In this study, “structured” refers to a standardized, supervised program delivered three times per week, incorporating postural correction, Klapp-based positioning, core strengthening, flexibility training, and progressive intensity adjustments rather than ad hoc or unsupervised exercise. Methods: In this 12-month longitudinal study, 240 patients aged 15–19 years with idiopathic scoliosis (Cobb angle 15–25°) were enrolled; 222 completed the program and were included in analyses. All participants were near or beyond skeletal maturity, representing a population with low residual risk of curve progression. Spinal alignment was assessed by Cobb angle at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months, with monthly clinical evaluations to track progress. Outcomes were analyzed by baseline severity, age, sex, and skeletal maturity (Risser stage) using paired-samples t-tests, repeated-measures ANOVA, subgroup analyses, and multivariable regression. Clinically meaningful improvement was defined as a ≥20% reduction in Cobb angle from baseline. Results: Mean Cobb angle decreased from 18.59° at baseline to 14.85° at 12 months (Δ = −3.74°, 20.3% relative reduction; p < 0.001). The largest improvement occurred in the first 6 months (−3.04°, p < 0.001), followed by a smaller gain between months 6 and 12 (−0.70°, p = 0.012). Patients with milder baseline curves improved more than those with greater deviations (4.45° vs. 3.21°, p < 0.001). Monthly clinical follow-ups suggested gradual improvement between radiographic assessments, though detailed statistical analyses were limited to baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. In multivariable regression, baseline severity remained the only significant predictor of improvement (p < 0.001), while age, sex, and Risser stage were not significant (all p > 0.05). Overall, 24.3% of participants achieved clinically meaningful improvement. Conclusions: A structured 12-month physical therapy program produced significant, sustained improvements in spinal alignment across diverse patient groups. Early intervention in milder curves maximized benefit. These findings support physiotherapy exercise programs as an effective conservative option for scoliosis management.

Background/Objectives: Although numerous studies have examined associations between screen time and early language development, less is known about how screen exposure interacts with developmental stage, digital content quality, and parental mediation across childhood and adolescence, particularly with respect to pragmatic communication. This study aimed to address these gaps by examining the joint associations of screen time, content composition, and parental mediation with multiple linguistic and pragmatic domains across a broad age range. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 286 Romanian participants aged 5–19 years, grouped into four developmental stages. Measures included daily screen time, proportion of educational versus recreational content, parental mediation practices, and standardized assessments of vocabulary, verbal fluency, grammatical competence, and pragmatic communication. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, 4 × 3 factorial ANOVAs (age group × screen-time category), and multiple linear regression. Results: Higher levels of screen exposure were consistently associated with lower performance across all linguistic and pragmatic domains (r = −0.19 to −0.28, all p < 0.01). Participants viewing >2 h/day showed significantly weaker outcomes than those with ≤1 h/day, particularly in semantic and phonemic fluency and pragmatic communication (p < 0.001). Educational content correlated positively with linguistic scores, whereas recreational content showed negative associations. Parental mediation emerged as a significant positive predictor. In the regression model (R² = 0.42), age (β = 0.47), parental mediation (β = 0.21), and educational content (β = 0.18) predicted better linguistic performance, while screen time (β = −0.29) predicted lower performance. Conclusions: The findings indicate that associations between digital media use and linguistic and pragmatic performance vary across developmental stages and contextual factors. Rather than screen time alone, digital content quality and parental mediation are associated with differences in communicative performance. These results highlight the value of a nuanced, developmentally informed perspective when considering children’s digital media environments.

Background/Objectives: Distal biceps tendon rupture is a disabling injury that compromises elbow flexion and forearm supination strength, particularly in high-performance athletes. Although several fixation techniques have been proposed, no single method has proven optimal in combining mechanical stability, anatomical restoration, and early functional recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and reproducibility of a hybrid dual-fixation technique combining a Tightrope^® cortical button (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA) with a PEEK interference screw for anatomic reinsertion of the distal biceps tendon in athletic individuals. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 13 high-performance athletes who underwent distal biceps tendon repair using the hybrid Tightrope–PEEK construct between March 2024 and September 2025. Functional recovery, muscle strength, esthetic contour, and patient satisfaction were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH), and a 5-point Likert scale over a 12-month follow-up. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 29.0. Results: All patients achieved secure fixation with no intraoperative or postoperative complications, loss of reduction, or hardware failure. Early controlled mobilization began within the first postoperative week. At 6 months, flexion and supination strength were fully restored, and at 12 months, all patients achieved full range of motion and optimal functional scores (mean MEPS 100; QuickDASH 0). No “Popeye” deformities or contour irregularities were observed, and mean patient satisfaction was 5/5. Conclusions: The hybrid Tightrope–PEEK dual-fixation technique provides excellent mechanical stability, allowing early mobilization and rapid functional recovery with minimal complications. Its reproducibility and cosmetic advantages suggest that it represents a safe and effective option for distal biceps tendon reinsertion in high-demand athletes.