Postural disorders in children and adolescents have an increasing incidence. The aim of this study was to identify the type of postural defects in school-age and preschool children, as well as the external risk factors determined by an inadequate lifestyle. The research included 134 children aged between 5 and 18 years, in whom postural defects were identified. The project involved an examination of the children’s body posture, a survey of the parents to determine the children’s lifestyle, blood tests, and spinal X-rays. A significant percentage (76%) of the children included in the study were underweight. The examination of postural defects in the students revealed scoliosis in 21% of the patients, kyphosis in 7.5%, and lordosis in 1.5%, while 70% of the patients presented an association between at least two postural defects. As far as risk factors are concerned, we identified the presence of rickets sequelae in 70% of the patients, the presence of pectus excavatum in 43% of the patients, genu varum in 15%, and flat foot in 12%. Additionally, 90% of the children had an incorrect posture at the desk, while 42% incorrectly carried their backpack on one shoulder only. In terms of diet quality, associations between an inadequate diet and postural disorders were found for kyphosis, scoliosis, and other deformities. In conclusion, postural abnormalities in children have an increased incidence from an early age and are a result of the change in lifestyle in recent years, represented by sedentarism, a lack of physical activity, the excessive use of electronic devices, stress, and an inadequate diet.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent primary bone malignancy, predominantly affecting adolescents and young adults, and presents significant clinical challenges due to its aggressive nature and high potential for metastasis. This retrospective study analyzed 34 cases of primary OS, aged 10 to 65 years, to identify clinicopathological correlations that could inform future research and treatment strategies. The findings aim to guide larger cohort studies, essential for validating these correlations and developing tailored approaches that enhance patient outcomes. The analysis focused on demographic factors, sex, tumor grade, stage, size, and histological subtype, utilizing criteria established by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The results revealed a predominance of the disease in males under 25 years of age, with the femur being the most common site of occurrence. Conventional osteoblastic OS emerged as the most frequent subtype, accounting for 50% of the cases, predominantly presenting as high-grade (G3) tumors. Over 70% of the tumors were T1 in extension (≤8 cm) and classified as stage IIA, indicating a locally advanced disease state. Correlations were observed between histological type, grade, and stage, underscoring the importance of detailed histopathological (HP) assessments in determining prognosis and guiding treatment. The findings highlight correlations between histological subtype, grade, and stage, reaffirming the critical role of detailed HP assessments in prognosis and treatment planning. While the limited sample size necessitates cautious interpretation, this study provides valuable regional and age-specific insights that could inform clinical decision-making. Future research should prioritize multi-center studies and delve into the genetic and molecular underpinnings of OS subtypes to enhance understanding and develop targeted therapies.

Background: Previously reported STAG1 gene-related cohesinopathies describe a range of clinical features, typically including intellectual disability (ID), facial dysmorphisms, and limb anomalies. Case presentation: We present the case of an 8-year-old girl with main findings including ID, central precocious puberty (CPP), and bone fragility. Panel genetic testing revealed a pathogenic STAG1 variant, NM_005862.3:c.2116del p.(Asp706Ilefs*15), which can only partially explain the clinical phenotype. Reports of STAG1-related cohesinopathies, including ours, have consistently described developmental and intellectual disabilities. In our case, the etiology of CPP and bone fragility remains unexplained. We discuss the challenges and limitations of current molecular tools in assessing cases with overlapping, apparently unlinked phenotypes, while speculating whether the common occurrence could be explained by STAG1 instead. Conclusions: The clinical spectrum of cohesinopathies is still poorly understood. Complex phenotypes with apparently unrelated clinical features warrant further careful investigation and illustrate the challenges of molecular diagnosis.

Background/Objectives: Coffin–Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a rare X-linked disease caused by pathogenic variants in the RPS6KA3 gene. It is generally characterized by syndromic intellectual disability and distinctive facial features, skeletal abnormalities, stimulus-induced drop attacks in males, and variable manifestations in females. Methods: We report clinical and genetic findings in a series of 10 cases, eight males and two females, evaluated at the Regional Centre of Medical Genetics Dolj—Emergency Clinical County Hospital Craiova. Results: Genetic testing identified 10 de novo variants in the RPS6KA3 gene consisting of six missense mutations, one nonsense variant, one frameshift, and two variants in non-coding or intronic regions. Case management requires multidisciplinary coordination and is limited to resources mostly available in reference centers. Conclusions: CLS highlights the importance of molecular diagnosis in rare genetic disorders, particularly when clinical features are subtle or atypical. These findings have practical implications for clinical management, suggesting the need for comprehensive genetic screening and individualized care approaches.

Background: Anxiety is common among health science students, but the Balkan region is underrepresented in student mental health research and no regional synthesis exists. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of anxiety among medical, dental and nursing students in selected Balkan countries. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 and a PROSPERO registration (CRD420261332221), PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for English-language observational studies in eleven Balkan countries that assessed anxiety with a validated instrument. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data and appraised quality (JBI). Prevalence was pooled with a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model after Freeman-Tukey transformation, with prediction intervals and exploratory subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Results: Nine cross-sectional studies (N = 5177) from Croatia, Romania, Greece, Kosovo and Serbia were included. The pooled prevalence of anxiety at or above moderate severity was 27.5% (95% CI: 20.2–35.5%), with very high heterogeneity (I² = 97.1%; 95% prediction interval 5.3–58.6%). Leave-one-out analyses (26.0–29.4%) and alternative estimators (26.9–27.5%) gave similar estimates. Subgroup analyses were exploratory. Conclusions: The pooled prevalence is an average across heterogeneous studies, not a regional benchmark. The evidence is limited to English-language studies from five of eleven countries, and the findings are preliminary. Harmonised primary research is needed.