Carbonate Accretion Processes, Conservation and Enjoyment of the "Mannute Caves" Geoheritage site (Salento, Southern Italy)

The Mannute Caves (Salento, Italy) are a karst system that can only be reached using vertical rope techniques for caving and, hence, are not suitable for tourist visits because of their inaccessibility. New texture, geochemistry and age data of a peculiar type of carbonate accretion known as ‘bulky stalactites’ are presented here. Based on previous topographic surveys and observations on calcareous tufas, new geological data enables us to infer the palaeo-environmental history of the Mannute Piccola Cave. The present location of the bulky stalactites, close to the entrance of the cave, is in disagreement with an accretion process which requires sciophilous conditions. Based on U-Th dating, the growth of the bulky stalactites can be shown to have occurred in the Holocene and ended abruptly when the entrance of the cave was enlarged, probably due to a rockslide. The growing demand for geotourism in Salento suggests that management guidelines are required for coastal cave attractions, along with strategies to protect and evaluate the Mannute Piccola Cave as a potential geosite. Improved geological knowledge of the cave should be seen as a preliminary stage for geoheritage promotion through information communication technology (ICT) strategies, with the aim being to integrate the site within regional networks for cultural heritage enjoyment

Current evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric endocrine conditions

Severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) interacts with the host cells through its spike protein by binding to the membrane enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and it can have a direct effect on endocrine function as ACE2 is expressed in many glands and organs with endocrine function. Furthermore, several endocrine conditions have features that might increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity and course of the infection, as obesity for the underlying chronic increased inflammatory status and metabolic derangement, and for the possible changes in thyroid function. Vitamin D has immunomodulatory effects, and its deficiency has negative effects. Adrenal insufficiency and excess glucocorticoids affect immune conditions also besides metabolism. This review aims to analyze the rationale for the fear of direct effects of SARS-Cov-2 on endocrinological disorders, to study the influence of pre-existing endocrine disorders on the course of the infection, and the actual data in childhood. Currently, data concerning endocrine function during the pandemic are scarce in childhood and for many aspects definite conclusions cannot be drawn, however, data on properly managed patients with adrenal insufficiency at present are re-assuring. Too little attention has been paid to thyroid function and further studies may be helpful. The available data support a need for adequate vitamin D supplementation, caution in obese patients, monitoring of thyroid function in hospitalized patients, and confirm the need for an awareness campaign for the increased frequency of precocious puberty, rapidly progressive puberty and precocious menarche. The changes in lifestyle, the increased incidence of overweight and the change in the timing of puberty lead also to hypothesize that there might be an increase in ovarian dysfunction, as for example polycystic ovarian disease, and metabolic derangements in the next years, and in the future we might be facing fertility problems. This prompts to be cautious and maintain further surveillance

High levels of serum perfluorinated compounds in children and adolescents with endocrine autoimmune disease

Background: Impairments of endocrine system may be associated with exposure to certain chemical compounds. Much attention has recently focused on interference with thyroid function in relation to exposure to endocrine disruptors chemicals among which perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are considered a priority research issue. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are widely diffused since used in the productions of polymers, additives, adhesives, cosmetics, insecticides and many other uses. PFCs are characterized by a high potential to bioaccumulate, by binding proteins, aspect that allows transmission of contamination through food chains and retention in the body, once assumed. Objective: Aim of this study is to assess PFCs concentrations in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) compared to healthy controls. Methods: Forty-four children and adolescents were recruited and subdivided in the following groups: (1) twenty-five subjects (6.11 ± 3.33 years.) with T1DM and (2) nineteen healthy controls matched for age and gender. Blood samples to assay PFCs were collected and stored few days after T1DM was diagnosed. PFOS and PFOA have been extracted following an ion-pairing extraction procedure and determined by HPLC-ESI-MS. Nonparametric statistical analysis was performed. Results: PFOS concentrations resulted significantly higher in T1DM patients respect to controls (1.53 ± 1.50 vs. 0.55 ± 0.15 ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.0001, Mann–Whitney U-test). No difference was found in PFOA levels (0.53 ± 0.09 vs. 0.50 ± 0.06 ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.148, Mann–Whitney Utest). Conclusions: Our data suggests that higher serum levels of PFOS may be considered as a biomarker of exposure and susceptibility to develop TIDM. Further studies are necessary to better understand the role of this and other chemical compound as triggers of autoimmune endocrine diseases during childhood

Strategie terapeutiche nel neonato con perforazione intestinale da enterocolite necrotizzante (NEC).

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Diagnosi genetica e valutazione della funzione endoteliale in adolescenti affetti da ipercolesterolemia familiare.

Diagnosi genetica e valutazione della funzione endoteliale in adolescenti affetti da ipercolesterolemia familiare

COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY AND “SURGERY-FIRST” PROTOCOL: A NEW WEAPON AGAINST TIME

The aim of this literature review article is to evaluate the new surgical technique “Surgery-First” and compare it with the conventional orthognathic surgery in terms of treatment length, patient satisfaction and post-surgical stability. The goal is to compare the pro and cons of the two techniques and to determine which technique can offer more efficient results

Pianeta Nutrizione kids: international pediatric conference on food, physical activity, growth and well-being : Milan, Italy. 25-27 June 2015

A1 Preterm and low birth weight nutrition in the first month life: implications for the outcome Massimo Agosti A2 Behind human milk and breastfeeding: not only food, not only growth Carlo Agostoni A3 To prevent obesity: importance and issues of cultural adaptation from weaning to 3 years of age Serge Chalons A4 Diet before and during pregnancy and child health: lessons from animal models Pascale Chavatte-Palmer A5 Infant nutrition: an opportunity to optimize future health José Manuel Moreno Villares A6 Complementary feeding strategies to facilitate acceptance of fruits and vegetables Sophie Nicklaus A7 Diet of young children in the Mediterranean region Luís Pereira-da-Silva A8 Proposal of 10 good practices to help prevent obesity in the first 1,000 days Angelo Pietrobelli, the MeNu Group A9 Macronutrient intakes in early life and subsequent risk of obesity Marie Françoise Rolland-Cachera A10 The burden of childhood obesity in Italy and the results of Nutrintake study Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti A11 Growth body composition and growth hormone therapy: linear growth Marco Cappa A12 Early nutrition pattern and late metabolic consequences Manuela Caruso-Nicoletti A13 Nutrition and Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) System Elena Inzaghi, Stefano Cianfarani A14 Nutrition of preterm infants Mario De Curtis A15 Early nutrition patterns and later metabolic outcomes- I part: Genetic and metabolic mechanisms Laura Guazzarotti A16 Diagnosis of metabolic disease by imaging techniques Lorenzo Iughetti A17 Nutrition, growth and cardiovascular diseases Francesco Chiarelli, Laura Comegna, Simone Franchini A18 Body fat mass and gender Laura Perrone, Giuseppina Rosaria Umano A19 Lifestyle interventions for an appropriate birth weight Elisabetta Petrella, Raffaele Bruno, Valentina Bertarini, Giulia Pedrielli, Isabella Neri, Fabio Facchinetti A20 Nutrition, growth and body composition Flavia Prodam A21 Nation-specific reference growth charts in the daily practice Alessandro Sartorio, John M. H. Buckler, Nicoletta Marazzi A22 Growth patterns in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and in cystic fibrosis (CF) Maria E. Street, Viviana D. Patianna, Paola Accorsi, Sara Lo Scocco, Sergio Amarri A23 Newborn in the digital era and their body feeling: physical exercise to counteract hyperphagia Alberto Pellai A24 Nutrition, young athletes and effects of exercise. Practical suggestions Giampiero Merati A25 Physical exercise as a way to prevent criminality in minors and teenagers Isabella Merzagora A26 The measurement of daily energy expenditure in children. Evaluation of a new wrist portable device vs breath-by-breath metabolimeter Susanna Rampichini, Arsenio Veicsteinas A27 Probiotic and inflammasomes Mario Clerici A28 Probiotics and newborns Paolo Manzoni, Elena Tavella, Elena Boano, Daniele Farina A29 Relationship between gut microbiota and obesity Fabio Pac