Fasting Neurotensin Levels in Pediatric Celiac Disease Compared with a Control Cohort

Background and Aims. Neurotensin (NT) is a gut hormone secreted by specific endocrine cells scattered throughout the epithelial layer of the small intestine, which has been identified as an important mediator in several gastrointestinal functions and disease conditions. Its potential involvement in celiac disease (CD) has been investigated, but there are conflicting findings. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum NT levels in children with CD at diagnosis, compared to a control group, and to investigate whether NT correlated in CD patients with symptoms, antibody response, and intestinal mucosal damage. Materials and Methods. Children (1-16 years old) undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy for CD or for other clinical reasons were included in this study. Patients with CD diagnosed according to the 2012 European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines without biopsy were also recruited. Fasting serum samples were analyzed for NT levels using ELISA. Logistic regression, Wilcoxon rank sum, and Spearman's rank tests were used for statistical analysis. Results. Thirty children (18 females, 2.2-15.9 years old) were enrolled. Of 25 patients who underwent endoscopy, 9 were CD patients, 13 were controls, and 3 were excluded due to nonspecific inflammation at duodenal biopsy. CD was diagnosed in 5 patients without biopsy. NT median was higher in CD patients compared to controls (13.25 (IQR 9.4-17.5) pg/ml vs. 7.8 (IQR 7.6-10) pg/ml; p=0.02). No statistically significant association between NT and clinical, serological, or histological data of CD was observed in this CD cohort. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluates NT in CD children from Italy. Results show that NT is higher in the serum of CD children at diagnosis compared to controls. However, larger-scale studies are required to validate these findings. Whether serum NT levels can be an adjunctive marker for pediatric CD remains currently elusive

The comprehensive clinic, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation of children with COVID-19: a 6-months prospective study

Objectives: To perform a comprehensive clinic, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation of children affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: Children with a positive result of nasopharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) underwent laboratory tests, anal and conjunctival swab, electrocardiography, lung, abdomen, and cardiac ultrasound. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed if abnormal basal blood pressure. Patients were followed-up for 6 months. Results: Three hundred and sixteen children were evaluated; 15 were finally included. Confirmed family member SARS-CoV-2 infection was present in all. Twenty-seven percent were asymptomatic. Anal and conjunctival swabs tests resulted negative in all. Patients with lower body mass index (BMI) presented significantly higher viral loads. Main laboratory abnormalities were: lactate dehydrogenase increasing (73%), low vitamin D levels (87%), hematuria (33%), proteinuria (26%), renal hyperfiltration (33%), and hypofiltration (13%). Two of the patients with hyperfiltration exhibited high blood pressure levels at diagnosis, and persistence of prehypertension at 6-month follow-up. No abnormalities were seen at ultrasound, excepting for one patient who exhibited B-lines at lung sonography. Immunoglobulin G seroconversion was observed in all at 1-month. Conclusions: Our study confirm that intra-family transmission is important. The significant higher viral loads recorded among patients with lower BMI, together with low vitamin D levels, support the impact of nutritional status on immune system. Renal involvement is frequent even among children with mild COVID-19, therefore prompt evaluation and identification of patients with reduced renal function reserve would allow a better stratification and management of patients. Seroconversion occurs also in asymptomatic children, with no differences in antibodies titer according to age, sex and clinical manifestations

Dietary Compliance and Quality of Life in Celiac Disease: A Long-Term Follow-Up of Primary School Screening-Detected Patients

Background: Whether the diagnostic approach for celiac disease (CD) can really affect quality of life (QoL) and dietary compliance remains controversial. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate QoL and compliance to gluten-free diet (GFD) in adolescents/young adults diagnosed with CD through a screening strategy during childhood compared to age-matched CD patients diagnosed by case-finding and to assess whether follow-up at a referral center for CD influences compliance and QoL. Materials and Methods: Thirty-seven CD patients who were diagnosed by screening programs (SC-group) and 38 age-matched CD patients diagnosed due to symptoms (CF-group) were enrolled. Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire on QoL, dietary compliance, and follow-up care for CD. Results: Twenty-nine patients of the SC-group (median age 18.0 years, interquartile range [IQR] 16.0–19.0) and 31 patients of the CF-group (median age 17.0 years, IQR 15.5–18.0) completed the questionnaire. No significant difference relating adherence to the GFD and QoL was shown between the two groups. The majority (93.5%) of CF-group regularly had annual follow-up at a referral center compared to 37.9% of the SC-group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The diagnostic strategy does not seem to impact QoL and dietary compliance. However, implementation of follow-up might still be necessary for patients identified through screening

Anaphylaxis after wheat ingestion in a patient with coeliac disease: Two kinds of reactions and the same culprit food

In recent years, the role of atopic dermatitis epidermal skin barrier defects in inducing a transcutaneous allergic sensitization is highly debated, possibly explaining why some children with eczema are sensitized to foods they have never eaten. In our specific situation, the association between coeliac disease and wheat allergy might be particularly harmful owing to unavoidable strict food avoidance. We describe the case of a young boy affected by coeliac disease who, after an occasional unexpected ingestion of gluten, experienced a complete anaphylactic reaction characterized by urticarial, labial angioedema, wheezing, and hypotension. To better investigate the state of allergic sensitization to wheat in our patient, we then performed the component resolved diagnosis, which showed Tri a19 2 kU/l and Tri a14 0.3 kU/l. These results demonstrated the association of IgE-mediated allergy to wheat and coeliac disease. The natural course of specific IgE in allergic patients who are on a food-free diet needs further investigation, such as the possible influence that the increasing popularity of gluten-free diets may have on the epidemiology of wheat allergy in westernized societies. National and International registers of cases of anaphylaxis may improve the still limited knowledge in this field. The final message of our contribution is that the decision to eliminate a food should to take into account a patient's awareness of possible consequences

Physical and neurological development of a girl born to a mother with methylmalonic acidemia and kidney transplantation and review of the literature

Background: actual literature suggests that children of methylmalonic acidemia patients are mostly healthy, but data are only partial, especially regarding long-term outcome. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the possible long-term neurological effects of fetal exposure to high levels of methylmalonic acid in a child of a renal transplant recipient. Methods: we retrospectively evaluated the clinical and neurological records of a girl whose mother is a kidney transplant recipient affected by methylmalonic acidemia. Subsequently, we compared our results with the ones already published. Results: the girl’s weight and stature were within the normal range in the first years of life but, starting from 4 years of age, she became progressively overweight. Regarding the neurodevelopment aspects, for the first time we performed a complete and seriated neuropsychological evaluation, highlighting a mild but significant weakness in the verbal domain, with a worsening trend at three-year revaluation. Conclusions: since children of MMA patients are exposed to methylmalonic acid, the efforts of the physicians caring for these children should be directed on careful evaluation of growth, prevention of obesity and regular neurological examination together with structured neuropsychological tests to achieve a better insight in possible complications of pregnancy in patients suffering from this condition

Prognosis in women with small (T1mic,T1a,T1b) node-negative operable breast cancer by immunohistochemically selected subtypes

Background: Knowledge is limited about prognostic significance of breast cancer subtypes among women with small invasive node-negative breast tumors. Methods: We explored patterns of recurrence in 1,715 patients with pT1mic/T1a/T1b, node-negative operable breast cancer according to four immunohistochemically defined tumour subtypes: (i) Luminal A (ER-positive, PgR-positive, HER2-negative and Ki-67<14%); (ii) Luminal B (ER-positive and/or PgR-positive, HER2-positive and/or Ki-67≥14%); (iii) HER2-positive, both endocrine receptors absent; and (iv) triple negative. Results: At multivariate analysis, patients with the triple-negative subtype showed an increased risk of loco-regional relapse (HR 3.37; 95%CI: 1.31-8.70) and breast cancer related events (HR 2.17; 95%CI: 1.04-4.53). Overall, Luminal B was not associated with a significant higher risk of recurrence compared with Luminal A, while the subgroup of Lumimal B with HER2-positive has a 2-fold risk of reduced breast cancer survival compared with Luminal A subtype. HER2 was the only subtype with a statistically significant increased risk of loco-regional relapse (HR, 4.77; 95%CI: 1.65-13.8), distant metastases, and reduced breast cancer related event-free survival and overall survival (HR, 2.95; 95%CI: 1.07-8.10) if compared with the Luminal A subtype, at multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Patients with small size, node-negative breast cancer are at higher risk of relapse if with HER2-positive endocrine receptor absent or triple-negative disease. Multivariate analysis

Assessment of cardio-respiratory function in overweight and obese children wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: To evaluate whether the use of a surgical and N95 mask for overweight and obese children was associated with respiratory distress. Methods: We enrolled 15 healthy and 14 overweight or obese children. We performed two sessions: one wearing a surgical, the other an N95 mask. We tracked changes in partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2), oxygen saturation (SaO2), pulse rate (PR), and respiratory rate (RR) during a 72 min test: 30 min without a mask, 30 min wearing a mask, and then during a 12 min walking test. Results: In healthy children, there was no significant change in SaO2 and PETCO2 during the study; there was a significant increase in PR and RR after the walking test with both the masks. In overweight or obese children, there was no significant change in SaO2 during the study period; there was a significant increase in PETCO2 as fast as wearing the mask and an increase in PETCO2, PR, and RR after walking test. After the walking test, we showed a significant correlation between PETCO2 and body mass index. Conclusion: Overweight or Obese children who wear a mask are more prone to developing respiratory distress, which causes them to remove it frequently. In a crowded environment, they are at greater risk of infection. For this reason, it is desirable that they attend environments where everyone uses a mask