Covid-19: come la pandemia ha aumentato la food insecurity e alterato il regime alimentare nelle famiglie italiane

Background - The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and subsequent containment measures are causing a worldwide increase in food insecurity (FI). Food insecurity has been related to a number of negative health implications, particularly for the most vulnerable population, including children and adolescents. Aim - To investigate the effects on FI during the lockdown in Italy and the changes in eating habits and body weight in the paediatric population 6 months after the beginning of the pandemic. Materials and Methods - An online anonymous cross-sectional survey was elaborated and proposed to the parents of children < 18 years old. Results - 8.3% reported that their families were at risk of FI before the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This percentage dramatically doubled after the pandemic began. Moreover, 27.3% of the parents reported that their children were eating more, with a concomitant increase in "junk food" consumption. About one third of respondents declared an increase in children's weight, while weight loss were uncommon and prevailed among adolescents. It was observed that parents' higher age, higher parents' school grade and working parents were protective factors against FI. Conclusion - Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is requiring restrictions again, it is crucial that health care and social protection programmes take into account concepts of equity and sustainability to ensure adequate food and nutrition security for everyone

The Role of the Noradrenergic System in Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review

Noradrenaline (NE) is a catecholamine acting as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone, with relevant effects in modulating feeding behavior and satiety. Several studies have assessed the relationship between the noradrenergic system and Eating Disorders (EDs). This systematic review aims to report the existing literature on the role of the noradrenergic system in the development and treatment of EDs. A total of 35 studies were included. Preclinical studies demonstrated an involvement of the noradrenergic pathways in binge-like behaviors. Genetic studies on polymorphisms in genes coding for NE transporters and regulating enzymes have shown conflicting evidence. Clinical studies have reported non-unanimous evidence for the existence of absolute alterations in plasma NE values in patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN). Pharmacological studies have documented the efficacy of noradrenaline-modulating therapies in the treatment of BN and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Insufficient evidence was found concerning the noradrenergic-mediated genetics of BED and BN, and psychopharmacological treatments targeting the noradrenergic system in AN. According to these data, further studies are required to expand the existing knowledge on the noradrenergic system as a potential target for treatments of EDs

Parents’ Perception of Food Insecurity and of Its Effects on Their Children in Italy Six Months after the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and subsequent containment measures are causing an increase in food insecurity (FI) worldwide, with direct consequences on children&rsquo;s nutrition. We aimed to investigate the effects of the lockdown imposed in Italy on FI and changes in eating habits and body weight in the pediatric population 6 months after the beginning of the pandemic through a cross-sectional online survey proposed to parents of children &lt;18 and living in Italy. Among 5811 respondents, most of whom were Italian, living in Northern Italy, and with a wealthy household economy, 8.3% reported that their families were at risk of FI before the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 and, alarmingly, this percentage increased to 16.2% after the pandemic began, with households from Southern Italy being more at risk. Moreover, 27.3% of the parents reported that their children were eating more; an increase in &ldquo;junk food&rdquo; consumption was also found; 31.8% of the respondents declared an increase in children&rsquo;s weight; weight loss prevailed among adolescents. Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is again requiring restrictions, our findings might serve as a warning to politicians to promote healthy lifestyles and provide assistance to the groups in need

Social Determinants of Health and Distance Learning in Italy in the Era of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Objectives: To investigate the experiences by distance learning (DL) method during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy, and to search for correlations with purported experiences and respective levels of social determinants of health (SDH). Study design and methods: Cross-sectional online survey, investigating various SDH and parents&rsquo; attitude towards DL, proposed 6 months after the beginning of the pandemic to a sample population of parents with school-aged children throughout Italy. Results: A total of 3791 questionnaires were analyzed. Non-Italian parents complained more frequently of difficulties in providing support to their children in DL due to poor digital skills (p = 0.01), lack of good-quality digital equipment (p = 0.01), problems with the Italian language (p &lt; 0.001), and a lower level of education (p &lt; 0.001). When parents lived apart, greater difficulties in concentration in children using DL (p = 0.05) and a lower parental capacity to support DL (p = 0.002) were reported. Adequate digital structures appeared related to living in owned compared to rented property, higher levels of parental education, and better familial financial situations. Conclusions: Students from families with financial difficulties and low levels of parental education, or even those living in houses for rent or having separated parents, may be disadvantaged in an educational context since the introduction of DL

Liver transplantation versus liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis: a survival benefit analysis in patients stratified according to tumor burden score

Liver transplantation (LT) for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) may provide excellent survival rates in patients with unresectable disease. High tumor load is a risk factor for recurrence and low overall survival (OS) after liver resection (LR). We tested the hypothesis that LT could offer better survival than LR in patients with high tumor load. LR performed at Padua University Hospital for CRLM was compared with LT for unresectable CRLM performed both at Oslo and Padua. High tumor load was defined as tumor burden score (TBS) ≥ 9, and inclusion criteria were as in the SECA-I transplant study. 184 patients were eligible: 128 LRs and 56 LTs. 5-year OS after LR and LT was 40.5% and 54.7% (P = 0.102). In the high TBS cohort, 5-year OS after LR and LT was 22.7% and 52.2% (P = 0.055). In patients with Oslo score ≤ 2 and TBS ≥ 9 (13 LR; 24 LT) the 5-year OS after LR and LT was 14.6% and 69.1% (P = 0.002). The corresponding disease-free survival (DFS) was 0% and 22.9% (P = 0.005). Selected CRLM patients with low Oslo score and high TBS could benefit from LT with survival outcomes that are far better than what is achieved by LR

Immunological risk factors in biliary strictures after liver transplantation

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate immunological risk factors associated with BS (Biliary Strictures) after LT (Liver Transplantation). Material/Methods: The study included 192 patients out of 273 adult liver transplantations performed from August 2005 to December 2012, with a radiological or surgically proven biliary stricture. About 35 potential risk factors for biliary strictures were studied. Results: A biliary stricture was diagnosed in 22.9% of transplants; the anastomotic type and the non-anastomotic type complicated the transplantation in 18.2% and 7.8% of cases, respectively. Six patients (3.1%) presented both of forms. Univariate analysis using logistic regression showed that preoperative serum bilirubin level >2 mg/dl (P=0.040), donor age >46 years old (P=0.007), positive crossmatch (P=0.007), product of donor age and preoperative Model for End Stage Liver Disease (DMELD) >710 (P=0.011), occurrence of acute or chronic rejection (P=0.004; P=0.003), and biliary leak (P=0.002) were all significantly associated with the development of biliary stricture. At the multivariate analysis, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) (P=0.019), donor age >46 years (P=0.008), crossmatch positivity (P=0.001), and acute or chronic rejection (P=0.005; P=0.043) appeared to be the only variables independently associated with the development of a biliary stricture. Conclusions: Immunological risk factors (PBC, crossmatch positivity, acute and chronic rejection) emerged as being the most important variables associated to the development of biliary strictures after L

Clinical and psychopathological profiles of children with somatic symptom disorders in a pediatric emergency unit: an observational study before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

: Somatic symptom disorders (SSDs) are a group of clinical conditions characterized by heterogeneous physical symptoms, not directly supported by a demonstrable organic process. Despite representing a growing problem in the pediatric age, the literature lacks studies assessing the psychopathological and clinical features of subjects with SSD, particularly during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This is a retrospective, observational study, involving two historical cohorts of children admitted to a tertiary referral Italian hospital over the 2&nbsp;years preceding and following the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Demographic, clinical, socio-economical, and psychological variables were investigated. Standardized tests for the developmental age were administered to assess psychopathological variables. Overall rates and trends of accesses for SSD, as compared to the total accesses for any cause at the Pediatric Emergency Room during the same periods, were reported as well. Fifty-one (pre-pandemic, 29; pandemic, 22) children with SSD were enrolled (age, 11.4 ± 2.4&nbsp;years, F = 66.7%). Subjects in the pandemic historical cohort reported more frequently fever (p &lt; 0.001), headache (p = 0.032), and asthenia (p &lt; 0.001), as well as more chronic conditions in personal and family history, and fewer previous hospital accesses, as compared to the pre-pandemic cohort. Depressed mood and anxious traits were documented in both samples. None of them had an ongoing or a previously reported SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the pandemic, a clinical psychologist was more frequently consulted before the hospital discharge to mental health services, to support the diagnosis.&nbsp; Conclusion: This study showed the significant burden of SSD in children, highlighting the need to implement pediatricians' education to optimize the management of these patients. Children with SSD who accessed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presented specific clinical features. Future studies, conducted on longitudinal and controlled samples, are indicated to further investigate children with these conditions. What is Known: &nbsp; &nbsp;•&nbsp;Somatic symptoms disorders (SSDs) are frequent in the pediatric age, especially in early adolescence. &nbsp; &nbsp;•&nbsp;Evidence remains scarce on the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on SSDs in children. What is New: &nbsp; &nbsp;•&nbsp;Children with SSD who accessed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presented specific clinical features. &nbsp; &nbsp;• The implementation of pediatricians' education and a multidisciplinary approach are needed to optimize the management of SSDs