Minerva Pediatrics最新文献

Background: The purpose was to explore the effect of targeted responsibility system nursing combined with psychological intervention on compliance and complications of patients with autologous nasal septum cartilage and ear cartilage transplantation filling.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 80 patients who underwent rhinoplasty with autologous septal cartilage and ear cartilage graft filling was conducted. Patients before the implementation of the "targeted accountable care combined with psychological intervention" program from January 2020 to December 2020 were set up as the control group (N.=40), and patients after the implementation of the program from January 2021 to December 2021 were set up as the study group (N.=40). The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Lund-Kennedy Endoscopy Score, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), treatment compliance, and complications were compared between the two groups.

Results: At two weeks postoperatively, HAMA and HAMD were lower in the study group than in the control group (t=9.087, 9.265, P<0.05), and bilateral Lund-Kennedy scores were lower in the study group than in the control group (t=8.761, 10.267, P<0.05). The study group had a higher compliance excellence rate (75.00% vs. 52.50%) than the control group (χ²=4.021, P<0.05) and a lower complication rate (7.50% vs. 27.50%) than the control group (χ²=4.242, P<0.05).

Conclusions: Targeted accountable care combined with psychological intervention can alleviate negative emotions in patients with nasal septum cartilage and ear cartilage graft filling, reduce the risk of postoperative soft tissue edema and other complications, and improve patient compliance with treatment.

Dietary fibers (DFs) are essential components of human nutrition and are principally defined as non-digestible carbohydrates (oligosaccharides and polysaccharides) usually classified by their physicochemical and physiological characteristics (water solubility, viscosity, fermentability, and bulking effect). Unfortunately, there is limited information on dietary fiber recommendations for children, and the evidence on their effect on health and symptom control is mainly available for the adult population. Therefore, this review aims to give a comprehensive overview of the characteristics and dietary sources of dietary fiber and their potential health benefits in healthy children but also their potential use in the treatment of sick children.

Ultrasonography (US) or diagnostic sonography is a radiographic technique that uses sound waves with frequencies higher than 20 kHz to demonstrate soft tissues such as muscles, internal organs, joints, and tendons. The US has various applications in dentistry such as cervical lymph node examination, salivary gland examination, periodontal examination, maxillofacial fracture examination, temporomandibular joint examination, and orofacial swelling examination. One of the most important advantages of the US is it does not produce any ionizing radiation. Since the US does not produce any ionizing radiation, it is a favorable technique especially for the patients who are susceptible to ionizing radiation such as pregnant patients and pediatric patients. In this article, we presented benign tumor lesions that were examined with the US in children and conducted a review of the literature.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on the mental health of children and adolescents. The literature lacks large-scale research evaluating its consequences on teenagers with feeding and eating disorders (FED). This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a population of patients of developmental age.

Methods: This single-center observational study compares two historical cohorts of children and adolescents diagnosed with FED, with a first consultation before (1^st March 2018 to 31^st October 2019) and during (1^st March 2020 to 31^st October 2021) pandemic. Demographic, clinical, nutritional, and treatment variables were assessed.

Results: We enrolled 479 patients (F=398, 83.1%), including 205 (F=161, 78.5% mean age 14.5±2.5, range 7.9-17.9 years) belonging to the first historical cohort and 274 (F=237, 86.5%; 14.4±2.1, range 6.5-17.9) to the second one (+33.7%). Increased mean new accesses/month (P=0.042) and a greater percentage of females (P=0.042) during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period emerged. Physical hyperactivity (P=0.022) and suicidal behaviors (P=0.030) increased, while fewer patients required hospitalization (P=0.013).

Conclusions: An increase in first visits for FED after the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, with females being the most affected. Physical hyperactivity and self-harming behaviors were intensified, while patients in need of hospitalization were reduced. Longitudinal studies are required.

Background: In patients undergoing appendectomy, postoperative complications are more likely to occur with complicated appendicitis. Abdominal drainage may occasionally be used to prevent such scenarios. It is unclear, though, how abdominal drains help to reduce problems after surgery.

Methods: Pediatric patients who underwent appendectomy for complicated appendicitis at a tertiary center between October 2021 and September 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Following appendectomy, patients with and without peritoneal drains were contrasted in terms of preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes.

Results: Thirty-seven of 83 patients (44.58%) undergoing emergency laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis received abdominal drainage. The drain group had longer hospital stay (9 days [IQR 6-11] vs. 6 days [IQR 4-8], P=0.0002) and longer time to CRP normalization (6 days [IQR 4-9.5] vs. 8 days [7-12], P=0.0222) compared to the no-drain group. The drain group also had a higher complication rate (30.56% vs. 23.81%, P=0.6107), although such finding was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: The use of abdominal drains after laparoscopic appendectomy did not significantly prevent postoperative complications in complicated appendicitis. Instead, it was associated with longer hospitalization, although patients in the drain group are likely to have experienced more severe conditions.

Background: Identification and addressing of pediatric obesity are the first steps in its management, and Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) visits have a potential to increase its awareness. The main aim of this study was to examine if posters placed in the PED alerting to obesity increased its documentation.

Methods: The design of this paper is that of an interventional study which took place at a large tertiary PED during May-August 2022. Obesity listing in PED charts of children with obesity was defined as weight percentile >90 and examined over two weeks before poster placement, during four weeks of display, and for four weeks after their removal. Logistic mixed models were used to examine the associations between several factors and obesity documentation.

Results: During the whole study period, there were 4174 PED visits of children aged >2 that had body weight data, of which 590 (14.2%) had obesity. Obesity addressing in charts of children with obesity was found in 2/134 (1.5%) before poster placement, 7/229 (3.1%) during placement, and 10/227 (4.4%) after removal, but this 2-3-fold increase was not statistically significant (P=0.313). There were only 28 scans of a QR code on the poster that offered obesity treatment options, and only two parents filled its questionnaire.

Conclusions: Poster placement could possibly improve obesity discussion in the PED, yet larger samples and additional techniques are needed.