First results from the international paediatric bronchiectasis registry (Child-BEAR-Net Registry) describing multicountry variations in childhood bronchiectasis and its management: a multicentre, cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite increasing recognition of bronchiectasis worldwide, there are no multicountry data characterising bronchiectasis in children. We aimed to describe clinical features, comparing inter-country and regional variations, and describe indices of overall quality-of-care standards assessed against international consensus statements for children and young people with bronchiectasis.

Methods: Child-BEAR-Net is an international collaborative paediatric bronchiectasis network across several continents.

Systematic Review and Expert Consensus on the Use of Long-acting Monoclonal Antibodies for Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease: ARMADA (Advancing RSV Management And Disease Awareness) Taskforce.

Background: Long-acting monoclonal antibodies (LAmAbs) could dramatically reduce the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease burden in children if implemented using clear, evidence-based recommendations.

Methods: The ARMADA Taskforce-an international, multidisciplinary expert panel-undertook a systematic review to develop LAmAbs consensus recommendations for RSV disease prevention in children.

Results: The Taskforce recommends LAmAbs for all infants aged <8 months in the absence of maternal RSV vaccination, preterm infants (<37 weeks' gestational age) aged <12 months, and children <24 months with high-risk conditions.

Viral Bronchiolitis in Infants in the Era of Targeted Therapies: What Now and What's Next?

Background: Viral bronchiolitis is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and the leading cause of hospitalization in infants under 1 year of age. Most clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) recommend a minimalist management approach based on supportive therapy, focusing solely on maintaining oxygenation and hydration.

Objectives: To examine the reasons behind the poor adherence to evidence-based guidelines for bronchiolitis in real-world clinical practice and to explore potential strategies to improve future management.

Complementary Strategy of Maternal Immunization with RSVpreF Vaccine and Monoclonal Antibodies for the Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Among Italian Infants: A Cost-Effectiveness Assessment.

Introduction: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections and is one of the primary causes of hospitalization in high income countries and death among children aged ≤ 1 year in lower income countries where the healthcare systems not always have the resources to provide appropriate intensive care to all infants with severe RSV infection. On the basis of the results of a large programme of clinical trials, the European Medicine Agency has recently approved a Bivalent Stabilized Prefusion F Subunit Vaccine (RSVpreFV) for maternal immunization, with a year-round administration between 24-36 weeks of gestation. The objective of the study is providing an estimation of the efficiency of complementary strategy RSVpreF and monoclonal antibodies for the prevention of RSV among Italian infants.

Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy modifies the expression of interferon beta and inflammatory genes in the airways of adult patients with cystic fibrosis: a pilot study.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies have revolutionized the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) by targeting the underlying protein defect. Investigating how elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy affects interferon (IFN) signalling and inflammatory cytokine production in CF airway epithelial cells may clarify its role in alleviating the dysregulated innate immune response. Clinical efficacy was evaluated in 26 modulator-naive CF patients with at least one F508del mutation before and after 3 and 6 months of ETI treatment.

ARIA-Italy multidisciplinary consensus on nasal polyposis and biological treatments: Update 2025.

In recent years, it was recognized that type-2 inflammation connects nasal polyposis and severe asthma (SA) in addition to other type-2 diseases. Thus, some biological drugs developed for SA appeared to exert a favourable effect also in nasal polyposis. So far, there are several trials supporting this concept; therefore, some monoclonal antibodies already used for SA were assessed also in chronic rhinosinusistis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), with promising results.

Pediatric Congenital Lung Malformation: Advanced Imaging Techniques in Pre- and Neonatal Evaluation.

Pediatric congenital lung malformations (CLMs) comprise a spectrum of developmental anomalies of lung parenchyma, airways, and vasculature. CLMs are increasingly diagnosed prenatally but remain best characterized by postnatal cross-sectional imaging. During pregnancy, ultrasound (US) and fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly used to monitor lung lesions.

Long COVID in pediatric age: an observational, prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study in Italy.

Introduction: This observational prospective longitudinal multicenter study examines the occurrence and characteristics of long COVID (LC) in the Italian pediatric population.

Methods: Conducted across 12 Pediatric Units in Italy from January to March 2022, the study involved 1129 children diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires at 1-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months post-infection, with LC defined as symptoms persisting for at least 2 months and occurring 3 months post-diagnosis.

Children With 22.Q.11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Management.

Patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) are predisposed to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to an abnormal craniofacial anatomy with pharyngeal hypotonia, retrognathia, micrognathia, and glossoptosis. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and management of OSA in a cohort of children with 22q11DS.

Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in a Group of Italian Patients With Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

Introduction: Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by abnormalities in the motile cilia. Diagnosis could be hard to make, but genetic analysis could be important for the diagnosis and for defining prognosis.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the clinical, ultrastructural, and molecular characteristics of a cohort of PCD subjects.

Treatment of sinusitis in children: an Italian intersociety consensus (SIPPS-SIP-SITIP-FIMP-SIAIP-SIMRI-SIM-FIMMG).

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses. Bacterial sinusitis usually occurs as a complication of viral infections of the upper respiratory tract and is a frequent cause of medical consultation. The clinical presentation of acute bacterial sinusitis can vary.

The added value of diagnostics to characterize age-specific patterns of respiratory viral infections and coinfections and to detect emerging threats.

Background: Pandemic restrictions caused variation in respiratory virus circulation until the winter of 2022/23. The aim of this study was to monitor respiratory virus cases in the 2023/24 epidemic season.

Methods: Children and adults attending Sapienza University Hospital for acute respiratory infections (October 2023-June 2024) were tested for respiratory viruses via molecular methods.

Economic and clinical burden associated with respiratory syncytial virus and impact of universal immunization with nirsevimab in Italy.

Objectives: To describe the seasonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) burden in Italy considering the current prophylaxis strategy with palivizumab recommended only for high-risk infants (representing only 4.4% of an estimated birth cohort) and to evaluate the potential benefits of a new prophylaxis strategy targeting all infants with nirsevimab.

Methods: A static decision analytic model previously used in the US was adapted to evaluate the RSV-related health and cost outcomes associated with nirsevimab versus standard of care (SoC) for the prevention of RSV medically attended lower respiratory tract infections (RSV-MA-LRTIs).

NRF2 Antioxidant Response and Interferon-Stimulated Genes Are Differentially Expressed in SARS-CoV-2-Positive Young Subjects.

Background: Several respiratory viruses, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), suppress nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (NRF2) antioxidant response, generating oxidative stress conditions to its advantage. NRF2 has also been reported to regulate the innate immune response through the inhibition of the interferon (IFN) pathway. However, its modulation in younger individuals and its correlation with the IFN response remain to be elucidated.

Treatment of acute pharyngitis in children: an Italian intersociety consensus (SIPPS-SIP-SITIP-FIMP-SIAIP-SIMRI-FIMMG).

Sore throat represents one of the main causes of antibiotic overprescription in children. Its management is still a matter of debate, with countries considering streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis a benign and self-limiting condition and others advocating for its antibiotic treatment to prevent suppurative complications and acute rheumatic fever. Italian paediatricians frequently prescribe antibiotics on a clinical basis regardless of microbiological results.

Treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia in previously healthy children: an Italian intersociety consensus (SIPPS-SIP-SITIP-FIMP-SIAIP-SIMRI-FIMMG-SIMG).

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an acute infection of the lung parenchyma acquired outside the hospital or other healthcare settings, typically affecting previously healthy individuals. This intersociety consensus aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the antibiotic treatment of mild to moderate CAP in previously healthy children in Italy.A systematic review was conducted to identify the most recent and relevant evidence.

The role of respiratory function tests in infants with stridor: diagnosis at glance and follow-up.

Background: Recently, the development of advanced, noninvasive methods has allowed the study of respiratory function even in uncooperative infants. To date, there is still little data on the application of this technique in infants with suspected airway obstruction.

The Aims Of Our Study Were: - To evaluate the role of respiratory function testing (PFR) in the diagnosis and follow-up of infants with stridor - To evaluate the differences between patients with inspiratory stridor and expiratory stridor.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: The Urgent Need for Innovative Preventive Strategies.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a medium-sized enveloped Pneumovirus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family [...

Sharenting: characteristics and awareness of parents publishing sensitive content of their children on online platforms.

Background: The term "sharenting" describes the increasingly popular habit of parents to share photos, videos, or other information regarding their children on their social profiles, through online platforms. It is highly likely that many parents are posting content about their underage children online with little knowledge of the risks associated with this practice. This study aims to investigate whether variables such as parents' age, gender, marital status, occupation and educational level influence the practice of sharing child-related content and the degree of awareness.

Antitumour effects of SFX-01 molecule in combination with ionizing radiation in preclinical and in vivo models of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Background: Despite a multimodal approach including surgery, chemo- and radiotherapy, the 5-year event-free survival rate for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft tissue sarcoma in childhood, remains very poor for metastatic patients, mainly due to the selection and proliferation of tumour cells driving resistance mechanisms. Personalised medicine-based protocols using new drugs or targeted therapies in combination with conventional treatments have the potential to enhance the therapeutic effects, while minimizing damage to healthy tissues in a wide range of human malignancies, with several clinical trials being started. In this study, we analysed, for the first time, the antitumour activity of SFX-01, a complex of synthetic d, l-sulforaphane stabilised in alpha-cyclodextrin (Evgen Pharma plc, UK), used as single agent and in combination with irradiation, in four preclinical models of alveolar and embryonal RMS.

Pertussis outbreak in neonates and young infants across Italy, January to May 2024: implications for vaccination strategies.

Since January 2024, Italy experiences a pertussis outbreak, primarily affecting neonates and unvaccinated infants at high risk of severe complications and mortality; 11 major paediatric centres noted 108 hospitalisations and three deaths by 10 May. The outbreak reflects increased circulation of and non-adherence to immunisation recommendations during pregnancy. Public health interventions, including maternal immunisation, vaccination of infants as early as possible and post-exposure prophylaxis, are critical for reducing the burden of pertussis and preventing further mortality.

Expiratory braking defines the breathing patterns of asphyxiated neonates during therapeutic hypothermia.

Introduction: Although neonatal breathing patterns vary after perinatal asphyxia, whether they change during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) remains unclear. We characterized breathing patterns in infants during TH for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and normothermia after rewarming.

Methods: In seventeen spontaneously breathing infants receiving TH for HIE and in three who did not receive TH, we analyzed respiratory flow and esophageal pressure tracings for respiratory timing variables, pulmonary mechanics and respiratory effort.