Publications by authors named "Francesca Casini"

Involvement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has been increasingly reported, affecting up to 87% of cases. This involvement generally occurs after the diagnosis of JIA has been established; however, in the authors' cases, as in a few others documented in the literature, patients presented with isolated TMJ arthritis as the sole joint involvement. The authors performed a narrative literature review on TMJ involvement in JIA and reported 2 cases that presented with isolated TMJ arthritis as the initial manifestation of JIA.

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Aim: The aim of this review was to summarise the most recent evidence about the use of omics-based techniques as an instrument for a more rapid and accurate characterisation of respiratory tract infections, neurological infections and sepsis in paediatrics.

Methods: We performed a narrative review using PubMed and a set of inclusion criteria: English language articles, clinical trials, meta-analysis and reviews including only paediatric population inherited to this topic in the last 15 years.

Results: The examined studies suggest that host gene expression signatures are an effective method to characterise the different types of infections, to distinguish infection from colonisation and, in some cases, to assess the severity of the disease in children.

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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) consist of a broad group of restorative resources often linked to existing local cultures and established health care systems and are also increasingly used in children with some serious illnesses. In this narrative review, we examine the epidemiology of the use, efficacy, and safety of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric oncology, neurology, and hepatology. We searched for relevant articles published in Pubmed evaluating CAM use and its efficacy in safety in children affected by oncologic, neurologic and liver diseases.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects a considerable percentage of females of reproductive age. PCOS is an obesity-related condition and its effects are greatly amplified by obesity. Even though the pathogenesis of PCOS remains complex and has not been fully elucidated, a link between obesity, PCOS, and dysbiosis has been described.

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Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy caused by a permanent sensitivity to gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. In rare cases, CD may occur with a severe potential life-threatening manifestation known as a celiac crisis (CC). This may be a consequence of a delayed diagnosis and expose patients to possible fatal complications.

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Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by rod-cone dystrophy, renal dysfunction, obesity, learning difficulties, hypogonadism, polydactyl, and many other minor features that can affect the cardiovascular, locomotive, neurological, and endocrine systems. We report the case of a 16-year-old boy affected by Bardet-Biedl syndrome who presented with recurrent pericarditis with an optimal response to treatment with Anakinra. To our knowledge, this is the first description of an association between Bardet-Biedl syndrome and recurrent pericarditis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Obesity is a major health issue affecting both adults and children, with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise being the primary treatment methods, though often ineffective.
  • Pharmacological treatments for obesity in children can be considered only when lifestyle modifications have failed, and this review focuses on current approved and experimental medications for pediatric patients.
  • The study highlights the need for more research on the safety and effectiveness of new medications to enhance weight management strategies for children and prevent obesity-related health problems.
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Dirofilariasis is a rare infection caused by a vector-borne nematode that can be accidentally transmitted to humans. We report a case of a 11-year-old child with a painless scrotal cyst caused by Dirofilaria repens , initially suspected by ultrasound scan and then confirmed by histopathologic examination.

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Background: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is an IgA-mediated small vessel vasculitis, typical of childhood. It's a self-limiting disease and it affects different systems. HSP is characterized by dermatological, abdominal, joint and renal clinical manifestations.

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In the Lombardy Region, Italy, HPV vaccination is recommended and offered free of charge to 12-years-old males since 2017. The expected vaccination thresholds are still far to be reached. A cross-sectional survey to investigate parents' attitudes towards the HPV vaccine and knowledge about HPV was administered to parents of boys aged 6 to 18 years attending a large pediatric hospital for outpatient specialistic evaluations.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study characterized pediatric antibiotic-associated neutropenia by examining various treatment options and their timing in a clinical context, utilizing data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), chart reviews, and literature.
  • Researchers analyzed 281 events linked to antibiotics, finding that the median time to onset (TTO) of neutropenia varied, with shorter TTOs documented in retrospective reviews compared to broader literature.
  • While most cases of antibiotic-associated neutropenia are benign, the condition can occasionally lead to serious outcomes, highlighting the importance of clinician awareness for effective monitoring and patient safety.
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