Ricerc@Sapienza

Eye charts are typically optimized to assess visual acuity (VA) with constant and controlled spacing, while close-to-acuity crowding limits letter identification in the normal fovea when adjacent letters are closely spaced. Here we developed a clinical tool that enables the assessment of acuity with different levels of crowding. In a cross-sectional study, we examined the developmental trajectories with our newly devised Milan Eye Chart (MEC).

Perfectionism is a multidimensional personality trait that encom- passes two higher-order dimensions: Perfectionistic Strivings (i.e., the strive to achieve exceedingly high standards) and Perfectionistic Concerns (i.e., negative self-evaluation and fear of failure). Both dimensions are related to eating disorders (EDs) in clinical and community adults. The association between perfectionism and EDs has also been observed in children but, to date, no review has summarized the relevant empirical findings with children under the age of 14.

Healthy adults show typical error biases when they mentally bisect number intervals without exact calculations. For a given number interval length, the bisection bias is in fact modulated by the position that the interval occupies within a ten. For intervals positioned at the beginning of tens the error bias is directed toward values that are higher than those of the true interval midpoint whereas for intervals at the end of tens the direction of the error bias is reversed toward values that are lower than that of the true midpoint (Doricchi et al., 2009; Rotondaro et al., 2015).

The early identification of ruminative processes in children and early adolescents is particularly important to prevent the development of a stable ruminative style in later stages of development. The present study first aimed at validating a child-friendly tool, Kid Rumination Interview (KRI), to be used in a sample aged 7–12 years (n?=?100; 50% females). Second, we hypothesized that maternal depression, family functioning and participants’ emotion regulation skills would be associated with children’ levels of rumination.

In adults, rumination has been associated with costs at affective, cognitive, and physiological levels. We examined if rumination in children is characterized by the same dysfunctional consequences and the possible moderating role of family functioning (cohesion and flexibility) and parents' trait rumination and depression. After induction of rumination, forty children (20 girls; 9.6 years) performed a tracking task with thought probes while their mood, reaction times (RT), heart rate (HR), and variability (HRV) were assessed.

OBJECTIVES: We describe the way we treated 7 children with critical long-term complications after metallic balloon-expandable stenting in the left mainstem bronchus. METHODS: Endoscopic follow-up included a first bronchoscopy 3 weeks after stenting, then monthly for 3 months, every 4-6 months up to 1 year and at scheduled times to calibrate stent diameter up to final calibration. When major complications occurred, patients underwent chest computed tomographic angiography. RESULTS: In 1 of the 7 children (median age 2.8 years), metallic left bronchial stenting served as a bridge to surgery.

Tracheomalacia (TM) and tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) may be primary abnormalities of the large airways or associated with a wide variety of congenital and acquired conditions. The evidence on diagnosis, classification and management is scant. There is no universally accepted classification of severity. Clinical presentation includes early-onset stridor or fixed wheeze, recurrent infections, brassy cough and even near-death attacks, depending on the site and severity of the lesion.

Background: The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology guidelines, strongly recommended allergen immunotherapy (AIT) as an effective treatment to achieve long-term clinical benefits and to modify the natural history of al- lergic diseases. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) offers the possibility of home administration, which improves patient com- fort and compliance.
Objective: The primary outcome of this study was to assess the change in nasal reactivity after grass-pollen AIT treatment.

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.

Aim: Sclerosing cholangitis (SC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease that is being increasingly diagnosed in childhood. The long-term course and prognosis of pediatric SC are poorly described. Methods: We reviewed data of pediatric SC patients, followed in two referral centers, during a period of up to 20 years. We aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes according to SC phenotype. Results: Among 45 patients (median age, 10.4 years; male patients, 73.4%) 29 (64.4%) were asymptomatic at presentation. Twenty patients (44%) had a concomitant inflammatory bowel disease (SC/IBD).