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The effect of obesity on lung function in children stratified by asthma status is not fully elucidated. We evaluated the impact of adiposity indices, including Body Mass Index (BMI) and estimated fat mass (eFT), on lung changes in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children with rhinitis. We performed a retrospective review of 400 pediatric patients, classified into an asthma group (n = 200) and a no-asthma group (n = 200). According to the BMI z-score all subjects were classified into normal-weight patients (NW; −2 ≤ BMI z-score <1) and overweight patients/patients with obesity (OW/OB; BMI z-score ≥1). Lung function parameters were measured by spirometry. BMI and eFM were considered as adiposity indices. Excess weight/obesity was present in 37 % of patients. The OW/OB group showed higher basal forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC) and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1), FEV 1 /FVC ratio compared to the NW group (p ≤ 0.01). FVC and FEV 1 were correlated with the BMI z-score, and FEV 1 /FVC with eFT (p ≤ 0.01). No differences were noted between the NW and the OW/OB groups in terms of respiratory parameters except for FVC (p < 0.01). In the OW/OB group, asthma patients were significantly different based on FEV 1 , FEV 1 /FVC, and forced expiratory flow at 25–75 % of FVC (FEF 25/75) (p < 0.01). The BMI z-score was correlated with FVC and FEV 1 in both the no-asthma and asthma groups (p ≤ 0.01 and p ≤ 0.05, respectively), while eFM was correlated with FEV 1 /FVC (p = 0.007) in the asthma group only. Obesity seems to have a significant impact on lung function in children with respiratory allergic diseases. BMI and eFM may be used to evaluate the impact of adiposity on lung function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been much discussion about the role of diet and antiviral immunity in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Intake levels of vitamins D, C, B12, and iron have been demonstrated to be correlated with lower COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Obesity has been demonstrated to be an independent risk for the severity of COVID-19 infection in adults and also in children. This may be due to different mechanisms, mainly including the gut dysbiosis status observed in obese children. Moreover, the existence of a gut–lung axis added new knowledge to on the potential mechanisms by which diet and dietary substances may affect immune function. The aim of this narrative review is to address the intricate inter-relationship between COVID-19, immune function, and obesity-related inflammation and to describe the role of nutrients and dietary patterns in enhancing the immune system. Two ways to fight against COVID-19 disease exist: one with an antiviral response through immune system boosting and another with antioxidants with an anti-inflammatory effect. In the current pandemic situation, the intake of a varied and balanced diet, rich in micronutrients and bioactive compounds including fibers, should be recommended. However, clinical studies conducted on children affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection and comorbidity are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies on the durability of an intensive, structured education protocol on best insulin injection practice are missing for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to assess the durability of an intensive, structured education-based rehabilitation protocol on best insulin injection practice in well-trained subjects from our previous intensive, multimedia intervention study registered as the ISTERP-1 study. A total of 158 subjects with T2DM from the well-trained group of the 6-month-long ISTERP-1 study, all of whom had successfully attained lower glucose levels compared to baseline levels with lower daily insulin doses and with less frequent and severe hypoglycemic episodes, participated in the present investigation involving an additional 6-month follow-up period, called the ISTERP-2 study. Methods: Participants were randomized into an intervention group and a control group, depending on whether they were provided or not provided with further education refresher courses for 6 months. At the end of the 6 months, the two groups were compared in terms of injection habits, daily insulin dose requirement, number of severe or symptomatic hypoglycemic events, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Results: Despite being virtually superimposable at baseline, the two groups behaved quite differently during the follow-up. The within-group analysis of observed parameters showed that the subjects in the intervention group maintained and even improved the good behavioral results learned during the ISTERP-1 study by further reducing both the rate of injection technique errors (p < 0.001) and size of lipohypertrophic lesions at injection sites (p < 0.02). Conversely, those in the control group progressively abandoned best practice, except for the use of ice-cold insulin and, consequently, had significantly higher HbA1c levels and daily insulin dose requirements at the end of the follow-up than at baseline (p < 0.05). In addition, as expected from all the above, the rate of hypoglycemic episodes also decreased in the intervention group (p < 0.05), resulting in a significant difference between groups after 6 months (p < 0.02). Conclusion: Our data provide evidence that intensive, structured education refresher courses have no outstanding durability, so that repeated refresher courses, at least at 6-month intervals, are needed to have positive effects on people with T2DM, contributing not only to prevention but also to long-term rehabilitation. Trial Registration: Trial Registration no. 118 bis/15.04.2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic nephroma is a rare benign cystic renal tumor, which has been only recently recognized as an exclusively adult histological entity. We present a case of cystic nephroma, together with clinical, radiological, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. The histopathological differential diagnosis and immunohistochemical features that are potentially useful for refining this tumor are discussed.