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Pulmonary abscess or lung abscess is a lung infection which destroys the lung parenchyma leading to cavitations and central necrosis in localised areas formed by thick-walled purulent material. It can be primary or secondary. Lung abscesses can occur at any age, but it seems that paediatric pulmonary abscess morbidity is lower than in adults. We present the case of a one year and 5-month-old male child admitted to our clinic for fever, loss of appetite and an overall altered general status. Laboratory tests revealed elevated inflammatory biomarkers, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, anaemia, thrombocytosis, low serum iron concentration and increased lactate dehydrogenase level. Despite wide-spectrum antibiotic therapy, the patient’s progress remained poor after seven days of treatment and a CT scan established the diagnosis of a large lung abscess. Despite changing the antibiotic therapy, surgical intervention was eventually needed. There was a slow but steady improvment and eventually, the patient was discharged after approximately five weeks.

Cyberbullying represents a major concern worldwide, especially among teenagers with major negative psychological impact. We performed a prospective online questionnaire-based study on 316 teenagers in order to assess the prevalence of cyberbullying in Romania, evaluate its psychosocial consequences, and examine the factors that may predispose them to bullying. Almost 50% of the responders stated that they have been previously bullied, with females having a higher risk of being harassed (P= .0043). Most of the victims were bullied on Facebook, Instagram, and video games. More than 53% of the victims included in our study benefit from help. We found that subjects who have been cyberbullied had a significantly higher risk of having bullied friends (P< .0001). Also, we identified a significant association between the teenagers’ relationship with the parents and the incidence of bullying (P= .002). Domestic violence and the male gender were significant risk factors for committing cyberbullying (P= .0014/0.0020). Cyberbullying had a negative impact also on the harasser, and previous victims of cyberbullying had a significantly higher risk of becoming bullied (P< .0001). Also, we found a significant association between the type of substance and the perpetration of aggression (P< .0001). Further studies should focus on designing effective strategies in order to decrease the incidence of this harmful online act of bullying.

Cancer patients are particularly susceptible to nutritional depletion. From March 2014 to December 2015, we assessed 146 patients consecutively hospitalized in a tertiary emergency pediatric hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group I, patients with cancer (43 patients), and group II, the control group consisting of 103 age-matched and sex-matched healthy patients. The anthropometric parameters (weight-W, height-H, body mass index [BMI], middle upper arm circumference [MUAC], tricipital skinfold thickness [TST]) and biochemical parameters (proteins, albumin) were comparatively evaluated. Fat mass (FM, kg and %), fat-free mass (FFM, kg), muscle mass (MM, kg), and total body water (TBW, %) were measured in both groups using Tanita BC 420 S MA Analyzer. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters in group I were significantly different from those in group II for weight, height, BMI, MUAC, TST, protein, and albumin (P<0.05). In the study group, FM was much lower compared with controls 16.9% (3.4% to 33.3%) versus 20.3% (6.6% to 38.4%); (P=0.001), and TBW was much higher 60.8% (48.8% to 70.6%) versus 58.5% (45.2% to 68.6%) (P=0.004). FFM and MM were not statistically different in the 2 groups. The results highlight the complex changes of nutritional status in pediatric patients with cancer.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) characterized by two or more of the following: fever > 38.5 °C or <36 °C, tachycardia, medium respiratory frequency over two SD for age, increased number of leukocytes.

Objective This study aimed to compare energy and macronutrient intake, birth weight, and anthropometric parameters (mid-upper arm circumference or tricipital skin-fold thickness) between women who had adequate and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy.Methods We studied 115 pregnant women and divided them according to GWG into two groups: adequate GWG (n = 49) and excessive GWG (n = 66). We assessed the medical history, clinical examinations, and dietary habits through a detailed 7-day dietary recall using myfitnesspal software.Results Weight, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, and tricipital skin-fold thickness were significantly higher at the time of delivery in women with excessive GWG compared with those with adequate GWG. A lipid-based diet was a risk factor for excessive GWG (relative risk: 1.488, 95% confidence interval: 1.112–1.991), whereas a protein-based diet was a protective factor (relative risk: 0.6723, 95% confidence interval: 0.4431–1.020). We found no significant relationship between a carbohydrate-based diet and GWG. The total energy intake was significantly higher in the excessive GWG group than in the adequate GWG group.Conclusions Mainly a lipid-based diet in pregnant women might represent a risk factor for excessive GWG. However, a protein-based diet is a protective factor for excessive GWG.