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Objectives: Acute coronavirus disease 2019 infection has been shown to negatively affect body composition among adult and malnourished or obesity children. Our aim is to longitudinally evaluate body composition in children affected by the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C)., Methods: In this cohort study, we recruited 40 patients affected by MIS-C, aged 2-18 years old, who were admitted in our clinic between December 2020 and February 2021. Physical examination for each participant included weight, height, body mass index (BMI) z score, circumferences, and skinfolds assessment. The same measurements were repeated during outpatient follow-up at 10 (T2), 30 (T3), 90 (T4), and 180 (T5) days after hospital discharge. Fat mass and fat free mass were calculated according to skinfolds predictive equations for children and adolescents. A control group was randomly selected among patients attending a pediatric nutritional outpatient clinic., Results: BMI z score significantly decrease between preadmission and hospital discharge. Similarly, arm circumference z score, arm muscular area z score, and arm fat area z score significantly decreased, during hospital stay. Fat mass index (FMI) significantly increased over time, peaking at T3. Fat free mass index decreased during hospitalization., Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess body composition in a numerically large pediatric MIS-C population from acute infection to 6 months after triggering event. FMI and anthropometric parameters linked to fat deposits were significantly higher 6 months after acute event. Thus, limiting physical activity and having sedentary lifestyle may lead to an accumulation of adipose tissue even in healthy children who experienced MIS-C and long hospitalization., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Objective: Evaluate accuracy of skinfold thicknesses and body mass index (BMI) for the prediction of fat mass percentage (FM%) in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to develop population-specific formulae based on anthropometry for estimation of FM%., Methods: IBD children (n = 30) and healthy controls (HCs, n = 144) underwent anthropometric evaluation and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, as the clinical reference for measurement of body composition. Body FM% estimated with skinfolds thickness was compared with FM% measured with DEXA. By means of 4 prediction models, population specific formulae for estimation of FM% were developed., Results: No significant difference in terms of FM% measured by DEXA was found between IBD population and HCs (FM% 29.6% vs 32.2%, P = 0.108). Triceps skinfold thickness (TSF, Model 2) was better than BMI (Model 1) at predicting FM% (82% vs 68% of variance). The sum of 2 skinfolds (biceps + triceps; SF2, Model 3) showed an improvement in the prediction of FM% as compared with TSF, Model 2 (86% vs 82% of variance). The sum of 4 skinfolds (biceps + triceps + suprailiac + subscapular; Model 4) showed further improvement in the prediction of FM% as compared with SF2 (88% vs 86% of variance)., Conclusions: The sum of 4 skinfolds is the most accurate in predicting FM% in paediatric IBD. The sum of 2 skinfolds is less accurate but more feasible and less prone to error. The newly developed population-specific formulae could be a valid tool for estimation of body composition in IBD population and an alternative to DEXA measurement., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Introduction: Fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) may reduce pulmonary hypertension and ameliorate postnatal cardiac output. The effects of sustained early (ETO) and late (LTO) tracheal occlusion on left ventricular (LV) cells in the lamb model have not been described., Materials and Methods: CDH was created in lambs at 70 days' gestation (term = 145 days). ETO (85 days) or LTO (105 days) was sustained till term. After cesarean section (140 days) fetuses were euthanized and hearts harvested. LV myocardial cells were studied by histological and immunofluorescence (TGF-beta 1, endothelin-1) assays in CDH, ETO, LTO, and the control group (two subjects per group). Small intramyocardial arteries were evaluated by traditional histology., Results: LV myocardial histology in CDH and LTO was similar. ETO-induced LV myocardial cell enlargement and increased endothelin-1 and TGF-beta 1 staining; a weaker immunofluorescence signal was observed in LTO compared with ETO. Myocardial vascular wall thickness was greater in CDH than in controls. ETO was associated with a vascular wall thickness within the range of controls., Conclusion: With only two fetuses in each group, only an explorative evaluation was possible. The time point at which TO is performed seems to have an effect on cardiac morphology. Functional studies as well as confirmation in clinical samples are mandatory., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Acquired ichthyosis is a rare cutaneous disorder characterized by dry, rough skin with prominent scaling, that involves symmetrically the trunk and limbs and especially on the extensor surfaces. It appears most commonly in adults in association with malignant, autoimmune, metabolic, endocrine, and infectious diseases. We describe a child with acquired ichthyosis in whom an autoimmune hypothyroidism was detected; furthermore, replacement therapy with L-thyroxine resulted in complete remission of ichthyosis.

We report an 8-year-old girl affected by hypochromic, asymptomatic, acquired lesions with a paving-stone aspect on the right lumbosacral area and proximal right leg. The results of serum and urine biochemical screening were normal, as was the bone survey A biopsy was performed. The clinical and histologic aspects led to the diagnosis of connective tissue nevus with zosteriform distribution.

Thyroid diseases may be associated with a wide variety of dermatologic disorders. We report a 15-year-old girl with acquired ichthyosis and hypertrichosis associated with hypothyroidism resulting from autoimmune thyroiditis. Her skin lesions progressively resolved after 8 months of replacement therapy with L-thyroxine. This result supports the hypothesis that hypothyroidism in our patient can be directly related to the pathogenesis of acquired ichthyosis and hypertrichosis.

Lymphangiomas are considered to be congenital malformations of lymphatic channels. Fifty percent to 60% of these lesions are present at birth, with 80% to 90% detected by the second year of life. These lesions are rare in adults but may occur as late as the fifth decade of life. Primary lymphangiomas of the hypopharynx and upper aerodigestive tract are exceedingly rare in adults. The clinical courses of three adults with lymphangiomas of the head and neck are presented. In one case the lesion was confined to the hypopharynx. The literature contains considerable discussion about congenital lymphangiomas; few studies, however, have addressed this problem specifically in the adult population. The clinical appearance, difficulties of diagnosis, and guidelines of treatment are discussed.