We summarize current research advances in the lung microbiome and demonstrate the potential to exploit microbiome as a mechanism to prevent carcinogenesis and modulate therapeutic strategy, suggesting microbiome as a valuable approach in lung cancer patients.

Up to now, there is limited clarity on factors that determine the effectiveness of childhood obesity interventions.

This study intends to uncover individual- and program-level predictors of BMI-SDS and fitness to achieve significant, sustainable health improvements.

Data of 249 children with obesity or overweight who participated in an outpatient multidisciplinary program were analysed and compared to 54 waitlist controls. Linear regression models were used to examine associations between individual- and group-level variables and BMI-SDS and fitness.

Among intervention children, BMI-SDS decreased by 0.19 units and physical fitness increased by 11.5%, versus a BMI-SDS decrease of 0.07 and a 1.8% decrease in fitness in the control group. Participants who reported being physically active before the program start achieved greater improvements in BMI-SDS (β = -0.177, p < 0.05) and physical fitness (β = 0.174, p < 0.05) than inactive peers. BMI-SDS decreased significantly more for members of gender-heterogeneous groups (β = 0.194, p < 0.05) with a narrow age range (β = 0.152, p < 0.05).

The program under review is effective in counteracting juvenile obesity. The results give reason to believe that forming mixed-gender groups with a small age range and providing increased support for reportedly inactive children may improve program effectiveness.

The program under review is effective in counteracting juvenile obesity. The results give reason to believe that forming mixed-gender groups with a small age range and providing increased support for reportedly inactive children may improve program effectiveness.

Extragonadal germinomas rarely emerge from the brain stem; however, proper diagnosis and treatment can result in favorable prognosis. Unfortunately, the preoperative diagnosis of medulla oblongata germinoma is difficult due to insufficient clinical signs and symptoms that are specific to this diagnosis. Case Representation We present a 12-year-old male patient with an intra-fourth-ventricular germinoma, derived from the medulla oblongata, with no abnormalities in the supratentorial region. The germinoma was initially assessed by advance MRI sequences, including diffusion-weighted imaging, T1 perfusion, and spectroscopy.

In summary, although existing imaging technologies cannot completely distinguish germinomas from other primary brain neoplasms in the fourth ventricle, in patients aged between 12 and 40 years, a small mass on the dorsal side of medulla oblongata that emerges into the fourth ventricle and is characterized by homogeneous contrast enhancement, the absence of calcification and hemorrhage, and the lack of hydrocephalus should be considered for a potential medulla oblongata germinoma diagnosis.

In summary, although existing imaging technologies cannot completely distinguish germinomas from other primary brain neoplasms in the fourth ventricle, in patients aged between 12 and 40 years, a small mass on the dorsal side of medulla oblongata that emerges into the fourth ventricle and is characterized by homogeneous contrast enhancement, the absence of calcification and hemorrhage, and the lack of hydrocephalus should be considered for a potential medulla oblongata germinoma diagnosis.

During adolescence, health behaviors and weight status are increasingly influenced by friendship and peer networks. This paper examines resemblances in weight-related characteristics and how they differ by sociodemographic factors.

Over 3,000 friendships were reported by 1,603 adolescents, aged 11-16 years, who participated in the school-based I.Family study in 6 European countries. Each „source child” named 1-10 friends for whom standardized weight-related traits were available in the same survey. The mean value of the friends’ traits weighted by time spent together was calculated, and related to the source child’s trait. Country, age and sex of the source child, parental education, and immigrant background were considered for confounding and moderation.

Source children’s z-scores of body fat percent and BMI were positively associated with their friends’ characteristics, in particular if they had highly educated parents. Positive associations were also found regarding the frequency of fast-food consumprected towards peer groups in both school-related and leisure-time environments. ISRCTN Registry Pan-European IDEFICS/I.Family children cohort (ID ISRCTN62310987; https//doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN62310987).

In the absence of universal screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection, the aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of a targeted screening protocol based on maternal and neonatal risk indicators.

The medical records of 2,623 neonates born in our maternal hospital between June 2016 and December 2018 and screened for cCMV infection were reviewed. Among those of the included neonates, the records of 380 CMV-negative and 19 CMV-positive neonates were randomly assigned to obtain additional comparative data.

During the study period, a total of 63 neonates were identified as positive for cCMV, comprising 0.2% of the total birth cohort (63/28,982) and 2.4% of all neonates screened for cCMV (63/2,623). The comparative data analysis showed that suspected or confirmed CMV infection during pregnancy, maternal age, and maternal diabetes mellitus were found to be significantly associated with a positive cCMV diagnosis. Although symmetric small for gestational age and hearing screening failure contributed to the detection of some of the CMV-positive infants, these factors were not specific to this group. The results of the logistic regression model showed that the only factor that was significantly associated with an increased risk for a cCMV diagnosis was maternal serology suspected of CMV infection during pregnancy, with a regression coefficient estimate of 2.657 (adjusted p < 0.001).

A targeted neonatal screening protocol based on multiple maternal and neonatal risk indicators is feasible but provides limited information. Our study emphasizes the importance of universal neonatal screening for the detection of neonates with cCMV.

A targeted neonatal screening protocol based on multiple maternal and neonatal risk indicators is feasible but provides limited information. Our study emphasizes the importance of universal neonatal screening for the detection of neonates with cCMV.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that has easily spread worldwide. Outpatient maintenance hemodialysis seems to entail an increased risk of contagion, and previous reports inform of increased mortality among this population.

We retrospectively analyzed clinical and laboratory parameters, outcomes, and management once discharged of CKD-5D patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 from our health area.

Out of the 429 CKD-5D population, 36 were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection (8%) 34 on in-center hemodialysis and 2 on peritoneal dialysis. Five were asymptomatic. The most common symptom was fever (70%), followed by dyspnea and cough. History of cardiovascular disease and elevation of LDH and C-reactive protein during admission were associated with higher mortality. Thirteen patients died (36%), 8 patients were admitted to an ICU, and survival was low (38%) among the latter. The mean time to death was 12 days. Most discharged patients got negative rRT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs within 26 days of diagnosis. However, there is a portion of cured patients that continue to have positive results even more than 2 months after the initial presentation.

Patients on dialysis have an increased mortality risk if infected with SARS-CoV-2. Preventive measures have proven useful. Thus, proper ones, such as universal screening of the population and isolation when required, need to be generalized. Better de-isolation criteria are necessary to ensure an appropriate use of public health resources.

Patients on dialysis have an increased mortality risk if infected with SARS-CoV-2. Preventive measures have proven useful. Thus, proper ones, such as universal screening of the population and isolation when required, need to be generalized. Better de-isolation criteria are necessary to ensure an appropriate use of public health resources.

The impact of heterogeneity on gender difference for achieving clinically meaningful weight loss (cmWL) remains unclear. Here, we explored the potential gender differences in factors associated with cmWL.

A total of 60,668 participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 at study entry and available BMI values at follow-up were included in this study. cmWL was defined as a weight loss of ≥5% from the study entry to follow-up. The associations of social-demographic factors, personal history of chronic diseases, lifestyle behaviors, and history of BMI with cmWL were evaluated using logistic regression models.

During a median follow-up of 9.13 years, 26.6% of the participants had a cmWL (30.8% for females vs. 23.1% in males; p < 0.001). Participants with older age, obesity at study entry, being more physical activity compared to 10 years ago, being relapsed smokers or consistent current smokers, having a history of chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, osteoporosis, and stroke), cancer diagnosis during theed to confirm our findings.

A significant proportion of children with SSNS (steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome) experience recurrence. Reliable biomarkers to predict flare are currently lacking because the pathogenesis of SSNS remains obscure.

Since B cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of SSNS, we aimed to identify perturbations of B-cell subsets that might predict SSNS relapse.

We measured levels of circulating B-cell subsets in 69 SSNS children by flow cytometry, between 2018 and 2019. We divided them into a relapse group and a nonrelapse group according to whether a relapse occurred within 1 year of follow-up. We used Cox survival analysis to assess correlations between B-cell subsets and relapse. In addition, recurrence-free survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

The proportion of transitional B cells was significantly lower in the relapse group (5.3 ± 5.1% vs. 8.7 ± 4.3% in nonrelapse group, p = 0.007), while the proportion of memory B cells was significantly higher (8.4 ± 3.0% vs. 5.8 ± 3.3reported cohort. Thus, it may prove to be a useful marker to predict SSNS relapse in children.

Decreased transitional B/memory B ratio is associated with SSNS recurrence in the reported cohort. Thus, it may prove to be a useful marker to predict SSNS relapse in children.

Administration of butyrate enemas might improve the health status of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the results seem equivocal. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to assess the effect of sodium butyrate enemas on disease activity index (DAI), endoscopic scores, as well as histological and inflammatory parameters in IBD patients.

The PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched. Randomised controlled trials published in English that assessed the effect of butyrate enemas on DAI, clinical symptoms, inflammatory markers, as well as histological and endoscopic scores in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were included in the analysis.

Eight studies involving 227 UC patients were included in this analysis. Only one study reported significant differences in DAI between groups. Besides, butyrate treatment groups did not differ significantly from controls concerning the effect on endoscopic and histological scores. Moreover, butyrate enemas exerted a significant effect on few inflammatory parameters measured in colonic mucosal biopsies.