Benign penile skin anomalies in children: a primer for pediatricians
Abstract BACKGROUND: Abnormalities involving the skin coverage of the penis are difficult to define, but they can significantly alter penile appearance, and be a cause of parental concern. DATA SOURCES: The present review was based on a nonsystematic search of the English language medical literature using a combination of key words including "penile skin anomalies" and the specific names of the different conditions. RESULTS: Conditions were addressed in the following order, those mainly affecting the prepuce (phimosis, balanitis xerotica obliterans, balanitis, paraphimosis), those which alter penile configuration (inconspicuous penis and penile torsion), and lastly focal lesions (cysts, nev…
Community dimensions and emotions in the era of COVID-19
Abstract Following an ecological perspective, reactions to a disaster—such as the COVID‐19 pandemic—should be analysed in the interdependence between individual and community dimensions. The present study aims to analyse individual emotional dimensions (anxiety, joy, fear or depressive feelings) and their community dimensions (connectedness, emotional sharing and solidarity) with a longitudinal approach among university students from Italian universities. Participants were 746 university students at t1 (during the lockdown) and 361 at t2 (after the lockdown) recruited in six Italian universities from different areas of Italy. Comparing emotional dimensions in the two times, t2 is characteri…
Bedside surgery in the newborn infants: Survey of the Italian society of pediatric surgery
Abstract Introduction This is the report of the first official survey from the Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery (ISPS) to appraise the distribution and organization of bedside surgery in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Italy. Methods A questionnaire requesting general data, staff data and workload data of the centers was developed and sent by means of an online cloud-based software instrument to all Italian pediatric surgery Units. Results The survey was answered by 34 (65%) out of 52 centers. NICU bedside surgery is reported in 81.8% of the pediatric surgery centers. A lower prevalence of bedside surgical practice in the NICU was reported for Southern Italy and the islands …
Preputial reconstruction in hypospadias repair
Summary Objective In principle, the prepuce can be reconstructed during hypospadias repair, but the procedure has not gained wide acceptance and preputial reconstruction (PR) is surrounded by several controversies. Material and methods A review is provided of the technique for PR, how PR combines with the other steps of hypospadias repair, the risks of complications related to the urethroplasty and specific to PR, and the results of PR with particular regard to the relevance for the patient and his family. Results PR can be important for patients requiring hypospadias repair and their parents. It can be performed in almost all patients with distal hypospadias except perhaps those with the m…
Italian Community Psychology in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Shared Feelings and Thoughts in the Storytelling of University Students
This study investigated how young Italian people experienced the period of peak spread of COVID-19 in their country by probing their emotions, thoughts, events, and actions related to interpersonal and community bonds. This approach to the pandemic will highlight social dimensions that characterized contextual interactions from the specific perspective of Community Psychology. The aim was to investigate young people's experiences because they are the most fragile group due to their difficulty staying home and apart from their peers and because they are, at the same time, the most potentially dangerous people due to their urge to gather in groups. The research involved 568 university student…
Work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders in paediatric laparoscopic surgery. A multicenter survey.
Abstract Background Surgeons are at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMS). The present study aims to examine the physical factors and their association with WMS among pediatric laparoscopic surgeons. Methods A questionnaire consisting of 21 questions was created and mailed to 25 pediatric laparoscopic surgeons (LG). 23/25 surgeons (92%) completed the survey. The questionnaire was analyzed and then split into 2 groups. Group 1 (LG1) included surgeons with greater laparoscopic experience, and group 2 (LG2) included surgeons with less important laparoscopic experience. In addition, we constructed and sent to the same surgeons a similar questionnaire focused on WMS aft…
Antibiotic prophylaxis in antenatal nonrefluxing hydronephrosis, megaureter and ureterocele
Observation is a conservative management option in infants with nonrefluxing hydronephrosis, primary nonrefluxing megaureter and ureterocele diagnosed postnatally following antenatal detection of hydronephrosis. Antibiotic prophylaxis might be a sensible regimen under these circumstances to prevent UTI in this population who are potentially at increased risk. However, studies examining the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics are sparse in this setting. For each condition, prophylactic policies seem extremely variable, and UTI rates vary widely with comparable rates reported between patients followed on and off antibiotics. Overall, antibiotic prophylaxis seems unnecessary in patients with …
Pediatric Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment (PEPSiT) in Children With Pilonidal Sinus Disease: Tips and Tricks and New Structurated Protocol
Background: The advent of pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (PEPSiT) has dramatically changed the surgical management of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) in children and adolescents. This study aimed to report the outcome of our new structurated protocol, including PEPSiT, laser epilation, and oxygen-enriched oil-based gel dressing, for treatment of PSD in pediatric patients and describe tips and tricks of the technique. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 127 pediatric patients, who underwent PEPSiT for PSD in our institutions over a 36-month period. All patients received laser epilation (LE) before and after surgery. Post-operative dressing was performed using silve…
Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Resources, Obstacles, and Emotional Implications for Italian Students in Higher Education
The study examined how 807 undergraduate Italian students coped with synchronous, asynchronous, and blended learning environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strengths and weaknesses of online learning were collected via an electronic platform (SurveyMonkey) and then categorized by grounded theory analysis using ATLAS.ti 8.0 software. The results showed technical, practical, relational, organizational, and transformative features of online learning emerged, differentiated in synchronous, asynchronous, and blended modes. Emotional aspects also affected the evaluation of distance learning because depression and fear were more frequent among the students who found distance learning to be an …