Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare malformation that is characterized by the total absence of all layers of skin at birth. The diagnosis is primarily clinical and the histological appearance varies. 1 Large tissue defects in ACC in the newborn present a management dilemma with no agreement upon method of treatment. Both conservative and surgical approaches to the early management of tissue defects have been reported, with varyingresults. 2 -4 We report the successful conservative treatment of a newborn child suffering from ACC with widespread lower limb involvement and no scalp or truncal involvement or extracutaneous congenital malformations. Case reportA female infant was born to a 24-year-old woman (gravida II, para II) at 38 weeks gestation. The infant was delivered by cesarean section due to detachment of the right retina in the mother. The newborn's birth weight was 3260 g, length 49 cm, head circumference 33 cm, rectal temperature 36°C and APGAR score 10 at 1 min. The pregnancy was complicated by the death of a monozygotic twin in the 15th week of gestation (fetus papyraceous). The infant was born with congenital absence of the skin that involved the anterior and inner surface of the thighs starting from the inguinocrural folds, the knees, the anterior and inner surface of the fi bula, the medial malleolus, the dorsal surface of the feet up to the head of the fi rst metatarsal, and the calcaneum curea. The skin lesions exhibited a bilateral, symmetrical distribution. A thin translucent membrane covered the skin defect and dermal vessels were easily visible. Serous fl uid exuded from the margins of the skin abnormalities. The remaining skin was thin, dry, and friable and had a tendency to develop fi ssures ( Fig. 1). No associated congenital malformations were demonstrated after a thorough clinical and laboratory examination. No other family members were reported to have similar abnormalities, and no other congenital disorders were found in this patient. Thus, after histopathological confi rmation, the infant was classifi ed as group V according to Frieden's clinical classifi cation of ACC. 5 The present case was defi ned as ACC associated with fetus papyraceous (group V) affecting the lower limbs with no further scalp or truncal involvement or structural abnormalities. The mother did not receive any medication during this second pregnancy and was being attended to at the Obstetrics Department of Ioannina Hospital where she had completed the routine prenatal examinations. The medical management in the present case was decided upon after a thorough physical and laboratory examination of the infant. The infant was closely attended to in aseptic hospital units for 1 week where regular microbiological control was performed and precise antibiotic drug therapy was provided. In cooperation with an orthopedic surgeon, we followed a conservative treatment strategy that included frequent dressing changes. The affected areas were dressed at least once daily with Epigard dressings (Ormed, Freiburg, Germany) and F...

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cystic neoplasm, characterized by subtle symptoms, that occurs predominantly in reproductive-aged women. The pathogenesis and etiology of the disease are yet to be determined. We herein present a 71-year-old woman presented to our clinic with persistent low back pain. The clinical examination showed a palpable mass in the abdominal area. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple cystic lesions that occupy the largest part of the pelvis, posterior to the uterus. The patient underwent cyst excision, total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy and lymph node dissection. Postoperative course was uneventful and histopathology of the specimen revealed a benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma. Complete tumor resection is considered the optimal therapeutic approach of peritoneal mesothelioma. Histopathological analysis is required to confirm the diagnosis of multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma.

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, and define predictive factors of their occurrence among pre-adolescents in the region of Thrace, NE Greece. A secondary aim was to record physical activity at different times (schooldays, weekends, holidays) and explore associations with characteristics such as gender, overweight and obesity, and socio-demographic conditions. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving children aged 11–12 years. Participating children were measured for height, weight, and waist circumference, and their parents answered a questionnaire. In total, 1929 children were included. Prevalence of overweight was 31.5%, prevalence of obesity 17%, and only 1% of children were underweight. Abdominal obesity was detected in 20.3% of the sample. Overweight and obesity were more frequent in males, who also had higher mean values of Body Mass Index-for-age z-scores (BMIaz) and Waist-to-Height ratio (WtHR). Obesity rates were higher among those not participating in physical activities; however, no significant difference was observed between normal-weight, overweight and obese children in the time spent for organized athletic activities or free play. Logistic regression analysis showed that the probability for overweight/obesity was higher in boys (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.16–1.66) and lower in children whose fathers had a higher educational level (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60–0.93). The probability for abdominal obesity was also higher in boys (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.10–1.72) and lower in children participating at least one hour/day in an organized physical activity (compared to those with no physical activity (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.51–0.85), and whose father was exercising at least 1–2 times/week (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.591–0.98). In conclusion, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among pre-adolescents in NE Greece was estimated at 48.5%. This is associated with the male gender and not participating in physical activities. The educational level and exercise habits of the father (but not of the mother) affect the probability of obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively.

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Cities are constantly increasing their importance, from any point of view: population, energy, food, transport. Healthy cities aim at wellbeing for all by creating urban spaces capable of inclusive community prosperity. Place is the combined tangible and intangible context of a location. It includes the integrated urban ecosystem: the constructed, environmental, social, economic, and cultural status. It is a human, natural, and artificial habitat whose combined conditions are able to upgrade or harm health and wellbeing. Its significant impact on people's life happens through a variety of ways, positive or negative, physical or mental. There are several urban determinants that affect the health indicators, which help us measure this impact. This process is named health impact assessment. It is conducted via specific tools, and till now it showed us that the urban environment affects public health much more than the medical system. On the other side, only vigorous communities are able to ensure thriving culture and economy, urban and regional sustainability and development.