Topic Highlight
Mariella Baldassarre
1U.O. di Neonatologia e T.I.N. del Policlinico Universitario di Bari
Despite the relative investment decrease in the medical field, the specialty of pediatric gastroenterology remains active and vibrant. Among the many important discoveries in our specialty we can consider: 1) the role of the microbiome in gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal disorders 2) the use of the genomic sequence in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases 3) the discovery of new drugs that probably lead to the treatment of hepatitis C. In the USA are on the rise the new science of “quality improvement”, and the transparency in the relationship between pharmaceutical companies and doctors. The american society expects a system that produces excellence with low fees. The role of paediatricians continues to be critical in preventing morbidity and determine which patients require specialist care.