We would like to acknowledge Dr. Giada Del Baldo and Dr. Mariachiara Lodi from IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital have acted as coordinator and have contributed to the preparation of the proposal for this Research Topic.

Neurodevelopmental diseases affect three percent of children and the specific cause is difficult to determine in many cases. Genetic research uncovered many loss or gain of function mutations in genes that are associated with synaptic development and or remodeling. However, more an more data are accumulating regarding the importance in gene regulations in neurodevelopmental diseases. Thjis issue addresses many aspects of the genomics of neurodevelopmental diseases, including articles devoted to genomic variations of brain malformations; neuroimaging of brain development; update on autism evaluation and genetics; prader-willi and angelman syndromes; tuberous sclerosis complex; genetics of pediatric epilepsy; pediatric leukodystrophies; autoimmune encephalopathies; inherited neuropathies and motor neuron diseases; and muscular dystrophies and congenital myopathies.

Proper childhood nutrition can be the bedrock of lifelong health. This AAP manual makes clear policies and procedures for the best nutrition for well children as well as those with metabolic abnormalities and serious illnesses.

Sarcomas are forms of cancer that comprise tumors of the connective and structural tissue of the body and mainly affect children and young adults. Pediatric soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors constituting about 7% of all cancer cases. Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) constitute about half of all soft tissue sarcomas in children, the rest being constituted by non- rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS). The estimated 5-year survival rate is around 65.6% in children and young adults, Rhabdomyosarcoma being as low as 59.2% in some cases.