Abstract Introduction: Depression in early childhood was first described by Spitz in 1940. The literature reports an association between depressive symptoms in infants and early affective deprivation, pinpointing maternal depression as a major risk factor. However, there is little evidence on the impact of maternal comorbid depression and gender dysphoria on the risk of depression in early childhood. Case report: A 25-month-old toddler was referred to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Department for persistent irritability and sleep disturbances. His mother had persistent depressive disorder and had never felt comfortable in her role as a mother, struggling with caregiving and responding to the child’s emotional needs. During follow-up, maternal symptoms of gender dysphoria were identified. Discussion: Mother-infant bonding and responsive caregiving are essential for adequate socioemotional development.

Resumo Introdução: A depressão na primeira infância foi descrita pela primeira vez por Spitz em 1940. A literatura relata a associação entre sintomas depressivos na criança e privação afetiva precoce, sendo a depressão materna um fator de risco amplamente reconhecido. No entanto, há pouca evidência sobre o impacto da disforia de género materna no desenvolvimento de depressão na primeira infância. Caso clínico: Uma criança de 25 meses foi referenciada para a consulta de Psiquiatria da Infância e da Adolescência por irritabilidade persistente e perturbações do sono. A mãe apresentava perturbação depressiva persistente e manifestava grande dificuldade na resposta às necessidades emocionais da criança. Durante o seguimento, foi identificada sintomatologia materna de disforia de género. Discussão: A qualidade da relação mãe-bebé e dos primeiros cuidados são requisitos fundamentais para o normal desenvolvimento psicoafetivo infantil.

Abstract The Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) is an area of science dedicated to studying the processes by which insults during critical periods of mammals development leading to physiological changes resultig in diseases throughout life. Studies point to a complex interaction between nutritional status in early life and cardiovascular system homeostasis in which maternal malnutrition during gestation and/or lactation, as well as early weaning, are associated with development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. In this context, epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and change in microRNA expression have been considered molecular bases of cellular plasticity, which can also be gender-dependent. Experimental studies have demonstrated that interventions encompassing the consumption of functional food/bioactive compounds, as well as energetic and nutrients adjustments on the diet, may attenuate or even prevent consequences associated with plasticity of development, improving cardiovascular health. This review aimed to gather and discuss the findings within this context, published over the last ten years.

Rosai-Dorfman disease is a self-limiting condition caused by histiocyte proliferation within the sinusoids of lymph nodes and in extranodal tissue. It is a rare disease, particularly in children, that progresses with extensive lymphadenopathy. This paper reports on the case of a 2-year-old child with progressive cervical lymphadenopathy associated with persistent fever and radiological findings suggestive of lymphoma. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry studies of a lymph node biopsy established the diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease. Both lymphadenopathy and fever resolved spontaneously.