Clinical and molecular characteristics of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections: results of a multicentre study.

Objectives: KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) is a great cause of concern and it is often associated with bloodstream infections (BSIs) and a high mortality rate. We identified the risk factors of KPC-Kp BSIs observed in three Italian hospitals and studied the epidemiology of KPC-Kp strains.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of KPC-Kp BSIs from 2014 to 2019 in three hospitals in Central Italy (Ancona, Pesaro-Fano, and Perugia).

Molecular Characterization of Enterococcus faecium Clinical Isolates Harbouring erm (T) from an Italian Hospital.

The presence of erm(T) gene conferring resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramin B (MLS), was screened in 296 enterococci collected from clinical samples in a central Italy hospital and seven Enterococcus faecium isolates resulted positive to erm(T) by PCR. All isolates were resistant to erythromycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and ampicillin but susceptible to vancomycin and chloramphenicol. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis revealed that in five E.

Dietary Shift in a Barn Owl () Population Following Partial Abandonment of Cultivated Fields (Central Apennine Hills, Italy).

While most studies focused on the impact of intensive agriculture on the barn owl's diet, little is known about the effect of cropland abandonment. We compared the taxon composition/evenness and feeding guild structure of small mammal prey identified in pellets collected before (2004) and after (2012) the abandonment of 9% of cultivated fields within a cultural landscape. Data on prey abundance per pellet were analysed through non-metric multidimensional scaling and permutational, paired tests.

Protists in science communication.

Despite their high abundance and wide distribution in ecosystems, most protists remain unknown to the public. Although science communication approaches were developed in historical times to raise public awareness of these 'enigmatic' taxa, many aspects have not been considered in the spotlight of modern techniques. We present selected ideas and activities on how to attract the public to unicellular eukaryotes.

ER-mitochondria association negatively affects wound healing by regulating NLRP3 activation.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common causative agent of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections (ABSSSI), one of the major challenges to the health system worldwide. Although the use of antibiotics as the first line of intervention for MRSA-infected wounds is recommended, important side effects could occur, including cytotoxicity or immune dysregulation, thus affecting the repair process. Here, we show that the oxazolidinone antibiotic linezolid (LZD) impairs wound healing by aberrantly increasing interleukin 1 β (IL-1β) production in keratinocytes.

Minimally-invasive conservative techniques in management of thyroid carcinoma: a narrative review.

Increased diagnostic surveillance and technological innovation have considerably increased the number of thyroidectomies for carcinoma in the last decades. While thyroidectomy remains the first line of treatment, other minimally-invasive and conservative options to be applied in very selected cases have been proposed. The objective of this review is to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques.

Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of Candida parapsilosis bloodstream isolates: Health Care Associated Infections in a teaching Hospital in Italy.

Background: Candidemia is the most common healthcare associated invasive fungal infection. Over the last few decades, candidemia caused by Candida species other than Candida albicans, particularly the Candida parapsilosis complex, has emerged worldwide. The aims of this study were: to analyze the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of C.

Exposure to the Natural Compound Climacostol Induces Cell Damage and Oxidative Stress in the Fruit Fly .

The ciliate produces the metabolite climacostol that displays antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity on human and rodent tumor cells. Given its potential as a backbone in pharmacological studies, we used the fruit fly to evaluate how the xenobiotic climacostol affects biological systems in vivo at the organismal level. Food administration with climacostol demonstrated its harmful role during larvae developmental stages but not pupation.

Side effects of antibiotics and perturbations of mitochondria functions.

Antibiotics are one of the greatest discoveries of medicine of the past century. Despite their invaluable contribution to infectious disease, their administration could lead to side effects that in some cases are serious. The toxicity of some antibiotics is in part due to their interaction with mitochondria: these organelles derive from a bacterial ancestor and possess specific translation machinery that shares similarities with the bacterial counterpart.

Chemical Defence by Sterols in the Freshwater Ciliate .

Heterotrich ciliates typically retain toxic substances in specialized ejectable organelles, called extrusomes, which are used in predator-prey interactions. In this study, we analysed the chemical defence strategy of the freshwater heterotrich ciliate against the predatory ciliate , and the microturbellarian flatworm . The results showed that is able to defend itself against these two predators by deploying a mix of bioactive sterols contained in its extrusomes.

Clinical and microbiological features of ceftolozane/tazobactam-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in a university hospital in central Italy.

Objectives: Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) is a novel cephalosporin and β-lactamase inhibitor combination with great activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To assess P. aeruginosa susceptibility to C/T, a surveillance study was conducted from October 2018 to March 2019 at the University Hospital 'Ospedali Riuniti' in Ancona, Italy.

Correction: Morroni et al. Antimicrobial Activity of Aztreonam in Combination with Old and New β-Lactamase Inhibitors against MBL and ESBL Co-Producing Gram-Negative Clinical Isolates: Possible Options for the Treatment of Complicated Infections. 2021, , 1341.

Results have been implemented with additional data, which have been commented in the following paragraphs [...

Antimicrobial Activity of Aztreonam in Combination with Old and New β-Lactamase Inhibitors against MBL and ESBL Co-Producing Gram-Negative Clinical Isolates: Possible Options for the Treatment of Complicated Infections.

Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are among the most challenging bacterial enzymes to overcome. Aztreonam (ATM) is the only β-lactam not hydrolyzed by MBLs but is often inactivated by co-produced extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL). We assessed the activity of the combination of ATM with old and new β-lactamases inhibitors (BLIs) against MBL and ESBL co-producing Gram-negative clinical isolates.

Electrochemotherapy as a Trigger to Overcome Primary Resistance to Anti-PD-1 Treatment: A Case Report of Melanoma of the Scalp.

Background: Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors is one of the main therapies for advanced melanoma. Nevertheless, albeit remarkable, immunotherapy results are still unsatisfactory as more than half of patients progress, and resistance to treatment still has a dramatic impact on clinical outcomes. Local treatments such as radiotherapy or electrochemotherapy (ECT), in addition to local control with palliative intent, have been shown to release tumoral neoantigens that can stimulate a robust systemic antitumor immune response.

Zenker Diverticulum: A Potential Pitfall in Thyroid Ultrasound Evaluation: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Literature.

Background And Objective: Zenker Diverticulum (ZD) can sometimes be misinterpreted as a thyroid nodule both at clinical evaluation and at Ultrasound (US).

Case Presentation: We reported the case of a 46-years-old woman complaining of a lump in the anterior left aspect of the neck. Following clinical examination and US evaluation, a thyroid nodule was initially diagnosed and the patient was referred to our institution to be submitted to a fine-needle aspiration cytology.

A Multi-Methodological Protocol to Characterize PDO Olive Oils.

An analytical approach including Panel Test, Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was proposed to characterize Italian "" PDO olive oils (40 samples) of two consecutive crop years. Our approach has evidenced the high quality of these olive oils. Only 6 of 40 olive oils samples were defined as "" by the official Panel Test due to the detection of negative sensory attributes.

Criterion validity of the instrumented Timed Up and Go test: A partial least square regression study.

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a common mobility measure in rehabilitation. With the instrumental TUG test (ITUG; i.e.

Evaluation of intralesional injection of hyaluronic acid compared with verapamil in Peyronie's disease: preliminary results from a prospective, double-blinded, randomized study.

Several intralesional therapeutic protocols have been proposed for the treatment of Peyronie's disease. Among all, hyaluronic acid (HA) and verapamil have been differently tested. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intralesional verapamil (ILVI) compared with intralesional HA in patients with early onset of Peyronie's disease (PD).

A comparison of laser with radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules: a propensity score matching analysis.

Purpose: To compare technique efficacy and safety of laser ablation (LA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of benign thyroid nodules.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained, and patients' consent was waived. 601 nodules were treated from May 2009 to December 2014 at eight centres, 449 (309 females, age 57 ± 14 years) with LA and 152 (107 females, age 57 ± 14 years) with RFA.