Publications by authors named "Bruna Girardi"

Concomitant therapy (CT) and bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT) are recommended in geographical areas with high clarithromycin resistance for () eradication. We compared CT and BQT as the first lines of treatment in a randomized controlled trial. Consecutive patients with H.

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() antibiotic resistance is the leading cause for unsuccessful eradication therapy. After one or more failures, the chance of encountering secondary antibiotic resistance increases. The aim of this study was to characterize genotypic secondary resistance in a cohort of southern Italian patients with at least one previous failure.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Numerous studies show that higher fiber consumption is linked to a lower risk of developing CRC and better survival rates for those diagnosed.
  • * Fiber may help prevent CRC through various mechanisms, including altering bile acid metabolism, providing antioxidants, producing beneficial compounds from gut flora, and changing gut microbiota composition.
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A new paradigm shift for the treatment of () infection would be timely due to a progressive increase in antibiotic resistance. Such a shift in the perspective of the approach should include the preliminary assessment of antibiotic resistance. However, the availability of sensitivity tests is not widespread and the guidelines have always indicated empirical treatments without taking into account the need to make sensitivity tests accessible, i.

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When several eradication treatments fail, guidelines recommend a cultured guided approach; however, culture is not widely available. Therefore, a rifabutin based regimen could be the best solution. Rifabutin indeed shows a low rate of antibiotic resistance.

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Background: Rapid urease test (RUT) is a diagnostic tool for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) diagnosis, based on the ability of the bacterium to produce urease. Despite it is considered simple, fast, and cheap, some conditions may cause false negativity.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of cancer-related death in both sexes worldwide. As pre-menopausal women are less likely to develop CRC compared to age-matched men, a protective role for estrogens has been hypothesized. Indeed, two isoforms of nuclear estrogen receptors (ER) have been described: ERα and ERβ.

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Antibiotic resistance has become an emerging problem for treating () infection. Clarithromycin and levofloxacin are two key antibiotics used for its eradication. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with genotypic resistance analysis in stools to both clarithromycin and levofloxacin in the last four years to evaluate time trends, both in naive and failure patients.

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Spermidine (SPD) is an endogenous polyamine that plays a facilitatory role in memory acquisition and consolidation. Memory consolidation occurs immediately after learning and again around 3-6 hours later. Current evidence indicates that the polyamine binding site at the NMDA receptor (NMDAr) mediates the effects of SPD on memory.

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Background: Some substances of plant origin have been reported to exert an effect in reducing intestinal neoplasm development, especially in animal models. Adenomatous polyposis coli multiple intestinal neoplasia - Apc is the most studied murine model of genetic intestinal carcinogenesis.

Aim: To assess whether an enriched nutritional formulation (silymarin, boswellic acid and curcumin) with proven and anti-carcinogenetic properties may prevent inherited intestinal cancer in animal model.

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Curcumin diffuses through cell membranes into the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and nucleus, where it exerts actions, as an antioxidant property. Therefore, its use has been advocated for chemopreventive, antimetastatic, and anti-angiogenic purposes. We conducted a literature review to summarize studies investigating the relationship between curcumin and colorectal cancer (CRC).

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Rationale: Individuals with opioid use disorders often relapse into drug-seeking behavior after recalling memories linked to the drug use experience. Improving extinction efficacy has been used as a strategy to treat substance use disorders and suppress relapse. Although N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) agonists facilitate acquisition, consolidation, and extinction, no study has addressed whether spermidine (SPD), a natural polyamine ligand of the NMDA receptor, facilitates the extinction and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP).

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On the basis of preliminary in vitro experience, we assessed whether an enriched nutritional formulation with estrogen receptor (ER)-beta agonist and anti-inflammatory properties may prevent inflammation-associated colorectal cancer (CRC) in an animal model. Study sample enclosed 110 C57BL/6J male mice. Forty underwent dietary supplement safety assessment (20 standard diet and 20 enriched formulation).

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Aim: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of a new fecal test for detecting (), usingC-urea breath test as the reference standard, and explore bacterial antibiotic resistance.

Methods: We conducted a prospective two-center diagnostic test accuracy study. We enrolled consecutive people≥ 18 years without previous diagnosis of infection, referred for dyspepsia between February and October 2017.

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Putrescine, spermidine and spermine are organic cations implicated in learning, memory consolidation, reconsolidation and neurogenesis. These physiological processes are closely related, and convincing evidence indicates that neurogenesis is implicated both, in the establishment and maintenance of remote contextual fear memory. Although brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key mediator involved in both neurogenesis and memory consolidation, effects of spermidine on persistence of memory after reactivation (reconsolidation) and possible involvement of BDNF have not been investigated.

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Aim: To investigate estrogen receptors expression in duodenal familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and any relationship with epithelial proliferation/apoptosis markers.

Methods: Twenty-two patients affected by FAP undergoing duodenal resection for malignancies were recruited. Controls were 15 healthy subjects undergoing endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms.

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Background: Histamine is an imidazolic compound performing a crucial function in the pathogenesis of inflammation. Several studies have also emphasized its pro-carcinogenic effect in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Object: In fact, increased histamine levels have been observed in CRC and a decreased catabolism of this molecule is typical of colorectal adenomas.

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Spermidine (SPD) is an endogenous aliphatic amine that modulates GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors and improves memory. Recent evidence suggests that systemic SPD improves the persistence of the long term memory of fear. However, the role of hippocampal polyamines and its binding sites in the persistence of fear memory is to be determined, as well as its putative underlying mechanisms.

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Purpose: We report an update of current methods for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening based on fecal sample analysis.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Direct electronic databases.

Results: Blood in the stools is the first and most used strategy.

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N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists block morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Although polyamines are endogenous modulators of the NMDA receptor, it is not known whether polyaminergic agents induce CPP or modulate morphine-induced CPP. Here, we examined whether polyamine ligands modify morphine CPP acquisition, consolidation, and expression.

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In this study, we determined whether the calcium-dependent protein kinase (PKC) signaling pathway is involved in the improvement of fear memory reconsolidation induced by the intrahippocampal administration of spermidine in rats. Male Wistar rats were trained in a fear conditioning apparatus using a 0.4-mA footshock as an unconditioned stimulus.

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Objective: Colorectal carcinoma is an important cause of death in inflammatory bowel diseases, thus requiring surveillance for dysplasia in long-standing ulcerative colitis (UC). Females show a lower incidence probably related to hormonal factors; therefore, a role of estrogen receptors (ERs) has been supposed in carcinoma-associated colitis (CAC) development. Our aim was to identify ER beta/alpha expression in long-lasting pancolitis through each grade of dysplasia to carcinoma and, furthermore, to investigate the simultaneous epithelial apoptosis/proliferation.

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Aims: To verify whether a combined assessment of left-ventricular filling pattern at Doppler echocardiography, plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and high-sensitive troponin I (hsTnI) improves prognostic stratification in patients with chronic systolic heart failure.

Methods: Three predictors of prognosis were evaluated in 200 consecutive outpatients with heart failure and left-ventricular ejection fraction 35% or less: left-ventricular filling pattern at Doppler echocardiography, BNP plasma levels and hsTnI plasma levels.

Results: During a median follow-up period of 44 months, 15 deaths, two urgent cardiac transplantations, two episodes of ventricular fibrillation and 50 heart failure hospitalizations were observed.

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Background: Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are leading causes of morbidity and their co-occurrence has important implications in mortality and other outcomes. Even the most recent guidelines do not reliably address clinical, prognostic, and therapeutic concerns due to the overlap of respiratory and cardiac diseases.

Study Objectives And Design: In order to evaluate in the reality of clinical practice the epidemiology and the reciprocal impact of cardio-pulmonary comorbidity on the clinical management, diagnostic workup and treatment, 1,500 cardiac and 1,500 respiratory inpatients, admitted in acute and rehabilitation units, will be enrolled in a multicenter, nationwide, prospective observational study.

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Mitochondria-related myopathies (MM) are a group of different diseases defined by a varying degree of dysfunctions of the mitochondrial respiratory chain which leads to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation followed by oxidative stress and cellular damage. In mitochondrial myopathy muscle tissue an overexpression of antioxidant enzymes has been documented probably as an attempt to counteract the free radical generation. We previously documented, in human non-pathological muscle fibres, the expression of the augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), a sulfhydryl oxidase enzyme, whose presence is related to the mitochondria; indeed it has been demonstrated that ALR mainly localizes in the mitochondrial inter-membrane space.

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