Insomnia Prevalence among Italian Night-Shift Nurses.

Background: Insomnia is one of the major health problems related with a decrease in quality of life (QOL) and also in poor functioning in night-shift nurses, that also may negatively affect patients' care. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of insomnia in night shift nurses. This observational online web-based survey using Google modules specifically aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for insomnia among Italian nurses.

Workplace Violence towards Healthcare Workers: An Italian Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is a major healthcare problem with important consequences in healthcare areas and may impact negatively not only healthcare workers but also the quality and safety of patient care.

Objectives: This an observational online web-based survey using Google Modules, specifically aiming to investigate the phenomenon of WPV in Italian healthcare services.

Methods: Data collection for this study lasted one month, with the questionnaire available from 1 May 2021 to 31 May 2021.

Precision Medicine and Precision Nursing: The Era of Biomarkers and Precision Health.

Precision health, by means of the support of precision medicine and precision nursing, is able to support clinical decision making in order to tailor optimal health-care decisions, around the individual characteristics of patients. The operational arm of precision health is represented by the use of biomarkers that can give useful information about disease susceptibility, exposure, evolution and response to treatment. Omics, imaging and clinical biomarkers are actually studied for their ability to positively impact health-care management.

Defining pediatric community-acquired acute kidney injury: an observational study.

Background: Pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with long-term morbidity and mortality; however, outcomes improve when AKI is detected earlier. Current definitions of AKI use baseline creatinine; community-acquired AKI (CA-AKI) is difficult to define and detect in the pediatric emergency department (ED) when no baseline creatinine is available. Our objective was to compare age- and gender-based creatinine norms to the traditional baseline (lowest creatinine in previous 3 months) to diagnose CA-AKI.

Community-acquired Acute Kidney Injury Among Children Seen in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality in children. Little is known about community-acquired AKI (CA-AKI) in the pediatric emergency department (PED). Early recognition of AKI allows for nephroprotective measures.

A computational evaluation of sedentary lifestyle effects on carotid hemodynamics and atherosclerotic events incidence.

Purpose: Hemodynamics has a key role in atheropathogenesis. Indeed, atherosclerotic phenomena occur in vessels characterized by complex geometry and flow pattern, like the carotid bifurcation. Moreover, lifestyle is a significant risk factor.

A Library of Rare α1-Antitrypsin (AAT) Variant Phenotypes to Aid in the Diagnosis of AAT Deficiency.

Objectives: α1-Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a hereditary disorder due to defective production of the serine protease inhibitor, AAT, which can cause lung and liver diseases. Severity of disease depends particularly on the phenotypic representation of AAT variants in the patient.

Methods: In this study, we present determination of seven common and nine rare variant phenotypes of AAT using pediatric samples collected in Texas Children's Hospital to address the knowledge gap in the identification of rare variants.

Study on the efficacy of surgery of the superficial venous system and of compression therapy at early stages of chronic venous disease for the prevention of chronic venous ulceration.

The mainstay of treatment of chronic venous ulceration (CVU), as also suggested by current treatment guidelines for chronic venous disease (CVD), is represented by surgery and compression therapy for which there is strong evidence of their role in clinically relevant improvement in wound healing and also in the reduction of CVU recurrence, but no information is available as to whether or not these treatments provide effective protection from the onset of CVU. In our study, we have followed, for a median time of 13 years, a total of 3947 patients with CVD at classes C2-C3 of CEAP classification, treated with our treatment protocol (surgery and compression therapy) in order to track the natural history of these patients with regards to CVU development. We identified four groups of patients: 2354 patients (59·64%) (Group A) fully adherent to protocols; 848 patients (21·48%) (Group B) fully adherent to surgery and non-compliant to compression therapy; 432 patients (10·95%) (Group C) fully adherent to compression therapy and non-compliant to surgery; and 313 patients (7·93%) (Group D) non-compliant to either treatments.

From varices to venous ulceration: the story of chronic venous disease described by metalloproteinases.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) and its most frightening complication, chronic venous ulceration (CVU), represent an important socioeconomic burden in the western world. Metalloproteinases have been identified in the pathogenesis of several vascular diseases such as venous problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate a broad range of metalloproteinases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinases) and ADAMTSs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinases with thrombospondin motifs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and a related protein, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), in patients with CVD in order to correlate their serum levels with each stage of the disease.

PredyCLU: a prediction system for chronic leg ulcers based on fuzzy logic; part I - exploring the venous side.

Chronic leg ulcers (CLUs) are a common occurrence in the western population and are associated with a negative impact on the quality of life of patients. They also cause a substantial burden on the health budget. The pathogenesis of leg ulceration is quite heterogeneous, and chronic venous ulceration (CVU) is the most common manifestation representing the main complication of chronic venous disease (CVD).

Absorbable suture material in carotid surgery.

Background: Absorbable sutures are not generally accepted by most vascular surgeons for the fear of breakage of the suture line and the risk of aneurysmal formation, except in cases of paediatric surgery or in case of infections. Aim of this study is to provide evidence of safety and efficacy of the use of absorbable suture materials in carotid surgery.

Patients And Methods: In an 11 year period, 1126 patients (659 male [58.

Plasma MMP and TIMP evaluation in patients with deep venous thrombosis: could they have a predictive role in the development of post-thrombotic syndrome?

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a condition that can develop in about half of the patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of lower limbs. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of inflammatory biomarkers in the early phases of DVT and their correlation with the onset of PTS. Patients were enrolled after the first episode of DVT and were followed up for 1, 4, 8, 12 and 18 months.

Biomarkers in post-reperfusion syndrome after acute lower limb ischaemia.

Ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury refers to tissue damage caused when blood supply returns to the tissue after a period of ischaemia. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cytokines are biomarkers involved in several vascular complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of MMPs, NGAL and inflammatory cytokines in I/R syndrome.

The role of matrix metalloproteinases and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in central and peripheral arterial aneurysms.

Introduction: An association between arterial aneurysms and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been described previously. MMPs regulate extracellular structural proteins and tissue remodeling. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is involved in the regulation of MMP activity.

Effects of glucocorticoids and tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors on both clinical and molecular parameters in patients with Takayasu arteritis.

Objective: To explore the effect of sequential treatment with glucocorticoid and tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Materials And Methods: In five patients with TA, the effects of the sequential treatment with prednisone for 5-7 months and then with adalimumab (ADA) + methotrexate (MTX) or infliximab + MTX, or with ADA only, for 12 months on both clinical and laboratory findings were evaluated.

Results: All treatments improved both symptoms and laboratory parameters without the development of side-effects.

Performance of a parallel diagnostic algorithm for HIV diagnosis in low risk pediatric and obstetric patient populations.

Background: Little is known about the clinical performance of the 2010 APHL/CDC Western-blot independent HIV testing algorithm in low risk pediatric and obstetric patients.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of an alternate Western-blot independent algorithm and the individual algorithm components in diagnosing HIV infections in low risk pediatric and obstetric patients.

Study Design: 6242 specimens from pediatric and obstetric patients were tested by the Bio-Rad Multispot HIV-1/HIV-2 (MS) and VITROS Anti HIV 1+2 (VITROS) assays.

Effect of interference from hemolysis, icterus and lipemia on routine pediatric clinical chemistry assays.

Background: Clinical laboratory assays can be affected by interferents like hemoglobin (Hb), lipids and bilirubin. We evaluated the effect of these interferences on pediatric samples for different chemistry assays. Further we established cut-off indices above which these interferences confound sample results.

The effects of sulodexide on both clinical and molecular parameters in patients with mixed arterial and venous ulcers of lower limbs.

Background: Mixed venous and arterial ulcers account for approximately 15%-30% of all venous leg ulcerations. Several studies have shown that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) play a central role in the pathophysiology of venous and arterial diseases. Some studies have shown the efficacy of glycosaminoglycans, such as sulodexide (SDX), in treating patients with leg ulcers.

Resection of Carotid Body Tumors reduces arterial blood pressure. An underestimated neuroendocrine syndrome.

Introduction: Carotid Body Tumors (CBTs) are Paragangliomas (PGLs) located in the head and neck region which usually do not cause overt neuroendocrine symptoms and hypertension. Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) have shown a strong correlation between CBTs and their clinical behavior. Aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between changes in arterial blood pressure and metalloproteinases levels after surgical resection of CBTs.

Metalloproteinase-9 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin plasma and tissue levels evaluation in middle cerebral artery aneurysms.

Background. Cerebral aneurysms are relatively common in adults, with a prevalence ranging between 1% and 5%. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, following aneurismal rupture, is a major cause of death and disability in these patients.

Carotid body paragangliomas and matrix metalloproteinases.

Background: The carotid body tumors (CBTs) are relatively rare neoplasms and may present into benign or life threatening malignant forms. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are often involved in vascular and cancer diseases. Objective of this study is to study the relationship between CBTs and MMPs.

Extracellular matrix assessment of infected chronic venous leg ulcers: role of metalloproteinases and inflammatory cytokines.

Chronic venous ulcer (CVU) represents a dreaded complication of chronic venous disease (CVD). The onset of infection may further delay the already precarious healing process in such lesions. Some evidences have shown that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved and play a central role in both CVUs and infectious diseases.

Effects of a new nutraceutical substance on clinical and molecular parameters in patients with chronic venous ulceration.

Pathophysiological events involved in the onset of chronic venous ulceration (CVU) are inflammation, activation of polymorphonucleates (PMNs) and secretion of proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) that is a support for vascular and tissutal wall. MMPs, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and inflammatory cytokines are overexpressed in CVUs and they could play a central role in pathophysiological mechanisms of skin lesion and delayed wound healing. Bioflavonoids, such as diosmin and other compounds, appear to have several provessel function activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and phlebotonic effects and are widely used in the treatment of chronic venous disease (CVD)-related problems.

Implementation of a quality improvement program to improve sweat test performance in a pediatric hospital.

Context: All positive screening of newborns for cystic fibrosis using the dried blood spot 2-tiered immunoreactive trypsinogen/DNA method requires subsequent sweat chloride testing for confirmation. Obtaining an adequate volume of sweat to measure chloride is a challenge for many cystic fibrosis centers across the nation. The standard for patients older than 3 months is less than 5% quantity not sufficient (QNS) and for patients 3 months or younger is less than 10% QNS.