The healing process of diabetic ulcers correlates with changes in the cutaneous microbiota.

Skin microbiota plays an essential role in the development and function of the cutaneous immune system, in the maintenance of the skin barrier through the release of antimicrobial peptides, and in the metabolism of some natural products. With the aim of characterizing changes in the cutaneous microbiota specifically associated with wound healing in the diabetic condition, we performed a 16 S rRNA gene Next Generation Sequencing of skin swabs taken within the ulcer bed of ten diabetic patients before (t0) and after 20 days of therapy (t20) with a fluorescein-based galenic treatment. Considering the twenty most representative genera, we found at t20 an increase of Corynebacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Streptococcus, and a decrease of Enterococcus, Finegoldia, and Peptoniphilus genera.

Innovative Cell and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapies for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment: The Allogeneic Approach.

Cutaneous chronic wounds are a major global health burden in continuous growth, because of population aging and the higher incidence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Different treatments have been proposed: biological, surgical, and physical. However, most of these treatments are palliative and none of them can be considered fully satisfactory.

A Call to Action by the Italian Mesotherapy Society on Scientific Research.

Mesotherapy (local intradermal therapy, LIT) is a technique used to slowly spread drugs in tissues underlying the site of injection to prolong the pharmacological effect with respect to intramuscular injection. Recommendations for proper medical use of this technique have been made for pain medicine and rehabilitation, chronic venous disease, sport medicine, musculoskeletal disorders, several dermatological conditions, skin ageing, and immune-prophylaxis. Although mesotherapy is considered a valid technique, unresolved questions remain, which should be answered to standardize methodology and dosing regimen as well as to define the right indications in clinical practice.

Pleomorphicskin eruptions in a COVID-19 affected patient: Case report and review of the literature.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during its course, may involve several organs, including the skin with a petechial skin rash, urticaria and erythematous rash, or varicella-like eruption, representing an additional effect of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, as commonly observed in other viral diseases. Considering that symptomatic patients with COVID-19 generally undergo multidrug treatments, the occurrence of a possible adverse drug reaction presenting with cutaneous manifestations should be contemplated. Pleomorphic skin eruptions occurred in a 59-year-old Caucasian woman, affected by a stable form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, treated with a combination of hydroxychloroquine sulfate, darunavir, ritonavir, sarilumb, omeprazole, ceftriaxone, high-flow oxygen therapy devices, filgrastim (Zarzio®) as a single injection, and enoxaparin.

Microcrystalline cellulose membrane for re-epithelisation of chronic leg wounds: a prospective open study.

Treatment of chronic leg ulcers remains a major health care issue. Although many reports have examined different topical dressings, none have specifically looked at microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). We aimed to evaluate in a prospective, open study the safety and performance of a MCC membrane (Veloderm) in a series of chronic leg wounds of different aetiology.

Regenerative therapy in peripheral artery disease.

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia are the main candidates for limb amputations and have a poor life expectancy. Frequently, these patients are not eligible for either surgical or percutaneous interventions aimed at mechanical revascularization. Therefore, new strategies need to be identified to offer these patients a viable therapeutic option.

GMP-based CD133(+) cells isolation maintains progenitor angiogenic properties and enhances standardization in cardiovascular cell therapy.

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant procedure for the preparation of bone marrow (BM) derived CD133(+) cells for cardiovascular repair. Starting from available laboratory protocols to purify CD133(+) cells from human cord blood, we implemented these procedures in a GMP facility and applied quality control conditions defining purity, microbiological safety and vitality of CD133(+) cells. Validation of CD133(+) cells isolation and release process were performed according to a two-step experimental program comprising release quality checking (step 1) as well as 'proofs of principle' of their phenotypic integrity and biological function (step 2).

Endothelial progenitor cells and cardiovascular homeostasis: clinical implications.

Emerging evidences indicate that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) actively contribute in regulating cardiovascular homeostasis, and interest is growing for possible future diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the cardiovascular arena. In the present clinically-oriented review, special attention was given to the clinical implications of the potential of EPCs to test and strengthen the capacity of the organism to challenge atherosclerosis, vascular remodelling and ischemia. Accumulating data suggest that the vasculo-protective functions of EPCs may be used as cellular biomarkers for endothelial damage, or may be pharmacologically modulated to enhance the body's defence to atherosclerosis.

High-mobility group box 1 protein in human and murine skin: involvement in wound healing.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein is a multifunctional cytokine involved in inflammatory responses and tissue repair. In this study, it was examined whether HMGB1 plays a role in skin wound repair both in normoglycemic and diabetic mice. HMGB1 was detected in the nucleus of skin cells, and accumulated in the cytoplasm of epidermal cells in the wounded skin.

TNF-alpha blockade induces a reversible but transient effect on endothelial dysfunction in patients with long-standing severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Considerable evidence indicates that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at greater risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies support the predictive ability of endothelial function measures for subsequent atherosclerotic events. We have investigated the effects of infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibody, on endothelial vasodilation, measured by brachial ultrasonography and on the levels of inflammatory biomarkers and adhesion molecules in ten consecutive patients with severe long-standing RA, despite methotrexate therapy, during the loading phase of infliximab therapy.

Treatment of H. pylori infection: a review.

Helicobacter pylori infection has been indicated as the main pathogenic factor in the development of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancies. Although the vast majority of infected subjects do not carry but a mild, asymptomatic gastritis, still there are some cases in which the eradication of the infection appears mandatory. This review addresses current anti-Helicobacter regimens and pharmacological resources, and highlights the pros and cons of each of them, according to the most recent and reliable clinical trials.

pRb2/p130, vascular endothelial growth factor, p27(KIP1), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: their clinical significance.

Hepatocarcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer, with more than one million fatalities occurring annually worldwide. Multiple risk factors are associated with HCC disease etiology, the highest incidence being in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, although other factors such as genetic makeup and environmental exposure are involved. Multiple genetic alterations including the activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes are required for malignancy in human cancers and are correlated with increased stages of carcinogenesis and further tumor progression.

Quantitative evaluation of liver function by the methionine and aminopyrine breath tests in the early stages of liver transplantation.

Objective: The early phase after liver transplant is considered the period of greatest risk for graft failure. In recent years breath tests have been proposed as a non-invasive method to assess liver function. In particular, the aminopyrine breath test is useful for evaluating the liver viable mass, and the methionine breath test could be used to evaluate oxidative capacity of liver mitochondria.

Successful MARS treatment in severe cholestatic patients with acute on chronic liver failure.

Extracorporeal liver devices have gained great attention as a complementary approach to liver transplantation in patients with acute on chronic liver failure. Among others, Molecular Adsorbent Recycling System (MARS) is a hemodiafiltration against albumin able to remove low molecular weight toxins. We aimed to validate the use of MARS in patients presenting with acute on chronic liver failure with severe cholestasis.