Single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of Canoxidin® for prevention of catheter encrustation in patients with indwelling catheters.

Introduction And Objectives: Long-term use of an indwelling catheter is associated with complications such as catheter encrustation and infection. Canoxidin® is a novel oral treatment that can potentially prevent catheter encrustation, as it contains a urine acidifier and a combination of two crystallization inhibitors. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Canoxidin® on catheter encrustation in patients with indwelling Foley catheters.

Enterococcus-related vascular graft infection: A case series.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the frequency, management, and burden of enterococcal-related vascular graft infection.

Patients And Methods: From 2008 to 2021, data regarding all episodes of vascular graft infections initially managed or secondarily referred to our referral center were prospectively collected. We described the history and management of the infection, depending on the type of prosthesis used.

Dalbavancin as suppressive therapy for implant-related infections: a case series with therapeutic drug monitoring and review of the literature.

Implant-related infections may need suppressive antibiotic therapy (SAT). We describe a SAT strategy using dalbavancin with therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). This is a retrospective bicentric study of patients with implant-related infection who received dalbavancin SAT between January 2021 and September 2023.

[Concurrent simultaneous integrated boost radiotherapy and cetuximab in head and neck squamous cell cancer patients: is it feasible in daily clinical practice?].

Introduction And Aim: Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-Hnscc) is a true therapeutical challenge in the modern era and the scientific community is trying to face this challenge with new therapeutical strategies, including combinations of monoclonal antibodies and radiation therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes in LA-Hnscc patients unfit to receive platinum-based chemotherapy, treated with concurrent simultaneous integrated boost-intensity modulated radiotherapy (Sib-Imrt) + cetuximab (Ctx) in daily clinical practice.

Methods: LA-Hnscc patients not included in other prospective studies treated in 4 Italian radiotherapy units (2 Messina, 1 Rome, and 1 Lecce) using Sib-Imrt and Ctx were included in this study.

Burden of Candida-related vascular graft infection: a nested-case control study.

Purpose: We aimed to assess risk factors of candida-related Vascular Graft Infections (VGIs).

Methods: We did a case-control study (1:4) matched by age and year of infection, nested in a cohort of patient with a history of VGIs. Cases were defined by a positive culture for Candida spp.

The impact of preoperative nutritional screening, ERAS protocol, and mini-invasive surgery in surgical oncology: A multi-institutional SEM analysis of patients with digestive cancer.

Background: Mini-invasive surgery (MIS), ERAS, and preoperative nutritional screening are currently used to reduce complications and the length of hospital stay (LOS); however, inter-variable correlations have seldom been explored. This research aimed to define inter-variable correlations in a large series of patients with gastrointestinal cancer and their impact on outcomes.

Methods: Patients with consecutive cancer who underwent radical gastrointestinal surgery between 2019 and 2020 were analyzed.

Synthesis of 7-Aminocoumarins from 7-Hydroxycoumarins via Amide Smiles Rearrangement.

N-Substituted 7-aminocoumarins can be synthesized from readily available 7-hydroxycoumarins via alkylation with α-bromoacetamides and subsequent tandem O → N Smiles rearrangement-amide hydrolysis. The key rearrangement sequence proceeds under mild conditions to provide convenient access to various -alkyl and -aryl products in moderate to high yields. The process is operationally simple, inexpensive, transition-metal-free, and can be telescoped into a one-pot process.

Simultaneous Integrated Boost Radiotherapy in Unresectable Stage IV (M0) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer Patients: Daily Clinical Practice.

Aim: To evaluate clinical outcome in locally-advanced stage IV (M0) head and neck cancer patients treated using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in daily clinical practice.

Background: Despite SIB-IMRT has been reported as a feasible and effective advanced head and neck cancer treatment, there are few data about its concurrent use with systemic therapies.

Material And Methods: We reviewed 41 staged IV (M0) head and neck cancer patients treated in two radiotherapy units in the city of Messina (Italy) during the last six years, using intensity modulated techniques-SIB.

Clinical Evaluation of Low-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronic Acid-Based Treatment on Onset of Acute Side Effects in Women Receiving Adjuvant Radiotherapy after Cervical Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Radiotherapy treatment for cervical cancer (CC) often induces side effects, including inflammation, dryness, dyspareunia. Considering its key role in the healing process, hyaluronic acid (HA) could be useful for the completion of radiotherapy.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of HA to reduce the onset of side effects due to radiotherapy.

Increased incidence of axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome in La Spezia area of Italy: A 13-year follow-up study.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy with a worldwide incidence of 0.81-1.89 per 100 000 person-years.

Nodal Ratio as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Four or More Positive Axillary Nodes Treated with Breast-conserving Therapy and Regional Nodal Irradiation.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the axillary lymph node ratio (i.e. positive axillary nodes to nodes removed) in patients with breast cancer treated with conservative surgery and regional radiotherapy.

Toxicity assessment of (99m)technetium-labeled human beta-defensin-3 in CD1 mice.

Objective: Human beta-defensin-3 (HBD-3) is an antimicrobial peptide which is up-regulated during inflammation. Based on the previously demonstrated capacity of technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) labelled HBD-3 of distinguishing infection from inflammation in rats, we have decided to collect information on the potential toxicity of the tracer in view of its possible use for imaging in humans.

Materials And Methods: Recombinant HBD-3 underwent labeling with (99m)Tc.

A new score to predict post operative complications after endovascular treatment of thoraco abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The endovascular treatment of thoraco abdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) is a minimally invasive solution. However, patient selection remains a major problem. We have analysed our experience to identify the risk factors for post-operative morbidity and mortality and to construct a scoring system to identify those patients likely to benefit from this treatment.

Effect of external magnetic field on IV 99mTc-labeled aminosilane-coated iron oxide nanoparticles: demonstration in a rat model: special report.

Among the most interesting applications of ferromagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) in medicine is the potential for localizing pharmacologically or radioactively tagged agents directly to selected tissues selected by an adjustable external magnetic field. This concept is demonstrated by the application external magnetic field on IV Tc-labeled aminosilane-coated iron oxide NPs in a rat model. In a model comparing a rat with a 0.

Tolerability of High Doses of Daptomycin in the Treatment of Prosthetic Vascular Graft Infection: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: In treatment of prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI), appropriate antimicrobial treatment is crucial for controlling the septic process and preventing re-infection of the new graft. Glycopeptides are the mainstay of treatment for device-related infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, but with some limitations, especially concerning vancomycin-intermediate and glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus.

Factors predictive of treatment failure in staphylococcal prosthetic vascular graft infections: a prospective observational cohort study: impact of rifampin.

Background: There exists considerable debate concerning management of prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI), especially in terms of antimicrobial treatment. This report studies factors associated with treatment failure in a cohort of patients with staphylococcal PVGI, along with the impact of rifampin (RIF).

Methods: All data on patients with PVGI between 2006 and 2010 were reviewed.

Intra-abdominal aortic graft infection: prognostic factors associated with in-hospital mortality.

Background: Mortality associated with aortic graft infection is considerable. The gold standard for surgical treatment remains explantation of the graft. However, prognostic factors associated with early mortality due to this surgical procedure are not well-known.

MTHFR polymorphisms C677T and A1298C and associations with IVF outcomes in Brazilian women.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and IVF outcomes in Brazilian women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. A prospective study was conducted in the Human Reproduction Department at the ABC University School of Medicine and the Ideia Fertility Institute between December 2010 and April 2012. The patient population was 82 women undergoing assisted reproduction cycles.

Breast cancer bone metastases: an epidemiologic study in selected radiation departments.

Aims: To quantify radiation treatments for bone metastases from breast cancer in three Sicilian provinces (Messina, Catania, Ragusa) with respect to the general population and the incidence and prevalence of breast cancer in this macro-area in a 8-year period.

Methods: All bone metastasis patients treated using radiotherapy in 8 radiation departments operating in the provinces of Messina, Catania and Ragusa were collected. Among these, metastases from breast carcinoma were analyzed according to year of irradiation.

Analysis of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A production in human adult cardiac progenitor cells.

IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) and their proteases regulate IGFs bioavailability in multiple tissues. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) is a protease acting by cleaving IGFBP2, 4, and 5, regulating local bioavailability of IGFs. We have previously shown that IGFs and IGFBPs are produced by human adult cardiac progenitor cells (haCPCs) and that IGF-1 exerts paracrine therapeutic effects in cardiac cell therapy with CPCs.

Predictive factors for oropharyngeal mycosis during radiochemotherapy for head and neck carcinoma and consequences on treatment duration. Results of mycosis in radiotherapy (MIR): a prospective longitudinal study.

Background And Purpose: Oropharyngeal mycosis (OPM) is a complication of radiotherapy (RT) treatments for head and neck (H&N) cancer, worsening mucositis and dysphagia, causing treatment interruptions and increasing overall treatment time. Prophylaxis with antifungals is expensive. Better patient selection through the analysis of prognostic factors should improve treatment efficacy and reduce costs.

Diarrhoea in irradiated patients: a prospective multicentre observational study.

Aims: To determine the incidence of cancer treatment-induced diarrhoea in patients submitted to irradiation.

Methods: Forty-five Italian radiation oncology departments took part in this prospective observational study and a total of 1020 patients were enrolled. The accrual lasted three consecutive weeks; evaluation was based on diary cards filled in daily by patients during radiotherapy and one week after cessation.

Comparison of short- and mid-term follow-up between standard and fenestrated endografts.

Background: This study compared early and mid-term results of endovascular treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and pararenal aneurysms (PRAs).

Methods: Using data from a prospective database, patients treated with endografts for AAA and PRA between January 2007 and December 2009 were analyzed. In both groups, mortality, endoleak rates, evolution of renal function, reintervention rate at 30 days and at mid-term follow-up, and aneurysmal sac evolution at 1 year were compared.

Homodimeric pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in normal human placenta of first and third trimester of pregnancy: biochemical and morphological observations.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) become bio-available following hydrolysis of binding proteins by homodimeric PAPP-A (dPAPP-A); this is a metzincin associated with the membranes of trophoblast phenotypes, the precise placental localization of which was unknown. Our study on placental samples of the first trimester shows the immunohistochemical localization of proMBP and dPAPP-A in the same cells. In contrast, dPAPP-A is mainly negative in the syncytium (ST) and positive in the villous cytotrophoblast (VCT) while htPAPP-A is strongly expressed in the ST and negative in the VCT at term, suggesting a progressive deactivation of the enzyme with gestational age.