Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Crohn's Disease: Results from a Large Real-Life Cohort Study.

Ustekinumab (UST) is an interleukin-12/interleukin-23 receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Only limited real-life data on the long-term outcomes of CD patients treated with UST are available. This study assessed UST's long-term effectiveness and safety in a large population-based cohort of moderate to severe CD patients.

Ustekinumab safety and effectiveness in patients with ulcerative colitis: results from a large real-life study.

Background: Ustekinumab (UST) is an interleukin-12/interleukin-23 receptor antagonist recently approved for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) but with limited real-world data. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of UST in patients with UC in a real-world setting.

Research Design And Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study.

Real-world efficacy and safety of vedolizumab in managing ulcerative colitis versus Crohn's disease: results from an Italian multicenter study.

Background: Vedolizumab (VDZ) can be used to treat refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). We assessed whether there are differences in treating UC vs CD with VDZ.

Research Design And Methods: Mayo score in UC and the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) in CD scored the clinical activity.

Comparison of performances of infliximab biosimilars CT-P13 versus SB2 in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases: a real-life multicenter, observational study in Italy.

Background: To compare the performances of Infliximab (IFX) biosimilar CT-P13 and SB2 in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) outpatients in Italy.

Research Design And Methods: Three hundred and eighty IBD outpatients were retrospectively evaluated. The primary endpoint was to compare the two IFX biosimilars in terms of reaching and maintenance of remission at any timepoint.

Real-life efficacy and safety of Ustekinumab as second- or third-line therapy in Crohn's disease: results from a large Italian cohort study.

Objective: Ustekinumab (UST) is an anti-IL12/23 antibody for the treatment of Crohn's Disease (CD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of UST in a large population-based cohort of CD patients who failed previous treatment with other biologics.

Patients And Methods: 194 CD patients (108 males and 86 females, mean age 48 years (range 38-58 years) were retrospectively reviewed.

The Psychosocial Burden of HCV Infection and the Impact of Antiviral Therapy on the Quality of Life in Liver and Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Study.

Background: Therapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for HCV is safe and effective in the liver (LT) and kidney transplant (KT) recipients; however, data on the quality of life (QoL) of patients are scanty. This pilot study is aimed at prospectively evaluating the QoL in LT and KT recipients before and after DAA treatment.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 17 LT and 11 KT recipients with HCV infection starting a sofosbuvir-based antiviral therapy for 12 weeks.

Distribution and Characterization of Deep Rhodolith Beds off the Campania coast (SW Italy, Mediterranean Sea).

Rhodolith beds (RBs) are bioconstructions characterized by coralline algae, which provide habitat for several associated species. Mediterranean RBs are usually located in the mesophotic zone (below 40 m), and thus are frequently remote and unexplored. Recently, the importance and vulnerability of these habitats have been recognized by the European Community and more attention has been drawn to their investigation and conservation.

Abundance data for invertebrate assemblages from intertidal mussel beds along the Atlantic Canadian coast.

This data set describes the abundance of 50 invertebrate taxa found in intertidal mussel beds along the Atlantic Canadian coast. This information resulted from a regional-scale study that investigated the effects of wave exposure on the richness and composition of invertebrate assemblages from intertidal mussel beds. Abundance data are provided for taxa representing the Annelida, Arthropoda, Bryozoa, Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, Mollusca, Nematoda, Nemertea, and Platyhelminthes.

Meiofaunal communities and nematode diversity characterizing the Secca delle Fumose shallow vent area (Gulf of Naples, Italy).

Hydrothermal venting is rather prevalent in many marine areas around the world, and marine shallow vents are relatively abundant in the Mediterranean Sea, especially around Italy. However, investigations focusing on the characterization of meiofaunal organisms inhabiting shallow vent sediments are still scant compared to that on macrofauna. In the present study, we investigated the meiobenthic assemblages and nematode diversity inhabiting the Secca delle Fumose (SdF), a shallow water vent area located in the Gulf of Naples (Italy).

Pregnancy after liver transplantation: a case series and review of the literature.

Objective: To evaluate maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant women after liver transplantation with a case series and literature systematic review.

Methods: This was a single-center case-series study performed at University of Naples Federico II. All consecutive women with liver transplantation who reported pregnancy at our institution were included in a dedicated database.

Eradication of HCV in Renal Transplant Recipients and Its Effects on Quality of Life.

Background: The use of direct antiviral agents (DAA) has radically modified the course of HCV hepatitis in renal patients. Aim of this study was to assess the effects of HCV eradication on quality of life (QOL) in renal transplant recipients (RTR), measured by CLDQ and SF-36.

Methods: Sixteen RTR with well preserved GFR (mean: 60.

Mediterranean Bioconstructions Along the Italian Coast.

Marine bioconstructions are biodiversity-rich, three-dimensional biogenic structures, regulating key ecological functions of benthic ecosystems worldwide. Tropical coral reefs are outstanding for their beauty, diversity and complexity, but analogous types of bioconstructions are also present in temperate seas. The main bioconstructions in the Mediterranean Sea are represented by coralligenous formations, vermetid reefs, deep-sea cold-water corals, Lithophyllum byssoides trottoirs, coral banks formed by the shallow-water corals Cladocora caespitosa or Astroides calycularis, and sabellariid or serpulid worm reefs.

Prevalence of and risk factors for HBV infection in a metropolitan Southern Italian area: Evidence for the effectiveness of universal Hepatitis B vaccination.

Background: Available data on HBV prevalence in Italy are outdated and assessed with studies conducted in small towns. We aimed to evaluate prevalence of and risk factors for HBV infection in the metropolitan area of Naples, 24 years after the introduction of mass vaccination campaign against Hepatitis B in Italy.

Methods: A random systematic sample of the adult general population of Naples was selected from the register of 3 general practitioners in 3 different socio-economic districts.

Determination of essential oils residues on zucchini fruits by GC-MS.

In recent years, the use of essential oils (EOs) derived from aromatic plants as low-risk fungicides has increased considerably owing to their interest with organic growers and environmentally conscious consumers. The proposed method, based upon liquid-liquid extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, is suitable for monitoring main components of EOs on zucchini fruits after protection treatments to control crop disease. The aim of this work is to find a rapid, simple and cheap procedure for screening analysis such as quality control of crops' edible portion.

Molecular and structural changes induced by essential oils treatments in Vicia faba roots detected by genotoxicity testing.

Over the last few years, there has been an increased interest in exploiting allelopathy in organic agriculture. The aim of this investigation was to examine the effects of essential oil mixtures in order to establish their allelopathic use in agriculture. Two mixtures of essential oils consisting respectively of tea tree oil (TTO) and clove plus rosemary (C + R) oils were tested.

Sustained virological response: a milestone in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver-related complications in chronically infected patients that have achieved sustained virological response.

Methods: One hundred and fifty subjects with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) or cirrhosis and sustained virological response (SVR) between the years of 1989 and 2008 were enrolled in a long-term clinical follow-up study at the Gastrointestinal and Liver Unit of the University Hospital of Naples "Federico II". At the beginning of the study, the diagnosis of HCV infection was made on the basis of serum positivity for antibodies to HCV and detection of HCV RNA transcripts, while a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis was formulated using imaging techniques and/or a liver biopsy.

Effect of immunosuppressive therapy on patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and hepatitis B or C virus infection.

Viral hepatitis reactivation has been widely reported in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy; however, few data are available about the risk of HBV and HCV reactivation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, receiving immunosuppressive drugs. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in a consecutive series of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and to value the effects of immunosuppressive therapy during the course of the infection. Retrospective observational multicenter study included all consecutive patients with inflammatory bowel disease who have attended seven Italian tertiary referral hospitals in the last decade.

Dietary approach in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a rapidly emerging chronic liver disorder and will increasingly be a critical global health problem. Diet is an important pathogenic factor of NAFLD and it is well documented that the increased prevalence of NAFLD during the last decades was associated with deep modification of dietary habits, especially increased intakes of fats and simple carbohydrates. As the disease stems from excess calorie intake and lack of physical activity, the correction of unhealthy lifestyles is the basis of any prevention and treatment strategy while drugs should remain a second-line of treatment.

Preliminary study on persistence in soil and residues in maize of imidacloprid.

The aim of this work was to study the distribution of imidacloprid in soil and its translocation to roots and aerial parts of maize plant. The main objective was to assess imidacloprid residues in field environment, in order to provide data on honeybees exposure level to such an active substance. Imidacloprid has been detected and quantified by Triple Quadrupole HPLC-MS-MS.

Dieldrin uptake by vegetable crops grown in contaminated soils.

The aim of these trials was to study the distribution of dieldrin in soil and its translocation to roots and the aerial parts of vegetable crops grown in greenhouses and fields. The main objectives were to characterize dieldrin accumulation in plant tissues in relation to the levels of soil contamination; uptake capability among plants belonging to different species, varieties and cultivars. The presence of the contaminant was quantified by gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS).

Preliminary note on potential use of forage crops for soil phytoremediation of dieldrin.

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the feasibility of using tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) for phytoremediation of dieldrin. Experimental trial was carried out in greenhouse with temperature and light control. Each tested crop were seeded in individual pots (10 plants/pot) filled with contaminated soil (47 microg/kg dieldrin) and uncontaminated soil collected in sites located in the province of Latina (Italy).

Levels of hexachlorocyclohexanes in agricultural environment of Sacco river valley.

Aim of this trial was to verify the occurrence and the distribution of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) in soil, sediment, straw, alfalfa, other animal feed grown in farms with contaminated soil. In the present study two years of monitoring activity in the province of Roma and Frosinone was reported. Experimental trial in two contaminated sites was carried out on uptake and translocation of HCHs in maize and alfalfa.