Gold nanorod-assisted theranostic solution for nonvisible residual disease in bladder cancer.

Residual nonvisible bladder cancer after proper treatment caused by technological and therapeutic limitations is responsible for tumor relapse and progression. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of a solution for simultaneous detection and treatment of bladder cancer lesions smaller than one millimeter. The α5β1 integrin was identified as a specific marker in 81% of human high-grade nonmuscle invasive bladder cancers and used as a target for the delivery of targeted gold nanorods (GNRs).

The Role of WO Nanoparticles on the Properties of Gelatin Films.

Gelatin films are very versatile materials whose properties can be tuned through functionalization with different systems. This work investigates the influence of WO nanoparticles on the swelling, barrier, mechanical, and photochromic properties of gelatin films. To this purpose, polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP)-stabilized WO nanoparticles were loaded on gelatin films at two different pH values, namely, 4 and 7.

Assessment of tissue response in vivo: PET-CT imaging of titanium and biodegradable magnesium implants.

To study in vivo the bioactivity of biodegradable magnesium implants and other possible biomaterials, we are proposing a previously unexplored application of PET-CT imaging, using available tracers to follow soft tissue and bone remodelling and immune response in the presence of orthopaedic implants. Female Wistar rats received either implants (Ti6Al7Nb titanium or WE43 magnesium) or corresponding transcortical sham defects into the diaphyseal area of the femurs. Inflammatory response was followed with [F]FDG and osteogenesis with [F]NaF, over the period of 1.

Deciphering the Efficacy of β-Lactams in the Face of Metallo-β-Lactamase-Derived Resistance in Enterobacterales: Supraphysiologic Zinc in the Broth Is the Culprit.

Background: discordance in β-lactams' activities against metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL)-producing Enterobacterales has been described. We aimed to assess whether this discordance is attributed to the supra-physiologic zinc concentration in testing media.

Methods: A clinical and microbiological observational study of patients with bloodstream infections due to New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase-producing was performed.

A simple and robust nanosystem for photoacoustic imaging of bladder cancer based on α5β1-targeted gold nanorods.

Background: Early detection and removal of bladder cancer in patients is crucial to prevent tumor recurrence and progression. Because current imaging techniques may fail to detect small lesions of in situ carcinomas, patients with bladder cancer often relapse after initial diagnosis, thereby requiring frequent follow-up and treatments.

Results: In an attempt to obtain a sensitive and high-resolution imaging modality for bladder cancer, we have developed a photoacoustic imaging approach based on the use of PEGylated gold nanorods (GNRs) as a contrast agent, functionalized with the peptide cyclic [CphgisoDGRG] (Iso4), a selective ligand of α5β1 integrin expressed by bladder cancer cells.

Molecular Interaction Networks and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The Role of Food Bioactive Small Molecules.

Diet is a well-known modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death worldwide. However, our current understanding of the human diet is still limited in terms of fully capturing the role of dietary compounds in the intraspecies and interspecies biochemical networks that determine our health. This is due, in part, to a lack of detailed information on the presence of small molecules in food (molecular weight ≤1000 daltons), their amounts, and their interactions with known protein targets.

Prognostic significance of HER2-low status in HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Whether Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-low status has prognostic significance in HR + /HER2- advanced Breast Cancer (aBC) patients treated with first-line Endocrine Therapy plus CDK 4/6 inhibitors remains unclear. In 428 patients evaluated, HER2-low status was independently associated with significantly worse PFS and OS when compared with HER2-0 status. Based on our findings, HER2-low status could become a new prognostic biomarker in this clinical setting.

Mortality Attributable to Bloodstream Infections Caused by Different Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli: Results From a Nationwide Study in Italy (ALARICO Network).

Background: Our aim was to analyze mortality attributable to carbapenem-resistant (CR) gram-negative bacilli (GNB) in patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs).

Methods: Prospective multicentric study including patients with GNB-BSI from 19 Italian hospitals (June 2018-January 2020). Patients were followed-up to 30 days.

Cefiderocol- Compared to Colistin-Based Regimens for the Treatment of Severe Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Cefiderocol may represent a therapeutic option for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infections, but clinical data are limited. This is an observational retrospective study conducted in the University Hospital of Pisa including consecutive patients with CRAB infections (January 2020 to August 2021). Patients were divided in two study groups according to the antibiotic treatment received: cefiderocol- and colistin-containing regimens.

Role of Multimodal Imaging in Patients With Suspected Infections After the Bentall Procedure.

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performances of multimodal imaging [i.e., white blood cell single-photon emission computed tomography/CT (Tc-HMPAO-WBC SPECT/CT) and 18-fluoride-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT ([F]FDG PET/CT)] in patients with suspected infection after the Bentall procedure, proposing new specific diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis.

Quantum-Dot Single-Electron Transistors as Thermoelectric Quantum Detectors at Terahertz Frequencies.

Low-dimensional nanosystems are promising candidates for manipulating, controlling, and capturing photons with large sensitivities and low noise. If quantum engineered to tailor the energy of the localized electrons across the desired frequency range, they can allow devising of efficient quantum sensors across any frequency domain. Here, we exploit the rich few-electron physics to develop millimeter-wave nanodetectors employing as a sensing element an InAs/InAsP quantum-dot nanowire, embedded in a single-electron transistor.

Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Darunavir/Cobicistat in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Findings From the Multicenter Italian CORIST Study.

Protease inhibitors have been considered as possible therapeutic agents for COVID-19 patients. To describe the association between lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) or darunavir/cobicistat (DRV/c) use and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Multicenter observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted in 33 Italian hospitals.

C-C motive chemokine ligand 2 and thromboinflammation in COVID-19-associated pneumonia: A retrospective study.

Purpose: A derangement of the coagulation process and thromboinflammatory events has emerged as pathologic characteristics of severe COVID-19, characterized by severe respiratory failure. CC motive chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), a chemokine originally described as a chemotactic agent for monocytes, is involved in inflammation, coagulation activation and neoangiogenesis. We investigated the association of CCL2 levels with coagulation derangement and respiratory impairment in patients with COVID-19.

Extremely drug-resistant NDM-9-producing ST147 causing infections in Italy, May 2020.

A large outbreak of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM)-1-producing sequence type (ST) 147 occurred in Tuscany, Italy in 2018-2019. In 2020, ST147 NDM-9-producing were detected at the University Hospital of Pisa, Tuscany, in two critically ill patients; one developed bacteraemia. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses suggest relatedness of 2018-2019 and 2020 strains, with a change from NDM-1 to NDM-9 in the latter and evolution by colistin, tigecycline and fosfomycin resistance acquisition.

Impact of infectious diseases consultation as a part of an antifungal stewardship programme on candidemia outcome in an Italian tertiary-care, University hospital.

Candidemia is a major cause of in-hospital mortality. Antifungal stewardship programme (AFSP) providing infectious diseases consultation (IDC) might improve the outcome. We evaluate the impact on candidemia mortality of IDC as part of AFSP restricting the use of all antifungals with exception of fluconazole.

Ceftolozane/tazobactam: place in therapy.

Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) is a new antibiotic resulting from the combination of a novel cephalosporin, structurally similar to ceftazidime, with tazobactam, a well-known beta-lactamase inhibitor. C/T remains active against extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and multi-drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa, and has been recently approved for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) and complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI).

The current role of glycopeptides in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in not neutropenic adults: the viewpoint of a group of Italian experts.

Staphylococcus aureus is still an important problem in clinical and therapeutic area, worldwide. In Italy, in recent years, methicillin resistance remained stable, yet considerably high, the percentage of strains of MRSA being around 40%. It was deemed interesting and timely to carry out a consensus conference using the RAND/UCLA method to collect the opinion of a group of experts in infectious diseases on the role of glycopeptides in the management of MRSA infections within several clinical scenarios and namely in pneumonia, bacteremia and endocarditis, joint replacement infections, skin and soft tissue infections, diabetic foot, abdominal infections and central nervous system infections.

The role of biofilm forming on mortality in patients with candidemia: a study derived from real world data.

Background: Evaluation of the role on patient mortality exerted by biofilm forming (BF) Candida strains, by using predictive clinical data.

Methods: Eighty-nine strains isolated from Candida bloodstream infection, occurring in two Italian University Hospitals, were employed in this study. A random forest (RF) model was built with a procedure of iterative selection of the risk factors potentially able to predict the probability of death.

Thermodynamics of star polymer solutions: A coarse-grained study.

We consider a coarse-grained (CG) model with pairwise interactions, suitable to describe low-density solutions of star-branched polymers of functionality f. Each macromolecule is represented by a CG molecule with (f + 1) interaction sites, which captures the star topology. Potentials are obtained by requiring the CG model to reproduce a set of distribution functions computed in the microscopic model in the zero-density limit.

Diagnosis and management of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI). A literature review and consensus statement: an update.

Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections, posing considerable diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Fourteen members of the Italian Society of Infectious Diseases, after a careful review of the most recent literature using Medline database and their own clinical experience, updated a previous paper published in 2011 by preparing a draught manuscript of the statements. The manuscript was successively reviewed by all members and ultimately re-formulated the present manuscript during a full day consensus meeting.

Fungicidal activity and PK/PD of caspofungin as tools to guide antifungal therapy in a fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis candidemia.

Candida parapsilosis may be responsible for bloodstream infections (BSI) and it is characterised by an increased incidence of fluconazole resistance. A 75-year old woman with severe comorbidities received the insertion of a peripherally inserted central venous catheter. Fluconazole did not prevent a C.

Radiolabeled WBC scintigraphy in the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected device-related infections.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of (99m)Tc-hexamethypropylene amine oxime labeled autologous white blood cell ((99m)Tc-HMPAO-WBC) scintigraphy in patients with suspected infections associated with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Background: Early, definite recognition of CIED-related infections combined with accurate localization and quantification of disease burden is a prerequisite for optimal treatment strategies.

Methods: All 63 consecutive patients underwent clinical examination, blood chemistry, microbiology, and echography of the cardiac region/venous pathway of the device.

MicroPET/CT imaging of αvβ₃ integrin via a novel ⁶⁸Ga-NOTA-RGD peptidomimetic conjugate in rat myocardial infarction.

Purpose: The αvβ3 integrin is expressed in angiogenic vessels and is a potential target for molecular imaging of evolving pathological processes. Its expression is upregulated in cancer lesions and metastases as well as in acute myocardial infarction (MI) as part of the infarct healing process. The purpose of our study was to determine the feasibility of a new imaging approach with a novel (68)Ga-2,2',2″-(1,4,7-triazonane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid (NOTA)-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) construct to assess integrin expression in the evolving MI.