antibiotic resistance identified by atomic force microscopy.

In the last decade the detection of the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics treatment, developed by different kind of bacteria, is becoming a huge problem. We hereby present a different approach to the current problem of detection of bacteria resistance to antibiotics. Our aims were to use the atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate bacteria morphological changes in response to antibiotics treatment and explore the possibility of reducing the time required to obtain information on their resistance.

Syncope without prodromes in patients with normal heart and normal electrocardiogram: a distinct entity.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the clinical and laboratory findings of patients affected by sudden-onset syncope without prodromes who had a normal heart and normal electrocardiogram.

Background: The pathophysiology of syncope in these patients is uncertain.

Methods: We compared the clinical and laboratory findings of 15 patients with sudden-onset syncope without prodromes who had a normal heart and normal electrocardiogram (the study group) with those of 31 patients with established vasovagal syncope (VVS).

Colorectal cancer screening in LHU4 Chiavarese, Italy: ethical, methodological and outcome evaluations at the end of the first round.

Unlabelled: INTRODUCTION. The screening programmes are very challenging from the ethical perspective, and their impact in terms of morbidity and mortality make secondary colorectal cancer prevention a valuable public health intervention.

Methods: The target population people aged 50-69 years receive an invitation card with a test-tube for the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and an immunochemical test is used for fecal occult blood.

Prealbumin serum concentrations as a useful tool in the assessment of malnutrition in hospitalized patients.

Background: Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a common condition among patients admitted to hospitals, and it is associated with a worse prognosis and increased mortality. Although several screening systems have been developed, PEM is still poorly recognized, and there is no consensus on which test is more reliable and feasible in clinical practice. Prealbumin (PAB) is a potential useful PEM marker because its serum concentrations are closely related to early changes in nutritional status.