The effect of twice daily kiwifruit consumption on periodontal and systemic conditions before and after treatment: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: To assess the nutraceutical effects of twice/daily intake of kiwifruit on periodontal parameters and systemic health before and after initial periodontal treatment (IPT).

Methods: At baseline, participants were randomly assigned to test and control group, and either consumed two kiwifruits/day for 5 months or no kiwifruit. In the first 2 months, no periodontal treatment was delivered (2 M).

Neuroendocrine markers and psychological features in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background And Aims: The key role of the brain-gut axis in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been recognized. The aim of this study was to assess the possible association between IBS, neuroendocrine markers, and psychological features.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-five consecutive IBS patients and 105 healthy subjects were enrolled.

A real-time PCR assay for detection of isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates.

A real-time PCR genotypic assay was developed for the detection of isoniazid (INH) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The assay detects mutations C(-15)T and, possibly, G(-24)T in the regulatory region of the inhA gene and proved as sensitive and specific as nucleotide sequencing in all the clinical isolates tested. Our assays mapped the mutations efficiently in 10 out of 35 resistant isolates, thereby covering 29% of all resistant strains.