Exploring the In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Specific Probiotic Strains against Oral Pathogens.

The microbiota in the oral cavity has a strict connection to its host. Its imbalance may determine oral diseases and can also have an impact on the systemic health. Probiotic strains may help in the restoration of a balanced condition.

Efficacy of PBS067, subsp. BL050, and LRH020 in the Amelioration of Vaginal Microbiota in Post-Menopausal Women: A Prospective Observational Clinical Trial.

The menopausal transition marks a significant physiological shift in women. Menopause-related symptoms can significantly affect a woman's quality of life and probiotics have emerged as a promising avenue. This study aims to investigate the benefits of probiotics in improving vaginal well-being and microbiota composition in post-menopausal women.

Beneficial Effects of PBS072 and BB077 on Mood Imbalance, Self-Confidence, and Breastfeeding in Women during the First Trimester Postpartum.

The post-delivery period could be characterized by psychological distress (e.g., anxiety, sadness, and irritability), leading to postpartum depression (PPD).

COVID-19 impact on the decision process of the Italian Medicine Agency: a quantitative assessment.

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic has placed more attention on drugs' approval process and the importance of rapid decision-making in the healthcare sector, it is crucial to assess how time to market (TTM) of drugs varied.

Objective: To estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TTM of drugs in Italy.

Methods: An IQVIA database was used to retrieve information on drugs that obtained positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use between January 2015 and December 2021.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial, Antiadhesive and Co-Aggregation Activity of a Multi-Strain Probiotic Composition against Different Urogenital Pathogens.

The urogenital microbiota is dominated by that, together with , creates a physiological barrier counteracting pathogen infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a multi-strain probiotic formulation ( PBS067, LRH020, and subsp. BL050) to inhibit adhesion and growth of urogenital pathogens.

Complex central venous catheter for dialysis: interventional radiology experience in insertion and management of their complications.

Background: CVCs are defined 'complex' when they are inserted through non-conventional accesses or positioned in non-usual sites or substituted by IR endovascular procedures. We report our experience in using diagnostic and interventional radiology techniques for complex CVC insertion and management; we recommend some precautions and techniques that could lead to long-term availability of central venous access and to avoid non-conventional sites CVC insertion.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 617 patients, between January 2010 and December 2019, (mean age 71 ± 13; male 448/617), treated in our department for insertion of tunnelled CVC for haemodialysis.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of Vaborem in Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) -Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in Italy.

Background: Vaborem is a fixed dose combination of vaborbactam and meropenem with potent activity against target Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) pathogens, optimally developed for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). The study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Vaborem versus best available therapy (BAT) for the treatment of patients with CRE-KPC associated infections in the Italian setting.

Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted based on a decision tree model that simulates the clinical pathway followed by physicians treating patients with a confirmed CRE-KPC infection in a 5-year time horizon.

Prognostic risk factors for loss of patency after femoropopliteal bailout stenting with dual-component stent: results from the TIGRIS Italian Multicenter Registry.

Purpose: To identify the risk factors associated with patency loss after bailout stenting with third-generation hybrid heparin-bonded nitinol stent of the femoropopliteal segment.

Methods: Prospective, multicenter, single-arm registry including 156 patients (50 females, mean age 72 ± 11 years) subjected, from February 2017 to December 2018, to provisional stenting with Gore Tigris vascular stent of the distal superficial femoral artery, with or without involvement of the popliteal artery, in 9 different centers. The 194 lesions, with Rutherford score ≥ 3, were stented in case of recoil, dissection or residual stenosis not responding to percutaneous trans-luminal angioplasty (PTA).

Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity: Clinical Characteristics and Microbiota and Mycobiota Composition by Response to the Gluten Challenge Test.

The aims of this observational "proof-of-concept" study were to analyze the clinical/psychological characteristics and gut microbiota/mycobiota composition of individuals with suspected non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity (NCGS/WS) according to responses to the double-blind-placebo-controlled (DBPC) crossover gluten challenge test. Fifty individuals with suspected NCGS/WS were subjected to the DBPC challenge test; anthropometric measurements, psychometric questionnaires, and fecal samples were collected. Twenty-seven (54%) participants were gluten responsive (NCGS), and 23 were placebo responsive, with an order effect.

Gynecological Malignancies: Bail-Out Interventional Radiology Treatments.

Interventional radiology presents nowadays a relevant role in the management of gynecological malignancies, especially in advanced stages where conventional surgery may be contraindicated. Progression to multiorgan failure may be related to cancer disease extension or, more acutely, to concomitant infections, bleedings or thromboembolic complications. Infiltration of adjacent organs, as ureters and biliary ducts, ascites and pelvic collections often occur in advanced stages: considering the clinical fragility of these patients, percutaneous procedures are frequently applied.

Treatment of juxta-anastomotic stenoses for failing distal radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas: Drug-coated balloons versus angioplasty.

The aim of our study is to report the results of two types (type A, type B) paclitaxel drug-coated balloon compared with standard percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of juxta-anastomotic stenoses of mature but failing distal radiocephalic hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas. Two groups of 26 and 44 patients treated with two different drug-coated balloon are compared with a control group of 86 treated with standard percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. A color Doppler ultrasound was performed to evaluate stenosis and for treatment planning.

Drug-eluting balloon for the treatment of failing hemodialytic radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas: our experience in the treatment of juxta-anastomotic stenoses.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to report our experience with drug-eluting balloons for the treatment of juxta-anastomotic stenoses of failing radiocephalic hemodialytic arteriovenous shunt and to evaluate the primary and secondary patency (PP and SP).

Methods: After approval by the local hospital's Ethical and Scientific Review Board, 26 consecutive patients with juxta-anastomotic stenosis of radiocephalic hemodialytic shunt were treated with angioplasty with drug-eluting balloon. The main objective was to evaluate PP defined, in accordance with the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative recommendation, as the absence of dysfunction of the vascular access, patent lesion or residual stenosis <30% and no need for further reintervention of the target lesion (TL).

[Project work: formation of health-care personnel for self-care of tunnelled central venous catheters in hemodialysis patients of the territory].

Background: Scientific data from current literature demonstrate an incidence of bacteraemia due to tunnelled central venous catheter (tCVC) use accounting for 1.6 / 1000 days per tCVC, with a range of 1.5 to 1.

Management of severe blunt renal trauma in adult patients: a 10-year retrospective review from an emergency hospital.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Immediate surgery for major renal truma has led to a high rate of nephrectomy in comparison with an expectant management. We reviewed our case material on the management of severe blunt renal trauma in adults with emphasis on conservative management. Only shattered kidneys and pedicle avulsion required immediate surgery.

Atypical placement of hemodialysis catheters in patients with complete and irreversible obstruction of central venous vessels.

Purpose: This article describes the approach to atypical placement of central venous catheters (CVC) in dialysis patients with complete untreatable obstruction of central venous vessels.

Methods: Five patients with complete obstruction of central venous vessels underwent CT venography and digital venous angiography. After ultrasound-guided and radioscopic-assisted cannulation of the internal jugular vein, permanent CVCs were placed in atypical locations: in two patients a preliminary venous angioplasty was performed to facilitate the catheter positioning in a mediastinal enlarged collateral vein and in a persistent left superior vena cava; in three patients the CVC was placed in the azygos vein, enlarged because of the obstruction of the superior vena cava.

Venae comitantes as a potential vascular resource to create native arteriovenous fistulae.

Purpose: The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) represents the gold standard for hemodialysis (HD) vascular access. In some critical cases, use of the deep venous circle may represent an alternative approach and venae comitantes could be employed for this purpose.

Methods: Sixty patients with chronic renal failure in which the deep venous circle was used to create an AVF were identified; of the 48 who had a direct anastomosis between the brachial artery and vena comitans, 42 had a long-term follow-up (mean follow-up 59 weeks), while six were lost to follow-up.

[Multislice computed tomographic angiography in the assessment of central veins for endovascular treatment planning: comparison with phlebography].

The dysfunction of a vascular access for hemodialysis and its loss may depend on drainage difficulties of the superficial or deep venation due to hemodynamically significant stenosis or obstruction of a central vein, which generally involve the innominate-subclavian veins or superior vena cava. These alterations are often neglected due to their central and deep location; when there is hemodynamic compensation, they may remain asymptomatic. For these reasons every suspect clinical sign for central vein stenosis (gross arm syndrome or venous hypertension in an arteriovenous fistula) must not be ignored, as timely intervention is essential for functional recovery of the vessel and for the protection of the arteriovenous fistula.

[Steno-obstructions of haemodialytic FAV: new aspects of endovascular treatments].

Angioplasty is the usual method for the treatment of stenosis of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis, along with fibrinolysis and thrombus aspiration. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of interventional radiology procedures in the treatment of stenosis or occlusion of arteriovenous fistulas. One hundred thirteen patients suffering from malfunction of arteriovenous fistulas underwent interventional radiological procedures (140 treatments).

[Use of venae comitantes in the creation of arteriovenous fistulas: retrospective evaluation of our experience].

In order to estimate the outcome of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis, we reviewed our experience in the construction of AVFs using the venae comitantes in patients without an adequate superficial venous vascular territory. The study included 34 patients affected by end-stage renal disease in whom an AVF was created using the deep venous system. In 26 of them we performed an anastomosis between the brachial artery and its vena comitans.

[Central venous stenting in patients on hemodialysis: review of our case series and long-term follow-up].

Aims of the study was validate the venous stenting technique as the treatment of choice in patients affected by stenosis or occlusion of the central venous area. To evaluate the long-term patency of placed stents in our series and to detect factors predisposing to restenosis. Twenty-three hemodialyzed patients were treated by PTA or placement of a metallic self-expandable stent in the central venous area because of occlusion or severe stenosis caused by repeated central venous access puncture for Port-A-Cath or pacemaker placement.

In vitro activation of mononuclear cells by two probiotics: Lactobacillus paracasei I 1688, Lactobacillus salivarius I 1794, and their mixture (PSMIX).

Background: Most studies on probiotics have described their effects on the human immune system after ingestion of LAB, but little is known about their effect on in vitro stimulation of human immune cells.

Aim Of The Study: Evaluate the "in vitro" activity of Lactobacillus paracasei (I 1688), Lactobacillus salivarius (I 1794), and a commercial mix of the two (PSMIX, Proge Farm), on immune cells from healthy individuals.

Materials: Two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus salivarius (I 1794; Proge Farm, Italy) and Lactobacillus paracasei (I 1688; Proge Farm, Italy), which are contained in the functional food ENTEROBACILLI, were evaluated for their ability to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells and modulate surface phenotype and cytokine production.

Isolated hydatid cyst of the diaphragm without liver or lung involvement: a case report.

The most common targets of the echinococcus are the liver and the lung, but several organs can be affected by this disease. The isolated diaphragmatic location of the cyst, not associated with liver or lung, is very rare. The aim of this work is to report a case of hydatid cyst located in the abdominal side of the diaphragm and to review the literature.

[Use of the Floating Ball for hepatic resection in cirrhotic patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma].

Done to the improvement of knowledges in hepatic surgery and postoperative care, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been treated more and more frequently by hepatic resection. Aim of this study is to report an initial series of patients affected by HCC treated by hepatic resection utilizing a new water-cooled, high-density, monopolar device, the Tissuelink Monopolar Floating Ball (Tissuelink Medical Inc., Dover, NH, U.