The impact of the secondary infections in ICU patients affected by COVID-19 during three different phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Microbial secondary infections can contribute to an increase in the risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients, particularly in case of severe diseases. In this study, we collected and evaluated the clinical, laboratory and microbiological data of COVID-19 critical ill patients requiring intensive care (ICU) to evaluate the significance and the prognostic value of these parameters. One hundred seventy-eight ICU patients with severe COVID-19, hospitalized at the S.

Biological activity of roots and aerial parts of Zinnia peruviana on pathogenic micro-organisms in planktonic state and biofilm forming.

Microbial resistance to antibiotics affects the control of clinical infections and is a growing concern in global public health. One important mechanism whereby micro-organisms acquire resistance is biofilm formation. This context has led to the investigation of new antimicrobial substances from plants popularly used in folk medicine.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for locally advanced extraperitoneal rectal cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to provide a prospective analysis of post-operative and oncological outcomes in patients affected by locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), who obtained a major/complete clinical response after pre-operative radio-chemotherapy (RCT) and were treated with local excision (LE) by trans-anal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) to confirm a pathological complete response (pCR) after to neo-adjuvant RCT.

Methods: All patients with LARC treated by pre-operative RCT and full-thickness LE by TEM (2000-2014) were included in the study. If the pathological analysis confirmed near complete or pCR, intensive follow up was proposed.

Tumor size as a prognostic factor in patients with stage IIa colon cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify stage II colon cancer patients with a high risk of recurrence.

Methods: All patients who underwent surgery for stage II colon cancer (CC) were retrospectively enrolled and sub-grouped according to TNM staging (IIa-b-c) and stage IIa in high (IIaHR) and low risk (IIaLR) according to pathologic features. The primary outcomes measured were the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

Routine extra-hepatic bile duct resection in gallbladder cancer patients without bile duct infiltration: A systematic review.

Aim: The optimal treatment for advanced gallbladder cancer, in particular T2 stage cancer, is unclear. The use of "radical cholecystectomy" or more extended procedures with extra-hepatic bile duct resection are matter of debate. Due to the lack of consensus regarding the oncological significance of routine extra-hepatic bile duct (EBD) resection for gallbladder carcinoma, we decided to perform a systematic review investigating the real benefit of this procedure focusing on the primary outcomes of overall survival and disease-free survival.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Acacia aroma leaf extracts.

Acacia aroma, native plant from San Luis, Argentina, is commonly used as antiseptic and for healing of wounds. The present study was conducted to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of hot aqueous extract (HAE) and ethanolic extract (EE) of A. aroma.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for locally advanced extraperitoneal rectal cancer: short-term morbidity and functional outcome.

Background: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) after radiochemotherapy (RCT) has been reported in selected cases of locally advanced rectal cancer as an alternative to traditional radical resection with total mesorectal excision with a curative intent or as diagnostic tool to confirm a pathological complete response of the primary tumor. No study has evaluated functional outcome after TEM in preoperatively irradiated patients.

Methods: This study was designed to evaluate short-term morbidity (according to Clavien's classifications) and establish (by a questionnaire) continence and evacuative function after RCT and TEM, at 1 year from surgery, analyzing the impact of RCT on postoperative outcomes.

Anti-TNF-alpha therapies do not increase early postoperative complications in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. An Italian single-center experience.

Purpose: The impact of preoperative use of TNF-alpha inhibitors on postoperative complications in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing abdominal surgery is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 30-day postoperative outcomes for IBD patients treated with these drugs prior to surgery.

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively the incidence of short-term postoperative complications.

Antibacterial activity of extracts of acacia aroma against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus.

Antibacterial activity of organic and aqueous extracts of Acacia aroma was evaluated against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. Inhibition of bacterial growth was determined using agar diffusion and bioautographic methods. Among all assayed organic extracts only ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts presented highest activities against all tested Staphylococcus strains with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 2.

Surgical treatment of small bowel neoplasms.

Small intestinal neoplasms are uncommon cancers. Benign small intestinal tumors (e.g.

Outcomes of clinical T4M0 extra-peritoneal rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy and surgery: a prospective evaluation of a single institutional experience.

Background: Our objective was evaluate the outcome of primary clinical T4M0 extraperitoneal rectal cancer treated by neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. Prognosis of clinical T4 rectal cancer is poor. Preoperative chemoradiation therapy may be beneficial.

Congenital tumors of the retrorectal space in the adult: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Aims And Background: To describe and discuss, on the basis of the authors' experience and a review of the literature, the main aspects regarding the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of congenital tumors of the retrorectal space.

Methods: We present 2 cases of congenital retrorectal tumors, a sacrococcygeal teratoma and a dermoid cyst, which represent, from the pathogenetic point of view, the most frequent presentation of the rare tumors of the retrorectal space.

Results: The reported cases are typical.

Genotypic, phenotypic, and clinical characteristics of isolates of Helicobacter pylori from San Luis, Argentina.

The vacA and cagA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori exhibited distinct geographic distribution and correlation with severity of disease. In the above genotypes (obtained from 150 H. pylori-positive patients--139 with gastritis, 10 with ulcer and 1 patient with gastric cancer) combinations vacA s1/m1 and s2/m2 were detected using PCR in 75 and 25% of isolates, respectively, in patients with chronic gastritis.

The role of local excision in rectal cancer after complete response to neoadjuvant treatment.

Correlation between pathological response of primary tumour and mesorectal lymph node involvement was prospectively evaluated to assess the role of local excision (LE) in rectal cancer after complete response to neoadjuvant treatment. A series of 272 consecutive rectal cancer, submitted to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) and surgery with total mesorectal excision (TME) were analysed. Tumour downstaging (pT) and tumour regression grade (TRG) together with sex, age, location of the tumour, pre-treatment clinical stage, type of chemoradiation and operation performed entered in an univariate and multivariate analysis.

Laparoscopic approach to recurrent incisional hernia repair: a 3-year experience.

Background: Incisional hernias are one of the most frequent complications of open abdominal surgery. The incidence of relapses after a conventional repair procedure is higher in recurrent than in primary cases (30%-50% vs. 11%-20%).

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy and Milligan Morgan hemorrhoidectomy in the cure of fourth-degree hemorrhoids: long-term evaluation and clinical results.

Purpose: The long-term results after stapled hemorrhoidopexy compared with Milligan-Morgan procedure are discussed.

Methods: The clinical data of 100 patients treated by Milligan-Morgan procedure or stapled hemorrhoidopexy for fourth-degree hemorrhoids have been reviewed. All patients were visited and submitted to a questionnaire to evaluate resumption of symptoms, functional results, and recurrence rate.

Functional results after radiochemotherapy and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to prospectively define and measure evacuation and continence disorders after preoperative radiochemotherapy and total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer 1 year after surgery.

Materials And Methods: We submitted 100 patients, who underwent neoadjuvant treatment and anterior resection with TME from 1996 to 2003, to a questionnaire on postoperative continence and evacuation. Anal sphincter function was further assessed by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering score.

DNA fingerprinting by ERIC-PCR for comparing Listeria spp. strains isolated from different sources in San Luis, Argentina.

In this study, a total of 24 Listeria spp. strains were analyzed. Twenty-two isolates were obtained in San Luis (Argentina) from human, animal, and food samples.

Long-term results after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for locally advanced resectable extraperitoneal rectal cancer.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate long-term outcome in locally advanced resectable extraperitoneal rectal cancer treated by preoperative radiochemotherapy.

Methods: Eighty-three consecutive patients who developed locally advanced resectable extraperitoneal rectal cancer underwent preoperative concomitant radiochemotherapy followed by surgery, including total mesorectal excision.

Results: Median follow-up was 108 (range, 10-169) months.

Impact of emergency surgery in the outcome of rectal and left colon carcinoma.

The negative results in terms of morbidity, mortality and survival among emergency treated patients affected by colorectal cancer are well known. The specific contribution of emergency surgery to adverse outcome is not clear because of the presence in all series of other possible determinants of a poor prognosis. We used a case-control study design to compare a group of 50 patients operated on for cancer of the rectum and left colon presented as emergencies in our department during the last 14 years, and an equal number of patients who underwent elective procedures during the same period.

[Serological profile of Helicobacter pylori infection in the population of San Luis (Argentina)].

We performed a seroepidemiological study of anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG by a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit (Meridian Diagnostics, USA) in 509 serum samples from 314 randomly selected asymptomatic subjects from among the population, and grouped into children (n = 124), adolescents (n = 74) and adults (n = 116), and in 195 serum samples from subjects presenting clinical gastric symptoms, grouped into children (n = 38) and adults (n = 157). The cut-off value was redefined and set at OD450 = 0.050.