Changes in body composition revealed by bioelectrical impedance analysis reflect strength and motor performance in myotonic dystrophy type 2.

Introduction: In myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), metabolic dysfunctions are frequent. Therefore, measurement of muscle mass and body composition by non-invasive methods could help in evaluating disease severity and progression. The aim of our study was to investigate, by means of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), whether DM2 patients have an alteration in their body composition and if this finding correlates with strength and motor performances.

The Relationship between Exposome and Microbiome.

Currently, exposome studies include a raft of different monitoring tools, including remote sensors, smartphones, omics analyses, distributed lag models, etc. The similarity in structure between the exposome and the microbiota plus their functions led us to pose three pertinent questions from this viewpoint, looking at the actual relationship between the exposome and the microbiota. In terms of the exposome, a bistable equilibrium between health and disease depends on constantly dealing with an ever-changing totality of exposures that together shape an individual from conception to death.

Head CT Scans in the Emergency Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Use or Overuse?

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to mainly involve the respiratory system, but it was realized that it could affect any organ, including the CNS. The pandemic has followed a wave-like trend, with its peaks being due to the COVID-19 different variants and the introduction of the vaccine, which led to an apparent reduction in hospitalizations but also brought about perplexities related to its adverse effects. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in the use of head CT/contrast CT and their impacts on the onset of cerebrovascular disease in our emergency department during the COVID-19 period and the vaccine rollout.

Coffee and Microbiota: A Narrative Review.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, which has important repercussions on the health of the individual, mainly because of certain compounds it contains. Coffee consumption exerts significant influences on the entire body, including the gastrointestinal tract, where a central role is played by the gut microbiota. Dysbiosis in the gut microbiota is implicated in the occurrence of numerous diseases, and knowledge of the microbiota has proven to be of fundamental importance for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

The Interplay between and Gut Microbiota in Non-Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Special Focus on Atherosclerosis.

The discovery of Helicobacter pylori () in the early 1980s by Nobel Prize winners in medicine Robin Warren and Barry Marshall led to a revolution in physiopathology and consequently in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Subsequently, has also been linked to non-gastrointestinal diseases, such as autoimmune thrombocytopenia, acne rosacea, and Raynaud's syndrome. In addition, several studies have shown an association with cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Nutrition: Exploring the Role of Diet and Gut Health.

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing worldwide. The most common form is represented by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) which has been shown to be linked to chronic inflammation. Notably, the gut microbiota has emerged as a critical player in regulating immune responses and inflammation.

ANCOC Score to Predict Mortality in Different SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Vaccination Status.

Background: More than three years after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic outbreak, hospitals worldwide are still affected by coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The availability of a clinical score that can predict the risk of death from the disease at the time of diagnosis and that can be used even if population characteristics change and the virus mutates can be a useful tool for emergency physicians to make clinical decisions. During the first COVID-19 waves, we developed the ANCOC (age, blood urea nitrogen, C-reactive protein, oxygen saturation, comorbidities) score, a clinical score based on five main parameters (age, blood urea nitrogen, C-reactive protein, oxygen saturation, comorbidities) that accurately predicts the risk of death in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Ursodeoxycholic acid does not affect the clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A retrospective study of propensity score-matched cohorts.

Background: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been recently proposed as a modulator of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expression, with potential effects on COVID-19.

Aim And Study Design: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course and outcome of subjects taking UDCA admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 compared with matched infected subjects. Differences regarding the severity and outcome of the disease between treated and non-treated subjects were assessed.

The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) as an Independent Prognostic Factor for Patients ≥80 Years with Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO).

Background: SBO is a potentially life-threatening condition that often affects older patients. Frailty, more than age, is expected to play a crucial role in predicting SBO prognosis in this population. This study aims to define the influence of Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) on mortality and major complications in patients ≥80 years with diagnosis of SBO at the emergency department (ED).

Are Short-Stay Units Safe and Effective in the Treatment of Non-Variceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding?

: Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding is a health, political, and economic problem of concern worldwide. The causes of overcrowding are an aging population, an increase in chronic diseases, a lack of access to primary care, and a lack of resources in communities. Overcrowding has been associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Reduced Prognostic Role of Serum PCT Measurement in Very Frail Older Adults Admitted to the Emergency Department.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the prognostic role of serum PCT in older patients with suspect sepsis or infective diagnosis in the Emergency Department (ED) with a particular focus on the clinical consequences and characteristics due to frailty status.

Methods: This is a observational retrospective study conducted in the ED of a teaching hospital. We identified all consecutive patients aged ≥ 80 years admitted to the ED and subsequently hospitalized for clinical suspicion of infection.

Gut Microbiota, LADA, and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: An Evolving Relationship.

There is much evidence confirming the crucial role played by the gut microbiota in modulating the immune system in the onset of autoimmune diseases. In this article, we focus on the relationship between alterations in the microbiome and the onset of diabetes mellitus type 1 and LADA, in light of the latest evidence. We will then look at both how the role of the gut microbiota appears to be increasingly crucial in the pathogenesis of these disorders and how this aspect may be instrumental in the development of new potential therapeutic strategies that modulate the gut microbiota, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation.

Role of vitamin K2 in bone-vascular crosstalk.

Vitamin K (VK) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is indispensable for the activation of vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs). It has been shown to play an important role in the proper calcium deposit at the bone level, hindering that on the vascular walls. The deficiency of this vitamin in European populations is frequent and unknown.

The "Microbiome": A Protagonist in COVID-19 Era.

Respiratory infections are among the main causes of hospitalization and mortality, particularly in elderly patients [...

Effects of Fatty Acids on Hematological Neoplasms: A Mini Review.

Hematological neoplasias are the fourth cause of death in the world. All of them are responsible of bad quality of life, due to heavy therapies administration and a lot of side effects correlated to. It arises a new concept of "multitherapy", in which fatty acids availment is used to contrast and reduce toxic effects and ameliorate chemotherapeutic agents asset.

Influence of Laboratory Index on match performance. A comparison study to evaluate physical performance in professional soccer players of an Italian Elite Team.

Objective: It was hypothesized that activity exercise at professional levels could lead to an increase in metabolic levels and a decrease in performance parameters. These trends are explained by physical activity as a cellular stressor.

Subjects And Methods: We used an algorithm, Laboratory Index which evaluates salivary cortisol, CK and d-ROMs, collected previously from elite Italian soccer players, compared to InStat Index.

Influence of Mediterranean Diet on Human Gut Microbiota.

Gut microbiota changes correlate with health status. Literature data on gut microbiota show that all dietary changes can induce the alteration of gut microbiota composition. Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with a reduction of all-cause mortality and in this review, we analyzed its interactions with human microbiota.

COVID-19: Is there a role for immunonutrition in obese patient?

On December 12, 2019 a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, triggering a pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome in humans (COVID-19). Today, the scientific community is investing all the resources available to find any therapy and prevention strategies to defeat COVID-19. In this context, immunonutrition can play a pivotal role in improving immune responses against viral infections.

Role of first aid in the management of acute alcohol intoxication: a narrative review.

Objective: Acute alcohol intoxication is actually a common admission cause in the Emergency Department and represents an increasing public health burden, in particular among adolescents. It involves possible and significant illness and injury, which can quickly get worse and may need to be managed in the emergency room.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a narrative review of the literature regarding the effectiveness of first aid role of the Emergency Department setting.

Obesity, vitamin D status and physical activity: 1,25(OH)2D as a potential marker of vitamin D deficiency in obese subjects.

Background: Obesity has been regarded to be protective against fracture in spite of its association with low levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is the key regulator of bone metabolism and its deficiency contributes to higher level of parathyroid hormone (PTH), leading to the activation of bone turnover.

Methods: We studied 161 subjects of which 65 were young healthy subjects and 96 were elderly subjects.