Evaluation of two alternative non-alcohol-based media for the suspension of self-collected vaginal swabs for HPV testing in cervical cancer screening.

The introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing in cervical cancer screening enhanced the opportunity to introduce self-collection as an innovative approach to improve coverage rates. Validation and standardization of the pre-analytical and analytical procedures are crucial for the quality assurance of HPV tests on self-collected samples. This study evaluated the analytical performance and the stability of self-collected vaginal samples resuspended in 5 mL of two non-alcohol-based media, eNat and MSwab compared to a professionally collected cervical sample, resuspended in 20 mL ThinPrep®, for the detection of high-risk HPV (hrHPV).

Accuracy of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing on Urine and Vaginal Self-Samples Compared to Clinician-Collected Cervical Sample in Women Referred to Colposcopy.

In the context of cervical cancer prevention, where human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is pivotal, HPV testing is replacing Pap Smear in primary screening. This transition offers an opportunity for integrating self-sampling to enhance coverage. We evaluated the accuracy of HPV testing using self-collected urine and vaginal samples, comparing them to physician-collected cervical swabs.

Evaluation of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Genotyping and Viral Load Determination as Diagnostic Biomarkers of Cervical Cancer Risk.

HPV testing in cervical cancer screening programs offers the possibility of introducing molecular standardized biomarkers for the triage of HPV-positive women. This study aimed to evaluate the role of HPV genotyping and viral load as possible diagnostic biomarkers of high-grade cervical lesions (CIN2+) by performing a preliminary evaluation of a new HPV test. Cervical specimens were obtained from 200 women referred for a colposcopy.

Evaluation of BD Onclarity™ HPV Assay on Self-Collected Vaginal and First-Void Urine Samples as Compared to Clinician-Collected Cervical Samples: A Pilot Study.

The accuracy of available HPV molecular assays on self-samples needs to be evaluated as compared to clinician-collected samples. This pilot study aimed to investigate the BD Onclarity™ HPV assay on vaginal and first-void urine samples. Sixty-four women referred to colposcopy for cervical dysplasia performed a vaginal self-collection and provided a first-void urine sample, after informed consent.

Bone Mineral Density Reference Values in 18- to 95-Year-Old Population in Lombardy Region, Italy.

The aim of this study is to assess the bone mineral density (BMD) and -score reference values in a population from 18 to 95 years old in Lombardy region, Italy. This study also investigates the association between BMD values and body mass index (BMI) divided by gender and age. The evaluation of BMD was analyzed by -score and BMD in each site, femur, and column.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection in vaginal self-samples: evaluation of eNat® as an alternative suspension medium to ThinPrep®PreservCyt® for vaginal swabs.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing on self-collected samples allows for improved coverage rates of cervical cancer (CC) screening programs. ThinPrep®PreservCyt® (HOLOGIC®, USA) medium is widely used for the suspension of cervical and vaginal self-samples. However, this medium is costly, toxic, and flammable, involving special handling procedures which make its use difficult in screening programs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Environmental Strains Isolated in Northern Italy.

is ubiquitous in aquatic environments and responsible for severe pneumonia in humans through inhalation of aerosol containing spp. Macrolides and fluoroquinolones are frequently used antimicrobials, but treatment failures are increasingly being reported. As susceptibility testing is not routinely performed, this study aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) on 58 environmental strains (24 of serogroup 1 and 34 of non-serogroup 1) isolated in Northern Italy.

Evaluation of an Environmental Transport Medium for Recovery.

The collection and storage of water-related matrices such as biofilm from collection to processing are critical for the detection of by cultural and molecular tests. SRK™ is a liquid medium that acts both as an antimicrobial neutralizing agent and a transport medium for bacterial culture enumeration and is useful to maintain the stability of the sample from collection to analysis. The aims of this study were to evaluate viability and bacterial nucleic acids' stability in SRK™ medium over time at different storage conditions.

Effect of Acute and Chronic Dietary Supplementation with Green Tea Catechins on Resting Metabolic Rate, Energy Expenditure and Respiratory Quotient: A Systematic Review.

The consumption of green tea catechins (GTC) is associated with modulations of fat metabolism and consequent weight loss. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of GTC on resting metabolic rate (RMR), energy expenditure (EE), and respiratory quotient (RQ). Eligible studies considered both the chronic and acute intake of GTC-based supplements, with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) doses ranging between 100-800 mg.

Ideal food pyramid for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A narrative review.

Emerging literature suggests that diet plays an important modulatory role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because diet is an environmental factor that affects inflammation, antigen presentation, antioxidant defense mechanisms and gut microbiota. Patients with RA frequently ask their doctors about which diets to follow, and even in the absence of advice from their physicians, many patients are undertaking various dietary interventions. Given this background, the aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence to date regarding the ideal dietary approach for management of RA in order to reduce the counteracting inflammation, and to construct a food pyramid for patients with RA.

A structural equation model to assess the pathways of body adiposity and inflammation status on dysmetabolic biomarkers via red cell distribution width and mean corpuscular volume: a cross-sectional study in overweight and obese subjects.

Background: A study has been performed in overweight and obese subjects to assess the effects of adiposity and inflammation indicators on dysmetabolic biomarkers via red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), taking into account pro-antioxidant balance.

Methods: Data from 166 overweight subjects were analyzed by a path analysis model using structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate the direct and indirect pathway effects of adiposity, measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and inflammation status, measured by pro-antioxidant balance [reactive oxygen species (ROS)], lag-time and slope and C-reactive protein (CRP) values on dysmetabolic biomarkers, via RDW and MCV.

Results: BMI was strongly linked to CRP and ROS levels.

Analysis of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 Variants Associated with Cervical Infection in Italian Women.

This study aims to evaluate HPV16 variants distribution in a population of Italian women living in two different regions (Lombardy and Sardinia) by sequence analyses of HPV16-positive cervical samples, in order to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship among variants to identify the currently circulating lineages. Analyses were conducted starting from DNA isolated from 67 HPV16-positive cervical samples collected from two different Italian centres (31 from Lombardy and 36 from Sardinia) of women with normal and abnormal cervical cytology. The entire long control region (LCR) and 300 nt of the gene was sequenced to identify intra-type variants.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among Italian Women Referred for a Colposcopy.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a major cause of morbidity in women and men worldwide. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections are among the most prevalent STIs and persistent infections with high-risk HPV (hrHPV) genotypes can cause cervical dysplasia and invasive cervical cancer. The association of other STIs with HPV cervical infection and/or dysplasia has however not yet been fully elucidated.

Volatile Organic Compounds as Biomarkers of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Nutritional Status.

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to identify the best solution for rapid and noninvasive diagnosis and long-term monitoring of patients affected by inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, colon and gastric cancer, obesity in correlation to diet, and breast milk to evaluate exposure to VOCs in women and infants.

Methods: This review included 20 previously published eligible studies. VOC analysis has allowed us to highlight differences in lifestyles, intestinal microbiota, and metabolism.

Inhibition of ceramide de novo synthesis by myriocin produces the double effect of reducing pathological inflammation and exerting antifungal activity against A. fumigatus airways infection.

Background: Fungal infections develop in pulmonary chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF). The available antifungal drugs may fail to eradicate fungal pathogens, that can invade the lungs and vessels and spread by systemic circulation taking advantage of defective lung immunity. An increased rate of sphingolipid de novo synthesis, leading to ceramide accumulation, was demonstrated in CF and COPD inflamed lungs.

Molecular Identification and Echinocandin Susceptibility of Candida parapsilosis Complex Bloodstream Isolates in Italy, 2007-2014.

The Candida parapsilosis group encompasses three species: C. parapsilosis, C. orthopsilosis, and C.

Antifungal activity of Myriocin on clinically relevant Aspergillus fumigatus strains producing biofilm.

Background: The human pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus is able to form a complex biofilm embedded in extracellular matrix. Biofilms confer antimicrobial resistance and it is well known that aspergillosis is often refractory to the conventional antifungal therapy. The treatment of biofilm-related infections poses a significant clinical challenge on a daily basis, promoting the search for new therapeutic agents.

Acetylcholine Protects against Candida albicans Infection by Inhibiting Biofilm Formation and Promoting Hemocyte Function in a Galleria mellonella Infection Model.

Both neuronal acetylcholine and nonneuronal acetylcholine have been demonstrated to modulate inflammatory responses. Studies investigating the role of acetylcholine in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections have revealed contradictory findings with regard to disease outcome. At present, the role of acetylcholine in the pathogenesis of fungal infections is unknown.

Antifungal drug resistance in Candida species.

Invasive Candida infections are well established infectious entities of immunocompromised or critically ill patients and are characterised by high morbidity and mortality. Owing to the common eukaryotic structure of fungi and humans, a limited number of antifungal drugs is available for therapeutic purposes. In this unsatisfactory scenario, the emergence of drug resistance represents an important health problem.

A histological procedure to study fungal infection in the wax moth Galleria mellonella.

The invertebrate model Galleria mellonella is a widely used factitious host to study the microbial pathogenesis in vivo. However, a specific procedure for the recovery and the processing of the infected tissues, important for a better understanding of the host-pathogen interactions, has not been reported to our knowledge. In the present study we describe a new procedure of fixation and processing of larval tissue that allows studying the larval topographic anatomy and assessing the morphological changes due to the fungal infection.

Biofilms formed by Candida albicans bloodstream isolates display phenotypic and transcriptional heterogeneity that are associated with resistance and pathogenicity.

Background: Candida albicans infections have become increasingly recognised as being biofilm related. Recent studies have shown that there is a relationship between biofilm formation and poor clinical outcomes in patients infected with biofilm proficient strains. Here we have investigated a panel of clinical isolates in an attempt to evaluate their phenotypic and transcriptional properties in an attempt to differentiate and define levels of biofilm formation.

Correlation between Candida albicans biofilm formation and invasion of the invertebrate host Galleria mellonella.

Aim: The aim of our study was to investigate whether biofilm production by Candida albicans clinical isolates could be a hallmark of virulence in vivo.

Materials & Methods: Twenty clinical isolates of C. albicans were examined via histological studies on larvae infected with various fungal doses (from 10(3) to 10(5) CFU/larva) of biofilm producer and nonproducer strains.

Pre-mRNA processing is partially impaired in satellite cell nuclei from aged muscles.

Satellite cells are responsible for the capacity of mature mammalian skeletal muscles to repair and maintain mass. During aging, skeletal muscle mass as well as the muscle strength and endurance progressively decrease, leading to a condition termed sarcopenia. The causes of sarcopenia are manifold and remain to be completely elucidated.

RNA/MBNL1-containing foci in myoblast nuclei from patients affected by myotonic dystrophy type 2: an immunocytochemical study.

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a dominantly inherited autosomal disease with multi-systemic clinical features and it is caused by expansion of a CCTG tetranucleotide repeat in the first intron of the zinc finger protein 9 (ZNF9) gene in 3q21.The expanded-CCUG-containing transcripts are retained in the cell nucleus and accumulate in the form of focal aggregates which specifically sequester the muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) protein, a RNA binding factor involved in the regulation of alternative splicing. The structural organization and composition of the foci are still incompletely known.

Distribution of centromeric proteins and PARP-1 during mitosis and apoptosis.

A large complex of proteins, called CENPs, are associated with centromeric DNA. Some of them exhibit a cell cycle-related expression (e.g.