Reference Interval for Glycated Albumin, 1,5-AG/GA, and GA/HbA1c Ratios and Cut-Off Values for Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Glycated albumin (GA) serves as a biomarker for short-term glycemic control (2-3 weeks), playing a role in diabetes management. Our goal was to establish reference intervals (RIs) for serum GA, and the ratios of 1,5-anhydroglucitol to GA (AGI) and GA to HbA1c in a Euro-Brazilian pediatric population (10 y, n = 299), adults (43.5 y; n = 290), and pregnant women (26 y, n = 406; 26.

Use of ICD-9-CM coding for identifying antibiotic prescriptions during hospitalization: a Delphi consensus model.

A Delphi consensus-seeking procedure was conducted to validate a list of ICD-9-CM codes that could help identify hospital admissions in which antimicrobials are more likely to be prescribed. The panel agreed to include 2967 codes out of 16229 (18.28%).

Clostridioides difficile infections caused by hypervirulent strains: a single-centre real-life study.

Background And Purpose: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections worldwide, with hypervirulent strains linked to severe disease and higher mortality. This study aims to analyze the epidemiology of CDI at a tertiary-care hospital in Italy and compare clinical outcomes between patients infected with hypervirulent and non-hypervirulent strains.

Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted on patients diagnosed with CDI at ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Italy, from January 2015 to June 2023.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Educate Endothelial Cells to Become IL-6-Producing, CLL-Supportive Cells.

We hypothesized that via extracellular vesicles (EVs), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells turn endothelial cells into CLL-supportive cells. To test this, we treated vein-derived (HUVECs) and artery-derived (HAOECs) endothelial cells with EVs isolated from the peripheral blood of 45 treatment-naïve patients. Endothelial cells took up CLL-EVs in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Fosfomycin-Containing Regimens for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Infections in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Case Series Study.

Central nervous system infections are among the most severe infectious conditions in the neonatal period and are still burdened by significant mortality, especially in preterm infants and those with a low birth weight or other comorbidities. In this study, we examined the role of fosfomycin-containing antibiotic regimens in neonates with central nervous system infections. We included six neonates over a period of five years: four with meningitis and two with cerebral abscesses.

Multiplex array analysis of circulating cytokines and chemokines in COVID-19 patients during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Milan, Italy.

Background: The systemic inflammatory syndrome called "cytokine storm" has been described in COVID-19 pathogenesis, contributing to disease severity. The analysis of cytokine and chemokine levels in the blood of 21 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients throughout the phases of the pandemic has been studied to understand immune response dysregulation and identify potential disease biomarkers for new treatments. The present work reports the cytokine and chemokine levels in sera from a small cohort of individuals primarily infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Milan (Italy).

Management of intra-abdominal infections: recommendations by the Italian council for the optimization of antimicrobial use.

Intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) are common surgical emergencies and are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospital settings, particularly if poorly managed. The cornerstones of effective IAIs management include early diagnosis, adequate source control, appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and early physiologic stabilization using intravenous fluids and vasopressor agents in critically ill patients. Adequate empiric antimicrobial therapy in patients with IAIs is of paramount importance because inappropriate antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor outcomes.

Impact of in vitro SARS-CoV-2 infection on breast cancer cells.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), had severe repercussions for breast cancer patients. Increasing evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection may directly impact breast cancer biology, but the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on breast tumor cells are still unknown. Here, we analyzed the molecular events occurring in the MCF7, MDA-MB-231 and HCC1937 breast cancer cell lines, representative of the luminal A, basal B/claudin-low and basal A subtypes, respectively, upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Role of Cefiderocol in Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Central Nervous System Infections: Real Life Experience and State-of-the-Art.

Cefiderocol is a new molecule effective against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogens. Currently, there is limited evidence regarding the use of cefiderocol in central nervous system (CNS) infections. Data on the cerebrospinal fluid penetration rate of cefiderocol are limited and heterogeneous, and there is no consensus on the dosing scheme of cefiderocol to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

Use of nebulized liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole as antifungal prophylaxis in patients with severe SARS-CoV2 infection in intensive care unit.

Purpose: COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is common and linked with high fatality rates. To assess the impact on the incidence and outcome of CAPA of an antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) we compared two cohorts of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) in Brescia, Italy, from January to August 2021.

Methods: The study cohort included all mechanically ventilated patients observed between April 2021 and August 2021 with SARS-CoV-2-pneumonia, who received AFP with oral posaconazole (200 mg every 6 h) and nebulized liposomal amphotericin B (50 mg every 2 weeks) from ICU admission to 7 days after discharge or, if applicable, until tracheostomy removal.

Nutritional Strategies To Improve VRE Control.

The rise of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains among cellular therapy recipients raises concerns due to increased morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization costs, particularly impacting transplanted patients with diminished survival expectations. Recent research linking lactose to Enterococcus growth and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) emphasizes the need for data on reducing lactose in the diets of VRE-carrying patients, especially in cellular therapy contexts like CAR-T or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Responding to elevated VRE positivity rates in rectal swabs among patients in our BMT Unit, a unique nutritional strategy was implemented, introducing lactose-free milk and strictly enforcing lactose-free diets.

Longitudinal study of human polyomaviruses viruria in kidney transplant recipients.

Introduction: Immunosuppression after kidney transplantation (KTx) exposes recipients to Human Polyomaviruses (HPyVs) infections, whose natural history is still misunderstood.

Methods: Allograft biopsies, and urine from 58 donor-recipient pairs were collected before KTx (T0) and 1 (T1), 15 (T2), 30 (T3), 60 (T4), 90 (T5), 180 (T6), 270 (T7), 360 (T8), and 540 (T9) days after transplant. Specimens were tested for JC (JCPyV) and BK (BKPyV), by quantitative Real-Time PCR.

spp. Prosthetic Vascular Graft Infection (PVGI): A Multicenter Case-Series and Narrative Review of the Literature.

Background: Actinomycosis represents a challenging and under-reported complication of vascular surgery. Optimal management of spp. prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) is highly uncertain because of the paucity of reports on this disease.

Critical Overview on Pure Chitosan-based Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: Clinical insights in Dentistry.

Bone Tissue Engineering (BTE) is a field of regenerative medicine continuously improving, thanks to the development of new biomaterials used as grafts or scaffolds for repairing bone defects. In recent years, chitosan, a natural biopolymer extracted mainly from crustacean shells, has demonstrated unique and desirable characteristics for BTE applications, such as: biocompatibility, biodegradability, and osteoconductive behavior. Additionally, the presence of numerous active amine groups in its chemical structure allows it to be easily modified.

Breastmilk from COVID-19 negative lactating mothers shows neutralizing activity against SARS-COV-2.

Breastmilk protects newborns from infections through specific and nonspecific compounds. This study investigated the neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 of breastmilk from SARS-CoV-2 negative, unvaccinated mothers, and compared it to that from infected nursing mothers. We enrolled women after COVID-19 swab testing results upon maternity admission, and divided them into two groups: group A, COVID-19-positive mothers, and group B, negative mothers.

outbreak, Northern Italy 2021.

Objective: We report an outbreak of 14 cases of Q fever among tourists caused by an infected calf and characterized by respiratory transmission and a high attack rate in humans.

Materials And Methods: Following the identification of an index case of Q fever in September 2021, an epidemiological investigation was conducted in collaboration with local Health and Veterinary authorities and an unknown outbreak was discovered and terminated.

Results: The outbreak originated from the delivery by an infected cow, with spread of by air and infection via the respiratory route.

Dalbavancin in Bone and Joint Infections: A Systematic Review.

Background: Approved for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, dalbavancin (DBV) has gradually acquired over the years a role as an off-label treatment for several infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria even in other anatomical sites. Osteoarticular (OA) infections are one of the most difficult-to-treat infections and, since the absence of recommendations, clinicians use different and heterogenic DBV dosing schedule regimens for the off-label treatment of osteomyelitis, spondylodiscitis, and septic arthritis. Our aim is to systematically review the current literature to describe DBV administration schedules and their outcome in OA infections.

Infective Endocarditis of Prosthetic Valve: A Case Report and Literature Review.

spp. endocarditis is a severe and hard-to-treat infection. Immunosuppressed subjects and carriers of prosthetic valves or intracardiac devices are at risk.

In-vitro antiviral activity and in-silico targeted study of quinoline-3-carboxylate derivatives against SARS-Cov-2 isolate.

In recent years, the viral outbreak named COVID-19 showed that infectious diseases have a huge impact on both global health and the financial and economic sectors. The lack of efficacious antiviral drugs worsened the health problem. Based on our previous experience, we investigated in vitro and in silico a series of quinoline-3-carboxylate derivatives against a SARS-CoV-2 isolate.

Bacterial and fungal superinfections are detected at higher frequency in critically ill patients affected by SARS CoV-2 infection than negative patients and are associated to a worse outcome.

Patients with viral infections are at higher risk to acquire bacterial and fungal superinfections associated with a worse prognosis. We explored this critical point in the setting of patients with severe COVID-19 disease. The study included 1911 patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) during a 2-year study period (March 2020-March 2022).

Digital Detection of Single Virus Particles by Multi-Spot, Label-Free Imaging Biosensor on Anti-Reflective Glass.

Rapid detection of whole virus particles in biological or environmental samples represents an unmet need for the containment of infectious diseases. Here, an optical device enabling the enumeration of single virion particles binding on antibody or aptamers immobilized on a surface with anti-reflective coating is described. In this regime, nanoparticles adhering to the sensor surface provide localized contributions to the reflected field that become detectable because of their mixing with the interfering waves in the reflection direction.