Ital J Dermatol Venerol
January 2025
Background: The epidemiology of skin melanoma (SM) is rapidly changing. Therefore, we aimed at updating up to 2024 the Italian estimates on SM providing the number of incident and prevalent cases, the deaths and the distribution by stage at diagnosis.
Methods: Incidence was extrapolated from age- and sex-specific International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates from 2022 to 2025.
Due to the high frequency and severity of upper respiratory bacterial infections, probiotics could offer a new medical approach. We explored the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the new strain BIA and formulated a nasal spray. BIA was isolated from orange peel and taxonomically identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe healthy cervicovaginal microbiota is dominated by various species, which support a condition of eubiosis. Among their many functions, vaginal lactobacilli contribute to the maintenance of an acidic pH, produce antimicrobial compounds, and modulate the host immune response to protect against vaginal bacterial and fungal infections. Increasing evidence suggests that these beneficial bacteria may also confer protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by viruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are being developed as anti-cancer therapeutics due to their potent immunostimulatory properties. However, clinical trials testing TLR agonists as monotherapy have often failed to demonstrate significant improvement over standard of care. We hypothesized that the anti-cancer efficacy of TLR agonist immunotherapy could be improved by combinatorial approaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the local treatment of oral candidiasis usually requires long-term administration of the antifungal drug, an ideal dosage form should be able to maintain the drug release over an extended period, assuring an adequate concentration at the infection site. In this context, we have considered the possibility of a buccal delivery of miconazole nitrate (MN) by mucoadhesive polymeric matrices. The loading of the antifungal drug in a hydrophilic matrix was made possible by taking advantage of the amphiphilic nature of liposomes (LP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPre-clinical studies developing novel therapies to prevent cancer recurrence require appropriate surgical models. Here, we present a protocol for surgical debulking of subcutaneous tumors in mice, which allows for intraoperative application of immunotherapy-loaded biomaterials. We describe steps for inoculating tumor cells, anesthetizing mice, and performing surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA healthy vaginal microbiota hosts as the most predominant genus. Lactobacilli play a role in human health through the production of diverse antimicrobial substances that can act against human pathogens or modulate the immune system. Previous reports highlighted the ability of vaginal lactobacilli to counteract viruses causing STIs, e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to develop azithromycin (AZT)-loaded liposomes (LP) and niosomes (NS) useful for the treatment of bacterial skin infections and acne. LP based on phosphatidylcholine from egg yolk (EPC) or from soybean lecithin (SPC), and NS composed of sorbitan monopalmitate (Span 40) or sorbitan monostearate (Span 60) were prepared through the thin film hydration (TFH) and the ethanol injection (EI) methods. The formulations were subsequently characterized for their physico-chemical and functional properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: This cross-sectional study was aimed at estimating the number of Italian incident cancer patients in 2020 eligible for, and respondent to, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI).
Methods: The study is based on publicly available data: the ICI approved until August 2022 by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) with their specific indications and overall observed responses, rther details can be found in the Online Supplementary Materi cancer incidence estimates at 2020 and observed cancer deaths, and published papers with estimates on the frequency of different cancer stage/histology/markers etc. corresponding to AIFA authorizations.
Infant microbiota shaping strictly influences newborns' well-being and long-term health, and babies born by cesarean-section and formula-fed generally show low microbial gut diversity and are more prone to develop various disorders. The supplementation with beneficial microbes of vaginal origin or derivatives (postbiotics, including heat-inactivated cells) represents a valid strategy to drive the correct gut microbiota shaping. Here, we explored for the first time the bifidogenic activity of a heat-killed vaginal strain ( BC17), in addition to the assessment of its safety.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecurrences frequently occur following surgical removal of primary tumors. In many cancers, adjuvant therapies have limited efficacy. Surgery provides access to the tumor microenvironment, creating an opportunity for local therapy, in particular immunotherapy, which can induce local and systemic anti-cancer effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the Italian burden of incident breast cancer (BC) by subtypes, according to the distribution of hormonal receptor (HR) status and expression of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2).
Methods: Female breast cancers incidence in the Romagna Unit of the Emilia-Romagna registry (n. 10,711) were grouped into: HR+ /HER2-, HR+ /HER2+ , HR-/HER2+ , HR-/HER2- and missing, and by age: < 50, 50-69 and 70+ years.
Background: Exopolysaccharides (EPS) secreted by beneficial lactobacilli exert a plethora of positive activities, but little is known about their effects on biofilms of opportunistic vaginal pathogens and especially on biofilms of lactobacilli themselves. Here, the EPS produced by six vaginal lactobacilli, belonging to Lactobacillus crispatus (BC1, BC4, BC5) and Lactobacillus gasseri (BC9, BC12, BC14) species were isolated from cultural supernatants and lyophilized.
Results: Lactobacillus EPS were chemically characterized in terms of monosaccharide composition by liquid chromatography (LC) analysis coupled to UV and mass spectrometry (MS) detection.
The gut of babies born vaginally is rapidly colonized by spp. after birth, while in infants born by cesarean section (C-section), the presence of bifidobacteria drops dramatically, increasing the risk of developing gastrointestinal disorders. Considering that newborns naturally come into contact with maternal lactobacilli as they pass through the birth canal, the aim of this work is to exploit for the first time the bifidogenic activity exerted by the cell-free supernatants (CFSs) from lactobacilli of vaginal origin, belonging to the species Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Limosilactobacillus vaginalis, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe eradication of bacteria embedded in biofilms is among the most challenging obstacles in the management of chronic wounds. These biofilms are found in most chronic wounds; moreover, the biofilm-embedded bacteria are considerably less susceptible to conventional antimicrobial treatment than the planktonic bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides and their mimics are considered attractive candidates in the pursuit of novel therapeutic options for the treatment of chronic wounds and general bacterial eradication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lactobacillus species dominate the vaginal microflora performing a first-line defense against vaginal infections. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by lactobacilli are considered mediators of their beneficial effects affecting cellular communication, homeostasis, microbial balance, and host immune system pathways. Up to now, very little is known about the role played by Lactobacillus EVs in the vaginal microenvironment, and mechanisms of action remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFspp. generally dominate the vaginal microbiota and prevent pathogen adhesion and overgrowth, including spp., by various mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this work was to develop novel chitosan (CH) based nanoparticles (NPs) for rifampicin (RIF) delivery. RIF, a lipophilic molecule, was incorporated inside NPs as a complex with an anionic cyclodextrin, sulphobutyl-ether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD). NPs were then prepared through the ionic gelation method by exploiting the interaction between CH and SBE-β-CD-RIF complex (CH/SBE-β-CD-RIF NPs), possibly in the presence of other crosslinkers, like carboxymethylcellulose (CH/SBE-β-CD-RIF/CMC NPs) and pentasodium tripolyphosphate (CH/SBE-β-CD-RIF/TPP NPs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, the treatment of bacterial skin infections has been considered a major healthcare issue due to the growing emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of . The incorporation of antibiotics in appropriate nanosystems could represent a promising strategy, able to overcome several drawbacks of the topical treatment of infections, including poor drug retention within the skin. The present work aims to develop microemulsions containing azithromycin (AZT), a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study focuses on the isolation of lactobacilli/bifidobacteria from human breast milk and their first characterization, in the perspective to find new probiotic candidates to be included in food products. More specifically, breast-milk-isolated strains demonstrated a very good aptitude to adhere to intestinal cells, in comparison with GG strain, taken as reference. The same behavior has been found for hydrophobicity/auto-aggregation properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe inclusion of a chemical permeation enhancer in a dosage form is considered an effective approach to improve absorption across the nasal mucosa. Herein we evaluated the possibility of exploiting biosurfactants (BS) produced by BC9 as innovative natural excipients to improve nasal delivery of hydrocortisone (HC). BC9-BS ability to improve HC solubility and the BS mucoadhesive potential were investigated using the surfactant at a concentration below and above the critical micelle concentration (CMC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Med Technol
October 2021
Lactobacilli are the dominant members of the healthy human vaginal microbiota and represent the first defense line from pathogen infection, including vulvovaginal candidiasis. Biofilm is the predominant microbial growth form in nature, and the formation of biofilms inside the human body has important implications in health and disease. In particular, the formation of biofilm by members of the human resident microbiota is desirable, as it can improve microbial persistence and influence functionality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of nanoparticles (NPs) represents a useful strategy for peptide antibiotic delivery to mucosal membranes by either prolonging drug residence time at the target site (mucoadhesive NPs) or by enhancing diffusion across mucus layer to reach the underlying epithelium (mucopenetrating NPs). The purpose of this study was to design chitosan (CH) NPs and to evaluate their employment as mucoadhesive and/or mucopenetrating systems for vancomycin (VM) delivery. NPs were prepared by ionic gelation of CH with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), sodium alginate (ALG), sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) or phytic acid (PA) and characterized in terms of size, zeta-potential, morphology, drug encapsulation efficiency, mucoadhesion and mucopenetrating ability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe vaginal microbiota, normally characterized by lactobacilli presence, is crucial for vaginal health. Members belonging to and species exert crucial protective functions against pathogens, although a total comprehension of factors that influence their dominance in healthy women is still lacking. Here we investigated the complete genome sequence and comprehensive phenotypic profile of strain BC5 and strain BC12, two vaginal strains featured by anti-bacterial and anti-viral activities.
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