The revised European Directive 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption. A step forward in risk assessment, consumer safety and informative communication.

Water is an indispensable element for humankind and indeed all living beings; as such it is essential that it be supplied in adherence with safety and security criteria so as to fulfill its primordial role in community development. Therefore, the European Union has issued a new Directive on drinking water, updating the previous one (98/83/EC). The main new features of the updated Directive issued on January 12, 2021 include: • The adoption of a risk-based approach, in accordance with the principles of the Water Safety Plan, along the entire supply chain including the domestic system from the meter to the tap; • The updating of some quality standards, mainly related to the introduction of new parameters and the modification of parameter values for some in a more restrictive sense and for others in more permissive terms; • The identification of possible emerging pollutants present in supply sources (catchment areas); • The demand for effective and transparent communication to citizens on the quality of the water supplied, necessary to foster consumer confidence in the mains water supply.

Relationship between the Biofilm-Forming Capacity and Antimicrobial Resistance in Clinical Isolates: Results from a Laboratory-Based In Vitro Study.

The relationship between the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype and biofilm-forming capacity has been a topic of extensive interest among biomedical scientists, as these two factors may have significant influence on the outcomes of infections. The aim of the present study was to establish a possible relationship between biofilm-forming capacity and the antibiotic-resistant phenotype in clinical () isolates. A total of n = 309 isolates were included in this study.

Clinical Outcome and Drug Expenses of Intravitreal Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema: A Retrospective Study in Sardinia, Italy.

Background: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of visual loss in working-age adults. The purpose of this retrospective study was to perform an epidemiological analysis on DME patients treated with intravitreal drugs in a tertiary hospital. The clinical outcome, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and intravitreal drug expenses were assessed.

Humoral Response to Microbial Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Background/objective: Chronic humoral immune response against multiple microbial antigens may play a crucial role in the etiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to assess the prevalence and magnitude of antibody response against various bacterial and viral immunogen peptides in the sera of RA patients compared with the general population.

Methods: Polyclonal IgG antibodies (Abs) specific for peptides derived from (RgpA, Kpg), (LtxA1, LtxA2), subsp.

In vitro larvicidal activity of ivermectin and povidone-iodine against Oestrus ovis.

Purpose: To assess the in vitro larvicidal activity of ivermectin and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) against Oestrus ovis, the most frequent cause of external ophthalmomyiasis.

Methods: L1 O. ovis larvae were collected from the nasal boots of sheep slaughtered in local abattoirs and transferred onto Petri dishes containing mucosal tissue (25 larvae/dish).

Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma with a 3-months interval in "extremely high-risk" patients does not further improve survival.

Background: An enhanced surveillance schedule has been proposed for cirrhotics with viral etiology, who are considered at extremely high-risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Aims: We compared the 3- and 6-months surveillance interval, evaluating cancer stage at diagnosis and patient survival.

Methods: Data of 777 HBV and HCV cirrhotic patients with HCC diagnosed under a 3-months (n = 109, 3MS group) or a 6-months (n = 668, 6MS group) surveillance were retrieved from the Italian Liver Cancer database.

Cholesterol and Triglyceride Concentrations, COVID-19 Severity, and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Meta-Regression.

Lipid profile alterations have been observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in relation to disease severity and mortality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression of studies reporting total, HDL, and LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, between January 2020 and January 2021, for studies describing lipid concentrations, COVID-19 severity, and survival status (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021253401).

Patterns of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulating Drug Usage and Microvascular Endothelial Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Specific anti-inflammatory and/or immunomodulating drugs (AIDs) can influence endothelial function which is often impaired in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We sought to determine whether overall patterns of AID usage are similarly associated with endothelial function. The reactive hyperaemia index (RHI), a marker of microvascular endothelial function, was measured in 868 RA patients reporting their intake of seven AIDs known to affect endothelial function.

The Italian law on body donation: A position paper of the Italian College of Anatomists.

In Italy, recent legislation (Law No. 10/2020) has tuned regulations concerning the donation of one's postmortem body and tissues for study, training, and scientific research purposes. This study discusses several specific issues to optimise the applicability and effectiveness of such an important, novel regulatory setting.

Myocardial iron overload by cardiovascular magnetic resonance native segmental T1 mapping: a sensitive approach that correlates with cardiac complications.

Background: We compared cardiovascular magnetic resonance segmental native T1 against T2* values for the detection of myocardial iron overload (MIO) in thalassaemia major and we evaluated the clinical correlates of native T1 measurements.

Methods: We considered 146 patients (87 females, 38.7 ± 11.

Dexamethasone-Sparing Regimens with Oral Netupitant and Palonosetron for the Prevention of Emesis Caused by High-Dose Cisplatin: A Randomized Noninferiority Study.

Background: To reduce the overall exposure to dexamethasone (DEX) in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy, we evaluated the noninferiority of DEX on day 1, with or without low-dose DEX on days 2 and 3, combined with an oral fixed-dose combination of netupitant and palonosetron (NEPA), compared with the guideline-consistent use of 4-day DEX.

Patients And Methods: In this open-label, multicenter study, chemotherapy-naïve patients undergoing high-dose cisplatin (≥70 mg/m ), were given NEPA and DEX (12 mg) on day 1 and randomized (1:1:1 ratio) to receive either (a) no further DEX (DEX1), (b) oral DEX (4 mg daily) on days 2-3 (DEX3), or (c) DEX (4 mg twice daily) on days 2-4 (DEX4). The primary efficacy endpoint was complete response (CR: no emesis and no rescue medication) during the 5-day overall phase.

A Nomogram-Based Prognostic Model for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Sorafenib: A Multicenter Study.

Among scores and staging systems used for HCC, none showed a good prognostic ability in patients with advanced HCC treated with Sorafenib. We aimed to evaluate predictive factors of overall survival (OS) and drug response in HCC patients undergoing Sorafenib included in the Italian Liver Cancer (ITA.LI.

Outcomes after breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer: meta-analysis.

Background: In patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), oncological and survival outcomes based on locoregional treatment are poorly understood. In particular, the safety of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for TNBC has been questioned.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant metastasis (DM), and overall survival (OS) rates in patients with TNBC who had breast-conserving surgery versus mastectomy.

Time-Varying mHAP-III Is the Most Accurate Predictor of Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization.

Introduction: The prognosis of patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is extremely variable, and a confounding factor is that TACE is often repeated several times. We retrospectively evaluated the accuracy of different prognostic scores and staging systems in estimating overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: An analysis considering prognostic models as time-varying variables was performed, calculating OS from the time of TACE to the time of the subsequent treatment.

Leaves and Fruits Preparations of L.: A Review on the Ethnopharmacological Uses and Implications in Inflammation and Infection.

There is an increasing interest in revisiting plants for drug discovery, proving scientifically their role as remedies. The aim of this review was to give an overview of the ethnopharmacological uses of L. (PlL) leaves and fruits, expanding the search for the scientific discovery of their chemistry, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antimicrobial activities.

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and Complete Blood Cell Count-Derived Measures in Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.

To assess the role of complete blood cell count (CBC) dimensional indices and CBC-derived measures in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION). In this retrospective case-control survey, 37 newly diagnosed NA-AION patients and 37 sex- and age-matched cataract controls were enrolled in 2017-2018. On the same day of NA-AION diagnosis, a blood sample was collected and CBC was determined using an automatic blood counter.

Pattern of macrovascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aims: In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), macrovascular invasion (MaVI) limits treatment options and decreases survival. Detailed data on the relationship between MaVI extension and patients' characteristics, and its impact on patients' outcome are limited. We evaluated the prevalence and extension of MaVI in a large cohort of consecutive HCC patients, analysing its association with liver disease and tumour characteristics, as well as with treatments performed and patients' survival.

Surveillance as Determinant of Long-Term Survival in Non-Transplanted Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Purpose: We aimed at assessing the impact of surveillance on long-term survival in HCC patients.

Methods: From the ITA.LI.

Complete blood cell count measures in retinal artey occlusions.

Purpose: To investigate the role of complete blood cell count (CBC) measures in retinal artery occlusion (RAO).

Methods: This was a case-control study, including 73 newly diagnosed RAO patients and 73 sex- and age-matched subjects without RAO. On the same day of RAO diagnosis, a blood sample was collected and CBC was determined using an automatic blood counter.

Antifibrotic drugs in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD): from mechanistic insights to therapeutic applications.

Fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs), which include systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, idiopathic inflammatory myositis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The treatment of CTD-ILDs is challenging due to the paucity of proven effective treatments. Recently, two antifibrotic drugs conditionally approved for use in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, nintedanib and pirfenidone, have been trialled in CTD-ILDs based on overlapping pathological and clinical features between the two diseases.

Efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of rheumatic disease-related interstitial lung disease: a narrative review.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an antimetabolite with a potent inhibitory effect on proliferation of T and B lymphocytes used since the early 1990s for the prevention of acute allograft rejection after organ transplant. MMF is also widely used for the treatment of a variety of rheumatic diseases (RDs) and their pulmonary involvement. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a heterogeneous group of progressive fibrotic diseases of the lung, which is often secondary to RD and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality.