Risk factors associated with complications/sequelae of acute and subacute haematogenous osteomyelitis: an Italian multicenter study.

Background: Acute/subacute haematogenous osteomyelitis (AHOM/SAHOM) are potentially devastating diseases. Updated information about the epidemiology, management and outcome of AHOM/SAHOM is needed to minimize the risk of complications and sequelae.

Methods: A multicenter study was performed to evaluate retrospectively the management and outcome of AHOM/SAHOM in Italy.

Efficacy of an orally administered combination of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, curcumin and quercetin for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To assess whether the orally administered combination of hyaluronic acid (HA), chondroitin sulfate (CS), curcumin and quercetin could be effective in preventing recurrent cystitis in postmenopausal women and whether its efficacy was conditioned by the concurrent use of local estrogen therapy.

Study Design: This was a prospective evaluation of 145 postmenopausal women consecutively recruited from the database of three different investigators. All women should have mild-to-moderate urogenital atrophy and a history of recurrent urinary tract infections (≥2 episodes within 6 months or ≥3 episodes within 12 months documented by positive urine cultures) during the last year.

A non-occlusive bezoar of caecum in a 7-year-old child: ultrasound detection and multimodality imaging management.

Bezoars represent the most frequent foreign bodies of gastro-intestinal system, involving first of all the stomach and small intestine; instead the cecum tract is a very uncommon site for bezoars associated with a poor abdominal symptomatology. We report a case of a very rare localization of bezoar in the caecum tract of the ascending colon in a child affected by undefined abdominal pain. In this case, the abdominal Ultrasound examination showed characteristic imaging findings of bezoar completely comparable to that of Computed Tomography, allowing an early diagnosis of bezoar and the possibility of a conservative treatment for the young patient.

Triclosan and bisphenol a affect decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells.

In recent years, impaired fertility and endometrium related diseases are increased. Many evidences suggest that environmental pollution might be considered a risk factor for endometrial physiopathology. Among environmental pollutants, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) act on endocrine system, causing hormonal imbalance which, in turn, leads to female and male reproductive dysfunctions.

Small leucine rich proteoglycans are differently distributed in normal and pathological endometrium.

Background: During the woman's fertile period, the non-pregnant uterus is subject to constant cyclic changes. The complex mechanisms that control the balance among proliferation, differentiation, cell death and the structural remodeling of the extracellular matrix can contribute to the benign or malignant endometrial pathological state. The small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) are important components of cell surface and extracellular matrices.

Risk of pelvic floor dysfunctions in young athletes.

Purpose Of Investigation: Numerous epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between sport and the development of pelvic floor dysfunction. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of urinary incontinence in female young athletes.

Materials And Methods: The epidemiological study was conducted on 105 female volleyball players, who were given a questionnaire, self-compiled, consisting of four main domains (personal data and medical history, urinary incontinence, urinary disorders, and judgment on the questionnaire).

Persistent papillomavirus type-31 and type-45 infections predict the progression to squamous intraepithelial lesion.

Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been recognized as the major etiologic agent of cervical squamous cell carcinoma. However, it has been demonstrated that HPV infection is usually a self-limited process and does not lead to significant epithelial lesions or cancer. Recent data indicate that persistent high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infections have a significantly increased risk of developing incident high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer.

Targeting angiogenesis and tumor microenvironment in metastatic colorectal cancer: role of aflibercept.

In the last decades, we have progressively observed an improvement in therapeutic options for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment with a progressive prolongation of survival. mCRC prognosis still remains poor with low percentage of 5-year survival. Targeted agents have improved results obtained with standard chemotherapy.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin increases HLA-G(+)/FoxP3(+) T-regulatory cell population in an in vitro model of PBMC.

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is emerging as a mediator of various biological and pathological states. However, the specific biological role of this molecule remains unclear, as it serves as a biomarker for many conditions. The high sensitivity of NGAL as a biomarker coupled with relatively low specificity may hide important biological roles.

Stress urinary incontinence: usefulness of perineal ultrasound.

Purpose: Perineal ultrasound provides the most sensitive assessment of the degree of urethral mobility by measuring the pubo-urethral distance and angle. To evaluate whether these indices may be determinants of success in prosthetic surgery for stress urinary incontinence, we conducted a retrospective study of patients treated with tension-free vaginal tape-obturator (TVT-O) surgery and assessed, by measuring the pubo-urethral distance and angle after TVT-O, whether there was any quantitative difference between the mean values measured in the group of cured patients and uncured patients.

Materials And Methods: We selected 51 patients who underwent TVT-O and evaluated the failure rate by means of urogynaecological assessment.

Synthesis and biological properties of caffeic acid-PNA dimers containing guanine.

Caffeic acid (CA; 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) is endowed with high antioxidant activity. CA derivatives (such as amides) have gained a lot of attention due to their antioxidative, antitumor and antimicrobial properties as well as stable characteristics. Caffeoyl-peptide derivatives showed different antioxidant activity depending on the type and the sequence of amino acid used.

Sexual function in patients who underwent surgery for stress urinary incontinence.

Aim: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) has been reported to have a negative impact on sexual relations in up to 68% of women. The effect of suburethral sling on sexual functioning has been studies, but the results are still inhomogeneous. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of the transvaginal tension free vaginal tape (TVT), transvaginal tension free vaginal tape - obturate (TVT-O) and minisling procedures (SIS) on sexual function and to also evaluate the male experience respect to sexual activity before and after surgery of partners of women underwent surgery.

Betulinic acid and possible influence on the clearance of Human Papilloma Virus: cytological and virological follow-up.

Aim: Persistent infection with high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) types is considered necessary for the development of cervical cancer. No such efficient antiviral agent exists at the present time. The aim of this study was to assess whether the use of topical products, vaginal ovules, containing betulinic acid and betulin may influence viral replication in vivo by promoting its negativity.

Screening for trisomy 21 by maternal age fetal nuchal translucency thickness and maternal serum sample.

Aim: The aim of this paper was to examine the performance of two-stage first-trimester combined screening based on maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness and maternal serum sample "free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A)".

Methods: A combined screening for chromosomal anomalies was performed in 713 singleton pregnancies. We performed a two-stage screening with the blood taken at 8+0 to 10+6 weeks and the measurement of NT performed at 12+0 to 12+6 weeks.

Intravesical therapy in recurrent cystitis: a multi-center experience.

Approximately 20-30% of women suffer from recurrent cystitis. Recently, the problem of bacterial internalization, especially by Escherichia coli, has been significantly emerging as the main cause of recurrent episodes. It is believed that such a process is favored by damage to the urothelial mucous membrane.

Selective salpingography: preliminary experience of an office operative option for proximal tubal recanalization.

Objective: To evaluate treatment efficacy and patient acceptability of the new Radiographic Tubal Assessment Set (RTAS) (Cook Ireland Ltd., Limerick, Ireland) for selective salpingography (SSG).

Study Design: 33 women, between 23 and 38 years old, referred to the Fertility Centre of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Second University of Naples, for sterility problems, underwent an office operative SSG with the RTAS.

Laparoscopic myomectomy of a subserous pedunculated fibroid at 14 weeks of pregnancy: a case report.

Introduction: Uterine leiomyomas are seen in 1.6% to 4% of pregnancies. With the increasing age of obstetric patients, more cases are being encountered during pregnancy.

Effectiveness of the association micronized N-Palmitoylethanolamine (PEA)-transpolydatin in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain related to endometriosis after laparoscopic assessment: a pilot study.

Objective: Aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the association between N-Palmitoylethanolamine and transpolydatin in the management of chronic pelvic pain related to EMS.

Study Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 61 subjects, submitted to a first line laparoscopic conservative surgery, who were randomized into 3 groups receiving: group A (n=21) the association N-Palmitoylethanolamine-transpolydatin 400 mg + 40 mg twice a day for 3 months; group B (n=20) the placebo for 3 months; group C (n=20) a single course of Celecoxib 200mg twice a day for 7 consecutive days. Assessments of the severity of pelvic endometriosis (pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia) were recorded before and after treatment on a questionnaire and a 10-point VAS.

Preliminary study on the correlation between grading and histology of solitary pulmonary nodules and contrast enhancement and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose standardised uptake value after evaluation by dynamic multiphase CT and PET/CT.

Aim: To evaluate whether the histology and grading of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) correlated with the results of dynamic multiphase multidetector CT (MDCT) and the [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose standardised uptake value (SUV) in 30 patients.

Methods: Chest x-rays of 270 patients with incidentally detected SPNs were retrospectively evaluated. Thirty patients with histologically proven SPNs were enrolled.

The pattern of expression of Notch protein members in normal and pathological endometrium.

The objective of this study was to investigate the pattern of expression and the localization of Notch-1, Notch-4 and Jagged-1 in physiological and pathological human endometrium and to evaluate the expression levels of two major regulators of the G1 checkpoint, namely cyclin D1 and p21. Sixty samples of physiological endometrium and 60 samples of pathological endometrium were used for the study. Evaluation of the expression level and the distribution of Notch pathway members and cell-cycle proteins was performed by immunohistochemistry.

Effects of high and low ligation on survival in patients operated for colorectal cancer.

In spite of numerous studies on the subject, it is still unclear whether or not high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (at about 1 cm from its origin) improves the 5-year survival rate in patients operated on for colorectal cancer in comparison to low ligation (ligation below the origin of the left colic artery). From February 2000 to November 2001 40 patients with cancer of the colic segment between the descending sigmoid junction and the low rectum underwent surgical colorectal resection and low ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery. At the end of 5 years of observation we report a survival rate of 70% which is not very far from the value reported in the literature.

Ionic channels and neuropathic pain: physiopathology and applications.

Neuropathic pain is defined by the International Association for Pain research as a pain associated to a primary lesion or a dysfunction of the central or peripheral system. Over the past few years the causes of the neuropathic pain were not known and there were not good treatments for it, now we have a better knowledge of the physiopathological aspects and there is a wider diffusion of the research for target aimed therapies. The physiologic genesis of nervous messages occurs exclusively in skin sensorial endings or in nerve tissues as a consequence of an adequate sensorial stimulus and depends on the quick variations of the electric potential difference at the endings of ionic membranes.

Paclitaxel and carboplatin as outpatient therapy for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: To determine the toxicity and the response rate of a three-hour paclitaxel infusion and carboplatin administered as outpatient treatment for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer.

Methods: Forty-three patients with stage III/IV epithelial ovarian cancer underwent cytoreductive surgery and then received paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over 3-hr infusion and carboplatin AUC5 every 21 days for six cycles. Elegible patients had adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic function; G-CSF was recommended if white cell count fell under 3,000/mm3.