Advances and Challenges in Orthopedic Implant-Associated Infections.

The number for orthopedic implants and reconstructive joint replacements, including knee and hip implants, underwent a considerable increase, driven by the aging population and increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders [...

Impact of ESKAPE Pathogens on Bacteremia: A Three-Year Surveillance Study at a Major Hospital in Southern Italy.

Background/objectives: ESKAPE pathogens (, , , , , and spp.) pose a serious public health threat as they are resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by ESKAPE bacteria have high mortality rates due to the limited availability of effective antimicrobials.

Monitoring of Immune Memory by Phenotypical Lymphocyte Subsets Identikit: An Observational Study in a Blood Donors' Cohort.

The cross-talk between the innate and adaptive immune response represents the first defense weapon against the threat of pathogens. Substantial evidence has shown a relationship between immune phenotype lymphocytes and COVID-19 disease severity and/or implication in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recently, belonging to ABO blood groups has been investigated as a correlation factor to COVID-19 disease.

Antimicrobial Resistance in before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(PA) is a major Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen causing several serious acute and chronic infections in the nosocomial and community settings. PA eradication has become increasingly difficult due to its remarkable ability to evade antibiotics. Therefore, epidemiological studies are needed to limit the infection and aim for the correct treatment.

Symptomatic COVID-19 course and outcomes after three mRNA vaccine doses in multiple sclerosis patients treated with high-efficacy DMTs.

Background: Little is known about COVID-19 course and outcomes after a third booster dose of mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 (mRNA-Vax) in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) treated with ocrelizumab (OCR) and fingolimod (FNG), which showed a weakened immune response to mRNA-vax.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate COVID-19 course and outcomes in pwMS on OCR and FNG after receiving the third dose of mRNA-Vax and to compare it with pwMS on natalizumab (NTZ).

Methods: Inclusion criteria: >18 years of age, being treated with OCR/FNG/NTZ since the first mRNA-Vax dose; COVID-19 after a third booster dose of mRNA-Vax; no steroids use.

The role of skin tests with polyethylene glycol and polysorbate 80 in the vaccination campaign for COVID-19: results from an Italian multicenter survey.

International guidelines suggested skin tests with Polyethylene-glycol (PEG) and polysorbate 80 (PS-80), to investigate a possible hypersensitivity to these excipients either to identify subjects at risk of developing allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines, or in patients with suspected IgE mediated hypersensitivity reactions (HR) to the Covid-19 vaccine. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PEG and PS sensitization in patients with a clinical history of HR to drugs containing PEG/PS and in patients with a suspected Covid-19 vaccine immediate HR. This was a multicenter retrospective study conducted by allergists belonging to 20 Italian medical centers.

Alexithymia in HIV, HCV and coinfections.

Recent studies show that alexithymia, an impairment of emotional processing, plays a role in HIV and HCV infections, although little is known about about alexithymia in HIV/HCV coinfection. This study aimed to assess alexithymia in patients suffering from HIV, HCV or HIV/HCV coinfection and observe major differences. We selected 153 subjects, excluding those with psychiatric diagnosis, cognitive impairment or opportunistic diseases, of whom 70 (46%) had HIV infection, 57 (37%) HCV infection and 26 (17%) HIV/HCV coinfection.

High-flow arteriovenous fistula and heart failure: could the indexation of blood flow rate and echocardiography have a role in the identification of patients at higher risk?

Background: Although only high-flow arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are postulated to cause high-output cardiac failure (HOCF), there are currently no universally accepted criteria defining a high-flow fistula.

Methods: To verify if vascular access blood flow (Qa) ≥ 2000 ml/min provides an accurate definition of high-flow fistula, we selected 29 consecutive patients with Qa ≥ 2000 ml/min at color-duplex ultrasound examination and assessed them for the presence of cardiac failure symptoms; transthoracic echocardiography was also performed.

Results: Nineteen patients (65%) had heart failure symptoms and were classified with HOCF.

The ANA-reflex test as a model for improving clinical appropriateness in autoimmune diagnostics.

Reflex tests are widely used in clinical laboratories, for example, to diagnose thyroid disorders or in the follow-up of prostate cancer. Reflex tests for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) have recently gained attention as a way to improve appropriateness in the immunological diagnosis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases and avoid waste of resources. However, the ANA-reflex test is not as simple as other consolidated reflex tests (the TSH-reflex tests or the PSA-reflex tests) because of the intrinsic complexity of the ANA test performed by the indirect immunofluorescence method on cellular substrates.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of urethrovesical junction mobility: correlation with type of delivery and stress urinary incontinence.

Introduction And Hypothesis: A relationship between urinary incontinence and hypermobility of the urethrovesical junction (UVJ) during pregnancy has been described. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of vaginal delivery (VD) and caesarean section (CS) on UVJ mobility.

Methods: The retrovesical angle (RVA) and the anterior angle between the UVJ and the pubic bone, the pubovesical angle (PVA), were evaluated ultrasonographically in controls and pregnant women during their first pregnancy between 38 and 40 weeks, and then re-evaluated 6 weeks and 6 months after delivery.

Hyaluronic acid injections protect patellar tendon from detraining-associated damage.

Introduction: Having previously demonstrated that detraining affects patellar tendon (PT) proteoglycan content and collagen fiber organization, we undertook the present study with two aims: to improve knowledge on the adaptation of PT and its enthesis to detraining from a histological and histomorphometric point of view, and to investigate the hypothesis that repeated peri-patellar injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) on detrained PT may reduce and limit detrained associated-damage.

Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: Untrained (n=6), Trained (n=6) (10 wks-treadmill) and Detrained (n=12). In the detrained rats, the left tendon was untreated while the right tendon received repeated peri-patellar injections of either HA or saline (NaCl).

Pharmacological treatment of urinary incontinence.

We present an overview of the current pharmacological treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) in women, according to the latest evidence available. After a brief description of the lower urinary tract receptors and mediators (detrusor, bladder neck, and urethra), the potential sites of pharmacological manipulation in the treatment of UI are discussed. Each class of drug used to treat UI has been evaluated, taking into account published rate of effectiveness, different doses, and way of administration.

Pharmacological approach to overactive bladder and urge urinary incontinence in women: an overview.

Besides life-style changes, electrical stimulation or surgery, pharmacological treatment is becoming the first-choice approach in women suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and overactive bladder (OAB). Several drugs for the treatment of bladder storage and voiding disorders are currently available and, in the near future, novel compounds with higher specificity for the lower urinary tract receptors will be accessible. This will bring optimization of therapy, reducing side effects and increasing compliance, especially in patients with comorbidities and in women.

β2-Adrenergic receptor stimulation improves endothelial progenitor cell-mediated ischemic neoangiogenesis.

Rationale: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are present in the systemic circulation and home to sites of ischemic injury where they promote neoangiogenesis. β2-Adrenergic receptor (β2AR) plays a critical role in vascular tone regulation and neoangiogenesis.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the role of β2AR on EPCs' function.