Radiofrequency-assisted, laparoscopic, clampless partial nephrectomy in patients with low-complexity small renal tumors: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: This single-center, retrospective study was performed to investigate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency-assisted (RF), laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN) with zero ischemia in patients with low-complexity small renal tumors.

Materials And Methods: Patients with small renal masses (SRMs) who underwent laparoscopic, clampless laparoscopic partial nephrectomy - radiofrequency assisted (LPN-RFA) between January 2016 and June 2020 were studied. Demographics, clinical and pathological characteristics, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival were recorded.

The Impact of Estimated Energy and Protein Balances on Extrauterine Growth in Preterm Infants.

Background: Nutritional support of preterm infants remains a field of debate in the literature and clinical practice varies significantly. Adequate nutrition should promote growth and aim for optimal later neurodevelopment. However, it is often impaired by prematurity-associated morbidity and the physiologic immaturity of preterm infants.

Antimicrobial Peptides in Infectious Diseases and Beyond-A Narrative Review.

Despite recent medical research and clinical practice developments, the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) significantly limits therapeutics for infectious diseases. Thus, novel treatments for infectious diseases, especially in this era of increasing AMR, are urgently needed. There is ongoing research on non-classical therapies for infectious diseases utilizing alternative antimicrobial mechanisms to fight pathogens, such as bacteriophages or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).

Antibiotics and Lipid-Modifying Agents: Potential Drug-Drug Interactions and Their Clinical Implications.

Evidence-based prescribing requires taking into consideration the many aspects of optimal drug administration (e.g., dosage, comorbidities, co-administered drugs, etc.

Daptomycin as an option for lock therapy: a systematic literature review.

To review preclinical and clinical data relevant to daptomycin lock therapy in catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). Systematic review in PubMed, Scopus and clinical trial registries. Preclinical data demonstrate daptomycin lock solution stability and compatibility with heparin, good biofilm penetration, bactericidal activity against biofilm-embedded bacteria, and high efficacy and in animal catheter infection models.

An expert consensus–based checklist for quality appraisal of educational resources on adult basic life support: a Delphi study.

Objective: Given the lack of a unified tool for appraising the quality of educational resources for lay-rescuer delivery of adult basic life support (BLS), this study aimed to develop an appropriate evaluation checklist based on a consensus of international experts.

Methods: In a two-round Delphi study, participating experts completed questionnaires to rate each item of a predeveloped 72-item checklist indicating agreement that an item should be utilized to evaluate the conformance of an adult BLS educational resource with resuscitation guidelines. Consensus on item inclusion was defined as a rating of ≥7 points from ≥75% of experts.

Predictive value of the sFlt‑1/PlGF ratio in women with suspected preeclampsia: An update (Review).

Preeclampsia (PE) is a major complication of pregnancy with an incidence rate of 2‑8% and is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. The various consequences of severe preeclampsia for the fetus, neonate and child include intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), fetal hypoxia, oligohydramnios, intrauterine fetal demise, increased perinatal mortality and morbidity, neurodevelopmental disorders and even irreversible brain damage (cerebral palsy). A number of studies have demonstrated that differences in maternal serum concentrations of angiogenic factors between preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancies can be used as biomarkers, either alone or in combination with other markers, to predict the development of PE.

Radiomics for the Detection of Active Sacroiliitis Using MR Imaging.

Detecting active inflammatory sacroiliitis at an early stage is vital for prescribing medications that can modulate disease progression and significantly delay or prevent debilitating forms of axial spondyloarthropathy. Conventional radiography and computed tomography offer limited sensitivity in detecting acute inflammatory findings as these methods primarily identify chronic structural lesions. Conversely, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the preferred technique for detecting bone marrow edema, although it is a complex process requiring extensive expertise.

Special Issue "Infective Endocarditis: What Is New in the Clinical Research?".

Infective Endocarditis (IE) is a disease that carries high morbidity and mortality risks and involves the infection of the endocardium, and more commonly of the cardiac valves and prosthetic material, like implantable defibrillators or pacemakers [...

Special Issue: "Current Trends and Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis".

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infectious disease involving the endothelium of the heart and, more commonly, the cardiac valves and prosthetic material (such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators), and carries high morbidity and mortality rates [...

Colistin Monotherapy versus Combination Therapy for Carbapenem-Resistant Organisms.

Background: Pneumonia and bloodstream infections (BSI) due to extensively drug-resistant (XDR) , XDR , and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are associated with high mortality rates, and therapeutic options remain limited. This trial assessed whether combination therapy with colistin and meropenem was superior to colistin monotherapy for the treatment of these infections.

Methods: The OVERCOME (Colistin Monotherapy versus Combination Therapy) trial was an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

A pilot radiometabolomics integration study for the characterization of renal oncocytic neoplasia.

Differentiating benign renal oncocytic tumors and malignant renal cell carcinoma (RCC) on imaging and histopathology is a critical problem that presents an everyday clinical challenge. This manuscript aims to demonstrate a novel methodology integrating metabolomics with radiomics features (RF) to differentiate between benign oncocytic neoplasia and malignant renal tumors. For this purpose, thirty-three renal tumors (14 renal oncocytic tumors and 19 RCC) were prospectively collected and histopathologically characterised.

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008-2019), the Rhea Mother-Child Cohort.

Background: In Greece, influenza vaccination is currently recommended for children with high-risk conditions. There are limited data on influenza vaccination uptake among Greek children with and without high-risk conditions. We aim to describe the annual influenza vaccination uptake until the age of ten in a population-based mother-child cohort and identify the factors influencing vaccination rates.

Special Issue: Recent Research on Hospital-Acquired Bloodstream Infections.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are infections that occur in patients 48 h after admission to hospital [...

The Role of Intracoronary Imaging for the Management of Calcified Lesions.

Interventional cardiologists in everyday practice are often confronted with calcified coronary lesions indicated for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). PTCA of calcified lesions is associated with diverse technical challenges resulting in suboptimal coronary stenting and adverse long-term clinical outcomes. Angiography itself offers limited information regarding coronary calcification, and the adjuvant use of intracoronary imaging such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) can guide the treatment of calcified coronary lesions, optimizing the different stages of the procedure.

Telemedicine in Care of Sarcoma Patients beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenging environment for sarcoma patients. Most oncology societies published guidelines or recommendations prioritizing sarcoma patients and established telehealth as an efficient method of approaching them. The aim of this review is the assessment of current evidence regarding the utilization of telemedicine in diagnosis, treatment modalities, telerehabilitation and satisfaction among sarcoma patients and healthcare providers (HP).

Real-World Data Regarding Dalbavancin Use before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Dalbavancin is a semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide, which possesses great potential for bactericidal activity similar to antimicrobials with the same mechanism of action, such as vancomycin and teicoplanin. Due to its very prolonged half-life, it can be used in a single or two-dose regimen to treat infections by Gram-positive microorganisms, even resistant ones, such as methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Currently, it is approved only for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs).

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Preventive Measures against Healthcare-Associated Infections from Antibiotic-Resistant ESKAPEE Pathogens: A Two-Center, Natural Quasi-Experimental Study in Greece.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented stress on healthcare systems worldwide, forming settings of concern for increasing antimicrobial resistance. We investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 preventive measures against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from antibiotic-resistant bacteria in two tertiary-care hospitals. We compared infection rates between March 2019 and February 2020 (pre-intervention period) and March 2020 and February 2021 (COVID-19 intervention period) from drug-resistant ESKAPEE bacteria (methicillin-resistant ; vancomycin-resistant ; carbapenem-resistant , , , cter species and ).

Multidisciplinary approach to lupus nephritis: Clinical pearls, pitfalls, and positioning of newly-approved agents.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major course of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), best managed by a multidisciplinary group. To this end, we gathered a group of rheumatologists, nephrologists and a nephropathologist to review current evidence regarding diagnosis and management of LN. In this consensus paper, we summarize the key points from this meeting and provide practice guidelines for the management of kidney involvement in SLE, in view of emerging new data concerning novel agents approved recently.

Severe and Atypical Presentation of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Pediatric Patient after a Serious Crash Injury-Case Report and Literature Review.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an uncommon clinical entity in children, resulting in severe but sometimes reversible systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. This condition is triggered by multiple emotional or physical stressors, while neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy after brain injuries has become increasingly recognized in children over the past few years. We report the case of an 11-year-old child with an atypical clinical presentation after a serious car crash accident.