Diagnostic Approach to Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Hosts.

In immunocompromised patients, pneumonia presents a diagnostic challenge due to diverse etiologies, nonspecific symptoms, overlapping radiological presentation, frequent co-infections, and the potential for rapid progression to severe disease. Thus, timely and accurate diagnosis of all pathogens is crucial. This narrative review explores the latest advancements in microbiological diagnostic techniques for pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.

Ellagic Acid: A Green Multi-Target Weapon That Reduces Oxidative Stress and Inflammation to Prevent and Improve the Condition of Alzheimer's Disease.

Oxidative stress (OS), generated by the overrun of reactive species of oxygen and nitrogen (RONS), is the key cause of several human diseases. With inflammation, OS is responsible for the onset and development of clinical signs and the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a multifactorial chronic neurodegenerative syndrome indicated by a form of progressive dementia associated with aging.

Tracheostomy Practice in the Italian Intensive Care Units: A Point-Prevalence Survey.

: A tracheostomy is a frequently performed surgical intervention in intensive care units (ICUs) for patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. This procedure can offer significant benefits, including reduced sedation requirements, improved patient comfort, and enhanced airway management. However, it is also associated with various risks, and the absence of standardized clinical guidelines complicates its implementation.

Characteristics of the First Italian Older Adults Vaccinated with an Adjuvanted Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine.

: Three respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines have been recently made available for older adults. Understanding the principal characteristics of the first vaccine-takers can pave the way for a successful vaccination campaign. The objective of this study was to explore the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the first Italian users of an adjuvanted RSV vaccine and their attitudes towards RSV and vaccination.

Relevance of Next-Generation Sequencing in the Diagnosis of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies: The Experience of Four Italian Diagnostic Hubs.

Unlabelled: Thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies are among the most common genetic diseases worldwide and have a significant impact on public health. The decreasing cost of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has quickly enabled the development of new assays that allow for the simultaneous analysis of small nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) as deletions/duplications of α- and β-globin genes.

Background/objectives: This study highlighted the efficacy and rapid identification of all types of mutations in the α- and β-globin genes, including silent variants, using the Devyser Thalassemia NGS kit.

Microbiological Analysis Conducted on Raw Milk Collected During Official Sampling in Liguria (North-West Italy) over a Ten-Year Period (2014-2023).

Milk has been consumed by humans for thousands of years for its nutritional properties. In recent years, raw milk demand has increased, valued for its authenticity and connection to local traditions. In Italy, the sale of raw milk is allowed exclusively through direct sale from the producing farm to the final consumer, either at the producing farm itself or through vending machines.

Multiple Myeloma Cells Shift the Fate of Cytolytic ILC2s Towards TIGIT-Mediated Cell Death.

Background: Growing evidence attests to the multifaceted roles of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in cancer immunity. They exhibit either pro- or anticancer activity depending on tumor type but their function in Multiple Myeloma (MM) is still not elucidated.

Methods: The bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients (pts) with MM or precancerous conditions were collected, and specific properties of ILC2 subsets were assessed by flow cytometry.

Ruthenium(II) Complex with 8-Hydroxyquinoline Exhibits Antitumor Activity in Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Background/objectives: Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers worldwide, with limited access to advanced treatments in developing regions. There is a critical need for novel therapies with unique mechanisms of action, especially to overcome resistance to conventional platinum-based drugs. This study investigates the anticancer potential of the ruthenium complex Bis(quinolin-8-olato)bis(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(quin)) in ER-positive (T47D) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231) BC cell lines.

Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy Utilizing 808 nm and 660 nm Alone and in Combination for Treatment of Paresthesia in Rats.

: This study assessed the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) by 808 nm and 660 nm alone and in combination for the treatment of paresthesia in rats. : This animal study was conducted on 36 adult male Wistar rats. After general anesthesia, the facial nerve of the right side of the face of rats was surgically exposed and pinched, returned in place, and sutured.

Enlightening Nursing Care: A Protocol for a Multicenter Observational Study Measuring Nursing Work in Hospital Settings.

: Rising costs and demands for improved quality of care present complex challenges for existing healthcare systems. The strain on healthcare resources is exacerbated by the increasing complexity of patient conditions. The Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system classifies inpatients according to clinical and treatment criteria, controls healthcare expenditures, and ensures the sustainability of procedures.

Predictive value of TG/HDL-C and GFR-adjusted uric acid levels on cardiovascular mortality: the URRAH study.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) and serum uric acid (SUA) are closely interconnected: SUA contributes to adversely affects the insulin signaling pathway and contributes to IR, while IR is a known predictor for the development of hyperuricemia. The triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio has been proposed as an easily obtainable marker for IR. This research aimed to investigate the interaction between IR and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)-adjusted uricemia (SUA/GFR ratio) in determining CV risk in a large population cohort study.

Evaluation of keratinized tissue augmentation using amnion/chorion allograft vs. autogenous connective tissue in implant therapy: a retrospective study.

Objectives: Successful implant therapy must also ensure the integration of the soft tissues around the crown/abutment emergence profile. The existing literature does not consistently agree on the necessity of a minimal amount of keratinized tissue (KT), though it appears advantageous for the long-term stability and aesthetics of implants. The purpose of this clinical retrospective study is to compare the effectiveness of amnion/chorion membrane and autogenous subepithelial connective tissue in increasing the keratinized mucosa and maintaining it over a 5-year follow-up.

Occupational Infections Among Workers in Europe: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Workers may be exposed to different infectious agents, putting them at risk of developing occupational diseases. This can occur in many ways, through deliberate use of specific microorganisms or through potential exposure from close contact with biological material. Infection prevention and control measures against biohazards can reduce the risk of infection among workers.

Safety of topical estrogen therapy during adjuvant endocrine treatment among patients with breast cancer: A meta-analysis based expert panel discussion.

Importance: Endocrine treatments, such as Tamoxifen (TAM) and/or Aromatase inhibitors (AI), are the adjuvant therapy of choice for hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. These agents are associated with menopausal symptoms, adversely affecting drug compliance. Topical estrogen (TE) has been proposed for symptom management, given its' local application and presumed reduced bioavailability, however its oncological safety remains uncertain.

Time series segmentation for recognition of epileptiform patterns recorded via microelectrode arrays in vitro.

Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder that affects approximately 1% of the global population. Approximately 30-40% of patients respond poorly to antiepileptic medications, leading to a significant negative impact on their quality of life. Closed-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising treatment for individuals who do not respond to medical therapy.

The use of the Crohn's disease exclusion diet (CDED) in adults with Crohn's disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The Crohn's disease exclusion diet (CDED) has been shown to induce remission in adult Crohn's disease (CD) patients. The aim of the study is to provide additional evidence-based validation.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, randomized trial on adult CD patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms to assess CDED efficacy in inducing symptomatic remission using Mediterranean diet as control.

Treatment Utilisation and Satisfaction With Management in Individuals With Osteoarthritis and Metabolic Multimorbidity: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Country Study.

Purpose: To compare treatment utilisation for osteoarthritis (OA) and satisfaction with OA management between individuals with and without comorbid metabolic conditions (e.g., diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension).

Foodborne Infections and : Current Primary Prevention Tools and Future Perspectives.

is considered the major zoonotic and foodborne pathogen responsible for human infections. It includes the serovars causing typhoid fever ( and ) and the non-typhoidal salmonella (NTS) serovars ( and ), causing enteric infections known as "Salmonellosis". NTS represents a major public health burden worldwide.

Evaluation of the Effects of Retro-Cavity Preconditioning with or Without Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid on Root Surface pH and Dislodgement Resistance of NeoMTA2 and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Flow Retro-Fills: An Ex Vivo Investigation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of retro-cavity preconditioning with or without 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution on root surface pH as well as dislodgement resistance of NeoMTA2 and MTA Flow retro-fills. Forty-eight single-rooted human incisors were selected. After completion of endodontic treatment, root-end resections were performed, and retro-cavities were prepared.

Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia and the Kidney: Lessons from the URRAH Study.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent global health concern affecting approximately 850 million people worldwide, with a significant and rising mortality rate. CKD often coexists with hyperuricemia (HSUA), which is also increasingly common due to its association with hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. The interplay between hyperuricemia and CKD is complex; while in vitro studies and animal models support a role for uric acid mediating glomerular and tubule-interstitial damage, and HSUA has been shown to predict the onset and progression of CKD, the expectations of renal protection by the use of urate lowering treatment (ULT) are inconsistent.

The Representational Challenge of Integration and Interoperability in Transformed Health Ecosystems.

: Health and social care systems around the globe are currently undergoing a transformation towards personalized, preventive, predictive, participative precision medicine (5PM), considering the individual health status, conditions, genetic and genomic dispositions, etc., in personal, social, occupational, environmental, and behavioral contexts. This transformation is strongly supported by technologies such as micro- and nanotechnologies, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, edge computing, etc.

810-nm Photobiomodulation Evokes Glutamate Release in Normal and Rotenone-Dysfunctional Cortical Nerve Terminals by Modulating Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism.

The dysfunction of mitochondria, the primary source of cellular energy and producer of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is associated with brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Scientific evidence indicates that light in the visible and near-infrared spectrum can modulate mitochondrial activity, a phenomenon known in medicine as photobiomodulation therapy (PBM-t). The beneficial effects of PBM-t on dementia and neurodegeneration have been reviewed in the literature.

The reemergence of Streptococcus pyogenes in skin and soft tissue infections: a review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management strategies.

Purpose Of Review: To discuss skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) caused by group A Streptococcus (GAS) by focusing on their pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and management strategies.

Recent Findings: GAS is responsible for a wide range of infections from mild disease to severe fatal invasive infections with high mortality rates. Invasive GAS (iGAS) infections affect both young and old individuals and account for 1.

Frequency of remission achievement in the pre-treat-to-target decade in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: Over the past two decades there has been a remarkable advance in the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), which has led to considerable improvement in prognosis. In 2018, the introduction of the treat-to-target (T2T) strategy in JIA has been advocated to further ameliorate disease outcome. To provide a benchmark for comparing future outcomes in the "T2T era", this study investigates the percentage of JIA patients who achieved clinical inactive disease (CID) in the decade that preceded the publication of the T2T recommendations in JIA.

HISTOMORPHOMETRIC AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF BONE HEALING AROUND IMPLANTS PLACED USING PIEZOSURGERY VS CONVENTIONAL DRILLS: A SPLITMOUTH PILOT STUDY.

Purpose: This pilot study evaluated and compared histomorphometric and immunohistochemical characteristics of peri-implant bone tissue after implant site preparation using piezoelectric tips versus conventional drills.

Material And Methods: Six patients with bilateral partial edentulism underwent a splitmouth protocol. Twelve alveolar ridges were randomized into six control implant sites prepared using conventional drills (Drill Group); and six test implant sites prepared using piezoelectric implant inserts (Piezo Group).