Guidelines for best practice in placebo-controlled experimental studies on probiotics in rodent animal models.

In the absence of established best practice standards in the probiotic field for reducing the risk of bacterial transfer between experimental groups, we developed protocols and methods to ensure the highest quality and interpretability of results from animal studies, even when performed in non-conventional animal care facilities. We describe easily implementable methods for reducing cross-contamination during animal housing, behavioural testing, and euthanasia, along with highlighting protocols for contamination detection in experimental subjects and laboratory areas using qPCR. In light of the high cross-contamination risks between animals during experiments involving probiotics, constant vigilance in animal care and research protocols is critical to ensure valid and reliable research findings.

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound findings in novel coronavirus disease-19 pnemoniae: a case report and potential applications during COVID-19 outbreak.

An outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease-19 (nCoV-19) infection began in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and now involved the whole word. Several health workers have been infected in different countries. We report the case of a young man with documented nCoV-19 infection evaluated with lung ultrasound and discuss potential applications of lung ultrasound in this setting. Lung ultrasound allowed the identification of nCoV-19 infection at bed-side. Moreover, lung ultrasound can have several other advantages, such as reduced health worker exposition to infected patients, repeatability during follow-up, low-costs and easier application in low-resource settings.

Reduction in saturated fat intake improves cardiovascular risks in obese adolescents during interdisciplinary therapy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is related to inflammation and cardiovascular disease. The increase in saturated fatty acid intake (SFA) can potentiate cardiovascular risks. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of change in SFA on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), metabolic profile and anti/pro-inflammatory adipokines in obese adolescents. METHODS: Sixty obese adolescents were subjected to 1 year of interdisciplinary intervention (nutrition, psychology, physical exercise and clinical therapy). Blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, leptin and adiponectin were analysed. Insulin resistance was estimated by HOMA-IR and HOMA-AD. cIMT was measured by ultrasonography. Dietetic intake was calculated by 3-day dietary record. Volunteers were analysed according to tertiles of change (Δ) in SFA intake: Low-SFA reduction<3.68 g; Moderate-SFA reduction 3.68-13.67 g; and High-SFA reduction>13.67 g. RESULTS: Moderate and High-SFA tertiles presented reduction in insulin, leptin/adiponectin ratio, cIMT and increase in adiponectin and adiponectin/leptin ratio. Adiponectin/leptin ratio was predictor of cIMT. HOMA-IR, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol reduced only in High-SFA tertile, and was associated with SFA independent of visceral fat. Negative correlations between Δ of SFA and adiponectin and adiponectin/leptin ratio were observed. CONCLUSION: Obese adolescents with moderate and high reduction in SFA presented improvements on pro/anti-inflammatory biomarkers and cIMT, leading to reduction in cardiovascular risks.

Saturated fatty acid intake can influence increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in obese adolescents.

The aim of this study was to verify if saturated fatty acid intake adjusted by tertiles can influence metabolic, inflammation, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in obese adolescents. Body mass, height, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and body composition of 108 obese adolescents were obtained. Fasting glucose, insulin, PAI-1, and CRP were determined. Insulin resistance was assessed by Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity by Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI). Dietetic intake was estimated by a 3-day dietary record, and volunteers were divided according to consumption of saturated fatty acids: tertile 1 [Low Saturated Fatty Acid Intake (Low-SFA): ≤12.14 g], tertile 2 [Moderate Saturated Fatty Intake (Moderate SFA intake): 12.15-20.48 g], and tertile 3 [High Saturated Fatty Acid Intake (High-SFA Intake); >20.48 g]. Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA 7.0 software and the significance level was set at p<0.05. The most important finding in the present study is that Moderate and High-SFA intakes presented significantly higher values of PAI-1 than Low-SFA Intake. PAI-1 was positively associated with saturated fatty intake, waist circumference, mean blood pressure, and HOMA-IR. SFA intake was predictor of PAI-1 independent of body fat, HOMA-IR and total-cholesterol. In addition, PAI-1 was an independent predictor of blood pressure. HOMA-IR and QUICKI presented significantly higher and lower, respectively, in High-SFA compared to Moderate-SFA intake. High-SFA influenced cardiovascular disease risks, since it increased PAI-1 and insulin resistance, and decreased insulin sensibility, leading to vicious cycle among food ingestion, pro-thrombotic state, and cardiovascular risks in obese adolescents.

The role of orexigenic and anorexigenic factors in an interdisciplinary weight loss therapy for obese adolescents with symptoms of eating disorders.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of orexigenic and anorexigenic factors in an interdisciplinary weight loss therapy for obese adolescents with symptoms of eating disorders. METHODS: Thirty-seven post-pubertal, obese adolescents (14 to 19 years old) with symptoms of eating disorders were submitted to long-term interdisciplinary therapy (1 year). Bulimic and binge eating symptoms were measured using the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh, and the Binge Eating Scale respectively. Neuropeptide Y, melanin-concentrating hormone, total ghrelin, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone and leptin were measured using radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: After long-term interdisciplinary therapy, the adolescents showed significantly improved body composition, visceral and subcutaneous fat and reduced symptoms of bulimia and binge eating. Intriguingly, orexigenic peptides were up-regulated after short-term therapy and down-regulated at the end of therapy, whereas the anorexigenic pathway was improved with therapy. Furthermore, after long-term therapy, a negative correlation was observed between leptin concentration and melanin-concentrating hormone. DISCUSSION: We suggest that long-term therapy promotes an intrinsic association between weight loss, improvement of eating disorder symptoms and a decrease in orexigenic factors. Together, these results represent a more effective course by which patients can normalise behaviours related to eating disorders as well the actions of hormones involved in energy balance, and thus advance obesity control. CONCLUSION: Long-term interdisciplinary therapy was effective to improve anorexigenic and orexigenic factors that influence energy balance and avoid the development of eating disorders in obese adolescents. However, the associations between eating disorders and neuroendocrine factors need to be confirmed in future studies.

Relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence and visceral fat in obese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adiposity is the major risk factor for paediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. AIMS: Determine the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease according to the visceral fat quartile. SUBJECTS: 181 obese adolescents including 113 girls (16.58+/-1.56 years) and 68 boys (16.87+/-1.62 years) were evaluated. METHODS: The inclusion criteria were obesity and post-pubertal stage of Tanner. Visceral fat of obese adolescents was distributed in quartiles after ultrasound nonalcoholic fatty liver disease diagnosis. RESULTS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence was 45.30%. It was observed that 62.07% and 76.47% of girls and boys with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were found in the 4th quartile. In a multivariate logistic analysis it was observed that only visceral fat remained statistically significant, every 1cm increase in visceral fat was associated with a 1.97 fold (95% CI 1.06-3.66) in boys and 2.08 fold (95% CI 1.38-3.13) in girls increased risk to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Indeed it was verified a positive correlation between visceral fat, body mass index, insulin levels, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index and steatosis degree. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that the expansion of visceral fat was a determinant factor to increase nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence and the visceral fat measured by ultrasound might be a good predictor to identify risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese adolescents. It was confirmed by a stronger correlation between visceral fat and body mass index.

Cetuximab: clinical results in colorectal cancer.

In recent years, the introduction of targeted therapies into clinical practice seems to offer incremental benefits in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), mainly when they are employed in combination with optimal chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In this paper, we focus on Cetuximab and its role in the treatment of mCRC.

[The participatory approach to injury prevention appeared to be an useful tool of safety education and ergonomic improvement]. / Ergonomia partecipativa come strumento per la vigilanza sugli infortuni.

Participatory techniques have been adopted in vigilance of Civitavecchia's port activities, in order to control and remove injury causes. Injuries were studied by small participatory groups of port workers. As an example, seafastening operations were analyzed. The project team encouraged the workers to design ergonomic measures, or to modify work organization. Workers made suggestions and presented their points of view, that were reported to management for implementation.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the staging of gastrointestinal neoplasms.

A concise review is presented of the current applications and techniques of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the field of diagnostic imaging of oncologic disease of the gastrointestinal tract, with a summary of the diagnostic possibilities of MRI in the various types of tumor pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. We conclude with a review of the specific situations in which MRI presents distinct advantages over other diagnostic imaging methods (such as computed tomography and ultrasound).

Combination of paclitaxel and etoposide in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase I-II study.

Thirty-six patients (pts) with unpretreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stages IIIB and IV were enrolled in this two-stage phase I-II study aimed to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of paclitaxel and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel combined with etoposide every 3 weeks for a maximum of 6 courses, increasing the dose of paclitaxel according to a modified Fibonacci scheme. Nineteen pts were enrolled in the first stage and 17 pts in the second stage. The characteristics of the pts were as follows: median age 56 years (40-70), median Karnofsky's Performance Status 80% (70-80), 11 pts were stage IIIB and 25 pts stage IV. The doses of etoposide administered were 50 mg/m2 for 15 pts and 100 mg/m2 for 21 pts. MTD has not been reached and the study proceeded with the dose of paclitaxel 250 mg/m2. We obtained 9 (25%) partial remissions (PR) and 11 (31%) stable disease (SD) in 33 objectively evaluable pts. Median time to progression (TTP) was 4 months (0.3-21), median survival was 9.3 months (0.3-27). The main toxicity was neutropenia and neurotoxicity, while the gastrointestinal toxicity was mild. Two pts deceased after the first course. The causes of death were necrotizing enteritis in the first pt and congestive heart failure in the second pt. A total of 156 courses were administered at 7 dose levels, with a median of 4 courses per patient (1-6). The results seem to support the use of this combination in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

[TC-99m-pertechnetate scintigraphy in the diagnosis of abdominal diseases]. / La scintigrafia con TC-99m-pertecnetato nella diagnostica della patologia endoaddominale.

OBJECTIVE: To show the possible role of abdominal scintigraphy in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal pathology and its accuracy in detecting ectopic gastric mucosa in pts with intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain. METHOD: 99m-Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy was performed on 54 pts with a history of intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain with the following results: 11 true positive pts (9 with Meckel's D; 2 with enteric duplication) all of whom were confirmed at surgery; 14 false positive pts in whom the presence and location of entero-colic (12 pts), renal (2 pts), and uterine (1 pt) pathology were determined; 28 true negative pts; an arca of persistent low activity was found in the bladder of 1 pt which later proved to be a ureterocele at ultrasound; 1 false negative pt who was found to have Meckel's D at surgery. CONCLUSION: In this case series abdominal scintigraphy was effective in diagnosing 26/54 pts and, in particular, in diagnosis, 23/28 pts in recurrent intestinal bleeding. Given that its sensitivity is not negligible and that it is an exam which is scarcely invasive, easy to perform and interpret and requires low irradiation (definitely lower than barium enemas, digestive tract radiography and CT), abdominal scintigraphy should be the first examination to be performed in all pts with intestinal bleeding and/or abdominal pain, especially children, whose diagnosis cannot be simply or rapidly determined.

[Laryngeal malignant schwannoma in a 9-year-old boy: report of a clinical case]. / Schwannoma maligno della laringe in un bambino di 9 anni: descrizione di un caso clinico.

A case of malignant schwannoma of the larynx in a 9 year old boy is reported. The lesion recurred 29 months later with the same histological pattern. The malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours of the larynx are rare and are almost exceptional in paediatric age. The Authors discuss the main differential diagnosis of spindle cell paediatric tumors of the laryngeal region.

[Multiple hepatic abscesses: a pediatric case report]. / Ascessi epatici multipli: descrizione di un caso in età pediatrica.

The Authors describe the case of an immunologically healthy 14 year old boy presenting a hepatic infection with multiple abscesses. This case is of particular interest because of its rarity in Pediatrics. Probable etiologies, pathogenic mechanisms and treatments are discussed. The Authors underline the usefulness of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool and as a non-invasive means of following the course of the disease.

[Screening of urologic pathology in newborns with prenatal and postnatal echography]. / Screening delle patologie urologiche nel neonato con ecografia prenatale e postnatale.

We compared the results, by prenatal ultrasonography, effected on 2592 foetus at the 15th-25th-35th weeks of gestation with the ones, made by postnatal ultrasonography, effected the 5th day of life on 2539 infants born from pregnancies previously monitored. We considered the obstructive and not obstructive malformations. The prenatal ultrasonography put in evidence 19 cases of urological pathology, which is 0.75%. The postnatal research established the truth of 14 cases, which is 0.55%; 7 cases underwent a precocious surgical operation. Percentage of positive false is 0.2%. The postnatal ultrasonography made evident 30 cases which can be considered pathological: 25 uropathy obstructive cases and 5 uropathy not-obstructive cases; 3 of them underwent precocious surgical operation. The result is 44 pathological cases (1.74% of infants). We also considered an heterogeneous group of non-nephro-urological anomalies (0.47%), a casual medical report of this research; in particular, 10 cases of surrenal hematoma and 1 case of neuroblastoma. The Authors remark that it's useful to complete the prenatal ultrasonographic research with another postnatal ultrasonographic research, particularly in the nephro-urological pathology; and they hope this system can be much more diffuse.

Combination chemotherapy with cmf (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-Fluorouracil) versus cnf (mitoxantrone, 5-Fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide) in advanced breast-cancer - a multicenter randomized study.

A multicentric randomized study was conducted to compare the CNF regimen (cyclophosphamide at 600 mg/m2/iv, mitoxantrone at 10 mg/m2/iv, 5-fluorouracil at 600 mg/m2/iv) with the CMF regimen (methotrexate at 40 mg/m2/iv instead of mitoxantrone) administered every 3 weeks to previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer patients. In 119 patients evaluable for therapeutic response, complete plus partial response rate was 44% for CNF and 29% for CMF (p>0.05; 95% C.I.: CNF=32%-56%, CMF=18%-40%). No statistically significant difference regarding time to progression, over survival or response to second-line chemotherapy with Epidoxorubicin was observed between the two regimens. Both regimens were well tolerated, but the percent of alopecia and leucopenia was significantly higher in the CNF patient group (31% versus 5% and 18% versus 0%, respectively; p<0.01). In conclusion, CNF was demonstrated to be slightly more toxic but more effective as compared to CMF (global response: 44% versus 29%, respectively). These findings should be taken into consideration when planning future studies of adjuvant chemotherapy.