Effect of bovine lactoferrin on recurrent urinary tract infections: in vitro and in vivo evidences.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains are the primary cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). UPEC strains are able to invade, multiply and persisting in host cells. Therefore, UPEC strains are associated to recurrent UTIs requiring long-term antibiotic therapy. However, this therapy is suboptimal due to the increase of multidrug-resistant UPEC. The use of non-antibiotic treatments for managing UTIs is required. Among these, bovine lactoferrin (bLf), a multifunctional cationic glycoprotein, could be a promising tool because inhibits the entry into the host cells of several intracellular bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that 100 µg/ml bLf hinders the invasion of 2.0 ± 0.5 × 104 CFU/ml E. coli CFT073, prototype of UPEC, infecting 2.0 ± 0.5 × 105 cells/ml urinary bladder T24 epithelial cells. The highest protection (100%) is due to the bLf binding with host surface components even if an additional binding to bacterial surface components cannot be excluded. Of note, in the absence of bLf, UPEC survives and multiplies, while bLf significantly decreases bacterial intracellular survival. After these encouraging results, an observational survey on thirty-three patients affected by recurrent cystitis was performed. The treatment consisted in the oral administration of bLf alone or in combination with antibiotics and/or probiotics. After the observation period, a marked reduction of cystitis episodes was observed (p < 0.001) in all patients compared to the episodes occurred during the 6 months preceding the bLf-treatment. Twenty-nine patients did not report cystitis episodes (87.9%) whereas the remaining four (12.1%) experienced only one episode, indicating that bLf could be a worthwhile and safe treatment in counteracting recurrent cystitis.

Ambulatory COVID-19 Patients Treated with Lactoferrin as a Supplementary Antiviral Agent: A Preliminary Study.

SARS-CoV-2, an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus causing COVID-19, exerts morbidity and mortality especially in elderly, obese individuals and those suffering from chronic conditions. In addition to the availability of vaccines and the limited efficacy of the first dose of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants, there is an urgent requirement for the discovery and development of supplementary antiviral agents. Lactoferrin (Lf), a pleiotropic cationic glycoprotein of innate immunity, has been proposed as a safe treatment combined with other therapies in COVID-19 patients. Here, we present a small retrospective study on asymptomatic, paucisymptomatic, and moderate symptomatic COVID-19 Lf-treated versus Lf-untreated patients. The time required to achieve SARS-CoV-2 RNA negativization in Lf-treated patients (n = 82) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) compared to that observed in Lf-untreated ones (n = 39) (15 versus 24 days). A link among reduction in symptoms, age, and Lf treatment was found. The Lf antiviral activity could be explained through the interaction with SARS-CoV-2 spike, the binding with heparan sulfate proteoglycans of cells, and the anti-inflammatory activity associated with the restoration of iron homeostasis disorders, which favor viral infection/replication. Lf could be an important supplementary treatment in counteracting SARS-CoV-2 infection, as it is also safe and well-tolerated by all treated patients.

[Evidence based nursing and distance learning in the Italian hospital S. Orsola-Malpighi]. / Disseminazione delle prove di efficacia e formazione a distanza nel policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi.

An experience of distance learning on Evidence Based Nursing is being implemented at the Policlinico Sant'Orsola Malpighi of Bologna. Commented evidence based abstracts on nursing techniques or problems are produced by a resource group of 80 nurses who attended specific courses. An abridged version of the recommendations is distributed to the 2300 health care professionals of the hospital with information on the distance learning session that consists in reading an extended review of the literature on one of the topics chosen and in an evaluation session. The materials are actually on paper but in the near future the electronic format will be used. After the experimental phase, Continuing education credits will be assigned to each initiative. In the evaluation session the theoretical knowledge and problem solving abilities are assessed. The 30 participants to the first 2 initiatives expressed an high level of satisfaction for the materials received. New sessions on more that 10 topics are planned for the 2003-2004.