Could we fight healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance with probiotic-based sanitation? Commentary.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) affect every year about 4 million hospitalized patients in the EU, causing over 33 000 deaths as a direct consequence and over 1.1 billion € associated costs. Besides the persistent microbial contamination of the hospital environment, a major cause is the rampant antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of the HAI-associated pathogens. The hospital environment itself is in fact a reservoir of resistant pathogens, apparently not sufficiently controlled by conventional chemical-based sanitation. A recently published study, the SAN-ICA study, performed in Italy, suggests that the fight against AMR may involve probiotic-based sanitation approaches, as they might stably reduce AMR surface pathogens, finally reducing HAI incidence. Here we discuss the reported results and argue that their use may provide a novel approach which deserves exploration.

A web-based tumor registration system for a regional Canine Cancer Registry in Umbria, central Italy.

The Umbria Canine Cancer Registry (CCR) is a web-based platform for cancer registration set up in order to estimate the incidence of spontaneous tumors. It is an integral part of the regional canine demographic registry in which veterinary practitioners and pathologists interact. Veterinary pathologists perform double-blind comparisons and classify neoplasms in an automated classification process using the WHO criteria for canine neoplasms and the ICD-O tumor topographical and morphological keys. Here we describe the organization, on-line procedures and the methods used to assess canine demography, a pre-requisite for accurately estimating the incidence of cancer. In its first 4 years the CCR recruited 4857 cases of suspected tumors, as diagnosed by practitioners, clinics and a veterinary hospital. After the first year the number of enrolled cases increased by 63%, suggesting growing interest from the regional veterinary community.

Development and cross-validation of predictive equation for estimating total body lean in children.

AIM: To develop and cross-validate a predictive equation for estimating lean body mass (LBM) in children, based on bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometric parameters, and to compare our equation with other predictive methods. METHODS: We evaluated body composition of 155 children (age 5-14 years) by BIA and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Children were divided in two groups: developing set and cross-validation set. Statistical analysis as multiple regression and Bland-Altman methods were performed. RESULTS: From developing set (105 children) a predictive LBM (kg) equation was created. From the cross-validated set (35 children), our equation was seen to agree with LBM (kg) by DXA. On the contrary, LBM predicted by Schaefer's equation and BIA did not agree with the criterion measure. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-validated equation can be useful in epidemiological studies and also in clinical practice, permitting a better definition and follow up of children's body composition.

Atrial fibrillation and the 4P medicine.

Although the paradigm of the 4P medicine - Predictive, Personalized, Preemptive, and Participatory - has been suggested several years ago, its application to atrial fibrillation is still far away. Given the increasing prevalence and incidence of this pathology it is the time to promote preventive strategies, by identifying the risk factors associated to life style and by incentivizing innovative diagnostic technologies. The promotion of the correct life style and of the use of diagnostic devices based on innovative and reliable technologies, represent a first step towards the full realization of the revolution of 4P medicine in atrial fibrillation.

Availability of veterinary medicinal products for food producing minor animal species in the Mediterranean area.

In its historic role, the Mediterranean used to be the unifying element of heterogenic cultures, economies and societies surrounding its three continents' borders. For the benefit of the leading idea laying behind the present paper and in order to reinforce its original role, the whole Mediterranean area has been deliberately considered as a geographic and legislative unicum relating to MUMS. Such an acronym, well established either in EU countries and internationally, stands for Minor Use/Minor Species and is generally accepted in scientific and regulatory debates to incorporate any reference to a non-core market of a veterinary medicinal product or to an animal species that, conventionally, has not been considered as a major one. Difficulties to develop and market new products have resulted in an internationally recognized severe shortage of drugs for MUMS and, as a consequence, in unacceptable animal suffering, loss of animal life, and financial loss to farm industry. Furthermore, inadequate treatment of sick animals may increase health risks to humans as well as other animals.

Assessment of feed additives and contaminants: an essential component of food safety.

Feed additives make the bulk of chemicals used in animal production, thus representing a major issue for safety of foods of animal origin. This paper summarizes the approaches adopted by the European Food Safety Authority to perform risk analysis of feed additives as regards the whole food production chain, including target species, consumers, occupational exposure and the environment. Feed safety must consider also environmental contaminants; in particular feeds can be a major vehicle for human dietary intake of persistent pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls. Critical issues include toxicological characterization, pathways of feed contamination as well as transfer to animal products. The possible effects of feed additives and contaminants on the overall safety and nutritional quality of human diet are discussed.