Search results for "Opportunistic"

Probiotics Properties: A Focus on Pregnancy Outcomes.

2021

A healthy microbiome plays an important role in the prevention of illness and maintenance of overall health, including reproductive health. Although the therapeutic advantages of probiotics have been shown to run across multiple organ systems, their role in pregnancy is not well explored. The aim of this review is to highlight the potential advantages and adverse effects of probiotics in pregnancy. Data were collected from the literature over the past decade using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, Ovid, Scopus, and Science Direct. A total of 40 articles were utilized in this review. Collected data indicated that prenatal and post-natal supplementation with lactobacilli alone or lactobacilli …

On the pyrophytism in the Mediterranean area

2015

Authors briefly present some observations and reflections on the “seeding strategy” of some plant species (Cistus spp., Cistaceae, in particular) in the Mediterranean area in relation to fire: they conclude it does not seem a specific adaptation to wildfires (as suggested in a relevant part of the recent literature), but a generalistic adaptation to open, high energy and variable habitats with aleatory fluctuations. The difference is important both for theoretical and applied aspects, e.g. for the correct management of Cistus species and of other Mediterranean species and habitats. Fire is undoubtedly a major ecological factor in the Mediterranean area. Many botanists have postulated the re…

[Molecular methods in the epidemiology of gram-negative bacterial infections]

1999

Identification and typing of bacterial isolates from patients and environment are necessary in order to detect the sources of infections. In recent years different molecular typing methods have been carried out and proved more reliable than methods based on phenotypical characters. We have applied two methods of genotyping, i. e. ribotyping and rrnARDRA (Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis) methods, to the study of different bacterial species. Ribotyping was the first universal method for molecular typing of bacteria. We have succeded both in typing various species of enterobacteria (Salmonella Wien, S. Enteritidis, Shigella sonnei, Proteus spp., Morganella morganii, Providencia sp…

Optimizing the clinical utility of PCA3 to diagnose prostate cancer in initial prostate biopsy.

2015

Background: PCA3 has been included in a nomogram outperforming previous clinical models for the prediction of any prostate cancer (PCa) and high grade PCa (HGPCa) at the initial prostate biopsy (IBx). Our objective is to validate such IBx-specific PCA3-based nomogram. We also aim to optimize the use of this nomogram in clinical practice through the definition of risk groups. Methods: Independent external validation. Clinical and biopsy data from a contemporary cohort of 401 men with the same inclusion criteria to those used to build up the reference’s nomogram in IBx. The predictive value of the nomogram was assessed by means of calibration curves and discrimination ability through the area…

Posaconazole or Fluconazole for Prophylaxis in Severe Graft-versus-Host Disease

2007

Invasive fungal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.In an international, randomized, double-blind trial, we compared oral posaconazole with oral fluconazole for prophylaxis against invasive fungal infections in patients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) who were receiving immunosuppressive therapy. The primary end point was the incidence of proven or probable invasive fungal infections from randomization to day 112 of the fixed treatment period of the study.Of a total of 600 patients, 301 were assigned to posaconazole and 299 to fluconazole. At the end of the fixed 112-day treatment period, posaconazole wa…

Prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies and solid tumors

2003

Morbidity and mortality in patients with malignancies, especially leukemia and lymphoma, are increased by invasive fungal infections. Since diagnosis of invasive fungal infection is often delayed, antifungal prophylaxis is an attractive approach for patients expecting prolonged neutropenia. Antifungal prophylaxis has obviously attracted much interest resulting in dozens of clinical trials since the late 1970s. The non-absorbable polyenes are probably ineffective in preventing invasive fungal infections, but may reduce superficial mycoses. Intravenous amphotericin B and the newer azoles were used in clinical trials, but their role in antifungal prophylaxis is still not well defined. Allogene…

Association between antifungal prophylaxis and rate of documented bacteremia in febrile neutropenic cancer patients.

2001

Published data have suggested a correlation between antifungal prophylaxis and bacteremia in febrile neutropenia. This correlation was investigated among 3002 febrile neutropenic patients enrolled in 4 trials during 1986-1994. Globally, 1322 patients (44%) did not receive antifungal prophylaxis; 835 (28%) received poorly absorbable antifungal agents and 845 (28%) received absorbable antifungal agents. The rates of bacteremia for these groups were 20%, 26%, and 27%, respectively (P=.0001). In a multivariate model without including antifungal prophylaxis, factors associated with bacteremia were: age, duration of hospitalization, duration of neutropenia before enrollment, underlying disease, p…

Detection of Mycoplasma sp. in bronchoalveolar lavage of AIDS patients with pulmonary infiltrates.

1996

We examined 486 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) including 32 from AIDS patients with pulmonary infiltrates and 20 from patients with leukemia or after transplantation. Mycoplasmas were found in 4/32 (12.5%) HIV-positive patients compared to 4/454 (0.9%) HIV-negative patients (p0.001). All of these four HIV-positive patients suffered from advanced infection (CD4 counts100/microL) and developed complications (Pcp, n = 2, recurrent bacterial pneumonia, n = 1, pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma, n = 1). No mycoplasmas were detected in 20 immunosuppressed patients with leukemia or after transplantation. Our data indicate that AIDS patients may be more often colonised or infected by mycoplasmas than HIV-nega…

Meningitis due to Pseudomonas stutzeri in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

1996

PML risk stratification using anti-JCV antibody index and L-selectin

2015

Background: Natalizumab treatment is associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) development. Treatment duration, prior immunosuppressant use, and JCV serostatus are currently used for risk stratification, but PML incidence stays high. Anti-JCV antibody index and L-selectin (CD62L) have been proposed as additional risk stratification parameters. Objective: This study aimed at verifying and integrating both parameters into one algorithm for risk stratification. Methods: Multicentric, international cohorts of natalizumab-treated MS patients were assessed for JCV index (1921 control patients and nine pre-PML patients) and CD62L (1410 control patients and 17 pre-PML patient…