Search results for "TENS"

Refining the Baveno VI elastography criteria for the definition of compensated advanced chronic liver disease

2021

Background: The Baveno VI consensus proposed a dual liver stiffness (LS) by transient elastography threshold of <10 and >15 kPa for excluding and diagnosing compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) in the absence of other clinical signs. Herein, we aimed to validate these criteria in a real-world multicentre study. Methods: We included 5,648 patients (mean age 51 ± 13 years, 53% males) from 10 European liver centres who had a liver biopsy and LS measurement within 6 months. We included patients with chronic hepatitis C (n = 2,913, 52%), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, n = 1,073, 19%), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD, n = 946, 17%) or chronic hepatitis B (n = 716…

Amylase–Trypsin Inhibitors in Wheat and Other Cereals as Potential Activators of the Effects of Nonceliac Gluten Sensitivity

2018

Nonceliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a gluten-related gastrointestinal disorder distinct from celiac disease (CD) and gluten allergy that is not easy to diagnose due to the lack of biomarkers. It is characterized by intestinal symptoms and extraintestinal manifestations with the consumption of gluten-containing foods. In contrast to CD, NCGS patients do not present a genetic predisposition or intestinal villi atrophy. Recent studies question the proinflammatory triggering activity of α-gliadin fraction contained in wheat, since it has been demonstrated that the amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) exert a strong activating effect on the innate immune response. We aimed to analyze the role of…

Crosstalk between angiotensin and the nonamyloidogenic pathway of Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein.

2017

The association between hypertension and an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia is well established. Many data suggest that modulation of the renin-angiotensin system may be meaningful for the prevention and therapy of neurodegenerative disorders, in particular AD. Proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by α-secretase precludes formation of neurotoxic Aβ peptides and is expected to counteract the development of AD. An established approach for the up-regulation of α-secretase cleavage is the activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Therefore, our study aimed to analyze whether stimulation of angiotensin AT1 or AT2 receptors stably expressed…

Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibition in Cardiovascular Patients at the Time of COVID19: Much Ado for Nothing? A Statement of Activity from the Directo…

2020

Cardiovascular diseases, in particular hypertension, as well as the cardiovascular treatment with Renin-Angiotensin System inhibitors such as Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs), are claimed once again as mechanisms of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) during the COVID-19 outbreak due to Cov-2 epidemics. In vitro studies are available to support the eventual role of ACE inhibitors and ARBs in both the promotion and antagonism of the disease. The available literature, indeed, presents contrasting results, all concentrated in experimental models. Evidence in humans is lacking that those mechanisms are actually occurring in the present…

Candida blood stream infections observed between 2011 and 2016 in a large Italian University Hospital: A time-based retrospective analysis on epidemi…

2019

Candida bloodstream infection (BSI) represents a growing infective problem frequently associated to biofilm production due to the utilization of intravascular devices. Candida species distribution (n = 612 strains), their biofilm production and hospital antifungal drug consumption were evaluated in different wards of a tertiary care academic hospital in Italy during the years 2011–2016. In the considered time window, an increasing number of Candida BSI (p = 0.005) and of biofilm producing strains were observed (p<0.0001). Although C. albicans was the species more frequently isolated in BSI with a major biofilm production, an increased involvement of non-albicans species was reported, partic…

Candida thrombophlebitis in children: a systematic review of the literature

2020

Abstract Objective To describe a case of thrombophlebitis associated with Candida infection and to analyze other published reports to define clinical characteristics, prognostic data, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Study design A computerized search was performed without language restriction using PubMed and Scopus databases. An article was considered eligible for inclusion if it reported cases with Candida thrombophlebitis. Our case was also included in the analysis. Results A total of 16 articles reporting 27 cases of Candida thrombophlebitis were included in our review. The median age of patients was 4 years. In 10 cases there was a thrombophlebitis of peripheral veins; in the re…

Genotyping and Antifungal Susceptibility of Dipodascus capitatus Isolated in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Sicilian Hospital

2017

In August 2015, Dipodascus capitatus was isolated from two patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Nosocomial acquisition of the fungus was suspected and epidemiological studies were undertaken. The patients were simultaneously hospitalized, and the comparison of the two isolates by two independent molecular typing methods have confirmed clonal dissemination of a single strain of D. capitatus. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was useful for identifying the appropriated antifungal therapy in micafungin. To our knowledge these are the first described cases of neonatal D. capitatus infection and also the first report of successful treatment by micafungin.

Untargeted Antifungal Treatment in Nonneutropenic Critically Ill Patients: Should Further Studies Be Performed Based on Trial Sequential Analysis Res…

2018

Dying with or because of invasive fungal infection? The role of immunity exhaustion on patient outcome

2016

De Rosa et al. considered clinical scores, biomarkers and their combination as useful aids for an early antifungal treatment and advocated the adoption of de-escalation therapy in an antifungal stewardship approach as a possible key for a better management of these patients. Authors considered the high burden of invasive fungal infections in terms of patient outcomes and costs and focused on current strategies for their optimization.

In vitro effects of vitamins C and E, n-3 and n-6 PUFA and n-9 MUFA on placental cell function and redox status in type 1 diabetic pregnant women.

2016

IF 2.972; International audience; The aim of this investigation was to determine the in vitro effects of vitamin C and E, n-3 and n-6 PUFA and n-9 MUFA on placental cell proliferation and function in type 1 diabetes. Placenta tissues were collected from 30 control healthy and 30 type 1 diabetic women at delivery. Placental cells were isolated and were cultured in RPMI medium supplemented with vitamin C (50 μM), vitamin E (50 μM), n-3 PUFA (100 μM), n-6 PUFA (100 μM) or n-9 MUFA (100 μM). Cell proliferation, cell glucose uptake and intracellular oxidative status were investigated. Our results showed that basal placental cell proliferation, glucose uptake, malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl p…