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Biomedical subjects

M Rosina

Publications and source records attributed to M Rosina.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of combined dietary supplementation on oxidative and inflammatory status in dyslipidemic subjects.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dyslipidemia is one of the main risk factors for atherosclerosis, usually the underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases which are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. The aim of this study was to assess the effects and the advantages of a combined dietary supplementation with PUFA n-3, vitamin E, niacin and gamma-oryzanol on lipid profile, inflammatory status and oxidative balance. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-seven dyslipidemic volunteers were randomly assigned to receive: placebo (group A, 19 subjects); PUFA n-3 and vitamin E (group B, 18 subjects); the same as B plus gamma-oryzanol and niacin (group C, 20 subjects). Lipid profile, reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), vitamin E, interleukin 1-beta (IL1-beta), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were determined at baseline (T0) and after four months (T1). All dyslipidemic subjects showed, at baseline, oxidative stress and, after four months, all biochemical markers improved significantly in groups treated with dietary supplementation. Particularly in group C all lipid patterns improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that the strategy of combining different compounds, which protect each other and act together at different levels of the lipid chain production, improves lipid profile, inflammatory and oxidative status, allowing us to reduce the dose of each compound under the threshold of its side effects.

Adult↗

[Resistance to antiretroviral drugs].

Since the HIV eradication is an utopian goal the only hope we have is the appropriate follow up of the disease by maintaining the RNA viral load under control and the level of CD4+ sufficient for a minimum of immunocompetence guarantee. The international guideline for the management of HIV infected patients, annually updated, recently confirmed the importance of the GART (guided antiretroviral therapy) based on information derived from drug resistance laboratory tests. A general survey on the antiretroviral drugs, on the mutations involving drug resistance and on the tests for their detection could be interesting also for whom not specifically working on the field.

Antiviral Agents↗

Genotyping in HIV drug resistance mutations: epidemiology in 145 patients.

The epidemiology of HIV-1 genomic mutations causing antiretroviral drug resistance, in 145 HIV-1 infected patients were obtained using a new sequencing technique. All patients were in a follow up treatment for at least 4 months with all drugs available in clinical practice in accordance to international guidelines. The percentage of the mutations were calculated both on the number of all participants and on the number of patients who received the drugs selecting for that specific resistance. It was possible then to evaluate patients who showed the mutation without receiving the drug. We consider this new sequencing method reliable and hopeful in clinical practice, giving the opportunity for a guided therapy for the single patient and in detecting and monitoring the antiretroviral drug resistance mutations in the pertinent geographic area following a periodic surveillance program.

Adult↗

[Lights and shadows on the molecular diagnosis of hepatitis C].

The rational application of molecular biology to clinical diagnostics must take in consideration the economic demands, as the waste of sophisticated and expensive assays is of no use for the physician prescribing the assays and burdensome for the individual or the community paying them. Sometimes it is useless to apply to the molecular biology, and the information obtainable through serology answer our demands. This brief survey of the principal means available today for Hepatitis C diagnosis and monitoring, besides summarising the principles on which the different techniques are based, wants to underline the most noteworthy aspects of the different assays--from general indication to specific application to a single case--in the attempt to improve the efficacy of the test, which may be the right one at the right moment. There are qualitative and quantitative methods for viremia determination, which not always are alternative; on the contrary they must sometimes be complementary in order to obtain a complete clinical pattern. As a matter of fact the clinician should choose according to protocol susceptibility and considering what the expected viremia could be. The risk of false negatives is very dreadful for the clinician, as that of false positives (from contamination) is threatening for the laboratory, which must carry out more work than its capabilities consent. One must not misuse these diagnostic means, but they must be used correctly in order not to transform an important service into a harmful inefficiency with unpleasant consequences both for the physician and the patient.

DNA Probes↗

Whole blood folate concentrations: comparison between Stratus Folate (DADE) and radioassay (DPC) methods.

The analytical performance of the Stratus Folate assay for intra-erythrocyte folate determination in normal subjects and in patients affected by folate-related diseases was compared with that of the radioassay (DPC) routinely employed by us. Folate concentrations were measured in freshly obtained EDTA whole blood from 100 subjects. Haemolysis was performed with the appropriate lysis reagent. In addition, to compare two different haemolysis procedures folate determination was carried out in 51 samples haemolysed according to the two procedures in parallel. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon's test and standardized principal component analysis. Stratus Folate assay and radioassay performances were comparable in terms of analytical characteristics as well as in individual intraerythrocyte folate values across the range of whole blood concentrations examined in the survey. Significant differences were detected between the two different haemolysis procedures only for the radioassay. In conclusion, we observed no significant differences between the two folate determination methods despite their different analytical principles, which indicates the suitability of routine use of the automated non-isotopic Stratus Folate assay for clinical purposes. Moreover, with the latter assay the laboratory staff could choose the more convenient haemolysis procedure.

Automation↗

Escherichia coli: effect of fosfomycin trometamol on some urovirulence factors.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the interference of fosfomycin trometanol (F.T.), at subinhibitory concentrations (1/4 and 1/8 MICs), on some urovirulence factors of Escherichia coli (12 strains). We tested fimbriae production, adhesion to uroepithelial cells, hydrophobicity, motility and hemolysin production of E. coli grown in the presence or absence of F.T. The strains tested, grown in the presence of F.T. (1/8 MIC), were less capable of adhering to uroepithelial cells, had less hemagglutination and reduced motility. This behavior was enhanced at 1/4 MIC of F.T. The hemolysin production and hydrophobicity properties present in some of our tested strains also were significantly decreased when the E. coli were grown in the presence of sub-MIC concentrations of F.T. These results suggest that F.T. may be of clinical use as treatment for acute urinary tract infection and in pyelonephritis prophylaxis.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Intestinal Microflora Settlement in Patients with Jejunoileal Bypass for Morbid Obesity.

Intestinal microflora settlement was evaluated in this retrospective study of 49 patients with jejunoileal bypass who required reoperation. Colonic microflora was observed in the samples of the contents of the functioning jejunum and ileum but not in 55% of the samples from the middle of the excluded loop. Colonization of the excluded loop was not detected in patients without clinical signs of bacterial overgrowth but was significantly frequent (p < 0.01) in those with clinical signs (bloating, migratory arthralgias, rashes, skin lesions). However, positive excluded loop cultures were not always associated with clinical manifestations. No significant correlation was observed between bacteriology of the contents of the excluded loop and bypass results. The success of an intestinal bypass may depend not only on anatomic and functional adaptation to the new, surgically created conditions, but also to the attainment of microbiological equilibrium in the intestinal ecosystem.

Journal Article↗

[Is the surgical treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis still up-to-date?].

We describe a case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in a 53 year old man affected by cryptogenic micro-macronodular cirrhosis, portal hypertention, splenomegaly and hypersplenism, who was admitted with hepatic failure and septic shock and successfully treated with antibiotics (combination of clindamycin and netilmycin), surgical abdominal drainage and splenectomy. This case gave reason for a literature review and an update on the therapeutic options in these high risk patients, especially concerning the role of surgery. Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) is defined as a bacterial infection of ascitic fluid in the absence of any septic focus. It is a typical life-threatening complication of hepatic cirrhosis with ascites. Mortality is very high and ranges from 75% to 97% of patients, due to septic shock and hepatic failure (hepatorenal syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding). Infection with a single organism is found in most cases. Gram negative bacilli are present in about 70% of cases and E. coli (less frequently Klebsiella, Serratia, Pseudomonas) is principally found. Gram positive cocchi comprise an additional 30% of cases. Anaerobic and microaerophilic organisms seem to be rare causes of SBP (2.7-6%); this finding is probably due to the intrinsic bacteriostatic activity of ascites, which contains high oxygen tension (70 mmHg) and is an inhospitable environment for bacteroides and Clostridia. The prevalent isolation of enteric organism suggest that the gut is the most frequent source of infection, even if the pathogenetic mechanism is not yet well known. The right treatment depends on differentiating primary (SBP) from secondary peritonitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗

[Evolution of the bacteria responsible for surgical infection. n 8-year study in our department].

Since 1981 we monitored all the bacteria strains isolated from patients bearing a surgical infection and hospitalized in our department. We also tested the susceptibility of the isolated strains to different antibiotics. The observed results at three different intervals (1981, 1984, 1987-1988) reveal an increase in Gram+strains. Among the tested antibiotics Imipenem and Amikacin showed the highest antibacterial activity in recent years (1987-1988).

Amikacin↗

[Current microbiological aspects of nosocomial infections].

Despite of the widespread antibiotic use, the hospital acquired infections are still a great problem. Several factors influence the changing spectrum of etiological agents: an increased level of drug resistance, a possible bacterial synergism in more frequent polymicrobial infections, some environmental risk factors, and a higher number of compromised hosts. For these reasons a lot of opportunists such as the enterobacteria, the Gram positive resurgent cocci and the new ones (nonfermenting Gram negative bacilli, anaerobes, Legionellas, atypical mycobacteria and fungi) still emerge creating a significant therapeutic challenge.

Bacterial Infections↗