91 research outputs found
Pleiotropic Protective Effects of Phytochemicals in Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe chronic neurodegenerative disorder of the brain characterised by progressive impairment in memory and cognition. In the past years an intense research has aimed at dissecting the molecular events of AD. However, there is not an exhaustive knowledge about AD pathogenesis and a limited number of therapeutic options are available to treat this neurodegenerative disease. Consequently, considering the heterogeneity of AD, therapeutic agents acting on multiple levels of the pathology are needed. Recent findings suggest that phytochemicals compounds with neuroprotective features may be an important resources in the discovery of drug candidates against AD. In this paper we will describe some polyphenols and we will discuss their potential role as neuroprotective agents. Specifically, curcumin, catechins, and resveratrol beyond their antioxidant activity are also involved in antiamyloidogenic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. We will focus on specific molecular targets of these selected phytochemical compounds highlighting the correlations between their neuroprotective functions and their potential therapeutic value in AD
Retrospective Observational Study on Microbial Contamination of Ulcerative Foot Lesions in Diabetic Patients
According to recent studies, there are almost 435 million people worldwide with diabetes mellitus. It is estimated that of these 148 million will develop Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) during their lifetime, of which 35 to 50% will be infected. In this scenario, the presence and frequency of pathogenic microorganisms and their level of susceptibility to the most frequent classes of antibiotics used to treat this pathological condition from patients with DFUs admitted to the outpatient clinic of vascular surgery of the Federico II University Hospital of Naples from January 2019 to March 2021 were investigated. Furthermore, the diabetic population characteristics under study (i.e., general, clinical, and comorbidities) and the pathogenic bacteria isolated from lesions were also considered. Bacterial strains poorly susceptible to antibiotics were more frequent in polymicrobial infections than in monomicrobial infections. β-Lactams showed the highest levels of resistance, followed by fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and finally macrolides. The main findings of the study demonstrated that the occurrence of resistant microorganisms is the dominant factor in ulcer healing; thus it is essential to investigate the antibiotics’ susceptibility before setting antibiotic therapy to avoid inappropriate prescriptions that would affect the treatment and increase the development and spread of antibiotic resistanc
Nutrition behaviour and compliance with the Mediterranean diet pyramid recommendations: an Italian survey-based study.
Purpose Adopting a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern may help in preventing several chronic diseases. We assessed the eating behaviour and compliance with the Mediterranean diet pyramid recommendations in Italy
correction to nutrition behaviour and compliance with the mediterranean diet pyramid recommendations an italian survey based study
The article "Nutrition behaviour and compliance with the Mediterranean diet pyramid recommendations: an Italian survey‑based study", written by "Renata Bracale, Concetta M. Vaccaro, Vittoria Coletta, Claudio Cricelli, Francesco Carlo Gamaleri, Fabio Parazzini and Michele Carruba" was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal on 8th November 2019 without open access
Standard carotid endarterectomy versus carotid artery stenting with closed-cell stent design and distal embolic protection: does the age matter?
Carotid artery endarterectomy (CEA) is
considered the gold standard for treatment of
symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid disease.
Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a less invasive
approach and therefore could be considered a viable
alternative to CEA, especially in high-risk patients or
those with relative contraindications to CEA (i.e.
actinic stenosis, post-CEA restenosis, previous neck
or tracheostomy surgery, contralateral laryngeal
nerve paralysis, etc.).
Methods – The aim of this study is to evaluate the
short- and medium-term outcomes of CAS
performed with a single type of closed-cell stent
design and distal filter protection by comparing the
procedure with CEA based upon 3 endpoints: overall
survival rate, stroke free survival rate and restenosis
free survival rate.
The same endpoints were also evaluated in 2
different age groups, more and less than 70 years, to
show possible age-based differences on outcomes.
Among 105 patients (77 males, 28 females), 74 were
submitted to CEA and 31 were subject to CAS.
In all cases the same self-expanding stent with
closed-cell design (XACT Carotid Stent, Abbott
Vascular) and the same distal embolic protection
device (Emboshield NAV, Abbott Vascular) were
employed.
Results – At 12 months, no statistically significant
difference was observed in overall survival rates
(CEA 93.2% vs CAS 93.5%, p=0.967) and restenosis
free survival rates (CEA 94.5% vs CAS 96.8%,
p=0.662).
An increased stroke free survival rate was observed
in the CEA group when compared to the CAS group
(CEA 100.0% vs CAS 93.5%, p=0.028).
The age-based endpoints didn’t show any significant
difference.
Conclusion - These results suggest that CEA still
remains the gold standard of treatment for carotid
stenosis given its greater efficacy in the prevention
of stroke CAS. However, CAS could be considered
as an alternative treatment to CEA to be used in
select cases only
Treatment of de novo femoro-popliteal lesions with a new Drug Coated Balloon: early experience of a single Center in the first 50 patients
Angioplasty with drug-coated balloon
(DCB) is an emerging and reliable method for the
treatment of femoro-popliteal lesions. We report
our experience with the Stellarex™ DCB in the
first 50 patients.
Methods - From July 2015 to November 2017, 50
patients (41 M, 9F), medium age (64 ± 7.4 year)
were subject to 33 angioplasties (PTAs) for
femoro-popliteal lesions with a paclitaxel-coated
balloon (Stellarex™). Based upon clinical data
sixteen patients had severe claudication (56% -
Rutherford class 3); ten patients suffered from
ischemic rest pain (34% - Rutherford class 4); and
five presented minor tissue loss (10% -
Rutherford class 5). 42% of patients showed
femoro-popliteal lesion TASC-II B, and 58%
presented lesions pertaining to TASC-II C.
Results - Immediate technical success was 100%
without perioperative complications. Primary
patency rate was 94% at twelve months. In three
cases restenosis (6%) was detected within a year
from procedure, and a further PTA DCB was
performed with primary assisted patency rates of
100% at twelve months. Two patients underwent
major lower limb amputation. Three patients died
during follow-up and one patient was lost at
follow-up.
Conclusion - DCB angioplasty with Stellarex™
is a viable alternative to traditional endovascular
procedures proving satisfactory primary patency
rates at twelve months. Based on our experience,
treatment with DCB is a first choice technique for
non-complex de novo lesions of the femoro –
popliteal tract
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Building a National IoT Plan: Policy Recommendations and the Case of Brazil
The Internet of Things (“IoT”) is an expression that refers to a whole set of new services and devices that includes at least three fundamental aspects: connectivity, use of sensors or actuators, and computational capacity for data processing and storage. The Internet of Things goes beyond connecting objects to each other; it also gives them the power to process data (thereby making them "smart").
For developing countries such as Brazil, the opportunities offered by the Internet of Things can compensate for shortcomings in infrastructure and services, and can improve innovation, quality of life, productivity, and even the economic complexity of our basket of export products. However, the way in which each country will seize this opportunity will depend on its specific aspirations and strategies. The broader economic, social, political, and legal context of the country should be considered, as well as the local development of information and communication technologies.
For this reason, the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC), has commissioned this study, "Internet of Things: An Action Plan for Brazil." This study, mapped by a consortium comprised by McKinsey & Company, the CPqD Foundation, and Pereira Neto | Macedo Law Firm, outlines the local technological and economic challenges related to the topic, as well as well as how to address legal issues inherent to the development of IoT in Brazil
Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries
Abstract
Background
Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres.
Methods
This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries.
Results
In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia.
Conclusion
This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries
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