Infective Endocarditis: what is changed in Epidemiology and Prophylaxis

This article shows the most recent opinions in the literature, concerning the epidemiology and prophylaxis of infective endocarditis (I.E.). They are also defined the basic principles of the previous guidelines and the reasons for their comprehensive reformulation. The article finally illustrates the new recommendations for prophylaxis of IE

Behaviour of adenylic and pyridinic compounds in gingival tissue after a short-term exposure to air

Biochemical variations of adenine and pyridine compounds in human gingival grafts during the period between excision and implantation have been studied. These groups of compounds are considered as «indicators» of the metabolic and energetic status of the living cells. Adenylic compounds such as ATP, ADP and AMP are involved in numerous metabolic processes as «modulators» of allosteric enzymes.NAD+ and NADP+ are involved in the carbohydrate metabolism as co-factors of many reactions of oxydoreduction. The exposure to air of the gingival tissue induces modifications in the energy state of the cells as well as in the ox-reox system. No variation is detectable in the intermediates of the pyridine compounds cycle.Dans des gencives humaines prélevées pour des greffes, ont été étudiées, à certains intervalles de temps entre le prélèvement et la greffe, les variations biochimiques des composés adényliques et pyridiniques, qui sont les «indicateurs» des conditions énergétiques et métaboliques du tissu. Des composés comme l’ATP, l’ADP et l’AMP participent à de nombreux processus métaboliques comme «modulateurs» des enzymes allostériques. NAD+ et NADP + participent au métabolisme des carbohydrates comme co-facteurs de nombreuses réactions d’oxydoréduction. Une brève exposition de la gencive à l’air provoque des changements dans le métabolisme des cellules et du système d’oxydoréduction. Il n’y a pas de variation notable dans les composés intermédiaires du cycle pyridinique

Clinical Faculty in the Legal Academy: Hiring, Promotion, and Retention

The Chair of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Clinical Legal Education appointed us in 2005 to the Task Force on the Status of Clinicians and the Legal Academy (Task Force) to examine who is teaching in clinical programs and using clinical methodologies in American law schools and to identify the most appropriate models for clinical appointments within the legal academy. Our charges reflected two ongoing concerns: 1) the need to collect valid, reliable, and helpful data that would inform discussions on the breadth of clinical education in the legal academy and the status of clinical educators within the academy; and 2) the need to have a foundation for complex conversations on how American law schools should view and value their clinical teachers. The first primarily describes the present, while the second carries implications for the future

Circulating and Tumor-Associated Neutrophils in the Era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Dynamics, Phenotypes, Metabolism, and Functions.

Neutrophils are the most abundant myeloid cells in the blood and are a considerable immunological component of the tumor microenvironment. However, their functional importance has often been ignored, as they have always been considered a mono-dimensional population of terminally differentiated, short-living cells. During the last decade, the use of cutting-edge, single-cell technologies has revolutionized the classical view of these cells, unmasking their phenotypic and functional heterogeneity. In this review, we summarize the emerging concepts in the field of neutrophils in cancer, by reviewing the recent literature on the heterogeneity of both circulating neutrophils and tumor-associated neutrophils, as well as their possible significance in tumor prognosis and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors

Muscle acellular scaffold as a biomaterial: Effects on C2C12 cell differentiation and interaction with the murine host environment

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of decellularized organs possesses the characteristics of the ideal tissue-engineering scaffold (i.e., histocompatibility, porosity, degradability, non-toxicity). We previously observed that the muscle acellular scaffold (MAS) is a pro-myogenic environmentin vivo. In order to determine whether MAS, which is basically muscle ECM, behaves as a myogenic environment, regardless of its location, we analyzed MAS interaction with both muscle and non-muscle cells and tissues, to assess the effects of MAS on cell differentiation. Bone morphogenetic protein treatment of C2C12 cells cultured within MAS induced osteogenic differentiation in vitro, thus suggesting that MAS does not irreversibly commit cells to myogenesis.In vivo MAS supported formation of nascent muscle fibers when replacing a muscle (orthotopic position). However, heterotopically grafted MAS did not give rise to muscle fibers when transplanted within the renal capsule. Also, no muscle formation was observed when MAS was transplanted under the xiphoid process, in spite of the abundant presence of cells migrating along the laminin-based MAS structure. Taken together, our results suggest that MAS itself is not sufficient to induce myogenic differentiation. It is likely that the pro-myogenic environment of MAS is not strictly related to the intrinsic properties of the muscle scaffold (e.g., specific muscle ECM proteins). Indeed, it is more likely that myogenic stem cells colonizing MAS recognize a muscle environment that ultimately allows terminal myogenic differentiation. In conclusion, MAS may represent a suitable environment for muscle and non-muscle 3D constructs characterized by a highly organized structure whose relative stability promotes integration with the surrounding tissues. Our work highlights the plasticity of MAS, suggesting that it may be possible to consider MAS for a wider range of tissue engineering applications than the mere replacement of volumetric muscle loss

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Role of dentist in early diagnosis

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a genetic disorder characterized by an impairment of steroid synthesis due to an altered production of 21-hydroxylase enzyme. Corticoid hormones are involved in the development and functioning of many organs. The aim of the present study was to review the international literature to collect data regarding oral manifestations of CAH. A review of the literature describing oral features of patients affected by CAH was performed using electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus). The data about number of patients, form of CAH, and oral findings were extracted and analyzed. Seven studies were included in the final analysis. The principal findings reported regarded an advanced dental development observed in patients with CAH. One paper reported amelogenesis imperfecta and periodontal issues. The dentist could be the first specialist involved in the CAH syndrome diagnosis, identifying the characteristic features described above, especially for the classical simple virilizing and non-classical form

The Status of Clinical Faculty in the Legal Academy: Report of the Task Force on the Status of Clinicians and the Legal Academy

In the midst of ongoing debates within the legal academy and the American Bar Association on the need for \u27practice-ready law school graduates through enhanced attention to law clinics and externships and on the status of faculty teaching in those courses, this report identifies and evaluates the most appropriate modes for clinical faculty appointments. Drawing on data collected through a survey of clinical program directors and faculty, the report analyzes the five most identifiable clinical faculty models: unitary tenure track; clinical tenure track; long-term contract; short-term contract; and clinical fellowships. It determines that, despite great strides in the growth of clinical legal education in the last 30 years, equality between clinical and non-clinical faculty remains elusive. Clinical faculty still lag behind non-clinical faculty in security of position and governance rights at most law schools. The report then identifies four core principles that should guide decisions about clinical faculty appointments: 1) clinical education is a foundational and essential component of legal education; 2) the legal academy and profession benefit from full inclusion of clinical faculty on all matters affecting the mission, function, and direction of law schools; 3) there is no justification for creating hierarchies between clinical and non-clinical faculty; and 4) the standards for hiring, retention, and promotion of clinical faculty must recognize and value the responsibilities and methodologies of clinical teaching. The report concludes that these core principles are best realized when full-time clinical faculty are appointed to a unitary tenure track. This conclusion does not ignore the imperfections of a tenure system. However, to the extent that tenure remains the strongest measure of the legal academy\u27s investment in its faculty and is the surest guarantee of academic freedom, inclusion in faculty governance and job security, the report recommends that law schools predominantly place their clinical faculty on dedicated tenure lines. In addition, it recommends that schools implement standards for hiring, promotion, and retention that reflect the teaching responsibilities and methodologies, as well as practice and service obligations, unique to their clinical faculty. To facilitate the development of such standards, the report suggests good practices for the appointment of clinical faculty on a unitary tenure track

Alteration of the perception of cold, heat and texture of food in association with taste dysfunction in COVID-19

COVID19 is characterized by alteration of smell and taste perception. It was investigated the presence of alteration for cold, heat, and food consistency perception in COVID-19 patients and the possible correlation with the most commonly used biomarkers in a routine way (CRP, IL-6, IL-1, PSP, PCT) to show if the local inflammatory process may induce alteration of cold, heat, and food consistency perception in COVID-19. From March 2020 to April 2021, a survey about taste and oral tactile/thermal sensitivity dysfunction was carried out on 1155 patients with mild or moderate COVID-19, while patients admitted to intensive care were excluded because they could not answer questions from health professionals. Positive RT-PCR confirmed all diagnoses. CRP, IL-6, IL-1, PSP, and PCT were detected for each patient. Taste and Smell Questionnaire Section of the US NHANES 2011−2014 protocol (CDC 2013b) was used for gustatory function assessment. The study was approved by the Ethics committee of AOU Policlinico Consorziale di Bari (No. 6388 COVID19 DOM-protocol number 0034687/12-05-2020), and written informed consent was obtained. A total of 208 patients referred only to alteration to taste (208/821). 75/208 ageusia, 71/208 ipoageusia, 21/208 fantageusia, 19/208 dysgeusia, 22/208 parageusia. Significant correlations between CRP, IL-6, IL-1, PSP, PCT levels and type of dysfunctions about the perception of heat, cold and food consistency have not been found (P>0.05). Loss of taste can be due to the action of inflammatory mediators on gustatory buds, while alteration of cold, heat and food consistency perception may be due to direct damage of filiform papillae, allowing virus binding through the spike protein to ACE2 receptors of filiform papillae cells