Altered bowel flora is currently thought to play a role in a variety of disease conditions, and the use of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. as probiotics has been demonstrated to be health-promoting, even if the success of their administration depends on the applied bacterial strain(s) and the targeted disease. In the last few decades, specific probiotics have been shown to be effective in the treatment or the prevention of acute viral gastroenteritis, pediatric post-antibiotic-associated diarrhea, some pediatric allergic disorders, necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants, inflammatory bowel diseases and postsurgical pouchitis. The potential application of probiotics is continuously widening, with new evidence accumulating to support their effect on the prevention and treatment of other disease conditions, including several oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontal diseases and oral malodor, as well as genitourinary and wound infections. Considering the increasingly widespread ability of pathogens to generate persistent biofilm-related infections, an even more attractive proposal is to administer probiotics to prevent or counteract biofilm development. The response of biofilm-based oral, intestinal, vaginal and wound infections to probiotics treatment will be reviewed here in light of the most recent results obtained in this field.
Antibiosis ; physiology ; Bacterial Infections ; prevention & control ; Bifidobacterium ; physiology ; Biofilms ; growth & development ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; physiology ; Mucous Membrane ; microbiology ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUND: Cassava and corn milling is a growing small-scale enterprise in Africa. We aimed to determine the incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints among vibration-exposed Congolese cassava and corn millers in the previous 12 months. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, prior to a follow-up study, from March to May 2013 among cassava/corn millers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, in which 365 millers age-matched to 365 civil workers anonymously answered a questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints was 25.8% in millers (vs. 5.2% in civil workers; p < 0.001). The risk of experiencing musculoskeletal symptoms was seven times higher in millers [vs. civil workers; odds ratio (OR) = 7.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.03-12.50; p < 0.0001]; 2.4 times higher in smoking millers (vs. smoking civil office workers; OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.42-3.88; p < 0.001); 3.6 times higher in millers with longer daily exposure (> 8 hours; vs. those working < or = 8 hours; OR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.93-3.61; p = 0.026); and 7.4 times higher in young millers (vs. older millers, OR = 7.39; 95% CI: 1.29-75.52; p < 0.001). Smoking, number of cigarettes, and daily exposure duration were positively correlated with musculoskeletal complaints. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a relatively high incidence of musculoskeletal complaints among African cassava and corn millers. The use of anti-vibration protective equipment and the regulation of this hazardous occupation may reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in millers.
Africa ; Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Congo ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence* ; Manihot* ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products ; Zea mays*

AIMTo examine the preference for two dosing regimens of 20 mg of tadalafil, on demand or three times per week, in men affected with erectile dysfunction (ED) in Italy.

METHODSScheduled Use versus on demand Regimen Evaluation (SURE) is a multicenter, crossover and open-label study, involving 94 urology centers in Italy. Patients aged 18 years or older affected with ED for at least 3 months were enrolled and randomized to 20 mg of tadalafil treatment on demand or three times per week for 5-6 weeks. After a 1-week washout, patients were crossed over to the alternate regimen for 5-6 weeks. A treatment preference question was used to determine the preferred treatment regimen. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) questionnaire were used as efficacy measures.

RESULTSA total of 1 058 men (mean age 54.8 years), were randomized to treatment. Overall, 59.1% of patients preferred the on-demand regimen and 41.9% preferred the three times per week dosing. Both regimens were efficacious and well tolerated. Although a statistically higher improvement of the IIEF erectile function (IIEF-EF) domain score and the SEP questionnaire was reported for the three times per week compared to the on-demand treatment regimen, this difference was numerically minimal and lacking in clinical significance.

CONCLUSIONTadalafil is effective and well tolerated whether used on demand or three times per week. Patients should be given the option to choose the best treatment regimen according to personal needs and preferences.

Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cross-Over Studies ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Italy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Elasticity Imaging Techniques/*methods ; Humans ; Musculoskeletal Diseases/*ultrasonography

Objective: To assess the effects of thermoforming on aligner thickness and gap width in six aligner systems with the same nominal thickness. Methods: Six passive upper aligners of different brands were adapted to a single printed cast. Each sample was evaluated with high-resolution micro-computed tomography.To investigate aligner thickness and gap width, two-dimensional (2D) analysis was conducted assessing the effects of the following variables: tooth type (central incisor, canine, and first molar), 2D reference points, and aligner type. Data were analyzed and compared using analysis of variance and Tukey’s post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Tooth type, dental region, and aligner type affected both the gap width and aligner thickness. The aligner thickness remained moderately stable across the arch only in the F22. Conclusions All thermoformed samples displayed smaller aligner thickness and gap width at anterior teeth and both gingival and coronal centers than at posterior teeth and occlusal surfaces.

Objective: To assess the effects of thermoforming on aligner thickness and gap width in six aligner systems with the same nominal thickness. Methods: Six passive upper aligners of different brands were adapted to a single printed cast. Each sample was evaluated with high-resolution micro-computed tomography.To investigate aligner thickness and gap width, two-dimensional (2D) analysis was conducted assessing the effects of the following variables: tooth type (central incisor, canine, and first molar), 2D reference points, and aligner type. Data were analyzed and compared using analysis of variance and Tukey’s post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Tooth type, dental region, and aligner type affected both the gap width and aligner thickness. The aligner thickness remained moderately stable across the arch only in the F22. Conclusions All thermoformed samples displayed smaller aligner thickness and gap width at anterior teeth and both gingival and coronal centers than at posterior teeth and occlusal surfaces.

Purpose: Anastomotic leakage is a fearsome complication in rectal surgery. Surgeons perform the classic air leak test, although its real effectiveness is still debated. The aim of this study was to describe a personal technique of reverse air leak test in which low colorectal anastomosis was assessed transanally through the intrarectal irrigation of a few mL of saline solution. Methods: From October 2014 to November 2019, 11 patients with low rectal cancer (type 1 in Roullier classification) were included in this study. At the beginning of the procedure, a circular anal dilator was inserted into the anus. A side-to-end colorectal anastomosis was performed. A few mL of saline solution were injected into the rectum and the entire anastomotic line was directly explored. The appearance of bubbles was considered as an anastomotic defect and repaired with an interrupted suture. A fluorescence angiography after intravenous injection of indocyanine green was performed in order to evaluate the perfusion of the anastomosis. Results: The reverse air leak test was positive in 4 cases (36.4%). The defect was repaired and a confirmation test was performed. In all patients, near-infrared evaluation showed no perfusion defect (grade 0) in low colorectal anastomosis. No postoperative fistula was detected in cohort study. A protective stoma was performed in 10 patients. On day 90, there were no complications and stoma closure was performed as planned. Conclusion The reverse air leak test is a simple, feasible, and effective procedure to identify anastomotic leaks in low colorectal anastomoses.

Objective Over the last century, a progressive rise in stature, known as the 'secular trend', was documented worldwide, and especially in Sardinia, it has reached a peak in Europe. However, this situation recently ceased in several populations. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the stature secular trend has significantly leveled off in the Sardinian younger generations.Methods Height measurements were retrieved from a database of patients undergoing digestive endoscopy, spanning generations between 1920 and 1990. Sex-specific principal component regression models were fitted to decompose stature variation into the contribution of age, period, and birth cohort. Results A steady increase in stature was observed in generations born after 1920, with an upward surge in those born after 1950. However, a significant leveling off was observed among cohorts born after 1970 among both sexes, as mean heights stabilized at 171.1 cm with a standard error (SE) of 0.9 cm among men and a mean of 160.1 cm (SE = 0.9 cm) among women. Conclusion Our findings support a significant slowdown in the secular trend of stature among the latest Sardinian generations. Several factors, including the consumption of low-quality food, lack of physical activity, and late motherhood, among others, may explain the decline in the secular trend.

OBJECTIVETo determine the levels of carnitine in plasma and daily excretion of carnitine in urine of healthy adults so as to provide the reference standard for studying the changes of carnitine in patients.

METHODSCarnitine in plasma and urine was assayed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The levels of total carnitine (TC), free carnitine (FC) and acetyl-carnitine (AC) in fasting plasma and the daily excretion of TC, FC and AC in urine were assayed in 40 healthy adults (20 men and 20 women) with standard diet.

RESULTSGood linearity (r 2 > or = 0.999) was observed in assaying TC, FC and AC. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was lower than 9.1% and bias lower than 5.6%. It was showed that the plasmatic levels of TC, FC and AC in healthy men [(53.1 +/- 8.5), (41.2 +/- 6.1), (6.2 +/- 0.6) mumol/L] were significantly higher than those in healthy women [(45.4 +/- 5.6), (35.2 +/- 4.9), (5.7 +/- 0.7) mumol/L] (P = 0.002, 0.002, 0.035). The daily urinary excretion of TC, FC and AC in healthy men [(386.1 +/- 22.9), (180.5 +/- 31.8), (33.8 +/- 3.3) mumol] were also significantly higher than those in healthy women [(240.1 +/- 35.6), (112.7 +/- 22.6), (29.3 +/- 4.3) mumol] (P < 0.0005, < 0.0005, < 0.0005) when the adults were given standard diet. Both the plasmatic levels and the daily urinary excretion of TC, FC and AC were of significantly positive correlation with lean body mass (LBM) (r = 0.501-0.856). The (TC-FC)/FC ratios in plasma were 0.29 +/- 0.05 for male and 0.29 +/- 0.04 for female.

CONCLUSIONGood precision and accuracy were observed in assaying carnitine with HPLC. After standard diet, both the level of carnitine in fasting plasma and the daily urinary carnitine excretion of healthy adults were positively correlated with LBM.

Acetylcarnitine ; blood ; urine ; Adult ; Carnitine ; blood ; urine ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors