Emerging issue of fluconazole-resistant candidemia in a tertiary care hospital of southern italy: time for antifungal stewardship program

An increased number of patients is at risk of Candida spp. bloodstream infection (CBSI) in modern medicine. Moreover, the rising of antifungal resistance (AR) was recently reported. All consecutive CBSI occurred in our Hospital (consisting of 1,370 beds) between 2015 and 2018, were reviewed. For each case, Candida species, AR pattern, ward involved and demographic data of patients were recorded. Overall, 304 episodes of CBSI occurred, with a median (q1:first-,q3:third quartile) of 77 (71-82) CBSI/year. Over the years, a significant increase of CBSI due to C. albicans compared to non-albicans strains was recorded in medical wards (from 65% to 71%, p=0.030), while this ratio remained stable in others. An increase of resistant strains to multiple antifungals such as C. guillermondii was noticed in recent years (from 0% to 9.8%, p=0.008). Additionally, from 2015 to 2018 an increase in fluconazole-resistance was recorded in our Hospital (from 7.4% to 17.4%, p=0.025) and a slight increase in voriconazole-resistance (from 0% to 7% in 2018, p=0.161) was observed, while resistance to echinocandin and amphotericin B remained firmly below 2%.This study suggests a rapid spread of antifungal resistance in our Hospital; therefore, an appropriate antifungal stewardship programs is urgently warranted.     

Elevated serum uric acid is a predictor of contrast associated acute kidney injury in patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

BackgroundContrast associated-acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) has been associated with adverse outcomes after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, early markers of CA-AKI are still needed to improve risk stratification. We investigated the association between elevated serum uric acid (eSUA) and CA-AKI in patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).Methods and resultsSerum creatinine (Scr) was measured at admission and 24, 48 and 72 h after pPCI. CA-AKI was defined as an increase of 25% (CA-AKI 25%) or 0.5 mg/dl (CA-AKI 0.5) of Scr level above the baseline after 48 h following contrast administration. Multivariable analyses to investigate CA-AKI predictors were performed by binary logistic regression and multivariable backward logistic regression model.In the 3023 patients considered, CA-AKI was more frequent among patients with eSUA as compared with patients with normal SUA levels, considering both CA-AKI definitions (CA-AKI25%: 20.8% vs 16.2%, p < 0.012; CA-AKI 0.5: 10.1% vs 5.8%, p < 0.001). The association between eSUA and CA-AKI was confirmed at multivariable analyses (CA-AKI 25%: odd ratio 1.32, 95% CI 1.03–1.69, p = 0.027; CA-AKI 0.5: odd ratio 1.76, 95% CI 1.11–2.79, p = 0.016).ConclusionElevated serum uric acid is associated with CA-AKI after reperfusion in patients with STEMI treated with pPCI.     

Covid-19 Infection in Cancer Patients: The Management in a Diagnostic Unit

BackgroundCOVID-19 infection is particularly aggressive in frail patients, as cancer patients. Therefore, the more suitable management of the oncological patient requires a multidisciplinary assessment, to identify which patients should be treated, as inpatients or outpatients, and which treatments can be procrastinated.ConclusionsThe role of radiologist is crucial, and, all cancer patients who need an imaging evaluation will need to be studied, using the most appropriate imaging tools related to the clinical question and paying a special attention to preserve public health. Guidelines are necessary in the correct organization of a radiology unit to manage patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection, and whenever possible, a satellite radiography center with dedicated equipment should be used to decrease the transmission risk.Key words: COVID-19 infection, cancer patients, diagnostic unit, management, guideline     

Vulnerability of multiple large‐scale brain networks in dementia with Lewy bodies

Aberrations of large‐scale brain networks are found in the majority of neurodegenerative disorders. The brain connectivity alterations underlying dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) remain, however, still elusive, with contrasting results possibly due to the pathological and clinical heterogeneity characterizing this disorder. Here, we provide a molecular assessment of brain network alterations, based on cerebral metabolic measurements as proxies of synaptic activity and density, in a large cohort of DLB patients (N = 72). We applied a seed‐based interregional correlation analysis approach (p < .01, false discovery rate corrected) to evaluate large‐scale resting‐state networks' integrity and their interactions. We found both local and long‐distance metabolic connectivity alterations, affecting the posterior cortical networks, that is, primary visual and the posterior default mode network, as well as the limbic and attention networks, suggesting a widespread derangement of the brain connectome. Notably, patients with the lowest visual and attention cognitive scores showed the most severe connectivity derangement in regions of the primary visual network. In addition, network‐level alterations were differentially associated with the core clinical manifestations, namely, hallucinations with more severe metabolic dysfunction of the attention and visual networks, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder with alterations of connectivity of attention and subcortical networks. These multiple network‐level vulnerabilities may modulate the core clinical and cognitive features of DLB and suggest that DLB should be considered as a complex multinetwork disorder.     

Donne e uomini,autori e vittime di mobbing in Italia: una revisione della letteratura

«Women and men, authors and victims of workplace bullying in Italy: a literature review».Introduction:It is known in literature that women are frequently victims of murder, sexual assault and stalking. It is interesting to investigate the gender characterization when workplace bullying occurs.Objectives:To investigate the phenomenon of workplace bullying and to understand if there are any relevant data about the gender aspects of workplace bullying by reviewing the literature in Italy.Methods:Review of articles on a sample of Italian workers. The research question followed the P.E.C.O. model and the article selection is based on PRISMA statement. Fourteen research strings were applied on: Pubmed, Microsoft Academic e Science Direct. A total of 32 articles were selected.Results:There are few studies in which gender differences on workplace bullying and crimes related are analysed, in some cases it is considered in the research but not in the results section (n=6 articles). In the studies selected women are predominantly victims (n=10 articles), the aggressors instead are usually men (n=2 articles). The attacks suffered by women are frequently discriminations due to family management, children and gender related issues (n=6 articles). Men have the major consequences on mental health if compared to women (n=7 articles).Conclusions:Gender is relevant in the characterization of workplace bullying. There is a need for further investigation focusing on gender differences between perpetrators and victims of workplace bullying offences. A unique evaluation protocol is necessary for evaluating workplace bullying, the crimes linked to it and gender differences, to obtain a more accurate comparability of data.Key words: Workplace bullying, women, men, gender differences, aggressors, victims, crimes     

Expression of ER,PgR, HER-2, and Ki-67 in core biopsies and in definitive histological specimens in patients with locally advanced breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology - Many studies have indicated that the response to therapy and the prognostic impact of a pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant treatment differ among...