Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meito Shibuya, Shigeyuki Tamiya, Atsushi Kawai, Yasuo Yoshioka
Summary: The study examines the use of different vaccination routes for priming and boosting to achieve protection in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Results show that intranasal priming followed by subcutaneous boosting induces both virus-specific IgG in plasma and IgA in nasal washes, providing protection against virus challenge in both regions.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Virology
Kenichiro Takahashi, Tsuguto Fujimoto, Nozomu Hanaoka, Mariko Tamura, Yoko Suzuki, Shigetaka Sugihara
Summary: This study aims to investigate the usefulness of clinical manifestations in deciding the use of adenovirus IC kits for children with upper respiratory infections (URI). The study found that when patients lack the clinical manifestations of fever, rhinorrhea, and tonsillar exudate, the results of adenovirus IC kits are often negative.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Shantelle Claassen-Weitz, Katherine Y. L. Lim, Christopher Mullally, Heather J. Zar, Mark P. Nicol
Summary: The study found an association between upper respiratory tract bacteria and lower respiratory tract infection in young children, with H. influenzae and Klebsiella spp. showing higher detection rates in cases. Further longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis of childhood lower respiratory tract infections.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mirella Tanori, Michele Pitaro, Emiliano Fratini, Eleonora Colantoni, Angela Amoresano, Simona Celentano, Barbara Chiaramonte, Mariateresa Mancuso
Summary: Hexedra+ is a nasal spray formulated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, beta-cyclodextrin, and usnic acid. It aims to reduce the risk of airborne viral infections, specifically targeting influenza and COVID-19. A study conducted on male Wistar rats showed that the safety profile of Hexedra+ was favorable, with no significant changes in body weight or histological differences observed. Usnic acid absorption through the nasal mucosa was negligible in the animals treated.
Article
Immunology
Tjeerd Pieter van Staa, Victoria Palin, Benjamin Brown, William Welfare, Yan Li, Darren M. Ashcroft
Summary: Delaying the prescription of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections was associated with an increased risk of infection-related hospital admissions, regardless of the patient's predicted risk levels. Targeting delayed antibiotic prescribing to URTI patients with lower risks of complications may help improve clinical safety.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Virology
Edin J. Mifsud, Miku Kuba, Ian G. Barr
Summary: The innate immune system is the host's first defense against pathogens and activates the adaptive immune system to clear viruses, but excessive response may lead to immunopathology.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariano Elean, Fernanda Raya Tonetti, Kohtaro Fukuyama, Luciano Arellano-Arriagada, Fu Namai, Yoshihito Suda, Nadia Gobbato, Keita Nishiyama, Julio Villena, Haruki Kitazawa
Summary: In this study, nasally administered L. salivarius FFIG58 was found to modulate the innate immune response in the respiratory tract and provide long-term protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The strain enhanced the production of various immune factors and protected mice from secondary infection for up to 30 days.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ji-Eun Yeu, Hyeon-Gyu Lee, Geun-Yeong Park, Jisun Lee, Mi-Sun Kang
Summary: The study found that Weissella cibaria probiotics have excellent antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties, effectively killing various upper respiratory tract infection pathogens and inhibiting biofilm formation. This offers new possibilities for the prevention and treatment of bacterial upper respiratory tract infections.
Article
Immunology
Pablo J. Bertrand, Yaneisi Vazquez, Andrea A. Beckhaus, Liliana A. Gonzalez, Ana Maria Contreras, Marcela Ferres, Oslando Padilla, Claudia A. Riedel, Alexis M. Kalergis, Susan M. Bueno
Summary: The study suggests that IL-8 and IL-33 are significantly increased in lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV and could be potential biomarkers for clinical severity in children with LRTIs.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jennifer Jorissen, Marianne F. L. van den Broek, Ilke De Boeck, Wannes Van Beeck, Stijn Wittouck, An Boudewyns, Paul Van de Heyning, Vedat Topsakal, Vincent Van Rompaey, Ine Wouters, Liesbet Van Heirstraeten, Pierre Van Damme, Surbi Malhotra-Kumar, Heidi Theeten, Olivier M. Vanderveken, Sarah Lebeer
Summary: This study found that besides Haemophilus influenzae, other microbes were commonly detected in the ear canal of chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) patients. Healthy controls had more Streptococci of the salivarius group and Acinetobacter lwoffii in their nasopharynx. Additionally, tested Streptococcus salivarius isolates showed potential to inhibit the growth of respiratory pathobionts in OME patients.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Maciej Halasa, Magdalena Baskiewicz-Halasa, Dominika Jamiol-Milc, Dominika Maciejewska-Markiewicz, Karolina Skonieczna-Zydecka
Summary: The study found that bovine colostrum supplementation (BCS) can effectively prevent upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and reduce the incidence rate. The effectiveness of BCS is somewhat dependent on the duration of supplementation, but not on the dose size, sex distribution, or physical activity lifestyle.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Vicky Sender, Karina Hentrich, Birgitta Henriques-Normark
Summary: Secondary bacterial infections greatly exacerbate the disease burden of influenza infections, particularly the synergism between Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza pathogens. The article discusses mechanisms driving the pathogenesis of secondary pneumococcal infections and their relation to COVID-19, highlighting the necessity to enhance current strategies for preventing and treating viral bacterial coinfections.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aida Bianco, Francesca Licata, Carmelo Ga Nobile, Francesco Napolitano, Maria Pavia
Summary: This cross-sectional study investigates the pattern of antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in children seen by primary care paediatricians (PCPs). The study found a high rate of sub-optimal antibiotic therapy, with overprescription and the use of broad-spectrum molecules being common. Antibiotic under-prescription also occurs, depriving paediatric patients of effective treatment when indicated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Xuting Jin, Jiajia Ren, Ruohan Li, Ya Gao, Haoying Zhang, Jiamei Li, Jingjing Zhang, Xiaochuang Wang, Gang Wang
Summary: This study found a continuous increase in the global incidence of upper respiratory infections. Children under five years old have the highest rates of incidence and DALYs. The age-standardized incidence rate remained stable, while significant decreases were observed in mortality and DALY rates.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Leesa Lin, Stephan Harbarth, James R. Hargreaves, Xudong Zhou, Leah Li
Summary: Inappropriate use of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in Chinese children is common. Parents who perceive antibiotics as effective for treating the common cold and fever, have access to non-prescription antibiotics, and perceive the infection as more severe are more likely to use antibiotics. Multifaceted interventions are needed to address the issue of self-medication, over-prescription, and inappropriate demands for antibiotics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Giovanni Barbagallo, Maria Santagati, Alaa Guni, Paolo Torrisi, Ambra Spitale, Stefania Stefani, Sebastiano Ferlito, Luigi Nibali
Summary: The microbial profiles of healthy and diseased periodontal and peri-implant sites were found to be distinct, suggesting the potential for identifying biomarkers for periodontal health and disease and developing new strategies for treatment.
CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2022)
Review
Otorhinolaryngology
Maniaci Antonino, Musso Nicolo, Lechien Jerome Renee, Merlino Federico, Viglianisi Chiara, Stracquadanio Stefano, Santagati Maria, Cocuzza Salvatore, Bonanno Antonio, Christian Calvo-Henriquez, Stefani Stefania, Ignazio La Mantia
Summary: The study identified 12 papers involving 9127 patients, with 2739 cases of chronic rhinosinusitis and 6388 controls. Major comorbidities associated with chronic rhinosinusitis included atopy, asthma, Samter Triad, and eosinophilia. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to identify significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms.
CLINICAL OTOLARYNGOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Nicolo Musso, Paolo Giuseppe Bonacci, Dafne Bongiorno, Stefano Stracquadanio, Dalida Angela Bivona, Concetta Ilenia Palermo, Guido Scalia, Marco Fichera, Stefania Stefani
Summary: This study describes a rapid, easy, adaptable, and affordable workflow to uniquely identify all currently known variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Cother Hajat, Emma Stein, Arielle Selya, Riccardo Polosa
Summary: This article examines published vaping studies in medical journals and identifies serious flaws in study design and methodology. Many studies lack a clear hypothesis statement and fail to address the research question effectively. The identification of outcome measures and control of confounding factors are also insufficient. As a result, the conclusions and assertions made in these studies are unreliable. The article calls for future researchers to adhere to scientific methods to produce more reliable findings and conclusions in vaping research.
INTERNAL AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dalida Angela Bivona, Alessia Mirabile, Carmelo Bonomo, Paolo Giuseppe Bonacci, Stefano Stracquadanio, Andrea Marino, Floriana Campanile, Carmela Bonaccorso, Cosimo Gianluca Fortuna, Stefania Stefani, Nicolo Musso, Dafne Bongiorno
Summary: This study evaluates the activity of a compound called PB4 on ESKAPE isolates from nosocomial infections, showing promising minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. PB4 exhibits good antibacterial capability against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Giuseppe Migliorisi, Mirella Collura, Francesca Ficili, Tiziana Pensabene, Dafne Bongiorno, Antonina Collura, Francesca Di Bernardo, Stefania Stefani
Summary: This study reports on a one-year case-control study involving 26 CF patients with at least one F508de1 mutation. The triple combination therapy targeting CFTR provided significant clinical benefits and improved patients' quality of life. Further investigations are needed to fully understand the microbiological respiratory implications and long-term advantages of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor treatment.
Article
Oncology
Giorgio Ivan Russo, Paolo Bonacci, Dalida Bivona, Grete Francesca Privitera, Giuseppe Broggi, Rosario Caltabiano, Jessica Vella, Arturo Lo Giudice, Maria Giovanna Asmundo, Sebastiano Cimino, Giuseppe Morgia, Stefania Stefani, Nicolo Musso
Summary: The aim of this study is to investigate genetic changes associated with lymph node metastasis in prostate cancer patients. The findings show mostly concordance between primary tumor samples and matched lymph node metastasis in terms of genomic alteration.
Article
Microbiology
Stefano Stracquadanio, Carmelo Bonomo, Andrea Marino, Dafne Bongiorno, Grete Francesca Privitera, Dalida Angela Bivona, Alessia Mirabile, Paolo Giuseppe Bonacci, Stefania Stefani
Summary: This study investigates the interactions between a novel cephalosporin called cefiderocol (FDC) and different strains of Acinetobacter baumannii with varying susceptibilities to the drug. The results show diverse susceptibility profiles and the possibility of non-susceptible phenotypes at high drug concentrations. Combination therapy could potentially eliminate drug-adapted subpopulations and restore full activity of FDC.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Gaia Vertillo Aluisio, Ambra Spitale, Luca Bonifacio, Grete Francesca Privitera, Aldo Stivala, Stefania Stefani, Maria Santagati
Summary: This study characterized the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius 24SMBc through whole genome sequencing and annotation. The results revealed the presence of novel biosynthetic gene clusters and demonstrated its antagonistic activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae. The findings further support the use of 24SMBc in clinical settings for upper respiratory tract infections.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rossella Salemi, Silvia Vivarelli, Daria Ricci, Marina Scillato, Maria Santagati, Giuseppe Gattuso, Luca Falzone, Massimo Libra
Summary: This study found that LGG-SN has anti-proliferative activity against colon cancer and metastatic melanoma cells and enhances the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs. This suggests that LGG could be a new therapeutic approach in oncology to reduce chemotherapy-related side effects and overcome resistance issues, improving the treatment response in cancer patients.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elvira Aguglia, Eleonora Chines, Stefania Stefani, Viviana Cafiso
Summary: This study compares VISA CA-MRSA with its VSSA CA-MRSA parent in a hospitalized patient undergoing glycopeptide treatment and identifies mutational and transcriptomic adaptations in genes involved in the biosynthesis of the glycopeptide target and pathways supporting glycopeptide resistance. These adaptations include key genes responsible for the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan precursors, as well as accessory genes involved in transport and transcription.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Marino, Edoardo Campanella, Stefano Stracquadanio, Maddalena Calvo, Giuseppe Migliorisi, Alice Nicolosi, Federica Cosentino, Stefano Marletta, Serena Spampinato, Pamela Prestifilippo, Stefania Stefani, Bruno Cacopardo, Giuseppe Nunnari
Summary: This comprehensive review examines the unique attributes, distinctions, and clinical implications of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) and meropenem-vaborbactam (MEM-VAB) against difficult-to-treat Enterobacterales infections. The review provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals to make informed treatment decisions when combating carbapenem-resistant pathogens.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Marino, Sarah Pulvirenti, Edoardo Campanella, Stefano Stracquadanio, Manuela Ceccarelli, Cristina Micali, Lucia Gabriella Tina, Giovanna Di Dio, Stefania Stefani, Bruno Cacopardo, Giuseppe Nunnari
Summary: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) in preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Retrospective data analysis showed that all cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in preterm infants improved clinically and achieved microbiological cure with CAZ/AVI treatment. No adverse drug reactions were reported. Larger trials are needed to further investigate the safety and efficacy of CAZ/AVI in neonates.
Article
Microbiology
Stefano Stracquadanio, Alice Nicolosi, Grete Francesca Privitera, Mariacristina Massimino, Andrea Marino, Dafne Bongiorno, Stefania Stefani
Summary: The mechanisms of action and resistance of cefiderocol (FDC) in Acinetobacter baumannii are not fully understood. This study investigates the genomic and transcriptomic features of different A. baumannii strains with varying FDC susceptibility to determine the role of iron transport systems in FDC uptake. Gene expression analysis reveals up-regulation of acinetobactin and baumannoferrin genes under iron depletion and down-regulation under high iron concentrations. Overall, FDC activates the TonB energy transduction system and baumannoferrin is more stimulated by FDC in an iron-depleted medium.