RESUMO
(1) Background: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is widely diffused in hematology laboratories to monitor inflammatory statuses, response to therapies (such as antibiotics), and oncologic diseases. However, ESR is not a specific diagnostic marker but needs to be contextualized and compared with clinical and other laboratory findings. This study aimed to investigate the performance of two automated instruments, namely the DIESSE CUBE 30 TOUCH (DIESSE, Siena, Italy) and the Alifax Test 1 (Alifax Srl, Polverara, Italy), in comparison with the gold standard, the Westergren method, in lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative patients. (2) Methods: 97 EDTA samples were selected from the hematology department of Roma Tor Vergata Hospital and analyzed. Statistical analysis was applied. (3) A good correlation between CUBE 30 TOUCH and the gold standard was observed in the overall sample (R2 = 0.90), as well as in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (R2 = 0.90) and myeloproliferative diseases (R2 = 0.90). The correlation between Test 1 and the gold standard was observed in the overall sample (R2 = 0.68), as well as in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (R2 = 0.79) and myeloproliferative diseases (R2 = 0.53). (4) Conclusions: The CUBE 30 TOUCH appears to be a more trustworthy tool for evaluating ESR in these pathologies.
RESUMO
Saliva is a very complex fluid and it is essential to maintain several physiological processes and functions, including oral health, taste, digestion and immunological defenses. Saliva composition and the oral microbiome can be influenced by several factors, like diet and smoking habits, and their alteration can represent an important access point for pathogens and, thus, for systemic illness onset. In this review, we explore the potentiality of saliva as a new tool for the early detection of some pathological conditions, such as oral diseases, chronic degenerative non-communicable diseases, among these chronic kidney disease (CKD). We also examined the possible correlation between oral and systemic diseases and oral and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In particular, we deeply analyzed the relationship between oral diseases and CKD. In this context, some salivary parameters can represent a new device to detect either oral or systemic pathologies. Moreover, the positive modulation of oral and gut microbiota induced by prebiotics, postbiotics, or symbiotics could represent a new possible adjuvant therapy in the clinical management of oral diseases and CKD.
RESUMO
(1) Background: A clinical laboratory index to assess gut dysbiosis is the F/B ratio < 0.8. In fact, an elevated proportion of Firmicutes and a reduced population of Bacteroides in diabetes type 2 (T2D) subjects has been observed. This study aimed to detail the dysbiosis status in the Italian population, focusing on some pathogenic spectra (T2D) or metabolic disorders. (2) Material and methods: A quantity of 334 fecal samples was analyzed in order to perform genetic testing and sequencing. (3) Results: A trend in over imbalance was observed in the percentage of Proteobacteria (median value: 6.75%; interquartile range (IQR): 3.57−17.29%). A statistically significant association (χ2p = 0.033) was observed between type of dysbiosis and T2D, corresponding to an Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.86. It was noted that females with cystitis/candidiasis are significantly prevalent in T2D patients (p < 0.01; OR: 3.59; 95% CI: 1.43−8.99). Although, in non-diabetic males, a sugar craving is significantly associated with the rate of dysbiosis in non-diabetic males (p < 0.05; OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.00−1.16). (4) Conclusion: In T2D patients, the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio was biased in favor of Proteobacteria, to be expected due to the nutritional habits of the patients. Thus, T2D females had altered gut permeability favoring the development of infections in the vaginal tract.