Clinical Evaluation of Low-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronic Acid-Based Treatment on Onset of Acute Side Effects in Women Receiving Adjuvant Radiotherapy after Cervical Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy treatment for cervical cancer (CC) often induces side effects, including inflammation, dryness, dyspareunia. Considering its key role in the healing process, hyaluronic acid (HA) could be useful for the completion of radiotherapy. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of HA to reduce the onset of side effects due to radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 180 women undergoing radiotherapy were randomized into two arms: controls and those treated with vaginal suppositories containing low-molecular-weight HA from day 1 of radiotherapy. The study lasted 5 weeks and was characterized by three visits: at baseline (T0), 15 days later (T1), and at the end of the radiotherapy cycle (T2). The onset of side effects, pain, safety, efficacy, acceptability of treatment, and compliance to the therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients in the control arm reported the onset and worsening of all symptoms with a moderate or severe grade at T2, whereas in the treatment arm almost 90% of patients reported the absence of symptoms or a mild grade. All patients in the treatment arm referred a lower intensity of pain on a visual analog scale compared with the control arm at T2 (6.85 ± 0.94 vs. 1.88 ± 1.02). CONCLUSIONS: HA was able to help vaginal mucosa healing during radiotherapy in patients with CC.

[Evaluation of biological indicators of hygienic quality in modern dental clinics with a high perceived quality in Catania (Italy)]. / Risultati dell'applicazione di indicatori biologici di qualità nella valutazione di ambulatori odontoiatrici con caratteristiche strutturali e criteri di gestione moderni.

A study was performed to evaluate safety and hygienic quality levels in dental clinics in Catania (Sicily, Italy). Microbiological checks of air samples, surfaces and water were performed in seven modern dental clinics with a high perceived quality of care. In total, 16 active dental units were present in the clinics included in the study. Water samples were obtained from dental air-water syringes and directly from the water supply and analyzed to determine aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts, coliform counts and number of legionella unit-forming-colonies. The BART™ system was used to identify Pseudomonas spp. and other biological indicators. Critical levels of one or more indicators were found in the water circuits. In particular, Legionella pneumophila was found in five dental units, associated with Pseudomonas spp., high mesophilic aerobic bacterial counts and the presence of slime-producing bacteria. The results indicate the need for hygienic quality control checks through the use of appriopriate biological indicators, even in dental clinics with a high perceived quality.

[Drug resistance in endemic and imported tuberculosis cases in Sicily (Italy)]. / Farmacoresistenza in casi di tubercolosi endemici e di importazione in Sicilia.

This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance in Sicily (Italy). A total of 92 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were tested, 43 of which were isolated from outpatients between 2004 and 2007 and 49 isolated from patients hospitalized in various eastern Sicilian hospitals. The 92 strains were all isolated from adult patients (mean age 56 years), 71 of which were Italian and the remaining 21non-Italian. Drug sensitivity testing was performed by using the Canetti proportion method and revealed a large proportion of strains (48.9%) found to be resistant to one or more drugs. The most frequent type of resistance was found to be towards rifampicin (38%). Simultaneous resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid, which characterizes multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), was observed in 19.5% of strains; this was always associated with resistance to at least one other anti-tuberculosis drug. No significant differences were found in the distribution of drug resistance, including multi-drug resistance, between strains isolated from Italian and non-Italian patients. A higher percentage of resistance was found amongst strains isolated from hospitalized patients with respect to those from outpatients: rifampicin 53% vs 21%; isoniazid 41% vs 9%; Mdr-TB 47% vs 12%.

[Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Catania (Italy): persistently endemic and underestimated]. / Leishmaniosi cutanea: una endemia persistente e sottostimata.

Cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis diagnosed at the laboratory of Department of Hygiene of the University of Catania (Italy), from 1998-2007 were evaluated. Specifically, demographic and personal data, area of origin and temporal trend of the 97 cases confirmed by microscopy in this 10-year period were examined. The data collected shows that the disease is still widely present in this area ; on the other hand official data regarding this disease appears incomplete and shows various inconsistencies. This is due to underreporting but also to scarce knowledge of the disease by physicians. Elimination of cutaneous leishmaniasis can be achieved by controlling leishmaniasis in dogs and improving environmental conditions; this requires greater efforts not only by institutions but also by individuals.