The aim of this review is to present current trend in the clinical management of the infective endocarditis (I.E.). This disease has still, to date high mortality. So it is, in spite of the most modem therapeutic approaches based on both the latest generation of antibiotics, and the application of the latest cardiac surgery. Therefore, it is important to focus on the medical and surgical treatment options currently most widely accepted among those available today, on the basis of international consensus and clinical experience acquired so far on this subject. In this article are reviewed these therapeutic modalities. The rapid and accurate diagnosis and prompt and proper implementation of integrated medical and surgical therapies are essential in order to be able to lower as much as possible the mortality of this severe disease.

Abstract: Epidemiological studies indicated that more than 15% of the population in western countries suffer because of severe forms of periodontitis. In this respect, the recognition of the relationship between oral and systemic health is growing, thus receiving remarkable interest in scientific literature. In fact, periodontitis may increase the risk for a group of life-threatening conditions such as atherosclerosis, stroke or low birth weight. The American Diabetes Association has reported that individuals with uncontrolled diabetes (defined as 200mg/dL of glucose on three consecutive readings) undergo an increased risk of infections, abnormal wound healing and consequent increased recovery time. Moreover, diabetics may be more likely to develop periodontal and cardiovascular disease than non diabetics, if note. History of poorly controlled chronic periodontal disease can alter diabetic/glycemic control. This may originate from a likely continuous passage of bacterial toxins and/or bacteria into the bloodstream, and/or from an exaggerated release of inflammatory mediators. This review is aimed at elucidating the connections between the status of oral health and glycemic control in diabetes.

Aims: Sepsis is the leading cause of death in intensive care units usually related to the number and the severity of organ failure, but the mechanisms remain to be fully established. Findings of microvascular flow abnormalities, decreased oxygen consumption and elevated tissue oxygen tensions suggest that problems may lay in cellular oxygen utilization rather than in oxygen delivery per se. Several serum factors, released during sepsis syndrome, might be involved in induction of cytopathic hypoxia and increase of cellular oxidative stress. Main methods: Human fibroblast cultures were incubated 12 hours with 10% v/v severe septic patients sera and measurements were carried out on cellular oxygen consumption, mitochondrial respiratory enzymes activity, H2O2 generation and serum levels of cytokines/chemokines by multiplex assay. Key findings: In fibroblast cultures a significant depression of cellular respiration and activity of mitochondrial complexes and increased H2O2 production was observed and, IL-1after incubation with septic sera showing increased levels of TNF IL-6. Significance: During sepsis syndrome some increased cytokines might target specific mitochondrial enzymes inducing an impairment of cellular energy metabolism leading to multiple organ failure

This article shows the most recent opinions in the literature, concerning the epidemiology and prophylaxis of infective endocarditis (I.E.). They are also defined the basic principles of the previous guidelines and the reasons for their comprehensive reformulation. The article finally illustrates the new recommendations for prophylaxis of IE.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of decellularized organs possesses the characteristics of the ideal tissue-engineering scaffold (i.e. histocompatibility, porosity, degradability, non-toxicity). We previously observed that the muscle acellular scaffold (MAS) is a pro-myogenic environment in vivo. In order to determine whether MAS, which is basically muscle ECM, behaves as a myogenic environment, regardless of its location, we analysed MAS interaction with both muscle and non-muscle cells and tissues, to assess the effects of MAS on cell differentiation. Bone morphogenetic protein treatment of C2C12 cells cultured within MAS induced osteogenic differentiation in vitro, thus suggesting that MAS does not irreversibly commit cells to myogenesis. In vivo MAS supported formation of nascent muscle fibres when replacing a muscle (orthotopic position). However, heterotopically grafted MAS did not give rise to muscle fibres when transplanted within the renal capsule. Also, no muscle formation was observed when MAS was transplanted under the xiphoid process, in spite of the abundant presence of cells migrating along the laminin-based MAS structure. Taken together, our results suggest that MAS itself is not sufficient to induce myogenic differentiation. It is likely that the pro-myogenic environment of MAS is not strictly related to the intrinsic properties of the muscle scaffold (e.g. specific muscle ECM proteins). Indeed, it is more likely that myogenic stem cells colonising MAS recognise a muscle environment that ultimately allows terminal myogenic differentiation. In conclusion, MAS may represent a suitable environment for muscle and non-muscle 3D constructs characterised by a highly organised structure whose relative stability promotes integration with the surrounding tissues. Our work highlights the plasticity of MAS, suggesting that it may be possible to consider MAS for a wider range of tissue engineering applications than the mere replacement of volumetric muscle loss.

This authoritative reference presents the modern concepts of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and biomaterials as they pertain to the dental field. The book is organized around three main topics: MSCs biology, advanced biomaterials, and clinical applications. The chapters present basic information on stem cell biology and physiology, modern biomaterials that improve bone tissue regeneration, the biomatrices like platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) used to functionalize the biomaterials surface, the strategic and safe intraoral seats of harvesting, the new sources for MSCs, as well as the future perspectives and new challenges in these exciting fields. The contributors are top scientists with a great deal of experience in regenerative dentistry and biomedical research. They offer an international perspective and are richly cross-disciplinary, representing academia, research, and industry. MSCs and Innovative Biomaterials in Dentistry is indispensable reading for students, researchers, and clinicians who need to stay up-to-date on the cutting-edge developments of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applied to dental sciences.

La società ha per oggetto le seguenti attività: 1. Consulenza per finalità di industrializzazione di materiali e prodotti innovativi in campo sanitario attraverso lo sviluppo di attività per l’ottenimento di materie prime in ambito nutraceutico 2. Consulenza per lo sviluppo di studi di farmacoeconomia 3. Consulenza per sviluppo di studi sui rapporti tra ambiente, nutrizione e salute 4. Fund raising ad impatto sociale 5. Ulteriori attività, non ricompresse tra le precedenti e non oggetto di attività istituzionali dell’Università degli Studi di Bari “A. Moro”, volte al raggiungimento di obiettivi di supporto alla industrializzazione di idee, processi e materiali