https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/issue/feedActa Biomedica Atenei Parmensis2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Editor Acta Biomedicaeditor@mattioli1885journals.comOpen Journal Systems<p><em>Acta Biomedica</em> (<em>ActaBiomed</em>) is an international Journal on Clinical and Surgical Aspects of Medicine, peer-reviewed, open access, bi-monthly.<br />The Journal publishes mainly national and international scientific activities from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, but contributions from other countries are welcome.</p>https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15700Professor Almerico Novarini2024-02-05T16:57:35+00:00Maurizio Vanelli<p>.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Maurizio Vanellihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/156992023 - Pros and Cons in General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics2024-02-05T16:50:33+00:00Domenico Cucinotta<p>.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Domenico Cucinottahttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/14785Characteristics of disinfectants activity against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates2023-10-11T08:25:35+00:00Valentin KovalchukIryna VovkVyacheslav KondratyukOleksandr NazarchukDmytro PaliiNadiia Fomina<p><em>Background and aim</em><em>: </em>health-care associated infections (HCAI) significantly impair the quality and efficiency of medical care. Medical equipment`s parts are contaminated with <span style="font-size: 0.875rem;">opportunistic</span><span style="font-size: 0.875rem;"> hospital strains leading to their spreading. Therefore, effective disinfection of medical equipment is one of the ways to solve a problem of HCAI. </span><em>Methods:</em> the research includes results of antimicrobial activity of biocides of different chemical structure (aqueous solutions of quaternary ammonium compounds, biguanides, oxidizers), which are used in medical practice as disinfectants for hospital environment, devices and equipment. Multidrug resistant clinical isolates with genetic markers of resistance were employed for comparative evaluation of ready-in-use germicides. Next microorganisms were used as test ones: clinical strains of methicillin-resistant <em>S. aureus</em> carrying <em>mec</em> A genes, carbapenemase-producing <em>K. pneumoniae</em> carrying<em> bla</em><sub>OXA-48 </sub>gene, <em>A. baumannii</em> with <em>bla</em><sub>OXA-72 </sub>gene, metallobetalactamase-producing<em> P. aeruginosa</em> carrying NDM-1 gene, strains of enterobacteria and non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria with a wide range of genes responsible for the production of aminotransferases that destroy aminoglycoside molecules. A quantitative suspension test was used to assess the activity of the tested biocides on some species of resistant microorganisms. Experimental study also includes antimicrobial efficacy testing of the disinfectant solutions, which was carried out on artificially contaminated with multidrug resistant clinical isolates fragments of polymer tubes of the respiratory circuit. <em>Results:</em> gram-negative bacteria showed a variable level of resistance to the studied germicides action, depending on the type of disinfectant solution and test microorganisms. <em>Conclusions</em>: the obtained results demonstrated that antibiotic-resistant strains of Gram-positive non-spore-forming bacteria were high susceptible to studied disinfectant solutions.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Oleksandr Nazarchukhttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15317Proposing new procedures for the management and prevention of foodborne diseases: an Italian experience2023-10-29T18:05:41+00:00Silvia Di FedericoDomenico MaioneSilvia CilloniElisa RaschiNadia MontanariSalvatore Di RuoccoSimona RizziFrancesca Pia LionettiEufemia BisacciaAntonio PoetaDaniela De VitaEmanuela BedeschiMarco VincetiTommaso Filippini<div> <p><em><span lang="EN-US">Background and aim</span></em><span lang="EN-US">: F</span><span lang="EN-US">oodborne diseases are a public health issue with more than 4,000 outbreaks in 2021 in European Union countries and United Kingdom and their management is important for prevention and controls of outbreaks. Recently, new technological tools and strategies, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), have become available to allow the highest level of discrimination in the investigation of foodborne outbreak. In this study, we presented the updated procedure for assessment of foodborne disease within a community of Northern Italy. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 0.875rem;"><em>Methods:</em> In the Reggio Emilia Local Health Authority (RE-AUSL), foodborne disease monitoring and control are managed by the following health Services: Public Health Unit (SIP);</span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 0.875rem;">Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service (SIAN) and Official Veterinary Service (SSPV)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 0.875rem;"> composing the developed MTA group (‘Gruppo Malattie Trasmesse da Alimenti’). Among the new tools being implemented, there is a shared computerized folder and new related managements procedures available to MTA members only, allocating information regarding any material useful to the MTA group. </span><em style="font-size: 0.875rem;"><span lang="EN-US">Results: </span></em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 0.875rem;">The main new features of the new procedure are: information sharing in all phases of the management of the infectious episode, integration of the three services through the creation of the MTA group and updated criteria for procedure activation, and finally a dedicated training programme. </span><em style="font-size: 0.875rem;"><span lang="EN-US">Conclusions: </span></em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 0.875rem;">Timely investigation, management and control of MTA outbreaks is essential for both health and economic reasons. The new features and procedures implemented in this Italian community may allow to identify rapidly the causes of a case or outbreak and better counteract their spread.</span></p> </div>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Silvia Di Federico, Domenico Maione, Silvia Cilloni, Elisa Raschi, Nadia Montanari, Salvatore Di Ruocco, Simona Rizzi, Francesca Pia Lionelli, Eufemia Bisaccia, Antonio Poeta, Daniela De Vita, Emanuela Bedeschi, Marco Vinceti, Tommaso Filippinihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15296Comparison of changes in creatinine values in heart failure patients pre and post angiography in the reduced with preserved ejection fraction group2023-10-17T07:00:40+00:00Fransiska Rosdiana LilingIdar MappangaraHaerani RasyidSyakib BakriAndi Makbul AmanAndi Alfian Zainuddin<p><em>Background and aim:</em> Sudden changes in renal function are a common complication of coronary angiography, and percutaneous coronary intervention, especially due to contrast-induced acute kidney injury or contrast-induced nephropathy. Iodine contrast media is essential in invasive and interventional cardiac procedures. Increased use of contrast media, and an increasing number of invasive cardiac procedures performed on high-risk patients. This study aims to determine the comparison of changes in creatinine values of pre- and post-angiography patients in the HFrEF and HFpEF groups. <em>Methods:</em> Retrospective cohort with 85 samples of Heart Failure patients with HFrEF and HFpEF who underwent angiography. The data collection method uses secondary data, namely medical record data at the Integrated Heart Center of RSUP Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo. Statistical analysis used the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test and Mann-Whitney. Statistical test results are considered significant if the test p value is <0.05. <em>Results:</em> Comparison of pre and post angiography creatinine values in all study samples. There was a significant difference in mean creatinine values, namely post angiography, 1.06 + 0.45 mg/dL compared to pre angiography, namely 1.00 + 0.40 mg/dL (p<0.05). HFrEF patients were found to have significantly higher creatinine values post angiography, 0.91+0.27 mg/dL (p<0.05). There were no significant results for pre-angiography creatinine values in HFrEF and HFpEF patients and post-angiography in HFrEF and HFpEF patients (0.062). <em>Conclusion:</em> HFrEF patients who underwent angiography experienced an increase in creatinine values after angiography.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Fransiska Rosdiana Liling, Idar Mappangara, Haerani Rasyid, Syakib Bakri, Andi Makbul Aman, Andi Alfian Zainuddinhttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/13619Disease free survival and overall survival from Holliday Junction Recognition Protein (HJURP) expression in non-metastatic breast cancer patients2023-10-16T10:24:38+00:00Wirsma Arif HarahapAri OktavenraRony RustamRhandyka RafliHardisman Hardisman<p><em>Background and aim:</em> Holliday Junction Recognition Protein (HJURP) is a gene that integrates with Centromere Protein A (CENPA) which plays a role in cell proliferation. It is related to radiation response where high HJURP level give a good response to radiotherapy and a high rate of apoptosis. It is a prognostic factor for Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) and a predictive biomarker on radiotherapy. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between HJURP expression with DFS and OS in breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy. <em>Methods:</em> This study used a quantitative method with a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 57 non-metastatic breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy from 2019 to 2021. Patients were examined from paraffin blocks by IHC examination using HJURP antibodies which were then assessed for expression. Data were analyzed using survival analysis with Kaplan-Meier and Cox Regression test. <em>Results:</em> The majority of breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy had positive HJURP expression (68.4%). There was no statistically significant correlation between HJURP expression with DFS or OS in breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between radiotherapy interruptions and OS where patients with interruptions >3 times had a risk of death 8.40 times faster than patients with interruptions ≤3 times (95% confidence interval [CI]). <em>Conclusions:</em> Although HJURP expression was not related with survival in breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy, it is a good candidate as a predictive biomarker of radiotherapy response.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Ari Oktavenra, Wirsma Arif Harahap, Rony Rustam, Rhandyka Rafli, Hardisman Hardismanhttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15325Association of miR-122 and miR-21 with the severity of HDV infection2023-10-24T16:55:35+00:00Elizaveta JoldasovaNargiz IbadullaevaAziza KhikmatullaevaMuazzam AbdukadirovaMalika KhodjaevaMarina BobkovaErkin Musabaev<p><em>Background and aim:</em> Hepatitis D is the most severe manifestation of chronic viral hepatitis, characterized by significant clinical ramifications. These repercussions encompass an elevated susceptibility to hepatic decompensation and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ultimately culminating in fatal outcomes. The role of miRs in the pathogenesis of this disease remains largely unexplored. <em>Methods:</em> The study enrolled 102 treatment naïve chronic hepatitis D patients. 31 patients had chronic hepatitis D and 71 patients liver cirrhosis of HDV aetiology. The EIA confirmed HDV infection with the following quantitative PCR. <em>Results</em><em>:</em> Compared to LC patients, those with CHD showed significantly higher levels of miR-122 and lower levels of miR-21. miR-122 expression inversely correlated with the severity of liver cirrhosis, showing lower numbers in the group with LC Class A compared to the LC Class B. Meanwhile, the group of patients without liver cirrhosis had the highest values. miR-21 was also higher in the LC Class A group compared to LC class B and patients without liver cirrhosis. <em>Conclusions:</em> miR-122 and miR-21 could serve as an effective predictor for further decompensation of liver cirrhosis and exacerbation of the HDV infection process. This assumption requires further study in a larger sample.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Nargiz Ibadullaeva, Elizaveta Joldasova, Aziza Khikmatullaeva, Muazzam Abdukadirova, Malika Khodjaeva, Marina Bobkova, Erkin Musabaevhttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/14530Prevalence of oral conditions and feasibility of self-reported oral conditions (SROC) questionnaire for screening voluntary blood donors2023-10-24T08:37:20+00:00Deepika ChennaKarthik AcharyaAngela PiplaniKalyana PentapatiShamee Shastry<p><em>Background and aim:</em> To evaluate the prevalence of oral conditions and the feasibility of a questionnaire for self-reporting of oral conditions (SROC) for screening blood donors. <em>Methods: </em>We conducted a cross-sectional survey among voluntary blood donors after fulfilling the blood donation criteria in out-reach blood donation camps. A self-administered questionnaire was designed in English to capture information on demographics (age and sex) and SROC. A trained and calibrated dentist performed a clinical oral examination (decayed teeth, pulpal involvement, periodontitis (pockets, recession, or mobility), pericoronitis, abscess, or purulent discharge) using a mouth mirror and probe under artificial illumination. The blood collected from donors with active oral conditions and potential for bacteremia were sent for bacterial culture and sensitivity. <em>Results:</em> A total of 351 voluntary blood donors participated with a mean age of 39.12 (10.2). Clinical examination showed that decayed teeth (59%) were the most prevalent oral condition, followed by periodontitis (29.1%) and decay with pulpal involvement (25.9%). The sensitivity and specificity for self-reported decayed teeth was 63.8% and 95.8%, respectively. The SROC addressing pain in gums and teeth showed above 80% specificity against decayed teeth (81.9%), decayed teeth with pulpal involvement (82.3%), and periodontitis (82.7%). The specificity values for SROC addressing gum disease and infections in the mouth against periodontitis were 72.7 and 77.1%, respectively. <em>Conclusions</em>: Decayed teeth, periodontitis, and tooth decay with pulpal involvement were common oral conditions among blood donors. SROC may be adopted to aid in identifying donors and to re-evaluate for blood donation to implement safe practices.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Deepika Chenna, Karthik Acharya, Angela Piplani, Kalyana Pentapati, Shamee Shastryhttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15302Association between ratio of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) to klotho and phosphate level in chronic kidney disease patient2023-11-07T15:13:26+00:00Irham KhairiHasyim KasimSyakib BakriA.M Luthfi ParewangiHusaini UmarArifin Seweng<p><em>Background and aim: </em>Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition in which there is structural and functional damage to the kidneys that lasts more than 3 months, and when there is a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), phosphate homeostasis is disrupted. FGF-23 acts as a phosphaturic hormone that increases phosphate excretion when there is an increase in serum phosphate levels. The physiological effects of FGF-23 can occur when it binds to Klotho as a co-receptor, where Klotho is mainly produced in the kidneys. Decreased kidney function triggers a decrease in kidney mass, so that Klotho production will decrease. This study aimed to determine the association between the ratio of FGF-23 to Klotho and phosphate levels in patients with CKD. <em>Methods: </em>This was an observational study involving 60 patients with stage 3, 4, and 5 non-dialysis CKD. Serum of FGF-23, Klotho, phosphate, and creatinine were measured using the ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney, Chi-Square, and Spearman Correlation Tests. <em>Results: </em>The median value of FGF23-Klotho ratio was 0.17. A significant correlation was found between the FGF23-Klotho ratio and phosphate levels (P<0.001, r= 0.581). There was a significant relationship between the female sex and the incidence of hyperphosphatemia (P=0.0038).<em> Conclusion: </em>The higher the FGF23-Klotho ratio, the higher the phosphate levels in CKD patients and it can be a risk factor, protective factor, and for diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic purposes in assessing phosphate levels and hyperphosphatemia conditions in CKD patients. </p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Irham Khairi, Hasyim Kasim, Syakib Bakri, Luthfi Parewangi, Husaini Umar, Arifin Sewenghttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/14104Synthetic MRI of prostate: correlation of T1 and T2-mapping with PI-RADS v2 scores2023-08-25T11:06:57+00:00Giuseppe CorriasGiorgia SannaLaura EusebiValentina TestiniAntonello De LisaGiuseppe GuglielmiLuca Saba<p><em>Background and aim: </em>There has been a drive to develop methods of quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) imaging such as the calculation of T1 and T2 relaxation times and ADC values from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to develop imaging biomarkers that complement subjective radiological assessment. This retrospective study aims to evaluate if T1 and T2 relaxation times are significant predictors of malignancy, correlating them with the PI-RADS v2 scores.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> This is a retrospective, monocentric, observational study, which included 33 consecutive patients with clinically significant prostatic cancer subjected to prostate MRI by regular clinical practice. We used T1 MP2RAGE and T2-multi-TE FSE 2D sequences with a reconstruction of T1 and T2 maps at the dedicated workstation. Lesions were identified by a radiologist who attributed the PI-RADSv2 score and then traced the Regions-of-Interest (ROI)also in the corresponding areas of healthy tissue. Wilcoxon signed-rank test in fixed ranks was used for comparison.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> We found statistically significant differences between relaxation time of the tumor and healthy tissue of the peripheral zone (PZ) (T1maps: p=0.043) (T2maps: p=0.043), and the transition zone (TZ) (T1maps: p=0.018) (T2maps: p=0.062). The Spearman test shows a tendency to a correlation between relative PI-RADS scores and T2-times within the peripheral zone(p=0.060) and T1-times within the transition zone (p-value=0.053).</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: There is a significant difference between the T1 and T2-relaxation times of pathological tissue and that of healthy prostate, both for lesions in the TZ as well as in the PZ. This reflects the intrinsic physical characteristics of the analyzed tissues represented as relaxation times of transverse and longitudinal magnetization. There is also a tendency to a correlation between PIRADS scores and T1/T2 relaxation times.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Giuseppe Corrias, Giorgia Sanna, Laura Eusebi, Valentina Testini, Antonello De Lisa, Giuseppe Guglielmi, Luca Sabahttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15273Reaction severity to oral food challenge to milk is unpredictable: a caveat for clinical practice2023-11-01T17:34:32+00:00Maria Angela ToscaMatteo NasoChiara TrinciantiIrene SchiavettiGiorgio Ciprandi<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Background </em>Cow’s milk allergic (CMA) is common in infancy and early childhood; its work-up also is demanding. Oral food challenge (OFC) represents the gold-standard for diagnosis, but it may be dangerous. The present study aimed to identify possible risk factors predictive of severe reactions in clinical practice. <em>Methods </em>The study retrospectively evaluated data concerning children with positive OFC. The study evaluated detailed clinical history, including comorbidity, reactions’ characteristics, specific IgE to milk and its molecular components, and cumulative allergen dose. <em>Results </em>This study included 30 children (9 females and 21 males, mean age 89 months); 22 developed mild clinical reactions, four moderate, and four severe. There was no risk factor predictive of severe reaction. <em>Conclusions </em>This study emphasized the unpredictability of anaphylaxis during the OFC procedure, as no predictive and reasonable risk factors could rule out a severe reaction with absolute certainty. Consequently, OFC should be performed only at third-level pediatric allergy centers.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong> </strong></p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Maria Angela Tosca, Matteo Naso; Chiara Trincianti; Irene SCHIAVETTI, Giorgio Ciprandihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15525Long-term retrospective study on the progression of prediabetes to diabetes mellitus in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (β-TDT) patients: The experience in Oman and Italy2023-12-15T08:22:09+00:00Vincenzo De SanctisShahina DaarAshraf SolimanSaveria CampisiPloutarchos Tzoulis<p><em>Background:</em> Prediabetes in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (β-TDT) patients is a significant risk factor for development of diabetes mellitus (DM), with increasing incidence with age. <em>Objectives:</em> This retrospective study aimed to compare the progression from prediabetes to DM in β-TDT patients who initiated iron chelation therapy (ICT) before age 6 and between ages 6 and 10. Additionally, we sought to characterize the trajectories of fasting and post-glucose load insulin sensitivity and secretion (HOMA2-%S and HOMA2-% β) in a β-TDT subgroup, monitored annually for four years preceding DM diagnosis. Research Design and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed annual oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) data for 18 β-TDT patients from Oman and Italy, from the onset of prediabetes to DM diagnosis. <em>Results:</em> The mean age at prediabetes diagnosis was 17.5 ± 4.2 years, and at DM diagnosis was 21.6 ± 5.2 years. A direct correlation was observed between the age at prediabetes and DM diagnosis (r: 0.6925, P: 0.0014). Three years before DM diagnosis, a notable increase in baseline, 1-hour, and 2-hour post-load plasma glucose levels during OGTT was observed, alongside a decrease in HOMA2-% β. <em>Conclusions:</em> Elevated 1-hour post-load plasma glucose levels and a declining HOMA2-% β during the transition to DM are indicative markers for identifying β-TDT patients with high likelihood for imminent progression to DM.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Vincenzo De Sanctis, Shahina Daar, Ashraf Soliman, Saveria Campisi, Ploutarchos Tzoulishttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15031Keypoint lasting colorectal visit. A report on 819 consecutive outpatients2023-07-23T15:20:51+00:00Roberto ZinicolaPellegrino CrafaAnna Rita TotaroElena BonatiPaolo Del RioFrancesco Di Mario<p>-</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Roberto Zinicola, Pellegrino Crafa, Anna Rita Totaro, Elena Bonati, Paolo Del Rio, Francesco Di Mariohttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/14807Oral food challenge in children affected by egg allergy: why complicate pediatric allergist's life?2023-05-24T19:16:58+00:00Luca PecoraroGiovanni ChiaffoniKurt WidhalmOlivia Chapin ArnoneGiorgio PiacentiniAngelo Pietrobelli<p>The assessment of the tolerance in children affected by egg allergy is to perform an oral food challenge (OFC) using fresh raw egg (FRE). This technique has infectious risk and administration issues. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a simplistic method to perform OFC using pasteurized raw egg white (PREW). It is a retrospective study involving 9 children affected by egg allergy that attended our pediatric allergy unit and underwent to an OFC using PREW to assess their potential egg tolerance. 100% of children had a positive skin prick test. sIgE related to white egg was positive in 87.5% of children. 77.7 % of patients had a negative OFC result. 22.3 % of children had a positive OFC. All children with a negative OFC had no allergic issues after two months. The use of PREW white instead of FRE in OFC could be an effective method in the assessment of the tolerance in children affected by egg allergy. It could have significant advantages in terms of infectious risk and way of administration.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Luca Pecoraro, Giovanni Chiaffoni, Kurt Widhalm, Olivia Chapin Arnone, Angelo Pietrobelli, Giorgio Piacentinihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15430Prevalence of workplace violence in Aceh, Indonesia: a survey study on hospital nurses2024-01-16T10:42:48+00:00Ardia PutraHajjul KamilMuhammad AdamSaid Usman<p><em>Background and aim of the work: </em>Violence against healthcare professionals, especially nurses, is a severe issue that can have significant physical, psychological, and social impacts. It is essential to promptly document acts of violence and establish protocols and resources to prevent future incidents in healthcare facilities. This study aimed to collect data on both physical and non-physical violence against nurses in Aceh Province hospitals and identify the perpetrators. <em>Research design and methods:</em> The researcher utilized a cross-sectional methodology to investigate the entire population of nurses registered with the Regional Representative Council of the Indonesian National Nurses Association in Aceh Province, Indonesia. Information was collected through web-based surveys and facilitated by assigned enumerators in each district. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the data. <em>Results: </em>Last year, nurses working in Aceh Province hospitals documented multiple instances of workplace violence, such as physical assault (15%) and sexual abuse (5.5%), significantly affecting the well-being of nurses. A majority of nurses (64.4%) faced emotional abuse, while 37.9% encountered verbal threats and 10.4% experienced verbal sexual harassment. Notably, relatives/patients' families were identified as the main perpetrators, contributing to 60.3% of the reported incidents. <em>Conclusions:</em> Nursing associations are crucial in offering guidance, regulations, and educational resources related to workplace violence. This support is vital in promptly identifying and tackling potentially violent behaviors in the workplace, which ultimately helps in mitigating incidents of violence at work.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Ardia, Prof. Hajjul, Prof. Adam, Dr. Saidhttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/14453Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic: the new challenge in oncology assistance?2023-12-19T09:40:30+00:00Sonia CrocettiZelmira BallatoreLaura ScortichiniEnrica GiglioFilippo MerloniNicoletta RanalloMichela Del PreteVincenzo CatalanoMobin SafiNicola BattelliLorenzo MariottiClaudia CataniAlessandra LucarelliMichela BurattiniMarco Bruno Luigi RocchiRossana Berardi<p><em>Background and aim:</em> The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to significant restrictions regarding cancer patients, who are considered vulnerable. The aim of our study is to evaluate COVID-19’s impact on oncological caregiving. <em>Methods:</em> Between February and April 2021, we submitted a survey to caregivers of patients who were undergoing active treatment regarding their perception of patient safety and continuity of care in 6 Oncology Departments (OD) in the Marche region. We also conducted Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to evaluate the burden placed on caregivers. <em>Results:</em> 112 caregivers responded to our survey and the majority of which declared to have increased assistance time. Furthermore, caregivers over 45 years of age did not experience statistically significant worse economic effects (p=0.04). All caregivers asserted that OD complied with safety recommendations to limit virus spread. Although 86 (76.8%) confirmed that hospital accesses had been restricted, only 10 (8.9%) perceived these precautions to be too restrictive. Approximately all respondents declared they had effective communication with healthcare providers and more than half perceived that quality of care had not been affected by the pandemic. According to ZBI scores, 46 caregivers (41.1%) had a mild to moderate burden level. <em>Conclusions:</em> Our survey underlined the negative effect of COVID-19 on cancer patients’ caregivers, although cancer care was not perceived to have worsened owing to the pandemic, contrary to previous literature.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Sonia Crocetti, Zelmira Ballatore, Laura Scortichini, Enrica Giglio, Filippo Merloni, Nicoletta Ranallo, Michela Del Prete, Vincenzo Catalano, Mobin Safi, Nicola Battelli, Lorenzo Mariotti, Claudia Catani, Alessandra Lucarelli, Michela Burattini, Marco Bruno Luigi Rocchi, Rossana Berardihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15422Relationship of obesity and physical activity with academic performance among Indian dental students2024-01-09T10:05:32+00:00Jaya-Snehitha KuntamukkalaKalyana PentapatiAbhinav N TadikondaVidya S MuliyaNanditha K MysoreGautham K Tadikonda<p><em>Background and aim:</em> Dentistry curriculum is laborious, strenuous, and stressful and has little leisure time due to numerous academic activities. We aimed to evaluate the association of Academic Performance (AP) with physical activity (PA) and obesity. <em>Methods:</em> We performed a multicentric web-based survey through WhatsApp-based study groups among Indian dental students. A self-reported questionnaire that had information on age, sex, height, weight, current year, PA, and AP was used. PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – short form which. is an open-ended 7-day recall questionnaire with 7 items (vigorous, moderate, walking, and sitting PA and the number of days, hours, and minutes spent on each activity). AP was recorded based on the average marks obtained in the previous academic year. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated by the formula weight (Kg)/ height (meters)<sup>2</sup>. Dental students who had not appeared in any of the examinations and were absent from the academic curriculum were excluded. <em>Results:</em> A total of 575 students were included out of which the majority were female (n=449). The majority of the participants had normal BMIs (59.1%) and were moderately physically active (n=246). Students with normal BMIs had higher mean AP scores than obese. Also, moderate and high PA students had higher mean AP scores than low PA students. Students with moderate and high PA had significantly higher estimates of AP when compared to low PA students after adjusting for year of study, BMI, and sex. <em>Conclusions</em>: PA has a positive association with AP among dental students.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Jaya-Snehitha Kuntamukkala, Kalyana Pentapati, Abhinav N Tadikonda, Vidya S Muliya, Nanditha K Mysore, Gautham K Tadikondahttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15344Parenting infants at the times of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study on parental stress in the province of Modena (Northern Italy)2024-01-09T10:06:36+00:00Elena RighiEleonora FerrariLaura LucaccioniMarco FasanoBeatrice RighiViola TrevisaniLucia Palandri<p><em>Background and aim of the work:</em> The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent measures to prevent virus’s spread particularly affected families with young children, that represent a complex system characterized by a constant interaction between the infant’s and the parent’s well-being. The present study aims to investigate the parenting stress experienced by parents with 6-month-old healthy infants surveyed from September 2019 to April 2021 in the Modena province (Northern Italy). <em>Research design and methods:</em> We carried out a cross-sectional study using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) questionnaire to assess stress levels in the parent-child system. Since the questionnaire is meant to be self-completed by the participant, the survey could continue to be conducted remotely during the pandemic lockdown months. <em>Results:</em> Most parents exhibited physiological stress scores, but parents who have been interviewed during the pandemic period had a higher prevalence of stress problems. Subjects in the COVID group also showed a drop in the defensive response and a lower prevalence of stress problems when parenting siblings. <em>Conclusions</em>: These findings underline the importance of early detection of isolation’s negative effects on households and strengthen the need for tailored familial support during stressful events, in order to promote parent and children's emotional well-being.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Eleonora Ferrarihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15627Be a physiotherapist during Covid-19: a grounded theory study2024-01-16T17:54:58+00:00Emanuela RicciLorena MentaFilomena SimeoneGianfranco LambertiVittorio CasatiGianluca Ciardi<p><em>Background and aim: </em>Covid-19 pandemic posed a challenge to National Health Systems, both in terms of resources and working setup changes. Introduction of spacing, personal protective equipment, infection prevention measures forced healthcare professionals to change both work contexts and patient-operator and inter-operator relationship dynamics. The present qualitative study aimed to deepen the experience of physiotherapists working at AUSL in Piacenza. <em>Methods:</em> A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed. Initial sampling was achieved through a purposive strategy among physiotherapists working at Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at AUSL in Piacenza. They were firstly contacted by e-mail; for included professional a structured collection of nine audio diaries was employed in the first phase; semi structured interviews were then employed in order to reach data saturation. Data analysis was carried out using the Grounded theory, in order to build a theory based on emerging data. <em>Results:</em> Nine physical therapists accepted to participate; mean (±SD) age of the sample was 46,5 (range 33 to 60 years), and the majority of participants were female (77,8%). Each participant recorded an average of 7.5 audio diaries out of nine; all recruited physiotherapists were then interviewed. <em>Conclusions</em>: Theory that arises from data explains Covid-19 pandemic as a moment of personal and professional growth for physiotherapists, which changed their role by adding communication skills, new knowledge and the need of a multidisciplinary care for their patients, in a continuous process of one’s own role evolution.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Emanuela Ricci, Lorena Menta, Filomena Simeone, Gianfranco Lamberti, Vittorio Casati, Gianluca Ciardihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15171Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy (MIVAT) in western world: a systematic review from 2015 to 20222023-10-17T07:17:56+00:00Paolo Del RioFlavia De GennaroElena BonatiTommaso LodererFederico Cozzani<p><em>Background and aim: </em>Since its first description Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy (MIVAT) has spread especially in Western Countries, and it has arisen as a feasible and safe treatment in selected patients undergoing lobectomy or total thyroidectomy. Our review aimed at collecting all the studies published in Western Countries (Europe and America) from 2015 to 2022 to evaluate the outcomes and complication rates of MIVAT technique. <em>Methods:</em> The search terms were “mininvasive thyroidectomy”, “video-assisted thyroidectomy”, “mini-invasive thyroidectomy”, “minimally invasive thyroidectomy”, ” MIVAT”, “endoscopic thyroidectomy”. Studies were selected according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) parameters and enrolled respecting pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. <em>Results:</em> Out of 552 screened studies, 4 retrospective observational articles and 4 prospective observational studies were considered suitable. The total number of patients was 4489. Complication rate of MIVAT was low and comparable with complication rate of conventional thyroidectomy described in literature. <em>Conclusions</em>: In conclusion MIVAT is a well-established technique in Continental Europe and North America, with a good safety profile and low invasiveness; further studies are needed to evaluate subjective aesthetic results of this technique.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Paolo Del Rio, Flavia De Gennaro, Elena Bonati, Tommaso Loderer, Federico Cozzanihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15205Subchondroplasty in the treatment of subchondral bone marrow edema: a bibliometric analysis2023-09-24T21:10:59+00:00Michele VenosaIrene SchettiniMassimo AngelozziEmilio RomaniniGianpiero CazzatoVittorio Calvisi<p><em>Background and objective:</em> Osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent causes of disability worldwide. The presence of subchondral bone marrow edema has a negative prognostic significance in the evolution of osteoarthritis. A novel approach, called subchondroplasty, has been proposed to address the subchondral bone marrow edema, stimulate the subchondral metabolism, and prevent osteoarthritis evolution. This study aimed to investigate the research status concerning subchondroplasty by a bibliometric methodology. <em>Methods:</em> Publications about the use of subchondroplasty from 2012 to 2022 were searched from the Scopus database. A bibliometric analysis of the dataset was conducted by using a statistical-descriptive spreadsheet tool and the Bibliometrix® software. <em>Results:</em> In total, 121 articles, published from 2012 to 2022 met the criteria and were included in this study. The number of publications concerning subchondroplasty progressively increased since 2014 with an annual growth rate of 35.11%. The country with the highest rate of publications was the United States (about 60% of the overall production). The most productive journal is “Arthroscopy Techniques” while the most cited source is “Osteoarthritis and Cartilage”. The most productive scholars were Elizaveta Kon, Steven Brad Cohen, and Peter Sharkey. <em>Conclusion:</em> This study analyses the scientific production over time concerning the use of subchondroplasty for the management of subchondral bone marrow edema. It is still a niche topic, with a modest scientific production but this is only a starting point. The promising results of subchondroplasty should be confirmed by higher-quality studies to better understand which patients might concretely benefit from this procedure.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Michele Venosa, Irene Schettini, Massimo Angelozzi, Emilio Romanini, Gianpiero Cazzato, Vittorio Calvisihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15057ChatGPT and healthcare: is the future already here? Opportunities, challenges, and ethical concerns. A narrative mini-review2023-09-05T20:20:55+00:00Michele VenosaEmilio RomaniniSimone CercielloMassimo AngelozziManuel GrazianiVittorio Calvisi<p>ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot trained on vast human language databases able to generate human-like answers to a wide variety of questions and topics. It uses natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to understand and answer users' questions simulating human interaction. ChatGPT has recently received wide attention for its performance in different areas of common life and it can be perfectly used in healthcare with great perspectives. It can improve patient outcomes, increase efficiency, disseminate medical knowledge, and has the potential to transform healthcare since it continues to evolve and play an increasingly important role. In this paper we analyze how this technology can impact healthcare and revolutionize the traditional approach to Medicine, by examining the opportunities for patients and health professionals (including medical education, research, and academic scientific production), but also the challenges and ethical issues concerning its use. We are at the very beginning of a new era, filled with light and shadow, and further improvements and regulations are needed to ensure its proper use in healthcare.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Michele Venosa, Emilio Romanini, Simone Cerciello, Massimo Angelozzi, Manuel Graziani, Vittorio Calvisihttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/14950Burning mouth syndrome and oral microbiota: a review2023-06-22T20:14:09+00:00Michele RussoPellegrino CrafaLorella FranzoniMarilisa FranceschiKryssia Isabel Rodriguez-CastroAntonio TursiGiovanni BrandimarteFrancesco Di Mario<p><em>Background and aim:</em> Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition characterized by intraoral burning or dysesthetic sensations without evident causative lesions. The etiology of BMS remains unclear, and effective treatments are lacking. This review aimed to evaluate the correlation between BMS and oral microbiota by analyzing relevant studies. <em>Methods:</em> A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases from inception until 11 june 2023. <em>Results:</em> Two studies were identified, providing preliminary evidence on this association. The first study compared the oral microbial profiles of patients with primary BMS and healthy controls, revealing lower microbial diversity in the BMS group and specific microbial taxa associated with BMS. The second study assessed the incidence of oral infections in BMS patients and their impact on symptoms, finding no significant correlation between oral infections and BMS symptoms. <em>Conclusions</em>: The findings suggest a potential association between oral microbiota and BMS, with alterations in the oral microbial community possibly contributing to BMS pathogenesis. Disease-specific microbial markers may have diagnostic implications for BMS. However, the limited number of studies and heterogeneity among them emphasize the need for further well-designed research employing larger sample sizes, standardized methodologies, and consistent diagnostic criteria.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Michele Russo, Pellegrino Crafa, Lorella Franzoni, Marilisa Franceschi, Kryssia Isabel Rodriguez-Castro, Antonio Tursi, Giovanni Brandimarte, Francesco Di Mariohttps://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15393Postnatal growth in preterm infants: a comparative analysis for gestational age of underweight versus normal weight and small versus normal head size2023-11-13T07:41:39+00:00Fawzia AlyafeiAshraf T SolimanVincenzo De Sanctis Nada AlaarajShayma Ahmed Noor Hamed Fatima Alkhori Hamdy Ali Doaa AlyousefMona Shaat Maya Itani <p><em>Introduction:</em> Head circumference (HC) is considered a reflection of intracranial volume and brain size, influencing early infant growth. <em>Objectives: </em>We conducted a two-year study on 65 preterm infants (Gestational Age, GA: 33.5 ± 2.2 weeks, birth weight 1.5-2.5 Kg) categorized at birth into underweight z-score (WAZ <-2) and normal weight z-score (WAZ > -2) groups. They were further divided by head circumference for gestational age z-score (HCZ) (<-1 vs. >-1).<em> Results: </em>Preterm infants with birth WAZ <-2 displayed significant improvements in WAZ at 6 and 12 months, transitioning from -2.8 to -1.5 and -1.1, respectively. Although there was an initial decrease in length-for-age z-score (LAZ), during the first 6 months, these infants exhibited catch-up, improving from -1.5 to - 0.2 Z-score. Weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) improved from -5 at birth to -0.6, -0.84, and -0.47 at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Preterm infants with birth WAZ > -2 experienced a decrease in WAZ during the first 6 months but gradually increased afterward. LAZ initially decreased but improved in subsequent months. WLZ exhibited an upward trend. At birth, infants with smaller HCZ were shorter and lighter, and this trend persisted throughout the first and second year of follow-up. <em>Conclusion: </em>Rapid catch-up in WAZ and LAZ was more pronounced during the first year in preterm infants born underweight for their gestational age. However by the end of the second year, those with small HCZ at birth were shorter and lighter at 2 years compared to those with HCZ >-1. </p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Fawzia Alyafei, Ashraf T Soliman, Vincenzo De sanctis, Nada Alaaraj, Shayma Ahmed , Noor Hamed , Fatima Alkhori , Hamdy Ali , Doaa Alyousef , Mona Shaat , Maya Itani