AIM:To evaluate a levofloxacin-doxycycline-based triple therapy with or without a susceptibility culture test in non-responders to Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) eradication.METHODS:A total of 142(99 women,43 men; mean...AIM:To evaluate a levofloxacin-doxycycline-based triple therapy with or without a susceptibility culture test in non-responders to Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) eradication.METHODS:A total of 142(99 women,43 men; mean 53.0 ± 12.7 years) non-responders to more than two H.pylori eradication therapies underwent susceptibility culture tests or were treated with a seven-day triple therapy consisting of esomeprazole,20 mg b.i.d.,levofloxacin,500 mg b.i.d.,and doxycycline,100 mg b.i.d.,randomly associated with(n = 71) or without(n = 71) Lactobacillus casei DG.H.pylori status was checked in all patients at enrollment and at least 8 wk after the end of therapy.Compliance and tolerability of regimens were also assessed.RESULTS:H.pylori eradication was achieved in < 50% of patients [per prototol(PP) = 49%; intention to treat(ITT) = 46%].Eradication rate was higher in patients administered probiotics than in those without(PP = 55% vs 43%; ITT = 54% vs 40%).Estimated primary resistance to levofloxacin was 18% and multiple resistance was 31%.Therapy was well tolerated,and side effects were generally mild,with only one patient experiencing severe effects.CONCLUSION:Third-line levofloxacin-doxycycline triple therapy had a low H.pylori eradication efficacy,though the success and tolerability of this treatment may be enhanced with probiotics.展开更多
The efficiency of photo-electrocatalytic(PECa) devices for the production of solar fuels depends on several limiting factors such as light harvesting, charge recombination and mass transport diffusion. We analyse he...The efficiency of photo-electrocatalytic(PECa) devices for the production of solar fuels depends on several limiting factors such as light harvesting, charge recombination and mass transport diffusion. We analyse here how they influence the performances in PECa cells having a photo-anode based on Au-modified TiOnanotube(TNT) arrays, with the aim of developing design criteria to optimize the photo-anode and the PECa cell configuration for water photo-electrolysis(splitting) and ethanol photo-reforming processes.The TNT samples were prepared by controlled anodic oxidation of Ti foils and then decorated with gold nanoparticles using different techniques to enhance the visible light response through heterojunction and plasmonic effects. The activity tests were made in a gas-phase reactor, as well as in a PECa cell without applied bias. Results were analysed in terms of photo-generated current, Hproduction rate and photoconversion efficiency. Particularly, a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.83% and a Faradaic efficiency of 91%were obtained without adding sacrificial reagents.展开更多
Liquid-based microbiology (LBM) is the future for the technological development of microbiology laboratories. In particular, the Eswab system (by Copan) simplifies and streamlines specimen collection and represents th...Liquid-based microbiology (LBM) is the future for the technological development of microbiology laboratories. In particular, the Eswab system (by Copan) simplifies and streamlines specimen collection and represents the only liquid system supporting the recovery of all types of bacteria (aerobic, anaerobic, and fastidious bacteria). In addition, LBM offers advantages in the efficiency of microorganism recovery and ease of sampling, transport, and storage. LBM also allows the introduction of true automation in the laboratory: either by using Copan ? (Walk-Away Specimen Processor) or any other commercially available specimen processor that utilizes LBM. In this paper, we illustrate how LBM can positively change laboratory workflow by illustrating several years of our experience with LBM. LBM allows clinical specimen optimization and has several important advantages: cost reduction (due to the smaller number of different devices used), time savings for medical or nursing staff (less confusion in collection device selection and fewer samples being collected), time savings for laboratory staff (fewer samples to access and handle for individual investigations), and patient comfort improvement (multiple sample collection can be avoided). A unique collection device for several investigations also guarantees quality due to the uniformity of the sample and standardization of procedures.展开更多
文摘AIM:To evaluate a levofloxacin-doxycycline-based triple therapy with or without a susceptibility culture test in non-responders to Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) eradication.METHODS:A total of 142(99 women,43 men; mean 53.0 ± 12.7 years) non-responders to more than two H.pylori eradication therapies underwent susceptibility culture tests or were treated with a seven-day triple therapy consisting of esomeprazole,20 mg b.i.d.,levofloxacin,500 mg b.i.d.,and doxycycline,100 mg b.i.d.,randomly associated with(n = 71) or without(n = 71) Lactobacillus casei DG.H.pylori status was checked in all patients at enrollment and at least 8 wk after the end of therapy.Compliance and tolerability of regimens were also assessed.RESULTS:H.pylori eradication was achieved in < 50% of patients [per prototol(PP) = 49%; intention to treat(ITT) = 46%].Eradication rate was higher in patients administered probiotics than in those without(PP = 55% vs 43%; ITT = 54% vs 40%).Estimated primary resistance to levofloxacin was 18% and multiple resistance was 31%.Therapy was well tolerated,and side effects were generally mild,with only one patient experiencing severe effects.CONCLUSION:Third-line levofloxacin-doxycycline triple therapy had a low H.pylori eradication efficacy,though the success and tolerability of this treatment may be enhanced with probiotics.
基金The TERRA(Tandem Electrocatalytic Reactor for energy/Resource efficiency and process intensification,H2020 project 677471)Eco~2CO_2(Eco-friendly biorefinery fine chemicals from CO_2 photo-catalytic reduction,FP7 project 309701)
文摘The efficiency of photo-electrocatalytic(PECa) devices for the production of solar fuels depends on several limiting factors such as light harvesting, charge recombination and mass transport diffusion. We analyse here how they influence the performances in PECa cells having a photo-anode based on Au-modified TiOnanotube(TNT) arrays, with the aim of developing design criteria to optimize the photo-anode and the PECa cell configuration for water photo-electrolysis(splitting) and ethanol photo-reforming processes.The TNT samples were prepared by controlled anodic oxidation of Ti foils and then decorated with gold nanoparticles using different techniques to enhance the visible light response through heterojunction and plasmonic effects. The activity tests were made in a gas-phase reactor, as well as in a PECa cell without applied bias. Results were analysed in terms of photo-generated current, Hproduction rate and photoconversion efficiency. Particularly, a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.83% and a Faradaic efficiency of 91%were obtained without adding sacrificial reagents.
文摘Liquid-based microbiology (LBM) is the future for the technological development of microbiology laboratories. In particular, the Eswab system (by Copan) simplifies and streamlines specimen collection and represents the only liquid system supporting the recovery of all types of bacteria (aerobic, anaerobic, and fastidious bacteria). In addition, LBM offers advantages in the efficiency of microorganism recovery and ease of sampling, transport, and storage. LBM also allows the introduction of true automation in the laboratory: either by using Copan ? (Walk-Away Specimen Processor) or any other commercially available specimen processor that utilizes LBM. In this paper, we illustrate how LBM can positively change laboratory workflow by illustrating several years of our experience with LBM. LBM allows clinical specimen optimization and has several important advantages: cost reduction (due to the smaller number of different devices used), time savings for medical or nursing staff (less confusion in collection device selection and fewer samples being collected), time savings for laboratory staff (fewer samples to access and handle for individual investigations), and patient comfort improvement (multiple sample collection can be avoided). A unique collection device for several investigations also guarantees quality due to the uniformity of the sample and standardization of procedures.