Flavonoids are a category of plant-derived compounds which exhibit a large number of health-related effects. One of the most well-known and studied flavonoids is kaempferol, which can be found in a wide variety of herbs and plant families. Apart from their anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, kaempferol and its associated compounds also exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal activities. The development of drugs and treatment schemes based on these compounds is becoming increasingly important in the face of emerging resistance of numerous pathogens as well as complex molecular interactions between various drug therapies. In addition, many of the kaempferol-containing plants are used in traditional systems all over the world for centuries to treat numerous conditions. Due to its variety of sources and associated compounds, some molecular mechanisms of kaempferol antimicrobial activity are well known while others are still under analysis. This paper thoroughly documents the vegetal and food sources of kaempferol as well as the most recent and significant studies regarding its antimicrobial applications.

The interplay between hepatitis B (HBV) and delta (HDV) viruses is complex and not always characterized during chronic HDV infection. We assessed the clinical usefulness of new quantitative assays for HBV and HDV serum markers in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Sera obtained from 122 HDV genotype 1 and HBV genotype D coinfected, anti-HIV-negative patients (71 males; median age 49.8 [21.7-66.9] years), recruited consecutively in two geographical areas (Italy 69 patients, Romania 53 patients) with different HBV and HDV epidemiology, were tested for HBsAg, HBV-DNA, HBcrAg, total anti-HBc, HDV-RNA, IgM and total anti-HDV using quantitative assays. Cirrhosis, which showed comparable prevalence in the two cohorts, was diagnosed in 97 of 122 (79.5%) patients. At multivariate analysis, cirrhosis was associated with lower total anti-HBc/IgM anti-HDV ratio (OR 0.990, 95% CI 0.981-0.999, P = .038), whereas disease activity was associated with higher total anti-HDV (OR 10.105, 95% CI 1.671-61.107, P = .012) and HDV-RNA levels (OR 2.366, 95% CI 1.456-3.844, P = .001). HDV-RNA serum levels showed a positive correlation with HBV-DNA (ρ = 0.276, P = .005), HBsAg (ρ = 0.404, P < .001) and HBcrAg (ρ = 0.332, P < .001). The combined quantitative profiling of HBV and HDV serum markers identifies specific patterns associated with activity and stage of chronic hepatitis D (CHD). HDV pathogenicity depends on the underlying active HBV infection in spite of the inhibition of its replication. HDV-RNA, IgM anti-HDV, total anti-HDV, total anti-HBc, HBsAg and HBcrAg serum levels qualify for prospective studies to predict progressive CHD and identify candidates to antiviral therapy.

Maspin is a serine protease which belongs to the serpin family and seems to play an important role in inhibiting angiogenesis and tumor proliferation. The significance of its expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been elucidated so far. In our study, we tried to identify, based on Maspin expression, four groups of CRC, with possible prognostic impact. In 121 CRC, we analyzed the Maspin expression in correlation with the clinico-pathological features, microsatellite status and other markers such as p53, bax, bcl-2, VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) and CD31. Based on the percentage and intensity of Maspin expression in the tumor cells, the cases were grouped in four classes: negative, with cytoplasmic predominance, nuclear predominated, and cases with mixed (cytoplasmic-nuclear) expression. 9% of the cases were negative, 44% presented cytoplasmic predominance, the nuclear predominance was revealed in 24% of the cases, and the other 23% of CRC having a mixed Maspin positivity. The cytoplasmic predominance was correlated with a better prognosis, p53 negativity, bax positivity, and lack of tumor budding. Forty percent of microsatellite instable (MSI) cases presented mixed expression, this pattern being also related to a lower angiogenesis. Nuclear predominance was associated with p53 positivity, the lowest survival rate and intense VEGF expression. In conclusion, CRC with cytoplasmic predominance and mixed Maspin expression seems to present better prognosis whereas nuclear predominance is connected with high aggressivity.

High resolution ultrasonography has already become an important tool in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory arthritis of the hand and wrist, but lately it has been proven to be the method of choice in the evaluation of traumatic lesions of tendons, annular pulleys, nerves, and ligaments and at the same time in detecting foreign bodies. The objective of this paper is to review and describe the current knowledge on these US findings and to highlight the ultrasonography role in the evaluation of non-inflammatory conditions of the hand and wrist.