Panminerva medica
-
Review
The use of procalcitonin for the management of sepsis in Internal Medicine wards: current evidence.
Procalcitonin (PCT) is a circulating polypeptide produced in response to bacterial infections. Studies conducted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting have demonstrated its utility as a biomarker of bacterial infection and sepsis. Thus, PCT is widely used to distinguish between sepsis and SIRS, and to guide antibiotic therapy. ⋯ Although PCT represents one of the best biomarker available in routine clinical practice, there are uncertainties on the optimal cut-offs to be used for starting or discontinuing antibiotic treatment in patients with suspected bacterial infection or sepsis, for predicting outcome and on the role of PCT variations during antibiotic treatment. Moreover, several diseases can produce an elevation of PCT levels, thus producing false positive results. This represents a narrative review summarizing current evidences on PCT for the management of sepsis in an Internal Medicine wards, highlighting differences with ICU, with a special focus on the role of PCT variations as predictor of outcomes in non-ICU wards.
-
Observational Study
Keloidal penile fibrosis: improvements with Centellicum® (Centella asiatica) and Pycnogenol® supplementation: a pilot registry.
The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of Pycnogenol® and CA (Centellicum®) on penile fibrosis and on associated signs and symptoms. ⋯ In conclusion Centellicum and Pycnogenol® appear to improve penile fibrosis reducing the keloidal aspects of penile plaques.