code: def _latex_item_to_string(item, *, escape=False, as_content=False):
      
  
      if isinstance(item, pylatex.base_classes.LatexObject):
          if as_content:
              return item.dumps_as_content()
          else:
              return item.dumps()
      elif not isinstance(item, str):
          item = str(item)
  
      if escape:
          item = escape_latex(item)
  
      return item
docs: Use the render method when possible, otherwise uses str.
  
      Args
      ----
      item: object
          An object that needs to be converted to a string
      escape: bool
          Flag that indicates if escaping is needed
      as_content: bool
          Indicates whether the item should be dumped using
          `~.LatexObject.dumps_as_content`
  
      Returns
      -------
      NoEscape
          Latex