Parietal intrahemispheric source connectivity of resting-state electroencephalographic alpha rhythms is abnormal in Naïve HIV patients.

Previous evidence showed abnormal parietal sources of resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) delta (< 4 Hz) and alpha (8-12 Hz) rhythms in treatment-Naïve HIV (Naïve HIV) subjects, as cortical neural synchronization markers in quiet wakefulness. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these local abnormalities may be related to functional cortical dysconnectivity as an oscillatory brain network disorder. The present EEG database regarded 128 Naïve HIV and 60 Healthy subjects.

Incidence of Infections and Predictors of Mortality During Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment and significantly increased overall survival of patients. However, the incidence of concurrent infections and their management is still debated.

Methods: From August 2015 to October 2019, all consecutive patients with NSCLC who received nivolumab or pembrolizumab as first- or second-line therapy were retrospectively evaluated.

Dalbavancin Efficacy and Impact on Hospital Length-of-Stay and Treatment Costs in Different Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections.

Background And Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of dalbavancin therapy on both hospital length-of-stay (LOS) and treatment-related costs, as well as to describe the clinical outcome, in a retrospective cohort of patients with diverse Gram-positive bacterial infections, hospitalized in different specialty Units.

Methods: From July 2017 to July 2019, clinical and sociodemographic data were collected for all hospitalized patients switched to dalbavancin for the treatment of Gram-positive infections. LOS and treatment-related costs were assessed and compared to a hypothetical scenario where the initial standard antimicrobial therapy would have been administered in hospital for the same duration as dalbavancin.

Pulmonary Artery Filling Defects in COVID-19 Patients Revealed Using CT Pulmonary Angiography: A Predictable Complication?

Purpose: This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of pulmonary artery filling defects (PAFDs) consistent with pulmonary artery embolism (PAE) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and at investigating possible radiological or clinical predictors.

Materials And Methods: Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiographies (CTPAs) from 43 consecutive patients with a confirmed COVID-19 infection were retrospectively reviewed, taking into consideration the revised Geneva score and the D-dimer value for each patient. Filling defects within the pulmonary arteries were recorded along with pleural and parenchymal findings such as ground glass opacities, consolidation, crazy paving, linear consolidation, and pleural effusion.

Peculiar clinical presentation of COVID-19 and predictors of mortality in the elderly: A multicentre retrospective cohort study.

Background: The spectrum of COVID-19 clinical manifestations is not yet known. In the elderly, mortality and extrapulmonary involvement appears more frequent than expected.

Methods: A multicentre-retrospective-case-series study of COVID-19 patients, aged ≥65 years, hospitalised between March 1 and June 15, 2020.

Lost to follow-up: a challenge over 10 years.

The loss of patients to follow up is a major issue related to HIV management. Our research was aimed to evaluate, in a single Italian centre, the rate of patients lost to follow-up (LFU) over 10 years, to describe their socio-demographic and clinical features, and to identify predictors of disengagement from care. Between 2008 and 2017, 563 subjects were LFU.

Burden of Disease in PWH Harboring a Multidrug-Resistant Virus: Data From the PRESTIGIO Registry.

Background: Currently, no data are available on the burden of morbidity and mortality in people with HIV-1 (PWH) harboring a 4-class drug-resistant (4DR) virus (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integrase strand transfer inhibitors). The study aimed to assess the incidence of clinical events and death in this population.

Methods: This was a cohort study on PWH from the PRESTIGIO Registry with a documented 4DR virus.

Gaining Back What Is Lost: Recovering the Sense of Smell in Mild to Moderate Patients After COVID-19.

The purpose of our cohort study was to quantify olfactory deficits in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients using Sniffin' Sticks and a pre-post design to evaluate olfactory recovery. Thirty adult patients with laboratory-confirmed mild to moderate forms of COVID-19 underwent a quantitative olfactory test performed with the Sniffin' Sticks test (SST; Burghardt, Wedel, Germany), considering olfactory threshold (T), odor discrimination (D), and odor identification (I). Results were presented as a composite TDI score (range 1-48) that used to define functional anosmia (TDI ≤ 16.

Influence of HIV-1 V2 sequence variability on bacterial translocation in antiretroviral naïve HIV-1 infected patients.

HIV-1 V2 domain binds α4β7, which assists lymphocyte homing to gut-associated lymphoid tissue. This triggers bacterial translocation, thus contributing to immune activation. We investigated whether variability of V2 binding site could influence plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14), markers of microbial translocation/immune activation.

Ceftolozane/Tazobactam for Treatment of Severe ESBL-Producing Infections: A Multicenter Nationwide Clinical Experience (CEFTABUSE II Study).

Background: Few data are reported in the literature about the outcome of patients with severe extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESBL-E) infections treated with ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T), in empiric or definitive therapy.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was performed in Italy (June 2016-June 2019). Successful clinical outcome was defined as complete resolution of clinical signs/symptoms related to ESBL-E infection and lack of microbiological evidence of infection.

Gp120 substitutions at positions associated with resistance to fostemsavir in treatment-naive HIV-1-positive individuals.

Objectives: Fostemsavir, a novel attachment inhibitor targeting the HIV-1 gp120, has demonstrated wide in vitro activity. However, the high rate of HIV gp120 substitutions could jeopardize its efficacy. We investigated envelope (env) substitutions at positions associated with resistance to fostemsavir in patients with a new HIV-1 diagnosis according to HIV subtype and tropism.

Sphingomonas paucimobilis outbreak in a dialysis room: Case report and literature review of an emerging healthcare associated infection.

Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an emerging aerobic, nonfermenting gram-negative, opportunistic bacterium involved in many healthcare-associated infections. We herein report the first outbreak of S paucimobilis catheter related bacteriemia occurred on the same day in 3 patients sharing a dialysis room. This report suggests that S paucimobilis could represent a further emerging cause of rapidly spreading healthcare-associated infections, and highlights the importance of a high level of surveillance and control measures.

Efficacy and tolerability of DAAs in HCV-monoinfected and HCV/HIV-coinfected patients with psychiatric disorders.

Background: Few data are available regarding the use of direct antiviral agents (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C in psychiatric patients. The aim of the study is to assess safety and outcome of DAAs in patients with psychiatric comorbidities.

Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-centre study enrolled patients treated with psychiatric drugs who initiated DAAs between 2015 and 2018.

Subcutaneous Human Dirofilariosis By D. Repens In South Italy: A Case Report.

Human dirofilariosis is a zoonosis caused by different Dirofilaria species: D. repens, D. immitis, D.

Splenic abscesses as a first manifestation of Crohn's disease: a case report.

Background: Splenic nodules are uncommon entities that occur rarely in the general population. Although an infectious etiology (primarily bacteria, followed by mycobacteria) is usually found, noninfectious diseases, including malignancies and autoimmune disorders, can also be involved. For instance, in course of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), in particular Crohn's Disease, aseptic splenic abscesses have been reported in patients with a long history of illness, or in those unresponsive to medical treatments, while are only anecdotally reported in the early phase of the disease.

Variability OF HIV-1 V2 env domain for integrin binding: Clinical correlates.

The HIV V2 (HXB2 numbering) tripeptide mediates binding to α4β7 integrin, which is responsible for GALT homing. Our study aimed to assess V2 variability in naive HIV-1 infected patients and its association with clinical and viro-immunological features. Gp120 sequences were obtained from 322 subjects; length, potential N-linked glycosylation sites (PNGs), net-charge (NC) and tripeptide α4β7-binding-motif of V2 were evaluated.

Local Epidemics Gone Viral: Evolution and Diffusion of the Italian HIV-1 Recombinant Form CRF60_BC.

The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Italy is becoming increasingly complex, mainly due to the spread of non-B subtypes and the emergence of new recombinant forms. We previously characterized the outbreak of the first Italian circulating recombinant form (CRF60_BC), occurring among young MSM living in Apulia between the years 2009 and 2011. Here we show a 5-year follow-up surveillance to trace the evolution of CRF60_BC and to investigate its further spread in Italy.

HIV-1 coreceptor tropism: A syllogistic connection with The Veterans Aging Cohort Study Index and the CD4/CD8 ratio.

Background: The association between X4 virus and an increased risk of non-AIDS-events has been reported. Morbidity/mortality due to non-AIDS events, which are properly predicted by the CD4/CD8 ratio and VACS index, have become particularly remarkable in HIV-infected patients receiving effective combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Methods: We verified the validity of the syllogism: as HIV-tropism (CRT) contributes to the onset of non-AIDS events which are successfully predicted by the CD4/CD8 ratio and VACS index, then CRT correlates with these two variables.

Cerebrospinal fluid compartmentalization of HIV-1 and correlation with plasma viral load and blood-brain barrier damage.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate HIV-1 compartmentalization between the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma and investigate as to which extent HIV-1 strains in CSF differ from those in blood and whether a correlation with either plasma viral load (pVL) or an altered blood-brain barrier (BBB) does exist.

Study Design: We retrospectively evaluated paired CSF/blood samples collected from 86 HIV+ patients. HIV-RNA quantification, pol (PR/RT), and V3 sequencing were performed.