Sex differences in response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in Italian population.

Since the beginning of mass vaccination campaign for COVID-19 in Italy (December 2020) and following the rapidly increasing vaccine administration, sex differences have been emphasized. Nevertheless, incomplete and frequently incoherent sex-disaggregated data for COVID-19 vaccinations are currently available, and vaccines clinical studies generally do not include sex-specific analyses for safety and efficacy. We looked at sex variations in the COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness against infection and severe disease outcomes.

Impact of the 2023/24 autumn-winter COVID-19 seasonal booster campaign in preventing severe COVID-19 cases in Italy (October 2023-March 2024).

We assessed the impact of the 2023/2024 COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Italy by estimating the number of averted COVID-19 severe cases (i.e. COVID-19 associated hospitalisations or deaths) between October 2023 and March 2024, in those aged ≥60 years.

Increasing situational awareness through nowcasting of the reproduction number.

Background: The time-varying reproduction number R is a critical variable for situational awareness during infectious disease outbreaks; however, delays between infection and reporting of cases hinder its accurate estimation in real-time. A number of nowcasting methods, leveraging available information on data consolidation delays, have been proposed to mitigate this problem.

Methods: In this work, we retrospectively validate the use of a nowcasting algorithm during 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy by quantitatively assessing its performance against standard methods for the estimation of R.

Risk of breakthrough infection and hospitalisation after COVID-19 primary vaccination by HIV status in four Italian regions during 2021.

Background: As of 2024, vaccination remains the main mitigation measure against COVID-19, but there are contradictory results on whether people living with HIV (PLWH) are less protected by vaccines than people living without HIV (PLWoH). In this study we compared the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalisation following full vaccination in PLWH and PLWoH.

Methods: We linked data from the vaccination registry, the COVID-19 surveillance system and from healthcare/pharmacological registries in four Italian regions.

Current Status of PRP Manufacturing Requirements & European Regulatory Frameworks: Practical Tools for the Appropriate Implementation of PRP Therapies in Musculoskeletal Regenerative Medicine.

Providing accurate and up-to-date practical tools enabling oversight of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) legislation and of the appropriate standards to be implemented for its manufacture and use in Europe is a demanding task. This is due to rapid medico-technological advancements, slowness and disparity in legislation updates and enforcement between member states, and many reported gray-zone practices, notably for autologous PRP use. The levels of risk associated with blood manipulation processes generally dictate the manufacturing requirements for PRP preparations, which have gradually shifted toward good manufacturing practices (GMP) for standardization and overall quality enhancement.

Sensitization, asthma and allergic disease in young soccer players.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of allergic disease in young soccer players compared to age-matched students and to evaluate if this prevalence changes as the intensity of training increases.

Methods: A modified ECRHS questionnaire was administered to 194 soccer players divided by age as Beginners (8-11 years), Juniors (12-16 years) and Under 21 (17-20 years) to evaluate the prevalence of allergic diseases and symptoms as well as drug consumption. Subjects with a positive personal history of allergic diseases underwent skin prick and/or patch tests.

Sensory feedback and central afferent interaction in the muscle receptor organ of the crab, Carcinus maenas.

1. An interaction exists between two proprioceptive afferent neurons innervating the thoracic-coxal muscle receptor organ (TCMRO) of the crab, Carcinus maenas. Intracellular recordings were made from the extraganglionic regions of the afferents in order to characterize this interaction and its effects on sensory feedback.

Sensory characteristics of the P afferent neurone of the crab thoracic-coxal muscle receptor organ.

Intracellular recordings were made from the P fibre, the smallest of the three afferent neurones innervating the thoracic-coxal muscle receptor organ of the crab (Carcinus maenas). While the two larger afferents are nonspiking, the response of the P fibre to a trapezoidal change in receptor muscle length consists of a single action potential signalling the onset of stretch superimposed on a graded amplitude receptor potential. The P fibre is sensitive to the velocity of the applied stretch, but is insensitive to static joint position, stretch amplitude and the velocity of the release phase.

Interaction between afferent neurones in a crab muscle receptor organ.

Two of the three mechanoreceptor neurones which innervate the crab thoracic-coxal muscle receptor organ are non-spiking. The third, the small diameter P neurone, employs graded amplitude receptor potentials with either spikes or graded amplitude active membrane responses superimposed. An excitatory synaptic connection between one of the larger non-spiking afferents and the P neurone has now been detected within the thoracic ganglion.

Blockage of synaptic release by brief hyperpolarizing pulses in the neuromuscular junction of the crayfish.

1. Synaptic currents were evoked at the neuromuscular junction of the deep extensor abdominal muscle of the crayfish by direct depolarization of motor nerve endings. 2.

Action potentials in a 'non-spiking' neurone: graded responses and spikes in the afferent P fibre of the crab thoracic-coxal muscle receptor organ.

The small diameter P neurone (7 microns) is here characterized as an afferent of the crab thoracic-coxal muscle receptor organ (TCMRO), in addition to the S and T neurones (50-60 microns). The P neurone employs both passively conducted, graded amplitude receptor potentials and, superimposed upon these, either graded active membrane responses or constant amplitude action potentials. Intracellularly recorded receptor potential waveforms reflect the dynamic component of stretch more strongly than receptor length, while action potentials at the onset of stretch accentuate the phasic response characteristics of this neurone.

Positive feedback to a muscle receptor stabilized by concurrent self-inhibition.

The two non-spiking afferent neurones (T and S fibres) of the crab's thoracic-coxal muscle receptor organ mediate antagonistic reflex controls upon the specific receptor motoneurone (Rm1). Depolarization of the 'in-series' T fibre, by receptor muscle stretch or intracellular current injection, reflexly excites Rm1, whereas length- or current-induced S fibre depolarization inhibits Rm1. The latter, autogenetic negative feedback stabilizes the concurrent positive feedback over the physiological range of receptor muscle lengths.