Design of a Soft Robotic Artificial Cardiac Wall.

Background: In cardiovascular engineering, the recent introduction of soft robotic technologies sheds new light on the future of implantable cardiac devices, enabling the replication of complex bioinspired architectures and motions. To support human heart function, assistive devices and total artificial hearts have been developed. However, the system's functionality, hemocompatibility, and overall implantability are still open challenges.

Visceral Leishmaniasis in Immunocompetent Hosts in Brescia: A Case Series and Analysis of Cytokine Cascade.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic zoonosis caused by spp. that usually manifests itself in immunocompromised subjects. It is a rare and neglected disease, and it is not endemic in the province of Brescia (Italy).

Effectiveness of kidney transplantation in HIV-infected recipients under combination antiretroviral therapy: a single-cohort experience (Brescia, Northern Italy).

Purpose: Kidney transplantation was recently introduced for the treatment of end stage renal disease (ESRD) in HIV-infected patients. We report the results of the first 28 procedures at our centre.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on HIV-infected patients evaluated for kidney transplantation between January 2005 and October 2016.

Lymphoproliferative disease with mixed cryoglobulinemia and hyperviscosity syndrome in an HIV-infected patient: HCV is the only culprit.

The availability of direct antiviral agents (DAAs) offers the possibility to treat HCV-infected patients with a high rate of efficacy and a good safety profile. Little is known about the benefit of DAAs on HCV-related hematological diseases and their complications. We describe the case of an HIV/HCV-infected patient with HCV-related chronic lymphoproliferative disease, mixed cryoglobulinemia and hyperviscosity syndrome.

Colitis during new direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) therapy with sofosbuvir, simeprevir and ribavirin for genotype 1b hepatitis C.

Since 2014 several direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been made available, allowing interferon-free antiviral treatments with high sustained virological response rates. Side effects are, however, a real challenge during treatment. Sarkar et al.

Antibiotics for the newborn.

Because of the high susceptibility to infections, antibiotics are the most widely used drugs in newborns. The result of antibiotic use, however, may be strongly influenced by the peculiar physiology of the neonate, characterized by the delicate process of adaptation from intra- to extra-uterine life. Additional important factors that may affect antibiotic therapy are gestational age, birth weight, the intrauterine growth restriction, chronological age and, especially, the kidney and liver function immaturity.