IgG4-Related Disease of the Oral Cavity. Case Series from a Large Single-Center Cohort of Italian Patients.

A series of destructive and tumefactive lesions of the oral cavity are increasingly recognized as part of the IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) spectrum. We herein examined the clinical, serological, radiological, and histological features of a series of patients referred to our clinic because of oral cavity lesions ultimately attributed to IgG4-RD. In particular, we studied 6 consecutive patients out of 200 patients referred to the immunology outpatient unit who presented with erosive and/or tumefactive lesions of the oral cavity.

Current treatment options and safety considerations when treating adult-onset Still's disease.

Introduction: Adult onset Still disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory condition. The clinical spectrum of this disease ranges from self-limiting forms with mild symptoms to life-threatening cases. Glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) represent the first line of therapy for AOSD, with add-on therapy with second-line drug reserved to steroid-dependent patients and in life-threatening cases.

Biobanking for COVID-19 research.

Background: Biobanks are imperative infrastructures, particularly during outbreaks, when there is an obligation to acquire and share knowledge as quick as possible to allow for implementation of science-based preventive, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies.

Methods: We established a COVID-19 biobank with the aim of collecting high-quality and well-annotated human biospecimens, in the effort to understand the pathogenic mechanisms underlying COVID-19 and identify therapeutic targets (COVID-BioB, NCT04318366). Here we describe our experience and briefly review the characteristics of the biobanks for COVID-19 that have been so far established.

Inflammation as a Predictor of Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia After Ablation in Patients With Myocarditis.

Background: Little is known about the risk stratification of patients with myocarditis undergoing ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation.

Objectives: This study sought to describe VT ablation results and identify factors associated with arrhythmia recurrences in a cohort of patients with myocarditis.

Methods: The authors enrolled 125 consecutive patients with myocarditis, undergoing VT ablation.

Use of Biologics to Treat Relapsing and/or Refractory Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: Data From a European Collaborative Study.

Objective: To describe the efficacy and safety of biologics for the treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).

Methods: A retrospective European collaborative study was conducted in patients with EGPA who received treatment with biologics for refractory and/or relapsing disease.

Results: Among the 147 patients with EGPA included in the study, 63 received rituximab (RTX), 51 received mepolizumab (MEPO), and 33 received omalizumab (OMA).

Continuous positive airway pressure and pronation outside the Intensive Care Unit in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: The efficacy and safety of continuous positive airway pressure and respiratory physiotherapy outside the Intensive Care Unit during a pandemic.

Methods: In this cohort study performed in February-May 2020 in a large teaching hospital in Milan, COVID-19 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome receiving continuous positive airway pressure (positive end-expiratory pressure =10 cm H2O, FiO2=0.6, daily treatment duration: 4×3h-cycles) and respiratory physiotherapy including pronation outside the Intensive Care Unit were followed-up.

Prevalence of COVID infections in a population of rheumatic patients from Lombardy and Marche treated with biological drugs or small molecules: A multicentre retrospective study.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about the management of systemic immunosuppressive treatments for rheumatic conditions. It is well known that rheumatic patients are at risk of developing infections because of their immunocompromised state. Moreover, drugs such as hydroxychloroquine or tocilizumab that are widely used to treat rheumatic diseases are now being used to treat COVID-19.

Nailfold capillaroscopy findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: Broadening the spectrum of COVID-19 microvascular involvement.

Objective: Increasing evidence points to endothelial dysfunction as a key pathophysiological factor in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). No specific methods have been identified to predict, detect and quantify the microvascular alterations during COVID-19. Our aim was to assess microvasculature through nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) in COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 in systemic lupus erythematosus: Data from a survey on 417 patients.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease characterised by autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to infections. COVID-19 is a systemic viral disease currently spreading as a pandemic. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 in patients with SLE.

Characteristics, treatment, outcomes and cause of death of invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS in Milan, Italy.

Objective: Describe characteristics, daily care and outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Design: Case series of 73 patients.

Setting: Large tertiary hospital in Milan.

GM-CSF blockade with mavrilimumab in severe COVID-19 pneumonia and systemic hyperinflammation: a single-centre, prospective cohort study.

Background: Mortality in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and systemic hyperinflammation is high. We aimed to examine whether mavrilimumab, an anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor-α monoclonal antibody, added to standard management, improves clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and systemic hyperinflammation.

Methods: This single-centre prospective cohort study included patients aged 18 years or older who were admitted to San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, hypoxia, and systemic hyperinflammation.

Clinical Features at Onset and Genetic Characterization of Pediatric and Adult Patients with TNF- Receptor-Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS): A Series of 80 Cases from the AIDA Network.

This study explores demographic, clinical, and therapeutic features of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) in a cohort of 80 patients recruited from 19 Italian referral Centers. Patients' data were collected retrospectively and then analyzed according to age groups (disease onset before or after 16 years) and genotype (high penetrance (HP) and low penetrance (LP) gene variants). Pediatric- and adult-onset were reported, respectively, in 44 and 36 patients; HP and LP variants were found, respectively, in 32 and 44 cases.

IL-18 and infections: Is there a role for targeted therapies?

Interleukin (IL)-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine belonging to the IL-1 family, first identified for its interferon-γ-inducing properties. IL-18 regulates both T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 responses. It acts synergistically with IL-12 in the Th1 paradigm, whereas with IL-2 and without IL-12 it can induce Th2 cytokine production from cluster of differentation (CD)4 T cells, natural killer (NK cells, NKT cells, as well as from Th1 cells.