The dark matter of microbiome: the mother-infant pair virome.

The human virome belongs to one of the most complex ecosystems in the world, the microbiome. The virome that inhabits the intestinal niche and its dynamic variation during the first year of life had been the most investigated. Many pathogenic viruses are well known to be potentially transmitted transplacentally or during vaginal delivery to the newborn, but recent studies on healthy term pregnancies found that there was no evidence of a principal viral community.

The Docosahexanoic Acid: From the Maternal-Fetal Dyad to Early Life Toward Metabolomics.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) and represents the dominant structural fatty acid in the retina and in the brain's gray matter. Due to its active participation in the development of the nervous system, DHA is one of the most studied LCPUFA and is currently considered a critical nutrient during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Increasing evidence in literature suggests that an adequate concentration of DHA is required from the fetal stage through to early life to ensure optimal neurological development.

Neonatal supraventricular tachycardia and necrotizing enterocolitis: case report and literature review.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) are serious emergencies in the neonatal period. Although these conditions are recognized as distinct pathologies, literature reports suggest that recurrent episodes of SVT may predispose patients to NEC via disturbances in mesenteric blood flow and a decrease in tissue perfusion.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a preterm infant affected by recurrent episodes of SVT who developed the initial stage of NEC on the 17th day of life.

Pregnancy in Thalassemia.

Therapeutic advances, including the availability of oral iron chelators and new non-invasive methods for early detection and treatment of iron overload, have significantly improved the life expectancy and quality of thalassemia patients, with a consequent increase in their reproductive potential and desire to have children. Hundreds of pregnancies have been reported so far, highlighting that women carefully managed in the preconception phase usually carry out a successful gestation and labor, both in case of spontaneous conception and assisted reproductive techniques. A multidisciplinary team including a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, and a gynecologist, under the supervision of an expert in beta-thalassemia, should be involved.

Impact of the direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) on chronic hepatitis C in Sardinian patients with transfusion-dependent Thalassemia major.

Background And Aims: Direct antiviral agents (DAAs) have revolutionised the standard of care for the treatment of hepatitis even in patients with hemoglobinopathies. The aim of this study is to show how, thanks to DAAs, HCV infection has been substantially eradicated in one of the biggest Centres for the management of Thalassemia in Europe.

Methods: Thalassemia major patients regularly transfused and iron chelated in Cagliari (Italy) who were HCV-RNA positive were evaluated for the potential prescription of antiviral therapy.

Quality of life in Sardinian patients with transfusion-dependent Thalassemia: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: The aim of this study has been to evaluate the physical, psychological, and social well-being in a large group of Sardinian adult patients with transfusion-dependent beta-Thalassemia when compared with a group of healthy subjects of the same age and geographical extraction.

Methods: Male or female patients ≥ 18 years of age with Thalassemia major on regular transfusion at Thalassemia Center in Cagliari (Italy) were requested to complete the World Health Organization Quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. The WHOQOL-BREF was also made available online to age- and sex-matched non-thalassemic adult subjects living in Sardinia.