The Drug Susceptibility of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) in a Referral Hospital in Rome from 2018 to 2023.

The treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections is challenging because of the difficulty in obtaining phenotypic (pDST) and/or molecular (mDST) drug susceptibility testing and the need of a multi-drug regimen. : The objective was to describe the in vitro susceptibility patterns of various NTM species through an analysis of susceptibility results obtained on isolates collected between 2018 and 2023. Species identification and mutations in or genes (mDST) were identified by a line probe assay, while the pDST was performed by broth microdilution and interpreted according to CLSI criteria.

Comparative renal outcomes of matched cohorts of patients with type 2 diabetes receiving SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP-1 receptor agonists under routine care.

Aims/hypothesis: We compared the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) on renal outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes, focusing on the changes in eGFR and albuminuria.

Methods: This was a multicentre retrospective observational study on new users of diabetes medications. Participant characteristics were assessed before and after propensity score matching.

Detecting heart stress using NT-proBNP in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension or high-normal blood pressure: a cross-sectional multicentric study.

Background: We evaluated the prevalence of "heart stress" (HS) based on NT-proBNP cut-points proposed by the 2023 Consensus of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in asymptomatic patients with T2DM and hypertension or high-normal blood pressure (BP) eligible for SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and/or GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA), drugs with proven benefits on reducing the incidence of HF, hospitalizations, cardiovascular events and mortality.

Methods: A cross-sectional multicentric study was conducted on 192 consecutive outpatients, aged ≥ 55 years, with hypertension or high-normal BP, referred to three diabetology units. NT-proBNP was collected before starting new anti-diabetic therapy.

Impact of a Discontinuous Training Program on Sedentary Behavior in Italian Type 2 Diabetes Older Patients: The Results of the TRIPL-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

: Physical activity is an important predictor of quality of life in older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Unfortunately, most T2D adults adopt a sedentary lifestyle. The randomized, controlled TRIPL-A trial aims to verify the effect of a personalized, discontinuous exercise program on a sedentary lifestyle of T2D older adults.

Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Metformin: AME-MET Study - A Multicentric Real-world Study in Italy.

Aims: Metformin is the most widely used drug for the first-line treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but its use and schedule have been poorly investigated in elderly patients.

Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multicentric study on metformin in T2DM outpatients older than 65 years who were taking the drug for at least 6 months and referred to Italian Endocrinology and Diabetology Services. The primary endpoint was daily metformin dose, and secondary endpoints were the correlations between metformin dose and age, comorbidities, and concomitant use of other drugs.

ARE THERE TWO FORMS OF MULTIPLE EVANESCENT WHITE DOT SYNDROME?

Purpose: To analyze the nature of multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) and differentiate an idiopathic or primary form of MEWDS from a secondary form that is seen in association with other clinical conditions affecting the posterior segment of the eye.

Methods: Clinical and multimodal imaging findings including color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography of patients with secondary MEWDS are presented.

Results: Twenty consecutive patients with secondary MEWDS were evaluated.

Bilateral morphometric analysis of corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in patients undergoing unilateral cataract surgery: a preliminary in vivo confocal microscopy study.

Aims: To evaluate bilateral morphometric changes of corneal sub-basal nerve plexus (CSNP) occurring after unilateral cataract surgery by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) images analysed with automated software.

Methods: IVCM was performed before (V0) and 1 month after surgery (V1) in both operated eyes (OEs) and unoperated eyes (UEs) of 30 patients. Thirty age and sex-matched subjects acted as controls.

Migrainous Infarction in a Patient With Sporadic Hemiplegic Migraine and Cystic Fibrosis: A 99mTc-HMPAO Brain SPECT Study.

Genetic mutations of sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM) are mostly unknown. SHM pathophysiology relies on cortical spreading depression (CSD), which might be responsible for ischemic brain infarction. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by a monogenic mutation of the chlorine transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), possibly altering brain excitability.

Human Zika infection induces a reduction of IFN-γ producing CD4 T-cells and a parallel expansion of effector Vδ2 T-cells.

The definition of the immunological response to Zika (ZIKV) infection in humans represents a key issue to identify protective profile useful for vaccine development and for pathogenesis studies. No data are available on the cellular immune response in the acute phase of human ZIKV infection, and its role in the protection and/or pathogenesis needs to be clarified. We studied and compared the phenotype and functionality of T-cells in patients with acute ZIKV and Dengue viral (DENV) infections.

Dendritic cells activation is associated with sustained virological response to telaprevir treatment of HCV-infected patients.

First anti-HCV treatments, that include protease inhibitors in conjunction with IFN-α and Ribavirin, increase the sustained virological response (SVR) up to 80% in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. The effects of triple therapies on dendritic cell (DC) compartment have not been investigated. In this study we evaluated the effect of telaprevir-based triple therapy on DC phenotype and function, and their possible association with treatment outcome.

Different features of Vδ2 T and NK cells in fatal and non-fatal human Ebola infections.

Background: Human Ebola infection is characterized by a paralysis of the immune system. A signature of αβ T cells in fatal Ebola infection has been recently proposed, while the involvement of innate immune cells in the protection/pathogenesis of Ebola infection is unknown. Aim of this study was to analyze γδ T and NK cells in patients from the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 occurred in West Africa, and to assess their association with the clinical outcome.

HIV-Specific CD8 T Cells Producing CCL-4 Are Associated With Worse Immune Reconstitution During Chronic Infection.

Background: Immunological nonresponse represents the Achilles heel in the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) effectiveness, and increases risk of clinical events and death. CD8 T cells play a crucial role in controlling HIV replication, and polyfunctional HIV-specific CD8 T cells have been associated with nonprogressive HIV infection. However, the possible role of polyfunctional CD8 T cells in predicting posttreatment immune reconstitution has not yet been explored.

Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Increased in Early Phases of Primary HIV Infection Depending on TRAIL Plasma Level.

Background: It has been demonstrated that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are expanded in HIV-1-infected individuals and correlated with disease progression. The phase of HIV infection during which MDSC expansion occurs, and the mechanisms that regulate this expansion remain to be established. In this study, we evaluated the frequency of MDSC in patients during primary HIV infection (PHI) and factors involved in MDSC control.

In HIV-positive patients, myeloid-derived suppressor cells induce T-cell anergy by suppressing CD3ζ expression through ELF-1 inhibition.

Objective: During HIV infection, a down-modulation of CD3ζ was found on T cells, contributing to T-cell anergy. In this work, we studied the correlation between myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) frequency and T-cell CD3ζ expression. Moreover, we investigated the mechanisms of CD3ζ decrease exploited by MDSC.

HIV infection of monocytes-derived dendritic cells inhibits Vγ9Vδ2 T cells functions.

DCs act as sentinel cells against incoming pathogens and represent the most potent antigen presenting cells, having the unique capability to prime naïve T cells. In addition to their role in induction of adaptive immune responses, DC are also able to activate innate cells as γδ T cells; in particular, a reciprocal crosstalk between DC and γδ T cells was demonstrated. However, whether HIV infection may alter DC-Vγ9Vδ2 T cells cross-talk was not yet described.

Effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation during adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism.

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is fundamental for subtype diagnosis in patients with primary aldosteronism. AVS protocols vary between centers, especially for diagnostic indices and for use of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation. We investigated the role of both continuous ACTH infusion and bolus on the performance and interpretation of AVS in a sample of 76 patients with confirmed primary aldosteronism.

Aldosterone, mineralocorticoid receptor and the metabolic syndrome: role of the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists.

Several lines of evidence suggest a detrimental effect of aldosterone excess on the development of metabolic alterations. Glucose metabolism derangements due to aldosterone action are frequently observed not only in patients with primary aldosteronism but also in patients with obesity. A contribution to the hyperaldosteronism observed in obese subjects can be attributed, at least in part, to the action of still unidentified adipocyte-derived factor.

Blood pressure, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and thyroid disease prevalence in primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension.

Background: A positive correlation between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and blood pressure (BP) has been identified in normotensives and in patients with essential hypertension (EH). This study was designed to evaluate, in primary aldosteronism (PA) and in EH, potential association of BP, TSH, and ultrasonographic changes of the thyroid.

Methods: We studied 188 patients: 92 with PA and 96 matched essential hypertensives.

Multicompartment vectors as novel drug delivery systems: selective activation of Tγδ lymphocytes after zoledronic acid delivery.

Unlabelled: Multicompartment nanoscopic carriers can be easily assembled by inducing the aggregation of anionic "hybrid" niosomes by means of cationic biocompatible polyelectrolytes. The resulting vesicle clusters, whose size and overall net charge can be easily controlled by varying the polyelectrolyte-to-particle charge ratio, show an interesting potential for multidrug delivery. In this article we provide strong evidence for their effective use in vitro as multicompartment vectors selectively directed toward monocyte/macrophage cells, showing that the monocyte/macrophage-mediated activation of Tγδ lymphocytes induced by zoledronic acid is enhanced by a factor 10(3) when the zoledronic acid is intracellularly delivered through these carriers.

Management of primary aldosteronism: its complications and their outcomes after treatment.

Primary aldosteronism is the most common cause of secondary hypertension, accounting for about 10% of all forms of high blood pressure. Life-time pharmacological therapy is the treatment of choice for primary aldosteronism due to idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia (IHA), while adrenalectomy is effective in curing most patients with an aldosterone producing adenoma (APA). Far from being a benign form of hypertension, primary aldosteronism is characterized by the development of cardiovascular renal and metabolic complications, including left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation and stroke, microalbuminuria, renal cysts as well as metabolic syndrome, glucose impairment and diabetes mellitus.

Small tumor size as favorable prognostic factor after adrenalectomy in Conn's adenoma.

Objective: Primary aldosteronism (PA) due to aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) is the most common curable form of secondary hypertension.

Design: In order to evaluate blood pressure outcome after adrenalectomy for APA and to identify new favorable prognostic factors, data from 42 consecutive APA patients who underwent adrenalectomy were collected from 2005 to 2007.

Methods: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (upright and postsaline infusion test), serum and urinary electrolytes, office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were evaluated at baseline and after a follow-up of 2.

Activated V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells trigger granulocyte functions via MCP-2 release.

Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells display a broad antimicrobial activity by directly killing infected cells and by inducing an effective adaptive immune response. The activation of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells by aminobisphosphonate drugs such as zoledronic acid (ZOL) results in a massive release of cytokines and chemokines that may induce a bystander activation of other immune cells. The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of soluble factors released by ZOL-activated Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells to induce granulocyte activation.

CD3zeta down-modulation may explain Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocyte anergy in HIV-infected patients.

The aim of the present study was to explain the observed anergy of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. CD3zeta expression and interferon (IFN)-gamma production by Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells from HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects were analyzed. We demonstrated that Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells from HIV-infected patients expressed a lower level of CD3zeta than did Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells from healthy donors.