Off-label use of tocilizumab for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in Milan, Italy.

Background: Tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, targets IL-6 receptors blocking downstream pro-inflammatory effects of IL-6. In preliminary reports it was suggested to be beneficial in patients with severe COVID-19.

Methods: In this open-label prospective study we describe clinical characteristics and outcome of 51 patients hospitalized with confirmed and severe COVID-19 pneumonia treated with tocilizumab intravenously.

Durability of dolutegravir plus boosted darunavir as salvage or simplification of salvage regimens in HIV-1 infected, highly treatment-experienced subjects.

Background: Dolutegravir (DTG) plus boosted darunavir (bDRV) is a compact, adherence-friendly salvage regimen with the highest genetic barrier to HIV-1 resistance.

Objective: Aim of the present study is to assess the long term (96-week) safety and efficacy of DTG + bDRV in a of multidrug-experienced HIV-1 infected patients, simplifying or building rescue regimens.

Methods: All HIV-1-infected subjects from eleven Italian centers switched to DTG + bDRV between March 2014 and September 2015 were included and followed for minimum 96 weeks.

Are direct-acting antivirals safe and effective in hepatitis C virus-cryoglobulinemia? virological, immunological, and clinical data from a real-life experience.

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of cryoglobulinemia. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have markedly changed the therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of patients with HCV. We evaluate the efficacy, safety, immunological, and clinical response of different DAA regimens in HCV-cryoglobulinemia.

Trend of estimated glomerular filtration rate during ombistasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir ± ribavirin in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

The renal function is a key-issue in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, nevertheless, it has not established so far whether HCV treatment with new direct acting agents could impact on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) variations. In the present work, we examined the real-life data on renal function that have been prospectively collected in the SIMIT compassionate-use program of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir (OBV/PTV/r + DSV) in 144 HIV/HCV genotype 1 co-infected patients. The population was 74% male, 30.

A dual regimen of ritonavir/darunavir plus dolutegravir for rescue or simplification of rescue therapy: 48 weeks' observational data.

Background: Dolutegravir (DTG) plus darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) is a simple combination of drugs that has the best genetic barrier to HIV-1 resistance and may be fit for salvage therapy.

Methods: All HIV-1-infected subjects treated with DTG plus DRV/r between March 2014 and September 2015 in eight Italian centres were included in the analysis. The main metabolic data, efficacy parameters and safety data routinely collected were provided.

Short article: Retreatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection after unsuccessful therapy with all-oral direct-acting antiviral regimens: a real-life experience.

Objective: Few real-life data are available on the retreatment of patients who failed direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-regimens. We reported the outcome of retreatment with approved DAA regimens in a real-life cohort of patients who previously failed an all-oral DAAs combination and we analyzed the association with resistance substitutions (RASs) performed at the time of virological failure.

Aim And Methods: Next-generation sequencing of the NS3, NS5A, and NS5B regions was performed by Illumina deep sequencing.

Strategic use of dual regimens of boosted protease inhibitors plus maraviroc in poorly adherent subjects in view of long-acting drugs: A retrospective study.

In view of the forthcoming long-acting antiretrovirals, measures should be taken to prevent the selection of HIV drug resistance mutations. All subjects who had been switched to boosted protease inhibitors plus maraviroc (bPIs/MVC) with baseline HIV-1 RNA >50 copies/mL between June, 2014, and April, 2015, were retrospectively evaluated. HIV-1 RNA, CD4+ T-cells, serum glucose, creatinine, ALT, and adverse events were controlled every 3 to 4 months.

Salvage therapy or simplification of salvage regimens with dolutegravir plus ritonavir-boosted darunavir dual therapy in highly cART-experienced subjects: an Italian cohort.

Background: Dolutegravir plus darunavir provide a high genetic barrier to HIV-1 resistance and are suitable for simple salvage regimens.

Methods: All HIV-1-infected subjects treated with dolutegravir plus boosted darunavir dual therapy between March 2011 and September 2015 were included in an observational cohort. Data were collected at baseline and at weeks 4, 12, 24 and 48.

A boceprevir failure in a patient infected with HCV genotype 1g: importance and limitations of virus genotyping prior to HCV protease-inhibitor-based therapy.

A patient classified as HCV-1a-positive by both LiPA Siemens 2.0 and Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II was instead found to be infected with HCV-1g, as determined by phylogenetic analysis of NS3 sequences. HCV-1g NS3 sequences available to date naturally harbour the resistance substitution T54S, plus P131S and L135F changes, located in the highly conserved NS3 positions within the boceprevir-binding site, as determined by structural modelling.

Atherosclerosis is associated with multiple pathogenic mechanisms in HIV-infected antiretroviral-naive or treated individuals.

Objectives: HIV-infected patients have a greater burden of sub-clinical and clinical atherosclerotic disease compared to the general population. The primary objective of this study was to compare the relative roles of inflammation, endothelial alterations, and metabolic factors in the induction and maintenance of atherosclerosis in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated or ART-naive patients.

Design: Cross-sectional study; 79 HIV-infected patients (55 ART-treated and 24 naive individuals) were consecutively enrolled.

The profile of mutational clusters associated with lamivudine resistance can be constrained by HBV genotypes.

Background/aims: To investigate the different clusters of mutations associated with lamivudine resistance in HBV genotypes D and A.

Methods: HBV reverse transcriptase sequences of 89 HBV-infected patients failing lamivudine treatment were analyzed. The association of mutations with HBV genotypes was assessed by Chi-Squared test and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Thalidomide in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C unresponsive to alfa-interferon and ribavirin.

Immunomodulation of thalidomide is represented by the antiinflammatory effect through inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha and costimulatory effect on human CD8+ T cells. We investigated the efficacy and safety of a 24-wk course of thalidomide at a dosage of 200 mg/day in eight patients with HCV chronic hepatitis nonresponders to interferon alpha plus ribavirin. We observed a significant mean decrease of serum aminotransferases and gamma-glutamyltransferases of 39% and 61%, respectively (p = 0.