Systemic Connective Tissue Disease and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Coexistence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Several results support the hypothesis that a group of pathologies falling within the Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) diagnostic criteria may coexist with Connective Tissue Diseases (CTD) in patients with a high susceptibility to autoimmune conditions. However, the relationship between NMOSD and rheumatologic diseases deserves further investigations to clarify all clinical aspects of this coexistence. We designed a systematic review and a proportional meta-analysis to estimate the association between CTD and MNOSD, with the aim of helping to plan the best strategy to achieve the most significant public health benefit for these conditions.

Monocyte Distribution Width as a predictor of community acquired sepsis in patients prospectively enrolled at the Emergency Department.

Background: Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW), a simple cellular marker of innate monocyte activation, can be used for the early recognition of sepsis. We performed an observational prospective monocentric study to assess the predictive role of MDW in detecting sepsis in a sample of consecutive patients presenting at the Emergency Department.

Methods: Prospective observational study using demographic and clinical characteristics, past medical history and other laboratory measurements to predict confirmed sepsis using multivariate logistic regression.

SOX-1 antibodies in a patient with Crohn's disease: a case report.

Background: The anti-SOX-1 antibodies have been mainly associated with Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LETMS) and Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). In this report, we describe the interesting case of a patient with serum anti-SOX-1 antibodies and Crohn's Disease (CD) with ensuing neurological symptoms.

Case Presentation: A Caucasian 67-year-old female was admitted to the Emergency Department with seizures, vertigo, emesis, nausea, postural instability and recurrent falls, over a period of 10 days.

Reliability of predictive models to support early decision making in the emergency department for patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19: the Pescara Covid Hospital score.

Background: The hospital management of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 can be hampered by heterogeneous characteristics at entry into the emergency department. We aimed to identify demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters associated with higher risks of hospitalisation, oxygen support, admission to intensive care and death, to build a risk score for clinical decision making at presentation to the emergency department.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study using linked administrative data and laboratory parameters available in the initial phase of the pandemic at the emergency department of the regional reference hospital of Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy, March-June 2020.

Monocyte distribution width (MDW) as a new tool for the prediction of sepsis in critically ill patients: a preliminary investigation in an intensive care unit.

Background: Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW), a simple proxy marker of innate monocyte activation, can be used for the early recognition of sepsis along with Procalcitonin. This study explored the added value of MDW as an early predictor of ensuing sepsis in patients hospitalised in an Intensive Care Unit.

Methods: We performed an observational prospective monocentric study to estimate the analytical performance of MDW in detecting ensuing sepsis in a sample of consecutive patients assisted in an Intensive Care Unit for > 48 h for any reason.

Circulating lymphocyte subsets as promising biomarkers to identify septic patients at higher risk of unfavorable outcome.

Background: Early recognition of patients hospitalized for sepsis at higher risk of poor clinical outcome is a mandatory task and many studies suggested that indicators of the immune status may be useful for this purpose. We performed a retrospective, monocentric cohort study to evaluate whether lymphocyte subsets may be useful in predicting in-hospital mortality of septic patients.

Methods: Data of all consecutive patients with a diagnosis of sepsis at discharge and an available peripherical blood lymphocyte subset (CD4, CD8, CD16/CD56 and CD19) analysis at hospital entry were retrospectively collected between January 2015 and August 2018.

Comparison of Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) and Procalcitonin for early recognition of sepsis.

We carried out a prospective observational study to evaluate whether Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) may play a role in identifying patients with sepsis in comparison with Procalcitonin (PCT). We prospectively enrolled all consecutive patients hospitalized at the Infectious Diseases Unit of Pescara General Hospital for bacterial infection or sepsis. MDW values were collected for all patients.

Homocysteine and education but not lipoprotein (a) predict estimated 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease in blood donors: a community based cross-sectional study.

Background: With aging of the population, screening and prevention health programs for blood donors will increasingly be a priority. We aimed at: assessing the 10 year-cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in blood donors, according to Italian CUORE risk score (CRS); determining the association of homocysteine (Hcy), lipoprotein (Lp)(a) and socio-demographic or lifestyle variables with estimated 10-year CVD risk.

Methods: Between June 2015 and July 2017, 1,447 (61.

Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in critical patients at ICU admission: A preliminary investigation of their role in the prediction of sepsis during ICU stay.

A better knowledge of factors predicting the development of sepsis in patients hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) might help deploy more targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies. In addition to the known clinical and demographic predictors of septic syndromes, in this study, we investigated whether measuring T and B lymphocyte subsets upon admission in the ICU may help individualize the prediction of ensuing sepsis during ICU stay. Between May 2015 and December 2016, we performed a prospective cohort study evaluating peripheral blood lymphocyte T-CD4+ (T-helper cells), T-CD8+ (cytotoxic T-cells), T-CD56 + (natural killer cells), and T-CD19+ (B-lymphocytes), using flow cytometry on blood samples collected 2 days after admission in the ICU.

Preliminary evaluation of the impact of a Web-based HIV testing programme in Abruzzo Region on the prevention of late HIV presentation and associated mortality.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of a Web-based testing programme in terms of the prevention of late HIV presentation. The clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with HIV via the Web-based testing programme were compared to those of patients diagnosed in parallel via standard diagnostic care procedures.

Methods: This study included the clinical and demographic data of newly diagnosed HIV patients enrolled at the study clinic between February 2014 and June 2017.

Position paper on laboratory testing for patients taking new oral anticoagulants. Consensus document of FCSA, SIMeL, SIBioC and CISMEL1).

At variance with vitamin K antagonists, the new oral anticoagulants(NOAs) can be prescribed at fixed dosage without adjustment by laboratory testing. However, this does not necessarily mean that the laboratory does not play a role for their management. This position paper represents the consensus document of three Italian scientific societies dealing with laboratory issues in thrombosis and hemostasis.