Revisiting the impact of Schistosoma mansoni regulating mechanisms on transmission dynamics using SchiSTOP, a novel modelling framework.

Background: The transmission cycle of Schistosoma is remarkably complex, including sexual reproduction in human hosts and asexual reproduction in the intermediate host (freshwater snails). Patterns of rapid recrudescence after treatment and stable low transmission are often observed, hampering the achievement of control targets. Current mathematical models commonly assume regulation of transmission to occur at worm level through density-dependent egg production.

A new case of Echovirus 11 neonatal fulminant hepatitis involving male twins in a Northern Italy Tertiary University Hospital: Insight on a possible immunological clue.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has reported 19 cases of severe echovirus 11 infections in neonates since 2022, nine of which were fatal. We report a new fatal neonatal case that occurred in a male twin for which we evaluated the respiratory and intestinal mucosal innate immune response.

Molecular characterization of emerging Echovirus 11 (E11) shed light on the recombinant origin of a variant associated with severe hepatitis in neonates.

Echovirus 11 (E11) has gained attention owing to its association with severe neonatal infections. Due to the limited data available, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers public health risk to the general population to be low. The present study investigated the genetic variation and molecular evolution of E11 genomes collected from May to December 2023.

Dynamics of viral DNA shedding and culture viral DNA positivity in different clinical samples collected during the 2022 mpox outbreak in Lombardy, Italy.

Background: Mpox virus (MPXV) has recently spread outside of sub-Saharan Africa. This large multicentre study was conducted in Lombardy, the most densely populated Italian region accounting for more than 40% of Italian cases. The present study aims to: i) evaluate the presence and the shedding duration of MPXV DNA in different body compartments correlating the MPXV viability with the time to onset of symptoms; ii) provide evidence of MPXV persistence in different body compartment as a source of infection and iii) characterize the MPXV evolution by whole genome sequencing (WGS) during the outbreak occurred in Italy.

Clinical and histological features of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and autoimmune thyroiditis: a national multicentre cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is frequently associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (AT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of AT in a national cohort of pSS and to describe the clinical and histological phenotype of patients with pSS and associated AT.

Methods: In this multicentre cross-sectional study, data from 2546 pSS were collected and the presence of AT was reported.

Isolated Femoral or Tibial Component Revision in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review is to assess clinical and radiographic outcomes, complications rates, rates and reasons of re-revision of isolated femoral or tibial component revisions, comparing them with total knee revisions.

Methods: A review of the published literature was performed using Medline, Embase and Cochrane libraries. The terms "isolate" and "revision" and "knee arthroplasty" or "knee replacement" were together used as MESH terms.

An overview of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the 2020-2022 period in Lombardy.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has shown genetic variability. All the variants that have sustained pandemic waves have shown several mutations, especially in the Spike protein that could affect viral pathogenesis. A total of 15,729 respiratory samples, collected between December 2020 and August 2022, have been included in this study.

Fulminant echovirus 11 hepatitis in male non-identical twins in northern Italy, April 2023.

Echovirus 11 (E11) has recently been associated with a series of nine neonatal cases of severe hepatitis in France. Here, we present severe hepatitis caused by E11 in a pair of twins. In one of the neonates, the clinical picture evolved to fulminant hepatitis.

Higher failure rate of secondary patellar resurfacing following bicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: The role of secondary patellar resurfacing (SPR) in anterior knee pain (AKP) is still debated in literature. A regional arthroplasty registry was investigated, aiming to: (1) assess the survival rate of SPR; and (2) compare SPR to tricompartmental TKA.

Materials And Methods: The regional arthroplasty registry RIPO was investigated about all SPRs performed after bicompartmental arthroplasty.

Multicentre case-control study evaluating the safety of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in a cohort of patients with systemic vasculitis.

Objectives: Data on the safety of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with rare rheumatic diseases, such as systemic vasculitis (SV), are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of a disease flare and the appearance of adverse events (AEs) following administration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a multicentre cohort of patients with SV.

Methods: Patients with SV and healthy controls (HC) from two different Italian rheumatology centres were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing disease flares occurrence, defined as new onset of clinical manifestations related to vasculitis needing an implementation of therapy, and local/systemic AEs appearance following anti SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants in patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission for COVID-19, Northern Italy, December 2021 to January 2022.

This multicenter observational study included 171 COVID-19 adult patients hospitalized in the ICUs of nine hospitals in Lombardy (Northern Italy) from December, 1st 2021, to February, 9th 2022. During the study period, the Delta/Omicron variant ratio of cases decreased with a delay of two weeks in ICU patients compared to that in the community; a higher proportion of COVID-19 unvaccinated patients was infected by Delta than by Omicron whereas a higher rate of COVID-19 boosted patients was Omicron-infected. A higher number of comorbidities and a higher comorbidity score in ICU critically COVID-19 inpatients was positively associated with the Omicron infection as well in vaccinated individuals.

Cup Overhanging in Anatomic Socket Position or High Hip Center of Rotation in Total Hip Arthroplasty for Crowe III and IV Dysplasia: A CT-Based Simulation.

Cup overhanging in total hip arthroplasty is a predisposing factor to iliopsoas impingement. In dysplastic hips, cup implantation was simulated in an anatomic hip center of rotation (AHCR) and in high hip center (HHCR). We sought to assess: (1) the percentage of prominent cups; (2) quantify the cup protrusion at different sites on frontal, axial and sagittal views.

On the lookout for influenza viruses in Italy during the 2021-2022 season: Along came A(H3N2) viruses with a new phylogenetic makeup of their hemagglutinin.

Aims: To assess influenza viruses (IVs) circulation and to evaluate A(H3N2) molecular evolution during the 2021-2022 season in Italy.

Materials And Methods: 12,393 respiratory specimens (nasopharyngeal swabs or broncho-alveolar lavages) collected from in/outpatients with influenza illness in the period spanning from January 1, 2022 (week 2022-01) to May 31, 2022 (week 2022-22) were analysed to identify IV genome and were molecularly characterized by 12 laboratories throughout Italy. A(H3N2) evolution was studied by conducting an in-depth phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene sequences.

Assessing the Efficacy of Early Therapies against SARS-CoV-2 in Hematological Patients: A Real-Life Study from a COVID-19 Referral Centre in Northern Italy.

Early therapies to prevent severe COVID-19 have an unclear impact on patients with hematological malignancies. The aim of this study was to assess their efficacy in this group of high-risk patients with COVID-19 in preventing hospitalizations and reducing the SARS-CoV-2 shedding. This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study conducted in the Fondazione IRCSS Policlinico San Matteo of Pavia, Northern Italy.

Single-taper conical tapered stem in total hip arthroplasty for developmental dysplasia of the hip: A long-term evaluation.

Introduction: Conical tapered stems may be useful implants to manage the reconstruction of complex dysplastic anatomies. The aims of this paper were to assess: 1) the preoperative CT features of the dysplastic femurs; 2) survival rates, complications and reasons for revision; 3) the clinical outcomes; 4) the radiographic outcomes of single-taper conical stems in dysplasia (defined as center edge angle < 20°) at a long-term follow-up.

Hypothesis: Monoblock conical stem provides a 10-year survival rate of at least 95%, with excellent clinical outcomes and bony ingrowth.

Safety and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in 1237 patients with primary Sjögren syndrome.

Objectives: To investigate the safety and efficacy of SARS-Cov-2 vaccination in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) due to scarcity of data in this population.

Methods: By the first week of May 2021, all Big Data SS Consortium centres patients who had received at least one dose of any SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were included in the study. The in-charge physician asked patients about local and systemic reactogenicity to collect SARS-CoV-2 vaccination data.

Comparing BamHI-W and CE-marked assays to detect circulating Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) DNA of nasopharyngeal cancer patients in a non-endemic area.

Objectives: Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-DNA is a well-established prognostic biomarker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Different methods for assessment include single-copy gene targeted, European Conformity (CE)-marked assays, which are mostly employed in non-endemic settings, vs multiple-copy gene targeted, in-house BamHI-W based assays, which currently represent the most widely used method for EBV-DNA quantification. To date, evidence concerning the commutability of these different assays is still limited.