Phylogeography and genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy and Europe with newly characterized Italian genomes between February-June 2020.

The aims of this study were to characterize new SARS-CoV-2 genomes sampled all over Italy and to reconstruct the origin and the evolutionary dynamics in Italy and Europe between February and June 2020. The cluster analysis showed only small clusters including < 80 Italian isolates, while most of the Italian strains were intermixed in the whole tree. Pure Italian clusters were observed mainly after the lockdown and distancing measures were adopted.

Incidence of Infections and Predictors of Mortality During Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment and significantly increased overall survival of patients. However, the incidence of concurrent infections and their management is still debated.

Methods: From August 2015 to October 2019, all consecutive patients with NSCLC who received nivolumab or pembrolizumab as first- or second-line therapy were retrospectively evaluated.

Anti-spike S1 receptor-binding domain antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 persist several months after infection regardless of disease severity.

Data regarding the immunological memory and long-time kinetics of immunoglobulin (IgG) against viral nucleoprotein (NP) and spike protein S1 receptor-binding domain (S1RBD) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-associated Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are lacking. All consecutive COVID-19 patients admitted to our Clinic between March 1, 2020, and May 1, 2020, who were tested at hospital admission for anti-S1RBD and anti-NP IgG were enrolled. Serum samples were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with the use of two commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Capacity assessment for provision of quality sexual reproductive health and HIV-integrated services in Karamoja, Uganda.

Introduction: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are crucial global health issues. Uganda continues to sustain a huge burden of HIV and AIDS.

Methods: A cross-sectional health facility-based assessment was performed in November and December 2016 in Karamoja Region, northern Uganda.

Recurrent neurosurgical site infection by extensively drug-resistant treated with cefiderocol: a case report and literature review.

Introduction: Cefiderocol is a new siderophore cephalosporin designed to be active against extensively resistant Gram-negative bacteria; however, clinical studies are limited to complicated urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and intra-abdominal infections. To date, no data are available on neurosurgical site infections.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a patient successfully cured with Cefiderocol for a neurosurgical site infection due to extensively resistant , who had failed a previous treatment based on combined antimicrobial therapy and right parietal bone excision.

Lost to follow-up: a challenge over 10 years.

The loss of patients to follow up is a major issue related to HIV management. Our research was aimed to evaluate, in a single Italian centre, the rate of patients lost to follow-up (LFU) over 10 years, to describe their socio-demographic and clinical features, and to identify predictors of disengagement from care. Between 2008 and 2017, 563 subjects were LFU.

Long-term maintenance of virologic suppression in native and migrant HIV-1 naïve patients: an Italian cohort study.

Little is known about long-term maintenance of virologic suppression in HIV migrants in Italy. The study aims to compare virologic failure rates and associated factors among antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve migrants and natives enrolled in the ARCA database since 2007 who achieved virologic suppression within 18 months from the beginning of the ART. Kaplan-Meier method assessed the probability of virologic suppression and failure.

Influence of HIV-1 V2 sequence variability on bacterial translocation in antiretroviral naïve HIV-1 infected patients.

HIV-1 V2 domain binds α4β7, which assists lymphocyte homing to gut-associated lymphoid tissue. This triggers bacterial translocation, thus contributing to immune activation. We investigated whether variability of V2 binding site could influence plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14), markers of microbial translocation/immune activation.

Infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii: an autochthonous case in Bari, Southern Italy.

An autochthonous case of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix schenckii is reported. The patient developed skin lesions localized along the lymphatics that appeared after he suffered an injury while collecting wicker canes in marshy water. The fungus was identified as Sporothrix schenckii by MALDI-TOF and sequencing.

Gp120 substitutions at positions associated with resistance to fostemsavir in treatment-naive HIV-1-positive individuals.

Objectives: Fostemsavir, a novel attachment inhibitor targeting the HIV-1 gp120, has demonstrated wide in vitro activity. However, the high rate of HIV gp120 substitutions could jeopardize its efficacy. We investigated envelope (env) substitutions at positions associated with resistance to fostemsavir in patients with a new HIV-1 diagnosis according to HIV subtype and tropism.

Efficacy and tolerability of DAAs in HCV-monoinfected and HCV/HIV-coinfected patients with psychiatric disorders.

Background: Few data are available regarding the use of direct antiviral agents (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C in psychiatric patients. The aim of the study is to assess safety and outcome of DAAs in patients with psychiatric comorbidities.

Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-centre study enrolled patients treated with psychiatric drugs who initiated DAAs between 2015 and 2018.

Pretreatment HIV drug resistance and treatment failure in non-Italian HIV-1-infected patients enrolled in ARCA.

Background: An increase in pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) to first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low-income countries has been recently described. Herein we analyse the prevalence of PDR and risk of virological failure (VF) over time among migrants to Italy enrolled in ARCA.

Methods: HIV-1 sequences from ART-naive patients of non-Italian nationality were retrieved from ARCA database from 1998 to 2017.

HIV rapid test in a community setting as a strategy to improve access to HIV testing: data from a multicentre experience in Italy.

4,000 new HIV diagnoses and approximately 800 AIDS cases are still reported annually in Italy. Improving public awareness and bringing out HIV-undiagnosed individuals are keystones to progress towards the control of the HIV epidemic. For this purpose, the Open HIV TEST project was organized and delivered by the Italian NGO Anlaids, together with local infectious diseases specialists, in order to provide free access to HIV testing outside the healthcare setting.

No impact of previous NRTIs resistance in HIV positive patients switched to DTG+2NRTIs under virological control: Time of viral suppression makes the difference.

The accumulation of drug-resistance mutations on combined antiretroviral regimens (ART) backbone could affect the virological efficacy of the regimen. Our aim was to assess the impact of previous drug resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on the probability of virological failure (VF) in patients, under virological control, who switched to dolutegravir (DTG)+2NRTIs regimens. All HIV-1 positive drug-experienced patients who started a regimen composed by DTG+2NRTIs [abacavir/lamivudine or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)/emtricitabine (FTC)] in the ARCA collaborative group with HIV-RNA <50 cp/mL were included in the analysis.

Subcutaneous Human Dirofilariosis By D. Repens In South Italy: A Case Report.

Human dirofilariosis is a zoonosis caused by different Dirofilaria species: D. repens, D. immitis, D.

Variability OF HIV-1 V2 env domain for integrin binding: Clinical correlates.

The HIV V2 (HXB2 numbering) tripeptide mediates binding to α4β7 integrin, which is responsible for GALT homing. Our study aimed to assess V2 variability in naive HIV-1 infected patients and its association with clinical and viro-immunological features. Gp120 sequences were obtained from 322 subjects; length, potential N-linked glycosylation sites (PNGs), net-charge (NC) and tripeptide α4β7-binding-motif of V2 were evaluated.

Uncommon testicular localization of Disseminated TB: a case report from Mozambique.

Tuberculosis (TB) of the testicle is a rarely reported and poorly described disease localization. There are no well-defined clinical features suggestive of testicular TB, which makes the diagnosis difficult to establish, especially in low-income settings like Mozambique, where TB is endemic and often associated with HIV-infection; both considered leading causes of death worldwide. We reported the case of a 45-year-old male, HIV positive, naïve to antiretroviral treatment, admitted to the Department of Medicine of the Central Hospital of Beira to investigate chronic enlargement of the testicles.

Local Epidemics Gone Viral: Evolution and Diffusion of the Italian HIV-1 Recombinant Form CRF60_BC.

The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Italy is becoming increasingly complex, mainly due to the spread of non-B subtypes and the emergence of new recombinant forms. We previously characterized the outbreak of the first Italian circulating recombinant form (CRF60_BC), occurring among young MSM living in Apulia between the years 2009 and 2011. Here we show a 5-year follow-up surveillance to trace the evolution of CRF60_BC and to investigate its further spread in Italy.

Focused ultrasound to diagnose HIV-associated tuberculosis (FASH) in the extremely resource-limited setting of South Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Our cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of Focused Assessment with Sonography for HIV-associated tuberculosis (FASH) to detect extrapulmonary tuberculosis in extremely resource-limited settings, with visceral leishmaniasis as a differential diagnosis with overlapping sonographic feature.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCT) of Yirol Hospital, South Sudan.