Measles virus and cytomegalovirus co-infection, in a child with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection, during COVID-19 pandemic: a case report.

Measles virus (MV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) may cause pediatric infection. We report the first described case of MV and CMV co-infection in an unvaccinated 13-mo-old girl, with a recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, occurred during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic context, combined with patient's complex clinical scenario, presenting symptoms as persistent fever, diarrhea, vomiting, maculopapular rash and edema, in addition to high level of inflammatory markers, led to a suspicion of multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Long term follow-up of humoral and cellular response to mRNA-based vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 in patients with active multiple myeloma.

Long-term kinetics of antibody (Ab) and cell-mediated immune (CMI) response to full anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine schedule and booster doses in Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients remain unclear. We prospectively evaluated Ab and CMI response to mRNA vaccines in 103 SARS-CoV-2-naïve MM patients (median age 66, 1 median prior line of therapy) and 63 health-workers. Anti-S-RBD IgG (Elecsysassay) were measured before vaccination and after 1 (T1), 3 (T3), 6 (T6), 9 (T9) and 12 (T12) months from second dose (D2) and 1 month after the introduction of the booster dose (T1D3).

Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Load Kinetics and Clinical Course of Acute Bronchiolitis in Hospitalized Infants: Interim Results and Review of the Literature.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants. The role of RSV load in disease severity is still debated. We present the interim results of a prospective monocentric study enrolling previously healthy infants hospitalized for RSV bronchiolitis, collecting nasopharyngeal aspirates every 48 h from admission to discharge, and evaluating RSV load dynamics in relation to clinical outcome measures of bronchiolitis severity, including: need, type and duration of oxygen therapy, length of hospitalization, and the bronchiolitis clinical score calculated at admission.

Rationale and design of the Biventricular Evaluation of Gliflozins effects In chroNic Heart Failure: BEGIN-HF study.

Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) represent a unique class of anti-hyperglycaemic agents for type 2 diabetes mellitus that selectively inhibit renal glucose reabsorption, thereby increasing urinary excretion of glucose. Several studies have demonstrated the cardioprotective effects of SGLT-2i in patients with heart failure (HF), unrelated to its glucosuric effect. It is unclear whether the benefits of SGLT-2i therapy also rely on the improvement of left ventricular (LV) and/or right ventricular (RV) function in patients with HF.

Fetal Brain Damage in Human Fetuses with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: Histological Features and Viral Tropism.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) causes congenital neurological lifelong disabilities. To date, the neuropathogenesis of brain injury related to congenital HCMV (cCMV) infection is poorly understood. This study evaluates the characteristics and pathogenetic mechanisms of encephalic damage in cCMV infection.

Difference in safety and humoral response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with autoimmune neurological disorders: the ANCOVAX study.

Background: Assessing the safety of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines and the effect of immunotherapies on the seroconversion rate in patients with autoimmune neurological conditions (ANC) is relevant to clinical practice. Our aim was to assess the antibody response to and safety of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in ANC.

Methods: This longitudinal study included ANC patients vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 between March and August 2021.

Feasibility and Effectiveness Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Antigenic Tests in Mass Screening of a Pediatric Population and Correlation with the Kinetics of Viral Loads.

The gold standard for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). However, rapid antigen detection kits (Ag-RDTs), may offer advantages over NAAT in mass screening, generating results in minutes, both as laboratory-based test or point-of-care (POC) use for clinicians, at a lower cost. We assessed two different POC Ag-RDTs in mass screening versus NAAT for SARS-CoV-2 in a cohort of pediatric patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Unit of IRCCS-Polyclinic of Sant'Orsola, Bologna (from November 2020 to April 2021).

Paradigm shift in heart failure treatment: are cardiologists ready to use gliflozins?

Despite recent advances in chronic heart failure (HF) therapy, the prognosis of HF patients remains poor, with high rates of HF rehospitalizations and death in the early months after discharge. This emphasizes the need for incorporating novel HF drugs, beyond the current approach (that of modulating the neurohumoral response). Recently, new antidiabetic oral medications (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i)) have been shown to improve prognosis in diabetic patients with previous cardiovascular (CV) events or high CV risk profile.

Association between high Gal-3 serum levels and worsening of renal function in chronic heart failure outpatients.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between Gal-3 serum levels and the progression of renal dysfunction in chronic heart failure outpatients. This prospective study of 260 chronic heart failure patients showed that Gal-3 was associated with 1-year worsening of renal function both in univariate (odds ratio: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.

Renal Venous Pattern: A New Parameter for Predicting Prognosis in Heart Failure Outpatients.

Aim Of The Study: In chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, renal congestion plays a key role in determining the progression of renal dysfunction and a worse prognosis. The aim of this study was to define the role of Doppler venous patterns reflecting renal congestion that predict heart failure progression.

Methods: We enrolled outpatients affected by CHF, in stable clinical conditions and in conventional therapy.

A new educational program in heart failure drug development: the Brescia international master program.

: Despite recent advances in chronic heart failure treatment, prognosis of acute heart failure patients remains poor with a heart failure rehospitalization rate or death reaching approximately 25% during the first 6 months after discharge. In addition, about half of these patients have preserved ejection fraction for which there are no evidence-based therapies. Disappointing results from heart failure clinical trials over the past 20 years emphasize the need for developing novel approaches and pathways for testing new heart failure drugs and devices.

A Multiparametric Approach Based on NT-proBNP, ST2, and Galectin3 for Stratifying One Year Prognosis of Chronic Heart Failure Outpatients.

Galectin-3 and ST2 are emerging biomarkers involved in myocardial fibrosis. We evaluate the relevance of a multiparametric biomarker approach based on increased serum levels of NT-proBNP, galectin-3, and ST2 in stratifying the prognosis of chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients. In 315 CHF outpatients in stable clinical condition clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were performed.

Right ventriculo-arterial coupling assessed by two-dimensional strain: A new parameter of right ventricular function independently associated with prognosis in chronic heart failure patients.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate whether right ventriculo-arterial coupling obtained by the estimation of the two-dimensional right ventricular (RV) longitudinal strain and of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) could improve prognostic stratification of chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients.

Methods: CHF outpatients in a stable clinical condition and in conventional therapy were enrolled. The global RV longitudinal strain (RV-GLS) and the strain of the RV free wall (RV-fwLS) were evaluated.

The Renal Arterial Resistance Index Predicts Worsening Renal Function in Chronic Heart Failure Patients.

Background/aim: The renal arterial resistance index (RRI) is a Doppler measure, which reflects abnormalities in the renal blood flow. The aim of this study was to verify the value of RRI as a predictor of worsening renal function (WRF) in a group of chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients.

Methods: We enrolled 266 patients in stable clinical conditions and on conventional therapy.

Galectin-3 Serum Levels Are Independently Associated With Microalbuminuria in Chronic Heart Failure Outpatients.

Background: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a novel biomarker reflecting inflammation status and fibrosis involving worsening of both cardiac and renal functions.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Gal-3 serum levels and microalbuminuria in a group of chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled CHF outpatients having stable clinical conditions and receiving conventional therapy.

Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain Measures Independently Predict Chronic Heart Failure Mortality.

The assessment of right ventricular (RV) function still remains a challenge. Two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking has recently been proposed to evaluate right ventricular function by analyzing myocardial deformation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of 2D systolic strain measures of RV in predicting mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (HF).

Ventricular repolarization measures for arrhythmic risk stratification.

Ventricular repolarization is a complex electrical phenomenon which represents a crucial stage in electrical cardiac activity. It is expressed on the surface electrocardiogram by the interval between the start of the QRS complex and the end of the T wave or U wave (QT). Several physiological, pathological and iatrogenic factors can influence ventricular repolarization.

The predictive value of plasma biomarkers in discharged heart failure patients: role of galectin-3.

Over the last years a number of new biomarkers reflecting different aspects of heart failure (HF) pathophysiology have been evaluated in order to improve diagnosis and to better define prognosis of patients. Among these, Galectin 3 (Gal-3) seems particularly promising. It is a soluble beta galactoside-binding lectin produced by activated macrophages which binds and activates the fibroblasts thus leading to the deposition of collagen into the extracellular matrix and to a progressive cardiac fibrosis.

The independent association between altered renal arterial resistance and loop diuretic dose in chronic heart failure outpatients.

Background: In chronic heart failure (CHF) patients there is a wide variability in the minimal effective diuretic dose. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether renal resistance index (RRI) is associated to baseline diuretic dose and the changes at one year.

Methods And Results: 250 outpatients in a stable condition and in conventional therapy were enrolled.

Evaluation of chronic kidney disease in chronic heart failure: From biomarkers to arterial renal resistances.

Chronic kidney disease and its worsening are recurring conditions in chronic heart failure (CHF) which are independently associated with poor patient outcome. The heart and kidney share many pathophysiological mechanisms which can determine dysfunction in each organ. Cardiorenal syndrome is the condition in which these two organs negatively affect each other, therefore an accurate evaluation of renal function in the clinical setting of CHF is essential.