Prevalence, Species Distribution and Resistance of Candidemia in Pediatric and Adult Patients in a Northeast Italy University Hospital.

Candidemia and invasive candidiasis (IC) are causes of morbidity and mortality in healthcare settings, with notable differences between children and adults. Understanding the species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of clinical isolates can guide empiric therapy in patients at risk of IC. This study investigated the incidence and antifungal susceptibility patterns of yeasts involved in IC in pediatric and adult patients from 2019 to 2023.

Temporal witnesses of non-classicality in a macroscopic biological system.

Exciton transfer along a bio-polymer is essential for many biological processes, for instance, light harvesting in photosynthetic biosystems. Here we apply a new witness of non-classicality to this phenomenon, to conclude that, if an exciton can mediate the coherent quantum evolution of a photon, then the exciton is non-classical. We then propose a general qubit model for the quantum transfer of an exciton along a bio-polymer chain, also discussing the effects of environmental decoherence.

Vaccine-related influenza virus B infection in a child with an undiagnosed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We report a case of Influenza type B (lineage Yamagata) infection in a child who received the live attenuated influenza virus vaccine before being diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The patient developed a mild disease that persisted for 18 days and resolved without antiviral treatment. The prolonged infection of an attenuated virus in an immunocompromised host might pose a risk of reversion or evolution to a more pathogenic strain.

Human NK cells and cancer.

The long story of NK cells started about 50 y ago with the first demonstration of a natural cytotoxic activity within an undefined subset of circulating leukocytes, has involved an ever-growing number of researchers, fascinated by the apparently easy-to-reach aim of getting a "universal anti-tumor immune tool". In fact, in spite of the impressive progress obtained in the first decades, these cells proved far more complex than expected and, paradoxically, the accumulating findings have continuously moved forward the attainment of a complete control of their function for immunotherapy. The refined studies of these latter years have indicated that NK cells can epigenetically calibrate their functional potential, in response to specific environmental contexts, giving rise to extraordinarily variegated subpopulations, comprehensive of memory-like cells, tissue-resident cells, or cells in various differentiation stages, or distinct functional states.

Prevalence and virulence potential of spp. isolated from human diarrheal samples in North East Italy.

In this work, we demonstrate the epidemiologic relevance of the genus as the cause of infective diarrhea in North East Italy, both in children and adult subjects, with the significative presence of highly pathogenic strains. strains possess a heterogeneous armamentarium of pathogenicity factors that allows the microbe to affect a wide range of human intestinal epithelial cell processes that justify the ability to induce diarrhea through different mechanisms and cause diseases of variable severity, as observed for other gastrointestinal pathogens. However, it remains to be determined whether specific genotype(s) are associated with clinical pictures of different severity to implement the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for this relevant enteric pathogen.

PLX4032 resistance of patient-derived melanoma cells: crucial role of oxidative metabolism.

Background: Malignant melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer which shows BRAF mutation in 50% of patients. In this context, the identification of BRAF mutation led to the development of specific inhibitors like PLX4032. Nevertheless, although its initial success, its clinical efficacy is reduced after six-months of therapy leading to cancer relapse due to the onset of drug resistance.

Murine models to study human NK cells in human solid tumors.

Since the first studies, the mouse models have provided crucial support for the most important discoveries on NK cells, on their development, function, and circulation within normal and tumor tissues. Murine tumor models were initially set to study murine NK cells, then, ever more sophisticated human-in-mice models have been developed to investigate the behavior of human NK cells and minimize the interferences from the murine environment. This review presents an overview of the models that have been used along time to study NK cells, focusing on the most popular NOG and NSG models, which work as recipients for the preparation of human-in-mice tumor models, the study of transferred human NK cells, and the evaluation of various enhancers of human NK cell function, including cytokines and chimeric molecules.

The roles of different forms of IL-15 in human melanoma progression.

Background: Melanoma is a lethal skin cancer, and the risk of developing it is increased by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The production of cytokines such as interleukin-15 (IL-15), induced by the exposure of skin cells to UV rays, could also promote melanoma development. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of Interleukin-15/Interleukin-15 Receptor α (IL-15/IL-15Rα) complexes in melanoma development.

Nocardia infections in Italy: from a local to a national view.

In this paper, we have described cases of nocardiosis that occurred in our hospital and examined the literature on other nocardiosis cases recorded in Italy. We have collected the clinical details of our recent cases and described them in full. Regarding the older cases in our hospital and the Italian cases present in the literature, we noted the clinical data, the Nocardia species involved, and the antimicrobial susceptibility reported.

Modeling RTT Syndrome by iPSC-Derived Neurons from Male and Female Patients with Heterogeneously Severe Hot-Spot MECP2 Variants.

Rett syndrome caused by variants is characterized by a heterogenous clinical spectrum accounted for in 60% of cases by hot-spot variants. Focusing on the most frequent variants, we generated in vitro iPSC-neurons from the blood of RTT girls with p.Arg133Cys and p.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade: A Strategy to Unleash the Potential of Natural Killer Cells in the Anti-Cancer Therapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) immunotherapy has represented a breakthrough in cancer treatment. Clinical use of ICIs has shown an acceptable safety profile and promising antitumor activity. Nevertheless, some patients do not obtain clinical benefits after ICIs therapy.

A novel phenolic derivative inhibits AHL-dependent quorum sensing signaling in .

Increasing antibiotic resistance and the decline in the pharmaceutical industry's investments have amplified the need for novel treatments for multidrug-resistant bacteria. Quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors reduce pathogens' virulence without selective pressure on bacteria and provide an alternative to conventional antibiotic-based therapies. uses complex QS signaling to control virulence and biofilm formation.

HO-1 Limits the Efficacy of Vemurafenib/PLX4032 in BRAF Mutated Melanoma Cells Adapted to Physiological Normoxia or Hypoxia.

Induction of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) favors immune-escape in BRAF melanoma cells treated with Vemurafenib/PLX4032 under standard cell culture conditions. However, the oxygen tension under standard culture conditions (~18 kPa O) is significantly higher than the physiological oxygen levels encountered in vivo. In addition, cancer cells in vivo are often modified by hypoxia.

Utility of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as predictors of Gram-negative bacteremia in febrile hematological outpatients.

This study was designed to determine the utility of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as predictors of Gram-negative bloodstream infection (GN-BSI) in hematological febrile outpatients at the time of the emergency unit admission. Overall, 286 febrile episodes, which included 42 GN-BSI (16%), were considered. PCT levels at patient admission were statistically higher in GNB-BSI when compared to Gram-positive bacteria BSI (median 4.

Visual Cortex Engagement in Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a family of inherited disorders caused by the progressive degeneration of retinal photoreceptors. There is no cure for RP, but recent research advances have provided promising results from many clinical trials. All these therapeutic strategies are focused on preserving existing photoreceptors or substituting light-responsive elements.

Natural killer cell receptors regulate responses of HLA-E-restricted T cells.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can stimulate robust human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E-restricted CD8 T cell responses. These T cells recognize a peptide from UL40, which differs by as little as a single methyl group from self-peptides that also bind HLA-E, challenging their capacity to avoid self-reactivity. Unexpectedly, we showed that the UL40/HLA-E T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire included TCRs that had high affinities for HLA-E/self-peptide.

Effects of leukoreduction on storage lesions in whole blood and blood components of dogs.

Background: Leukoreduction is a routine procedure in human transfusion medicine but is uncommon in veterinary.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of leukoreduction on the quality of canine whole blood (WB) and blood products during storage.

Animals: Ten canine blood donors.

Interleukin-15 and cancer: some solved and many unsolved questions.

Soluble interleukin (IL)-15 exists under two forms: as monomer (sIL-15) or as heterodimeric complex in association with sIL-15Rα (sIL-15/IL-15Rα). Both forms have been successfully tested in experimental tumor murine models and are currently undergoing investigation in phase I/II clinical trials. Despite more than 20 years research on IL-15, some controversial issues remain to be addressed.

TIGIT Blockade and IL15 in Tumor Immunotherapy: Together is Better.

IL15 and TIGIT blockade enhances the natural killer (NK) cell-mediated activity against MHC-I-deficient melanoma both and in preclinical models. IL15-induced harnessing of NK cells, associated with their unleashing by TIGIT blockade, may represent a therapeutic approach for tumors, which lack HLA-I molecules thus escaping the CD8 T cell-mediated control..

NK cells and ILCs in tumor immunotherapy.

Cells of the innate immunity play an important role in tumor immunotherapy. Thus, NK cells can control tumor growth and metastatic spread. Thanks to their strong cytolytic activity against tumors, different approaches have been developed for exploiting/harnessing their function in patients with leukemia or solid tumors.

Electronic cigarette use among Italian smokers: patterns, settings, and adverse events.

Objective: Information is scanty on the patterns and settings of electronic cigarette use and on its possible adverse events. To fill the knowledge gap on these issues, we conducted a survey among ever-smokers attending smoking cessation services (SCS) in Italy.

Methods: In 2016-2018, we enrolled 395 ever-smokers aged ⩾18 years who were current or former electronic cigarette users in 12 SCS from northern, central, and southern Italy.

Inhibitory checkpoints in human natural killer cells: IUPHAR Review 28.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy leading to exceptional success. However, there is still the need to improve their efficacy in non-responder patients. Natural killer (NK) cells represent the first line of defence against tumours, due to their ability to release immunomodulatory cytokines and kill target cells that have undergone malignant transformation.

Targeted Therapies: Friends or Foes for Patient's NK Cell-Mediated Tumor Immune-Surveillance?

In the last 20 years there has been a huge increase in the number of novel drugs for cancer treatment. Most of them exploit their ability to target specific oncogenic mutations in the tumors (targeted therapies-TT), while others target the immune-checkpoint inhibitor molecules (ICI) or the epigenetic DNA modifications. Among them, TT are the longest established drugs exploited against a wide spectrum of both solid and hematological tumors, often with reasonable costs and good efficacy as compared to other innovative therapies (i.

Association Between Response to Nivolumab Treatment and Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subsets in Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Immune checkpoint blockade represents a major breakthrough in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. However, success is limited to a subset of patients and there is a critical need to identify robust biomarkers associated with clinical response. In this study, we assessed whether pre-existing immunological characteristics, as well as immune parameters measured during treatment, might provide such clinical guidance.