Analytical performance evaluation of Lumipulse® SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay in 392 asymptomatic patients.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is one of the current public health care challenges. The main strategy adopted to prevent the spread of infection is the rapid identification of COVID-19-positive subjects. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of Lumipulse® antigen immunoassay with the real-time RT-PCR, the gold standard for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, in a strictly selected asymptomatic population.

Durability of Humoral Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Citizens of Ariano Irpino (Campania, Italy): A Longitudinal Observational Study With an 11.5-Month Follow-Up.

As of November 17, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2), the causative agent of COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 19), has infected ~250 million people worldwide, causing around five million deaths. Titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies were relatively stable for at least 9 months in a population-based study conducted in Wuhan, China, both in symptomatic and in asymptomatic individuals. In the mass screening campaign conducted in the town of Ariano Irpino (Avellino, Italy) in May, 2020, 5.

Clinical Outcome Prediction in COVID-19 Patients by Lymphocyte Subsets Analysis and Monocytes' iTNF-α Expression.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, "SARS-CoV-2", was recognized as the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several studies have explored the changes and the role of inflammatory cells and cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of the disease, but until today, the results have been controversial. Based on these premises, we conducted a retrospective assessment of monocyte intracellular TNF-α expression (iTNF-α) and on the frequencies of lymphocyte sub-populations in twenty-five patients with moderate/severe COVID-19.

Prevalence of dengue virus serotypes in the 2017 outbreak in Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.

Background: Dengue is a viral disease, transmitted by infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus female mosquitoes. Worldwide, 96 million infections were estimated in 2010. The dengue virus comprises four distinct serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4) which belong to the genus Flavivirus.

Interleukin-6 polymorphisms in HCC patients chronically infected with HCV.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary liver malignancy in which the risk of development is always multifunctional. Interleukin-6 is a proinflammatory and multifunctional cytokine, which plays an important role in the immune response, haematopoiesis and defence against viral infection. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of mutations (rs2069837 and rs17147230) associated with genetic risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Khyber Pakthunkhwa population.

Correction: Nine-year distribution pattern of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Southern Italy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Prevalence of Hepatitis C virus genotypes in nine selected European countries: A systematic review.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem especially for its increasing level of mortality. Detailed knowledge of HCV genotypes prevalence has clinical relevance since the efficacy of therapies is impacted by genotypes and subtypes distribution. Moreover, HCV exhibits a great genetic variability regionally.

Nine-year distribution pattern of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Southern Italy.

Introduction: It has been greatly described that different hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes are strictly correlated to various evolution, prognosis and response to therapy during the chronic liver disease. Aim of this study was to outline the changes in the epidemiology of Hepatitis C genotypes in Southern Italy regions from 2006 to 2014.

Material/methods: Prevalence of HCV genotypes was analyzed in 535 HCV-RNA positive patients with chronic Hepatitis C infection, selected during the period 2012-2014, and compared with our previous data, referred to periods 2006-2008 and 2009-2011.

Hepatitis delta virus and hepatocellular carcinoma: an update.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus that depends on the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) for the creation of new virions and propagation of the infection to hepatocytes. Chronic infection with HDV is usually associated with a worsening of HBV infection, leading more frequently to cirrhosis, increased risk of liver decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence. In spite of a progressive declining prevalence of both acute and chronic HDV infection observed over several years, mainly due to increased global health policies and mass vaccination against HBV, several European countries have more recently observed stable HDV prevalence mainly due to migrants from non-European countries.

Pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland and synchronous/metachronous invasive ductal breast cancer: a casual coincidence or a clinical presentation resulting from common genetic events?

Breast and salivary glands have similar morphological and pathological features; however genetic relation between these lesions were not described. In this report we described a small series of biomarkers that developed synchronously or metachronous pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands and invasive breast cancer, on which we have tested, by immunohistochemistry, several of bio-markers that may be associated with the pathogenesis of both malignancies. In conclusion, we suggest to better investigate early genetic alterations that could underlie of the synchronous occurrence of these lesions.

Sex Hormone Receptors in Benign and Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors: Prognostic and Predictive Role.

The role of sex hormone receptors in human cancer development and progression has been well documented in numerous studies, as has the success of sex hormone antagonists in the biological therapy of many human tumors. In salivary gland tumors (SGTs), little and conflicting information about the role of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PgR) and androgen receptor (AR) has been described and in most cases the use of sex hormone antagonists is not contemplated in clinical practice. In this study, we analyzed a panel of sex hormone receptors that have not been widely investigated in SGTs-ERα, PgR, AR, but also ERβ and GPR30-to define their expression pattern and their prognostic and predictive value in a case series of 69 benign and malignant SGTs.

Analytical Criticalities Associated to Different Immunological Methods for Serum Free Light Chain Detection in Plasma Cell Dyscrasias: A Description of Particular Clinical Cases.

Current criteria for differential diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM), Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) are included in the 2003 guidelines by the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG). An updated version was then published in 2014, highlighting the importance of serum free light chain (sFLC) detection, as well as the κ/λ ratio as excellent indicators of clonality. At present, two commercial assays for sFLC quantification are available: the Freelite™ assay and the N-Latex assay.

Deregulation of paralogous 13 HOX genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Many oncogenic drivers related to the pathogenesis of OSCC have identified, but the discovery of new molecular markers for early detection of this cancer, remains one the main goals of clinical research. HOX genes regulate normal embryonic development, cell differentiation and other critical processes in eukaryotic cell life. Several studies have demonstrated that the deregulation of HOX genes play a significant role in cancer development and progression.

Expression analysis of SPARC/osteonectin in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients: from saliva to surgical specimen.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, with approximately 540,000 new cases annually worldwide. The molecular mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of this disease are still poorly understood. The discovery of a molecular marker that allows the early detection of this cancer, which can be easily identified in biological samples, such as saliva, without intervening in advanced stages, is a challenge.

MYC chromosomal aberration in differential diagnosis between Burkitt and other aggressive lymphomas.

Myc oncogenetic deregulation is abundantly described in several solid human cancer and lymphomas. Particularly, Burkitt's lymphoma belongs to the family of B Non Hodgkin aggressive lymphomas. Although it is morphologically characterized, immunophenotypic and cytogenetic diagnosis remains complex.