Publications by authors named "Samir Al Moghazi"

This is a retrospective observational study including all COVID-19 patients admitted at our Institute throughout three successive pandemic waves, from January 2021 to June 2023. The main in-hospital outcomes (clinical progression [CP], defined as admission to Intensive Care Unit [ICU]/death, and death within 28 days) were compared among participants unvaccinated (NV), fully vaccinated (FV), with one (FV&B1) and two (FV&B2) booster doses. Vaccinated participants were stratified into recently and waned FV/FV&B1/FV&B2, depending on the time elapsed from last dose (≤ and >120 days, respectively).

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is frequently associated with brain and liver abscesses, while pleuropulmonary infections are considered rarer. Even less frequent is the association of lung and brain abscesses due to this agent with infective endocarditis. We describe the case of a 40-year-old man complaining of cough, fever, and headache who was diagnosed with a brain abscess due to , a concomitant lung abscess, and aortic native valve endocarditis.

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Background: SARS-CoV-2 has evolved, leading to the emergence of new Variants Of Concern (VOCs) with significant impact on transmissibility. Although the transmission process is complex, higher nasopharyngeal viral load (NP-VL) can be considered as a proxy for greater transmissibility.

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to compare NP-VL across a set of representative VOCs observed in mildly symptomatic patients.

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Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies described an increased chance of developing pulmonary embolism (PE). Several scores have been used to predict the occurrence of PE. This systematic review summarizes the literature on predicting rules for PE in hospitalized COVID-19 patients (HCPs).

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Objectives: The main aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the proportion of confirmed COVID-19 patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and to describe risk factors and outcome of these patients.

Methods: MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched up to July 15, 2021. We included studies reporting data on CDI occurring in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

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Background: In this cross-sectional, international study, we aimed to analyze vector-borne and zoonotic infections (VBZI), which are significant global threats.

Method: VBZIs' data between May 20-28, 2018 was collected. The 24 Participatingcountries were classified as lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in treating COVID-19 by observing 4,396 patients hospitalized in Italy from February to May 2020, revealing mixed results from previous research.
  • Two patient clusters were identified: a younger, healthier group at lower risk of death and an older, sicker group at higher risk, highlighting differing impacts of HCQ on these populations.
  • HCQ appeared to significantly reduce mortality risk in the lower risk cluster, suggesting that it may be more beneficial for patients with fewer comorbidities, potentially clarifying debates around its efficacy in COVID-19 treatment.
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Protease inhibitors have been considered as possible therapeutic agents for COVID-19 patients. To describe the association between lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) or darunavir/cobicistat (DRV/c) use and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Multicenter observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted in 33 Italian hospitals.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated whether administering heparin in hospitals improves survival rates among COVID-19 patients, due to a linked hypercoagulable condition that can worsen the disease.
  • - An analysis of 2,574 patients across Italy showed that 70.1% received heparin, leading to significantly lower death rates (7.4 vs. 14.0 per 1,000 person-days) among those treated with heparin.
  • - The findings suggest that heparin is associated with a 40% reduction in death risk, especially for critically ill patients, indicating its potential benefit, although further randomized clinical trials are necessary for definitive guidance.
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  • A study investigated factors contributing to in-hospital death among COVID-19 patients in Italy, analyzing data from 3,894 hospitalized individuals from February to May 2020.
  • Key findings showed that impaired renal function, high levels of C-reactive protein, and older age were significant predictors of mortality, with the highest death rates found in Northern Italy (15.6%) compared to Central/Southern regions (6.4%).
  • The results indicated that factors like obesity, tobacco use, and cardiovascular conditions did not correlate with mortality risk, emphasizing the importance of renal health and inflammation in COVID-19 outcomes.
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Background: Epidemiological, virological and pathogenetic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection are under evaluation. A better understanding of the pathophysiology associated with COVID-19 is crucial to improve treatment modalities and to develop effective prevention strategies. Transcriptomic and proteomic data on the host response against SARS-CoV-2 still have anecdotic character; currently available data from other coronavirus infections are therefore a key source of information.

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We report the full-genome sequence of a Dengue serotype-1 virus (DENV-1) isolated from a traveler returning in July 2019 to Italy from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently affected by Ebola and measles outbreaks. The sequence shows high similarity with two 2013 strains isolated in Angola and China.

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Introduction: The emergence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumonia (KPC-Kp) has become a significant problem in terms of public health and clinical outcome in many hospitals in Southern Europe. Treatment options are usually limited and effective treatment of infections caused by these pathogens is a considerable challenge for clinicians. Ceftazidime-avibactam has been recently approved for the treatment of difficult-to-treat infections due to aerobic Gram-negative organisms in patients with limited treatment options.

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Background: Raltegravir (RAL) is considered one of the better-tolerated antiretroviral medications, due to limited side effects and minimal drug-drug interactions. Matherials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 96 HIV+, over 60 years old, experienced patients who had switched from any antiretroviral drug to raltegravir-based nuc-sparing or standard nucleoside-backbone regimens. A control group with patients aged under 60 years old was included.

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HIV-infected patients appear to have a significantly greater risk of non-AIDS comorbidities such as osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. Subjects with osteoporosis are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those with normal bone mass, therefore a possible relation between these two conditions can be hypothesized. In the setting of HIV infection, several factors might contribute to bone disease and endothelial dysfunction.

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HIV-infected patients have a significantly greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Several markers including osteoprotegerin have been shown to be involved in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. We investigated the relationship between T-cell phenotype, osteoprotegerin, and atherosclerosis evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) in 94 HIV+ patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy with Framingham score <10%.

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