Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in pediatric allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients: an 11-year experience on viral load and B lymphocyte monitoring strategy.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation represents a frequent condition after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) and can cause the development of a severe complication: post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). This retrospective study aims at investigating the incidence of EBV reactivations and analyzing the potential impact of recipient/donor-related transplant-related factors in pediatric patients. The secondary objective was to study the consequences of the approach used at our center regarding the initiation of pre-emptive therapy.

Monitoring and Management of Cytomegalovirus Reactivations After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children: Experience from a Single Pediatric Center.

Background: CMV reactivation represents a frequent complication after HSCT. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of CMV reactivation in a pediatric HSCT cohort and analyze the potential impact of recipient/donor-related or transplant-related factors on this complication. Furthermore, we analyzed the management of CMV reactivation in order to purpose criteria for pre-emptive therapy.

Low-FODMAP diet and hidradenitis suppurativa: the role of nutritionists in the management of dermato-endocrine disorders.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory, immune-mediated, debilitating skin disease, characterized by subcutaneous nodules, with a still not clear pathophysiology. Although the prevalence is rather low (about 1% in Europe), its clinical complications, as well as the disabling symptomatology, make it necessary multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches. Not recently several authors described the involvement of the well-known gut-skin axis in both pathogenesis and progression of dermatological diseases.

Childhood multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C): Distinct from Kawasaki disease or part of the same spectrum?

One of the most challenging and intriguing phenomena observed during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Patients with this condition present with some clinical features similar to those of Kawasaki disease (KD) and display signs and symptoms that are uncommon or rarely occur in this disorder, such as gastrointestinal complaints and myocarditis, often leading to myocardial failure and shock. In addition, patients' age is older than that of children with classic KD.

Intra-articular venous malformations of the knee: a diagnostic challenge.

Background: Intra-articular venous malformations (IAVM) are rare benign vascular anomalies that usually affect young patients and most common locate in the knee. The terminology of these lesions is still ill-defined, as they are often termed in the literature as synovial hemangiomas. Early diagnosis can be difficult, because they usually present with nonspecific clinical manifestations that are similar those of other rheumatic diseases, especially juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Mapping the Spatial Distribution of the Rumen Fluke in a Mediterranean Area.

Rumen flukes () represent a growing threat to the animal health, productivity and welfare of ruminants. The present study aimed to assess the spatial distribution of infections in ruminants and to develop a predictive model of the environmental suitability for rumen flukes in a Mediterranean area. A cross-sectional coprological survey was conducted in 682 sheep, 73 goat and 307 cattle farms located in the Basilicata region (southern Italy).

Raw BIA variables are predictors of muscle strength in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background/objectives: Although loss of fat-free mass (FFM) and reduced muscle strength are highly prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), only few data are available on the relationships of handgrip strength (HGS) and respiratory muscle strength with body composition in such disease. In particular, we aimed to assess whether raw bioelectrical impedance (BIA) variables were independent predictors of muscle strength in COPD patients, possibly more significant than anthropometric variables and BIA-based estimates of FFM.

Subjects/methods: Two hundred and thirty-seven COPD patients (161 males and 76 females) underwent respiratory, anthropometric, BIA, HGS and respiratory muscle strength (maximum inspiratory or expiratory pressure=MIP and MEP) measurements.

ST7612AA1, a thioacetate-ω(γ-lactam carboxamide) derivative selected from a novel generation of oral HDAC inhibitors.

A systematic study of medicinal chemistry aimed at identifying a new generation of HDAC inhibitors, through the introduction of a thiol zinc-binding group (ZBG) and of an amide-lactam in the ω-position of the polyethylene chain of the vorinostat scaffold, allowed the selection of a new class of potent pan-HDAC inhibitors (pan-HDACis). Simple, highly versatile, and efficient synthetic approaches were used to synthesize a library of these new derivatives, which were then submitted to a screening for HDAC inhibition as well as to a preliminary in vitro assessment of their antiproliferative activity. Molecular docking into HDAC crystal structures suggested a binding mode for these thiol derivatives consistent with the stereoselectivity observed upon insertion of amide-lactam substituents in the ω-position.

Is gastrointestinal strongyle faecal egg count influenced by hour of sample collection and worm burden in goats?

Gastrointestinal (GI) strongyle infections remain one of the main constraints to goat production worldwide. Although several indicators of GI strongyle infections have been proposed, faecal egg count (FEC) techniques are the most common approaches for the estimation of prevalence and intensity of these parasites. However, FEC may be subjected to a within-individual variation due to factors such as weather, season, random day-to-day variation and phase of the parasitic infection.

Economic efficacy of anthelmintic treatments in dairy sheep naturally infected by gastrointestinal strongyles.

The aim of the present paper was to assess benefit of strategic anthelmintic treatments on milk production in six commercial dairy sheep farms, located in southern Italy, whose animals were naturally infected with gastrointestinal strongyles. On each farm, two similar groups were formed, one untreated control group and one treated group. In all the treated groups, the strategic anthelmintic schemes were based on: (i) only one treatment with moxidectin in the periparturient period (February, Farm No.

Novel camptothecin analogue (gimatecan)-containing liposomes prepared by the ethanol injection method.

Small-sized liposomes have several advantages as drug delivery systems, and the ethanol injection method is a suitable technique to obtain the spontaneous formation of liposomes having a small average radius. In this paper, we show that liposomal drug formulations can be prepared in situ, by simply injecting a drug-containing lipid(s) organic solution into an aqueous solution. Several parameters should be optimized in order to obtain a final suitable formulation, and this paper is devoted to such an investigation.

L-carnitine esters as "soft", broad-spectrum antimicrobial amphiphiles.

A new class of antimicrobial, "soft", quaternary ammonium l-carnitine esters, of the type (CH3)3N+-CH2-CHOCO(R1)-CH2-COO(R2) Cl-, has been designed, with R1 and R2 being in general long-chain alkyl substituents. The series shows good activity against a wide range of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. Lipophilicity has been measured by RP-HPLC method to give the logarithm of the experimental capacity factor (log k'), and a quantitative relationship has been determined between log k' and the theoretical partition coefficient (CLOGP); also, bond-dipole descriptors have been introduced into calculations by accounting for polar moieties present within the apolar cores of the molecules, giving a more refined calculated capacity factor (log k'calcd).