Cytokine signature and COVID-19 prediction models in the two waves of pandemics.

In Europe, multiple waves of infections with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) have been observed. Here, we have investigated whether common patterns of cytokines could be detected in individuals with mild and severe forms of COVID-19 in two pandemic waves, and whether machine learning approach could be useful to identify the best predictors. An increasing trend of multiple cytokines was observed in patients with mild or severe/critical symptoms of COVID-19, compared with healthy volunteers.

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.

Is there a difference in phenotype between males and females with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia? A cross-sectional evaluation.

Objectives: Non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia includes a variety of phenotypes and genotypes that rarely require regular transfusions. However, these patients can experience a wide range of complications. The objective of this retrospective study was to verify whether there is a significant difference in non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia-related complications and treatment among males and females.

Soluble form of transferrin receptor-1 level is associated with the age at first diagnosis and the risk of therapeutic intervention and iron overloading in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between serum transferrin receptor-1 (sTfR1) and some fundamental events in the life and the management (the age at diagnosis, the age at the first red blood cells transfusion, the age at splenectomy, and the overall need of chelation therapy) of 111 patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) subdivided in four genetic entities: patients with homozygous or compound heterozygous state for β-thalassemia, patients with triplicated α genotype associated with β heterozygosity, patients with deletional HbH, and patients with the combination of a β defect plus a β chain variant. We found that the group with homozygous or compound heterozygous state for β-thalassemia had the highest sTfR1 levels and that the presence of increased sTfR1 levels (>5 times normal) was associated with a complex and severe history of disease requiring splenectomy, occasional red blood cells transfusions, and early start and continuous iron chelation therapy.The complexity in the management of NTDT patients is an emerging issue due to the wide heterogeneity of clinical behavior.

Molecular and clinical analysis of haemoglobin Lepore in Campania, a region of Southern Italy.

Objective: To date in Italy, there is paucity on data about the prevalence, clinical and haematological features of patients carrying the haemoglobin (Hb) Lepore variant in homozygous or in association with other haemoglobinopathies.

Methods: Here we report the results of a retrospective analysis on 33 patients from Campania, a region of Southern Italy, historically followed at 'UOSD Malattie Rare del Globulo Rosso' of Cardarelli hospital, Naples, Italy.

Results: We described 33 patients carrying the Hb Lepore variant: 21 compound heterozygotes with a common thalassaemia allele, six patients with homozygous state for Hb Lepore, five patients with Hb Lepore/Hb S and one patient with Hb Lepore/Hb Neapolis were identified.

The long-term and extensive efficacy of low dose thalidomide in a case of an untransfusable patient with Non-Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia.

Patients with Non-Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia may require regular transfusion therapy. However, these patients are at risk of developing irregular antibodies, making them untransfusable. Second line treatment usually includes hydroxyurea, which however is not effective in all patients.

Thyroid dysfunction following a kelp-containing marketed diet.

Complementary medications and herbal medicine for weight loss have become very popular. We report a case of thyroid dysfunction following the ingestion of a kelp-containing marketed diet in a 45-year-old woman with no previous thyroid disease. Signs of hyperthyroidism occurred shortly after a kelp-containing diet.

Extramedullary haematopoiesis correlates with genotype and absence of cardiac iron overload in polytransfused adults with thalassaemia.

Background: The mechanisms responsible for the sporadic occurrence of extramedullary haematopoiesis in polytransfused thalassaemic patients have not yet been clarified. In this study we tried to elucidate the influence of genotype and other factors on the presence of extramedullary haematopoiesis.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective database review of our polytransfused thalassaemic patients between January 2006 and December 2011.

Splenectomy is a risk factor for developing hyperuricemia and nephrolithiasis in patients with thalassemia intermedia: a retrospective study.

Few data are available on the prevalence and the risk factors for the presence of kidney stones and hyperuricemia in patients with thalassemia intermedia. We retrospectively reviewed the charts and radiological studies of 89 patients with thalassemia intermedia followed at our clinic with routine biochemical examination and radiological imaging of the urinary tract. Renal calculi were identified in 11 patients (12%) and 22 patients (25%) were under uricosuric treatment for hyperucemia.

A useful relationship between the presence of extramedullary erythropoeisis and the level of the soluble form of the transferrin receptor in a large cohort of adult patients with thalassemia intermedia: a prospective study.

In thalassemia intermedia (TI), the increase in bone marrow hemopoietic activity frequently leads to extramedullary erythropoeisis (EMH), but its relationship with the soluble form of transferrin receptor (sTfR) which fully reflects the marrow erythropoietic activity, has not yet been explored. From January 2007 to December 2010, all TI patients attending at our center were prospectively enrolled to undergo sTfR assay and MRI or CT (if claustrophobic) scan evaluation for the presence of paraspinal EMH. A total of 59 patients with TI were studied; EMH involved 23 (39%) patients; overall, the concentration of sTfR varied from 2.

A case of well-tolerated and safe deferasirox administration during the first trimester of a spontaneous pregnancy in an advanced maternal age thalassemic patient.

In this report, we present a case of a spontaneous pregnancy in a 42-year-old thalassemic woman referred to our Microcythemic Unit while she was on deferasirox (DFX) therapy. The patient had been on treatment with DFX since March 2008 and in March 2009 realized that she was pregnant at 12 weeks of gestation. The conception was spontaneous and the baby was born at full term without complications or malformations.

The impact of previous or concomitant IFN therapy on deferiprone-induced agranulocytosis and neutropenia: a retrospective study.

Objective: Although IFN therapy is known to cause neutropenia, data on the risk of deferiprone (DFP)-induced haematological complications in patients receiving IFN are lacking.

Research Design And Methods: This was a retrospective single-centre study to assess the association between exposure to IFN for hepatitis C virus treatment and haematological side effects of DFP therapy in patients with thalassemia major and intermedia using a large database spanning 2001 – 2008. During observation time, a total of 66 patients, including 63 affected by thalassemia major and 3 by thalassemia intermedia, were treated with chelation DFP-based regimens.

Involvement of Akt/NF-κB pathway in N6-isopentenyladenosine-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.

N(6)-isopentenyladenosine (i6A) inhibits the tumor cell growth by inducing cell apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms by which the drug induces cell apoptosis. In this study, we further explored the molecular mechanisms of i6A as an anticancer agent on a human breast cancer cell line MDA MB 231.

Combined chelation therapy in thalassemia major with deferiprone and desferrioxamine: a retrospective study.

Objectives: The benefits of combined chelation therapy with daily deferiprone (DFP) and subcutaneous desferrioxamine (DFO) have been widely reported in literature. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of different schedules of combined chelation therapy and the incidence of adverse events.

Methods: We evaluated 36 patients affected by thalassemia major treated with combined chelation therapy.

Paradoxically increased ferritin level in a beta-thalassemia major patient following the start of deferasirox chelation therapy.

In this report we present a 37-year-old thalassemia patient with hyperferritinemia referred to our Microcytemia Centerat the beginning of deferasirox (DFX) therapy. Treatment with subcutaneous infusions of desferrioxamine (DFO) had started when he was 10 years old. During the 6-month DFX treatment, serum ferritin levels progressively increased from 600 to 2,700 ng/ml despite progressive DFX dose adjustments.

Hypocholesterolemia in adult patients with thalassemia: a link with the severity of genotype in thalassemia intermedia patients.

Objectives: Hypocholesterolemia has been previously described in patients affected by thalassemia. In this study we retrospectively evaluated the cholesterol level in two groups of patients affected by either thalassemia major (TM) or thalassemia intermedia (TI), with the aim of establishing factors correlated to hypocholesterolemia within both populations.

Methods: All patients referring to our Unit of Thalassemia were considered.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation during combined therapy with deferiprone and desferioxamine in a hepatitis B surface antigen thalassemic carrier.

In this report we firstly describe a case of reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication occurred in a patient affected by Thalassemia major which underwent a combined chelation therapy with desferioxamine (DFO) and deferiprone (DFP). Clinical symptom and increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level were detected when the prescription of DFO (30 mg/kg) was increased from 3 to 5 days/week; a raise in HBV-DNA levels of greater than or equal to tenfold compared with baseline was thereafter detected. Diagnosis was troublesome because increasing ALT levels, first suggested toxicity to DFP administration.