Cytokines assets in PLWH in two-drug dolutergravir based or three-drug antiretroviral regimen.

To minimize the toxicity and impact of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) on the lifestyle of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLWH), scientific community evaluated the efficacy, safety and sustained virologic response of two drugs antiretroviral regimens, in particular dolutegravir (DTG). The effects of deintensification therapy on inflammatory settings are currently unknown in PLWH. Thus, our study explored the inflammatory state in virologically suppressed HIV individuals between patients in treatment with a DTG-containing dual therapy (2DR) versus triple regimen therapies (3DR).

Analysis of Patients' Characteristics and Treatment Profile of People Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) with and without a Co-Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis C: A Real-World Retrospective Italian Analysis.

Purpose: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads from contact with blood of an infected person. HCV infections are common among people who use drugs (PWUDs), when sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment for injected drugs. The advent of pangenotypic direct-antiviral agents (DAA) in 2017 transformed the treatment landscape for HCV, but PWUDs remain a complex and hard-to-treat population with high risk of HCV reinfection.

Ultrasound imaging of the axilla.

Axilla is a pyramidal-in-shape "virtual cavity" housing multiple anatomical structures and connecting the upper limb with the trunk. To the best of our knowledge, in the pertinent literature, a detailed sonographic protocol to comprehensively assess the axillary region in daily practice is lacking. In this sense, the authors have briefly described the anatomical architecture of the axilla-also using cadaveric specimens-to propose a layer-by-layer sonographic approach to this challenging district.

Are monoclonal antibodies effective in patients with severe obesity in SARS-CoV-2 infected?

It is important to block SARS-CoV-2 infection immediately with early therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies (MonoAbs). Also, several studies show that obesity is associated with a high risk of severe COVID-19 disease. We enrolled 32 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients who received MonoAbs, all patients were not vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2, and they received therapy after 7 ± 2 days from the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.

Iron Dyshomeostasis in COVID-19: Biomarkers Reveal a Functional Link to 5-Lipoxygenase Activation.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms. After acute infection, some subjects develop a post-COVID-19 syndrome known as long-COVID. This study aims to recognize the molecular and functional mechanisms that occur in COVID-19 and long-COVID patients and identify useful biomarkers for the management of patients with COVID-19 and long-COVID.

New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients.

Background: In recent years, the therapeutic options for COVID have significantly improved; however, the therapies are expensive with restricted access to drugs, and expeditious and difficult to manage at home. We investigated the effect of pidotimod in preventing hospitalization in patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. Methods: A total of 1231 patients between January and June 2021 were screened.

Molnupiravir as an Early Treatment for COVID-19: A Real Life Study.

Objectives: Below we report our experience in the use of molnupiravir, the first antiviral drug against SARS-CoV-2 available to us, in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and comorbidities who were candidates for antiviral drug therapy. All patients received molnupiravir (800 mg twice daily).

Early detection of pleuro-pulmonary tuberculosis by bedside lung ultrasound: A case report and review of literature.

We present a case in which lung ultrasound (LUS) was relevant to reach an early diagnosis of lung tuberculosis and to manage the patient in the right setting. Moreover, ultrasound allowed to detect and treat massive pleural effusion through an ultrasound-guided thoracentesis.

Association of inflammatory biomarkers and cardiovascular risk scores in an Italian cohort of HIV positive patient undergoing antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Several algorithms have been developed to predict cardiovascular risk (CVR) over time, however none of them seem to be accurate when applied to HIV patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess plasma inflammatory biomarkers in relation to multiple CVR scores (FRS, ASCVD, PROCAM and the DAD-5 Years-Estimated-Risk) in an Italian cohort of HIV patients undergoing a combined Antiretroviral Therapy (cART).

Methods: We enrolled HIV patients undergoing cART without any change in the HIV-related pharmacological therapy over the last 48 weeks Demographic and anamnestic data were collected, and a biochemical panel including the following biomarkers was collected: CRP, Cystatin-C, microalbuminuria, IL-18, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN- γ.

Anaerobic bloodstream infections in Italy (ITANAEROBY): A 5-year retrospective nationwide survey.

Introduction: A lack of updated data on the burden and profile of anaerobic bloodstream infections (ABIs) exists. We assessed the incidence of ABIs and trends in antimicrobial resistance in anaerobes isolated from blood in Italy.

Material And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 17 Italian hospitals (2016-2020).

Risk Factors Associated with Poor Outcome in Patients with Infective Endocarditis: An Italian Single-Center Experience.

Background: Nowadays, infective endocarditis (IE) is still burdened by a high mortality. In the absence of an adequate prognostic stratification system, it is important to assess new predictors of poor outcomes. The aim of our study is to evaluate which factors were associated with higher mortality in IE patients.

Atypical Sites of Lymphadenopathy after Anti-COVID-19 Vaccine: Ultrasound Features.

Several authors have reported cervical and axillary lymphadenopathies as known side effects following anti-COVID-19 vaccine administration. Few data are available about atypical locations of post-anti-COVID-19 vaccine lymphadenopathy. In this investigation, we evaluated the incidence and prevalence of postvaccine lymphadenopathy ultrasound (US) features in atypical sites.

Effects of Probiotic Mixture Supplementation on the Immune Response to the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in People Living with HIV.

Background: In people living with HIV, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) reduces the risk of death, but the persistent immune-deficient state predisposes them to pneumococcal infections. Current guidelines encourage administering pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar 13 to patients living with HIV. Since probiotic supplementation could act as adjuvants and improve vaccine immunogenicity by modulating gut microbiota, the present study aimed to assess whether the effect of a formulation containing a combination of specific probiotics (Vivomixx) could improve the immune response to 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in adult people living with HIV.

It is Not Always COVID-19: Case Report about an Undiagnosed HIV Man with Dyspnea.

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic has attracted great attention from the medical world. In the past year, there have been reports of missed or delayed treatments for conditions that mimic COVID-19. The main symptoms caused by SARS-CoV-2, such as fever and cough, belong to different clinical conditions.

Parameters associated with diagnosis of COVID-19 in emergency department.

Objectives: We designed this study to identify laboratory and radiological parameters, which could be useful to guide the clinician, in the evaluation of a suspected case of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).

Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-center-study recruited patients with a suspect of COVID-19 data were extracted from electronic medical records using a standardized data collection form.

Results: A total of 566 patients with suspect COVID-19 infection were enrolled (280 were COVID-19+).

Efficacy of canakinumab in mild or severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: Clinicians all around the world are currently experiencing a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several therapeutic strategies have been used until now but, to date, there is no specific therapy to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we used canakinumab, a human monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1 beta to improve respiratory function and laboratory parameters compared with standard therapy (hydroxycloroquine plus lopinavir/ritonavir).

Pidotimod and Immunological Activation in Individuals Infected with HIV.

Background: The improvements in HIV infection therapy and the large availability of antiretroviral drugs have led to an increased survival among HIV infected people, and simultaneously to a raised morbidity and mortality due to not-AIDS-related events in this group compared to the general population. An increased systemic inflammation and a persistent immune activation play a pivotal role in determining high rates of non-AIDS comorbidities. In the last years, many natural or synthetic immunomodulatory molecules acting by different mechanisms have been conceived.

Circulating extracellular vesicles as new inflammation marker in HIV infection.

Background: Extracellular vesicles, released by cell pullulation, are surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer and carry proteins as well and genetic material. It has been shown that extracellular vesicles mediate intercellular communication in several conditions, such as inflammation, immunodeficiency, tumor growth, and viral infections. Here, we analyzed circulating levels of extracellular vesicles in order to clarify their role in chronic inflammation mechanisms characterizing HIV patients.

Role of monoclonal antibody drugs in the treatment of COVID-19.

Currently clinicians all around the world are experiencing a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The clinical presentation of this pathology includes fever, dry cough, fatigue and acute respiratory distress syndrome that can lead to death infected patients. Current studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue to highlight the urgent need for an effective therapy.