A Novel In Silico-Ex Vivo Model for Correlating Coating Transfer to Tissue with Local Drug-Coated Balloon-Vessel Contact Pressures.

Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) aim to deliver drug-loaded surface coating upon inflation at specific vascular sites, yet the role of inflation pressure remains to be defined. We implement a new approach combining ex vivo stamping experiments with in silico simulations to study acute coating transfer by commercial DCBs. This methodology comprises 3 essential pillars: (I) DCB resin inflation and slicing into cylindrical segments for subsequent stamping onto porcine-excised tissue, (II) Numerical inflation of a full DCB replica in an idealized porcine vessel to predict in vivo interfacial contact pressures (CPs) and subsequent interfacial-level numerical stamping to calculate appropriate benchtop forces that recreate these in vivo CP values, and (III) ex vivo stamping experiments and optical analysis of the stamped surfaces (DCB segment and arterial tissue), using a standard high-resolution camera to visualize coating.

Retention of blue-green cryptophyte organelles by Mesodinium rubrum and their effects on photophysiology and growth.

As chloroplast-stealing or "kleptoplastidic" lineages become more reliant on stolen machinery, they also tend to become more specialized on the prey from which they acquire this machinery. For example, the ciliate Mesodinium rubrum obtains > 95% of its carbon from photosynthesis, and specializes on plastids from the Teleaulax clade of cryptophytes. However, M.

Adaptive gene loss in the common bean pan-genome during range expansion and domestication.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a crucial legume crop and an ideal evolutionary model to study adaptive diversity in wild and domesticated populations. Here, we present a common bean pan-genome based on five high-quality genomes and whole-genome reads representing 339 genotypes.

A new semi-slug of the genus from Brunei, discovered, described and DNA-barcoded on citizen-science 'taxon expeditions' (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Ariophantidae).

Background: During citizen-science expeditions to the Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei, several individuals were collected of a semi-slug species of the genus that, based on morphology and in-the-field DNA-barcoding, was found to be an undescribed species.

New Information: In this paper, we describe Wu, Ezzwan & Hamdani, n. sp.

Tall stature and gigantism in transition age: clinical and genetic aspects-a literature review and recommendations.

Purpose: Tall stature is defined as height greater than the threshold of more than 2 standard deviations above the average population height for age, sex, and ethnicity. Many studies have described the main aspects of this condition during puberty, but an analysis of the characteristics that the physician should consider in the differential diagnosis of gigantism-tall stature secondary to a pituitary tumour-during the transition age (15-25 years) is still lacking.

Methods: A comprehensive search of English-language original articles was conducted in the MEDLINE database (December 2021-March 2022).

New perspectives in functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: beyond late onset hypogonadism.

Functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (FHH) is an increasingly frequent condition, whose pathological mechanisms are not yet fully clarified. The concept of FHH has now completely replaced that of late onset hypogonadism, that only concerned the ageing man. FHH is the result of an impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis (HPG-A) function, resulting in decreased testosterone concentrations associated with low or inappropriately normal gonadotropin levels and infertility; it can be diagnosed once organic causes of hypogonadism are excluded.

CRISPR-Cas9-based repeat depletion for high-throughput genotyping of complex plant genomes.

High-throughput genotyping enables the large-scale analysis of genetic diversity in population genomics and genome-wide association studies that combine the genotypic and phenotypic characterization of large collections of accessions. Sequencing-based approaches for genotyping are progressively replacing traditional genotyping methods because of the lower ascertainment bias. However, genome-wide genotyping based on sequencing becomes expensive in species with large genomes and a high proportion of repetitive DNA.

Structural Refinement by Direct Mapping Reveals Assembly Inconsistencies near Hi-C Junctions.

High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) is widely used for scaffolding in de novo assembly because it produces highly contiguous genomes, but its indirect statistical approach can introduce connection errors. We employed optical mapping (Bionano Genomics) as an orthogonal scaffolding technology to assess the structural solidity of Hi-C reconstructed scaffolds. Optical maps were used to assess the correctness of five de novo genome assemblies based on long-read sequencing for contig generation and Hi-C for scaffolding.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Monoclonal Antibody Combination Therapy in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Primary Antibody Deficiency.

Background: Previous reports highlighted the efficacy of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against coronavirus disease 2019.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study on the clinical outcome and antiviral effects of mAbs added to standard of care therapy in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with primary antibody defects.

Results: Median time of SARS-CoV-2 quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) positivity was shorter in 8 patients treated with mAbs (22 days) than in 10 patients treated with standard of care therapy only (37 days, P=.

Hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment in people who use drugs: mind the gap in the linkage to care.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify a simplified rapid screening and linkage-to-care model for HCV among PWUD.

Patients And Methods: The study stems from a collaborative project bringing together two local Italian Centers for Drug Addiction and the Hepatology-Infectious Diseases Department of Lazzaro Spallanzani. A research physician analyzed the available medical records seeking to identify HCV and HIV infected patients in care in the addiction centers.

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on a central Italy transplant center.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is challenging health care systems worldwide, raising the question of reducing the transplant program due to the shortage of intensive care unit beds and to the risk of infection in donors and recipients.We report the positive experience of a single Transplant Center in Rome, part of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, one of the major national centers involved in the COVID-19 emergency.

Dynamic Assessment of Masonry Towers Based on Terrestrial Radar Interferometer and Accelerometers.

This paper discusses the performance of a terrestrial radar interferometer for the structural monitoring of ancient masonry towers. High-speed radar interferometry is an innovative and powerful remote sensing technique for the dynamic monitoring of large structures since it is contactless, non-destructive, and able to measure fast displacements on the order of tenths of millimeters. This methodology was tested on a masonry tower of great historical interest, the Saint Prospero bell tower (Northern Italy).

Long-Term Follow-Up of Acute Hepatitis B: New Insights in Its Natural History and Implications for Antiviral Treatment.

Acute hepatitis B infection (AHB) is still a common viral acute hepatitis worldwide. As vaccination, antiviral treatment, and immigration are bound to affect the epidemiological landscape of HBV infections, and some of its aspects need to be investigated: (1) the circulation of vaccine escape mutants and of primary drug resistant strains; (2) the change in HBV genotype prevalence; and (3) the clinical implications of AHB and the probability of chronification. The serological, virological, and clinical parameters of 75 patients, acutely infected by HBV, were gathered for a retrospective study.

Endocarditis and meningitis associated to nape piercing in a young female: a case report.

Body piercing is a social phenomenon on the rise especially among young people. This procedure may be complicated by serious bacterial and viral infections. We report a case of Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis and meningitis arising from the site of a nape piercing, after its removal.

Acute hepatitis associated with clopidogrel: a case report and review of the literature.

Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is a common cause of acute hepatitis, and the recognition of the responsible drug may be difficult. We describe a case of clopidogrel-related acute hepatitis. The diagnosis is strongly suggested by an accurate medical history and liver biopsy.

Acute rifampicin-associated interstitial tubulopathy in a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis: a case report.

Introduction: Rifampicin is one of the most effective antibiotics for treating tuberculosis, but it has been associated with adverse reactions, such as nephrotoxicity, sometimes resulting in acute renal failure with oligoanuria, and hepatotoxicity. Although deterioration of renal function, determined by acute tubulointerstitial nephritis and/or acute tubular necrosis, typically appears in patients receiving intermittent rifampicin therapy, some authors have also reported cases occurring during continuous rifampicin therapy.

Case Presentation: We describe the case of acute renal failure with polyuria occurring in a previously healthy 50-year-old Caucasian man undergoing continuous therapy with rifampicin for culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis.

Varicella zoster virus infection presenting as isolated diplopia: a case report.

Background: Involvement of trochlear nerve during Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Infection has been rarely described, and always in association with skin rash.

Case Presentation: We describe the case of a patient with VZV infection presenting as isolated diplopia due to fourth cranial nerve palsy. The diagnosis has been obtained through the application of a standardized molecular diagnostic panel, and diplopia resolved after specific antiviral and corticosteroid therapy.

Severe EBV hepatitis treated with valganciclovir.

We describe the case of an 18-year-old immunocompetent male patient with severe hepatitis during primary Epstein-Barr virus infection, treated with oral valganciclovir. During the initial therapy with corticosteroids, the patient's clinical condition and liver function worsened, so we decided to add oral valganciclovir for its good bio-availability and previous encouraging experiences in different clinical settings, with rapid resolution of the symptoms.

REVISION TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY USING A MODULAR CEMENTLESS DISTAL FIXATION PROSTHESIS: THE ZMR(®) HIP SYSTEM. CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF 30 CASES.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results from 30 cases of revision of total hip arthroplasty using a modular cementless distal fixation prosthesis: the ZMR(®) Hip System.

Method: Between July 2005 and December 2008, 30 operations were performed, on 14 men and 14 women. Two male patients had bilateral surgery.

Cryptococcal lymphadenitis as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an HIV-positive patient: a case report and review of the literature.

Cryptococcus neoformans infections are typically associated with T-cell deficiencies, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has strongly reduced AIDS-related opportunistic infections, the restoration and reactivation of CD4+ cells can induce an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), consisting in a deregulated inflammatory response to latent infectious pathogens and/or to their residual antigens. Cryptococcal lymphadenitis has occasionally been documented in IRIS.

Binding of extracellular matrix proteins to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins plays a crucial role in invasive fungal diseases. ECM proteins bind to the surface of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells in distinct qualitative patterns. Extracts from Pb18 strain, before (18a) and after animal inoculation (18b), exhibited differential adhesion to ECM components.

[Infective endocarditis. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment].

After careful review of evidence-based literature, clinical and laboratory criteria for diagnosis of bacterial and fungal endocarditis are examined. The choice criteria for therapy of bacterial endocarditis, both empiric and directed against a specific pathogen, are reviewed, on the basis of the clinical and epidemiological context (prosthetic or native valve, left or right heart, drug addiction). Different treatment options are proposed, based on results of antibiotic resistance testing.

Invasion of epithelial mammalian cells by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis leads to cytoskeletal rearrangement and apoptosis of the host cell.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) yeast cells can enter mammalian cells and probably manipulate the host cell environment to favor their own growth and survival. We studied the uptake of strain Pb 18 into A549 lung and Vero epithelial cells, with an emphasis on the repercussions in the cytoskeleton and the apoptosis of host cells. Cytoskeleton components of the host cells, such as actin and tubulin, were involved in the P.