The role of HIV/hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus RNA+ triple infection in end-stage liver disease and all-cause mortality in Europe.

Background: There are limited data on end-stage liver disease (ESLD) and mortality in people with HIV (PWH) coinfected with both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods: All PWH aged greater than 18 under follow-up in EuroSIDA positive for HBsAg (HBV), and/or HCVRNA+, were followed from baseline (latest of 1 January 2001, EuroSIDA recruitment, known HBV/HCV status) to ESLD, death, last visit, or 31 December 2020. Follow-up while HCVRNA- was excluded.

Assessment of Clinical Information Quality in Digital Health Technologies: International eDelphi Study.

Background: Digital health technologies (DHTs), such as electronic health records and prescribing systems, are transforming health care delivery around the world. The quality of information in DHTs is key to the quality and safety of care. We developed a novel clinical information quality (CLIQ) framework to assess the quality of clinical information in DHTs.

Yaws in Pygmy and Bantu children inhabiting the rural zones of Central Africa.

Introduction: Yaws, an infectious dermatosis is one of 17 neglected tropical diseases still present in the world despite the efforts aiming at the eradication of the disease undertaken in 2020. It is mainly found in populations living in poor hygiene conditions with a limited access to water and health care facilities. BaAka Pygmies and Bantu people inhabiting the rural areas of the Central African Republic (CAR) are still affected by yaws on a large scale.

Papillary tumor of the pineal region in pediatric patient - A case report.

Background: Papillary tumor of the pineal region (PTPR) represents a rare and histologically distinct subgroup of tumors originating in the pineal region. Few pediatric cases have been reported so far in the literature; therefore, clinical data are scarce.

Case Description: We describe a case of PTPR in a 9-year-old girl who presented with a 5-month history of excessive appetite and weight gain.

SARS-CoV-2 variants: Impact on biological and clinical outcome.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that was first identified in December 2019, in Wuhan, China was found to be the etiological agent for a novel respiratory infection that led to a Coronavirus Induced Disease named COVID-19. The disease spread to pandemic magnitudes within a few weeks and since then we have been dealing with several waves across the world, due to the emergence of variants and novel mutations in this RNA virus. A direct outcome of these variants apart from the spike of cases is the diverse disease presentation and difficulty in employing effective diagnostic tools apart from confusing disease outcomes.

Parvovirus B19 status in liver, kidney and pancreas transplant candidates: A single center experience.

Background: Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations. The major presentation is erythema infectiosum. However, a persistent infection may cause pure red cell aplasia and chronic anemia in immunocompromized patients.

Cardiovascular/Stroke Risk Stratification in Diabetic Foot Infection Patients Using Deep Learning-Based Artificial Intelligence: An Investigative Study.

A diabetic foot infection (DFI) is among the most serious, incurable, and costly to treat conditions. The presence of a DFI renders machine learning (ML) systems extremely nonlinear, posing difficulties in CVD/stroke risk stratification. In addition, there is a limited number of well-explained ML paradigms due to comorbidity, sample size limits, and weak scientific and clinical validation methodologies.

QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY - SINGLE CENTRE EXPERIENCE.

A prospective study was carried out at the Zagreb University Hospital Centre to evaluate the relationship between epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with epilepsy (PE), and its association with depressive symptoms and sexual dysfunction (SD). QoL was assessed by use of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 Inventory (QOLIE-31), SD by the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), and depressive symptoms by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17). The study included 108 PE (women 63% and men 37% men), mean age 39.

REVERSIBILITY OF LIPOATROPHY IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS TAKING ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY: A COHORT STUDY WITH ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT.

The aim of this study was to characterize and compare changes in subcutaneous fat in the malar, brachial and crural region in a cohort of HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral therapy. This prospective longitudinal study included 77 patients who were selected from the initial cohort evaluated in 2007 and 2008. We examined reversibility of lipoatrophy measured by ultrasound over at least five-year period and factors related to its reversibility.

Delayed HIV diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland: A call for targeted HIV testing for those under suspicion of SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse patients newly diagnosed with HIV who were originally admitted to hospitals with suspicion of COVID-19.

Methods: This was a retrospective case series undertaken at four sites. Only adults with new HIV diagnosis and COVID-19 exclusion hospitalized in 2020-2021 were included.

Quantification of Antiviral Cytokines in Serum, Cerebrospinal Fluid and Urine of Patients with Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Croatia.

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is one of the most significant arboviruses affecting the human central nervous system (CNS) in Europe. Data on cytokine response in TBEV infection are limited.

Methods: We analyzed the cytokine response in serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine samples of patients with TBE.

Slower Waning of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Levels Six Months after the Booster Dose Compared to Primary Vaccination.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer decreases rapidly after primovaccination, leading to a mandatory booster vaccination. We analysed anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD IgG levels (positive ≥ 50 AU/mL) in 405 healthcare workers (3010 sera) who received a booster dose (BD) 9 months after two-dose BNT162b2 primovaccination. Median antibody titer at the time of BD (582.

Association between Brain Injury Markers and Testosterone in Critically-Ill COVID-19 Male Patients.

Accumulating data suggest that various neurologic manifestations are reported in critically-ill COVID-19 patients. Although low testosterone levels were associated with poor outcomes, the relationship between testosterone levels and indices of brain injury are still poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether testosterone levels are associated with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), biomarkers of brain injury, in patients with a severe form of COVID-19.

Development of a PNA-DiSc based portable absorbance platform for the detection of pathogen nucleic acids.

We report the development of a portable absorption (PortAbs)-based pathogen nucleic acid detection system using peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and a cyanine dye, DiSc(5). When the dye binds to the PNA-DNA hybrid, it results in a characteristic ∼110 nm shift in the dye absorbance, which we measure using PortAbs. The protocol involves amplification of the target DNA, PNA-DNA hybridization and dye complexing steps followed by absorption measurement.

Evaluation of Clinical Biomarkers Related to CD4 Recovery in HIV-Infected Patients-5-Year Observation.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection leads to the impairment of immune system function. Even long-term antiretroviral therapy uncommonly leads to the normalization of CD4 count and CD4:CD8 ratio. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible clinical biomarkers which may be related to CD4 and CD4:CD8 ratio recovery among HIV-infected patients with long-term antiretroviral therapy.

Hypoxia-Nitric Oxide Axis and the Associated Damage Molecular Pattern in Cutaneous Melanoma.

Hypoxia was intensively studied in cancer during the last few decades, being considered a characteristic of the tumor microenvironment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the capacity of tumor cells to adapt to the stress generated by limited oxygen tissue in cutaneous melanoma. We developed a case-control prospective study that included 52 patients with cutaneous melanoma and 35 healthy subjects.

Surveillance of Tahyna Orthobunyavirus in Urban Areas in Croatia-The "One Health" Approach.

Background: Tahyna orthobunyavirus (TAHV) is a neglected mosquito-borne bunyavirus. Although the virus is widespread in continental Europe, TAHV infections are rarely reported. We analyzed the prevalence of TAHV in humans and different animal species as well as mosquitoes collected in urban areas of Zagreb and its surroundings in the period from 2020 to 2022.

Urinary brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor as noninvasive biomarkers of overactive bladder in children.

Introduction: Overactive bladder (OAB) is the most common urinary disorder and the leading cause of functional daytime intermittent urinary incontinence in children. The aim of this study was to determine whether urinary brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) concentrations, normalized to urine creatinine, could be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of OAB in children.

Materials And Methods: Urine samples of 48 pediatric patients with OAB were collected at the start of anticholinergic therapy (baseline), at follow-up visits (3 and 6 months), and from 48 healthy controls.

Strongyloidiasis - diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas in hyperinfection patients: a case series.

The helminth infection caused by is widespread in tropical regions, but rare in European countries. Unfamiliarity with the disease and diagnostic obstacles could contribute to its lethal outcome. Frequent use of corticosteroids during the COVID-19 pandemic could increase its significance.

External Validation of Mortality Scores among High-Risk COVID-19 Patients: A Romanian Retrospective Study in the First Pandemic Year.

Background: We aimed to externally validate three prognostic scores for COVID-19: the 4C Mortality Score (4CM Score), the COVID-GRAM Critical Illness Risk Score (COVID-GRAM), and COVIDAnalytics.

Methods: We evaluated the scores in a retrospective study on adult patients hospitalized with severe/critical COVID-19 (1 March 2020-1 March 2021), in the Teaching Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We assessed all the deceased patients matched with two survivors by age, gender, and at least two comorbidities.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Nephrology Care in People Living with HIV in Central/Eastern Europe and Neighbouring Countries-Cross-Sectional Analysis from the ECEE Network.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Central and East Europe (CEE) region consists of countries with highly diversified HIV epidemics, health care systems and socioeconomic status. The aim of the present study was to describe variations in CKD burden and care between countries.

Remdesivir Decreases Mortality in COVID-19 Patients with Active Malignancy.

Data on the use of remdesivir, the first antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2, are limited in oncologic patients. We aimed to analyze contributing factors for mortality in patients with malignancies in the real-world CSOVID-19 study. In total, 222 patients with active oncological disorders were selected from a nationwide COVID-19 study of 4890 subjects.

Efficiency of the EmERGE Pathway of Care in Five European HIV Centres.

Objective: We aimed to calculate the efficiency of the EmERGE Pathway of Care in five European HIV clinics, developed and implemented for medically stable people living with HIV.

Methods: Participants were followed up for 1 year before and after implementation of EmERGE, between April 2016 and October 2019. Micro-costing studies were performed in the outpatient services of the clinics.

Frailty and prefrailty in people living with HIV, with focus on women living with HIV.

With the increasing lifespan of people living with HIV (PLWH), frailty and prefrailty are becoming topics which require more attention. The reciprocal interactions between chronic inflammation, comorbidities and frailty demonstrate the complex pathophysiology of frailty and its consequences. Female sex, HIV infection without antiretroviral treatment, reduced CD4 cell count, depression and cardiovascular disease are some of the risk factors for frailty among PLWH.

Study of the first clinical cases on monkeypox in Poland.

Monkeypox is a viral, zoonotic, emerging infectious disease that has become the most significant orthopoxviral infection among humans since the eradication of smallpox. It is endemic in Central and West Africa, and since May 2022 it has caused a multi-country outbreak in six continents. So far, no clinical cases of this disease have been observed in Poland.