Monkeypox virus infection mimicking primary syphilis.

In our case series of monkeypox (MPX) virus infected patients, one had a single genital ulcer as the only cutaneous manifestation of the infection. Physical examination revealed a single, rounded ulcer of the shaft penis characterized by pinkish raised, infiltrated borders and a crusty yellowish bottom associated with bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathies. Serology for infection and a complete screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) resulted negative except for the detection of at the cultural examination and MPX DNA at the ulcer bottom.

Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) among Saudi Chronically HBV-Infected Individuals.

The study aimed to characterize the genotype and subgenotypes of HBV circulating in Saudi Arabia, the presence of clinically relevant mutations possibly associated with resistance to antivirals or immune escape phenomena, and the possible impact of mutations in the structural characteristics of HBV polymerase. Plasma samples from 12 Saudi Arabian HBV-infected patients were analyzed using an in-house PCR method and direct sequencing. Saudi patients were infected with mainly subgenotype D1.

Profiling the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after long-term HCV eradication in patients with liver cirrhosis in the PITER cohort.

Background And Aims: Severe liver disease markers assessed before HCV eradication are acknowledged to usually improve after the SVR. We prospectively evaluated, in the PITER cohort, the long-term HCC risk profile based on predictors monitored after HCV eradication by direct-acting antivirals in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: HCC occurrence was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Digitally-enabled, patient-centred care in rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity: The ARIA-MASK-air approach.

MASK-air , a validated mHealth app (Medical Device regulation Class IIa) has enabled large observational implementation studies in over 58,000 people with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. It can help to address unmet patient needs in rhinitis and asthma care. MASK-air is a Good Practice of DG Santé on digitally-enabled, patient-centred care.

High risk of unsuccessful treatment outcome in migrant population with tuberculosis: Data from three Italian hospitals.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an unresolved global health problem and vulnerable groups such as migrants remain the most affected with a higher risk of worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical features, outcomes, and adverse events in migrant and native Italian patients admitted to three Italian hospitals in Southern Italy in order to assess differences and targeted strategies.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study on TB patients admitted between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2021, in three Apulia hospitals.

Identification by cluster analysis of patients with asthma and nasal symptoms using the MASK-air® mHealth app.

Background: The self-reporting of asthma frequently leads to patient misidentification in epidemiological studies. Strategies combining the triangulation of data sources may help to improve the identification of people with asthma. We aimed to combine information from the self-reporting of asthma, medication use and symptoms to identify asthma patterns in the users of an mHealth app.

Extrahepatic Manifestations of Chronic HBV Infection and the Role of Antiviral Therapy.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection leads to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocarcinoma. However, about 20% of patients experience extrahepatic manifestations such as polyarteritis nodosa, non-rheumatoid arthritis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, and glomerulonephritis. These influence the patient's morbidity, quality of life and mortality.

Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in HIV-Coinfected Patients.

Hepatitis B virus infection occurs in approximately 7% of people living with HIV (PLWH), with substantial regional variation and higher prevalence among intravenous drug users. Early studies on the natural history of HIV/HBV coinfection demonstrated that in coinfected patients, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has a more rapid progression than in HBV-monoinfected patients, leading to end-stage liver disease complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, the adequate management of CHB is considered a priority in HIV-coinfected patients.

Postoperative Respiratory Failure Following Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is Associated with Volume of Intraoperative Crystalloid Administration and Worse Survival.

Background: Postoperative respiratory failure (PRF) is associated with increased morbidity after surgery. This retrospective study explores preoperative and perioperative risk factors associated with PRF in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) and the resultant impact on survival.

Methods: We identified all patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC at our institution between 2007 and 2017.

Management of Patients with Severe Asthma and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: A Multidisciplinary Shared Approach.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most frequent comorbidities associated with asthma and it contributes to an amplified global disease burden in asthmatics. CRS prevalence is much higher in asthmatic patients compared to the general population and it is more frequently related to severe asthma, especially in presence of nasal polyps (chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, CRSwNP). Moreover, asthma exacerbation has a higher occurrence in CRSwNP.

The Current and Future Role of Technology in Respiratory Care.

Over the past few decades, technology and improvements in artificial intelligence have dramatically changed major sectors of our day-to-day lives, including the field of healthcare. E-health includes a wide range of subdomains, such as wearables, smart-inhalers, portable electronic spirometers, digital stethoscopes, and clinical decision support systems. E-health has been consistently shown to enhance the quality of care, improve adherence to therapy, and allow early detection of worsening in chronic pulmonary diseases.

Phytotherapic approach in menopause: light and darkness.

Introduction: Menopause is a critical period of the woman life, characterized by a peculiar modification in estrogens concentration and accompanied by different signs and symptoms. To prevent and contrast unfavorable consequences of menopause, different therapeutic approaches could be evaluated. The hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most known, but it has several contraindications.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to invest in care home research infrastructure.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in catastrophic levels of morbidity and mortality for care home residents. Despite this, research platforms for COVID-19 in care homes arrived late in the pandemic compared with other care settings. The Prophylactic Therapy in Care Homes Trial (PROTECT-CH) was established to provide a platform to deliver multi-centre cluster-randomized clinical trials of investigational medicinal products for COVID-19 prophylaxis in UK care homes.

Alpine altitude climate treatment for severe and uncontrolled asthma: An EAACI position paper.

Currently available European Alpine Altitude Climate Treatment (AACT) programs combine the physical characteristics of altitude with the avoidance of environmental triggers in the alpine climate and a personalized multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation approach. The reduced barometric pressure, oxygen pressure, and air density, the relatively low temperature and humidity, and the increased UV radiation at moderate altitude induce several physiological and immunological adaptation responses. The environmental characteristics of the alpine climate include reduced aeroallergens such as house dust mites (HDM), pollen, fungi, and less air pollution.

A Review on Extrahepatic Manifestations of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection and the Impact of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy.

Extrahepatic manifestations are a feature of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In the course of chronic HCV infection, about 70% of patients have one or more extrahepatic manifestations. The latter are often the first and only clinical sign of infection.

Incidence and Predictors of Thrombotic Complications in 4742 Patients with COVID-19 or Other Acute Infectious Respiratory Diseases: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Background: A prothrombotic state, attributable to excessive inflammation, cytokine storm, hypoxia, and immobilization, is a feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Up to 30% of patients with severe COVID-19 remain at high risk of thromboembolic events despite anticoagulant administration, with adverse impact on in-hospital prognosis.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 4742 patients with acute infectious respiratory disease (AIRD); 2579 were diagnosed to have COVID-19 and treated with heparin, whereas 2163 had other causes of AIRD.

Removal of the EMA orphan designation upon request of the sponsor: cui prodest?

Purpose: Various incentives are provided by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to facilitate the development and marketing of orphan drugs. A 10-year period of market exclusivity is reserved to an orphan medicinal product. Sometimes, the sponsor renounces the designation before the expiration of that standard period.

Subtle impairment of neurodevelopment in infants with late fetal growth restriction.

Introduction: Children with late fetal growth restriction (FGR) are at high risk of being born small for gestational age (SGA). These categories of newborns are at increased risk for neurodevelopment impairment. The general movements assessment, in particular at fidgety age, has been used to predict neurological dysfunctions.

Hepatitis C virus-associated non-Hodgkin lymphomas: the endless history.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global population problem due to its high prevalence worldwide. In the prognosis of patients with HCV not only hepatic but increasingly frequent of extrahepatic HCV manifestations, such as mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), are important. The role of the HCV virus in the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative diseases is confirmed by a large number of epidemiological studies, as well as by the effectiveness of antiviral therapy in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Direct-acting antiviral agents for hepatitis C virus-mixed cryoglobulinaemia: dissociated virological and haematological responses.

The hepatitis C virus-positive (HCV+) mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) is associated with haematological alterations such as monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis or non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). Antiviral therapy for MC, based on interferon and ribavirin, has been shown to be able to eliminate the viral replication as well as the B-cell monoclonal alterations. Many studies have reported the efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in the treatment of HCV+ MC.

Mutation of PFN1 Gene in an Early Onset, Polyostotic Paget-like Disease.

Context: Paget disease of bone (PDB) is a metabolic bone disease whose genetic cause remains unknown in up to 50% of familial patients.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the underlying genetic defect in a large pedigree with a severe, early onset, autosomal dominant form of PDB across 3 generations.

Methods: Whole exome sequencing was performed in affected and unaffected family members, and then mutation screening was replicated in a sample of PDB patients with early-onset, polyostotic PDB.