Extensive activation, tissue trafficking, turnover and functional impairment of NK cells in COVID-19 patients at disease onset associates with subsequent disease severity.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection causes severe respiratory involvement (COVID-19) in 5-20% of patients through initial immune derangement, followed by intense cytokine production and vascular leakage. Evidence of immune involvement point to the participation of T, B, and NK cells in the lack of control of virus replication leading to COVID-19. NK cells contribute to early phases of virus control and to the regulation of adaptive responses.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid characteristics and outcomes of invasively mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Genoa, Italy.

Background: The primary objective of the study is to describe the cellular characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation; the secondary outcome is to describe BALF findings between survivors vs non-survivors.

Materials And Methods: Patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR, admitted to ICU between March and April 2020 were enrolled. At ICU admission, BALF were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Prostate cancer testicular metastasis: Are they underestimated? Case report and analysis of the literature.

Introduction: We aim to present a rare case of a patient who developed a late testicular metastasis of PCa after radical prostatectomy.

Case Description: A 78 years old man presenting for left testicular swelling slowly increasing of size over the last 2 months. He underwent a retropubic radical prostatectomy and extended bilateral lymphadenectomy in 2007 for prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Testicular seminoma with pagetoid spread into the vas deferens: A rare histopathological presentation.

Testicular cancer, in particular testicular germ cell tumours, is the most common malignancy in young adult men. Defining prognosis and the best therapeutic strategy is challenging since accurate staging could be controversial. We report an unusual case of seminoma with pagetoid spread into the rete testis and, unexpectedly, also within the epithelium of the vas deferens, up to the margin of excision of the spermatic cord.

Spontaneous urinary bladder perforation: An unusual presentation of well-differentiated papillary peritoneum mesothelioma.

Introduction: Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) is a very rare neoplasm. Most of WDPM are asymptomatic and are often incidentally detected during surgery. This report describes a case of WDPM of the peritoneum unexpectedly diagnosed in a male with a spontaneous intraperitoneal bladder rupture.

The Association of Intraoperative driving pressure with postoperative pulmonary complications in open versus closed abdominal surgery patients - a posthoc propensity score-weighted cohort analysis of the LAS VEGAS study.

Background: It is uncertain whether the association of the intraoperative driving pressure (ΔP) with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) depends on the surgical approach during abdominal surgery. Our primary objective was to determine and compare the association of time-weighted average ΔP (ΔP) with PPCs. We also tested the association of ΔP with intraoperative adverse events.

The role of dalbavancin for Gram positive infections in the COVID-19 era: state of the art and future perspectives.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically challenged the national health systems worldwide in the last months. Dalbavancin is a novel antibiotic with a long plasmatic half-life and simplified weekly administration regimens, thus representing a promising option for the outpatient treatment of Gram-positive infections and the early discharge of hospitalized patients. Dalbavancin is approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs).

How do you manage ANTICOagulant therapy in neurosurgery? The ANTICO survey of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery (SINCH).

Background: Anticoagulant assumption is a concern in neurosurgical patient that implies a delicate balance between the risk of thromboembolism versus the risk of peri- and postoperative hemorrhage.

Methods: We performed a survey among 129 different neurosurgical departments in Italy to evaluate practice patterns regarding the management of neurosurgical patients taking anticoagulant drugs. Furthermore, we reviewed the available literature, with the aim of providing a comprehensive but practical summary of current recommendations.

Association of Toll-like receptor 7 variants with life-threatening COVID-19 disease in males: findings from a nested case-control study.

Background: Recently, loss-of-function variants in TLR7 were identified in two families in which COVID-19 segregates like an X-linked recessive disorder environmentally conditioned by SARS-CoV-2. We investigated whether the two families represent the tip of the iceberg of a subset of COVID-19 male patients.

Methods: This is a nested case-control study in which we compared male participants with extreme phenotype selected from the Italian GEN-COVID cohort of SARS-CoV-2-infected participants (<60 y, 79 severe cases versus 77 control cases).

The impact of DAA-mediated HCV eradication on CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte trajectories in HIV/HCV coinfected patients: Data from the ICONA Foundation Cohort.

HCV infection has been hypothesized as a contributor of poor CD4 recovery in patients living with HIV (PLWHIV). Aim of this study was to evaluate CD4 , CD8 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio trends before and after HCV treatment with direct acting agents (DAA) in PLWHIV. HIV/HCV patients enrolled in ICONA and HepaICONA cohorts with HIV-RNA≤50 copies/ml who achieved a sustained viral response after DAA treatment were studied.

Results of a survey on elderly head and neck cancer patients on behalf of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO).

Objective: Over the years, evidence-based data and technical improvements have consolidated the central role of radiation therapy (RT) in head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment, even in the elderly. This survey aimed to describe the management of the elderly HNC patients among Italian Radiation Oncology Departments (RODs) and provide possible suggestions for improvement.

Methods: An online survey based on 43 questions was sent to RODs via email.

The Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak on the Psychological Flexibility and Behaviour of Cancelling Medical Appointments of Italian Patients with Pre-Existing Medical Condition: The "ImpACT-COVID-19 for Patients" Multi-Centre Observational Study.

Psychological distress imposed by the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak particularly affects patients with pre-existing medical conditions, and the progression of their diseases. Patients who fail to keep scheduled medical appointments experience a negative impact on care. The aim of this study is to investigate the psychosocial factors contributing to the cancellation of medical appointments during the pandemic by patients with pre-existing health conditions.

Sexuality during COVID lockdown: a cross-sectional Italian study among hospital workers and their relatives.

In March 2020, the Italian Government introduced measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 infection. Between 8th April and 2nd May 2020 we investigated levels and correlates of sexual activity and depression during COVID-19 lockdown in a sample of hospital workers and their acquaintances by an online survey on SurveyMonkey. Socio-demographic data, International Index of Erectile Function, Female Sexual Function Index, and Beck Depression Inventory were recorded.

Cardiac CT perfusion and FFR: pathophysiological features in ischemic heart disease.

Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has rapidly evolved, becoming a powerful integrated tool for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD), and being superior to other noninvasive methods due to its high accuracy and ability to simultaneously assess both lumen stenosis and atherosclerotic plaque burden. Furthermore, CCT is regarded as an effective gatekeeper for coronary angiography, and carries independent important prognostic information. In the last decade, the introduction of new functional CCT applications, namely CCT perfusion (CCTP) imaging and CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR), has opened the door for accurate assessment of the haemodynamic significance of stenoses.

Cardiac CT angiography: normal and pathological anatomical features-a narrative review.

The normal and pathological anatomy of the heart and coronary arteries are nowadays widely developed topics and constitute a fundamental part of the cultural background of the radiologist. The introduction of cardiac ECG-gated synchronized CT scanners with an ever-increasing number of detectors and with increasingly high structural characteristics (increase in temporal resolution, increase in contrast resolution with dual-source, dual energy scanners) allows the virtual measurement of anatomical structures complying with heart rate with submillimetric precision permitting to clearly depict the normal anatomy and follow the pathologic temporal evolution. Accordingly to these considerations, cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) asserts itself as a gold standard method for the anatomical evaluation of the heart and permits to evaluate, verify, measure and characterize structural pathological alterations of both congenital and acquired degenerative diseases.

Complications of endourological procedures and their treatment.

Endourological treatment for urinary stones and other obstructive urinary tract diseases is minimally invasive but in some cases it involves serious complications. This collection of cases describes some complications of endourological procedures and how they were treated. Case 1: A case of right ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrostomy found to be misplaced in the inferior vena cava.

Defining and managing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis: the 2020 ECMM/ISHAM consensus criteria for research and clinical guidance.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes direct damage to the airway epithelium, enabling aspergillus invasion. Reports of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis have raised concerns about it worsening the disease course of COVID-19 and increasing mortality. Additionally, the first cases of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis caused by azole-resistant aspergillus have been reported.

Integrase Inhibitors Use and Cytomegalovirus Infection Predict Immune Recovery in People Living With HIV Starting First-Line Therapy.

Background: We explored predictors of CD4/CD8 ratio improvement and optimal immunological recovery (OIR) after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in naive people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods: Retrospective multicenter study including naive PLWH starting ART with 2 nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors + 1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor (InSTI) or non-NRTI or protease inhibitor (PI). PLWH were followed from the time of ART initiation (baseline) to the discontinuation of first-line regimen, virological failure, death, or loss to follow-up.

Bladder Cancer and Associated Risk Factors: The African Panorama.

The African continent is unique in terms of its epidemiological evidence, causes, and possible future trends for bladder cancer (BCa). Factors include smoking rates and parasitic infection with Schistosoma haematobium. These issues in Africa could be addressed by increasing cultural awareness of BCa causes and symptoms via social media, banning smoking in public places, and ensuring that praziquantel is readily available in areas at high risk of schistosomiasis.

Escalation therapy in severe traumatic brain injury: how long is intracranial pressure monitoring necessary?

Traumatic brain injury frequently causes an elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) that could lead to reduction of cerebral perfusion pressure and cause brain ischemia. Invasive ICP monitoring is recommended by international guidelines, in order to reduce the incidence of secondary brain injury; although rare, the complications related to ICP probes could be dependent on the duration of monitoring. The aim of this manuscript is to clarify the appropriate timing for removal and management of invasive ICP monitoring, in order to reduce the risk of related complications and guarantee adequate cerebral autoregulatory control.