COVID-19 pandemic impact on people with diabetes: results from a large representative sample of Italian older adults.

Aims: Restrictions imposed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission should be weighed against consequences on vulnerable groups' health. Lifestyles and disease management of older people with diabetes might have been differentially impacted compared to non-chronic individuals.

Methods: A cross-sectional study (LOST in Lombardia) was conducted on a representative full sample of 4 400 older adults (17-30 November 2020), collecting data on lifestyles, mental health and access to care before and during the pandemic.

Differential expression of circulating miRNAs after alemtuzumab induction therapy in lung transplantation.

Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD52, used as induction therapy after lung transplantation (LTx). Its engagement produces a long-lasting immunodepletion; however, the mechanisms driving cell reconstitution are poorly defined. We hypothesized that miRNAs are involved in this process.

One year in review 2021: axial spondyloarthritis.

Axial spondyloarthritides (axSpA) are a group of systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations and typical imaging features, rarely accompanied by laboratory abnormalities. They can be classified into a so-called non-radiographic form (nr-axSpA), unlike the radiographic one, because magnetic resonance imaging may show specific inflammatory lesions when conventional radiology is not able to highlight them. Inflammatory involvement of the axial skeleton tends to associate typically with new bone formation and peripheral joints may also be affected.

Robust and Persistent B- and T-Cell Responses after COVID-19 in Immunocompetent and Solid Organ Transplant Recipient Patients.

The development and persistence of SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response in immunocompetent (IC) and immunocompromised patients is crucial for long-term protection. Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was analysed in 57 IC and 15 solid organ transplanted (TX) patients. Antibody responses were determined by ELISA and neutralization assay.

Bilateral Cystic Bronchiectasis as Novel Phenotype of Niemann-Pick Disease Type B Successfully Treated With Double Lung Transplantation.

Niemann-Pick Disease type B (NPDB) is a rare autosomal recessive disease belonging to the family of lysosomal storage disorders. NPDB is caused by mutations of sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 gene (SMPD1) and is characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, interstitial lung disease, recurrent pulmonary infections, and neurologic disorders. Bronchiectasis are atypical.

Scoring the Risk of Having Systemic Mastocytosis in Adult Patients with Mastocytosis in the Skin.

Background: Mastocytosis in adults often presents with skin lesions. A bone marrow biopsy is necessary to confirm or exclude the presence of systemic mastocytosis (SM) in these cases. When a bone marrow biopsy is not performed, the provisional diagnosis is mastocytosis in the skin (MIS).

One year in review 2019: psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis belonging to spondyloarthritides (SpA), a group of rheumatologic diseases characterised bya wide spectrum of different clinical manifestations that tend to associate with various comorbidities and that may significantly compromise the quality of life of patients. Nowadays, it is well known how PsA may manifest in different clinical domains, in particular peripheral articular and periarticular involvement, axial involvement, skin and nail psoriasis. Moreover, the majority of patients with PsA develop comorbidities such as inflammatory bowel diseases, uveitis, but also cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric or pulmonary pathologies.

CT-guided biopsy in the differential diagnosis of Sjogren syndrome associated cystic lung disease: A case of lung nodular AL- amyloidosis.

Pulmonary involvement in Sjogren syndrome (SS) could manifest as cystic lung disease (CLD). CLD in SS includes lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) and pulmonary amyloidosis. Differential diagnosis usually requires surgical lung biopsy, whereas CT-guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy (CT-FNAB) has not yet explored.

Role of Platelet Cytoskeleton in Platelet Biomechanics: Current and Emerging Methodologies and Their Potential Relevance for the Investigation of Inherited Platelet Disorders.

Cytoskeleton is composed of more than 100 proteins and represents a dynamic network of the cellular cytoplasm. Cytoskeletal functions include spatial organization of cellular components, structural connection of the cell with external environment, and biomechanical force generation. Cytoskeleton takes part, at different levels, in all phases of platelet biogenesis: megakaryocyte (MK) differentiation, MK maturation, and platelet formation.

Phase III, efficacy and safety study of ertugliflozin monotherapy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with diet and exercise alone.

Aims: To conduct a phase III study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin monotherapy in people with type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: This was a 52-week, double-blind, multicentre, randomized, parallel-group study with a 26-week, placebo-controlled treatment period (phase A), followed by a 26-week active-controlled treatment period (phase B) in 461 men and women, aged ≥18 years with inadequate glycaemic control (glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] concentration 7.0% to 10.

Performance of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Gout in a Multicenter Study: Comparison With Monosodium Urate Monohydrate Crystal Analysis as the Gold Standard.

Objective: To examine the performance of ultrasound (US) for the diagnosis of gout using the presence of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals as the gold standard.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Study for Updated Gout Classification Criteria (SUGAR), a large, multicenter observational cross-sectional study of consecutive subjects with at least 1 swollen joint who conceivably may have gout. All subjects underwent arthrocentesis; cases were subjects with confirmed MSU crystals.

Early, Incomplete, or Preclinical Autoimmune Systemic Rheumatic Diseases and Pregnancy Outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of preclinical systemic autoimmune rheumatic disorders on pregnancy outcome.

Methods: In this longitudinal cohort study, patients were enrolled during the first trimester of pregnancy if they reported having had connective tissue disorder symptoms, were found to be positive for circulating autoantibodies, and on clinical evaluation were judged to have a preclinical or incomplete rheumatic disorder. The incidence of fetal growth restriction (FGR), preeclampsia, and adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with preclinical rheumatic disorders was compared with that in selected controls, after adjustment for confounders by penalized logistic regression.

Platelet size for distinguishing between inherited thrombocytopenias and immune thrombocytopenia: a multicentric, real life study.

The most frequent forms of inherited thrombocytopenia (IT) are characterized by platelet size abnormalities and it has been suggested that this parameter is useful for their differentiation from immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Recently, a monocentric study identified cut-off values for mean platelet volume (MPV) and mean platelet diameter (MPD) with good diagnostic accuracy in this respect. To validate these cut-off values in a different and larger case series of patients, we enrolled 130 subjects with ITP and 113 with IT in six different centres.

Thirteen Years of Hyoid Suspension Experience in Multilevel OSAHS Surgery: The Short-Term Results of a Bicentric Study.

Aims. To evaluate thirteen years of hyoid suspension experience in multilevel OSAHS surgery, for which hyoidthyroidpexia represented the exclusive hypopharyngeal approach applied. Materials and Methods.

Familial occurrence of Turner syndrome: casual event or increased risk?

Aim: The prevalence of Turner syndrome (TS) at birth has been estimated as approximately 1 in 2500 live female births. An increased risk of TS in subsequent pregnancies for couples who already have a daughter with TS has not been reported.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 140 patients to evaluate the presence of familial TS occurrence.

Thyroid ultrasound in patients with Turner syndrome: influence of clinical and auxological parameters.

Objectives: To determine thyroid volume and structure by ultrasound (US) in patients with Turner syndrome (TS) compared to healthy controls; to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) and its association with clinical and auxological parameters.

Patients: 73 patients and 93 height-matched healthy female controls in the same age range were included in the study.

Results: Thirty-two TS patients (43.

MYH9 related disease: four novel mutations of the tail domain of myosin-9 correlating with a mild clinical phenotype.

MYH9-related disease (MYH9-RD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in MYH9, the gene encoding the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA. All patients present congenital macrothrombocytopenia and inclusion bodies in neutrophils. Some of them can also develop sensorineural deafness, presenile cataract, and/or progressive nephropathy leading to end-stage renal failure.