Cytomegalovirus Disease in Renal Transplanted Patients: Prevalence, Determining Factors, and Influence on Graft and Patients Outcomes

The prevalence and the factors related to cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease (CMVd) during the 1st year of renal transplantation (RTx) and the relationship between CMVd and early and long-term graft and RTx-patient (RTx-p) survival were evaluated. In 505 RTx-p, followed up for 8(5–11) years, data were recorded after 1-(T1) and 12-(T12) months of RTx. CMVd was defined either by CMV replication without clinical signs of disease (CMVr, 43%), or CMV replication with signs of disease (CMVs, 57%). During the 1st year of RTx, 45% of RTx-p had CMVd (CMVd+). CMVd+ patients were older than CMVd− patients. Female gender and Donor CMV-IgG+ (CMV IgG−D+)/recipient IgG- (CMV IgG−R-) status were more prevalent in CMVd+. At T1, CMVd+ had lower albumin, haemoglobin, and higher uric-acid and reactive C-protein than CMVd− and, at T1 and T12, received more steroids. Albumin-T1 was the unique factor in determining CMVd+, maintaining its significance also after the inclusion of IgG−D+/IgG−R− status to the model. CMVs had higher prevalence of CMV IgG-D+/IgG-R- than CMVr. CMVd, CMVr, and CMVs had no impact on graft loss (11% of RTx-p) and RTx-p death (8% of RTx-p). CMVd is highly prevalent during the 1st year of RTx. Albumin-T1 influences CMVd insurgence. CMVd did not impact on RTx and RTx-p loss.

Molecular Transmission Dynamics of Primary HIV Infections in Lazio Region, Years 2013–2020

Molecular investigation of primary HIV infections (PHI) is crucial to describe current dynamics of HIV transmission. Aim of the study was to investigate HIV transmission clusters (TC) in PHI referred during the years 2013–2020 to the National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome (INMI), that is the Lazio regional AIDS reference centre, and factors possibly associated with inclusion in TC. These were identified by phylogenetic analysis, based on population sequencing of pol; a more in depth analysis was performed on TC of B subtype, using ultra-deep sequencing (UDS) of env. Of 270 patients diagnosed with PHI during the study period, 229 were enrolled (median follow-up 168 (IQR 96–232) weeks). Median age: 39 (IQR 32–48) years; 94.8% males, 86.5% Italians, 83.4% MSM, 56.8% carrying HIV-1 subtype B. Of them, 92.6% started early treatment within a median of 4 (IQR 2–7) days after diagnosis; median time to sustained suppression was 20 (IQR 8–32) weeks. Twenty TC (median size 3, range 2–9 individuals), including 68 patients, were identified. A diagnosis prior to 2015 was the unique factor associated with inclusion in a TC. Added value of UDS was the identification of shared quasispecies components in transmission pairs within TC.

AN ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BIOMECHANICS AND KINESIOLOGY OF A MECHANICAL FUNCTIONAL ORTHESIS FOR SPINAL INJURY LEVEL C6 AND C7

The spinal cord injury is characterized by damage to the spinal canal, which causes various complications in the individual’s life, whether physical, psychological and / or social. The incorporation of Assistive Technology consists of one of the forms of care and of increasing the quality of life of people with severe disabilities, such as quadriplegia. In the present study, there is the presentation of the mechanical functional orthosis for tetraplegic spinal cord injury level C6 and C7, triggered by the contraction of the extensor muscles of the wrist, flexors or extensors of the elbow, kinesiological functions compatible with the remaining functions observed in dermatomes. Understanding the important effects of spinal cord injury on affected patients, it is considered that the use of resources and products that aim to maintain, restore and / or maximize functionality is a primary factor for improving occupational performance. With this in mind, the orthosis presented in this work corroborates this scope, being a unique factor for engagement and return in the performance of activities of daily living, in addition to assisting in the rehabilitation process of these people.

Penicillin and cephalosporin cross-reactivity: role of side chain and synthetic cefadroxil epitopes

Background Analysis of cross-reactivity is necessary for prescribing safe cephalosporins for penicillin allergic patients. Amoxicillin (AX) is the betalactam most often involved in immediate hypersensitivity reactions (IHRs), and cefadroxil (CX) the most likely cephalosporin to cross-react with AX, since they share the same R1 side chain, unlike cefuroxime (CO), with a structurally different R1. We aimed to analyse cross-reactivity with CX and CO in patients with confirmed IHRs to AX, including sIgE recognition to AX, CX, CO, and novel synthetic determinants of CX. Methods Fifty-four patients with confirmed IHRs to AX based on skin test (ST) and/or drug provocation test (DPT) were included. Serum sIgE to AX and benzylpenicillin was determined by Radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Two potential determinants of CX, involving intact or modified R1 structure, with open betalactam ring, were synthesised and sIgE evaluated by RAST inhibition assay. Results Tolerance to CX (Group A) was observed in 64.8% cases and cross-reactivity in 35.2% cases (Group B). Cross-reactivity with CO was only found in 1.8% cases from Group B. ST to CX showed a negative predictive value of 94.6%. RAST inhibition assays showed higher recognition to CX as well as to both synthetic determinants (66% of positive cases) in Group B. Conclusions Cross-reactivity with CX in AX allergic patients is 35%, being ST not enough for prediction. R1, although critical for recognition, is not the unique factor. The synthetic determinants of CX, 1-(HOPhG-Ser-Bu) and 2-(pyrazinone) are promising tools for determining in vitro cross-reactivity to CX in AX allergic patients.

Characterization of submicron organic particles in Beijing during summertime: comparison between SP-AMS and HR-AMS

Black carbon (BC) particles in Beijing summer haze play an important role in the regional radiation balance and related environmental processes. Understanding the factors that lead to variability of the impacts of BC remains limited. Here, we present observations by a soot-particle aerosol mass spectrometer (SP-AMS) of BC-containing submicron particulate matter (BC−PM1) in Beijing, China, during summer 2017. These observations were compared to concurrently measured total non-refractory submicron particulate matter (NR−PM1) by a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-AMS). Distinct properties were observed between NR−PM1 and BC−PM1 relevant to organic aerosol (OA) composition. Hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA) in BC−PM1 was found to be up to 2-fold higher than that in NR−PM1 in fresh vehicle emissions, suggesting that a part of HOA in BC−PM1 may be overestimated, likely due to the change of collection efficiency of SP-AMS. Cooking-related OA was only identified in NR−PM1, whereas aged biomass burning OA (A-BBOA) was a unique factor only identified in BC−PM1. The A-BBOA was linked to heavily coated BC, which may lead to enhancement of the light absorption ability of BC by a factor of 2 via the “lensing effect”. More-oxidized oxygenated OA identified in BC-containing particles was found to be slightly different from that observed by HR-AMS, mainly due to the influence of A-BBOA. Overall, these findings highlight that BC in urban Beijing is partially of agricultural fire origin and that a unique biomass-burning-related OA associated with BC may be ubiquitous in aged BC−PM1, and this OA may play a role in affecting air quality and climate that has not previously been fully considered.

Progress in the Synthesis, Angiogenesis Activity and Mechanism of Chalcone Derivatives

Cancer is a common disease that poses a serious threat to human health. Angiogenesis is essential for the growth and metabolism of tumors, providing oxygen and nutrition for the growth of cells and tissues. However, angiogenesis of tumors depends on the stimulation of growth factors. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGFR) is the most unique factor. Therefore, VEGF/VEGFR targeting anticancer drugs are playing an increasingly significant role in clinical trials. In addition, it has been proved that chalcone, the precursor of natural flavonoids, has potential anti-tumor activity, especially anti-angiogenesis activity. This review summarizes the reports about the anti-angiogenesis of chalcone derivatives. Based on the chalcone skeleton, it is divided into substituted chalcones and modified chalcones. The anti-angiogenesis activities of natural or synthetic chalcones, benzene ring modified or connecting bridge modified chalcones are described in this review.

Investigation of Thrombosis Volume, Anticoagulants, and Recurrence Factors in Portal Vein Thrombosis with Cirrhosis

This retrospective study investigated factors influencing the portal vein thrombosis (PVT) volume and recurrence in 52 cirrhosis patients with PVT from November 2008 to September 2018. All patients were treated with danaparoid sodium with or without additional antithrombin III. Blood platelet counts significantly correlated with the PVT volume (r2 = 0.17; P < 0.01). Computed tomography confirmed recurrence as PVT aggravation was reported in 43 patients, with ≥50% PVT volume reduction following anticoagulation therapy. In 43 patients, recurrence significantly correlated with the pretreatment PVT volume (P = 0.019). Factors influencing recurrence included a Child–Pugh score >8 (P = 0.049) and fibrosis index ≤7.0 based on four factors (FIB-4) (P = 0.048). Moreover, the relationship between recurrence and correlating factors showed that 15 patients who received warfarin experienced recurrence more often when Child–Pugh scores were >8 (P = 0.023), regardless of maintenance treatment. For patients who did not receive warfarin, a PVT volume ≥3.0 mL significantly influenced recurrence (P = 0.039). Therefore, the platelet count influences the PVT volume. The pretreatment PVT volume correlated with recurrence after anticoagulation therapy. According to the Kaplan–Meier curve, risk factors for PVT recurrence after anticoagulation therapy included Child–Pugh scores >8 and FIB-4 ≤7.0. Therefore, the FIB-4 is a unique factor that shows trends opposing other liver function markers.

Characterization of Submicron Organic Particles in Beijing During Summertime: Comparison Between SP-AMS and HR-AMS

Black carbon (BC) particles in Beijing summer haze play an important role in regional radiation balance and related environmental processes. Understanding the factors that lead to variability in the impacts of BC remains limited. Here, we present observations by a soot-particle aerosol mass spectrometer of BC-containing submicron particulate matter (BC-PM1) in the summer of 2017 in Beijing, China. These observations were compared to concurrently measured total non-refractory submicron particulate matter (NR-PM1) by a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-AMS). Distinct properties were observed between NR-PM1 and BC-PM1 related to organic aerosol (OA) composition with hydrocarbon-like OA in BC-PM1 up to two-fold higher than that in NR-PM1 in fresh vehicle emissions, suggesting that a part of HOA in BC-PM1 may be overestimated due to the change of the collection efficiency of SP-AMS. Cooking-related OA was only identified in NR-PM1, whereas aged biomass burning OA (A-BBOA) was a unique factor only identified in BC-PM1. The A-BBOA was linked to those heavily coated BC, which may lead to enhancement of light absorption ability of BC by a factor of two via the “lensing effect”. More-oxidized oxygenated OA identified in BC-containing particles was found to be slightly different from that observed by HR-AMS, mainly due to the influence of A-BBOA. Overall, these findings highlight that BC in urban Beijing is partly of agricultural fire origin and, a unique biomass burning-related OA associated with BC may be ubiquitous in aged BC-PM1, and this OA may play a role in affecting air quality and climate that has not previously been fully considered.