Eosinophil-associated diseases: the allergist's and clinical immunologist's perspective.

Summary: Eosinophil-associated diseases (EADs) refer to heterogeneous conditions in which eosinophils are believed to play critical pathological roles. They encompass common respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), less common primary eosinophilic disorders of gastrointestinal tract, and rare conditions including eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). A literature search was carried out in January 2024 in the MEDLINE and Scopus databases using the PubMed search engine (PubMed, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD). We focused on blood eosinophilia and hypereosinophilia. A diagnostic workup is proposed. From allergist's point of view, we focused the review on 4 groups of eosinophilic disorders of specific interest. Our increased understanding of type 2 inflammation and biology has recently led to development of highly effective precision targeted therapies that are now approved for a growing number of eosinophilic disorders. Novel targeted biologics have a major impact on treatment strategies and have resulted in major advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of these disorders. In the context of EADs, according to the heterogeneity of eosinophilic disorders a multidisciplinary approach should be adopted. Allergists and Clinical Immunologists play an important role as they have a clear understanding of the eosinophilic inflammation and the role of cytokines and are trained to recognize and characterize type 2 (T2) inflammation and its associated pathologies.

The role of skin tests with polyethylene glycol and polysorbate 80 in the vaccination campaign for COVID-19: results from an Italian multicenter survey.

Summary: Background. International guidelines suggested skin tests with Polyethylene-glycol (PEG) and polysorbate 80 (PS-80), to investigate a possible hypersensitivity to these excipients either to identify subjects at risk of developing allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines, or in patients with suspected IgE mediated hypersensitivity reactions (HR) to the Covid-19 vaccine. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PEG and PS sensitization in patients with a clinical history of HR to drugs containing PEG/PS and in patients with a suspected Covid-19 vaccine immediate HR. Methods. This was a multicenter retrospective study conducted by allergists belonging to 20 Italian medical centers. Skin testing was performed in 531 patients with either a clinical history of suspected hypersensitivity reaction (HR) to drugs containing PEG and/or PS-80 (group 1:362 patient) or a suspected HR to Covid-19 vaccines (group 2: 169 patient), as suggested by the AAIITO/SIAAIC guidelines for the "management of patients at risk of allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines" [1]. Results. 10/362 (0.02%) had positive skin test to one or both excipients in group 1, 12/169 (7.1%) in group 2 (p less than 0.01). In group 2 HRs to Covid-19 vaccines were immediate in 10/12 of cases and anaphylaxis occurred in 4/12 of patients. Conclusions. The positivity of skin test with PEG and or PS before vaccination is extremely rare and mostly replaceable by an accurate clinical history. Sensitization to PEG and PS has to be investigated in patients with a previous immediate HR to a Covid-19 vaccine, in particular in patients with anaphylaxis.

FLT3-targeted therapy restores GATA1 pathway function in NPM1/FLT3-ITD mutated acute myeloid leukaemia.

One-third of newly diagnosed adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) carry FLT3 mutations, which frequently occur together with nucleophosmin (NPM1) mutations and are associated with worse prognosis. FLT3 inhibitors are widely used in clinics with limitations due to drug resistance. AML cells carrying FLT3 mutations in both mouse models and patients present low expression of GATA1, a gene involved in haematopoietic changes preceding AML. Here, we show that FLT3 inhibition induces cellular responses and restores the GATA1 pathway and functions in NPM1/FLT3-ITD mutated AML, thus providing a new mechanism of action for this drug.

Management of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer after trastuzumab deruxtecan failure.

The current treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) has been greatly impacted in the past decade by the introduction of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which represent a relatively novel therapeutic class with the peculiar ability to deliver otherwise overtly toxic chemotherapeutics to tumor sites by exploiting the specificities of monoclonal antibodies. Indeed, drug engineering refinements in ADC design, such as through the introduction of cleavable linkers and hydrophobic payloads, resulted in improved patient outcomes in recent years. Two different ADCs, namely trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), have already entered clinical practice for the treatment of HER2-positive ABC. In this scenario, T-DXd has shown to portend better survival outcomes compared to T-DM1, while leaving a large unsought area of unmet medical need upon T-DXd failure. Treatment decision and benefit of cancer drugs following T-DXd still represent an area of clinical controversy, where a preclinical investigation and clinical development should be prioritized. As the pace of innovation is currently accelerating, and with novel ADC formulations advancing in early-phase clinical trials, the whole BC field is changing at an unprecedented rate, with potential broadenings of therapeutic indications. In this review, we present the clinical landscape of HER2-positive advanced BC and discuss our vision on how to tackle T-DXd resistance, providing a perspective on the priority areas of the cancer research in this setting.

A qualitative study on the influence of COVID-19 on smoking behaviors through changing social and physical contexts.

Globally, COVID-19 has been a major societal stressor and disrupted social and physical environments for many. Elucidating mechanisms through which societal disruptions influence smoking behavior has implications for future tobacco control efforts. Qualitative interviews were conducted among 38 adults who smoked combustible cigarettes in 2020 and 2021. The majority were women (75.7%), identified as Black (56.8%), were employed (61.3%), had a smoke-free home (66.7%) and lived in a small metro or rural (79.0%) county, primarily in rural southwest Georgia. Participants reported more time at home, increased isolation and less socializing, changed work and financial situations and altered household and family contexts. The vast majority of participants smoked more at some point during the pandemic with about half of these continuing to smoke more at the time of the interview. More time at home, multiple sources of stress and boredom were the main reasons for increased smoking. Decreases in smoking were attributed to financial strain, smoke-free home rules and nonsmoking family members, concerns about COVID-19 and less socializing with friends who smoke. Future tobacco control efforts during societal stressors such as pandemics should take into account specific psychosocial and environmental influences in attempts to minimize negative changes to smoking patterns.

Technical modifications for cost optimization in robot-assisted ventral mesh rectopexy: an initial experience.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted ventral mesh rectopexy is considered a valid option in the treatment of rectal prolapse. However, it involves higher costs than the laparoscopic approach. The aim of this study is to determine if less expensive robotic surgery for rectal prolapse can be safely performed. METHODS: This study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted ventral mesh rectopexy at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, from 7 November 2020 to 22 November 2021. The cost of hospitalization, surgical procedure, robotic materials, and operating room resources in patients undergoing robot-assisted ventral mesh rectopexy with the da Vinci Xi Surgical Systems was analyzed before and after technical modifications, including the reduction of robotic arms and instruments, and the execution of a double minimal peritoneal incision at the pouch of Douglas and sacral promontory (instead of the traditional inverted J incision). RESULTS: Twenty-two robot-assisted ventral mesh rectopexies were performed [21 females, 95.5%, median age 62.0 (54.8-70.0) years]. After an initial experience performing traditional robot-assisted ventral mesh rectopexy in four patients, we adopted technical modifications in other cases. No major complication or conversion to open surgery occurred. In total, mean cost of hospitalization, surgical procedure, robotic materials, and operating room resources was €6995.5 ± 1058.0, €5912.7 ± 877.0, €2797.6 ± 545.6, and €2608.3 ± 351.5, respectively. Technical modifications allowed a significant reduction in the overall cost of hospitalization (€6604.5 ± 589.5 versus €8755.0 ± 906.4, p = 0.001), number of robotic instruments (3.1 ± 0.2 versus 4.0 ± 0.8 units, p = 0.026), and operating room time (201 ± 26 versus 253 ± 16 min, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Considering our preliminary results, robot-assisted ventral mesh rectopexy with appropriate technical modifications can be cost-effective and safe.

APOBEC mutagenesis, kataegis, chromothripsis in EGFR-mutant osimertinib-resistant lung adenocarcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Studies of targeted therapy resistance in lung cancer have primarily focused on single-gene alterations. Based on prior work implicating apolipoprotein b mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) mutagenesis in histological transformation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung cancers, we hypothesized that mutational signature analysis may help elucidate acquired resistance to targeted therapies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: APOBEC mutational signatures derived from an Food and Drug Administration-cleared multigene panel [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSK-IMPACT)] using the Signature Multivariate Analysis (SigMA) algorithm were validated against the gold standard of mutational signatures derived from whole-exome sequencing. Mutational signatures were decomposed in 3276 unique lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs), including 93 paired osimertinib-naïve and -resistant EGFR-mutant tumors. Associations between APOBEC and mechanisms of resistance to osimertinib were investigated. Whole-genome sequencing was carried out on available EGFR-mutant lung cancer samples (10 paired, 17 unpaired) to investigate large-scale genomic alterations potentially contributing to osimertinib resistance. RESULTS: APOBEC mutational signatures were more frequent in receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-driven lung cancers (EGFR, ALK, RET, and ROS1; 25%) compared to LUADs at large (20%, P < 0.001); across all subtypes, APOBEC mutational signatures were enriched in subclonal mutations (P < 0.001). In EGFR-mutant lung cancers, osimertinib-resistant samples more frequently displayed an APOBEC-dominant mutational signature compared to osimertinib-naïve samples (28% versus 14%, P = 0.03). Specifically, mutations detected in osimertinib-resistant tumors but not in pre-treatment samples significantly more frequently displayed an APOBEC-dominant mutational signature (44% versus 23%, P < 0.001). EGFR-mutant samples with APOBEC-dominant signatures had enrichment of large-scale genomic rearrangements (P = 0.01) and kataegis (P = 0.03) in areas of APOBEC mutagenesis. CONCLUSIONS: APOBEC mutational signatures are frequent in RTK-driven LUADs and increase under the selective pressure of osimertinib in EGFR-mutant lung cancer. APOBEC mutational signature enrichment in subclonal mutations, private mutations acquired after osimertinib treatment, and areas of large-scale genomic rearrangements highlights a potentially fundamental role for APOBEC mutagenesis in the development of resistance to targeted therapies, which may be potentially exploited to overcome such resistance.

Multi-qubit entanglement and algorithms on a neutral-atom quantum computer.

Gate-model quantum computers promise to solve currently intractable computational problems if they can be operated at scale with long coherence times and high-fidelity logic. Neutral-atom hyperfine qubits provide inherent scalability owing to their identical characteristics, long coherence times and ability to be trapped in dense, multidimensional arrays1. Combined with the strong entangling interactions provided by Rydberg states2-4, all the necessary characteristics for quantum computation are available. Here we demonstrate several quantum algorithms on a programmable gate-model neutral-atom quantum computer in an architecture based on individual addressing of single atoms with tightly focused optical beams scanned across a two-dimensional array of qubits. Preparation of entangled Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states5 with up to six qubits, quantum phase estimation for a chemistry problem6 and the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA)7 for the maximum cut (MaxCut) graph problem are demonstrated. These results highlight the emergent capability of neutral-atom qubit arrays for universal, programmable quantum computation, as well as preparation of non-classical states of use for quantum-enhanced sensing.

Prevalence of retained/transmigrated permanent and persistence of primary teeth associated with odontomas in young children.

AIM: Odontomas are odontogenic tumours of the jaws; they are generally asymptomatic with an unknown aetiology. This study was conducted on non-syndromic children aged 9 to 14 years to explore the side effects deriving from the presence of these benign tumours, as retention, transmigration, ectopic eruption of permanent teeth and the permanence of primary teeth in the affected area. METHODS: Two hundred panoramic (OPT) and 92 Cone Beam Computed Tomography radiographs (CBCT) of patients (130 males and 70 females) were analysed from February 2018 to December 2019. Two hundred odontomas (145 compound and 55 complex type) and 800 teeth (160 primary and 640 permanent) were included. RESULTS: The prevalence of these tumours in both male and female subjects was 65% and 35%, respectively; the prevalence of compound odontomas in maxillary and mandibular bones was respectively 27.58% and 72.41%. The prevalence of complex odontomas in maxillary bones in female and male subjects was 37.5% and 62.5% respectively. It was observed the presence of a primary tooth in 81% of cases, the presence of retained teeth in 16.5% and a dental transmigration in the remaining 2.5% of cases in the compound type. Gender (p?=0.158) has no significant correlation. CONCLUSIONS: An early diagnosis and removal of odontomas in primary dentition is crucial in order to prevent later dental complications. Since the detection of odontomas is mainly an accidental radiological finding, the need for routine radiographic analysis should be highlighted.

Drosophila Antimicrobial Peptides and Lysozymes Regulate Gut Microbiota Composition and Abundance.

The gut microbiota affects the physiology and metabolism of animals and its alteration can lead to diseases such as gut dysplasia or metabolic disorders. Several reports have shown that the immune system plays an important role in shaping both bacterial community composition and abundance in Drosophila, and that immune deficit, especially during aging, negatively affects microbiota richness and diversity. However, there has been little study at the effector level to demonstrate how immune pathways regulate the microbiota. A key set of Drosophila immune effectors are the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which confer defense upon systemic infection. AMPs and lysozymes, a group of digestive enzymes with antimicrobial properties, are expressed in the gut and are good candidates for microbiota regulation. Here, we take advantage of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the role of AMPs and lysozymes in regulation of gut microbiota structure and diversity. Using flies lacking AMPs and newly generated lysozyme mutants, we colonized gnotobiotic flies with a defined set of commensal bacteria and analyzed changes in microbiota composition and abundance in vertical transmission and aging contexts through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our study shows that AMPs and, to a lesser extent, lysozymes are necessary to regulate the total and relative abundance of bacteria in the gut microbiota. We also decouple the direct function of AMPs from the immune deficiency (IMD) signaling pathway that regulates AMPs but also many other processes, more narrowly defining the role of these effectors in the microbial dysbiosis observed in IMD-deficient flies upon aging. IMPORTANCE This study advances current knowledge in the field of host-microbe interactions by demonstrating that the two families of immune effectors, antimicrobial peptides and lysozymes, actively regulate the gut microbiota composition and abundance. Consequences of the loss of these antimicrobial peptides and lysozymes are exacerbated during aging, and their loss contributes to increased microbiota abundance and shifted composition in old flies. This work shows that immune effectors, typically associated with resistance to pathogenic infections, also help shape the beneficial gut community, consistent with the idea that host-symbiont interactions use the same "language" typically associated with pathogenesis.

Impact of a surgical safety checklist on surgical site infections, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial consumption, costs and mortality.

BACKGROUND: In 2010, following the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), our hospital implemented a surgical safety programme centred around a surgical safety checklist. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare indicators of surgical site infection, antimicrobial consumption, antimicrobial resistance, costs and in-hospital mortality before (January 2006 to July 2010) and after (August 2010 to December 2014) implementation of the programme. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out matching patients with surgical site infection (SSI) to surgical patients without infection to examine the impact of the intervention. FINDINGS: Use of the surgical checklist was associated with a significant reduction in SSI. When comparing the two time periods, we also identified a reduction in infections due to micro-organisms in the ESKAPE group (from 90.7% to 73.9%, P<0.001), a reduction of SSI in patients with contaminated, infected and potentially contaminated wounds, and for those in whom perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis was discontinued in less than 48 hours. Overall, there was a reduction in antimicrobial resistance, though there was increased resistance to carbapenems for, to glycopeptides for Enterococcus faecium, and to clindamycin for Staphylococcus aureus. We also detected increased antimicrobial consumption of second- and third-generation cephalosporins and clindamycin. We observed a reduction in hospital deaths from 6.4% to 3.2% (P=0.001), but we did not observe any reduction in costs. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a surgical checklist was an independent predictor of SSI reduction, and was also associated with a decrease in antimicrobial resistance and reduced in-hospital mortality.

Benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with special histology subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality in women, worldwide; triple-negative BC (TNBC) is a subtype traditionally associated with poorer prognosis. TNBC special histology subtypes present distinct clinical and molecular features and sensitivity to antineoplastic treatments. However, no consensus has been defined on the best adjuvant therapy. The aim of the review is to study the evidence from literature to inform the choice of adjuvant treatments in this setting. METHODS: We systematically searched literature assessing the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with TNBC special histotypes (PROSPERO: CRD42020153818). RESULTS: We screened 6404 records (15 included). All the studies estimated the benefit of different chemotherapy regimens, in retrospective cohorts (median size: 69 patients (range min-max: 17-5142); median follow-up: 51 months (range: 21-268); mostly in Europe and USA). In patients with early-stage adenoid cystic TNBC, a marginal role of chemotherapy was reported. Similar for apocrine TNBC. Medullary tumors exhibited an intrinsic good prognosis with a limited role of chemotherapy, suggested to be modulated by the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. A significant impact of chemotherapy on the overall survival was estimated in patients with metaplastic TNBC. Limitations were related to the retrospective design of all the studies and heterogeneous treatments received by the patients. CONCLUSIONS: There is potential opportunity to consider treatment de-escalation and less intense therapies in some patients with early, special histology-type TNBC. International efforts are indispensable to validate prospective clinical decision models.

Haemorrhoidal haemodynamic changes in patients with haemorrhoids treated using Doppler-guided dearterialization.

BACKGROUND: Arterial hyperflow to haemorrhoids has been implicated as a possible pathophysiological co-factor in haemorrhoidal disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate how transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) can influence haemodynamic parameters at the level of the haemorrhoidal piles. METHODS: Patients with grade III haemorrhoids selected for THD between July and December 2018 were evaluated using endoanal ultrasonography and colour Doppler imaging at the level of internal haemorrhoids before and 1 year after the surgical procedure. Peak systolic velocity, pulsatility index, resistivity index, acceleration time, and end-diastolic velocity were measured, and preoperative and postoperative values compared. Symptom severity was measured using a symptom-based questionnaire (score range 0-20). RESULTS: Of 21 patients treated, 17 completed the study. Compared with preoperative values, postoperative peak systolic velocity (mean(s.d.) 18.7(1.1) versus 10.3(0.4) cm/s; P < 0.05), pulsatility index (5.5(0.3) versus 2.8(0.4); P < 0.050), and resistivity index (1.0(0.2) versus 0.8(0.5); P < 0.050) decreased significantly, whereas acceleration time increased significantly (65.6(3.6) versus 83.3(4.7) cm/s2; P < 0.050); end-diastolic velocity did not change (1.9(0.2) versus 2.0(0.4); P = 0.753). Symptoms disappeared or had improved significantly in all patients by 1 year after surgery. The mean(s.d.) total symptom severity score decreased from 15.8(1.1) to 1.2(1.6) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: THD affects the main haemodynamic parameters at the level of internal haemorrhoids and is associated with a decrease in arterial hyperflow.

Haloperidol for preventing delirium in ICU patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Delirium, a common behavioral manifestation of acute brain dysfunction in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), is a significant contributor to mortality and worse long-term outcome. Antipsychotics, especially haloperidol, are commonly administered for the treatment and prevention of delirium in critically ill patients while the evidence for the safety and efficacy of these drugs is still lacking. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the benefits of haloperidol for the prevention of delirium in ICU patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We made a systematic review and meta-analysis. RESULTS: Eight RCTs with 2806 patients were included. The prophylactic use of haloperidol did not reduce the delirium incidence (RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.69-1.71), the duration of delirium (MD: -0.33, 95% CI: -1.25-0.588) and the delirium/coma free days (MD: 0.08, 95% CI: -0.06-0.23). We did not find an increase of extrapyramidal effects (RR: 1.86, 95% CI: 0.30-11.39), QTc prolongation (RR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.79-1.55) and arrhythmias (RR: 1.26, 95% CI: 0.72-2.19). The use of haloperidol did not increase the ICU (MD: 0.77, 95% CI: -0.28-1.83) and hospital length of stay (MD: -0.57, 95% CI: -1.32-0.18). Haloperidol did not increase the sedation level (RR: 1.88, 95% CI: 0.76-4.63) and mortality (RR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.83-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Haloperidol did not reduce the delirium incidence, the delirium duration, the delirium/coma free-days and did not increase the incidence of extrapyramidal effects, arrhythmias, the ICU and hospital length of stays and sedation.

Simple fistula-in-ano: is it all simple? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Simple anal fistula is one of the most common causes of proctological surgery and fistulotomy is considered the gold standard. This procedure, however, may cause complications. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the surgical treatment of simple anal fistula with traditional and sphincter-sparing techniques. METHODS: A literature research was performed using PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar to identify studies on the surgical treatment of simple anal fistulas. Observational studies and randomized clinical trials were included. We assessed the risk of bias of included studies using the Jadad scale for randomized controlled trials, and the MINORS Scale for the remaining studies. RESULTS: The search returned 456 records, and 66 studies were found to be eligible. The quality of the studies was generally low. A total of 4883 patients with a simple anal fistula underwent a sphincter-cutting procedure, mainly fistulotomy, with a weighted average healing rate of 93.7%, while any postoperative continence impairment was reported in 12.7% of patients. Sphincter-sparing techniques were adopted to treat 602 patients affected by simple anal fistula, reaching a weighted average success rate of 77.7%, with no study reporting a significant postoperative incontinence rate. The postoperative onset of fecal incontinence and the recurrence of the disease reduced patients' quality of life and satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of simple anal fistulas with sphincter-cutting procedures provides excellent cure rates, even if postoperative fecal incontinence is not a negligible risk. A sphincter-sparing procedure could be useful in selected patients.

Video vs. direct laryngoscopy for adult surgical and intensive care unit patients requiring tracheal intubation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether a specific videolaryngoscopy technique is superior to standard direct laryngoscopy using a Macintosh blade to reduce the risk of difficult intubation in surgical and intensive care unit patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified all randomized controlled trials comparing videolaryngoscopes (VLSs) to direct laryngoscopy in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and EMBASE (from inception to April 2020). The primary outcome was difficult intubation in adult surgical and intensive care unit patients. Secondary outcomes were successful intubation at the first attempt, airway trauma, sore throat, hoarseness, hypoxia, and mortality. RESULTS: We included 97 randomized controlled trials to evaluate 12775 patients. A high risk of bias was found in at least 50% of the included studies for each outcome. VLSs reduced the risk of difficult intubation compared to direct Macintosh laryngoscopy (RR 0.48, 95% CI from 0.35 to 0.65). VLSs increased the rate of successful intubation at the first attempt when compared to direct Macintosh laryngoscopy (RR 1.03, 95% CI from 1.00 to 1.07). Lower risks of airway trauma were found with VLSs (RR 0.69, 95% CI from 0.55 to 0.86). A decreased risk of hoarseness was associated with the use of VLSs (RR 0.67, 95% CI from 0.54 to 0.83). In addition, VLSs did not significantly reduce the risk of hypoxia compared with direct laryngoscopy (RR 0.83, 95% CI from 0.60 to 1.16). CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we found that the use of VLSs reduced the risk of difficult intubation and slightly increased the ratio of successful intubation at the first attempt among adult patients.

Seroconversion in patients with cancer and oncology health care workers infected by SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer have high risk for severe complications and poor outcome to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related disease [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)]. Almost all subjects with COVID-19 develop anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) within 3 weeks after infection. No data are available on the seroconversion rates of cancer patients and COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, observational, prospective study that enrolled (i) patients and oncology health professionals with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by real-time RT-PCR assays on nasal/pharyngeal swab specimens; (ii) patients and oncology health professionals with clinical or radiological suspicious of infection by SARS-CoV-2; and (iii) patients with cancer who are considered at high risk for infection and eligible for active therapy and/or major surgery. All enrolled subjects were tested with the 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette, which is a qualitative membrane-based immunoassay for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study was to evaluate anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion rate in patients with cancer and oncology health care professionals with confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19. RESULTS: From 30 March 2020 to 11 May 2020, 166 subjects were enrolled in the study. Among them, cancer patients and health workers were 61 (36.7%) and 105 (63.3%), respectively. Overall, 86 subjects (51.8%) had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis by RT-PCR testing on nasopharyngeal swab specimen, and 60 (36.2%) had a clinical suspicious of COVID-19. Median time from symptom onset (for cases not confirmed by RT-PCR) or RT-PCR confirmation to serum antibody test was 17 days (interquartile range 26). In the population with confirmed RT-PCR, 83.8% of cases were IgG positive. No difference in IgG positivity was observed between cancer patients and health workers (87.9% versus 80.5%; P = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody detection do not differ between cancer patients and healthy subjects.

Sensitization to Gibberellin-Regulated Protein (Peamaclein) Among Italian Cypress Pollen-Sensitized Patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peach gibberellin-regulated protein (peamaclein) has recently emerged as a relevant food allergen in cypress pollen-hypersensitive patients. Objective: We investigated monosensitization to peamaclein among Italian cypress pollen-allergic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 835 cypress pollen-hypersensitive patients from 28 Italian allergy centers underwent a thorough work-up to determine food-allergic reactions and performed skin prick testing with a commercial peach extract containing peamaclein. IgE to rPru p 3 was measured in peach reactors, and those with negative results were enrolled as potentially monosensitized to peamaclein. IgE reactivity to rPru p 7 was evaluated using immunoblot and an experimental ImmunoCAP with rPru p 7. RESULTS: Skin prick tests were positive to peach in 163 patients (19.5%); however, 127 (77.9%) were excluded because they reacted to Pru p 3. Twenty-four patients (14.7%) corresponding to 2.8% of the entire study population) were considered potentially monosensitized to peamaclein. No geographic preference was observed. Seventeen of the 24 patients (70.8%) had a history of food allergy, mainly to peach (n=15). Additional offending foods included other Rosaceae, citrus fruits, fig, melon, tree nuts, and kiwi. On peach immunoblot, only 3 of 18 putative peamaclein-allergic patients reacted to a band at about 7 kDa; an additional 4 patients reacted at about 50-60 kDa. Ten of 18 patients (56%) had a positive result for Pru p 7 on ImmunoCAP. CONCLUSION: Allergy and sensitization to peamaclein seem rare in Italy. Most patients react to peach, although other Rosaceae fruits and several citrus fruits may also be offending foods. Peach and cypress pollen probably also share cross-reacting allergens other than peamaclein.

A systematic review of the literature on the role of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in East Asia and spread around the world from December 2019. The most severe stage of COVID-19 pathology is characterized by respiratory distress requiring intubation. In specific cases, tracheostomy is indicated to ensure the safety of the procedure. The aim of our study was to analyze the scientific literature identifying the indications for tracheostomy and safety precautions to reduce contamination. We analyzed the literature from February 2003 to April 2020, including papers on pandemics of other coronaviruses, such As Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 1 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, to obtain a variety of relevant information. We focused on indications for tracheostomy in patients affected by COVID-19 or related viruses and the measures adopted to perform a safe procedure. We included 35 papers, of which 24 (68.57%) discussed guidelines for tracheostomy indications. All 35 studies discussed the procedures for performing tracheostomy safely. Data obtained indicated that the authors generally agreed on safety measures but expressed different opinions about indications. Therefore, we provided guidelines addressing safety recommendations. After the pandemic has been resolved, we plan to conduct an international retrospective study to identify the criteria for tracheostomy indications.