Prognostic bioindicators in severe COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by novel coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan (China) in December 2019. Here we evaluated a panel of biomarkers to phenotype patients and to define the role of immuno-inflammatory mediators as biomarkers of severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 24 COVID-19 patients on admission to hospital, before any treatment or infusion of intravenous steroids or invasive ventilation. KL-6 IL-6 and C-peptide were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. IL-6 assay was validated for accuracy and precision. The validity of variables used to distinguish severe from mild-to-moderate patients was assessed by areas under curves (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and logistic regression was performed to combine parameters of the two groups. RESULTS: In the severe group, IL-6, CRP and KL-6 concentrations were significantly higher than in mild-to-moderate patients. KL-6, IL-6 and CRP concentrations were directly correlated with each other. ROC curve analysis of the logistic regression model including IL-6, KL-6 and CRP showed the best performance with an AUC of 0.95. CONCLUSIONS: Besides corroborating previous reports of over-expression of IL-6 in severe COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation, analytical determination of other mediators showed that IL-6 concentrations were correlated with those of KL-6 and CRP. The combination of these three prognostic bioindicators made it possible to distinguish severe COVID-19 patients with poor prognosis from mild-to-moderate patients.

Rest-activity rhythm in breast cancer survivors: an update based on non-parametric indices.

Recently we evaluated by actigraphy the rest-activity circadian rhythm (RAR) in breast cancer (BC) survivors at 5 years from primary diagnosis, as well as in a control group with similar age and body mass index (BMI). RAR, analyzed by Cosinor method, resulted significantly different in BC survivors compared to healthy subjects: BC survivors showed lower values of MESOR and Amplitude (A), while acrophase (φ) was similar in the two groups. Now, using non-parametric methods we have detected Interdaily Stability (IS), Intradaily Variability (IV), nocturnal activity (L5), and daily activity (M10) on the same sample of previous study: 15 BC survivors at 5 years from the primary diagnosis (mean age = 56.7 ± 6.6 yrs; mean BMI = 24.5 ± 3.8 Kg/m2) and 13 healthy controls (mean age = 54.4 ± 7.2 yrs; mean BMI = 25.2 ± 2.8 Kg/m2). The non-parametric indices showed that in BC-group IV was significantly higher than in Ctrl-group (0.86 vs. 0.65 a.u. in BC and Ctrl, respectively; p <.01), while L5 (11.27 vs. 34.41 a.c. in BC and Ctrl, respectively; p <.0001) and M10 (326.82 vs. 428.07 a.c. in BC and Ctrl, respectively; p <.01) were significantly lower compared to Ctrl-group. The data suggest that BC patients need constant clinical assessment of RAR characteristics along the years following the primary diagnosis. The analysis of RAR in all its components, parametric and non-parametric, is important to detect alterations in the sleep-wake cycle and can be useful for developing new strategies for health protection, such as structured and tailored physical activity programs, to improve circadian activity level in order to raise the quality of life in BC survivors.

Effect of aerobic exercise intervention on markers of insulin resistance in breast cancer women.

Insulin may affect breast cancer (BC) risk and prognosis. Exercise reduces insulin in obese BC survivors. We designed a randomised controlled trial to test the effect of an aerobic exercise intervention (AEI) on insulin parameters and body composition in non-obese BC women without insulin resistance. Thirty-eight BC women were randomised into an intervention group (IG = 18) or control group (CG = 20). IG participated in a structured AEI for 3 months, while CG received only the Word Cancer Research Fund/American Institute Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendation to be physically active. Fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, metabolic parameters and body composition were collected at baseline and after the AEI. IG reduced insulin and HOMA-IR index by 15% and 14%, while CG increased these parameters (+12% and +16%). Insulin changed differently over time in the two randomised groups (pinteraction  = .04). The between-group differences in the change of insulin (IG = -1.2 µU/ml versus CG = +0.8 µU/ml) and HOMA-IR index (IG = -0.26 versus CG = +0.25) were respectively significant (p = .04) and non-significant (p = .06). IG significantly improved lower limb muscle mass in comparison with CG (p = .03). A structured AEI may improve insulin, HOMA-IR index and body composition in non-obese BC survivors without insulin resistance.

Rest-activity circadian rhythm and sleep quality in patients with binge eating disorder.

Recent findings suggest that altered rest-activity circadian rhythms (RARs) are associated with a compromised health status. RARs abnormalities have been observed also in several pathological conditions, such as cardiovascular, neurological, and cancer diseases. Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder, with a prevalence of 3.5% in women and 2% in men. BED and its associate obesity and motor inactivity could induce RARs disruption and have negative consequences on health-related quality of life. However, the circadian RARs and sleep behavior in patients with BED has been so far assessed only by questionnaires. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine RARs and sleep parameters by actigraphy in patients with BED compared to a body mass index-matched control group (Ctrl). Sixteen participants (eight obese women with and eight obese women without BED diagnosis) were recruited to undergo 5-day monitoring period by actigraphy (MotionWatch 8®, CamNtech, Cambridge, UK) to evaluate RARs and sleep parameters. In order to determine the RARs, the actigraphic data were analyzed using the single cosinor method. The rhythmometric parameters of activity levels (MESOR, amplitude and acrophase) were then processed with the population mean cosinor. The Actiwatch Sleep Analysis Software (Cambridge Neurotecnology, Cambridge, UK) evaluated the sleep patterns. In each participant, we considered seven sleep parameters (sleep onset: S-on; sleep offset: S-off; sleep duration: SD; sleep latency: SL; movement and fragmentation index: MFI; immobility time: IT; sleep efficiency: SE) calculated over a period of five nights. The population mean cosinor applied to BED and Ctrl revealed the presence of a significant circadian rhythm in both groups (p < 0.001). The MESOR (170.0 vs 301.6 a.c., in BED and Ctrl, respectively; p < 0.01) and amplitude (157.66 vs 238.19 a.c., in BED and Ctrl, respectively p < 0.05) differed significantly between the two groups. Acrophase was not different between BED and Ctrl, as well as all sleep parameters. Both groups displayed a low level of sleep quality (SE 80.7% and 75.7% in BED and Ctrl, respectively). These data provided the first actigraphy-based evidence of RARs disruption and sleep behavior disorder in patients with BED. However, while sleep disorders could be reasonably ascribed to overweight/obesity and the related lower daily physical activity, RARs disruption in this pathology should be ascribed to factors other than reduced physical activity. The circadian timing approach can represent a novel potential tool in the treatment of patients with eating disorders. These data provide exploratory evidence of behavioral association in a small population of patients that, if confirmed in a wider number of subjects and across different populations, may lead to a revision and enhancement of interventions in BED patients.

Acute renal failure and nephrotic syndrome due to membranoproliferative nephritis during the second trimester of pregnancy.

We report the case of a patient with acute renal failure and nephrotic syndrome during the second trimester of an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy. Despite pregnancy, percutaneous renal biopsy was performed to evaluate the etiology, showing Type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Two therapeutic options were considered: pregnancy termination, suggested by the gynecologists, and our proposal of starting steroid therapy, in order to reduce proteinuria and improve renal function. The patient refused pregnancy termination. She received i.v. methylprednisolone boluses, followed by maintenance oral prednisone and aspirin, with prompt acute renal failure resolution and reduced proteinuria. At Week 34 + 5 days of gestation, cesarean section was performed, without intra- and postoperative complications both for mother and newborn. Clinical maternal and fetal outcomes were excellent. One-year follow-up showed normal renal function and absence of proteinuria. Lacking guidelines concerning treatment of acute renal failure due to primary nephropathy in pregnancy, we consider this case of interest for our decision-making process and for the favorable outcome.

[A 52 year-old woman with fever, cough and dyspnoea]. / Donna di 52 anni con febbre, tosse e dispnea.

A 52 year-old woman with gastric cancer treated with surgery and chemotherapy, is admitted in our Internal Medicine Department because of the presence of fever (max 41.2 degrees C), dyspnoea, non-productive cough and mental confusion. The anamnesis and the physical examination address to the diagnosis of CAP (Community-Acquired Pneumonia); in particular the alteration of consciousness and the onset of symptoms after the insertion of a nose-gastric tube let us to consider the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. The clinical presentation and radiological imaging (Rx and CT of thorax) suggest the pattern of bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP). BOOP is not a disease, but a non specific pattern of answer to a lung injury. It can be either idiopathic or associated with a variety of causes, such as infections, drugs, radiations and connective tissue diseases. Besides the clinical course is complicated by the onset of an ARDS (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome). The gold standard for the diagnosis is represented by lung biopsy with hystopathologic confirmation but, if it cannot be done, it's necessary to start immediately steroid therapy because BOOP may be fatal. The patient received antibiotic and steroid therapy with success.

[A 61-year-old woman with abdominal pain and urination disorders]. / Donna di 61 anni con dolore addominale e disturbi della minzione.

The case of a 61 yo diabetic woman presenting with dysuria and lower abdominal pain is described. The incomplete resolution of the clinical picture after short antibiotic treatment and a strong suspect of autonomic neuropathy oriented to an anamnestic reevaluation that evidenced the presence of pneumaturia. The last was the key-symptom that guided to diagnostic imaging showing emphysematous cystitis while a gastroscopy confirmed the presence of autonomic neuropathy manifested by gastroparesis. Emphisematous cystitis is a characteristic infectious complication of diabetic patients induced by a persistent incomplete bladder emptying and bacterial glucose fermentation. The complete eradication of the infectious agent requires a long term antibiotic course and a prompt identification of this pathology.

[A 73-year-old woman with vomiting and metabolic alkalosis]. / Donna di 73 anni con vomito ed alcalosi metabolica.

A severe, life-threatening metabolic alchalosis associated with a stenosing pancreatic carcinoma in a female type II diabetic patients is presented, and a review of the most frequent causes of hyperemesis, orthostatic hypotension and lethargy is shown.

[Duplication of the vena cava inferior with a continuation into the vena azygos. A report of a rare case]. / Duplicazione della vena cava inferiore con continuazione nella vena azygos. Presentazione di un raro caso.

The embryogenesis of the inferior vena cava is a complicated process involving development, regression, anastomosis and replacement of three pairs of venous channels (posterior cardinal, subcardinal and supracardinal). A rare case of concurrent duplication and azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava is presented; it is caused by an altered development of subcardinal and supracardinal venous channels. This anomaly, without other congenital malformations (splenic or cardiac), has been previously described only in six cases in the literature. In this case contrast-enhanced CT enabled the correct diagnosis to be made. The subsequent cavography confirmed the CT report.