Two nasal swabs may not be enough to exclude SARS-CoV-2 infection in symptomatic patients.

Abstracts: The spread of COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019), due to SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2) has taken on dramatic pandemic proportions, affecting over 100 countries in a matter of weeks. Italy has had 237,828 confirmed cases according to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità as of May 13, and 34,448 deaths (1).

Ex vivo application of carbon monoxide in UW solution prevents transplant-induced renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in pigs.

I/R injury is a major deleterious factor of successful kidney transplantation (KTx). Carbon monoxide (CO) is an endogenous gaseous regulatory molecule, and exogenously delivered CO in low concentrations provides potent cytoprotection. This study evaluated efficacies of CO exposure to excised kidney grafts to inhibit I/R injury in the pig KTx model. Porcine kidneys were stored for 48 h in control UW or UW supplemented with CO (CO-UW) and autotransplanted in a 14-day follow-up study. In the control UW group, animal survival was 80% (4/5) with peak serum creatinine levels of 12.0 +/- 5.1 mg/dL. CO-UW showed potent protection, and peak creatinine levels were reduced to 6.9 +/- 1.4 mg/dL with 100% (5/5) survival without any noticeable adverse event or abnormal COHb value. Control grafts at 14 days showed significant tubular damages, focal fibrotic changes and numerous infiltrates. The CO-UW group showed significantly less severe histopathological changes with less TGF-beta and p-Smad3 expression. Grafts in CO-UW also showed significantly lower early mRNA levels for proinflammatory cytokines and less lipid peroxidation. CO in UW provides significant protection against renal I/R injury in the porcine KTx model. Ex vivo exposure of kidney grafts to CO during cold storage may therefore be a safe strategy to reduce I/R injury.

Immigration and hepatitis B virus: epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects.

This study in Italy aimed to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a population of recent (< 6 months) immigrants. Between February 2003 and December 2004, 83 (9.3%) out of 890 immigrants tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. All were men and 62.6% came-from Africa, 21.6% from Asia and 16.8% from Eastern Europe. About half (54.3%) of the patients had elevated alanine aminotransferase levels and detectable serum HBV DNA. Genotype distribution was as follows: E (20 cases), D (14 cases) and A (11 cases). Our study underscores the potential of migratory flow to introduce genotype non-D hepatitis B virus into our country.

Immigration and hepatitis B virus: epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects

This study in Italy aimed to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection in a population of recent [< 6 months] immigrants. Between February 2003 and December 2004, 83 [9.3%] out of 890 immigrants tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. All were men and 62.6% came from Africa, 21.6% from Asia and 16.8% from Eastern Europe. About half [54.3%] of the patients had elevated alanine aminotransferase levels and detectable serum HBV DNA. Genotype distribution was as follows: E [20 cases], D [14 cases] and A [11 cases]. Our study underscores the potential of migratory flow to introduce genotype non-D hepatitis B virus into our country

Immune abnormalities and endotoxemia in patients with ulcerative colitis and in their first degree relatives: attempts at neutralizing endotoxin-mediated effects.

Proinflammatory cytokines released from monocytes/macrophages, in particular tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and IL-8 seem to play an important role in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease). Endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides, derived from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria interact with CD14 on surface membrane of macrophages, thus triggering a signal cascade, which leads to the production and release of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-alpha. Therefore, in IBD, lipopolysaccharides could play a pathogenic role. In this respect, plasma endotoxins have been demonstrated in a not negligible percentage of patients with ulcerative colitis and in their unaffected relatives. The presence of circulating endotoxins could be due, at least in part, to the impaired natural immunity in either patients with ulcerative colitis or in their first degree unaffected relatives. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein, which binds to the lipid A region of lipopolysaccharide with a high affinity and this interaction prevents the binding of lipopolysaccharide to CD14, thus inhibiting the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, based on the possible pathogenic role exerted by endotoxins in ulcerative colitis, lactoferrin may deserve attention as a possible therapeutical agent in experimental models of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.