Additional booster doses in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia induce humoral and cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 similar to natural infection regardless ongoing treatments: A study by ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL.

Profound immune dysregulation and impaired response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine put patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) at risk of severe COVID-19. We compared humoral memory and T-cell responses after booster dose vaccination or breakthrough infection. (Green) Quantitative determination of anti-Spike specific antibodies. Booster doses increased seroconversion rate and antibody titers in all patient categories, ultimately generating humoral responses similar to those observed in the postinfection cohort. In detail, humoral response with overscale median antibody titers arose in >80% of patients in watch and wait, off-therapy in remission, or under treatment with venetoclax single-agent. Anti-CD20 antibodies and active treatment with BTK inhibitors (BTKi) represent limiting factors of humoral response, still memory mounted in ~40% of cases following booster doses or infection. (Blue) Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses. Number of T-cell functional activation markers documented in each patient. The vast majority of patients, including those seronegative, developed T-cell responses, qualitatively similar between treatment groups or between vaccination alone and infection cases. These data highlight the efficacy of booster doses in eliciting T-cell immunity independently of treatment status and support the use of additional vaccination boosters to stimulate humoral immunity in patients on active CLL-directed treatments.

Tinea capitis in adults.

Invasion of keratin of the hair by dermatophytes is a rare event after puberty. A study of 2200 patients affected by various mycotic cutaneous infections during 6 years of observation brought to our attention three cases of tinea capitis in adults. Confirming the studies of other authors, we also found that this disease mostly affected females. In all cases the isolated aetiological agent was Microsporum canis, the fungus species most frequently responsible for tinea capitis in Italy.

Pre-existing cutaneous changes in basal cell carcinomas of the lower extremities.

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) of the lower extremities are not frequently reported. Some pre-existing or predisposing conditions are thought to be implicated in their development. In this study, we investigated the possible relationships between pre-existing cutaneous changes and the development of BCCs of the lower extremities, possible sex and age differences, and the histologic patterns involved. Among 1053 patients with BSSc, BCCs of the lower extremities were observed in 48 (4.5%): 25 men and 23 women. Lesions appeared on the thighs (16 cases), the lower legs (27 cases), or the feet (5 cases). Histologic patterns were nodular and micronodular (18 cases), superficial (27 cases), or infiltrative (3 cases). No differences were observed between sexes. The relative degree of elastosis was higher in the lower limbs of women than of men (2.25 vs 1.53). Pre-existing cutaneous changes were observed in 7 cases. The frequency of these BCCs of the lower limbs and the higher degree of elastosis observed in the women seem to be related to sun exposure. The histologic pattern seems not to be affected by environmental factors but rather characteristic of body site. Pre-existent cutaneous changes are not thought to be possible etiologic factors.

[Hand-foot-mouth disease: its course in the city of Milan (1980-86). Epidemiologic study gathered from the records of the community and scholastic ambulatory services of the Istituto di Clinica Dermatologic I and Dermatologia Pediatrica of the University]. / Malattia mani-piedi-bocca: andamento nella città di Milano (1980-86). Studio epidemiologico attraverso i dati dell'ambulatorio comunale-scolastico dell'Istituto di Clinica Dermatologica I e Dermatologia Pediatrica dell'Università.

Hand-foot-mouth disease: the Authors describe the epidemiological observations in a period of seven years made in a big urban area of Milan. They point out the periodic course of hand-foot and mouth disease, which is present in particular during May and November and particularly in children under six years. The Authors point out the difference between males and females and they try to correlate their dates with those gathered from the study of the literature.