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Like other Italian and European University Centers, also in Bologna the clinics of Infectious Diseases proceeded in parallel with the clinic of Pediatrics with both patient assistance and scientific advancements.In the middle of the so-called “short century” (1900) some clinical and laboratory activities carried out in Bologna anticipated multiple advancements in both diagnosis and treatment of several, relevant infectious diseases like tuberculosis, influenza, viral diseases like Sars, and also shed light on some inflammatory biomarkers, which will play a key role also in the field of general internal medicine, like C-reactive protein.

The historical-medical and anthropological studies, regarding Mesoamerica and South America, have been mainly focused on the great empires (Inca, Atzec, Maya), while other civilizations have been less investigated and only recently are gaining interest. In general, the paleopathological research provides interesting data to know the type of nutrition and the general environmental conditions as well as to point out some ritual mutilation practices, which were relatively frequent in the pre-Columbian cultures. A lot of civilizations flourished in the South America before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores in the new world. In the last years it is progressively increasing the interest for the study of the Moche culture as well as for a deeper knowledge of pathocenosis of infectious diseases in the Moche society. Human infectious diseases are known to have a frequent animal origin, in particular from domesticated species, although the species domesticated in the pre-Columbian era were a small number. The purpose of our paper has been to examine the archeological findings suggestive of infectious diseases in artistic ceramic pots, dating back to the Moche period. We examined the iconography of ceramic pots belonging to the collection of the Larco Museum in Lima and reproducing body signs suggestive of infectious diseases. We identified 8 handworks with very interesting features by a medical point of view. In these handworks there are signs and lesions possibly associated with infectious diseases: risus sardonicus, orbital edema, facial nerve palsy, dorsal kyphosis, face and skin lesions. These features are compatible with some infectious diseases, including: syphilis, Bartonella bacilliformis, leishmaniasis, Pott’s disease and Chagas disease. A wide discussion about these handworks is provided.

Objectives: In December 2019 a novel human-infecting coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has emerged. The WHO has stated the epidemic as a “public health emergency of international concern”. A dramatic situation has emerged with thousands of deaths, occurring mainly in the aged and very ill people. Epidemiological studies suggest that immune system function is impaired in elderly individuals and these subjects often present a severe deficiency in nutrients as fatsoluble and hydrosoluble vitamins. Design: In this second part of the review about Cov2 in aged people, we searched for studies describing the possible efficacy of vitamins A, D, E and C in improving the immune system function and their possible activities against viruses. Results: Vitamins may shift the proinflammatory Th17 mediated immune-response arising in the autoimmune diseases towards a T-cell regulatory phenotype. These diseases may serve as a paradigm for the study of CRS emerging in the course of SARS CoV-2 infection. Conclusion: This review discusses about the possible activity of Vitamin A, D, E and C in restoring normal antiviral Immune System function or the potential therapeutic role of these micronutrients as a part of a multi-treatment strategy against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objectives: In December 2019 a novel human-infecting coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has emerged. The WHO has stated the epidemic as a “public health emergency of international concern”. A drammatic situation has emerged with thousands of deaths, occurring mainly in the aged and very ill people. Epidemiological studies suggest that immune system function is impaired in elderly individuals and these subjects often present a severe deficiency in nutrients as fatsoluble and hydrosoluble vitamins. Design: In this first part of the review about Cov2 in aged people, we searched for reviews describing the characteristics of autoimmune diseases and the available therapeutic protocols for their treatment. We sed them as a paradigm with the purpose to retrieve pathogenetic mechanisms in common among these pathological conditions and SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the alteration induced in immune system function by this virus, or by its homologous SARS-CoV. Results: SARS-CoV-2 infection induces an important immune system dysfunction with the development of an exhuberant proinflammatory response in the host, and with the development of a life-threatening condition defined as Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). This leads to the Acute Respiratory Syndrome (ARDS), mainly in the aged people. High mortality and lethality rates have been observed in the elderly subjects with CoV-2-related infection. Conclusion: These diseases may serve as a paradigm for the study of CRS emerging in the course of SARS CoV-2 infection. This review discusses about the possible activity of Vitamin A, D, E and C in restoring normal antiviral Immune System function or the potential therapeutic role of these micronutrients as a part of a multi-treatment strategy against SARS- CoV-2 infection.

Paper presented at a conference